Bucky Brooks· Jul 19, 2026
Brooks laid out his NFL.com "All-Breakout Team" on defense, predicting big years for Abdul Carter, Walter Nolen, Darius Alexander, Jihaad Campbell, Cedric Gray, Travis Hunter, Kool-Aid McKinstry, Upton Stout, Kevin Winston Jr. and Craig Woodson. He also expects Dexter Lawrence to thrive in Cincinnati, Deshaun Watson to open as the Browns' starter, Baker Mayfield's Buccaneers receiving corps to be fine, and the Jets to improve with Geno Smith.
“This is easy to say that Abdul Carter should break out.”
said on air or in an interview · Fox Sports Radio (podcast) · read the original →
6 checkable claims — 4 depth chart calls, 1 positional finishe and 1 surprise team call — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.
It names 11 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.
Of the 4 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands above the room on 1 and below it on 3.
Where this call stands in the room
Deshaun Watson · 2026 season29 calls from 24 pundits between 1 and 2. Bucky Brooks said 1. the room's median is 1. not settled yet
Every dot is a call somebody published on the same question. Where the dots land says where this take sits, not whether it is right — nothing here is settled yet. Hover a dot for the name and number; click it to read that take.
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Who this take is about
6 checkable claims in this take
Each one is scored on its own against the published methodology. A pundit naming several outcomes is graded on each, not on all-or-nothing.
- Surprise Team CallsNew York JetsJul 19, 2026
New York Jets to beat expectations
“okay they're gonna be much better. This year doesn't mean that they're reflecting their record, per se but they're gonna be much better”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Kool-Aid McKinstry to be 1st on the depth chart
“I think it's interesting with him being elevated to the. Number one”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Emeka Egbuka to be 1st on the depth chart
“now he gets full autonomy to own that role as. The ze he'll be AT The Z chris godman will be in the slot”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsWalter NolenArizona CardinalsJul 19, 2026
Walter Nolen to be 1st on the depth chart
“he, to me is their best. Defensive lineman they're gonna showcase him”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsDeshaun WatsonCleveland BrownsJul 19, 2026
Deshaun Watson to be 1st on the depth chart
“I Think deshaun watson at least starts to season as the starter and maybe eventually gives it away to the. Young guy”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Positional FinishesJared GoffDetroit LionsJul 19, 2026
Jared Goff to finish top 9 at his position, by passing yards
“the quarterback is right because he's underrated but still one of the top eight or nine quarterbacks in. The. League”
Too vague to check — we could not tell what would count as right.
What others said about the same people
- Nathan JahnkeRoster Spot Calls · Devin DuvernayHit · 100PFF's preseason usage recap makes a number of depth-chart and roster projections, including nine rookie receivers slotting as top-three options on their teams, sleeper tight end usage, and specific depth-chart placements for Cardinals, Falcons and Ravens players.
- Nathan JahnkeRoster Spot Calls · Devin DuvernayHit · 100An unsigned PFF preseason recap makes numerous depth-chart, roster and usage projections across the league, based on Week 3 preseason playing time — including Roman Wilson winning Pittsburgh's third receiver job, Luke McCaffrey's roster spot being in danger, Charlie Kolar as the Chargers' top tight end, and Kendre Miller as the Saints' RB2.
- Nathan JahnkeRoster Spot Calls · Devin DuvernayHit · 100PFF's preseason fantasy recap makes a series of depth-chart, roster and usage projections based on final-week preseason snap counts, including Ja'Kobi Lane locking down the Ravens' third receiver role, Luke McCaffrey's roster spot being in danger, Kyle Pitts facing reduced 12-personnel usage, Kendre Miller as the Saints' RB2 and Emmett Johnson as the Chiefs' backup running back.
- Ross JacksonRoster Spot Calls · Juwan JohnsonHit · 100Ross Jackson gives his final preseason 53-man roster projection for the New Orleans Saints, naming who makes the initial roster at every position group, who starts on injured reserve or the practice squad, and who the five starting offensive linemen and kicker will be.
- Nick PedoneRoster Spot Calls · Isaiah BondHit · 100Previewing the Browns' preseason finale, Pedone says five receivers — Jerry Jeudy, KC Concepcion, Denzel Boston, Isaiah Bond and Tylan Wallace — are very likely to make Cleveland's 53-man roster, leaving one final spot open for Luke Floriea and others.
- Doug JoubertRoster Spot Calls · Will ShermanHit · 100Joubert projects the Saints' 53-man roster ahead of the cutdown deadline, naming every player he expects to make the team by position group, plus several players he expects to receive PUP/IR designations, and predicting Torricelli Simpkins will later be moved to the practice squad.
More depth chart calls
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
- Fox SportsDepth Chart Calls · Michael Penix Jr.Hit · 100Fox Sports states that a healthy Tua Tagovailoa will serve as Atlanta's backup quarterback in Week 3, with Michael Penix Jr. handling the starting duties against Green Bay.
- Pat FitzmauriceDepth Chart Calls · Aaron JonesHit · 100In previewing the 10 most intriguing fantasy performers of Week 2, Fitzmaurice expects Atlanta's quarterback problems to persist with Tua Tagovailoa unlikely to play and Michael Penix Jr. not ready to return, flags Falcons slot corner Billy Bowman Jr. as a possible Week 2 returnee, and describes Aaron Jones as Minnesota's lead back and Kaelon Black as the clear backup to Christian McCaffrey in San Francisco.
- Rich HribarDepth Chart Calls · Tua TagovailoaMiss · 0Hribar expects Tua Tagovailoa to be Atlanta's starting quarterback for Week 2 while Michael Penix stays out, with Penix's return closer to Week 4. He is unenthusiastic about the Falcons' offense either way and treats Bryce Young as a fringe fantasy starter.
- Bradley LockerDepth Chart Calls · Carson WentzHit · 100PFF's unsigned adjusted power rankings after Week 1 of the 2026 season place the Bills first, the Rams second and the Dolphins last, with notes on quarterback situations in Seattle, Minnesota and Cleveland.
- Tyler SullivanDepth Chart Calls · Michael Penix Jr.Miss · 0In a Week 1 recap with no named byline, CBS Sports suggested Michael Penix Jr. would take over as Atlanta's Week 2 starter if healthy, called Ashton Jeanty's sophomore breakout imminent, and warned readers not to overlook San Francisco as NFC West winners.
- Pat FitzmauriceDepth Chart Calls · Rashod BatemanMiss · 0In his Week 2 waiver wire column, Fitzmaurice recommends a slate of pickups he expects to outperform their current rostership (Kaelon Black, Deebo Samuel, Tyler Shough, Geno Smith and others), lays out several depth-chart expectations (Black as the 49ers' No. 2 back, Shedeur Sanders eventually taking over in Cleveland, Penix returning for Atlanta), and flags Fool's Gold/drop candidates such as Mike Gesicki, Kendrick Bourne and Rashid Shaheed.