Category: Sports

TAMPA, Fla. — Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Jalen McMillan was enduring one of the lowest and loneliest points of his life — recovering from three broken vertebrae in his neck that he suffered during a preseason game after a promising rookie season — when Mike Evans, the Bucs’ all-time leading scorer, gave him a much-needed boost.

“I think he helped me understand my worth as a receiver, and he was able to teach me that it’s OK to make mistakes,” McMillan said. “The big thing really is how good of a receiver I am — speaking it into me, just encouraging me.”

Evans landed alongside McMillan on injured reserve after he suffered a broken collarbone in Week 7. Neither returned until Week 15, which made for a lot of deep conversation between the veteran and 2024 third-round draft pick.

But it wasn’t that McMillan didn’t believe in himself after the devastating injury.

“No, I did,” McMillan said. “But when it comes to Mike Evans, you kind of just feel different about yourself.”

That’s the impact that No. 13 has had and why general manager Jason Licht and coach Todd Bowles hope that Evans will never wear another team’s uniform.

“He’s an unprecedented player,” Licht said in 2024. “We want him to be a Buc for life.”

Evans has said that he wants to be a “Buc for life,” but when his agent, Deryk Gilmore, told ESPN this week that Evans would be playing football in 2026, the message was that he would be exploring his options in free agency.

That does not mean Evans won’t be back in Tampa, but there’s a process that needs to occur.

Gilmore called the Bucs to let them know that Evans would not be retiring, and Gilmore said he’d sit down with them in the coming weeks to see what a deal might look like.

Could the Bucs franchise tag Evans? Technically, yes, but the feeling inside the organization is that Evans has given 12 seasons to the team, and he deserves to have agency over where he spends the remaining years of his career. They also have to weigh whether the move would make sense financially, considering they’d have to pay him $27-28 million for one year when he was averaging $20.5 million on his last deal.

Also, Evans is coming off a season when he had lows in catches (30), yards (368) and games played (8).

But they know what he means to the franchise. Bowles said that Evans eclipsing 1,000 receiving yards for a record-setting 11th straight season in the 2024 finale was one of the best moments he has been part of in football.

“That fire — it just demands everybody to raise their standards,” quarterback Baker Mayfield said of Evans. “We love that Mike is vocal about it. He obviously expects greatness out of himself and expects people to rise to the occasion as well.”

Before the 2023 season, Evans, who was entering the final year of his deal, told the franchise that he would not negotiate during the season if an extension wasn’t done.

Things could have soured, but instead, Evans re-signed on a two-year, $52 million deal, with $35 million guaranteed before hitting free agency. Both sides felt like it was a fair deal, and the next season, he tied Jerry Rice for the most consecutive 1,000-yard seasons.

Evans, who will turn 33 in August, wants to make an informed decision and see what other teams are offering. He is recovering from his first broken bone and surgery of his career in a season when he missed nine games after missing 12 total games in the previous 11 seasons — so he recognizes where he is in his career.

That recognition led him to drop hints about retirement.

“When I leave this game soon, I’m going to be happy with the receiving room that’s left in Tampa and excited to watch them have a great career and carry on the torch,” he said in December after the Bucs lost to the Atlanta Falcons in Week 15.

When asked what he meant by “soon,” he said, “It will be soon — even if it’s three, four more years I play. I played 12, so we’ll see. Time will tell.”

Evans was visibly emotional after Tampa Bay blew a 14-point lead in the fourth quarter against the Falcons. He had 132 receiving yards but left the field slamming his helmet into a wall inside the tunnel.

Not making the playoffs was very difficult for him, too. After not making the playoffs until 2020, when the Bucs won the Super Bowl, Tampa Bay’s streak of five straight postseason appearances ended last season.

That kind of success has left him wanting to hear the team’s plans for 2026.

Bowles overhauled a significant portion of the staff — including firing offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard and hiring former Falcons offensive coordinator Zac Robinson to replace him. The move could appeal to Evans, considering that Robinson worked with Tampa Bay’s previous offensive coordinator, Liam Coen, who kept finding ways to scheme Evans open.

Also, Evans’ position coach, Bryan McLendon, is one of the few Bucs assistants who was retained by Bowles.

Evans also likes the makeup of the locker room. Evans has said that Mayfield was a huge reason he returned after the 2023 season. Mayfield’s skill set and the way he ignited the locker room appealed to Evans.

Evans also genuinely loves the Bucs’ receiving corps, whom McLendon described this past year as “guys that truly want one another to go out there and do well, regardless of who that is.”

“As a wide receiver unit, we’re all pretty much best friends in the locker room and in our receiver room,” Emeka Egbuka said.

Family is a key component as well. Evans’ wife, Ashli, ultimately convinced him to stay in Tampa in 2024.

“[She said] ‘Maybe we should stay in Tampa,’ And I was like, ‘I want to be in Tampa. And they offered me great money,’” Evans said. “It wasn’t even about the money — I just I wanted to see everything as a whole.”

There’s no telling if that will be a deciding factor again, but Tampa Bay has until March 9 before teams can legally begin negotiating with Evans ahead of the March 11 official start to free agency.

World No 1 Jeeno Thitikul justified her top billing in emphatic fashion after edging Japan’s Chizzy Iwai by one stroke to claim her home LPGA Thailand tournament for the first time.

The Thai star kept her composure under sweltering conditions and intense pressure to card a closing four-under-par 68, finishing on 24 under.

The victory marked her eighth LPGA Tour title and her first triumph on home soil.

England’s Lottie Woad finished tied-15th on 15 under.

“I would rate it A triple-plus,” said the 23-year-old Thitikul. “I know it’s not as big as the majors, but winning in my home country means so much to me – sometimes even more than a major.”

Thitikul became the third Thai winner of the tournament, following Ariya Jutanugarn in 2021 and Patty Tavatanakit in 2024.

The win was made even more special with her mother watching in person after the Thai had made eight previous attempts at the event.

“My mom came up to me after I finished 18 and she cried a lot,” Thitikul said. “I told her, ‘I finally won in front of you’. She was emotional, and that made me emotional too.”

World No 19 Iwai mounted a strong challenge, drawing level briefly after rolling in her second eagle of the day on the par-five 10th.

However, the Japanese added no further birdies and signed for a 66 to finish runner-up on 23-under-par 265. Korea’s Hyo Joo Kim, the world No 9, posted a 68 to take third at 22 under, while compatriot Lee Somi, the opening-round leader, finished fourth on 21 under.

Former world No 1 Lydia Ko carded a 68 to tie for fifth alongside Denmark’s Nanna Koerstz Madsen, who produced the lowest round of the day with a scintillating 63 as both ended the week on 20 under.

Defending champion Angel Yin shot 70 and was in a tie for 48th at five-under 283.

The tournament about 125km (75 miles) east of Bangkok was the first of three events in Asia in consecutive weeks, to be followed by those in Singapore and China in the early Asian swing on the LPGA Tour.

Watch the LET and LPGA Tours, majors and more throughout the season live on Sky Sports Golf. Get Sky Sports or stream with no contract on NOW.

Former Purdue star and NFL wide receiver Rondale Moore died on Saturday at the age of 25.

Police in his hometown of New Albany, Indiana, told The Associated Press that Moore was found in a garage with a suspected self-inflicted gunshot wound. The death remains under investigation. Floyd County Coroner Matthew Tomlin also confirmed Moore’s death. He said an autopsy would be conducted on Sunday.

“We are deeply saddened by the passing of Rondale Moore,” the Vikings said in a statement. “While we are working to understand the facts, we have spoken with Rondale’s family to offer our condolences and the full support of the Minnesota Vikings. We have also been in communication with our players, coaches, and staff, and will make counseling and emotional support resources available to anyone in need. Our thoughts are with Rondale’s family and friends during this devastating time.”

A second-round draft pick of the Arizona Cardinals in 2021, Moore had been sidelined the past two seasons because of injuries. He missed the 2024 season after suffering a dislocated right knee while with the Atlanta Falcons.

He most recently spent time with the Vikings, participating in their 2025 offseason and training camp, before suffering a season-ending left knee injury while returning a punt Aug. 9 in the team’s preseason opener.

“I am devastated by the news of Rondale’s death,” Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell said in a statement. “While Rondale had been a member of the Vikings for a short time, he was someone we came to know well and care about deeply. He was a humble, soft-spoken, and respectful young man who was proud of his Indiana roots. As a player, he was disciplined, dedicated and resilient despite facing adversity multiple times as injuries sidelined him throughout his career.

“We are all heartbroken by the fact he won’t continue to live out his NFL dream and we won’t all have a chance to watch him flourish. My prayers are with Rondale’s family, friends, teammates and coaches as we all deal with this tragic news.”

In a statement, the Cardinals said they were “devastated and heartbroken.”

“Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with his family, friends, teammates, and everyone who loved him and had the privilege of knowing such a special person,” the team said in a social media post.

In three seasons with the Cardinals, Moore started 23 games. He caught 135 passes for 1,201 yards and three touchdowns while also rushing 52 times for 249 yards and one score.

“Can’t even begin to fathom or process this,” former Cardinals teammate J.J. Watt said on social media. “There’s just no way. Way too soon. Way too special. So much left to give. Rest in peace Rondale.”

Moore grew up in New Albany, just across the Indiana border from Louisville, Kentucky, and was named a first team All-American as a freshman at Purdue in 2018. As an all-purpose player that season, he also won the Paul Hornung Award for most versatile player. Moore had 1,915 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns while also rushing for 248 yards and three touchdowns in three seasons with the Boilermakers.

“Rondale Moore was a complete joy to coach,” said Louisville‘s Jeff Brohm, who coached Moore at Purdue. “The ultimate competitor that wouldn’t back down from any challenge. Rondale had a work ethic unmatched by anyone. A great teammate that would come through in any situation. We all loved Rondale, we loved his smile and competitive edge that always wanted to please everyone he came in contact with. We offer all of our thoughts and prayers to Rondale and his family, we love him very much.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

The Los Angeles Rams are promoting passing game coordinator Nate Scheelhaase to offensive coordinator and making quarterbacks coach Dave Ragone their co-offensive coordinator/QB coach, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Friday.

Scheelhaase, 35, remained with the Rams after interviewing for five head coaching jobs during the offseason.

The Rams had the top offense in the NFL last season and are bringing back quarterback Matthew Stafford, who announced when he accepted the NFL MVP Award that he would return for 2026.

Los Angeles needed a new offensive coordinator after Mike LaFleur was hired by the Arizona Cardinals in early February. The Rams have had four offensive coordinators under coach Sean McVay — Matt LaFleur (2017), Kevin O’Connell (2020-21), Liam Coen (2022) and Mike LaFleur (2023-25) — and all four have become head coaches, as did quarterbacks coach Zac Taylor. They did not have an offensive coordinator for the two seasons between Matt LaFleur and O’Connell, and McVay calls plays and leads the design of the offense.

Among his responsibilities in Los Angeles, Scheelhaase was tasked with literally drawing the offensive plays taught to the Rams for each week’s game plan — a detail-oriented job previously held by several Rams assistants who went on to bigger things. He will now lead an offensive staff that brought in former Washington Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury earlier this month.

Before he was hired by the Rams in 2024, Scheelhaase was the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Iowa State.

Ragone also joined the Rams in 2024 as quarterbacks coach after serving as Atlanta Falcons offensive coordinator for three seasons.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

FRISCO, Texas — The Dallas Cowboys kept a key player to their offense Saturday, agreeing to a three-year deal with running back Javonte Williams that guarantees him $16 million, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

The total deal is worth $24 million and includes a $6 million signing bonus, according to sources.

When the Cowboys head to Indianapolis for the NFL scouting combine next week, they can turn their attention to Pro Bowl wide receiver George Pickens. The expectation is the Cowboys will put the franchise tag on Pickens at a cost of roughly $28 million before the March 3 deadline and then hope to work out a multiyear deal. Pickens set career highs last year in catches (93), yards (1,429) and touchdowns (nine).

Williams set career highs in rushing yards, carries and touchdowns last year, his first with the Cowboys after signing a one-year deal worth $3 million, following a four-year run with the Denver Broncos, who selected him in the second round of the 2021 draft.

Williams finished with 1,201 yards, the ninth most in the NFL even while missing the last game because of a stinger issue that bothered him for most of the season’s final month. Williams, who turns 26 in April, also had 252 carries and 11 rushing touchdowns after topping out at 903 yards (2021), 217 carries (2023) and four TDs (2021, ’24) with the Broncos. He missed most of the 2022 season in Denver after tearing the ACL and LCL in his right knee.

His 1,201 yards were the most by a Cowboys running back since Ezekiel Elliott in 2019 (1,357). He also caught 35 passes for 137 yards and two touchdowns.

Former US Open tennis champion Sloane Stephens and former U.S. men’s national soccer player Jozy Altidore are ending their marriage after four years.

Stephens — who won the 2017 US Open — posted a story on Instagram announcing the split.

“Jozy and I have decided to end our marriage,” the post read. “With peace, I am navigating this transition with mutual respect and kindly ask for privacy during this time. Thank you for your love, understanding and continued support.”

The 32-year-old Stephens was also the runner-up at the 2018 French Open. The 36-year-old Altidore scored 42 goals over 115 appearances for the U.S. men’s soccer team from 2007 to 2019 and had a long professional career in Major League Soccer and overseas.

Rory McIlroy is in second place but six shots behind leader Jacob Bridgeman going into the final round of The Genesis Invitational on Sunday.

McIlroy is targeting a first title of the season at the Riviera Country Club and while he is in second place after the third round, has plenty of ground to make up on Bridgeman.

After shooting 69 with three birdies and one bogey, McIlroy finished on 13 under par after Saturday’s action. But it was Bridgeman who was in control of the leaderboard.

Even with a chance at a birdie on the 18th hole missed, Bridgeman shot 64 to close out his third round on 19 under par and a commanding lead.

“It was so hard, the greens got so fast and they’re soft and they get a little bumpy later on in the day,” McIlroy said afterwards.

“I was proud of myself. I sort of hung in there. I stayed as patient as I could. I wish I was a couple closer to the lead.

“I’ve given myself a chance. That’s all I can ask for. It’s not as big of a chance as I think I would like.

“I’d love to win here,” he added. “I’m going to play my hardest tomorrow and we’ll see what happens.”

Xander Schauffele at 10 under was tied in fifth with Marco Penge one shot back from him.

Scottie Scheffler shot 66 in the third round to go into the last day on five under.

Watch round four of The Genesis Invitational live on Sky Sports Golf from 3.15pm on Saturday with coverage also picking up on Sky Sports Main Event from 8.30pm. Stream golf contract-free.

SEATTLE — Jaxon Smith-Njigba said he isn’t overly concerned about getting a new deal with the Super Bowl LX champion Seattle Seahawks. But when he does, the 2025 AP Offensive Player of the Year believes he should be the league’s highest-paid wide receiver.

That would mean an extension worth more than $40 million in new-money average.

“I’m really not too pressed right now to get it done,” Smith-Njigba said in a recent interview with WFAA in his hometown of Dallas. “I know my time is coming, and when we get it done, it’s going to be a great deal. God’s timing is perfect timing, so whenever that may come, we’ll be ready for it. I believe I deserve to be the highest paid in my position. Just what I give to the game and the community, I give it my all, and I think that’s worth a lot more.”

The Seahawks plan to work out new deals this offseason for Smith-Njigba and Pro Bowl cornerback Devon Witherspoon, who were both first-round picks in 2023. Seattle can exercise a fifth-year option on both contracts by May 1.

Smith-Njigba becomes extension-eligible after the best season of his career. He set a franchise record and led the NFL with 1,793 receiving yards despite Seattle running the ball at the league’s highest rate. Smith-Njigba scored 10 touchdowns and made his second straight Pro Bowl before totaling 199 yards and two touchdowns in three playoff games to help the Seahawks claim their second Lombardi Trophy.

The Cincinnati Bengals‘ Ja’Marr Chase became the league’s highest-paid receiver in terms of annual average at $40.25 million when he signed a four-year, $161 million extension last March. The Minnesota Vikings‘ Justin Jefferson ranks second at $35 million per year.

Not counting a potential option year in 2027, Smith-Njigba has one season remaining on his four-year, $14.4 million rookie contract.

“I would play this game for free,” Smith-Njigba said. “I love this game so much. But you don’t have to, and I’m learning to be a good businessman, and we need that check at the end of the day.”

Manchester United midfielder Casemiro will leave the club in the summer and is drawing interest from Lionel Messi‘s Inter Miami and Cristiano Ronaldo‘s Al Nassr, alongside a host of other clubs, while Real Madrid are attempting to beat Barcelona to the signing of Borussia Dortmund center back Nico Schlotterbeck.

Join us for the latest transfer news and rumors from around the globe.

Transfers home page | Men’s winter grades | Women’s grades

TRENDING RUMORS

– Manchester United midfielder Casemiro is drawing interest from Lionel Messi‘s Inter Miami, The Sun reports. The MLS champions are one of several sides keen on signing him, alongside his childhood club, Sao Paulo, when he leaves Old Trafford at the end of the season on a free transfer. FC Porto and Cristiano Ronaldo‘s Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia are also reported to be among his admirers, although no decision over his long-term future has been made yet. The 33-year-old Brazil international had been at United since August 2022 when he signed from Real Madrid for a fee of €60 million.

– Real Madrid are attempting to beat Barcelona to the signing of Borussia Dortmund center back Nico Schlotterbeck, says AS reports that Real Madrid have lined up as their priority target this summer. Schlotterbeck, 26, is out of contract in June 2027 and wants to leave for a new challenge. The Germany international’s transfer is valued at €50 million and Madrid are looking to get ahead of their LaLiga rivals to reinforce their defense this summer.

– Everton have made Chelsea striker Liam Delap their top summer target, according to Football Insider. Delap, 23, has struggled for regular game time since moving to West London last year in a £30 million deal from Ipswich Town. Toffees boss David Moyes remains “unconvinced” by the form of Beto and wants to bring in another forward to rival Thierno Barry. Delap has scored just one goal in the Premier League this season from 17 appearances, having largely played a backup role to João Pedro, and is under contract at Chelsea until 2031.

– Barcelona have sealed a deal to sign Norwich City youngster Ajay Tavares, Fabrizio Romano has revealed. The 16-year-old winger, who is an England youth international, rejected several approaches from clubs in the German Bundesliga, as he only had eyes for Barça. Tavares is set to arrive in Spain on Sunday and will undergo his medical at the club early next week.

– The agents of Bournemouth defender Marcos Senesi met with Roma and Borussia Dortmund this week, according to Nicolo Schira. The 28-year-old has already rejected several contract offers from Bournemouth, and is now expected to leave the Premier League club on a free transfer in the summer. Juventus are also said to be keen on signing Senesi, with Lloyd Kelly linked with a return to England.

EXPERT TAKE

OTHER RUMORS

– Contrary to recent reports, Bayern Munich have no interest in signing Manchester United forward Bruno Fernandes. (Christian Falk)

– Wolves are resigned to losing Mateus Mané this summer, with Liverpool, Manchester United and Arsenal keen on the 18-year-old forward. (Caught Offside)

– Arsenal and Liverpool have been dealt a transfer blow, as teenage forward Lennart Karl is expected to pen a long-term deal at Bayern Munich. (TEAMtalk)

– Nottingham Forest are exploring a loan move for Arsenal goalkeeper Tommy Setford. (Football Transfers)

– Several Premier League clubs, including Nottingham Forest, Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur, have sent their scouts to monitor Atalanta wonderkid Honest Ahanor. The 17-year-old defender is also being monitored by Napoli. (Nicolo Schira).

– Sparta Prague have agreed a deal to sign center back Viktor Vitályos from MTK Budapest. The Czech club are expected to pay €2 million to sign the youngster. (Fabrizio Romano)

– Former Tottenham striker Robbie Keane, who is the current manager of Ferencváros, is a contender to replace Oliver Glasner at Crystal Palace when the Austrian departs in the summer. (TalkSPORT)

– Aston Villa’s option to make Harvey Elliott‘s transfer permanent from Liverpool for £35 million can only be activated by Premier League appearances. (Sky Sports News)

– Sacramento Republic have signed MLS veteran midfielder Mark-Anthony Kaye. (Tom Bogert)

– Atletico Madrid and Barcelona are monitoring young Real Betis defender Nobel Mendy, who is currently on loan at Rayo Vallecano. (Ekrem Konur)

England white-ball captain Harry Brook says it would be “a shame” if Pakistan players were overlooked for this year’s edition of The Hundred.

The BBC reported earlier this week that the four Indian-owned teams in the competition – Manchester Super Giants, MI London, Southern Brave and Sunrisers Leeds – would not consider signing Pakistan players during March’s auction.

Political tensions between India and Pakistan mean no Pakistan players have appeared in the Indian Premier League (IPL) since the 2008 terror attacks in Mumbai, while few have also played in other franchise leagues with Indian owners.

Speaking ahead of England’s T20 World Cup Super 8s game against Sri Lanka on Sunday, Brook – who will play for Sunrisers Leeds this summer but not captain them – said: “Pakistan have been a great cricket nation for many years.

“I think there’s about 50 or 60 plyers in the auction and it would be a shame to not see some of them in there. There’s some amazing cricketers and they bring some great crowds as well.

“It would be a shame to not see some of the Pakistan players in there and make this tournament and competition even better.”

ECB: The Hundred welcomes men’s and women’s players from all over the world

The BBC said it had seen a message where a senior ECB official suggested only the non-IPL-affiliated franchises – Welsh Fire, London Spirit, Birmingham Phoenix and Trent Rockets – would entertain purchasing cricketers from Pakistan.

However, an ECB spokesperson said: “The Hundred welcomes men’s and women’s players from all over the world and we would expect the eight teams to reflect that.”

Former England captain Michael Vaughan urged the ECB to “act fast” and ensure The Hundred remains open to all.

He wrote on social media platform X: “The ECB need to act fast on this…they own the league and this should not be allowed to happen…the most inclusive sport in the country is not one that allows this to happen.”

Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan, Saim Ayub, Haris Rauf and Usman Tariq are among the 67 Pakistan players – 63 men, four women – to have registered for the auction in London, with the men’s event to take place on March 12, a day after the women’s.

No Pakistan women’s player has appeared in The Hundred across its first five seasons.

NFL teams can’t officially make trades until the new league year begins on March 11, but they can start negotiating and agreeing to terms before then. We came up with four potential offers for Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown on Thursday, but another star has part of the trade conversation: Raiders edge rusher Maxx Crosby.

New Las Vegas head coach Klint Kubiak and owner Mark Davis made it clear that they want Crosby to return, while Crosby has said any talk of wanting out of Las Vegas did not come from him. Still, what if Crosby was on available?

We asked NFL analysts Jeremy Fowler, Dan Graziano, Ben Solak and Seth Walder to play general manager of four different teams and craft realistic trade offers for Crosby. Then we had Raiders reporter Ryan McFadden make a decision based on what general manager John Spytek and the team could do this offseason.

Here’s how our market simulation played out, starting with some background on Crosby’s situation and ending with a verdict on a potential new landing spot.

Jump to:
Where things stand
Four offers | The verdict

The latest on a potential Maxx Crosby trade

This situation is pretty fluid. Crosby, who signed a three-year, $106.5 million extension last offseason, was upset the team shut him down during the final two weeks of the season because of a knee injury that required surgery in January. He has also been determined to win at the highest level, and the Raiders are starting a rebuild under first-time head coach Klint Kubiak.

A trade could be beneficial for both sides. Crosby, 28, could get an opportunity to play for a true contender. Meanwhile, the Raiders would have a dead-cap hit of $5.1 million but save $30.69 million, according to OverTheCap.com. Las Vegas could also add draft capital to help build on its roster.

Still, there’s a strong argument in keeping Crosby. Edge rushers are a premium position and Crosby is continuously one of the best in the league. He earned his fifth Pro Bowl selection in 2025 after 10 sacks in 15 games. And we’ve seen teams turn things around in one season. The Patriots, for example, appeared in Super Bowl LX despite finishing 4-13 in 2024.

Las Vegas has the second-most cap space in the league (per Roster Management System) and is expected to have eight draft picks, including the first overall pick. If the Raiders play their cards right, they could field a competitive roster sooner rather than later. Las Vegas also promoted defensive line coach Rob Leonard, who works directly with Crosby, to defensive coordinator. — Ryan McFadden, Raiders reporter

Four hypothetical trade offers for Crosby

Jeremy Fowler’s offer:

• Raiders get: WR DJ Moore, 2026 first-round pick (No. 25 overall), 2027 third-round pick

• Bears get: Crosby

Why this deal makes sense: Like Bill Barnwell’s suggested proposal from Monday, I have Moore involved in this Crosby trade with Chicago. The Bears must upgrade a defensive line that tied with the Bengals for last in pass rush win rate last season (28.8%). The presence of Crosby would elevate a team on the cusp of being a contender after reaching the divisional round in coach Ben Johnson’s first year with the team.

Moore’s departure would allow Chicago to center its future passing game around Rome Odunze, Colston Loveland and Luther Burden III. They would also save $16.5 million on the cap, helping absorb Crosby’s three-year, $106.5 million deal. For Las Vegas, it gets an alpha receiver for projected No. 1 pick Fernando Mendoza and additional draft capital to improve other units.

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Dan Graziano’s offer:

• Raiders get: WR George Pickens, 2026 first-round pick (No. 20 overall)

• Cowboys get: Crosby, 2026 second-round pick (No. 36 overall)

Why this deal makes sense: The Cowboys likely aren’t going to fork over a long-term, top-of-market deal for Pickens, and franchise-tagging him could cause more problems than it solves (as it did last year with edge rusher Micah Parsons). They get back Crosby, who will make around $30 million per year for the next two years and would replace Parsons. Then, Dallas could look elsewhere for its No. 2 wide receiver.

The Raiders would have to sign Pickens long-term, but they’re not already paying CeeDee Lamb top-three WR money, as the Cowboys are. Pickens fits better into Las Vegas’ budget than he does into Dallas’ roster.

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Ben Solak’s offer:

• Raiders get: WR Chris Godwin Jr., 2026 first-round pick (No. 15 overall), 2027 second-round pick

• Buccaneers get: Crosby, 2027 fifth-round pick

Why this deal makes sense: Raiders general manager John Spytek worked under Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht for years in Tampa Bay, so he would likely value Godwin more than most other teams. Godwin would be a target sponge in Las Vegas and give Kubiak a quality blocking receiver. Godwin and a first-round pick, along with some more finagling in the middle rounds, should get the deal done.

Crosby would solve the edge-rushing problem Tampa Bay has been unable to fix for years. The Bucs haven’t had a player reach 10 sacks in a single season since Shaquil Barrett in 2021; Crosby has done it in each of the past four seasons.

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Seth Walder’s offer:

Why this deal makes sense: Let me start with the Raiders, who would surely bristle at the notion of trading their star within their division. But that fear is short-sighted: If you are going to trade away a star, why not take draft capital from a rival? By the time the Raiders are true contenders again, Crosby might well be slowing down while the draft picks have four cost-controlled years to play for Las Vegas — and against the Chargers.

The Chargers, with Chris O’Leary replacing Jesse Minter at defensive coordinator, could use help at edge rusher. Khalil Mack and Odafe Oweh are pending free agents, so the Chargers could use their bounty of cap space to trade for and absorb Crosby’s contract. The fact that Crosby’s deal is salary heavy (meaning the Chargers take on the money) and that he will turn 29 before next season, is why I’m not offering a first-round pick here.

The verdict: Cowboys’ offer gives Raiders a WR1

Fowler’s offer (Bears) and Solak’s offer (Buccaneers) are compelling since they include wide receivers, which Walder’s proposal from the Chargers does not include. But Graziano’s offer from the Cowboys would give the Raiders a top wide receiver, assuming they lock down Pickens on a long-term deal.

Pickens turns 25 on March 4 and is coming off a career-high nine touchdowns and 1,429 receiving yards in 2025. The Raiders haven’t had a player reach that receiving mark since Davante Adams in 2022. By pairing Pickens with running back Ashton Jeanty, tight end Brock Bowers and wide receiver Tre Tucker, Mendoza could have a strong supporting cast around him in Year 1.

On top of that, they would have an extra pick at No. 20 to address needs on the defensive or offensive lines. The Raiders were 15th in run stop win rate and 17th in pass rush win rate last season; they were 22nd in both run block win rate and pass block win rate. — McFadden

LINCOLN, Neb. — Nebraska coach Fred Hoiberg said Friday that there were circumstances surrounding his altercation with a court-storming Iowa fan that people viewing viral social media videos might not fully understand.

The videos showed Hoiberg making a swiping motion at a person pointing a camera toward him during the handshake line after his ninth-ranked Cornhuskers lost 57-52 to the Hawkeyes on Wednesday night. In doing so, Hoiberg accidentally struck a member of Iowa’s staff.

Hoiberg said he fully relies on a pacemaker. He said his reaction stemmed from awareness that close contact with cellphones can interfere with the heart device.

“I am 100% reliant on a pacemaker,” Hoiberg said. “I’ll never forget a conversation with my doctor. A cellphone can put it off. If anything ever happens, I’m done. I will not survive if something ever happens to a pacemaker. I’m very cognizant of that, so when somebody rushes up on me with a cellphone, of course I’m going to react.”

Hoiberg said the probability of anything happening was unlikely, but the chance of him developing heart block in his first open heart surgery was also slim.

He recounted the situation and explained that while he doesn’t have a problem with court storms, he’s against putting players and coaches in danger.

“It was a heated moment,” Hoiberg said. “I was going through the handshake line congratulating Iowa coaches on a hard-fought win, and all of a sudden, out of nowhere, this kid rushes up on me, and I reacted to it. I think anybody in my position, after a game like that, would’ve reacted in a similar way.”

The seventh-year Nebraska coach said he apologized to the Iowa staff member whom he struck both in the moment and in the days following. The staff member was understanding and said he would’ve done the same, Hoiberg said.

Iowa released a statement apologizing for the lack of security.

“We apologize for this incident and will conduct a review of our procedures and security measures to determine what adjustments may be needed to further strengthen our protocols and help prevent similar incidents in the future,” the statement reads.

Hoiberg said that he appreciated Iowa’s statement and that it’s a learning opportunity.

Nebraska hosts Penn State on Saturday.

February, March and April bring unbridled hope to every NFL fan base. We all fall in love with the same seven free agents and the same 15 draft sleepers. But team needs don’t always line up with the players available in free agency, the trade market and the draft class. Each offseason is better for some needs than it is for others.

Last year’s quarterback class, for instance, ended up being a good one — not just through free agency (Sam Darnold just won the Super Bowl) but also through the draft (Cam Ward, Tyler Shough and Jaxson Dart all look like hits). This year’s quarterback class? Not so much.

With the combine fast approaching, we’ll hear about which draft prospects are rising and which free agents will actually become available. As such, I took a look at this NFL offseason’s group of available players through the lens of positional need. It’s an obviously poor year to need a quarterback, but what about wide receiver? Tight end? Defensive tackle? Guard?

Here are my rankings for the strongest and weakest positions for this offseason, weighing both free agency and the draft.

Jump to:
QB | RB | WR | TE | OT | IOL
Edge | DT | LB | CB | S

1. Edge rusher

Good year to need … any sort of edge rusher at all
Bad year to need … a truly elite dude (unless you’d like to send two first-rounders for Maxx Crosby)

If your favorite team’s general manager can’t find a good fit at edge rusher this offseason, tell him to take a hike. Putting aside the Crosby trade rumors for now, here’s a list of expected free agent edge rushers: Trey Hendrickson, Odafe Oweh, Jaelan Phillips, Khalil Mack, K’Lavon Chaisson, Boye Mafe, Joey Bosa and Jadeveon Clowney.

The main thing that impresses me is the variety. Oweh, Chaisson and Mafe are speed artists who can create pressure fast. Guys like Mack, Clowney and Kingsley Enagbare (Packers) are all hitters in the running game. Want to gamble on injured, aging veterans? Hendrickson, Bosa, Cameron Jordan (Saints) and Von Miller (Commanders) could all have something left. What about undeveloped traits? Kwity Paye (Colts) and Arnold Ebiketie (Falcons) are your guys. There’s something for everyone in this group.

Hendrickson, Oweh and Phillips can all reasonably be projected for 10-plus sacks next season, while Mafe, Chaisson, Mack and Bosa can all be eight-sack players. And that’s without any surprises from more middle-tier veterans like Dre’Mont Jones and Al-Quadin Muhammad.

In the draft, I think it’s fair to have eight-plus-sack projections in mind for David Bailey (Texas Tech) and Rueben Bain Jr. (Miami). Bain is a tricky one. Apparently some teams view him as an undersized 3-tech instead of a big base end, but I’ve watched him win too many outside rushes too quickly to knock him inside just yet. The real wild card is Ohio State’s Arvell Reese, an on-ball/off-ball linebacker hybrid whom the league reportedly prefers as an edge rusher. He has a chance to be a high-value player as a movement piece, but those guys don’t tend to hit in Year 1.

All three of those prospects are top-10 pick candidates. We haven’t even gotten to the bulk of the first round, where options abound.

Auburn’s Keldric Faulk was miscast in the Tigers’ defense and will benefit from more true edge rusher snaps in the NFL — he’s this year’s Mykel Williams, and Williams ended up going 11th. Cashius Howell (Texas A&M) is the Will Campbell of this class (albeit on the other side of the ball), as his short arm length measurements will end up a limiting factor for many teams. But 11.5 sacks in his final season of highly explosive pass rushing should get him drafted early. And Akheem Mesidor (Miami) is the Tyler Shough of this class. He was highly productive late in his college career … and I do mean late! He’ll be 25 by draft night, and he is older than current NFLers Will Anderson Jr. and Lukas Van Ness. But man, that film is good.

Expect to see at least six edges go in the first round (if we’re counting Reese). Seven made it in Field Yates’ most recent mock draft, as Missouri’s Zion Young joined the party. While there isn’t a truly elite rusher like Anderson or Abdul Carter, there are a ton of top-50 options, and some splashy free agents to boot.

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2. Interior offensive line

Good year to need … a guard
Bad year to need … a really big center

Interior offensive line is always a spot at which teams can plug guys quite freely, but this feels like a uniquely good year for it. Tyler Linderbaum (Ravens) might actually become available, which would be surprising and likely record-setting. Drew Dalman became the third-highest paid center last year when he left Atlanta to join the Bears at $14 million per year; Linderbaum will likely leapfrog Creed Humphrey at the top of the center rankings ($18 million per year) and should push $19 million.

Again, though … if he becomes available. He’s the blow-your-socks-off free agent, but after him, the interior is still deep. Isaac Seumalo (Steelers) and David Edwards (Bills) were two of the best players at their position last season, and both are expected to become available at guard. Alijah Vera-Tucker (Jets) has been one of the best young guards over the past few years, but he’s coming off a torn triceps that complicates his 2026 projection even further. He has always struggled to play full seasons. If Joel Bitonio (34 years old) doesn’t retire now that his contract is up with the Browns, he’s still a plus starter. And if Ed Ingram has finally seen the light bulb go on — as his end-of-season performance with the Texans seemed to indicate — he’s a plus starter, too.

Center is a little thinner if Linderbaum stays in Baltimore, but Connor McGovern (Bills) and Cade Mays (Panthers) should both push for deals north of $8 million per year, which is top 10 money for the position. Center can be tough to suss out, and both played within excellent offensive lines as a whole. But McGovern, in particular, has been an impact player in Buffalo.

What center lacks for free agents it makes up for in the draft. While there’s no Linderbaum likely to go Round 1, there is a ton of experience and NFL readiness. Jake Slaughter (Florida) and Connor Lew (Auburn) were both three-year starters in the SEC; Logan Jones (Iowa) was a four-year starter at Iowa. All three are smaller players who won’t fit for every offense, but Sam Hecht (Kansas State) has the size those teams are seeking.

Guard is splashier. One of the earliest picks in the draft will be Miami’s Francis Mauigoa, who might get drafted as a tackle, but I’d wager he gets valued more at guard given his frame and play style. Either way, he’s a top-five pick. Olaivavega Ioane (Penn State) is the other interior player who should hear his name called on Day 1 after Mauigoa, while Emmanuel Pregnon (Oregon) and Chase Bisontis (Texas A&M) have the exciting physical tool kits that get teams excited in Round 2 — think Steve Avila or Dylan Fairchild. Potential kicks inside for college tackles Kadyn Proctor (Alabama) and Brian Parker II (Duke) would only strengthen the group.

The free agent class is solid. The draft class is solid. Good year to need an IOL.

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3. Cornerback

Good year to need … a slot corner
Bad year to need … an outside corner with size

Great players don’t really hit free agency at cornerback, as the position has been in desperate need of the market-setting contracts it finally got when Pat Surtain II, Derek Stingley Jr., Jaycee Horn and Sauce Gardner all signed their extensions. Last year’s group was actually a fairly competitive bunch: Byron Murphy Jr. didn’t get out of Minnesota, but Charvarius Ward, Carlton Davis III, Paulson Adebo and D.J. Reed all signed deals with new teams.

This year’s group isn’t as good as that group. The outside-only guys are Riq Woolen (Seahawks), Jaylen Watson (Chiefs) and Jamel Dean (Buccaneers). Alontae Taylor (Saints) has inside-outside versatility, but he has always played his best ball from the slot. Similarly, Greg Newsome II played outside for the Jaguars but could return to some slot play with a new squad. (He was always more productive there.) One of the wild cards of this group is ex-Steeler Asante Samuel Jr., now more than a season removed from his spinal surgery. He is another inside-outside guy with a history of solid play.

Woolen is a particularly tricky one to calibrate. He fell out of favor with Mike Macdonald’s defensive staff multiple times in the past two seasons, getting benched for stretches. Yet he also led all cornerbacks in yards per coverage snap allowed (0.6) last season. In a simpler defense that lets Woolen play faster and think less, he might see more consistent and productive play (looking at you, Robert Saleh and the Titans).

The draft class looks strong for cornerback overall, but even the best players are lacking in size. LSU’s Mansoor Delane and Tennessee’s Jermod McCoy — both considered clear Round 1 players — are both listed at 6-foot and sub-195 pounds. (And McCoy didn’t play at all in 2025 after an ACL tear last January.) Clemson’s Avieon Terrell, the younger brother of Falcons CB A.J. Terrell Jr. and another potential first-rounder, is a nickel at 5-foot-11, 180 pounds. Even Keionte Scott (Miami) and D’Angelo Ponds (Indiana), the darlings of the College Football Playoff, are both clearly slot players at the next level.

Defenses that need a starter on the outside, especially in a defense that prioritizes height and length, won’t enjoy this offseason much should they miss out on Woolen or Watson. The draft target for size is Florida’s Devin Moore, though he has a spotty injury history. Those defenses that prioritize interchangeability and quickness over size and stopping power — like the Jeff Hafley unit in Green Bay and the Chris Shula group with the Rams — will find plenty of options available.

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4. Running back

Good year to need … a starting back for right now
Bad year to need … a young back to start for the next four years

The running back class is all free agency this year … and what a class it is. The headliners are Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III and Breece Hall, seemingly the lone Jet not to get dealt at the deadline. Travis Etienne Jr. (Jaguars) and Javonte Williams (Cowboys) represent the second tier of options. Tyler Allgeier (Falcons), Rico Dowdle (Panthers) and Kenneth Gainwell (Steelers) all fill out the very respectable third tier. After all, Allgeier and Dowdle are 1,000-yard rushers, and Gainwell would have been a 1,000-yard receiver if Aaron Rodgers had his druthers!

Of those seven backs, all save for Gainwell could reasonably be the RB1A on a team in 2026. (Gainwell is just too small.) Dowdle and Allgeier are particularly fascinating options to me. Allgeier is a bruiser who has benefited from relieving Bijan Robinson, but we’ve seen him produce at a higher volume (210 carries for 1,035 yards in his rookie season). No, his top speed isn’t particularly fearsome, but for an offense looking to just grind out positive yardage to support a high-flying passing attack (hello, Chiefs), he’s a great target. Dowdle had a weird stretch of taking over the Panthers’ lead back role, then losing control of it over the course of this season. But over the past two seasons, he’s ninth among all backs in rushing success rate and 13th in rush yards over expectation.

While the top of this free agent class won’t measure up to 2024, when Josh Jacobs, Saquon Barkley and Derrick Henry all changed teams, I do think that Walker and Hall are legit needle-movers. Walker had the third-highest explosive run rate of all RBs this season, and his lightning-strike running style saved the Seahawks offense down the back half of the season. Does he get out of Seattle after that dominant postseason run? I’m not sure. But Hall is destined to escape New York, where bad quarterback play has derailed his rookie-season promise. It’s easy to forget, but this guy had 76 catches in 2023 and another 57 in 2024. He’s a sleeping dual-threat giant.

The team that misses out on a solid free agent running back better hope it is drafting in the top 10, because Jeremiyah Love (Notre Dame) isn’t just the crowning jewel of this running back class — he’s the only top-tier option. The RB2 in the 2026 draft might end up being Love’s teammate at Notre Dame, Jadarian Price, who could emerge into a high-volume runner out of Love’s shadow. Price is crafty and smooth, but he lacks the contact balance and breakaway speed that made Love the Irish’s runner of choice.

In addition to Price, there are enough RBs available that we’ll see several leave the board on Day 2 and into early Day 3. Nicholas Singleton (Penn State) is a personal favorite, but he broke his foot at the Senior Bowl. Jonah Coleman (Washington) has juice, but he is undersized at 5-foot-9 and 228 pounds. Mike Washington Jr. (Arkansas) is dense and physical and dangerous in the open field, but he has fumbling issues. This is the thing with this running back class — everyone has a big limiting factor.

I’m sure a few Day 2 picks will hit. But in general, this is an offseason to solve your running back problems in March, not April.

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5. Safety

Good year to need … a deep safety
Bad year to need … a box safety

If you are looking for the next Nick Emmanwori, who was of course, the next Kyle Hamilton … look elsewhere. Maybe stop looking altogether. The thing about unicorns is there’s only one (or two) of them, and efforts to replicate them too often involve pinning toy horns on unknowing horses.

There are a couple of big safeties in the draft and free agent classes that might, at first brush, look like potential hybrid linebackers like Emmanwori and Hamilton. Toledo’s Emmanuel McNeil-Warren is 6-foot-2 and over 200 pounds, and Kansas City’s Bryan Cook (a highly underrated player in the market right now) is 6-foot-1, 206 pounds in his own right. But both are better as deep coverage players than box players, with range and hitting power over edge-setting strength.

The overall strength of this safety class is in its deep players. That’s where Jaylinn Hawkins spent almost all of his time on a one-year deal with the Patriots, and he has played himself into a solid second contract. It’s where Reed Blankenship has primarily been with the Eagles; he’s due for a middle-tier veteran contract as an average starter. It’s where Coby Bryant, one of the unheralded contributors to the Seahawks’ Super Bowl defense, has played in the past two seasons in Mike Macdonald’s system. (Bryant even has a CB background from his days in college.) Kam Curl and Kevin Byard III are other options further down the list.

While the class mostly has players who win from deep alignments, safety gets the fifth spot here because it’s still deep overall (deep, as in there are a lot of them, not deep alignments). Teams in desperate need of a quality man coverage safety in the box will ring up Nick Cross, a longtime starter for the Colts who will see a competitive market. Teams that like to blitz their safeties will reach out to Chicago’s Jaquan Brisker, a fine player who might fall too low on Chicago’s laundry list of free agents to be successfully retained.

The most linebacker-esque safety of any note might be the star of the 2026 draft class, Caleb Downs. Used with Budda Baker-esque aggressiveness by Matt Patricia last season in the Buckeyes’ defense, Downs has the quickness, route recognition and instincts to have an absurd range of influence when playing in short zones, while still having the requisite mass and play strength to fit the run. He’s a more traditional box safety with some nickel ability, a la Baker or Brian Branch. He reminds me of prime Malcolm Jenkins in that you want him as near the action as possible; he’ll both make plays himself and make pre-snap calls that unlock other second-level players.

I have two wild cards I’d want to look at if I were an enterprising general manager — one in free agency, one in the draft. The veteran is Jalen Thompson. He has played over 4,900 snaps in the past five seasons for the Cardinals and just finished out his second contract, but he’s only 27. (He turns 28 this summer.) Jonathan Gannon’s three-safety defensive structure in Arizona was quite unique, and Thompson’s role is difficult to map onto other teams. I think a more traditional deep safety job would benefit him well.

The draft wild card is LSU’s A.J. Haulcy, who weighs in somewhere near 220 pounds. With serious stopping power as a downhill hitter, he reminds me at times of current Steeler (and rising free agent) Kyle Dugger. Common refrain for the safeties, but here it is again: Haulcy played more from depth than you’d expect for a player of his mass, but he could be more of a traditional box safety at the NFL level for those teams looking to still live in a single-high world.

Downs is the only true star across the free agent and draft classes, but don’t be surprised when McNeil-Warren joins him in the first round — and multiple other safeties (Oregon’s Dillon Thieneman, Penn State’s Zakee Wheatley, etc.) are right behind in Round 2.

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6. Linebacker

Good year to need … a difference-maker
Bad year to need … a difference-maker and not have a top-10 pick

It is a total rock star year at the linebacker position. Three huge names are entering the fray. Two are rookies from Ohio State: Sonny Styles and the previously mentioned Arvell Reese. One is a free agent out of Jacksonville: Devin Lloyd.

I’ll start with just a dash of cold water. Lloyd is probably not a top-five linebacker in football; I’d say he’s more LB10 or LB12. But he’s almost certainly about to get paid like it. Last year was an enormous offseason for linebacker contracts, as four of the six biggest deals currently in the market were signed by Fred Warner, Zack Baun, Jamien Sherwood and Nick Bolton — and Lloyd comfortably outperformed the latter two last season. I’d argue he outplayed Baun, as well. Lloyd is going to clear $15 million per year, and at that price tag, I’d likely pass if I was a general manager. With that said, Lloyd is still an impactful player. He’s great on blitzes and made a huge step forward in coverage last season.

Styles is one of the best linebacker prospects of recent memory. He’s 6-foot-4 and 240 pounds, rangy with great acceleration and deceleration, smart in play recognition against both the run and the pass, good at slipping blocks and reading a quarterback’s eyes, reliable as a tackler and thunderous into contact. He’s all that and a bag of chips. Styles is the first linebacker prospect I’ve seen since Roquan Smith in 2018 who makes me think, “Oh, this dude can change the face of a defense.”

And Styles might not have even been the best linebacker on his own team! Reese, his running mate, was a hybrid player for the Buckeyes. Reese spent 33% of his snaps at linebacker last season and 67% as an edge defender. For my money, the film is better at off-ball linebacker. His range is unbelievable. His explosiveness into contact is play-wrecking. His feel in coverage isn’t perfect, but for how excellent he is as a pass rusher, he shouldn’t be dropping into coverage anyway. There’s no reason a team that likes to blitz their backers and use mugged fronts on pass-rush downs shouldn’t draft Reese as a turbocharged Lloyd or Kaden Elliss.

Reese and Styles should both be top-six picks. Reese almost certainly will be, though the acquiring team might move him to edge rusher (lame, but I get it because of positional value). Styles might fall out of that range, but I think that would be an error.

OK, so those are the three stars. Teams need either $16 million per year or a top-10 pick to go get them. After that … man, I don’t know.

The middle tier of free agent linebackers isn’t totally empty. The aforementioned Elliss is available for blitz-heavy teams, and Eagles starter Nakobe Dean is a quality player for those general managers who don’t mind undersized linebackers (and those who miss some games). Packers starter Quay Walker enjoyed a breakout in 2024 under the same coach (Anthony Campanile) that authored Lloyd’s emergence in 2025, and there’s more to uncover in that physical profile. For those in the market of Band-Aid options, Alex Anzalone, Alex Singleton, Demario Davis, Lavonte David and Matt Milano are all viable veterans.

In the draft class, the linebacker depth is predictably paltry. More and more undersized backers with no chance against the run trickle into the league every year. Texas’ Anthony Hill Jr. makes it work despite his lack of size, playing at the sort of hyperspeed necessary to survive at the NFL level. Georgia’s CJ Allen — like all Bulldog defenders — has more toughness and play strength than his measurables would indicate, but because he’s so rocked up, his transitional quickness and flexibility suffer. The quality of linebackering in this draft class falls off a little less quickly than the free agent group, but it falls off just the same.

Linebacker tends to be a developmental position in the NFL, so a few of these guys will hit as the years go on. But this is really an all-or-nothing positional group this offseason.

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7. Offensive tackle

Good year to need … a starter for 2027
Bad year to need … a starter for 2026

I really, really struggled with ranking offensive tackle. Here’s why.

There are about 4 billion names at the position in the draft this year. Guys I’ve seen get late-Round 1/early-Round 2/future developmental starter buzz include Arizona State’s Max Iheanachor, Clemson’s Blake Miller, Georgia’s Monroe Freeling, Utah’s Caleb Lomu, Alabama’s Kadyn Proctor, Oregon’s Isaiah World, Iowa’s Gennings Dunker and Northwestern’s Caleb Tiernan. Seemingly every draft we get a mini-run on developmental tackles in Round 3, but given how poor the class is overall this year, that run might come in Round 2.

To be clear: I like plenty of these guys (Iheanachor and Miller are my dudes), and even the ones I’m sketchy on, I can see how a positive developmental track would play out. But even for those guys I like, the idea of a Week 1 start really shakes me up. Forcing young tackles into action too soon can teach them bad habits and hurt their confidence.

The best immediate starters by consensus are Francis Mauigoa (Miami) and Spencer Fano (Utah). But Mauigoa looks like a guard to me, and Fano is far too skinny for my tastes at tackle. I don’t view either as a set-it-and-forget-it pass protector in Year 1, the way I felt about Joe Alt or Charles Cross coming out.

Of course, the whole point of the draft is acquiring developmental youth, and the whole point of free agency is acquiring immediate (if unspectacular) starters. There are two enticing names available to that end. The first is Rasheed Walker, a 26-year-old three-year starter with excellent pass-blocking film out of Green Bay. How is a guy like this escaping his current team? Well, the run blocking leaves a lot to be desired. Walker is a fit for teams that want to live in the gun and drop back plenty, but balanced attacks will worry about hiding him in the running game.

The second name is Braden Smith, who bounced back nicely in 2025 after a fraught 2024. Smith’s up-and-down play and lack of length (32¼-inch arms) will similarly limit the teams for which he is a fit — he’s simply not a plug-and-play starter, which is what is expected at the top of the free agent market. And these are the only two names, really. No other offensive tackle made the ESPN’s top 50 free agent list from Matt Bowen.

Thus my difficulty in ranking this tackle class. I’m confident that sharp teams that know their coaching staff’s predilections will find the apple of their eye in this loaded group, but there are plenty of pitfalls to be avoided along the way. Is Jermaine Eluemunor‘s career turnaround at 31 years old legitimate and worth a solid veteran deal? Can Braxton Jones find some career stability outside of Chicago, where injuries and coaching staff changes have stunted his development?

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8. Wide receiver

Good year to need … bodies in the bullpen
Bad year to need … the next elite guy

Wide receiver is an impossible position to rank, too. There’s really no such thing as a bad receiver class. There are too many body types that work at the position, and too many ways to funnel production to players across the board, that even the bad classes might have a few stars in it. I remember when we called the 2023 wide receiver draft class bad. The first wide receiver off the board was at No. 20. What was his name again? That’s right … Jaxon Smith-Njigba. (Puka Nacua was also in the 2023 class, I just don’t have a cheeky bit for him.)

With that necessary caveat in place, it does not feel like a good year for elite receivers. Top receivers rarely make free agency anymore, as the blue-chip players at the position are too valuable to let anywhere near the open market. The Cowboys will reportedly franchise-tag George Pickens accordingly, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Were Pickens to make it in this class, he’d be given a contract near $35 million per year.

As it is, the top of the free agent class features Alec Pierce (Indianapolis), Romeo Doubs (Green Bay) and Jauan Jennings (San Francisco). Pierce is the buzzy name after a breakout 2025 season in which he led all receivers in yards per target (11.9) and was second to Tyquan Thornton in yards per reception (21.3). Pierce’s average target was 18.8 yards downfield — again, second only to Thornton — as Indianapolis used his excellent combination of height, speed and ball tracking on schemed shot plays and one-on-one alerts alike.

Pierce’s beauty isn’t just in one big season, but in the dirty work he did before he broke out. His 2024 was already a great season for big play creation (12.1 yards per target, better than his 2025 number), but in 2023 and 2022, he ground his nose as a blocker and has more “big slot” potential than the Colts film indicates. He’s the one I could see becoming a three-level receiver with high-volume usage … something like Mike Evans, if we’re really shooting for the stars.

But otherwise, it’s strong WR2s and WR3s. Doubs is an every-down player with good route running but unreliable hands. Jennings is a high-impact blocker who can be a high-volume player in spots but should more so be a third-option stick mover. The aforementioned Evans lacks the juice to separate that he once had but still wins with physicality for those quarterbacks who like throwing back-shoulder balls on the outside. Rashid Shaheed, Deebo Samuel, Wan’Dale Robinson and Christian Kirk can all still fill roles behind star receivers.

One wild card to watch is a household name: Tyreek Hill. For as much as I’d like to believe Hill can recover his 2023 and 2024 form, he’ll never again play in a fresh Mike McDaniel offense taking the league by storm. He’s coming off a dislocated knee with multiple ligament tears. I cannot reasonably weigh him in this free agent class, but with a heroic recovery, he’ll be an impactful signing in 2026.

Another wild-card name is the Vikings’ Jalen Nailor. Of course, he’s not nearly as buzzy, but Nailor has been an effective speed option on play-action shots and YAC throws behind Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison in Minnesota, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he blossoms into a valuable field stretcher for his next team. Teams that miss out on Shaheed should hustle to secure Nailor’s services.

Onto the draft class. There will be some early-drafted receivers this year. Ohio State’s Carnell Tate and Arizona State’s Jordyn Tyson are the two big prospects, with Makai Lemon (USC) also sneaking into the conversation for teams looking to fill their slot role. But I don’t rank any of these players above Tetairoa McMillan from last season, or Marvin Harrison Jr., Malik Nabers, Rome Odunze and Brian Thomas Jr. from 2024. Tate and Tyson, should they go top 10, will benefit from a poor draft class pushing them up into higher draft capital.

The names on Day 2 are thinner than usual. Indiana’s Omar Cooper Jr. is my preferred Round 2 target, assuming Washington’s Denzel Boston has already left the board on late Day 1. Chris Bell (Louisville) is the big injury risk this season, as a torn ACL ended his emphatic 2025 season early. Zachariah Branch (Georgia) is the guy everyone will fall in love with for his 10 best plays, despite the fact that he’s perilously undersized (5-foot-10, 175 pounds) for NFL play.

By no means is this a receiver class without options. The trade market might expand on those options and strengthen the class accordingly, if A.J. Brown gets dealt out of Philadelphia, or if Brandon Aiyuk is healthy and ready to play after escaping San Francisco. Neither feels like a sure thing, yet both are exciting possibilities. That’s the story of every wide receiver class, of course — there are just so many players at this position, year over year. Relative to past groups, though, this year’s offerings don’t stack up.

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9. Tight end

Good year to need … undersized tight ends
Bad year to need … any significant blocking ability

If tight ends were legally not permitted to weigh above 250 pounds, this would be an unbelievable year to get one. Oregon’s Kenyon Sadiq, likely the lone first-rounder at the position this offseason, has loose movement traits and explosive downfield strides to boot. Of course, his 6-foot-3, 245-pound frame is real small — we’re talking Evan Engram, Sam LaPorta or Chig Okonkwo size. And would you look at that … Okonkwo is in this free agent class.

If you like your 240 pounds a little more stretched out, I have good news for you. Kyle Pitts Sr., the famously supersized wide receiver at 6-foot-5 and 245 pounds, is the gem of this free agent group. Pitts has improved as a blocker over his five years in Atlanta, going from unplayable to passable, but it’s really his involvement as a three-level, high-volume receiver this past year that will get him paid.

Pitts fits both with offenses looking for an explosive play-action element from a downfield tight end (think prime Darren Waller or current Dalton Kincaid) and offenses looking to spread their tight end out and pepper him as an every-down receiver (think prime Travis Kelce or Zach Ertz). Pitts looks to be back to his prime athletic self as he gets another year removed from his 2022 knee injury, and I think he’ll surprise folks with how much he signs for and how well he produces.

Kelce is also technically in this class, though the idea of him doing anything other than playing for the Chiefs or retiring is laughable. More meaningfully, Baltimore’s Isaiah Likely (another WR-masquerading-as-a-TE) will be looking for a TE1 job out of Mark Andrews‘ shadow, and Cleveland’s David Njoku still has some juice both as a receiver and as a blocker. But again, two players under 250 pounds.

The issue for these undersized tight ends? So long as the lighter, pass-catching tight ends are paying off their targets with highly efficient and explosive receiving performances, then they deservedly stay on the field. But if they can’t either take on a huge volume of targets as a reliable stick mover (think Trey McBride) or create explosives in limited opportunities (think Colston Loveland), then they have to block well in order to play. Otherwise, it would be better to just field a receiver who might also impact only a little as a blocker but at least has more overall juice in terms of speed and quickness.

Jobs are much safer for the plodding 260-pounders who will never break the bank but will always have a role for their in-line blocking. Those guys are simply not available this year. Check your math if you think Cade Otton (Buccaneers) or Dallas Goedert (Eagles) fits the bill. Otton lined up in the slot or out wide just as often as Pitts this past season, and Goedert’s best days as a blocker are well behind him. Charlie Kolar (Ravens) is the sneaky target here as teams look for pile movers, though Baltimore wants to keep him in-house.

The consensus on the draft class behind Sadiq is all over the place. Vanderbilt’s Eli Stowers and Ohio State’s Max Klare are both in the running for TE2, but they have the same concerns for size and blocking ceiling that the rest of the field does. Cincinnati’s Joe Royer is perhaps the most exciting player for blocking floor and ceiling, while still having a viable path to receiving impact. Georgia’s Oscar Delp is another middle-round name to watch. And Stanford’s Sam Roush is the Jackson Hawes of this class — all block, sometimes rock.

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10. Defensive tackle

Good year to need … John Franklin-Myers
Bad year to need … an impactful defensive tackle on third down

Weird, weird, weird year when there are simply no interior defensive linemen to go around. This is a position that has been better and better appreciated by league analysts and fans alike in recent years — not to mention by owners’ wallets. After Milton Williams signed a four-year, $104 million contract in free agency last season on the back of one year of productive rotational play, the message couldn’t be ignored: If a front office has the chance to get a field-tipping player at this position, it should do it.

Well, there aren’t any this year. One — just one! — defensive tackle made Bowen’s top 50 free agent list this cycle. Broncos veteran Franklin-Myers is an extremely likable player with inside-outside versatility, a powerful bull rush and a three-down skill set. But he’ll turn 30 next season, and the Broncos already told us what they thought of Franklin-Myers when they extended fellow defensive tackle Malcolm Roach in November — months after re-signing another defensive tackle D.J. Jones — to run next to Zach Allen. Franklin-Myers was low on their priority list.

I expect Franklin-Myers to get a solid contract because somebody has to get one. Aging veterans Calais Campbell (Cardinals), David Onyemata (Falcons) and Sheldon Rankins (Texans) should see decent one-year deals for their service. Khyiris Tonga (Patriots) signed a one-year, $2.1 million deal in one of the bargains of free agency last year, and he joins such players as Sebastian Joseph-Day (Titans) and DJ Reader (Lions) as viable nose tackles who will, again, see solid short-team deals.

Can the draft class save the defensive tackle-needy teams? Not really! There is no sure thing along the defensive interior in the 2026 draft class. For those teams already secure with their 2026 starters, there are some high-upside swings, though. Peter Woods (Clemson) entered the 2025 season as one of the top draft prospects overall, and while his stock fell some following a down year, the potential is still clearly there for a game-wrecking 3-technique. Caleb Banks (Florida) looked to build on a strong 2024, but he lost all but three games in the 2025 season to a foot injury.

Both will likely go Round 1 not just because the class is generally poor, but because defensive tackle is such a premium position and many teams will enter the draft with needs unanswered by free agency. Those who miss out on Woods and Banks will go after Texas Tech’s Lee Hunter or Ohio State’s Kayden McDonald, but both are true nose tackles who aren’t ready to impact the pass rush often in Year 1.

If forced to identify the sleepers I’d target in this group … Tim Settle Jr. (Texans) always impresses in rotational play as a surprisingly quick penetrator for such a big, boxy build. And Domonique Orange (Iowa State) has the measurables and first step of a Jordan Davis-like space gobbler. He could provide just enough on pass-rush downs to warrant a solid second contract, at least after a few years of growth.

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11. Quarterback

Good year to need … Fernando Mendoza
Bad year to need … anything else

What do you want me to tell you? If I could earnestly include Mendoza in the pool of “available quarterback options for QB-needy teams,” maybe this position would leapfrog the interior defensive line. But Mendoza is all but off the board to the Raiders, leaving roughly a dozen other teams with serious quarterback needs in the lurch.

The second-best quarterback prospect is Alabama’s Ty Simpson. He’s a one-year starter in college, he didn’t have elite production in that one year, and he lacks top-flight tools (size, arm strength, speed). That’s the long and the short of it.

There’s plenty of ways to talk yourself into him as a developmental player. He rose quickly in his lone season as a starter, bouncing back from a poor season opener and catching some fire through October and November. He can see the full field from the pocket and has the intangibles and coachability of a player who will succeed in the pros. But again, this is a developmental player — a year away from seeing the field. He should be drafted where Jalen Milroe (who started above him at Alabama in 2024) was drafted — the mid-third round. Maybe Simpson goes higher because his play style is more typically pro-ready, but we’re talking ourselves into a second-round pick on projection here.

Yet Simpson may go to the Rams at No. 29 because they have the extra first-round pick and need developmental youth at quarterback. If they pass on Simpson, who is there? Garrett Nussmeier (LSU) had the film in 2024 to push for Round 1, but he wasn’t 100 percent in 2025 and lacks ideal NFL size; he’s now likely a Day 3 pick. And Carson Beck (Miami) and Drew Allar (Penn State) and Cade Klubnik (Clemson) are all trading on recruiting rankings.

The free agent and trade markets have more viable options than the draft class, but that isn’t saying much. Malik Willis is an exciting free agent in that he’s an enormous mystery box, and the few peeks we’ve gotten beneath the wrapping paper have looked marvelous. Among quarterbacks with at least 100 dropbacks over the past two seasons, Willis is first in QBR, yards per dropback, completion percentage and explosive pass rate. But again, that’s on 115 dropbacks collected over a few relief appearances and three measly starts.

Willis is far from a sure thing — even less sure than Sam Darnold was when he got his three-year, $100.5 million deal from the Seahawks last offseason. A trade target like Tua Tagovailoa is a sure thing, but the surety is in his limitations. The Dolphins have shown over the past few seasons just how many offensive resources have to be dedicated to Tagovailoa’s skill set to make his passing game viable. Teams that want a spot starter to run some spread RPO offenses should like Tagovailoa, but not with any designs on him becoming the next Baker Mayfield or Darnold reclamation.

The better target for veteran reclamation is Kyler Murray, whom the Cardinals will almost certainly jettison via release if they cannot find a trade partner to take on his heavy contract. Murray is coming off a foot injury and has not looked the same outside of Kliff Kingsbury’s offense. So while he has some of the signs of a veteran QB reclamation — the high draft background, the physical talent, etc. — he also has some warts that the veteran reclamations often don’t bring. Murray will be 29 next season and simply might not be the sort of escape artist he once was. That’s a hard portfolio to buy into.

The only thing I like about this quarterback class (sans Mendoza) is how many rookie contract dart throws are floating around on various rosters. The list includes Anthony Richardson Sr., Will Levis, Spencer Rattler, Tanner McKee — and even Milroe now that Darnold has proved he’s the guy in Seattle. For the many teams that will be stuck with an uninspiring veteran this offseason, it isn’t hard to find the desperate prayer of a young passer to pair with him.