# Hondo Carpenter: Carpenter projects the Raiders' 53-man roster will include 10 defensive backs (four safeties and six cornerbacks) and three quarterbacks, with Kirk Cousins kept barring a compelling trade offer.

**Claimed:** Aug 22, 2026
**Pundit:** Hondo Carpenter — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/pundits/hondo-carpenter
**Outlet:** Sports Illustrated — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/outlets/sports-illustrated
**How it reached us:** published in writing
**Original:** https://www.si.com/nfl/raiders/onsi/las-vegas-training-camp-report-24-finishing-strong-future

One checkable claim, graded on its own against what actually happened.

It names 2 players and teams, each linked to their own record.

The call scored 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess at the same calls.

> I projected in my last 53-man roster article that the Silver and Black will keep 10 defensive backs.

*(their words, quoted for attribution)*

## The claims

- **Kirk Cousins to make the roster**
  - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Kirk Cousins, Las Vegas Raiders
  - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess

## Who this take is about

- Kirk Cousins — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/kirk-cousins
- Las Vegas Raiders — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/raiders

## What others said about the same people

- Fernando Alfaro-Donis on Kayshon Boutte: Argues the Raiders' weakest spot is their receiver room, expects Jalen Nailor to take a big step forward in Klint Kubiak's scheme with Kirk Cousins starting before Fernando Mendoza takes over, and suggests Las Vegas should trade a mid-round pick for Patriots receiver Kayshon Boutte, who would immediately become their top option. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/b988191f-a153-4f4b-a1b8-7b5a7a18265c (scored 0)
- Brandon Carney on Stefon Diggs: Carney drafted a team of rookies he expects to make an immediate fantasy impact (headlined by Karnell Tate and Makai Lemon), predicted landing spots for the remaining big-name free agents, and gave way-too-early division winners, wild cards and award picks — Patriots, Chargers, Bengals, Jaguars, Eagles, Rams, Vikings and Saints as division champs with Joe Burrow as MVP. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/c4d477da-4fb8-4a25-a904-c5057a249a70 (scored 0)
- John Breech on Las Vegas Raiders: Breech picks the Texans to upset the Bills in Houston, trusting Houston's defense to smother Josh Allen, and takes the Raiders to beat the Dolphins by at least a touchdown. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/9da8cc61-bdc3-40fd-bd7f-c02c99fe7b00 (scored 100)
- Judah Fortgang on Las Vegas Raiders: PFF's divisional-round same-game parlay picks: Tampa Bay beats Cincinnati with Cade Otton exploiting the Bengals' linebackers, Las Vegas beats Miami behind Kirk Cousins attacking a depleted Dolphins secondary, and Houston beats Buffalo with C.J. Stroud throwing effectively and Jaylin Noel benefiting from the slot matchup. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/3c975cce-7d78-48c7-95ad-f5d06adbf4a8 (scored 100)
- Logan Lazarczyk on Las Vegas Raiders: Lazarczyk argues the Raiders' Week 1 home opener against a gutted, tanking Dolphins team should be an easy win, saying Las Vegas has no excuse to lose. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/3c2be39f-6afa-4429-992c-7f790d7a5dc2 (scored 100)
- Dan Beyer on Las Vegas Raiders: Beyer's Week 1 survivor pick was the Raiders to beat the Dolphins at home. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/1901e3ab-68da-4256-ade2-bb6f2a111709 (scored 100)

## 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)

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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

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