Ethan Hurwitz· Aug 19, 2026
Hurwitz says several Patriots starting jobs and roster spots are already settled — Drake Maye at QB with Jared Wilson at center, A.J. Brown and Hunter Henry as pass-catchers, and Christian Gonzalez, Milton Williams and Kevin Byard locked into roster spots. Among camp standouts, he pegs undrafted rookie Cameron Dorner as roughly the eighth receiver on a roster likely keeping seven, and says Channing Canada is a strong practice squad candidate if he doesn't make the 53.
“He's building a chemistry with rookie quarterback Behren Morton and might just be the eighth-best receiver on a roster where they may only keep seven.”
published in writing · Sports Illustrated · read the original →
9 checkable claims — 5 depth chart calls and 4 roster spot calls — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.
It names 10 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
1 of 9 have settled so far, averaging 0 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess at the same calls.
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 this call stands in the room
A.J. Brown · 2026 season9 calls from 8 pundits between 1 and 1. Ethan Hurwitz 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.
Where do you stand? Pick this and every open claim on Picks →
Who this take is about
9 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.
Channing Canada to make the roster
“If not, he's an easy choice for a practice squad addition if he's able to clear waivers in August.”
Miss · 0Scored 0a naive guess scored 100-200 skillHow this was scored
- club:
- NE
- skill:
- -200
- player:
- 1a75d88c-434d-4429-9d3e-50e8719cbda2
- season:
- 2026
- claimed:
- he lands on the practice squad
- accuracy:
- 0
- 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
- Depth Chart CallsDrake MayeNew England PatriotsAug 19, 2026
Drake Maye to be 1st on the depth chart
“We know Drake Maye will be taking snaps from Jared Wilson”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Christian Gonzalez to make the roster
“Christian Gonzalez, Milton Williams and Kevin Byard have their roster spots locked up already.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Roster Spot CallsKevin ByardNew England PatriotsAug 19, 2026
Kevin Byard to make the roster
“Christian Gonzalez, Milton Williams and Kevin Byard have their roster spots locked up already.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Jared Wilson to be 1st on the depth chart
“We know Drake Maye will be taking snaps from Jared Wilson”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsA.J. BrownNew England PatriotsAug 19, 2026
A.J. Brown to be 1st on the depth chart
“A.J. Brown and Hunter Henry catch his passes”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Cameron Dorner to be 8th on the depth chart
“might just be the eighth-best receiver on a roster where they may only keep seven”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Milton Williams to make the roster
“Christian Gonzalez, Milton Williams and Kevin Byard have their roster spots locked up already.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Hunter Henry to be 1st on the depth chart
“A.J. Brown and Hunter Henry catch his passes”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- Julian EdelmanScore Predictions · New England PatriotsClose · 48Edelman picked the Patriots to win the season opener in Seattle, saying New England's offseason additions and the bad taste from the previous season would carry them, and gave a final score of 28-24.
- Connor "Boston Connor" CampbellGame Outcome Picks · New England PatriotsMiss · 0Boston Connor took the Patriots in the season opener against Seattle, framing it as a redemption spot after the Super Bowl loss.
- Darius ButlerGame Outcome Picks · New England PatriotsMiss · 0Butler initially picked Seattle but switched to the Patriots before the show ended; he also called the Colts a likely No. 1 seed, said Jacksonville sneaks into the playoffs, and expects Sam Darnold to land a new contract.
- Jason McIntyreGame Outcome Picks · New England PatriotsMiss · 0McIntyre takes the Patriots on the moneyline in the season opener at Seattle, picks the Jaguars over the Browns, and says Baker Mayfield's new deal keeps Tampa a perennial playoff team.
- Mike FlorioScore Predictions · New England PatriotsClose · 50Florio gives score predictions for every Week 1 game of the 2026 NFL season, including an opening-night upset by the Patriots in Seattle and narrow home wins for the Giants and Chiefs.
- Conor OrrGame Outcome Picks · New England PatriotsMiss · 0Orr's Week 1 straight-up picks, including several upsets (Patriots, Buccaneers, Browns, Dolphins, Commanders, Broncos).
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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Mike FlorioDepth Chart Calls · Shedeur SandersMiss · 0Florio reports the Browns will start Deshaun Watson in Week 1 but predicts Shedeur Sanders will likely be the starting quarterback by Week 3.