Donnie Druin· Sep 6, 2026
In a Cardinals mailbag, Druin says Elijah Wilkinson is locked in as the starting right tackle to open the season, predicts Arizona clears last year's three-win total if healthy, and expects rookie Jeremiyah Love to play in Week 1 while Tyler Allgeier handles the bulk of the backfield work.
“My unofficial prediction is Love will play but Tyler Allgeier mostly handles duties as the Cardinals ease Love back into the mix.”
published in writing · Sports Illustrated · read the original →
4 checkable claims — 3 depth chart calls and 1 season win total — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.
It names 4 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
Jeremiyah Love · 2026 season21 calls from 16 pundits between 1 and 2. Donnie Druin said 2. 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
4 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.
Tyler Allgeier to be 1st on the depth chart
“My unofficial prediction is Love will play but Tyler Allgeier mostly handles duties as the Cardinals ease Love back into the mix.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Elijah Wilkinson to be 1st on the depth chart
“It's fair to say Wilkinson is "dead set" as the starter to begin the season, and for what it's worth, Arizona really likes their new right tackle.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Jeremiyah Love to be 2nd on the depth chart
“My unofficial prediction is Love will play but Tyler Allgeier mostly handles duties as the Cardinals ease Love back into the mix.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Season Win TotalsArizona CardinalsSep 6, 2026
Arizona Cardinals to finish with ? wins
“if the team is healthy, Arizona should at very bare minimum surpass that three-win total from last season”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- Henry McKennaDepth Chart Calls · Carson BeckMiss · 0McKenna predicts Kyler Murray will win the Vikings' starting QB job over J.J. McCarthy, that Minnesota will make the playoffs if Murray cuts out the hero ball, that both QBs will play in 2026, and wonders whether rookie Carson Beck could unseat Jacoby Brissett as Arizona's Week 1 starter.
- Nathan JahnkeRoster Spot Calls · Reggie VirgilHit · 100PFF's preseason usage recap makes a number of depth-chart and roster projections, including nine rookie receivers slotting as top-three options on their teams, sleeper tight end usage, and specific depth-chart placements for Cardinals, Falcons and Ravens players.
- Nathan JahnkeRoster Spot Calls · Reggie VirgilHit · 100An unsigned PFF preseason recap makes numerous depth-chart, roster and usage projections across the league, based on Week 3 preseason playing time — including Roman Wilson winning Pittsburgh's third receiver job, Luke McCaffrey's roster spot being in danger, Charlie Kolar as the Chargers' top tight end, and Kendre Miller as the Saints' RB2.
- Nathan JahnkeRoster Spot Calls · Reggie VirgilHit · 100PFF's preseason fantasy recap makes a series of depth-chart, roster and usage projections based on final-week preseason snap counts, including Ja'Kobi Lane locking down the Ravens' third receiver role, Luke McCaffrey's roster spot being in danger, Kyle Pitts facing reduced 12-personnel usage, Kendre Miller as the Saints' RB2 and Emmett Johnson as the Chiefs' backup running back.
- Nathan JahnkeRoster Spot Calls · Bam KnightHit · 100PFF'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 JahnkeRoster Spot Calls · Reggie VirgilHit · 100PFF's preseason recap projects Xavier Legette as the clear No. 3 receiver in Carolina after Chris Brazzell II's season-ending injury, doubts Jimmy Horn Jr. makes the 53-man roster, expects Ja'Tavion Sanders' role to shrink (with Mitchell Evans ahead of him), and sees Bam Knight as a candidate for Arizona's RB3 job.
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.