# Donnie Druin: 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. **Claimed:** Aug 14, 2026 **Pundit:** Donnie Druin — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/pundits/donnie-druin **Outlet:** Sports Illustrated — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/outlets/sports-illustrated **How it reached us:** published in writing **Original:** https://www.si.com/nfl/cardinals/onsi/6-risers-4-fallers-shaking-up-arizona-cardinals-depth-chart-after-las-vegas-raiders-game 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. > if Brooks keeps pace like this, he'll end up on the roster. *(their words, quoted for attribution)* ## The claims - **Jalen Brooks to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Jalen Brooks, Arizona Cardinals - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - **Corey Kiner to be 3rd on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Corey Kiner, Arizona Cardinals - Verdict: not settled yet - **Denzel Burke to be 1st on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Denzel Burke, Arizona Cardinals - Verdict: not settled yet - **Jack Gibbens to be 1st on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Jack Gibbens, Arizona Cardinals - Verdict: not settled yet - **Jon Gaines II to be 2nd on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Jon Gaines II, Arizona Cardinals - Verdict: not settled yet - **Karson Sharar to be a starter** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Karson Sharar, Arizona Cardinals - Verdict: not settled yet - **Eku Leota to be 1st on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Eku Leota, Arizona Cardinals - Verdict: not settled yet - **BJ Ojulari to be 2nd on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: BJ Ojulari, Arizona Cardinals - Verdict: not settled yet - **Bam Knight to be 4th on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Bam Knight, Arizona Cardinals - Verdict: not settled yet ## Who this take is about - Jalen Brooks — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/jalen-brooks - Arizona Cardinals — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/cardinals - Corey Kiner — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/corey-kiner - Denzel Burke — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/denzel-burke - Jack Gibbens — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/jack-gibbens - Jon Gaines II — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/jon-gaines-ii - Karson Sharar — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/karson-sharar - Eku Leota — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/eku-leota - BJ Ojulari — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/bj-ojulari - Bam Knight — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/bam-knight ## What others said about the same people - Henry McKenna on Carson Beck: McKenna 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/9025c533-03e6-4e1f-8773-b8ef2f1d46ea (scored 0) - Nathan Jahnke on Reggie Virgil: PFF'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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/8f52d1f8-91ed-459c-99a7-30c2d3fb38e0 (scored 100) - Nathan Jahnke on Reggie Virgil: An 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/47566b48-8024-4960-b25c-11c03fe43543 (scored 100) - Nathan Jahnke on Reggie Virgil: PFF'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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/265cbdba-b0e0-4f80-9665-a4ca5aaec53e (scored 100) - Nathan Jahnke on Bam Knight: 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 100) - Nathan Jahnke on Reggie Virgil: PFF'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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/04a27c8a-6177-4389-9287-2279e87a6c4a (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) - 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) --- 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=donnie-druin