Diante Lee· Aug 12, 2026
An unsigned Ringer post-draft power ranking of all 32 teams for the 2026 season, ranked by how much the writer would trust each team to win the Super Bowl, with Denver picked to win the AFC, Detroit projected among the NFC's four best, and win-total calls on Pittsburgh and Miami.
“Right now, they’re my pick to win the AFC.”
published in writing · read the original →
12 checkable claims — 6 depth chart calls, 2 season win totals, 1 conference champion, 1 power ranking, 1 seeding, byes and home field and 1 trade and signing call — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.
It names 14 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
1 of 12 have settled so far, averaging 100 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess at the same calls.
Of the 7 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands above the room on 1 and below it on 6.
Where this call stands in the room
Miami Dolphins · 2026 season · wins15 calls from 10 pundits between 0 wins and 7 wins. Diante Lee said 4 wins. the room's median is 2 wins. 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
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.
- Trade and Signing CallsA.J. BrownAug 12, 2026
A.J. Brown to move
“Once A.J. Brown is traded—a move that’s expected in early June—Hurts will need to prove himself”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 0+200 skillHow this was scored
- skill:
- 200
- player:
- A.J. Brown
- season:
- 2026
- claimed:
- he leaves
- was with:
- PHI
- accuracy:
- 100
- baseline:
- 0
- reported:
- traded → NE (from PHI)
- settled by:
- a confirmed report from the crawl (reported outcomes)
- difficulty:
- 2
- the naive guess:
- he stays where he is
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- weeks left when called:
- 18
- Season Win TotalsMiami DolphinsAug 12, 2026
Miami Dolphins to finish with 4 wins
“Even if everything goes right, this team might squeeze out only four wins because of its youth and lack of playmaking talent.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Seeding, Byes and Home FieldDetroit LionsAug 12, 2026
Detroit Lions to take the top seed
“If this team can just survive the regular season better than it did the past few years, I expect this to be one of the NFC’s four best teams by January.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsKyler MurrayMinnesota VikingsAug 12, 2026
Kyler Murray to be 1st on the depth chart
“The Vikings have upgraded at quarterback with the addition of Kyler Murray, who is expected to take the starting job from J.J. McCarthy.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Season Win TotalsPittsburgh SteelersAug 12, 2026
Pittsburgh Steelers to finish with ? wins
“I don’t think the Steelers can be more than a ho-hum eight- or nine-win team with this version of Rodgers at the helm.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Power RankingsAug 12, 2026
“In creating these power rankings, I’m taking into consideration overall team strength ... but each team is ultimately ranked by how much I’d trust it to win the Super Bowl next season.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Conference ChampionsDenver BroncosAug 12, 2026
Denver Broncos to reach the Super Bowl
“With the addition of receiver Jaylen Waddle ... Right now, they’re my pick to win the AFC.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsK.C. ConcepcionCleveland BrownsAug 12, 2026
K.C. Concepcion to be 1st on the depth chart
“The Browns will also be starting two rookie receivers, KC Concepcion and Denzel Boston”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsKenyon SadiqNew York JetsAug 12, 2026
Kenyon Sadiq to be 1st on the depth chart
“drafting tight end Kenyon Sadiq with the no. 16 pick ... Each of these players should be an immediate starter”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsDenzel BostonCleveland BrownsAug 12, 2026
Denzel Boston to be 1st on the depth chart
“The Browns will also be starting two rookie receivers, KC Concepcion and Denzel Boston”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsOmar CooperNew York JetsAug 12, 2026
Omar Cooper to be 1st on the depth chart
“trading back up into the first round to get receiver Omar Cooper Jr. at no. 30. Each of these players should be an immediate starter”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsDavid BaileyNew York JetsAug 12, 2026
David Bailey to be 1st on the depth chart
“Each of these players should be an immediate starter and can contribute to this rebuild”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- Rich HribarDepth Chart Calls · Malik WillisHit · 100Hribar previews the Week 1 Dolphins-Raiders game, calling Malik Willis a strong floor-based QB2 for fantasy, noting Kirk Cousins is the Raiders' starter and not a Week 1 streamer in 1QB leagues, and listing expected defensive starters for both teams.
- Tyler SullivanDepth Chart Calls · Malik WillisHit · 100An unsigned CBS Sports preseason review grading all 32 teams, which along the way stakes out a number of depth-chart calls for Week 1 and beyond — including Deshaun Watson opening as Cleveland's starter, Fernando Mendoza taking over as Las Vegas' QB1 by season's end, and Minnesota's Murray-Wentz-McCarthy quarterback order.
- Greg AumanDepth Chart Calls · Malik WillisHit · 100Auman states Malik Willis will be Miami's Week 1 starting quarterback and the player the Dolphins build their season around, despite having only six career starts.
- Steven RuizTrade and Signing Calls · A.J. BrownHit · 100Ruiz expects the Eagles to trade A.J. Brown once the June 1 dead-cap threshold passes, most likely to New England, and thinks Baker Mayfield will get a Buccaneers extension making him the league's highest-paid quarterback within a month or two. He also argues the Lions may have to let one or two of their 2023 draft class leave, and that Houston should extend C.J. Stroud.
- Scott BogmanTrade and Signing Calls · A.J. BrownHit · 100Bogman laid out fades on Malik Nabers (knee), Kenneth Walker, Bhayshul Tuten, Christian Watson, Jackson Dart and Sam LaPorta, while liking Isaiah Likely and staying more positive on DJ Moore; he also gave his top-seven tight end board and expected Tuten to lead Jacksonville's backfield.
- Brandon CarneyTrade and Signing Calls · A.J. BrownHit · 100Carney 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.
More depth chart calls
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
- Randy GurziDepth Chart Calls · Jadarian PriceHit · 100Gurzi suggests the Seahawks could sign three free agents — safety Donovan Wilson, guard Kevin Zeitler, and running back Kareem Hunt — if weaknesses show up after Week 1. He also notes Trevon Diggs starting on the practice squad and describes Seattle's projected backfield roles.
- Warren SharpDepth Chart Calls · Kirk CousinsHit · 100Sharp argues Raiders rookie No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza is not ready to play, predicting he won't start Week 1 or Week 2 and that Kirk Cousins will be the Week 1 starter, with Mendoza sitting behind him for a long stretch.
- Carter BahnsDepth Chart Calls · Kirk CousinsHit · 100The newsletter says Shedeur Sanders' preseason Week 2 start may have won him the Browns' starting quarterback job over Deshaun Watson, and that Kirk Cousins will lead the Raiders' offense in Week 1. It also asserts Florida is the best college basketball team heading into 2026-27.
- Tyler SullivanDepth Chart Calls · Kirk CousinsHit · 100An unsigned preseason overreaction piece: Kirk Cousins, not rookie Fernando Mendoza, will start Week 1 for the Raiders; 49ers second-rounder De'Zhaun Stribling could be the most productive rookie receiver in 2026 and the team's top target; Cam Ward's rough preseason isn't a real problem; Drew Allar isn't yet Pittsburgh's 2027 starter; and D.J. Moore will boost Buffalo's offense.
- John BreechDepth Chart Calls · Kirk CousinsHit · 100In a preseason Week 1 winners-and-losers piece, CBS Sports says Bengals receiver Dohnte Meyers is now likely to make the roster, suggests fantasy drafters consider 49ers rookie De'Zhaun Stribling, expects Kirk Cousins rather than rookie Fernando Mendoza to start Week 1 for the Raiders, and suggests Anthony Richardson has moved ahead of Riley Leonard for the Colts' backup quarterback job.
- Carter BahnsDepth Chart Calls · Kirk CousinsHit · 100Unsigned piece states Kirk Cousins, who started the Raiders' preseason opener, will also be the Week 1 starting quarterback, while suggesting rookie No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza could eventually take the job if Las Vegas falls out of contention.