# Jeff Cavanaugh: Building his projected Cowboys 53-man roster on defense, Jeff keeps five interior linemen (Kenny Clark, Quentin, Tito Obonia, LT Overton, Bullard), six edge rushers including Von Miller, Malachi Lawrence and Marist Liufau while cutting Sam Williams, four linebackers with Jayshawn Barham starting, six corners including rookie Devin Moore, and four safeties including Marquise Bell. **Claimed:** Aug 25, 2026 **Pundit:** Jeff Cavanaugh — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/pundits/jeff-cavanaugh **Outlet:** DLLS Dallas Cowboys (podcast) — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/outlets/dlls-dallas-cowboys-podcast **How it reached us:** said on air, transcribed by us **Original:** https://tracking.swap.fm/track/xt6bq09fJCm8CxP7DUGF/dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/pscrb.fm/rss/p/mgln.ai/e/822/claritaspod.com/measure/prfx.byspotify.com/e/injector.simplecastaudio.com/d5ae5375-e417-4df4-8c3d-3d7ba352b111/episodes/e7ecae9e-a654-4019-b6b9-2e56b59232e0/audio/128/default.mp3?aid=rss_feed&awCollectionId=d5ae5375-e417-4df4-8c3d-3d7ba352b111&awEpisodeId=e7ecae9e-a654-4019-b6b9-2e56b59232e0&feed=4Fqey2NA 29 checkable claims — 22 roster spot calls and 7 depth chart calls — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet. It names 26 players and teams, each linked to their own record. 15 of 29 have settled so far, averaging 100 out of 100, against 80 for a naive guess at the same calls. Of the 4 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands below the rest of the room on every one. > So Marquise Bell is making your football team. *(their words, quoted for attribution)* ## The claims - **Malik Hooker to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Malik Hooker, Dallas Cowboys - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - **Quinnen Williams to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Quinnen Williams, Dallas Cowboys - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - **Donovan Ezeiruaku to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Donovan Ezeiruaku, Dallas Cowboys - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - **Rashan Gary to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Rashan Gary, Dallas Cowboys - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - **L.T. Overton to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: L.T. Overton, Dallas Cowboys - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess - **Jalen Thompson to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Jalen Thompson, Dallas Cowboys - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - **Kenny Clark to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Kenny Clark, Dallas Cowboys - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - **DeMarvion Overshown to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: DeMarvion Overshown, Dallas Cowboys - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - **Otito Ogbonnia to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Otito Ogbonnia, Dallas Cowboys - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - **Malachi Lawrence to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Malachi Lawrence, Dallas Cowboys - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess - **P.J. Locke to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: P.J. Locke, Dallas Cowboys - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - **Jaishawn Barham to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Jaishawn Barham, Dallas Cowboys - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess - **Shemar James to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Shemar James, Dallas Cowboys - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - **Markquese Bell to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Markquese Bell, Dallas Cowboys - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - **Von Miller to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Von Miller, Dallas Cowboys - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - **Marist Liufau to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Marist Liufau, Dallas Cowboys - Verdict: not settled yet - **Tommy Dunn to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Tommy Dunn, Dallas Cowboys - Verdict: not settled yet - **Tyler Baron to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Tyler Baron, Dallas Cowboys - Verdict: not settled yet - **Devin Moore to be 5th on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Devin Moore, Dallas Cowboys - Verdict: not settled yet - **DaRon Bland to be 1st on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: DaRon Bland, Dallas Cowboys - Verdict: not settled yet - **Javon Bullard to be 5th on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Javon Bullard, Dallas Cowboys - Verdict: not settled yet - **Shavon Revel Jr. to be 1st on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Shavon Revel Jr., Dallas Cowboys - Verdict: not settled yet - **Caleb Downs to be 1st on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Caleb Downs, Dallas Cowboys - Verdict: not settled yet - **Devin Moore to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Devin Moore, Dallas Cowboys - Verdict: not settled yet - **L.T. Overton to be 2nd on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: L.T. Overton, Dallas Cowboys - Verdict: not settled yet - **Jaishawn Barham to be 1st on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Jaishawn Barham, Dallas Cowboys - Verdict: not settled yet - **Sam Williams to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Sam Williams, Dallas Cowboys - Verdict: not settled yet - **Javon Bullard to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Javon Bullard, Dallas Cowboys - Verdict: not settled yet - **Curtis Robinson to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Curtis Robinson, Dallas Cowboys - Verdict: not settled yet ## Who this take is about - Malik Hooker — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/malik-hooker - Dallas Cowboys — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/cowboys - Quinnen Williams — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/quinnen-williams - Donovan Ezeiruaku — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/donovan-ezeiruaku - Rashan Gary — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/rashan-gary - L.T. Overton — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/l-t-overton - Jalen Thompson — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/jalen-thompson - Kenny Clark — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/kenny-clark - DeMarvion Overshown — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/demarvion-overshown - Otito Ogbonnia — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/otito-ogbonnia - Malachi Lawrence — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/malachi-lawrence - P.J. Locke — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/p-j-locke - Jaishawn Barham — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/jaishawn-barham - Shemar James — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/shemar-james - Markquese Bell — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/markquese-bell - Von Miller — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/von-miller - Marist Liufau — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/marist-liufau - Tommy Dunn — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/tommy-dunn - Tyler Baron — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/tyler-baron - Devin Moore — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/devin-moore - DaRon Bland — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/daron-bland - Javon Bullard — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/javon-bullard - Shavon Revel Jr. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/shavon-revel-jr - Caleb Downs — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/caleb-downs - Sam Williams — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/sam-williams-2090 - Curtis Robinson — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/curtis-robinson ## What others said about the same people - Mike Moraitis on DaRon Bland: Moraitis names five Cowboys he expects to be playing their final season opener in Dallas in 2026: George Pickens (likely tag-and-trade or departure), Malik Hooker, Luke Schoonmaker, DeMarvion Overshown and DaRon Bland. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/66b5ed7b-41bd-4f67-9b4d-16eae4675e67 (scored 100) - Garrett Podell on Dallas Cowboys: Previewing 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/994d94d2-7aa5-4911-8404-9efbdfc22a46 (scored 35.71) - Chris Broussard on Dallas Cowboys: Broussard 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/51e94822-1a3d-4d9a-bf30-f6cb6df22819 (scored 28.57) - Nick Wright on Dallas Cowboys: Wright 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/5b52c3b5-50b8-4e09-9fb0-41c9bf1aaf8b (scored 0) - Eric Mangini on Dallas Cowboys: Mangini'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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/e5bc3ec1-bf97-4273-a223-f5661d0cca8a (scored 0) - Kirk Herbstreit on Dallas Cowboys: Herbstreit 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/5bc3755c-9b84-484f-b8f2-b18d51a12261 (scored 0) ## More roster spot calls The same kind of call, about other players and teams. - John Shipley on Jack Kiser: Shipley 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/c0a52b7c-63b2-4e18-b7da-9342dbbc111f (scored 0) - Cody Rourke on Mitchell Fraboni: Rourke names the Ravens as the bounce-back team most likely to be dangerous in the AFC again, and says Houston's defense alone should carry the Texans into the postseason. He also expects long snapper Mitchell Fraboni to be one of Denver's practice-squad elevations for the Chiefs game, and slots Pat Bryant as Denver's third receiver behind Courtland Sutton and Jaylen Waddle. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/ecf0b4d8-7096-41e4-b8bd-f37d5cdcd8d5 (scored 0) - Sayre Bedinger on Adam Prentice: Benninger expects Houston's elite defense to make them either a division winner or a wild card team, thinks Marvin Mims was trending toward being Denver's fourth receiver rather than just the return man, and figures Adam Prentice will be the Broncos' other practice-squad call-up. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/ac244b64-ba35-48be-bad9-b54ef4f4fcfc (scored 0) - Bob Morris on Adam Prentice: Morris predicts Jarrett Stidham holds the backup QB job behind Bo Nix, Adam Prentice makes the 53-man roster as the fullback/fourth back, and Lucas Krull gets cut. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/fbd4f215-eaf5-4bff-9431-d661656ff28a (scored 100) - Erick Trickel on Adam Prentice: After the Broncos' preseason opener, Trickel argued fullback Adam Prentice has shown enough value to earn a spot on the 53-man roster ahead of the team's fourth running back options (Jaleel McLaughlin, Tyler Badie, Cody Schrader). — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/3b8bcd8c-c4ab-4a02-9bb6-39d20cae9d37 (scored 100) - Nick Shook on Aaron Donald: Shook unveiled his first NFL power rankings of the year, putting the Rams first, the Broncos second and the defending champion Seahawks only third, with the Dolphins last. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/ea18c6ec-7662-4e66-91ed-4d0ef9d7d97d (scored 100) --- Accuracy is 0-100 against what actually happened. The naive guess is what a strategy requiring no knowledge would have scored on the same call — the difference is the skill, and it is what the MissedTakes Score averages. Full method: https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/methodology We summarize what a pundit said and quote a short span for attribution; we never republish their article. If this is wrong, tell us: https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/corrections?pundit=jeff-cavanaugh