Jeff Kerr· Aug 28, 2026
Kerr ranks the Eagles' 2025 draft picks by cut risk, predicting seventh-rounders Keyshawn James-Newby and Cole Wisniewski land on the practice squad, while Cole Payton, Uar Bernard, Makai Lemon, Eli Stowers and Markel Bell make the 53. He also says Lemon starts Week 1 and Bell is the right tackle of the future.
“Lemon is expected to play in the preseason finale, but he'll start Week 1.”
published in writing · Sports Illustrated · read the original →
15 checkable claims — 12 roster spot calls and 3 depth chart calls — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.
It names 13 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
6 of 15 have settled so far, averaging 66.7 out of 100, against 66.7 for a naive guess at the same calls.
Of the 2 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands above the room on 1 and below it on 1.
Where this call stands in the room
Makai Lemon · 2026 season11 calls from 10 pundits between 1 and 3. Jeff Kerr said 1. the room's median is 2. 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.
Where do you stand? Pick this and every open claim on Picks →
Who this take is about
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.
- Roster Spot CallsA.J. EpenesaPhiladelphia EaglesAug 28, 2026
A.J. Epenesa to make the roster
“the Eagles had Nolan Smith, Jalyx Hunt, Arnold Ebiketie, and A.J. Epenesa. All four are making the team.”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 100+0 skillHow this was scored
- club:
- PHI
- skill:
- 0
- player:
- 86e20946-071f-4a19-b655-2eaf945e178d
- season:
- 2026
- claimed:
- he makes the 53
- accuracy:
- 100
- baseline:
- 100
- difficulty:
- 2
- the naive guess:
- he was on somebody's 53 last season, so he makes one again
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- weeks on the53:
- 1
- weeks left when called:
- 18
- first week on the53:
- 1
- weeks on the practice squad:
- 0
- Roster Spot CallsNolan SmithPhiladelphia EaglesAug 28, 2026
Nolan Smith to make the roster
“the Eagles had Nolan Smith, Jalyx Hunt, Arnold Ebiketie, and A.J. Epenesa. All four are making the team.”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 100+0 skillHow this was scored
- club:
- PHI
- skill:
- 0
- player:
- 39ee4109-3e59-468f-9777-593353dbc2f2
- season:
- 2026
- claimed:
- he makes the 53
- accuracy:
- 100
- baseline:
- 100
- difficulty:
- 2
- the naive guess:
- he was on somebody's 53 last season, so he makes one again
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- weeks on the53:
- 1
- weeks left when called:
- 18
- first week on the53:
- 1
- weeks on the practice squad:
- 0
- Roster Spot CallsMakai LemonPhiladelphia EaglesAug 28, 2026
Makai Lemon to make the roster
“6. Makai Lemon, Eli Stowers, Markel Bell ... Neither are getting waived by this football team by Sunday.”
Miss · 0Scored 0a naive guess scored 0+0 skillHow this was scored
- club:
- PHI
- skill:
- 0
- player:
- e9bbedd5-9e1a-4fd1-93eb-88263bc6e56d
- season:
- 2026
- claimed:
- he does not make the 53
- accuracy:
- 0
- baseline:
- 0
- difficulty:
- 2
- the naive guess:
- he was on somebody's 53 last season, so he makes one again
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- weeks on the53:
- 1
- weeks left when called:
- 18
- first week on the53:
- 1
- weeks on the practice squad:
- 0
Arnold Ebiketie to make the roster
“the Eagles had Nolan Smith, Jalyx Hunt, Arnold Ebiketie, and A.J. Epenesa. All four are making the team.”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 100+0 skillHow this was scored
- club:
- PHI
- skill:
- 0
- player:
- 91c2ee31-6d96-4b01-b319-6040ee88d492
- season:
- 2026
- claimed:
- he makes the 53
- accuracy:
- 100
- baseline:
- 100
- difficulty:
- 2
- the naive guess:
- he was on somebody's 53 last season, so he makes one again
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- weeks on the53:
- 1
- weeks left when called:
- 18
- first week on the53:
- 1
- weeks on the practice squad:
- 0
- Roster Spot CallsJalyx HuntPhiladelphia EaglesAug 28, 2026
Jalyx Hunt to make the roster
“the Eagles had Nolan Smith, Jalyx Hunt, Arnold Ebiketie, and A.J. Epenesa. All four are making the team.”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 100+0 skillHow this was scored
- club:
- PHI
- skill:
- 0
- player:
- 05f92a0b-2e11-4b1d-a39c-3bdc18cefbbb
- season:
- 2026
- claimed:
- he makes the 53
- accuracy:
- 100
- baseline:
- 100
- difficulty:
- 2
- the naive guess:
- he was on somebody's 53 last season, so he makes one again
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- weeks on the53:
- 1
- weeks left when called:
- 18
- first week on the53:
- 1
- weeks on the practice squad:
- 0
- Roster Spot CallsMarkel BellPhiladelphia EaglesAug 28, 2026
Markel Bell to make the roster
“6. Makai Lemon, Eli Stowers, Markel Bell ... Neither are getting waived by this football team by Sunday.”
Miss · 0Scored 0a naive guess scored 0+0 skillHow this was scored
- club:
- PHI
- skill:
- 0
- player:
- 48212716-295c-4343-9049-42c6183282c0
- season:
- 2026
- claimed:
- he does not make the 53
- accuracy:
- 0
- baseline:
- 0
- difficulty:
- 2
- the naive guess:
- he was on somebody's 53 last season, so he makes one again
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- weeks on the53:
- 1
- weeks left when called:
- 18
- first week on the53:
- 1
- weeks on the practice squad:
- 0
Keyshawn James-Newby to make the roster
“1. Keyshawn James-Newby (EDGE) -- 7th round ... The Eagles can develop James-Newby on the practice squad if they can get him there (and he should be available).”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Cole Wisniewski to make the roster
“The Eagles can get Wisniewski on the practice squad and further develop him there -- or give Wisniewski the phantom injured reserve stint to protect him from waivers.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsMarkel BellPhiladelphia EaglesAug 28, 2026
Markel Bell to be 1st on the depth chart
“Markell Bell is the right tackle of the future.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Roster Spot CallsUar BernardPhiladelphia EaglesAug 28, 2026
Uar Bernard to make the roster
“I think the Eagles are going to stick with the plan here and protect Bernard on the 53.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Roster Spot CallsEli StowersPhiladelphia EaglesAug 28, 2026
Eli Stowers to make the roster
“Stowers has struggled throughout the summer and is dealing with a hamstring injury, but he'll be on the team.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsCole PaytonPhiladelphia EaglesAug 28, 2026
Cole Payton to be 3rd on the depth chart
“he would be the inactive QB3 for most of the season if he makes the team”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Roster Spot CallsCole PaytonPhiladelphia EaglesAug 28, 2026
Cole Payton to make the roster
“I think Payton makes this roster because the Eagles want to continue to develop him”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Roster Spot CallsJoshua WeruPhiladelphia EaglesAug 28, 2026
Joshua Weru to make the roster
“Joshua Weru is also becoming a player the Eagles seriously have to consider protecting on the 53-man roster”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsMakai LemonPhiladelphia EaglesAug 28, 2026
Makai Lemon to be 1st on the depth chart
“Makai Lemon will start ... he'll start Week 1.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- Tyler SullivanGame Outcome Picks · Philadelphia EaglesHit · 100Sullivan takes the Jaguars to beat the Browns, doubting Deshaun Watson, and takes the Eagles over the Commanders at home.
- Gregg RosenthalGame Outcome Picks · Philadelphia EaglesHit · 100Rosenthal picked the Texans to reach the Super Bowl, the Eagles to win the NFC East and to beat Washington in Week 1, and the Dolphins to end up with the No. 1 pick in the 2027 draft.
- Vani HanamirianScore Predictions · Philadelphia EaglesHit · 88The show's producer takes the optimistic side at 12-5 for the Eagles and predicts a low-scoring 17-10 week one win over Washington.
- Dave UramScore Predictions · Philadelphia EaglesHit · 98The station's Bulldog reporter leans to 10 wins rather than 12 for the Eagles, expects them to start 2-0 by beating Washington and Tennessee, and predicts a 21-20 Eagles win in the opener.
- Dan "Buzz" WilsonScore Predictions · Philadelphia EaglesHit · 88The host (called Dan by his guest) predicts the Eagles go 12-5, make the playoffs with a likely divisional-round exit, and beat Washington 24-17 in the week one opener; he also guesses Andy Dalton is the backup QB.
- Nick WrightGame Outcome Picks · Philadelphia EaglesHit · 100Wright picked Tampa Bay to beat Cincinnati outright, Philadelphia to beat Washington, Dallas to beat the Giants, and said he was one of the few nationally to pick the Chiefs to win it all.
More roster spot calls
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
- 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.
- Cody RourkeRoster Spot Calls · Mitchell FraboniMiss · 0Rourke names the Ravens as the bounce-back team most likely to be dangerous in the AFC again, and says Houston's defense alone should carry the Texans into the postseason. He also expects long snapper Mitchell Fraboni to be one of Denver's practice-squad elevations for the Chiefs game, and slots Pat Bryant as Denver's third receiver behind Courtland Sutton and Jaylen Waddle.
- Sayre BedingerRoster Spot Calls · Adam PrenticeMiss · 0Benninger expects Houston's elite defense to make them either a division winner or a wild card team, thinks Marvin Mims was trending toward being Denver's fourth receiver rather than just the return man, and figures Adam Prentice will be the Broncos' other practice-squad call-up.
- Bob MorrisRoster Spot Calls · Adam PrenticeHit · 100Morris predicts Jarrett Stidham holds the backup QB job behind Bo Nix, Adam Prentice makes the 53-man roster as the fullback/fourth back, and Lucas Krull gets cut.
- Erick TrickelRoster Spot Calls · Adam PrenticeHit · 100After the Broncos' preseason opener, Trickel argued fullback Adam Prentice has shown enough value to earn a spot on the 53-man roster ahead of the team's fourth running back options (Jaleel McLaughlin, Tyler Badie, Cody Schrader).
- Nick ShookRoster Spot Calls · Aaron DonaldHit · 100Shook unveiled his first NFL power rankings of the year, putting the Rams first, the Broncos second and the defending champion Seahawks only third, with the Dolphins last.