John Shipley· Aug 11, 2026
Shipley projects second-year cornerback Jabbar Muhammad to make the Jaguars' 53-man roster and describes him as the team's clear No. 5 cornerback, a role that would earn him a game-day jersey. He also identifies Patrick Mekari, Walker Little and Ezra Cleveland as projected Week 1 offensive line starters.
“Muhammad has been the clear No. 5 cornerback for the Jaguars during camp, which would earn him an active game day jersey during the regular-season.”
published in writing · Sports Illustrated · read the original →
5 checkable claims — 4 depth chart calls and 1 roster spot call — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.
It names 5 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
1 of 5 have settled so far, averaging 0 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess at the same calls.
Of the 1 unsettled call enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands below the rest of the room.
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Who this take is about
The game in this take
- Browns at Jaguars 26 calls
5 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.
Patrick Mekari to be 1st on the depth chart
“The Jaguars had multiple projected Week 1 starters (Patrick Mekari, Walker Little, Ezra Cleveland) miss practice”
Miss · 0Scored 0a naive guess scored 100-200 skillHow this was scored
- club:
- JAX
- week:
- 1
- skill:
- -200
- player:
- Patrick Mekari
- season:
- 2026
- claimed:
- he starts
- accuracy:
- 0
- baseline:
- 100
- reported:
- he did not play that week
- naive slot:
- 5
- settled by:
- weekly snap counts (he took no snap in the game)
- difficulty:
- 2
- the naive guess:
- he keeps the job he had last season
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- weeks left when called:
- 18
Jabbar Muhammad to make the roster
“It has been awhile since we had a 53-man roster projection without Jabbar Muhammad on it.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Ezra Cleveland to be 1st on the depth chart
“The Jaguars had multiple projected Week 1 starters (Patrick Mekari, Walker Little, Ezra Cleveland) miss practice”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Jabbar Muhammad to be 5th on the depth chart
“Muhammad has been the clear No. 5 cornerback for the Jaguars during camp, which would earn him an active game day jersey during the regular-season.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Walker Little to be 1st on the depth chart
“The Jaguars had multiple projected Week 1 starters (Patrick Mekari, Walker Little, Ezra Cleveland) miss practice”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- Jared DubinDepth Chart Calls · Daniel FaaleleMiss · 0Dubin grades the Faalele trade, predicting Faalele has a decent chance to be Jacksonville's Week 1 starting right guard in competition with Wyatt Milum, and that Evan Neal's odds of making the Giants' 53-man roster improved while Jon Runyan and Francis Mauigoa hold the Giants' starting guard jobs.
- Tyler SullivanGame Outcome Picks · Jacksonville JaguarsHit · 100Sullivan takes the Jaguars to beat the Browns, doubting Deshaun Watson, and takes the Eagles over the Commanders at home.
- Pat McAfeeGame Outcome Picks · Jacksonville JaguarsHit · 100In the show's weekly picks segment Pat took the Steelers at home over Atlanta, the Jaguars over Cleveland, the Raiders over Miami, the Packers at Minnesota and the Cowboys over the Giants.
- Kirk HerbstreitGame Outcome Picks · Jacksonville JaguarsHit · 100Herbstreit 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.
- Shanna McCarristonGame Outcome Picks · Jacksonville JaguarsHit · 100The unsigned piece picks the Jaguars to beat the Browns 30-10 at home, citing Jacksonville's strong defense against Cleveland's weak offense. It also notes Shedeur Sanders is likely to see the field at some point this season and that Travis Hunter could be in the Comeback Player of the Year conversation.
- Nick ShookScore Predictions · Jacksonville JaguarsHit · 93Shook makes three ATS picks — Steelers -3.5 over Atlanta, Jaguars -8.5 over Cleveland, Cowboys -2.5 at the Giants — plus a fourth stashed pick on Houston. He gives score predictions of Jaguars 30-9 and Cowboys by 15, and says the Steelers win by 7-10.
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.