# Bucky Brooks: 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.

**Claimed:** Jul 19, 2026
**Pundit:** Bucky Brooks — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/pundits/bucky-brooks
**Outlet:** Fox Sports Radio (podcast) — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/outlets/fox-sports-radio-podcast
**How it reached us:** said on air or in an interview
**Original:** https://omny.fm/shows/fox-sports-radio-weekends/andy-furman-bucky-brooks-talk-world-cup-lebron-james-next-destination-wnba-controversies-bucky-s-nfl-all-breakout-team-and-much-more

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.

> This is easy to say that Abdul Carter should break out.

*(their words, quoted for attribution)*

## The claims

- **New York Jets to beat expectations**
  - Kind: Surprise Team Calls · About: New York Jets
  - Verdict: not settled yet
- **Kool-Aid McKinstry to be 1st on the depth chart**
  - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Kool-Aid McKinstry, New Orleans Saints
  - Verdict: not settled yet
- **Emeka Egbuka to be 1st on the depth chart**
  - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Emeka Egbuka, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
  - Verdict: not settled yet
- **Walter Nolen to be 1st on the depth chart**
  - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Walter Nolen, Arizona Cardinals
  - Verdict: not settled yet
- **Deshaun Watson to be 1st on the depth chart**
  - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Deshaun Watson, Cleveland Browns
  - Verdict: not settled yet
- **Jared Goff to finish top 9 at his position, by passing yards**
  - Kind: Positional Finishes · About: Jared Goff, Detroit Lions
  - Verdict: too vague to check

## Who this take is about

- New York Jets — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/jets
- Kool-Aid McKinstry — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/kool-aid-mckinstry
- New Orleans Saints — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/saints
- Emeka Egbuka — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/emeka-egbuka
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/buccaneers
- Walter Nolen — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/walter-nolen
- Arizona Cardinals — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/cardinals
- Deshaun Watson — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/deshaun-watson
- Cleveland Browns — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/browns
- Jared Goff — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/jared-goff
- Detroit Lions — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/lions

## What others said about the same people

- Nathan Jahnke on Devin Duvernay: PFF'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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/8f52d1f8-91ed-459c-99a7-30c2d3fb38e0 (scored 100)
- Nathan Jahnke on Devin Duvernay: An 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/47566b48-8024-4960-b25c-11c03fe43543 (scored 100)
- Nathan Jahnke on Devin Duvernay: PFF'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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/265cbdba-b0e0-4f80-9665-a4ca5aaec53e (scored 100)
- Ross Jackson on Juwan Johnson: Ross 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/b43691e9-1673-4236-ba12-7d60ad3b95f5 (scored 100)
- Nick Pedone on Isaiah Bond: Previewing 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/b7401a6b-fdaf-4d71-84f3-d96262d88dcd (scored 100)
- Doug Joubert on Will Sherman: Joubert 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/80c9bcdf-68ec-49a5-a1d1-e59f4bee2653 (scored 100)

## More depth chart calls

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

- Fox Sports on Michael Penix Jr.: Fox 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/a90e69a8-707f-43e9-a63e-cdb3e7bd0829 (scored 100)
- Pat Fitzmaurice on Aaron Jones: In 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/31adc8bb-8f15-453f-bbcf-cab44e29b8b3 (scored 100)
- Rich Hribar on Tua Tagovailoa: Hribar 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/124ac755-a942-4382-8bad-177da7f8170d (scored 0)
- Bradley Locker on Carson Wentz: PFF'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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/a3716f21-0488-4fc8-a414-c25c2d781a6e (scored 100)
- Tyler Sullivan on Michael Penix Jr.: In 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/1000d8d0-5de1-405e-b8ce-255cde75a32d (scored 0)
- Pat Fitzmaurice on Rashod Bateman: In 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/6218d3c2-61e7-4ace-9976-b51eeefdf22c (scored 0)

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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:
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