Michael Hanich· Aug 24, 2026
Hanich projects Seattle's updated safety and nickel depth charts after Bud Clark's injury, naming Julian Love and Ty Okada as starting safeties, A.J. Finley as Love's backup, and laying out a nickel pecking order with Devon Witherspoon first, Noah Igbinoghene third and Nehemiah Pritchett behind him. He also predicts roster outcomes for D'Anthony Bell, Rodney Thomas and Andre Fuller.
“With Clark out, that No. 3 nickel spot likely goes to Noah Igbinoghene, then Nehemiah Pritchett.”
published in writing · Sports Illustrated · read the original →
9 checkable claims — 6 depth chart calls and 3 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.
2 of 9 have settled so far, averaging 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess at the same calls.
Of the 3 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands above the room on 1 and below it on 2.
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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.
- Roster Spot CallsRodney ThomasSeattle SeahawksAug 24, 2026
Rodney Thomas to make the roster
“Thomas is likely to make the 53-man roster based on his consistency through the training camp and preseason.”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 100+0 skillHow this was scored
- club:
- SEA
- skill:
- 0
- player:
- Rodney Thomas
- 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 CallsD'Anthony BellSeattle SeahawksAug 24, 2026
D'Anthony Bell to make the roster
“His experience with the team and how dynamic gives him an extra push to make the roster.”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 100+0 skillHow this was scored
- club:
- SEA
- skill:
- 0
- player:
- b23b8541-2f5b-4bfc-820f-5987a9973f9b
- 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 CallsAndre FullerSeattle SeahawksAug 24, 2026
Andre Fuller to make the roster
“He could make a good emergency spot on the practice squad if he doesn't make the initial 53-man roster.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Devon Witherspoon to be 1st on the depth chart
“If Nick Emmanwori is still injured, the Seahawks would likely have cornerback Devon Witherspoon go back to where he spent his first two years of his career.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsJulian LoveSeattle SeahawksAug 24, 2026
Julian Love to be 1st on the depth chart
“The two easiest spots at the safety positions are Julian Love and Ty Okada, who is coming in as a full-time starter.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Noah Igbinoghene to be 3rd on the depth chart
“With Clark out, that No. 3 nickel spot likely goes to Noah Igbinoghene, then Nehemiah Pritchett.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Nehemiah Pritchett to be 4th on the depth chart
“that No. 3 nickel spot likely goes to Noah Igbinoghene, then Nehemiah Pritchett”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsTy OkadaSeattle SeahawksAug 24, 2026
Ty Okada to be 1st on the depth chart
“The two easiest spots at the safety positions are Julian Love and Ty Okada, who is coming in as a full-time starter.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsAJ FinleySeattle SeahawksAug 24, 2026
AJ Finley to be 2nd on the depth chart
“Finley remains the backup behind Love.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- 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.
- Richard ShermanScore Predictions · Seattle SeahawksHit · 81Sherman picked Seattle to beat New England 28-17 in the opener, ran through score picks for the rest of the week one slate (49ers, Cowboys, Bills, Bears, Vikings, Colts, Broncos), said the Seahawks would also beat the Cardinals, Commanders and Chargers, backed Dallas to win its division, and predicted Christian Gonzalez's deal would come in barely above Devon Witherspoon's.
- Anthony “Tone Diggs” DiGuilioGame Outcome Picks · Seattle SeahawksHit · 100Tone picked the Seahawks to beat the Patriots in the Thursday-night season opener, citing Seattle's returning front seven and offensive line snaps.
- Ty SchmitGame Outcome Picks · Seattle SeahawksHit · 100Ty Schmidt also leaned Seahawks over Patriots in the opener, pointing to Seattle returning 20 of 22 Super Bowl starters and a raucous banner night.
- AJ HawkGame Outcome Picks · Seattle SeahawksHit · 100AJ Hawk picked the Seahawks to win the opener at home over the Patriots.
- Colin CowherdScore Predictions · Seattle SeahawksHit · 100Cowherd lays out his final season predictions: he flips the NFC West to the Rams over Seattle (fearing first-time OC Brian Fleury), picks Bills, Ravens, Texans, Chargers, Eagles, Lions, Saints and Rams as division winners with the Bills reaching the Super Bowl, and makes picks on opening night (Seahawks 23-20 over New England) and the Jaguars over the Browns.
More depth chart calls
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
- 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.
- 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.