Mike Moraitis· Sep 7, 2026
Moraitis projects Week 1 roles for six Cowboys rookies, including Caleb Downs playing mostly slot cornerback, Jaishawn Barham as the LB3 behind starters Dee Winters and DeMarvion Overshown, Drew Shelton as only the No. 2 swing tackle rather than the primary backup, and Camden Brown as the No. 6 receiver and inactive on gameday.
“We still think Dee Winters gets the start next to DeMarvion Overshown, but Barham is going to be involved in the rotation there as the LB3.”
published in writing · Sports Illustrated · read the original →
7 checkable claims — 7 depth chart calls — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.
It names 8 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.
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.
Where this call stands in the room
Jaishawn Barham · 2026 season4 calls from 3 pundits between 1 and 3. Mike Moraitis said 3. 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.
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Who this take is about
7 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 CallsDee WintersDallas CowboysSep 7, 2026
Dee Winters to be 1st on the depth chart
“We still think Dee Winters gets the start next to DeMarvion Overshown”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Malachi Lawrence to be 4th on the depth chart
“Lawrence didn't make much noise this offseason and he's likely no better than fourth at the position behind Rashan Gary, Donovan Ezeiruaku and Von Miller. He may even be No. 5 behind James Houston.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Jaishawn Barham to be 3rd on the depth chart
“Barham is going to be involved in the rotation there as the LB3”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Jonathan Bullard to be 4th on the depth chart
“Jonathan Bullard will likely be No. 4 if healthy”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsCamden BrownDallas CowboysSep 7, 2026
Camden Brown to be 6th on the depth chart
“This is under the assumption that Brown ... is the No. 6 player on the depth chart at wide receiver behind Jonathan Mingo and KaVontae Turpin.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsDrew SheltonDallas CowboysSep 7, 2026
Drew Shelton to be 3rd on the depth chart
“Projected role: No. 2 swing tackle ... we find it hard to believe the Cowboys saw enough in him during the offseason to trust Shelton as the first player off the bench at either tackle spot.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Quinnen Williams to be 1st on the depth chart
“Quinnen Williams, Kenny Clark and Otito Ogbonnia are the top three players at defensive tackle”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- Garrett PodellScore Predictions · Dallas CowboysMiss · 36Previewing the Week 1 'Sunday Night Football' game, the piece picks Dallas to beat New York comfortably, arguing Prescott, Lamb and Pickens will exploit the Giants' cornerbacks while the Cowboys' defense contains Jaxson Dart.
- Chris BroussardScore Predictions · Dallas CowboysMiss · 29Broussard took Tampa Bay over Cincinnati as his upset alert, predicted a 34-17 Cowboys win over the Giants, and had picked Dak Prescott as MVP.
- Nick WrightGame Outcome Picks · Dallas CowboysMiss · 0Wright 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.
- Eric ManginiGame Outcome Picks · Dallas CowboysMiss · 0Mangini's upset alert was Washington over Philadelphia; in the chips segment he backed Houston, Dallas and Denver; and his Monday headline was Cincinnati mauling Tampa Bay, with Joe Burrow as his MVP and the Bengals as AFC North champs.
- Kirk HerbstreitGame Outcome Picks · Dallas CowboysMiss · 0Herbstreit made a full slate of Week 1 picks — Lions, Ravens, Bears, Bills, Buccaneers, Jaguars, Titans, Eagles, Packers and Cowboys — and also said he still thinks Seattle is the team to beat in the NFC West.
- AJ HawkGame Outcome Picks · Dallas CowboysMiss · 0AJ Hawk picked the Ravens over the Colts, Carolina to beat Chicago outright, the Bills at Houston, the Bengals over Tampa Bay, the Titans over the Jets, the Raiders over Miami, the Packers at Minnesota and the Cowboys over the Giants.
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The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
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- 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.
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