John Shipley· Sep 10, 2026
Previewing the Jaguars' contract-year players before Week 1 of the 2026 season, Shipley forecasts roles for several players: Antonio Johnson as a full-time safety, Ventrell Miller as a starting linebacker, Daniel Faalele as a backup guard who leaves in free agency, and a tight end depth chart of Boerkircher, Koziol and Morris behind the starter. He also expects DaVon Hamilton to remain in Jacksonville.
“I think it is more likely that Faalele spends the year as a backup and signs elsewhere in free agency next season.”
published in writing · Sports Illustrated · read the original →
9 checkable claims — 6 depth chart calls and 3 trade and signing calls — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.
It names 9 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.
Of the 4 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands above the room on 1 and below it on 3.
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Who this take is about
9 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.
Daniel Faalele to be 2nd on the depth chart
“I think it is more likely that Faalele spends the year as a backup”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Nate Boerkircher to be 2nd on the depth chart
“Boerkircher and Koziol look like the clear No. 2 and No. 3 tight ends on the depth chart entering Week 1”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Tanner Koziol to be 3rd on the depth chart
“Boerkircher and Koziol look like the clear No. 2 and No. 3 tight ends on the depth chart entering Week 1”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Ventrell Miller to be 1st on the depth chart
“He seems due to be a starter and even have a good season”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
DaVon Hamilton to move to Jacksonville Jaguars
“Hamilton just feels like a player who is too important to what the Jaguars do on run defense to let him leave.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Trade and Signing CallsSam MustipherSep 10, 2026
Sam Mustipher to move
“he will miss this season and then become a free agent in March without having played in a regular-season game for the team”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Trade and Signing CallsDaniel FaaleleSep 10, 2026
Daniel Faalele to move
“I think it is more likely that Faalele spends the year as a backup and signs elsewhere in free agency next season”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Quintin Morris to be 4th on the depth chart
“Quintin Morris is set to be the Jaguars' No. 4 tight end this season”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Antonio Johnson to be 1st on the depth chart
“Johnson is set to play a full-time role in Anthony Campanile's defense this year after serving as mostly the No. 3 safety a year ago”
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.