Carter Bahns· Aug 26, 2026
CBS Sports' panel of 13 writers and analysts named its 2026 All-Breakout Team on defense, selecting Abdul Carter and Dallas Turner at edge, Walter Nolen and Derrick Harmon at defensive tackle, Jihaad Campbell, Payton Wilson and Edgerrin Cooper at linebacker, Nohl Williams and Travis Hunter at cornerback, and Kevin Winston Jr. and Malaki Starks at safety. Specific claims include Carter topping his four-sack rookie total, double-digit sacks for Turner, and starting jobs for Williams and Hunter.
“It feels like a lock that the fifth-place finisher in Defensive Rookie of the Year voting will finish this season with more than the four sacks he logged in his debut campaign.”
published in writing · CBS Sports · read the original →
15 checkable claims — 11 sleeper calls, 2 depth chart calls and 2 player season numbers — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.
It names 20 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.
Of the 2 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands below the rest of the room on every one.
Where do you stand? Pick this and every open claim on Picks →
Who this take is about
- Derrick Harmon
- Pittsburgh Steelers
- Dallas Turner
- Minnesota Vikings
- Walter Nolen
- Arizona Cardinals
- Abdul Carter
- New York Giants
- Edgerrin Cooper
- Green Bay Packers
- Malaki Starks
- Baltimore Ravens
- Nohl Williams
- Kansas City Chiefs
- Payton Wilson
- Jihaad Campbell
- Philadelphia Eagles
- Kevin Winston Jr.
- Tennessee Titans
- Travis Hunter
15 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.
- Sleeper CallsDerrick HarmonPittsburgh SteelersAug 26, 2026
Derrick Harmon to outplay his draft cost
“So long as he stays healthy in 2026, he can put that bumpy debut behind him and solidify a role in one of the NFL's most fearsome defensive fronts.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Dallas Turner to record 10 sacks
“Double-digit sacks are well within the realm of possibility for Turner.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Sleeper CallsWalter NolenArizona CardinalsAug 26, 2026
Walter Nolen to outplay his draft cost
“With those injuries behind him, the 2025 first-round pick seeks to put together a full second season with the Cardinals.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Sleeper CallsAbdul CarterNew York GiantsAug 26, 2026
Abdul Carter to outplay his draft cost
“Abdul Carter will force his way onto the field after his excellent rookie season.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Sleeper CallsEdgerrin CooperGreen Bay PackersAug 26, 2026
Edgerrin Cooper to outplay his draft cost
“Putting it all together would make Cooper a top-flight linebacker.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Sleeper CallsMalaki StarksBaltimore RavensAug 26, 2026
Malaki Starks to outplay his draft cost
“Kyle Hamilton is already one of the top players at his position, and Malaki Starks is headed in that direction, too.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Player Season NumbersAbdul CarterNew York GiantsAug 26, 2026
Abdul Carter to record 4 sacks
“It feels like a lock that the fifth-place finisher in Defensive Rookie of the Year voting will finish this season with more than the four sacks he logged in his debut campaign.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsNohl WilliamsKansas City ChiefsAug 26, 2026
Nohl Williams to be 1st on the depth chart
“Nohl Williams is the next man up in the defensive backfield and should lock down a starting job next to rookie Mansoor Delane.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Sleeper CallsPayton WilsonPittsburgh SteelersAug 26, 2026
Payton Wilson to outplay his draft cost
“A breakthrough 2026 could keep Wilson on the top line of Pittsburgh's depth chart for the long term.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Sleeper CallsJihaad CampbellPhiladelphia EaglesAug 26, 2026
Jihaad Campbell to outplay his draft cost
“Jihaad Campbell developed as the understudy to Nakobe Dean in 2025, so with Dean off to the Raiders, the chance for him to shine in a larger role is upon him.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Sleeper CallsKevin Winston Jr.Tennessee TitansAug 26, 2026
Kevin Winston Jr. to outplay his draft cost
“now that he has finally completed an offseason of development, it does not take much imagination to see him take his game to another level”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Sleeper CallsDallas TurnerMinnesota VikingsAug 26, 2026
Dallas Turner to outplay his draft cost
“With Greenard out of the picture, Turner can be expected to fill a larger role on the Vikings' defensive front.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Sleeper CallsNohl WilliamsKansas City ChiefsAug 26, 2026
Nohl Williams to outplay his draft cost
“Nohl Williams is the next man up in the defensive backfield and should lock down a starting job next to rookie Mansoor Delane.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Sleeper CallsTravis HunterAug 26, 2026
Travis Hunter to outplay his draft cost
“having a full offseason to hone in on his pass defense should go a long way in fueling his second-year breakout”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsTravis HunterAug 26, 2026
Travis Hunter to be 1st on the depth chart
“Now that he is recovered, he will settle in as the Jaguars' No. 1 cornerback.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- Pat FitzmauriceDepth Chart Calls · Kyler MurrayHit · 100Fitzmaurice 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.
- Pat FitzmauriceDepth Chart Calls · Kyler MurrayHit · 100Fitzmaurice 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.
- Pat FitzmauriceDepth Chart Calls · Kyler MurrayHit · 100Fitzmaurice expects Kyler Murray to open the season as Minnesota's starting quarterback and to be one of the better quarterback values in 2026 fantasy drafts, and he likewise likes Tyler Shough as New Orleans' entrenched starter with an easy schedule.
- Jeff KerrDepth Chart Calls · Michael CarterMiss · 0Kerr says several Eagles have raised their stock in camp: Darius Cooper is emerging as the team's WR4, Drew Kendall is the No. 3 interior lineman/top backup at guard and center, Willie Lampkin is in prime position to make the 53-man roster, and Michael Carter is a roster lock who could start at safety in Week 1.
- Matt OkadaDepth Chart Calls · Kyler MurrayHit · 100In a PPR-framed fantasy draft guide, Okada makes a few non-fantasy claims: rookie Jeremiyah Love will be Arizona's featured back despite being listed as RB2, Tua Tagovailoa will be Atlanta's Week 1 starter, and Kyler Murray will open the season as Minnesota's starting quarterback.
- Mike FanelliDepth Chart Calls · Kyler MurrayHit · 100Fanelli ranks all 32 NFL teams for 2026 fantasy purposes, with the Bengals first and the Dolphins last, and makes assorted calls including Joe Burrow winning Comeback Player of the Year, Drake Maye leading the league in passing touchdowns, various starting-role and depth-chart projections, plus sleepers (Godwin, Travis Hunter, Jonathon Brooks) and a bust call on De'Von Achane.
More sleeper calls
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
- Matt Money SmithSleeper Calls · Tre HarrisMiss · 0Smith says Ladd McConkie is a legitimate No. 1 receiver who could post a Jaylen Waddle-like season of roughly 1,700 yards and eight touchdowns, and he predicts second-year Chargers receiver Trey Harris will have a big year under Mike McDaniel. He also expects Philip Rivers to become an NFL head coach and thinks the Chargers offense will be good in the coming season.
- Brandon CarneySleeper Calls · Javonte WilliamsHit · 100Carney predicted AJ Brown would not be back with the Eagles, forecast a wave of free-agent landing spots (Breece Hall to the Chiefs, Alec Pierce to the 49ers, Rico Dowdle to the Saints, George Pickens to the Patriots, Mike Evans to the Bills), and named Week 1 starting quarterbacks for several teams in flux. He also gave fantasy takes on Javonte Williams, Chris Olave and others.
- Ross JacksonSleeper Calls · Devaughn VeleMiss · 0Ross Jackson agreed to the same Saints mock draft board — Jeremiah Love at eight, Akeem Mesador in the second, Keonte Scott at 73, Keelan Rutledge and Ted Hurst in the fourth, Xavien Harris at 148, Aaron Anderson in the fifth and Bryce Boettcher in the sixth — and also called Devon Vellet a 2026 breakout candidate.
- Greg CosellSleeper Calls · Omarion HamptonMiss · 0Cosell expects the Nick Bonito vs. Will Campbell matchup to be pivotal, predicts Caleb Williams' future is bright, expects the Chargers' run game to improve dramatically under Mike McDaniel with a good season from Omarion Hampton, and expects Sean Payton not to hide Stidham.
- Joe PisapiaSleeper Calls · Omarion HamptonMiss · 0Joe Pisapia's 2026 first round is receiver-heavy, starting with Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Ja'Marr Chase, insisting Amon-Ra St. Brown belongs in the top five, keeping Justin Jefferson in round one, and dropping Christian McCaffrey to 12. He also sees Omarion Hampton as a value who will be a top-10 pick a year later.
- Mike HarmonSleeper Calls · Ray DavisMiss · 0Harmon gave his Week 18 fantasy rankings — top five quarterbacks, running backs and wide receivers — plus lists of 'hot plays,' 'cold sores' (players to avoid) and 'ninjas' (sneaky plays), and said Trevor Lawrence would land around a top-four fantasy quarterback finish for the season.