Donnie Druin· Aug 14, 2026
After the Cardinals' preseason win over the Raiders, Druin identifies risers and fallers on Arizona's depth chart, including Corey Kiner passing Trey Benson for the RB3 spot, Jalen Brooks making the roster over Ihmir Smith-Marsette, Jack Gibbens pushing Cody Simon for a starting inside linebacker job, and Denzel Burke as a favorite to start opposite Will Johnson.
“if Brooks keeps pace like this, he'll end up on the roster.”
published in writing · Sports Illustrated · read the original →
9 checkable claims — 8 depth chart calls and 1 roster spot call — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.
It names 10 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
1 of 9 have settled so far, averaging 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess at the same calls.
Of the 2 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands above the room on 1 and below it on 1.
Where do you stand? Pick this and every open claim on Picks →
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.
- Roster Spot CallsJalen BrooksArizona CardinalsAug 14, 2026
Jalen Brooks to make the roster
“The Cardinals will have some tough conversations in regards to the WR room, but if Brooks keeps pace like this, he'll end up on the roster.”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 100+0 skillHow this was scored
- club:
- ARI
- skill:
- 0
- player:
- 0f50a969-06dc-4d3e-86aa-2c367f1da041
- season:
- 2026
- claimed:
- he makes the 53
- accuracy:
- 100
- baseline:
- 100
- 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
- Depth Chart CallsCorey KinerArizona CardinalsAug 14, 2026
Corey Kiner to be 3rd on the depth chart
“With Bam Knight firmly in the RB4 spot, Kiner seems to be surpassing the injured Trey Benson for the spot — ... for the spot below.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsDenzel BurkeArizona CardinalsAug 14, 2026
Denzel Burke to be 1st on the depth chart
“He's very much in the mix to start opposite of Will Johnson and could be considered a favorite.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsJack GibbensArizona CardinalsAug 14, 2026
Jack Gibbens to be 1st on the depth chart
“Gibbens tallied four tackles in his short stint on the field and has now put himself back into those starting conversations.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsJon Gaines IIArizona CardinalsAug 14, 2026
Jon Gaines II to be 2nd on the depth chart
“Gaines is the second-team center, though now his versatility to play along any of the three inside OL spots sees him shoot up to a replacement for any of Arizona's three starters in the interior.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsKarson ShararArizona CardinalsAug 14, 2026
Karson Sharar to be a starter
“He might have just surpassed Owen Pappoe on the ILB depth chart.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsEku LeotaArizona CardinalsAug 14, 2026
Eku Leota to be 1st on the depth chart
“further drops him below camp standout Eku Leota”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsBJ OjulariArizona CardinalsAug 14, 2026
BJ Ojulari to be 2nd on the depth chart
“Ojulari's inability to again make an impact further drops him below camp standout Eku Leota.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsBam KnightArizona CardinalsAug 14, 2026
Bam Knight to be 4th on the depth chart
“With Bam Knight firmly in the RB4 spot”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- Henry McKennaDepth Chart Calls · Carson BeckMiss · 0McKenna predicts Kyler Murray will win the Vikings' starting QB job over J.J. McCarthy, that Minnesota will make the playoffs if Murray cuts out the hero ball, that both QBs will play in 2026, and wonders whether rookie Carson Beck could unseat Jacoby Brissett as Arizona's Week 1 starter.
- Nathan JahnkeRoster Spot Calls · Reggie VirgilHit · 100PFF's preseason usage recap makes a number of depth-chart and roster projections, including nine rookie receivers slotting as top-three options on their teams, sleeper tight end usage, and specific depth-chart placements for Cardinals, Falcons and Ravens players.
- Nathan JahnkeRoster Spot Calls · Reggie VirgilHit · 100An unsigned PFF preseason recap makes numerous depth-chart, roster and usage projections across the league, based on Week 3 preseason playing time — including Roman Wilson winning Pittsburgh's third receiver job, Luke McCaffrey's roster spot being in danger, Charlie Kolar as the Chargers' top tight end, and Kendre Miller as the Saints' RB2.
- Nathan JahnkeRoster Spot Calls · Reggie VirgilHit · 100PFF's preseason fantasy recap makes a series of depth-chart, roster and usage projections based on final-week preseason snap counts, including Ja'Kobi Lane locking down the Ravens' third receiver role, Luke McCaffrey's roster spot being in danger, Kyle Pitts facing reduced 12-personnel usage, Kendre Miller as the Saints' RB2 and Emmett Johnson as the Chiefs' backup running back.
- Nathan JahnkeRoster Spot Calls · Bam KnightHit · 100PFF'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.
- Nathan JahnkeRoster Spot Calls · Reggie VirgilHit · 100PFF's preseason recap projects Xavier Legette as the clear No. 3 receiver in Carolina after Chris Brazzell II's season-ending injury, doubts Jimmy Horn Jr. makes the 53-man roster, expects Ja'Tavion Sanders' role to shrink (with Mitchell Evans ahead of him), and sees Bam Knight as a candidate for Arizona's RB3 job.
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.