# Mike Kadlick: After a poor preseason showing, Kadlick suggests Deshaun Watson's time in Cleveland is nearly over, while framing Shedeur Sanders as ascendant in the Browns' QB competition. He also describes AD Mitchell as settling in as the Jets' No. 2 receiver behind Garrett Wilson and states Saquon Barkley is clearly the Eagles' starting running back.

**Claimed:** Aug 23, 2026
**Pundit:** Mike Kadlick — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/pundits/mike-kadlick
**Outlet:** Sports Illustrated — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/outlets/sports-illustrated
**How it reached us:** published in writing
**Original:** https://www.si.com/nfl/risers-and-fallers-nfl-preseason-week-2-deshaun-watson-shedeur-sanders

3 checkable claims — 2 depth chart calls and 1 trade and signing call — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.

It names 6 players and teams, each linked to their own record.

None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.

Of the 2 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands below the rest of the room on every one.

> Needless to say, it’s becoming harder and harder to imagine a world in which Watson is a member of the Browns for much longer.

*(their words, quoted for attribution)*

## The claims

- **Saquon Barkley to be 1st on the depth chart**
  - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Saquon Barkley, Philadelphia Eagles
  - Verdict: not settled yet
- **Deshaun Watson to move to Cleveland Browns**
  - Kind: Trade and Signing Calls · About: Deshaun Watson, Cleveland Browns
  - Verdict: not settled yet
- **Adonai Mitchell to be 2nd on the depth chart**
  - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Adonai Mitchell, New York Jets
  - Verdict: not settled yet

## Who this take is about

- Saquon Barkley — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/saquon-barkley
- Philadelphia Eagles — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/eagles
- Deshaun Watson — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/deshaun-watson
- Cleveland Browns — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/browns
- Adonai Mitchell — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/adonai-mitchell
- New York Jets — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/jets

## What others said about the same people

- Mike Florio on Shedeur Sanders: Florio reports the Browns will start Deshaun Watson in Week 1 but predicts Shedeur Sanders will likely be the starting quarterback by Week 3. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/cf6258b2-b55f-4f50-84f9-24269a5a006a (scored 0)
- Paul Keren on Teven Jenkins: Keren says Teven Jenkins still projects as Cleveland's Week 1 starting right guard despite a push from KT Leveston, and that Carson Schwesinger and Quincy Williams will be the Browns' lead linebackers. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/86b36112-724c-4f9c-a4fd-cf74a38be8e4 (scored 0)
- Jeff Kerr on Michael Carter: Kerr says several Eagles have raised their stock in camp: Darius Cooper is emerging as the team's WR4, Drew Kendall is the No. 3 interior lineman/top backup at guard and center, Willie Lampkin is in prime position to make the 53-man roster, and Michael Carter is a roster lock who could start at safety in Week 1. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/922a9343-f96d-419d-8091-49b64dd471d9 (scored 0)
- Tyler Sullivan on Philadelphia Eagles: Sullivan takes the Jaguars to beat the Browns, doubting Deshaun Watson, and takes the Eagles over the Commanders at home. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/ac678dcb-56cb-48c5-912c-3e8c8522e681 (scored 100)
- Judah Fortgang on New York Jets: An unsigned PFF top-down betting breakdown argues the Jets will beat the Titans in Week 1, reasoning that Geno Smith should face little disruption against Tennessee's weak pass rush while Cam Ward will struggle against New York's heavy man coverage. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/980701ec-65d4-4c99-8aa3-c1dc27da170b (scored 100)
- Gregg Rosenthal on Philadelphia Eagles: Rosenthal picked the Texans to reach the Super Bowl, the Eagles to win the NFC East and to beat Washington in Week 1, and the Dolphins to end up with the No. 1 pick in the 2027 draft. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/506d4078-f2ff-4a40-bff4-b764e136a7e7 (scored 100)

## More depth chart calls

The same kind of call, about other players and teams.

- Tyler Sullivan on Drew Lock: In 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/8a14b5e6-066b-457f-b409-a3ddbd512aca (scored 0)
- Ralph Vacchiano on Tua Tagovailoa: Vacchiano 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/6f782be9-64d3-47cf-b054-6566e14194d6 (scored 0)
- Pat Fitzmaurice on Kyler Murray: Fitzmaurice 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/70a7844a-2fb6-44d7-814f-30ec9fbcc26d (scored 100)
- Pat Fitzmaurice on Kyler Murray: Fitzmaurice 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/0653fc24-437c-4aba-89ee-f1f417e1983d (scored 100)
- Steven Ruiz on Michael Penix Jr.: In 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/968b3764-11ef-41b5-a370-ff570b3219d1 (scored 0)
- Nathan Jahnke on Jalen Tolbert: PFF's preseason fantasy recap makes a large number of depth-chart, role and fantasy-value calls across the league, including Chig Okonkwo as a top sleeper tight end, Tre Tucker as the Raiders' top receiver, and various backfield hierarchies. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/760054fd-7815-4b86-a9e3-bc9bdb0a730b (scored 0)

---

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

We summarize what a pundit said and quote a short span for attribution; we never republish their article. If this is wrong, tell us:
https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/corrections?pundit=mike-kadlick
