Zachary Pereles· Aug 13, 2026
In a training-camp overreaction column, CBS Sports argues Kyler Murray can get the Vikings back to the playoffs, that Kirk Cousins should open the season as the Colts' starter ahead of Fernando Mendoza, that Parker Washington will again lead Jacksonville in receiving yards as part of a breakout year, that the Browns, Cardinals and Falcons will each start multiple quarterbacks, and that Stefon Diggs slots in as Washington's WR2.
“He quietly led Jacksonville in receiving yards last year and will loudly repeat that this year.”
published in writing · CBS Sports · read the original →
12 checkable claims — 10 depth chart calls, 1 playoff pick and 1 sleeper call — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.
It names 17 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.
Of the 9 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands below the rest of the room on every one.
Where this call stands in the room
Shedeur Sanders · 2026 season24 calls from 20 pundits between 1 and 2. Zachary Pereles 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.
Their call against the room
Their call against everyone else's, while this is still unsettled.
Where do you stand? Pick this and every open claim on Picks →
Who this take is about
12 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.
- Depth Chart CallsChase BisontisArizona CardinalsAug 13, 2026
Chase Bisontis to be 1st on the depth chart
“second-round pick Chase Bisontis should start right away at guard”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Michael Penix Jr. to be 1st on the depth chart
“The same goes for the Falcons starting both Tua Tagovailoa and Michael Penix Jr.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Parker Washington to outplay his draft cost
“Washington is in line for a major breakout campaign.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Jacoby Brissett to be 1st on the depth chart
“Same for Jacoby Brissett and Beck in Arizona.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Playoff PicksMinnesota VikingsAug 13, 2026
Minnesota Vikings to make the playoffs
“But if he can be average, the Vikings, who went 9-8 last year despite awful quarterback play, could get back to the postseason.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsShedeur SandersCleveland BrownsAug 13, 2026
Shedeur Sanders to be 1st on the depth chart
“I expect to see several starts from Shedeur Sanders and Deshaun Watson ... this season in Cleveland.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Stefon Diggs to be 2nd on the depth chart
“Stefon Diggs is a massive (and necessary) upgrade as a WR2 alongside Terry McLaurin.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsKirk CousinsIndianapolis ColtsAug 13, 2026
Kirk Cousins to be 1st on the depth chart
“Cousins may no longer be a upper-middle or even middle-tier starter, but he can still play. And he should play Week 1 over Fernando Mendoza.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsTua TagovailoaAtlanta FalconsAug 13, 2026
Tua Tagovailoa to be 1st on the depth chart
“The same goes for the Falcons starting both Tua Tagovailoa and Michael Penix Jr.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsCarson BeckArizona CardinalsAug 13, 2026
Carson Beck to be 1st on the depth chart
“Same for Jacoby Brissett and Beck in Arizona.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Parker Washington to be 1st on the depth chart
“He quietly led Jacksonville in receiving yards last year and will loudly repeat that this year.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsDeshaun WatsonCleveland BrownsAug 13, 2026
Deshaun Watson to be 1st on the depth chart
“I expect to see several starts from Shedeur Sanders and Deshaun Watson ... this season in Cleveland.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- Ralph VacchianoDepth Chart Calls · Tua TagovailoaMiss · 0Vacchiano 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.
- 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.
- John ShipleyRoster Spot Calls · Jack KiserMiss · 0Shipley projects a full 16-player (plus one international/exemption spot) Jaguars practice squad for 2026, naming specific players at each position he expects to land there.
- Bucky BrooksTrade and Signing Calls · Keenan AllenHit · 100Brooks predicted J.J. McCarthy won't be on the Vikings' roster (traded or released), said Kyler Murray wins the Vikings' QB competition, made a series of 2025 award picks, made 2026 Heisman/draft projections including Arch Manning as the front-runner for the No. 1 overall pick, and said none of Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen or Joe Burrow win a championship this season.
- 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.
- Steven RuizDepth Chart Calls · Michael Penix Jr.Miss · 0In 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.
More depth chart calls
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
- Tyler SullivanDepth Chart Calls · Drew LockMiss · 0In 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.
- Nathan JahnkeDepth Chart Calls · Jalen TolbertMiss · 0PFF's preseason fantasy recap makes a large number of depth-chart, role and fantasy-value calls across the league, including Chig Okonkwo as a top sleeper tight end, Tre Tucker as the Raiders' top receiver, and various backfield hierarchies.
- Emmett MatasovskyDepth Chart Calls · Christian IzienMiss · 0Matasovsky says Dobbs is currently leading the backup quarterback race and suggests Christian Izien may be pressed into a starting safety role in Week 1 while Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph rehab.
- Nathan JahnkeDepth Chart Calls · Jalen TolbertMiss · 0PFF's fantasy football preseason recap projects depth-chart outcomes, roster spots and fantasy value for numerous players across several preseason games, including Chig Okonkwo's expanded role in Washington, Ja'Kobi Lane as Baltimore's WR3, Malachi Fields winning the Giants' starting X job, and Zachariah Branch being a fantasy bust relative to his late-round cost.
- Mike MoraitisDepth Chart Calls · Ozzy TrapiloMiss · 0Moraitis writes that although Braxton Jones has looked like the favorite, Ozzy Trapilo is likely to take over as the Bears' starting left tackle once he's healthy enough to play.
- Pete MartuneacDepth Chart Calls · Ozzy TrapiloMiss · 0After Trapilo's activation from the PUP list roughly seven months after rupturing his patellar tendon, Martuneac says the Bears' left tackle competition is over and Trapilo will be starting at left tackle early in the 2026 season, even if not by Week 1.