Alex Kay· Aug 12, 2026
Kay names five undrafted rookies he expects to make rosters and contribute in 2026, projecting Kahlil Benson as a Chiefs roster lock and possible Week 1 right tackle starter, Khalil Jacobs as a Patriots backup linebacker, Will Pauling as the 49ers' sixth receiver, Collin Wright as Houston's fourth cornerback, and Taurean York as a Broncos roster survivor.
“He's not only jumped out as a lock to make the final roster, but a potential Week 1 starter at right tackle due to his consistent presence with the first team during practice.”
published in writing · read the original →
14 checkable claims — 10 depth chart calls and 4 roster spot calls — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.
It names 16 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
1 of 14 have settled so far, averaging 100 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess at the same calls.
Of the 5 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands below the rest of the room on every one.
Where this call stands in the room
Kahlil Benson · 2026 season4 calls from 4 pundits between 1 and 1. Alex Kay 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.
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Who this take is about
14 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 CallsKahlil BensonKansas City ChiefsAug 12, 2026
Kahlil Benson to make the roster
“He's not only jumped out as a lock to make the final roster, but a potential Week 1 starter at right tackle due to his consistent presence with the first team during practice.”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 0+200 skillHow this was scored
- club:
- KC
- skill:
- 200
- player:
- 7bb4ec0d-d763-44a9-a31b-62b3bad54876
- season:
- 2026
- claimed:
- he makes the 53
- accuracy:
- 100
- baseline:
- 0
- 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 CallsCollin WrightHouston TexansAug 12, 2026
Collin Wright to make the roster
“Wright, a Houston native, has done enough to warrant a spot on his hometown team's final roster.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsWill PaulingSan Francisco 49ersAug 12, 2026
Will Pauling to be 6th on the depth chart
“Pauling could strengthen his case to make the roster as a sixth receiver and return option, potentially putting Cowing's spot in jeopardy.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsAlex SingletonDenver BroncosAug 12, 2026
Alex Singleton to be 1st on the depth chart
“He's not going to challenge starters Alex Singleton or Justin Strnad for their jobs”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Robert Spillane to be 1st on the depth chart
“behind starters Robert Spillane and Christian Elliss”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Christian Elliss to be 1st on the depth chart
“behind starters Robert Spillane and Christian Elliss”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsJustin StrnadDenver BroncosAug 12, 2026
Justin Strnad to be 1st on the depth chart
“He's not going to challenge starters Alex Singleton or Justin Strnad for their jobs”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsKahlil BensonKansas City ChiefsAug 12, 2026
Kahlil Benson to be 1st on the depth chart
“a potential Week 1 starter at right tackle due to his consistent presence with the first team during practice”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsKamari LassiterHouston TexansAug 12, 2026
Kamari Lassiter to be 1st on the depth chart
“Players such as Derek Stingley Jr., Kamari Lassiter and Jalen Pitre are not in danger of losing their jobs”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Derek Stingley Jr. to be 1st on the depth chart
“Players such as Derek Stingley Jr., Kamari Lassiter and Jalen Pitre are not in danger of losing their jobs”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsCollin WrightHouston TexansAug 12, 2026
Collin Wright to be 4th on the depth chart
“Pencil him in as the fourth cornerback if he doesn't fall off a cliff in the final few weeks of camp.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Khalil Jacobs to be 2nd on the depth chart
“As long as he can avoid a slump over the final weeks of camp, Jacobs should lock down a backup role alongside Chad Muma behind starters Robert Spillane and Christian Elliss.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Khalil Jacobs to make the roster
“Jacobs should lock down a backup role alongside Chad Muma”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Roster Spot CallsTaurean YorkDenver BroncosAug 12, 2026
Taurean York to make the roster
“If York continues to show out within this deep linebacking corps, he'll sneak onto Denver's roster with a chance to be far more than a special teamer down the line.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- Mike TannenbaumTrade and Signing Calls · Stefon DiggsMiss · 0Tannenbaum argues the Chiefs should lean on the run game early while Mahomes recovers, says the Bills haven't done enough at receiver and would repeat their playoff shortcoming, expects AJ Brown to have a massive impact in New England, thinks George Pickens will earn a big raise, and offers free-agent fits: Deebo Samuel to Buffalo, Joey Bosa to Tampa Bay, Taylor Decker to Houston, and Stefon Diggs to San Francisco.
- Evan SilvaFantasy Defense Calls · San Francisco 49ersMiss · 0In his 2020 fantasy defense/special teams rankings, Silva puts the Steelers first, the 49ers second and the Ravens third, citing pass rush, favorable early schedules and game scripts.
- Jared DubinScore Predictions · Denver BroncosMiss · 2Dubin picks Denver to win narrowly in Kansas City, 21-20.
- Pete PriscoScore Predictions · Kansas City ChiefsClose · 57Prisco is the lone expert cited picking Kansas City, 20-17 over Denver.
- Tyler SullivanScore Predictions · Denver BroncosMiss · 10Sullivan picks Denver to beat Kansas City 24-20.
- Jordan DajaniScore Predictions · Denver BroncosMiss · 7Dajani picks the Broncos over the Chiefs, 17-14.
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.