Jordan Dajani· Aug 13, 2026
An unsigned CBS Sports preseason piece makes several depth-chart and roster projections: Deshaun Watson wins the Browns' QB job, the Browns' new offensive line starters are named, Chris Johnson starts immediately for Miami, Jacoby Brissett starts for Arizona, Tua Tagovailoa is the Falcons' frontrunner, Fernando Mendoza will start at some point for the Raiders, Brock Bowers is Cousins' top target, and Ventrell Miller replaces Devin Lloyd.
“I'm not going to change my initial prediction that Watson will win this battle, but I'd love to see Sanders make it a tough call for Todd Monken.”
published in writing · CBS Sports · read the original →
12 checkable claims — 12 depth chart calls — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.
It names 18 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.
Of the 12 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
Fernando Mendoza · 2026 season25 calls from 20 pundits between 1 and 3. Jordan Dajani 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.
Their call against the room
Their call against everyone else's, while this is still unsettled.
Where do you stand? Pick this and every open claim on Picks →
Who this take is about
12 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 CallsTua TagovailoaAtlanta FalconsAug 13, 2026
Tua Tagovailoa to be 1st on the depth chart
“Tagovailoa is the frontrunner since Penix hasn't been cleared for 11-on-11 work due to his torn ACL”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsTytus HowardCleveland BrownsAug 13, 2026
Tytus Howard to be 1st on the depth chart
“the versatile Tytus Howard at right tackle”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsChris JohnsonMiami DolphinsAug 13, 2026
Chris Johnson to be 1st on the depth chart
“spent the No. 27 overall pick on former San Diego State corner Chris Johnson, who figures to start immediately”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Jacoby Brissett to be 1st on the depth chart
“Jacoby Brissett will likely be the Arizona Cardinals' starting quarterback this year”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsZion JohnsonCleveland BrownsAug 13, 2026
Zion Johnson to be 1st on the depth chart
“Zion Johnson at left guard”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsElgton JenkinsCleveland BrownsAug 13, 2026
Elgton Jenkins to be 1st on the depth chart
“Elgton Jenkins at center”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsDeshaun WatsonCleveland BrownsAug 13, 2026
Deshaun Watson to be 1st on the depth chart
“I'm not going to change my initial prediction that Watson will win this battle”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsTeven JenkinsCleveland BrownsAug 13, 2026
Teven Jenkins to be 1st on the depth chart
“Teven Jenkins at right guard”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Ventrell Miller to be 1st on the depth chart
“Ventrell Miller is the favorite to replace Lloyd”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Fernando Mendoza to be 1st on the depth chart
“This will be his only chance to experience those live reps before he's thrown into the starting lineup at some point this season.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsBrock BowersLas Vegas RaidersAug 13, 2026
Brock Bowers to be 1st on the depth chart
“We know Brock Bowers will likely be Cousins' top target”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsSpencer FanoCleveland BrownsAug 13, 2026
Spencer Fano to be 1st on the depth chart
“first-round pick Spencer Fano is expected to start at left tackle”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Nathan JahnkeDepth Chart Calls · Jalen TolbertMiss · 0PFF's fantasy football preseason recap projects depth-chart outcomes, roster spots and fantasy value for numerous players across several preseason games, including Chig Okonkwo's expanded role in Washington, Ja'Kobi Lane as Baltimore's WR3, Malachi Fields winning the Giants' starting X job, and Zachariah Branch being a fantasy bust relative to his late-round cost.
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.
- 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.
- Emmett MatasovskyDepth Chart Calls · Christian IzienMiss · 0Matasovsky says Dobbs is currently leading the backup quarterback race and suggests Christian Izien may be pressed into a starting safety role in Week 1 while Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph rehab.
- Pat FitzmauriceDepth Chart Calls · Kyler MurrayHit · 100Fitzmaurice expects Kyler Murray to open the season as Minnesota's starting quarterback and to be one of the better quarterback values in 2026 fantasy drafts, and he likewise likes Tyler Shough as New Orleans' entrenched starter with an easy schedule.
- Mike MoraitisDepth Chart Calls · Ozzy TrapiloMiss · 0Moraitis writes that although Braxton Jones has looked like the favorite, Ozzy Trapilo is likely to take over as the Bears' starting left tackle once he's healthy enough to play.