Christian Booher· Sep 6, 2026
Booher lays out a projected Detroit Lions offensive depth chart ahead of the 2026 regular season, naming starters, backups and practice squad members at every offensive position.
“Miller looks to be in position to start right away after appearing to outperform Borom in training camp.”
published in writing · Sports Illustrated · read the original →
28 checkable claims — 20 depth chart calls and 8 roster spot calls — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.
It names 28 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
1 of 28 have settled so far, averaging 0 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess at the same calls.
Of the 15 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands above the room on 2 and below it on 13.
Where this call stands in the room
Blake Miller · 2026 season15 calls from 11 pundits between 1 and 1. Christian Booher 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
- Tom Kennedy
- Detroit Lions
- Thomas Gordon
- Lucky Jackson
- Miles Frazier
- Juice Scruggs
- Jahmyr Gibbs
- Jacob Saylors
- Amon-Ra St. Brown
- Christian Mahogany
- Tate Ratledge
- Ben Bartch
- Devin Cochran
- Elijah Klein
- Mason Miller
- Jameson Williams
- Isaac TeSlaa
- Tay Martin
- Penei Sewell
- Blake Miller
- Larry Borom
- Sam LaPorta
- Brock Wright
- Sione Vaki
- Jared Goff
- Joshua Dobbs
- Dominic Lovett
- Luke Altmyer
28 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 CallsTom KennedyDetroit LionsSep 6, 2026
Tom Kennedy to make the roster
“Practice squad: Tom Kennedy, Lucky Jackson, Dominic Lovett.”
Miss · 0Scored 0a naive guess scored 100-200 skillHow this was scored
- club:
- DET
- skill:
- -200
- player:
- 0ae17fe2-457b-4b2c-abda-816020763d49
- 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
- Roster Spot CallsThomas GordonDetroit LionsSep 6, 2026
Thomas Gordon to make the roster
“Practice squad: Thomas Gordon.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Roster Spot CallsLucky JacksonDetroit LionsSep 6, 2026
Lucky Jackson to make the roster
“Practice squad: Tom Kennedy, Lucky Jackson, Dominic Lovett.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsMiles FrazierDetroit LionsSep 6, 2026
Miles Frazier to be 3rd on the depth chart
“Backups: Ben Bartch, Miles Frazier.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsJuice ScruggsDetroit LionsSep 6, 2026
Juice Scruggs to be 1st on the depth chart
“Center Starter: Juice Scruggs. ... it'll be Scruggs to start the year”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsJahmyr GibbsDetroit LionsSep 6, 2026
Jahmyr Gibbs to be 1st on the depth chart
“Running back Starter: Jahmyr Gibbs.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsJacob SaylorsDetroit LionsSep 6, 2026
Jacob Saylors to be 2nd on the depth chart
“Backup: Jacob Saylors.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Amon-Ra St. Brown to be 1st on the depth chart
“Starters: Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, Isaac TeSlaa.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Christian Mahogany to be 1st on the depth chart
“Guard Starters: Christian Mahogany (left), Tate Ratledge (right).”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsTate RatledgeDetroit LionsSep 6, 2026
Tate Ratledge to be 1st on the depth chart
“Guard Starters: Christian Mahogany (left), Tate Ratledge (right).”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsBen BartchDetroit LionsSep 6, 2026
Ben Bartch to be 2nd on the depth chart
“Backups: Ben Bartch, Miles Frazier.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Roster Spot CallsDevin CochranDetroit LionsSep 6, 2026
Devin Cochran to make the roster
“Practice squad: Devin Cochran.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Roster Spot CallsElijah KleinDetroit LionsSep 6, 2026
Elijah Klein to make the roster
“Practice squad: Elijah Klein, Mason Miller.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Roster Spot CallsMason MillerDetroit LionsSep 6, 2026
Mason Miller to make the roster
“Practice squad: Elijah Klein, Mason Miller.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Jameson Williams to be 2nd on the depth chart
“Starters: Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, Isaac TeSlaa.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsIsaac TeSlaaDetroit LionsSep 6, 2026
Isaac TeSlaa to be 3rd on the depth chart
“Starters: Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, Isaac TeSlaa.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsTay MartinDetroit LionsSep 6, 2026
Tay Martin to be 4th on the depth chart
“Backup: Tay Martin.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsPenei SewellDetroit LionsSep 6, 2026
Penei Sewell to be 1st on the depth chart
“Starters: Penei Sewell (left), Blake Miller (right).”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsBlake MillerDetroit LionsSep 6, 2026
Blake Miller to be 1st on the depth chart
“Miller looks to be in position to start right away after appearing to outperform Borom in training camp.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsLarry BoromDetroit LionsSep 6, 2026
Larry Borom to be 2nd on the depth chart
“Backup: Larry Borom. ... Borom will be the swing tackle”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsSam LaPortaDetroit LionsSep 6, 2026
Sam LaPorta to be 1st on the depth chart
“Tight end Starter: Sam LaPorta.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsBrock WrightDetroit LionsSep 6, 2026
Brock Wright to be 2nd on the depth chart
“Backup: Brock Wright.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsSione VakiDetroit LionsSep 6, 2026
Sione Vaki to be 3rd on the depth chart
“Reserve: Sione Vaki.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsTate RatledgeDetroit LionsSep 6, 2026
Tate Ratledge to be 2nd on the depth chart
“Backup: Tate Ratledge. ... with Ratledge serving as the emergency backup”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsJared GoffDetroit LionsSep 6, 2026
Jared Goff to be 1st on the depth chart
“Quarterback Starter: Jared Goff.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsJoshua DobbsDetroit LionsSep 6, 2026
Joshua Dobbs to be 2nd on the depth chart
“Backup: Joshua Dobbs.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Roster Spot CallsDominic LovettDetroit LionsSep 6, 2026
Dominic Lovett to make the roster
“Practice squad: Tom Kennedy, Lucky Jackson, Dominic Lovett.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Roster Spot CallsLuke AltmyerDetroit LionsSep 6, 2026
Luke Altmyer to make the roster
“Practice squad: Luke Altmyer.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- 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.
- Pete PriscoGame Outcome Picks · Detroit LionsHit · 100Prisco predicts the Lions blow out the Saints in Detroit and that the Chargers rout the Cardinals behind a new-look offense.
- Kirk HerbstreitGame Outcome Picks · Detroit LionsHit · 100Herbstreit 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.
- Matt DeryScore Predictions · Detroit LionsHit · 93Derry predicted a Lions win over the Saints by a 24-20 score, with the Saints covering the 7.5-point spread.
- Ross JacksonScore Predictions · Detroit LionsHit · 86Jackson predicted the Lions beat the Saints 27-20 in Week 1, and separately said he expects New Orleans to start 0-2 while still being a playoff-caliber team.
- Mitchell EisensteinScore Predictions · Detroit LionsClose · 79Mitchell picked the Lions to beat the Saints at home, 34-24.
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.