# John Shipley: Shipley says Ventrell Miller has gained a slight edge over Branson Combs in the linebacker competition, and that the two are clearly the second and third linebackers behind Foyesade Oluokun. He also expects veteran defensive tackle Matt Dickerson to make the 53-man roster.

**Claimed:** Aug 11, 2026
**Pundit:** John Shipley — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/pundits/john-shipley
**Outlet:** Sports Illustrated — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/outlets/sports-illustrated
**How it reached us:** published in writing
**Original:** https://www.si.com/nfl/jaguars/onsi/jacksonville-4-instant-takeaways-on-first-depth-chart-travis-hunter-leads-the-way

4 checkable claims — 3 depth chart calls and 1 roster spot call — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.

It names 5 players and teams, each linked to their own record.

1 of 4 have settled so far, averaging 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess at the same calls.

Of the 1 unsettled call enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands above the rest of the room.

> it is clear they are the No. 2 and No. 3 linebackers on the roster after Foyesade Oluokun

*(their words, quoted for attribution)*

## The claims

- **Matt Dickerson to make the roster**
  - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Matt Dickerson, Jacksonville Jaguars
  - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess
- **Foye Oluokun to be 1st on the depth chart**
  - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Foye Oluokun, Jacksonville Jaguars
  - Verdict: not settled yet
- **Branson Combs to be 3rd on the depth chart**
  - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Branson Combs, Jacksonville Jaguars
  - Verdict: not settled yet
- **Ventrell Miller to be 2nd on the depth chart**
  - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Ventrell Miller, Jacksonville Jaguars
  - Verdict: not settled yet

## Who this take is about

- Matt Dickerson — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/matt-dickerson
- Jacksonville Jaguars — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/jaguars
- Foye Oluokun — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/foye-oluokun
- Branson Combs — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/branson-combs
- Ventrell Miller — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/ventrell-miller

## What others said about the same people

- Jared Dubin on Daniel Faalele: Dubin grades the Faalele trade, predicting Faalele has a decent chance to be Jacksonville's Week 1 starting right guard in competition with Wyatt Milum, and that Evan Neal's odds of making the Giants' 53-man roster improved while Jon Runyan and Francis Mauigoa hold the Giants' starting guard jobs. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/aae46267-fc6d-44c1-a96c-7355b3db857b (scored 0)
- Tyler Sullivan on Jacksonville Jaguars: Sullivan takes the Jaguars to beat the Browns, doubting Deshaun Watson, and takes the Eagles over the Commanders at home. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/ac678dcb-56cb-48c5-912c-3e8c8522e681 (scored 100)
- Pat McAfee on Jacksonville Jaguars: In the show's weekly picks segment Pat took the Steelers at home over Atlanta, the Jaguars over Cleveland, the Raiders over Miami, the Packers at Minnesota and the Cowboys over the Giants. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/d72ee420-9220-402c-9a25-44bc6ed8c477 (scored 100)
- Kirk Herbstreit on Jacksonville Jaguars: Herbstreit made a full slate of Week 1 picks — Lions, Ravens, Bears, Bills, Buccaneers, Jaguars, Titans, Eagles, Packers and Cowboys — and also said he still thinks Seattle is the team to beat in the NFC West. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/5bc3755c-9b84-484f-b8f2-b18d51a12261 (scored 100)
- Shanna McCarriston on Jacksonville Jaguars: The unsigned piece picks the Jaguars to beat the Browns 30-10 at home, citing Jacksonville's strong defense against Cleveland's weak offense. It also notes Shedeur Sanders is likely to see the field at some point this season and that Travis Hunter could be in the Comeback Player of the Year conversation. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/f4c87e87-5804-45dd-89fb-df7a85f9e97c (scored 100)
- Nick Shook on Jacksonville Jaguars: Shook makes three ATS picks — Steelers -3.5 over Atlanta, Jaguars -8.5 over Cleveland, Cowboys -2.5 at the Giants — plus a fourth stashed pick on Houston. He gives score predictions of Jaguars 30-9 and Cowboys by 15, and says the Steelers win by 7-10. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/ae15f1d0-9ea1-4b85-a08f-3cdf228630b7 (scored 92.86)

## More depth chart calls

The same kind of call, about other players and teams.

- Tyler Sullivan on Drew Lock: In an unsigned Week 2 odds roundup, the piece states that with Sam Darnold hurt, Drew Lock will likely start at quarterback for Seattle against Arizona. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/8a14b5e6-066b-457f-b409-a3ddbd512aca (scored 0)
- Ralph Vacchiano on Tua Tagovailoa: Vacchiano ranks all 32 NFL teams entering the 2026 season, with the Rams first and Dolphins last. He also flags the Giants as a potential surprise team with a top-10 defense, and notes Deshaun Watson won Cleveland's QB job while Tua Tagovailoa starts Week 1 in Atlanta. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/6f782be9-64d3-47cf-b054-6566e14194d6 (scored 0)
- Pat Fitzmaurice on Kyler Murray: Fitzmaurice touts Kyler Murray as a value QB who will start Week 1 for Minnesota, Tyler Shough as the Saints' undisputed starter, and Juwan Johnson and Terrance Ferguson as late-round tight end targets. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/70a7844a-2fb6-44d7-814f-30ec9fbcc26d (scored 100)
- Pat Fitzmaurice on Kyler Murray: Fitzmaurice expects Kyler Murray to be Minnesota's Week 1 starter and calls him one of the better quarterback values in 2026 drafts; he also views Jordan Love as a top-10 real-life quarterback but only a QB2 in fantasy. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/0653fc24-437c-4aba-89ee-f1f417e1983d (scored 100)
- Steven Ruiz on Michael Penix Jr.: In a retrospective tiering of all 32 starting quarterbacks, Ruiz treats Michael Penix Jr. as the Falcons' Week 1 starter over Kirk Cousins, whom he places in his lowest tier. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/968b3764-11ef-41b5-a370-ff570b3219d1 (scored 0)
- Mike Florio on Shedeur Sanders: Florio reports the Browns will start Deshaun Watson in Week 1 but predicts Shedeur Sanders will likely be the starting quarterback by Week 3. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/cf6258b2-b55f-4f50-84f9-24269a5a006a (scored 0)

---

Accuracy is 0-100 against what actually happened. The naive guess is what a strategy requiring no knowledge would have scored on the same call — the difference is the skill, and it is what the MissedTakes Score averages.

Full method: https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/methodology

We summarize what a pundit said and quote a short span for attribution; we never republish their article. If this is wrong, tell us:
https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/corrections?pundit=john-shipley
