# Ethan Hurwitz: Previewing the Patriots' Week 1 roster, Hurwitz lays out the interior offensive line with Jared Wilson at center flanked by Alijah Vera-Tucker and Mike Onwenu, with Greg Van Roten as the top interior backup, names Robert Spillane and Christian Elliss the starting linebackers, and puts Christian Gonzalez, Carlton Davis and Marcus Jones atop the cornerback pecking order. **Claimed:** Sep 4, 2026 **Pundit:** Ethan Hurwitz — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/pundits/ethan-hurwitz **Outlet:** Sports Illustrated — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/outlets/sports-illustrated **How it reached us:** published in writing **Original:** https://www.si.com/nfl/patriots/onsi/every-position-where-the-patriots-must-continue-to-look-for-help 9 checkable claims — 9 depth chart 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. None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in. Of the 8 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands above the room on 2 and below it on 6. > There's a pecking order at the top of this, with Christian Gonzalez, Carlton Davis and Marcus Jones leading the way. *(their words, quoted for attribution)* ## The claims - **Carlton Davis III to be 2nd on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Carlton Davis III, New England Patriots - Verdict: not settled yet - **Jared Wilson to be 1st on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Jared Wilson, New England Patriots - Verdict: not settled yet - **Alijah Vera-Tucker to be 1st on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Alijah Vera-Tucker, New England Patriots - Verdict: not settled yet - **Mike Onwenu to be 1st on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Mike Onwenu, New England Patriots - Verdict: not settled yet - **Greg Van Roten to be 2nd on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Greg Van Roten, New England Patriots - Verdict: not settled yet - **Robert Spillane to be 1st on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Robert Spillane, New England Patriots - Verdict: not settled yet - **Marcus Jones to be 3rd on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Marcus Jones, New England Patriots - Verdict: not settled yet - **Christian Gonzalez to be 1st on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Christian Gonzalez, New England Patriots - Verdict: not settled yet - **Christian Elliss to be 1st on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Christian Elliss, New England Patriots - Verdict: not settled yet ## Who this take is about - Carlton Davis III — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/carlton-davis-iii - New England Patriots — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/patriots - Jared Wilson — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/jared-wilson - Alijah Vera-Tucker — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/alijah-vera-tucker - Mike Onwenu — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/mike-onwenu - Greg Van Roten — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/greg-van-roten - Robert Spillane — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/robert-spillane - Marcus Jones — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/marcus-jones - Christian Gonzalez — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/christian-gonzalez - Christian Elliss — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/christian-elliss ## What others said about the same people - Steven Ruiz on A.J. Brown: Ruiz expects the Eagles to trade A.J. Brown once the June 1 dead-cap threshold passes, most likely to New England, and thinks Baker Mayfield will get a Buccaneers extension making him the league's highest-paid quarterback within a month or two. He also argues the Lions may have to let one or two of their 2023 draft class leave, and that Houston should extend C.J. Stroud. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/6f6c3a28-18bb-4f4d-beb5-061d863b4e28 (scored 100) - Brandon Carney on A.J. Brown: Carney drafted a team of rookies he expects to make an immediate fantasy impact (headlined by Karnell Tate and Makai Lemon), predicted landing spots for the remaining big-name free agents, and gave way-too-early division winners, wild cards and award picks — Patriots, Chargers, Bengals, Jaguars, Eagles, Rams, Vikings and Saints as division champs with Joe Burrow as MVP. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/c4d477da-4fb8-4a25-a904-c5057a249a70 (scored 100) - Jeremy White on A.J. Brown: Jeremy White expects the Patriots to acquire AJ Brown, calling the trade likely inevitable within about a month. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/a8701720-01eb-4a29-8bf1-5a8555f0d1ed (scored 100) - Chris Brockman on A.J. Brown: Brockman predicted only Stafford and Josh Allen of last year's MVP vote-getters get votes again, Fernando Mendoza starts and wins Rookie of the Year, the Colts win the AFC South, AJ Brown is traded to New England leaving DeVonta Smith as Philadelphia's clear No. 1 and a breakout star, five running backs top 1,600 yards, George Pickens breaks a Cowboys receiving record, and Justin Fields starts for Kansas City in September. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/2307f474-6a3d-405e-b048-7b023ffda1be (scored 100) - Shannon Sharpe on A.J. Brown: Sharpe predicted that A.J. Brown will be playing for New England once June 1 arrives. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/4b2704cf-245c-4a11-af0e-8164d327c7e0 (scored 100) - Chad Ochocinco Johnson on A.J. Brown: Ochocinco predicted George Pickens will be traded away from Dallas now that he has signed the franchise tag, naming the Browns, Raiders and possibly Buffalo as his three landing spots. He also called both No. 2 pick David Bailey and No. 3 pick Jeremiah Love immediate Day 1 starters, and said he has been saying for months that A.J. Brown will end up in New England. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/006b1a76-95ea-423a-9f60-c10571a7f605 (scored 100) ## More depth chart calls The same kind of call, about other players and teams. - Rich Hribar on Malik Willis: Hribar previews the Week 1 Dolphins-Raiders game, calling Malik Willis a strong floor-based QB2 for fantasy, noting Kirk Cousins is the Raiders' starter and not a Week 1 streamer in 1QB leagues, and listing expected defensive starters for both teams. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/0ff48079-418b-4d5a-9eb2-6e66b0e6f6e1 (scored 100) - Randy Gurzi on Jadarian Price: Gurzi suggests the Seahawks could sign three free agents — safety Donovan Wilson, guard Kevin Zeitler, and running back Kareem Hunt — if weaknesses show up after Week 1. He also notes Trevon Diggs starting on the practice squad and describes Seattle's projected backfield roles. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/350eed1b-4675-4a2d-aaf5-812e20678283 (scored 100) - Tyler Sullivan on Malik Willis: An unsigned CBS Sports preseason review grading all 32 teams, which along the way stakes out a number of depth-chart calls for Week 1 and beyond — including Deshaun Watson opening as Cleveland's starter, Fernando Mendoza taking over as Las Vegas' QB1 by season's end, and Minnesota's Murray-Wentz-McCarthy quarterback order. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/054d7c3e-baca-4414-b3dd-72c4eced2725 (scored 100) - Warren Sharp on Kirk Cousins: Sharp argues Raiders rookie No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza is not ready to play, predicting he won't start Week 1 or Week 2 and that Kirk Cousins will be the Week 1 starter, with Mendoza sitting behind him for a long stretch. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/f6c6fdb0-ba07-4779-bdb0-bed9dfc089c6 (scored 100) - Greg Auman on Malik Willis: Auman states Malik Willis will be Miami's Week 1 starting quarterback and the player the Dolphins build their season around, despite having only six career starts. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/4954ba44-5b36-43a2-9dcf-26538ad31e26 (scored 100) - Carter Bahns on Kirk Cousins: The newsletter says Shedeur Sanders' preseason Week 2 start may have won him the Browns' starting quarterback job over Deshaun Watson, and that Kirk Cousins will lead the Raiders' offense in Week 1. It also asserts Florida is the best college basketball team heading into 2026-27. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/551a6c15-18a9-488d-a1c2-52e7643735cd (scored 100) --- 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: https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/corrections?pundit=ethan-hurwitz