Category: Sports

With the Seattle Seahawks triumphing as Super Bowl LX champions, the 2026 NFL offseason is now underway. There’s a lot to be determined between now and the start of the 2026 season with free agency and the draft looming, but it’s never too early to look ahead.

We asked 11 of our NFL experts — Matt Bowen, Jeremy Fowler, Dan Graziano, Pamela Maldonado, Eric Moody, Jason Reid, Aaron Schatz, Ben Solak, Mike Tannenbaum, Seth Walder and Field Yates — to make predictions for next season’s Super Bowl matchup and MVP winner. They also each made one big prediction about the offseason and/or upcoming season.

Are the Seahawks bound for a repeat, or will another franchise hoist the Lombardi trophy in 12 months? Who could be the next MVP? Let’s get into our early predictions, starting with who will be the next Super Bowl LXI champion.

Jump to:
Super Bowl LXI picks
MVP picks
More predictions

What’s your early Super Bowl LXI pick?

Matt Bowen, NFL analyst: Bears over Bills. Chicago needs to add pass rushers, but the foundational players are there on offense under coach Ben Johnson. With quarterback Caleb Williams‘ playmaking ability, the Bears will beat Josh Allen and Joe Brady’s Bills to win Super Bowl LXI.

Jeremy Fowler, national NFL reporter: Rams over Broncos. Los Angeles matched up with Seattle as well as anyone last season and will be back to finish the job. The Matthew Stafford-Sean McVay connection is improving with age. The secondary was a weakness late in the season, so expect the Rams to address that issue for roster balance.

Dan Graziano, national NFL reporter: Chiefs over Packers. One down season and a torn ACL isn’t enough to scare me off quarterback Patrick Mahomes and coach Andy Reid. Mahomes recovers, along with the Kansas City offense, and the Chiefs claim their third Super Bowl title in five seasons.

Pamela Maldonado, sports betting analyst: 49ers over Bills. The 2025 season was a grind, with multiple injuries to key players such as edge rusher Joey Bosa, linebacker Fred Warner and tight end George Kittle. Yet the 49ers still piled up 12 wins and won a playoff game. A roster that’s already battle tested under that level of adversity should be a contending team once its health stabilizes.

Eric Moody, fantasy analyst: Broncos over Seahawks. The Broncos appear undervalued despite winning the AFC West and finishing tied for the league’s best record last season, while the Seahawks reminded everyone that defense still wins championships. History suggests repeating is difficult, with only nine teams winning back-to-back Super Bowl titles, and champions often lose key contributors during free agency once players cash in.

Jason Reid, Andscape senior NFL writer: Chiefs over Rams. Anyone who knows Mahomes understands that he’ll push himself to return in top form. With him entering his age-31 season, team CEO Clark Hunt, coach Andy Reid and general manager Brett Veach believe that the Chiefs’ championship window remains wide open. They’ll do their part to help Mahomes lead the Chiefs to their fourth Super Bowl championship since 2019.

Aaron Schatz, NFL analyst: Rams over Chargers: That’s right, I’m predicting a fight for Los Angeles at SoFi Stadium. Two home teams! The Rams were No. 1 in offense this season, and offense is more consistent than defense. The Chargers will get back their offensive tackles and added Mike McDaniel to coordinate the offense, plus they have a ton of cap space to address their offseason needs.

Ben Solak, NFL analyst: Texans over Rams. I’m buying all sorts of Texans stock, as that defense is staying together, and the offense was showing positive signs of growth in a season with a new offensive coordinator and a totally retooled offensive line. With an improvement in the running game, Houston is set for an explosion.

Mike Tannenbaum, NFL analyst: Commanders over Bills. Quarterback Jayden Daniels stays healthy next season and bounces back in a big way. He plays in every game and finishes the season by outdueling Allen and the Bills in a 45-42 shootout in L.A.

Seth Walder, NFL analyst: Chargers over Packers. Am I falling for the Chargers in the offseason, just like we all do every year? Sure. But this time will be different! The 2025 Chargers’ biggest weakness — the offensive line — already has a built-in solution with their two excellent tackles (Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater) returning to health. Add McDaniel as offensive coordinator and I find myself truly believing.

Field Yates, NFL analyst: Rams over Broncos. The two teams that came up short in the conference championship games last season find a way to get over the top in 2026. The Rams will emerge as Super Bowl champs at SoFi Stadium, becoming the third team to win a Super Bowl at its home venue (the Rams won the last Super Bowl at SoFi after the 2021 season).

---

Who’s your pick for next season’s MVP?

Bowen: Dak Prescott, QB, Cowboys. Prescott had more than 4,500 passing yards and threw 30 touchdowns this past season. With the Cowboys expected to retain wide receiver George Pickens, whom they will likely give the franchise tag, look for Prescott to produce high-level numbers again for a team that could challenge for the NFC East title in 2026 with an improved defense.

Fowler: Bijan Robinson, RB, Falcons. Maybe Raheem Morris was right in saying that Robinson is the league’s best player. He’s truly breathtaking, and another season of 2,000-plus total yards will give voters something to think about — especially if Atlanta makes a playoff push. Robinson should prove impactful in Kevin Stefanski’s wide-zone system.

Graziano: Caleb Williams, QB, Bears. I see the arrow pointing up for Williams with Ben Johnson and a Bears team that arrived well ahead of schedule. Williams has that fourth-quarter clutch gene, and even if the Bears fix their defense to where he doesn’t need as many clutch performances, he should have plenty of opportunities to showcase his abilities in a tough NFC North.

Maldonado: Christian McCaffrey, RB, 49ers. McCaffrey is the engine of the Niners’ offense. He posted 1,202 rushing yards, had 924 receiving yards and carried the Niners through injuries all season. If San Francisco stays mostly healthy and wins 12-plus games again, voters will reward the league’s most complete offensive playmaker.

Moody: Josh Allen, QB, Bills. The window won’t stay open forever for Allen to win a Super Bowl, but Buffalo is well positioned entering the season. Since newly hired coach Joe Brady was promoted as Buffalo’s offensive coordinator in Week 11 of the 2023 season, the Bills have ranked second in points per game at 29.1, a run that included Allen winning his first MVP in 2024. He is firmly in the mix for this award again, especially if Buffalo adds a true No. 1 receiver this offseason.

Reid: Jordan Love, QB, Packers. Next season will be Love’s fourth directing Matt LaFleur’s offense. Love dazzled with his arm talent in his first three and proved the Packers right in choosing to make him the foundation of their future. Love will take things to a new level and win MVP.

Schatz: Patrick Mahomes, QB, Chiefs. I still think Mahomes is the best player in the game and I’m comfortable picking him to win the MVP every year. His odds are as good as anyone, assuming he either returns in Week 1 from his knee injury or doesn’t miss much time.

Solak: Lamar Jackson, QB, Ravens. Jackson has a full offseason to get healthy and a new offensive coordinator in Declan Doyle. When Jackson has a full season to accrue counting stats, he’s always in the conversation.

Tannenbaum: Jayden Daniels, QB, Commanders. Daniels will rebound from an injury-plagued 2025 season and reassert himself as the top quarterback of the 2024 draft class. He stays healthy, performs well throwing and running the ball and makes new offensive coordinator David Blough a prime head coaching candidate.

Walder: Allen. I think he’s the best player in football and has to shoulder such a heavy load for his team. That makes him a perennial MVP candidate, and I don’t see that changing. He didn’t even play his best ball last season. If he plays better in 2026, he certainly has a chance at a second MVP in three years.

Yates: Jackson. As a new chapter of the Ravens franchise begins, Jackson will be invigorated by Doyle, considered by many in the coaching ranks to be an NFL head coach soon. In my opinion, Jackson is still the most dynamic player in the game.

---

Make one more big prediction about this offseason or next season.

Bowen: Trey Hendrickson will sign with the Colts. General Manager Chris Ballard makes a splash move to sign the top free agent on the market. Hendrickson, who led the NFL with 17.5 sacks in 2024, would immediately upgrade the Indianapolis pass rush.

Fowler: The Giants will make the playoffs. The Year 1 spike due to a top-shelf coach is a proven formula that worked last season for New England’s Mike Vrabel, Chicago’s Ben Johnson and Jacksonville’s Liam Coen. John Harbaugh hopes to have a similar impact, and New York’s roster is on the upswing. A few savvy additions this offseason would make the Giants contenders.

Graziano: The Steelers will have their first losing season since 2003. For a few years now, this roster has needed a more extensive rebuild than the team has been willing to undergo. For all the issues Steelers fans had with Mike Tomlin by the end of his tenure, there’s a good chance 2026 shows that he was actually holding things together in Pittsburgh.

Maldonado: The Bills will finally fix their offense with one decisive move — acquiring Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown. They would immediately be on the top tier of Super Bowl contenders if they added Brown. Buffalo’s top priority is receiver help, and pairing him with Allen can solve its biggest limitation overnight. Buffalo has the rare mix of an elite QB, a playoff-ready roster, a clear singular need and a clear desperation to fill it. All that is missing is the blockbuster deal to put it together.

Moody: Running back Travis Etienne Jr. will sign with the Chiefs during free agency. Etienne would be intriguing as a proven, versatile back who has surpassed 1,000 rushing yards in three of his four healthy seasons, including 1,107 yards and seven touchdowns in 2025. His ability to contribute as both a runner and receiver (5,136 career all-purpose yards with 32 touchdowns) would boost a Chiefs backfield that averaged less 4.0 yards per carry last season and failed to produce a running back with at least 200 receiving yards.

Reid: Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones will revert to All-Pro form. Mahomes’ defensive counterpart throughout Kansas City’s dynastic run, Jones was not as disruptive in the interior or off the edge during the team’s nightmarish 2025 season. Reenergized, the future Hall of Famer will be selected as a first-team All-Pro for the fourth time in five seasons.

Schatz: The Giants will take a big leap, going from worst to first thanks to the coaching of John Harbaugh, the return of wide receiver Malik Nabers, and steps forward from quarterback Jaxson Dart and edge rusher Abdul Carter in Year 2. Like Jeremy alluded to above, it’s not as big a leap as you might think, as their underlying play-by-play performance last season suggested a 7-10 team instead of a 4-13 unit.

Solak: The Falcons will win the NFC South, as Kevin Stefanski immediately steps in as a quality head coach with a roster that just needs competent coaching and quarterback help. But Stefanski can scheme an offense around a quarterback well, and he pushes the Falcons to 10 wins (which is all it would take to win the South, anyway).

Tannenbaum: The Chargers will take a big step and win the AFC West. With offensive tackles Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater healthy, and Mike McDaniel bringing some energy, Justin Herbert & Co. get over the hump and win the division.

Walder: The Cowboys will win the NFC East. Dak Prescott and the Dallas offense played extremely well last season, which went under the radar in part because the defense was so bad. The latter should improve through regression alone. If Dallas can get its defense to be just OK, the Cowboys could become contenders very quickly.

Yates: Caleb Williams will become an All-Pro. There was a ton of good in Williams’ second pro season but still so much room for growth. Williams’ completion percentage will be the area that most point to, and I am bullish that number will improve dramatically next season. The Bears’ offense should return mostly intact in 2026, and that familiarity will be instrumental in their franchise quarterback’s development.

Team USA has won its opening game in the 2026 Olympic men’s ice hockey tournament, upending Latvia by a final score of 5-1.

The contest was not without some drama, as the first period included two successful coach’s challenges from Latvia that wiped U.S. goals off the board.

After that, however, the ice seemed to tilt the Americans’ way, and goals from Tage Thompson, Auston Matthews and a pair from Brock Nelson were the difference.

Here’s what we learned in the opener, along with an overall team grade and big questions to ponder prior to Team USA’s matchup against Denmark on Saturday.

---

Takeaway 1: Who did it better, the Hugheses or the Tkachuks?

There are certain players every team must rely on if it’s going to win. Team USA is no different, and that’s what makes the Hughes and Tkachuk brothers rather crucial.

Let’s start with the Hughes brothers. Quinn might be the most important player on the roster. He’s a top-pairing defenseman who can be trusted in every situation. That was on display against Latvia, as he finished with a team-high 21:29 in ice time and registered two assists. Jack opened the game on the fourth line and also finished with a pair of assists.

What about the Tkachuks? Physicality was a theme Thursday, and the Tkachuks are at the heart of why it was a factor. But there’s so much more to their respective games than being bruising power forwards. It’s why they were on the top line alongside Jack Eichel, which created a combination that used size, speed and skill to present numerous issues throughout the game for Latvia. Brady scored the game’s opening goal, and Matthew added a pair of assists.

---

Takeaway 2: Does coach Mike Sullivan have a decision to make about his lines?

We’ll expand on Brock Nelson’s individual exploits here shortly, but his contributions showed how the U.S. got quite a bit from its fourth line. Nelson anchored the line featuring Jack Hughes and J.T. Miller and had two goals (and could have had more).

The younger Hughes brother had a pair of assists, but Miller’s contributions are a bit more complicated. Miller set up Quinn Hughes for a first-period goal that was one of the two that were disallowed. He was also at the net front for what became a second disallowed goal that was called back for goaltender interference. Miller had the most ice time of the trio, with a little more than 12 minutes, while his linemates each finished with slightly more than 11 minutes.

Will we see some changes in the games against Denmark and Germany, or will Sullivan stick with what worked?

Everything coming up BROCK. NELSON. #WinterOlympics pic.twitter.com/yy7xGkXiR0

— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) February 12, 2026

---

Takeaway 3: The fatigue factor

One of the underlying themes from the 4 Nations Face-Off was the pace, especially in the final game between Canada and the U.S.

That pace was a factor in the first four minutes of this game, as part of an approach that saw the U.S. wear down Latvia in numerous ways. Combining that speed with physicality and puck possession eventually made Latvia go from a team that tied the game at 1-1 to a team that struggled to just keep up for the final 40 minutes. There were the penalties. There were the goals that came from those penalties. There were those long shifts that allowed the U.S. to dictate play in a way that helped it score four unanswered goals.

Can the U.S. do that against other teams? It’s possible against the other nations with a mix of NHLers and non-NHLers, but what we saw from the Canadians on Thursday indicates that they would be able to keep up.

---

Player of the game: Brock Nelson, center

There were the two goals he scored. There were also the two goals he almost scored: one off the post, and one disallowed for goalie interference.

Either way, Nelson had the most memorable and arguably strongest performance of any Team USA player.

Naturally, the conversation around Nelson’s game is going to center around his goal contribution. But there’s also a point to be made about how was always in position and used his 6-foot-4 frame to create openings in what was a physical game against Latvia.

---

Will the U.S. score even more goals against Denmark?

Being the two gold medal favorites is why there’s going to be one eye on Team USA and another on Canada throughout this preliminary round.

Canada struck first with a dominant 5-0 win over Czechia, shifting the focus to the U.S. in its matchup later on Thursday. The answer was a 5-1 win.

Now it’s about seeing if Team USA can carry that over into its next game Saturday against Denmark. The Danes were playing at the same time as the U.S. and lost 3-1 to Germany, despite the fact they finished with 38 shots.

---

Overall team grade: A-

The only blemish for Team USA in its opening game was the lone goal it allowed because of a net-front scramble. Beyond that, the Americans controlled every aspect of their opening game.

Those disallowed goals along with Latvia’s game-tying goal created a bit of a tenuous start. But the four unanswered goals — and how the U.S. flexed its skill and strength — made it too hard for Latvia to find an opening.

Former Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker and assistant coach Joey Porter Sr. said on a podcast recorded during Super Bowl week that quarterback Ben Roethlisberger wasn’t a good teammate or person.

He also said Roethlisberger and linebacker James Harrison “broke the brotherhood” by discussing team business and criticizing former coach Mike Tomlin on their own podcasts.

“[Harrison] broke the brotherhood,” Porter said. “Then 7 [Roethlisberger] definitely broke the brotherhood. Out of anybody that should talk, he should never grab a microphone and really talk Steeler business. Because if we talk Steelers business, his ass is foul of all foul. The s— that he did is foul of all foul. He’s not a good teammate.

“Won the Super Bowl with him, but the person, he’s just not a good teammate. He knows that. Anybody in the Steelers building knows that, but we protected him because I’ve only won one Super Bowl and that was my quarterback. So do I love my quarterback? Yeah. But is he a good person? No.”

Appearing on Cameron Heyward‘s podcast, “Not Just Football,” from radio row, Porter didn’t mince words about Harrison or Roethlisberger. Porter and Roethlisberger were teammates for three seasons, and the pair won Super Bowl XL together. During that stretch, Porter was a team captain, and he told Heyward that he was particularly frustrated by some of Roethlisberger’s actions as a rookie.

In one instance, Roethlisberger refused to sign memorabilia for teammates’ families, something that was common practice in the locker room, Porter said.

“He was telling people, ‘No, I’m not going to sign that,’” Porter said. “So once he did that, who they come and tell? The captain. When he first did it to Chris Hoke, I was like, ‘Damn, that’s messed up, man.’ I grabbed it from Hoke, took it over there and told him to sign it. But then when he did that to Aaron Smith, now I got to have a meeting [with Roethlisberger]. Like, you’re a rookie, you’re a young guy.

“You can’t tell my vets you’re too cool to sign for my vets. Who the hell is too cool to sign for your teammate? I’m not a fan.”

Porter also said Roethlisberger was appointed captain rather than earning it through a locker room vote.

“We voted to be captains,” Porter said. “You had to be voted in. He came in the era where they just gave you the ‘C’ — because if he wasn’t a captain, he’d probably have a hissy fit. But nobody’s going to vote for him as captain because he don’t have no captain quality.”

Roethlisberger’s representatives didn’t respond to a request for comment.

Before Tomlin’s resignation in January, Roethlisberger was critical of his former coach on his podcast, “Footbahlin With Ben Roethlisberger,” saying it might be time to “clean house” after the team’s Week 13 loss to the Buffalo Bills.

But speaking to reporters ahead of his induction into the team’s hall of honor, Roethlisberger walked back some of his previous comments.

“Just because I said there’s a time for some new things, that’s just saying that I think Coach Tomlin, if he wants to move on, he has every right to move on — it’s not they should,” he said.

Porter also criticized Harrison, a teammate of his for four seasons who later returned to coach, for taking shots at Tomlin and revealing personal conversations with the former coach on Harrison’s podcast, “Deebo & Joe.”

“You think the head coach didn’t have his hand in making that player? So when you say he did nothing for you, that’s crazy,” Porter said. “Then it’s like, damn, why would you take a shot at the guy who changed your life? Because [Bill] Cowher didn’t change your life. Cowher cut you three times.”

Some weeks, Arsenal look unstoppable. Some of them, they look vulnerable. But after another unconvincing display at Brentford, there has been a common theme about Arsenal recently

Since the turn of the year, Arsenal have struggled to respond to a Manchester City result in the title race. This was the fourth time that Mikel Arteta’s side have played after City in the gameweek and dropped points.

This week, Man City swept aside Fulham but Arsenal stumbled against their own west London opponents the following day. They lost to Manchester United the day after Man City beat Wolves.

Earlier in the calendar year, they failed to really extend their lead over Pep Guardiola’s side at Nottingham Forest a few hours after the Manchester derby City lost – and against Liverpool, after City dropped points at Brighton.

At the same time, when Arsenal have gone first, they have looked like a different team. Last weekend, there were no nerves against Sunderland, which preceded City’s dramatic game at Liverpool.

They went to Elland Road – another difficult venue and lost their star forward Bukayo Saka during the warm-up – and it was easy street ahead of City’s game at Spurs.

Arsenal found a way at Bournemouth on the Saturday before City hosted Chelsea on Super Sunday. And even when they played Aston Villa at home, they picked up the statement result they lacked at Brentford. Once again, that came a day before City were in action.

Arteta refutes the claim that ‘going second’ has an impact on his team. “I don’t think so, I think we played as well after them a few times this season, and we have won the games,” he said.

He has a point. Arsenal’s slender December wins over Brighton and Everton came hours after City picked up victories.

But they were in 2025, this is 2026. The finish line is that little bit closer, the other cup competitions are starting to ramp up in intensity. More difficult questions will be asked and the anxiety of getting over the line will rise.

Arteta instead said Arsenal’s latest dropped points were linked to the lack of defensive solidity against one of the most chaotic teams in the Premier League in Brentford.

“We lacked certain things against them, you have to defend those situations, even better prevent them,” he said.

“You want to give them no chance or just hope that something bad happens and we didn’t manage that well enough for us throughout the game.”

But could that be linked to the pressure of playing after City? There were some moments in the Brentford game where Arsenal did not look themselves.

In the opening three minutes, Gabriel put a wayward pass behind for a Brentford corner- then put in multiple clumsy fouls, which nearly saw him sent off for two yellow cards.

In the build-up to Igor Thiago’s big first-half chance, which required a big save from David Raya, the Arsenal goalkeeper gave the ball away cheaply with a howler of a throw.

It was unlike him – and had a similar feel to that Martin Zubimendi error which led to Manchester United’s equaliser at the Emirates back in January.

Gabriel Martinelli has now missed big chances against Forest and Brentford – when he has shown he delivers in those high-pressure areas, most notably against Man City back in September.

Title races do funny things to players and it feeds to the idea that – despite Arsenal’s brilliant squad depth – City’s experience of getting over the line is the trump card they have over Arsenal.

Whether the scheduling matters or not, Arsenal will have to sort out their recent issue in ‘playing after City’ – and quickly.

While they face Wolves on Wednesday – their next Premier League game which City cannot respond to – Guardiola’s side play first in the two gameweeks after that.

Those games see Arsenal face two more London derbies that will ask similar questions to those they faced at Brentford.

A week on Sunday they face a Tottenham side that may have a ‘new-manager bounce’ following Thomas Frank’s exit, while a week later Chelsea come to the Emirates – and Liam Rosenior’s side showed they can create a nervy spectacle at the Emirates.

In the space of five days, Arsenal have gone from nine points clear at one stage to a four-point gap and City smelling blood. This title race is well and truly on.

ATLANTA — Falcons defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich said Wednesday that he was “obviously disappointed” by the news of edge rusher James Pearce Jr.’s arrest Saturday.

When asked whether the Falcons must prepare to not have Pearce in the short term, Ulbrich said he could not say. The Falcons’ voluntary offseason program will begin in April.

“It’s still so early,” Ulbrich said at a previously scheduled news conference for Falcons coordinators. “We’re still not there yet either way.”

New head coach Kevin Stefanski opened the news conference by saying that he and his assistant coaches had “nothing to add” on Pearce’s situation beyond the Falcons’ statement from Saturday.

Pearce is facing five felony charges in Florida in relation to an alleged domestic dispute with ex-girlfriend and WNBA player Rickea Jackson, including aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and aggravated stalking.

Pearce, 22, allegedly rammed his SUV into Jackson’s car multiple times and was arrested after a chase that allegedly started when he hit a police officer in the knee with his vehicle. Pearce is also being charged with aggravated battery of a law enforcement officer.

The team said it was gathering information on the matter. NFL spokesperson Brian McCarthy told ESPN on Monday that the league has “been in contact with [the Falcons] regarding the matter which will be reviewed under the personal conduct policy.”

As a rookie last season, Pearce was a major contributor to the Falcons’ defense. He had a franchise-record 10½ sacks, the most for a first-year player since Micah Parsons in 2021. The Falcons had a franchise-record 57 sacks total.

Utah Jazz forward Jaren Jackson Jr. will have surgery to remove a growth in his left knee, the team announced Thursday.

Jackson, a two-time All-Star acquired from the Memphis Grizzlies in a blockbuster deal at the trade deadline, will miss the remainder of the season, sources told ESPN. He is expected to be cleared well in advance of training camp, sources said.

The growth — a pigmented villonodular synovitis (PVNS) — was discovered in an MRI during a physical after he was traded to the Jazz from the Grizzlies on Feb. 3.

Jackson, the 2022-23 Defensive Player of the Year who is averaging 19.4 points and 5.7 rebounds per game this season, will have the procedure during the All-Star break.

A source said Jackson is not feeling pain in the knee, but doctors deemed it necessary to remove the growth soon because it would otherwise expand.

In his three games with the Jazz, Jackson, 26, averaged 22.3 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.7 assists while playing 24 minutes, sitting out fourth quarters.

His playing time has been a controversial topic due to concerns about tanking in the NBA, but sources said he was on a minutes limit with the Jazz due to medical reasons.

He was acquired by Utah as part of an eight-player deal, with Memphis receiving three first-round draft picks along with rookie guard Walter Clayton Jr. and forwards Kyle Anderson, Taylor Hendricks and Georges Niang. In addition to Jackson, the Jazz also acquired center Jock Landale and guards John Konchar and Vince Williams Jr.

Jackson renegotiated and extended his contract last summer and has four seasons and $205 million remaining on the deal, including a $53.5 million player option for 2029-30.

Utah (18-37) is 13th in the Western Conference, eight games back of the final play-in spot.

In the Baltimore Ravens’ season finale in Pittsburgh, Lamar Jackson looked like his two-time NFL Most Valuable Player self again, putting together his best quarter in what had been a frustrating year.

Jackson launched touchdown passes of 50 and 64 yards to Zay Flowers and even turned a near-certain sack into a magical escape. This marked the second time in NFL history that a player threw two go-ahead touchdowns of 50 yards or longer in the fourth quarter, according to ESPN Research.

It was a performance that would have carried Baltimore to an AFC North title, if not for Tyler Loop‘s missed 44-yard field goal as time expired. Instead, Baltimore’s 26-24 loss to Pittsburgh led to an offseason filled with questions, starting with a difficult one: Where was this Jackson all season?

“I don’t think it’s any one thing when you look at him,” said Rich Gannon, a former NFL quarterback who is a host on SiriusXM NFL Radio.

Three past NFL MVP QBs — Gannon, along with Matt Ryan and Kurt Warner — weighed in on the issues that impacted Jackson’s tumultuous season, from his reduced practice time to poor pass protection and a decline in rushing attempts.

The biggest ramification of the Ravens’ 8-9 season was the surprise firing of John Harbaugh, who was the franchise’s winningest coach after 18 seasons. Now, for new coach Jesse Minter, the priority is to get Jackson back on track. Minter recently told the Ravens’ website that he wants an offensive system where Jackson doesn’t have to feel like he’s “Superman” every time the ball is snapped.

Jackson is one of the NFL’s all-time unique talents due to his ability to win games with his arm and elusiveness. He is the league’s career leader in passer rating (102.2) and rushing yards by a quarterback (6,522).

But last season, Jackson struggled with his accuracy, consistency and explosiveness. With a 6-7 record, which became his first losing season as a starting quarterback, Jackson averaged 196.1 yards passing per game and threw 21 touchdown passes — his fewest since 2022.

“As I was watching film, I couldn’t put my finger on anything that said, ‘Oh, OK, here’s what he’s doing different’ or ‘He’s making bad decisions now that he didn’t make before,’” said Warner, who was the NFL MVP in 1999 and 2001. “It wasn’t that. It was more just missing plays that he’s made a million times before.”

---

WHEN JACKSON LEFT the Week 4 game in Kansas City with a hamstring injury, he and the Ravens’ offense were never the same for the rest of the season.

In Jackson’s first three starts, Baltimore was the highest-scoring team in the league, averaging 37 points per game. After Jackson returned from his hamstring injury five weeks later, the Ravens scored fewer than 30 points in each of Jackson’s 10 remaining starts, which was the longest single-season drought of his career.

“Even coming back [from injury], I think what often gets discounted is you’re available to play, but it’s just hard to be sharp when you’re not practicing and you’re missing time during the week,” said Ryan, the current president of football for the Atlanta Falcons who was the NFL MVP in 2016. “And even when you are [practicing], you’re laboring to get through it. So I think that makes it a little bit more difficult.”

Jackson endured the worst slump of his career in November and December, which coincided with a reduced amount of practice time. For six straight weeks, he missed the first practice of the week with a string of injuries (including knee, ankle and toe). He also missed time with an illness.

Over that span of six games, Jackson averaged 177 yards passing, throwing three touchdown passes and five interceptions. During this stretch, he didn’t record a touchdown in three straight games for the first time in his career.

“He’s had the ability in the past to go out and have fresh legs and do what he does, but eventually it can catch up to you,” Gannon said. “Look, it’s not just that he’s missing practice time. It’s the guys around him that are missing those opportunities with him. It’s the red zone throws you’re not getting. It’s the two-minute shots. It’s the third-down packages that you’re not getting as many reps with.”

This all led to Jackson’s most inaccurate season since his rookie year in 2018. His precision pass rate, which is the percentage of pass attempts that hit targets in stride, was 48.7% in 2025. In comparison, Jackson’s two highest precision pass rates came in 2019 (54.9%) and 2023 (56.1%), which were his MVP seasons.

But Warner was hesitant to chalk up Jackson’s struggles to fewer practice reps. He said he believes less practice time shouldn’t significantly impact Jackson, who had enough familiarity with the game plan and supporting cast (10 of 11 starters returned on offense last season).

“One missed practice day, especially early in the week, is kind of like, OK, you’re going to have plenty of days to make up for that and get back into the rhythm,” Warner said. “So I don’t think that’s something that I would point to and say, ‘Oh, that’s the reason he’s missing these throws.’”

---

ONE POINT WHERE Ryan, Warner and Gannon all agreed: No one can put all of the blame on Jackson. It’s a challenge for any quarterback to perform at a high level when his supporting cast is faltering, especially when it’s the offensive line.

Gannon has a saying that, when great quarterbacks get knocked around, they become good quarterbacks. And, when good quarterbacks get knocked around, they become average ones.

“My point is nobody’s immune, and it’s not just the sacks,” Gannon said. “It’s the hits, the hurries, the knockdowns. Eventually it can speed you up. I don’t care how tough a guy you are, it can have an effect on your ability to sit in there and trust the protection.”

In 2024, Jackson produced career highs of 4,172 yards passing and 41 touchdown passes when he had the best pass protection of his career. He was sacked on only 4.3% of his dropbacks (23 sacks on 538 dropbacks).

This past season, Jackson had the worst pass protection of his career. He was sacked on 9.8% of his dropbacks, and he faced a pressure rate of 37.1% (percentage of dropbacks where the quarterback was sacked, under duress or hit), which was the second worst in the league in 2025.

“Oftentimes you have to trick yourself that regardless of what happened before, you’ve got to trust that people are going to do their job and people are going to pick up the protections,” Ryan said. “And so you’re constantly fighting that. But to say it doesn’t affect you, it does. And the great ones find ways to, even when the numbers are down or even when the sacks are up, they still find a way to keep their team in the game and give themselves an opportunity late in the game.”

After the season, Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta pointed out that the offensive line has to be more consistent and “didn’t jell quite as much this year.” Baltimore has decisions to make with the offensive line, where Pro Bowl center Tyler Linderbaum is a free agent and the team likely has to upgrade at both starting guard spots.

“We can talk about the high-flying teams and the teams that throw it all over the field, but the best teams in the league continue to be the ones that win up front and the ones that prioritize, ‘We’re going to build it this way and that’s where we’re going to have our success,’” Warner said. “It still comes back to the teams that win in the trenches.”

---

WARNER REMEMBERS AN interview with Harbaugh a number of years ago about the dialogue between him and Jackson on the sideline during games.

Jackson would often tell Harbaugh, “Hey, Coach, I’m just playing ball. I’m just doing what I do.”

“That always stuck in my mind, because sometimes that’s kind of the nature of some guys is just kind of like, ‘I’m just reacting to what I see and I’m just playing. I think whatever I have to do, I’m just doing it. I’m not overthinking anything,’” Warner said. “And maybe that is an aspect of where it’s at now after the injury is maybe he is overthinking it a little bit, maybe he is like, ‘I don’t want to take off and run. I don’t want to get hurt or I don’t want to put myself in harm’s way.’”

The most drastic change in Jackson’s game in 2025 was the deep decline in rushing attempts. He carried the ball only 5.2 times per game, three attempts per game fewer than any previous season.

By Jackson not running as much, it created less stress for opposing defenses and took a chunk of production away from the Baltimore offense. Prior to last season, Jackson averaged 59.9 rushing yards per game. In 2025, he totaled less than half of that per game (26.8).

“As you age, as you get older, you realize your availability and being able to go week in and week out is almost just as important as your ability to take off and go,” Ryan said. “So I think finding that balance for the remainder of his career, that’s going to be what they have to figure out. But I just don’t think stripping him of that, because I think that I’ve often said, I thought when he is at his best, he’s probably the most difficult player in the league to game-plan for for defensive coordinators.”

Ryan added, “And I do think when you take a little bit of that away, it’s one less thing for a defense to account for and maybe doesn’t open up some of the other things that when he’s rolling like that, it does.”

Former Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken often called Jackson’s ability to run his “superpower.” In Monken’s first two seasons in Baltimore, he called an average of 4.4 designed runs for Jackson. Last season, there were an average of two designed runs per game.

Last season, Jackson chose to buy more time throwing the ball than taking off to run, scrambling 40 times for 213 yards. He was also not as explosive when he did run, failing to produce a run over 20 yards for the first time in his career.

“I think the natural reaction would be, ‘Yeah, I think it’s smart because the older he gets, the less he’s going to be able to do that or the more his body’s going to break down,” Warner said.

---

WHEN JACKSON WON his first NFL MVP award in 2019, it seemed like a foregone conclusion that he would eventually get to a Super Bowl and win one. Seven years later, there are questions about whether Jackson will ever play on the game’s biggest stage, especially considering the Ravens’ track record of postseason failures.

“He’s on the fast track to the Hall of Fame without a doubt,” Warner said. “But if he never plays his best in that moment and never gets to a Super Bowl or gets to a couple of them, that will be something that will always kind of be there hanging over him.”

To reach the Super Bowl, Jackson’s main obstacles in the AFC used to be beating the likes of Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen. Now, it’s becoming increasingly more difficult in the AFC with the emergence of Drake Maye and Bo Nix, who led the New England Patriots and Denver Broncos to the top two seeds in the conference.

“I still think he’s going to have an opportunity to win a Super Bowl,” Ryan said. “I just think he’s that great of a player, but it’s getting crowded. That has to be taken into consideration.”

One of the reasons Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti fired Harbaugh was the team underperforming in the playoffs year after year. Baltimore has three postseason victories in Jackson’s eight seasons.

In recent years, Jackson has watched Flowers fumble near the goal line in the 2023 AFC Championship Game and saw tight end Mark Andrews drop a 2-point conversion attempt in the 2024 divisional playoff game. But Jackson hasn’t lived up to expectations either with 11 turnovers, which are the most by any player in the playoffs since 2018.

“I think there’s only a handful of quarterbacks in the NFL that have the ability to take over a game at this level or put a team on their shoulders and carry them to the finish line,” Gannon said. “I think of Josh Allen, I think of Patrick Mahomes, I think of Lamar Jackson. There’s only a handful, and he’s one of them.”

History is on the line for American snowboarder Chloe Kim at the Winter Olympics on Thursday.

Kim will compete in the women’s snowboard halfpipe final with a chance to become the first snowboarder to win three straight Olympic gold medals. She qualified for the final on Wednesday while racing with a brace on her left shoulder due to a torn labrum suffered last month. The 25-year-old still managed to finish first, setting up a potential date with destiny. Shaun White is the only Olympian to ever win three gold medals in the snowboard halfpipe competition, but he didn’t secure them consecutively. (He won in 2006, 2010 and 2018.)

The preliminary round for men’s ice hockey begins with the U.S. and Canada among countries in action. The U.S. team hasn’t won gold in men’s Olympic hockey since 1980, but this year it’s gold medal or bust. “That’s the expectation,” captain Auston Matthews said.

MORE: Medal tracker | Full schedule of events | Olympics 101

Here are the top events for Thursday (all times Eastern)

• Snowboard: 1:30 p.m., Women’s Snowboard Halfpipe Final

• Ice Hockey: 3:10 p.m., Men’s Preliminary Round — U.S. vs. Latvia

We’ll have all the top moments from Thursday’s events.

---

“I get no sleep.” Two small children will do that to any parent. But factor into that as well training for a boxing match, promoting your first show and making a bit of boxing history by competing alongside your husband in the same event.

That is the task facing Amy Andrew, the unbeaten former Commonwealth featherweight champion. On Friday she will be having her second fight since the birth of her second child just six months ago.

Andrew and her husband Numan Hussain are based at their Rival Boxing gym in Kings Cross. They’ll box on the same bill, promoted by Andrew, in Spain.

“No married couple has boxed on the same show before,” Andrew told Sky Sports. “It’s carnage. As politely as possible, Numan is a difficult man when he’s making weight and training and I’m a difficult woman when I’m making weight and training.

“It’s an amazing opportunity. We’re both really trying to get to places in our career and it gives us a platform to really be able promote ourselves and get the fights we need to elevate our careers.

“So we decided to go for it and it is absolute carnage.”

For Andrew herself, coming back to resume her professional boxing so soon after having her second child is remarkable.

“I was injured then I got pregnant so I was out for 20 months,” she said. “After I had my daughter I was back in the gym that same week. I felt fine physically. I’ve just been itching to get back in the gym.

“While most people would decide that probably having two children was maybe the right time to throw in your boxing boots or whatever, I just feel I’ve got more to give the sport.”

Andrew was a top amateur boxer and is targeting professional rematches with some of her old rivals.

“I feel like I’m nearly there to where I want to go to. There are lots of people I’ve beaten or had close fights with that I think would make really good fights: Raven Chapman, Skye Nicolson, Karriss Artingstall, people like that. Shannon Courtenay, I’ve boxed her and beat her,” she said.

“I beat Raven in the ABA finals and Karriss and Skye beat me, but only just. Tysie [Gallagher] I beat her in the amateurs so that would be a good fight as well. People who are out there doing things, I’d love the opportunity to fight them because I believe I’m on that level.”

But she added: “I feel like I’ve got more to give to the sport but the most difficult thing is the sleep.

“The aggressive sleep situation is definitely the thing that makes things tough. But equally I feel lucky to be in a position where I can do what I love and it doesn’t seem to affect my boxing.”

Watch Caroline Dubois vs Terri Harper live on Sky Sports on Sunday April 5.

Arsenal and Chelsea remain interested in signing Atlético Madrid striker Julián Álvarez, while Liverpool star Mohamed Salah has given his agent the green light to open talks with Al Ittihad. 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

– Arsenal and Chelsea have maintained a steady line of communication over Atlético Madrid striker Julián Alvarez and have received positive reports as the Premier League pair consider a summer move, according to TEAMtalk. The total being discussed to bring in the 26-year-old is below £100 million, lower than expected. Barcelona have held talks and the Camp Nou is the Argentina international’s preferred destination, but there is no guarantee that he will go there. Paris Saint-Germain are also interested.

– Mohamed Salah‘s agent is in talks with Al Ittihad, and the Liverpool forward is much more open to a move to the Saudi Pro League than he was last year, Footmercato reports. A transfer for the 33-year-old could satisfy all parties: Salah would be the one to decide on the move following his complaints about his treatment by Liverpool in December; the Reds would receive a transfer fee as the Egypt star has a contract until 2027; and Al Ittihad need to strengthen having already lost Karim Benzema and N’Golo Kanté in the January window, while Fabinho‘s contract ends in the summer and Moussa Diaby has been linked with Inter Milan. .

– Tottenham Hotspur are among the clubs looking at a potential deal to sign Real Madrid center back Antonio Rüdiger as a free agent in the summer, TEAMtalk reports. The 32-year-old’s current contract expires at the end of the season and Los Blancos haven’t offered fresh terms yet, which has resulted in Rudiger weighing up his options. The German would be willing to accept a significant wage reduction if it meant returning to England, where Crystal Palace and West Ham United have also been made aware of the situation.

– A decision on Nico Schlotterbeck‘s Borussia Dortmund future is expected around the international break in March, ideally in the days before the center back meets up with the Germany squad, according to Sport Bild. Both parties have agreed to that timeline with Dortmund offering up to €14m-per-year as they are determined to keep the 26-year-old past his current contract, which expires in the summer. Schlotterbeck’s main options are to stay with the Bundesliga club or join Real Madrid.

– Real Madrid will pay the €9m required to re-sign Nico Paz from Como while Endrick will return from his loan at Lyon, and Los Blancos could look to strengthen in midfield, at center back and at fullback, according to Mundo Deportivo. Paris Saint-Germain’s Vitinha is the preferred option in midfield but a close eye is being kept on Manchester City‘s Rodri, while there are also links with Chelsea’s Enzo Fernández, Liverpool’s Alexis Mac Allister, Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton and AZ Alkmaar‘s Kees Smit.

EXPERT TAKE

DONE DEALS

OTHER RUMORS

– Fulham are continuing to push for PSV Eindhoven and USMNT striker Ricardo Pepi ahead of the summer, with the clubs working on a deal worth around £30m. (TEAMtalk)

– Everton are likely to explore a double move to sign Manchester City pair Jack Grealish and John Stones. (TEAMtalk)

– Newcastle United will look to offload Nick Woltemade in the summer amid interest from Bayern Munich (Football Insider)

– Juventus want to sign Atalanta midfielde Éderson, but it will take €40m to bring in the 26-year-old. (Tuttosport)

– Aston Villa are showing an interest in Nottingham Forest attacking midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White amid fears that Morgan Rogers could leave. (TEAMtalk)

– Crystal Palace have accepted that they will have to lower their £30m valuation for Jean-Philippe Mateta in the summer as the striker enters the last year of his contract. (Football Insider)

– Lorenzo Pellegrini has received approaches from Napoli, Inter Milan and West Ham United in case the attacking midfielder doesn’t reach an agreement to extend his contract with Roma. (Nicolo Schira)

– Leeds United are serious contenders to sign Manchester City goalkeeper James Trafford in the summer if they stay in the Premier League. (TEAMtalk)

– Fulham winger Harry Wilson has received interest from Crystal Palace, West Ham United, AFC Bournemouth, Everton and Leeds United. (Football Insider)

– Ajax, Feyenoord and Borussia Dortmund are monitoring the development of São Paulo attacking midfielder Pedro Ferreira. (Ekrem Konur)

– Jhon Lucumi has rejected two offers to extend his Bologna contract, which is set to end in 2027, and the center back is getting closer to leaving in the summer. (Nicolo Schira)

After an MLB offseason full of twists and turns, spring training is in the air.

The New York Mets capped an offseason overhaul with a trade for ace Freddy Peralta. The Baltimore Orioles brought slugger Pete Alonso to the American League East, and Alex Bregman left the division to join the Chicago Cubs. And the defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers made the biggest splash when they inked No. 1 free agent Kyle Tucker to a four-year, $240 million deal.

Now, with pitchers and catchers reporting across Arizona and Florida this week, we’ll start seeing what those moves mean for the season ahead. We’ve asked our ESPN MLB experts to get us ready for spring training, with the stars and storylines they’re most excited to see as baseball returns for the 2026 season.

---

What is the one thing you are most excited about as spring training begins?

Buster Olney: Seeing how quickly some of the prospects will push decisions to get them to the big leagues. Kevin McGonigle — the Detroit Tigers‘ infielder who is compared to everyone from Dustin Pedroia to Alex Bregman — will be a factor in the big leagues this year … but when? Will Colt Emerson force his way onto the Seattle Mariners‘ roster in April, May — or sooner? And when does Konnor Griffin become a conversation in the Pittsburgh Pirates‘ camp? Nothing is more exciting in baseball than the hope these sorts of talents represent.

Alden Gonzalez: There is an energy around Dodgers camp that’s different. It has been like that since Shohei Ohtani showed up at Camelback Ranch for the first time three springs ago, and it keeps growing, intensifying with every star who’s added and every championship that’s won. This time, the overarching theme will be the Dodgers’ quest for a three-peat, amid the backdrop of a brewing labor fight that their spending has helped escalate. Kyle Tucker and Edwin Diaz are the newcomers, joining what was already one of the most star-laden rosters in baseball history.

Ohtani will be prepping for a full, no-restrictions two-way season; Roki Sasaki will be looking to establish himself in his second year; Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow will strive to prove that they can still perform like stars in the back halves of their careers; and young, ascendent players such as River Ryan, Emmet Sheehan, Ryan Ward and Josue De Paula, among many others, will dot the complex as fans visiting from all over the world look on. There will be no shortage of storylines. There will be no shortage of intrigue.

Jeff Passan: Pitchers used to show up at camps having not thrown for months and using the six weeks to build up their arm strength. Hitters would arrive with the belief that they’d find their swings after spending the offseason, you know, off. Today, the winter is a training ground, a time when players level up their games, and spring training reveals who took an out-of-view leap. There will be pitchers who added 2 mph to their fastballs or finally perfected a splitter. Hitters will have completely retooled their swings for maximum impact. It’s those sorts of changes that can make the difference between a team playing in October or not, and those first few weeks of spring training will reveal the winter winners.

Jesse Rogers: It’s not sexy, but seeing players use the automated ball-strike system (ABS) to make challenges will be interesting to watch. Umpires making those calls is what we’re used to. It’s what we know. Now, players can object to those calls through technology. With limited challenges per game, the strategy in using them will be fun to follow. It won’t matter so much in spring contests but watching it all unfold will be interesting.

---

Which player who changed teams this winter are you most interested in seeing in his new uniform?

Bradford Doolittle: I’ve never let go of the idea of Luis Robert Jr. returning to star-level production, and if that were to happen with the Mets, it would be a huge story. I don’t know that his inconsistent durability and production can be blamed on the shortcomings in the Chicago White Sox‘s organizational processes, but the White Sox were the only team he has played for. Thus, this is a true fresh start with new voices in his ear and a lot of pressure to play well sooner rather than later. I’m really interested in seeing if that puts a jolt in Robert. If not, I’d have to accept that his run as an elite player is over.

Jorge Castillo: Devin Williams‘ short stint with the New York Yankees was rocky. Now, he’s across town, tasked with replacing Edwin Díaz, a fan favorite and perhaps the best closer in baseball, as part of the Mets’ thorough overhaul. Williams’ underlying metrics suggested he was a victim of bad luck last season. He enjoyed dominant stretches and a strong finish. At the same time, he lost the closer job twice and was charged with at least one earned run in 17 of his 67 regular-season outings after giving up earned runs in 16 of his 148 appearances over his previous three seasons with the Milwaukee Brewers. Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns, who led the Brewers’ front office when Williams became one of the sport’s best relievers, believes he’ll rebound, enough to give him a three-year, $51 million contract. The Mets wanted to pair Williams with Díaz, but Díaz chose the Dodgers. Now, the pressure is on Williams to rediscover his previous world-class form.

Gonzalez: Few players can impact a culture like Alex Bregman. That’s precisely why members of the Cubs were so excited to land him this offseason, one year after falling just short in their bid for the star third baseman. A member of the team’s front office called him “a transformative presence.” More tangibly, he also lengthens the lineup, prompting Matt Shaw to move into a utility role, where he should thrive. And with the Cubs replenishing their bullpen and adding a much-needed, potential front-line starter in Edward Cabrera this offseason, Bregman looks like the player who will put them over the top in the National League Central.

David Schoenfield: After winning 101 games with a young team in 2023, the Orioles were supposed to be in the midst of nothing but good times and pennant races. Instead, they slumped to 75-87 in 2025, leading to a much-needed makeover for 2026. Their big move was signing Pete Alonso to a five-year, $155 million contract after the Mets showed little interest in bringing him back. He could be the jolt a stagnant offense needs, bringing energy and emotion to a team that lacked that in 2025. But most importantly, he brings power: Nobody on the O’s hit more than 17 home runs last year, while Gunnar Henderson led the team with just 68 RBIs.

---

Who is one player from our top 100 prospects list you are most looking forward to seeing this spring?

Olney: The Mets’ Nolan McLean, who was seemingly the organization’s best pitcher when he stepped on the mound near the end of last season. His mound presence was remarkable — he always looked so calm — and his ability to spin the ball was stunning. Given his relatively recent transition from position player to pitcher, he is still presumably in the early stages of learning his craft, but he already looks like he has been around for a decade. And the Mets need him to be great again.

Castillo: George Lombard Jr. is just 20 years old and posted a .695 OPS in 108 Double-A games last season, but the expectations are — perhaps unfairly — high. That’s what happens when you’re the Yankees’ top prospect, and fans are clamoring for a replacement for Anthony Volpe at shortstop. Kiley McDaniel recently ranked Lombard as 20th on his top 100 prospects list, noting that his defense, baserunning and power are the foundation for a strong, every-day player with star potential. Whether he debuts this season will depend on his performance in the minors and the Yankees’ needs, but the franchise considers him a significant part of its future. When, exactly, is unclear.

Passan: Kevin McGonigle plays with an edge. He is Philly born and raised, and always happy to illustrate that in baseball, size — he’s 5-foot-10 — does not necessarily dictate quality. There is no better pure hitter in the minor leagues than the 21-year-old McGonigle, who has done nothing but rake since Detroit thieved him with the 37th pick in the 2023 draft. Neither spot on the left side of Detroit’s infield is locked down, leaving opportunity for McGonigle to come into camp and win a job. And while the AL rookie field is loaded, the Tigers have reason to break camp with McGonigle: If he books a full year of service time (172 days on the major league roster), they’ll be able to cash in with a prospect promotion incentive draft pick should he win Rookie of the Year or place in the top three in MVP voting during his first three seasons.

Schoenfield: All eyes will be on Konnor Griffin in Pirates camp, but keep Bubba Chandler in your peripheral vision. The top pitching prospect on Kiley McDaniel’s top 100, Kiley described him as a “right-handed Blake Snell.” A right-handed Blake Snell? I’m in. With a fastball that averaged 97.8 mph in the minors, Chandler made his MLB debut late in the season, finished with 31 innings, and pushed his heater up to 98.9 mph. Though his Triple-A numbers were mediocre (4.05 ERA, 4.8 walks per nine), he walked just four batters with 31 strikeouts in the majors, where he seemed more focused. He might be ready to dominate right now, offering a lethal one-two duo alongside Paul Skenes.

---

What is one position battle (or rotation battle) you’ll be watching closely over the next month?

Olney: It’ll be interesting to see what choices the Toronto Blue Jays ultimately make with their surplus of corner/DH candidates. George Springer was among the best offensive players in the AL last year, and Addison Barger and Nathan Lukes were such an important part of what the team accomplished in October. Toronto added corner infielder Kazuma Okamoto on a four-year, $60 million contract — and you assume he’s going to play, given that level of investment, and how Okamoto fits the Jays’ philosophy of putting the ball in play. Anthony Santander missed most of last year with injury, after signing a $92.5 million deal. If they are all healthy, who sits?

Doolittle: With an aging roster that looks similar to last season, center field is the one spot where the Phillies can get younger and more athletic. But that depends on whether Justin Crawford can nail down the starting spot during the spring. That’s apparently the plan, so he’ll get every opportunity to do so. I love players like Crawford, with a high-average, speed-based profile. But until you see that skill set translate against big league pitchers’ scorching stuff, you have to remain a little skeptical. A lot is riding on Crawford’s ability to seize that position and enter into the NL Rookie of the Year race down the line. It’s the Phillies’ best chance to differentiate themselves from last season. That quest begins this week.

Passan: When the Mariners moved Ben Williamson in the trade that got them Brendan Donovan, they set up a battle for their final infield spot between two left-handed-hitting former first-round picks: Cole Young (21st in 2022) and Colt Emerson (22nd in 2023). Emerson is the better prospect. He is also still 20 years old, with all of 27 plate appearances in Triple-A. Young, 22, didn’t hit much in his big league debut last year but was solid at second base. He could slot there, with the versatile Donovan at third, or Emerson could take the job and play either second or third, with Donovan moving to second in the latter case. Either way, Seattle’s cadre of young position-playing prospects is on the verge of making an impact on the big league roster. The team that just missed making the World Series last year is here to stay.

Schoenfield: The Mets will be interesting to watch. Can rookie Carson Benge win the starting job in left field? He’s the No. 15 prospect, but struggled in a late-season call-up to Triple-A (.178 in 24 games). Who wins a starting job between Brett Baty and Mark Vientos? Can Baty play left field if Benge has to return to the minors? And then, there is the starting rotation. If the Mets use a six-man rotation, is Kodai Senga healthy and back to his regular velocity to be part of that rotation? Can Jonah Tong make himself a factor with a big spring and join fellow rookie Nolan McLean in the rotation? Then, there’s center field. Is Luis Robert Jr. just a more expensive Tyrone Taylor or will he find his 2023 stroke again?

---

Which team are you far more interested in today than you were a year ago at this time?

Castillo: The Marlins bottomed out in 2024, losing 100 games with a last-place finish in the NL East after reaching the postseason in 2023. Skip Schumaker, the NL Manager of the Year in 2023, moved on after the season. Things were grim. External expectations were low going into last year. Then, the Marlins smashed them, finishing 79-83, third in the division. The Marlins do things differently under president of baseball operations Peter Bendix. For example, they have starters throw live bullpen sessions between starts, and manager Clayton McCullough called pitches from the dugout over the final week of the season. But the future is promising, with one of the best starting rotations in baseball — even after trading Edward Cabrera and Ryan Weathers — an exciting young core of position players and a farm system that ranks 10th in baseball, according to McDaniel. Signing Pete Fairbanks to close should help win games in 2026 — maybe enough to surpass expectations again and reach the playoffs.

Doolittle: The Pirates aren’t likely to make a Blue Jays-level leap this season, but they’ve done just enough that you can dream of a Paul Skenes playoff appearance in 2026. That wasn’t the case a year ago, when Pittsburgh’s lack of activity was a source of considerable frustration. The Bucs should stay aggressive in adding offense, which has improved, but remains far from elite. But whereas the fringe playoff hopefuls in the NL East and NL West are seemingly consigned to eyeing the sixth seed as their opening to the postseason, Pittsburgh has that opportunity and a non-trivial chance at hanging in the Central title race. If that were to happen and Pittsburgh were to host that 3-6 matchup in the wild-card round with Skenes and Bubba Chandler lined up … yes, that would be very interesting.

Gonzalez: The Orioles needed a big offseason, and Mike Elias, their maligned president of baseball operations, delivered it. Pete Alonso and Taylor Ward were added to the lineup, adding much-needed right-handed hitters to the top of the order. Ryan Helsley and Andrew Kittredge were brought in to deepen the bullpen. And Shane Baz came over via trade to help stabilize a needy rotation. Adding that group to an enthralling young core of Gunnar Henderson, Jackson Holliday and Samuel Basallo, all of whom could take steps forward, gives the Orioles a legitimate chance to win a difficult AL East. But there’s a caveat here: The Orioles need to add another front-line starting pitcher, even more urgent now because Framber Valdez is off the table.

Rogers: Quick, which team hit as many home runs in the second half last year as the AL champion Blue Jays? The White Sox probably weren’t your first guess, but that’s the right answer. And that’s before they added Japanese slugger Munetaka Murakami. He’s no sure thing, but he’ll be intriguing to watch. So will shortstop Colson Montgomery, who was shipped to the White Sox spring facility to fix his swing early last season. It worked. He came up and hit 21 home runs in just 71 games. Chicago might not win the AL Central, but the team could be sneaky good at the plate if it picks up where it left off in 2025.

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — It took time for Josh Allen to process the end of the Buffalo Bills‘ 2025 season — an overtime loss to the Denver Broncos in the divisional round of the AFC playoffs.

“I’d be lying to you if I didn’t say I’m still sick to my stomach about how the season ended,” Allen said almost two weeks after the loss. “Again, we live in reality, and it is what it is now, and we have to come to grips with that.”

Moving on in pursuit of the franchise’s first Super Bowl title will look different in the upcoming season. Coach Sean McDermott is no longer there. Instead, the reins are in the hands of president of football operations and general manager Brandon Beane and new head coach Joe Brady.

Gone are long-time staples on the defensive side like McDermott and coordinator Bobby Babich, and new offensive coaches are being brought in to help Brady, like coordinator Pete Carmichael and offensive line coach Pat Meyer.

The Bills are taking steps to address what didn’t work last season to reach the NFL’s grand finale.

The Bills head into yet another crucial offseason with a first-time coach — the youngest in the NFL at 36. How Beane and Brady go about building around Allen will go a long way toward trying to achieve what they haven’t. The process of doing just that starts with looking back at how they fell short and how Beane, Brady & Co. can fix it.

Wide receiver

In January, Beane discussed the issues the team faced at wide receiver. He took accountability for his role in the position group not coming together. He also pointed out the limitations that come with the Bills’ recent late draft positions.

Receiver Keon Coleman, the 33rd pick in the 2024 NFL draft, has become a focal point — including his off-field issues. After McDermott was fired, owner Terry Pegula pinned the decision to draft Coleman on the coaching staff.

Beane praised Coleman’s last offseason, training camp and Week 1 performance against the Baltimore Ravens, while acknowledging his in-season decline in production and play.

“He obviously got off the rails a little bit with the maturity stuff, the time factor, and that was disappointing,” Beane said. “What happened was you do it a couple times, you get suspended a game. Now it’s like how do you get him back in? Who do you put him back over? And every game he’s missing, the trust and the camaraderie is kind of dropping for him. Like that’s just the truth. And I don’t know that fully ever recovered.”

For Coleman specifically, Beane believes he can play, and Brady loudly threw his support behind him. If Coleman is on the roster for the 2026 season, Beane suggested playing the receiver more in the slot. (Of the 583 regular-season routes Coleman has ran, 473 have been on the outside.)

The WR additions the Bills made last season were impacted by injury, most notably Joshua Palmer, who missed time in the spring with a heel injury, had a groin injury in training camp and then injured his left ankle, knee and hip in Week 6 against the Atlanta Falcons and never fully recovered. He was limited in the routes he could run.

The Bills had 11 groups of active receivers in the regular season and playoffs on game days. Receivers Curtis Samuel and Elijah Moore were active or inactive based on needs at the returner position and Samuel dealing with injuries. Moore was released on Nov. 26.

In Beane’s mind, a part of the issue was not picking a group at receiver and sticking with it.

“[The up and down is] not going to foster a healthy dynamic of trust,” Beane said of the multiple receiver groups.

Expect a more consistent approach in 2026 to the receivers, a group the team plans to address this offseason. The group will have to embrace Brady’s philosophy of prioritizing players’ contribution on the field whether the ball is coming to them on that play or not.

After looking into making a big swing at the position at the Nov. 4 trade deadline but failing to do so, making a significant move at the position this offseason is a possibility.

---

Defensive overhaul

For nine seasons, the Bills defense was led by McDermott. Much of what that unit did was successful, but it also had its flaws. Brady is significantly overhauling the unit by hiring Jim Leonhard as coordinator.

“There is going to be change; it’s been a system that they’ve played in for a long time,” Leonhard said.

McDermott ran a 4-3 defense, while Leonhard has been part of more of a 3-4 look. As Leonhard pointed out in his news conference, those fronts have become more fluid in today’s NFL. Adapting to fit Leonhard’s vision is in motion with a meeting between Beane and the rest of the scouting staff taking place last Wednesday.

“There are unique skill sets all around the NFL, where guys don’t quite fit in your traditional box. … That’s where I’ve had the most success in my career as a coach was finding those guys that fit in a little bit different role,” Leonhard said. “… Their main value is the versatility that they bring.”

There are questions of what that will translate to for certain players on the roster, while Brady and Leonhard emphasized adapting to the players’ strengths. One example is nickel corner Taron Johnson, who has two years left on his deal, but would create significant salary cap savings if designated as a post-June 1 cut — $8.7 million this season. Leonhard said he has spoken with Johnson and there is excitement for whatever his new role could end up being.

Having success in the playoffs and a consistent pass rush were the biggest downfalls of the unit under McDermott. The unit allowed the third-fewest points per game (20.2) in the regular season during his tenure, but 28.7 points in road playoff games (1-7) and a pass rush that especially didn’t show up in the playoffs. Last season, the Bills were 27th in pass rush win rate (31.4%) and tied for 20th in sacks (36). The unit finished among the worst in the league in rushing statistics.

Brady is giving Leonhard a significant amount of autonomy, which is part of what excited him about the job. The approach he’ll bring starts with stopping the run and forcing teams to become predictable.

“We’re going to be an attacking defense up front and in the back end,” Leonhard said. “…The biggest stat in football is turnovers, so we’re going to be aggressive, we’re going to fly around.

“We’re going to cause issues for offense, and we’re going to force them to react to us.”

---

Areas to watch

Roster consistency: Brady will have final say on the 48 players active on game days, per Beane — something that he wanted to carry over from McDermott. But the general manager and coach will collaborate and discuss who is up for games with an eye on preparing players who might need to step in for the postseason.

Injury rate at practices: One thing that will remain largely the same is the team’s strength and conditioning and athletic training staff despite a high number of in-practice injuries. The goal remains to avoid self-inflicted, soft tissue injuries, per Beane.

Dalton Kincaid‘s health: The offense averaged 30.2 points and 389.3 yards per game with Kincaid playing compared with 23 points and 346.8 yards without him.

It’s the reason they are set to pick up Kincaid’s fifth-year option, per Beane, despite him missing time after reaggravating a torn left PCL from 2024. The Bills limited him to not play more than 38% of snaps after Week 5, but that was in part to keep him healthy enough to play in the postseason (played 48.7% and 45.2% of offensive plays).

Kincaid will not have surgery this offseason, and they would like to see him on the field more in 2026.

The NFL offseason is underway after the Seahawks dominated the Patriots to win Super Bowl LX. Now we can really start looking forward to the draft, which begins on April 23 in Pittsburgh.

I did my last mock draft after Week 14, but the draft order is now completely set. The Raiders will start us off in the first round, and the Seahawks will wrap it up at No. 32. We also know where the four teams with two Day 1 picks will select — the Browns at Nos. 6 and 24; the Cowboys at Nos. 12 and 20; the Jets at Nos. 2 and 14; and the Rams at Nos. 13 and 29. I’m not projecting any more pick swaps today, either.

We still have a long road ahead, with the combine in two weeks and pro days coming in the weeks after that. But for now, this is how I see Round 1 playing out based on current team needs, my personal rankings and what I’m hearing from people around the league.

Let’s begin with the Raiders at No. 1. And for more on these predictions, check out our new show “NFL Draft Daily” at 3 p.m. ET on ESPN2.

See more on the NFL draft:
Position rankings | Latest mock drafts

Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana

As the Raiders embark upon a new era with Klint Kubiak at head coach, Mendoza is the ideal partner to pair with him. He had a remarkable season in 2025, displaying elite accuracy and overall arm talent to throw to all levels of the field. He improved his pocket awareness and was fantastic in clutch moments, leading the Hoosiers to their first undefeated record and a national championship. Mendoza brings a strong frame and in-pocket mobility with enough creativity to handle duress out of structure. And his quick-processing skills point to a successful starting NFL QB.

---

Arvell Reese, Edge, Ohio State

A quarterback is unlikely at this juncture for the Jets, who have myriad needs to address in this draft and the next, when they are flush with picks. Only the 49ers finished with fewer sacks than the Jets in 2025, so Reese could bring New York’s defense significant pass-rush upside and versatility.

After playing mostly inside linebacker at Ohio State prior to last season, Reese kicked out to a primary edge role in 2025 and posted 6.5 sacks. Only Will McDonald IV had a higher sack total (8) among Jets players last season. Reese has great length, a quick first step and smooth athletic movements to bend the edge around opposing tackles.

---

Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami

Like the Jets, the Cardinals feel unlikely to take a quarterback this high despite a significant need. If the Cardinals adopt a system under new head coach Mike LaFleur that mirrors what the Rams ran this past season (where LaFleur was the OC), they will prioritize a gap running scheme with powerful offensive linemen. That fits well with Mauigoa, who plays with exceptional power and very good foot speed for a player of his six (6-foot-6, 315 pounds). He allowed only two sacks and six pressures his final college season, and Arizona needs to improve at right tackle opposite Paris Johnson Jr.

---

David Bailey, Edge, Texas Tech

The Titans could easily go wide receiver with this pick to further support quarterback Cam Ward, but Bailey addresses another roster hole that new head coach Robert Saleh would surely be thrilled to tackle. Bailey led the FBS in sacks (14.5) during his lone season at Texas Tech after three seasons at Stanford. A number of those sacks came from his lightning-fast first step — the best of any collegiate rusher. And he has the instincts to get his hands up in passing lanes.

---

Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State

This is my first curveball, as many early mock drafts have linked the Giants to a wide receiver or offensive tackle in this spot. Those are completely understandable, especially if Wan’Dale Robinson and/or Jermaine Eluemunor depart in free agency. But Downs has my attention as the first pick of the John Harbaugh era.

Perhaps no current coach better understands the value of top-flight safety play, as Harbaugh coached Ed Reed and Kyle Hamilton in Baltimore. While the Giants have starters in Jevon Holland and Tyler Nubin, Downs has the upside to change an entire defense as a force multiplier with his deep range and in-the-box skills.

---

Spencer Fano, OT, Utah

The Browns have major work to do along the offensive line this offseason, and Fano would provide them a tackle to build around. He is an extremely talented player who started the past two seasons at right tackle. Fano has light and nimble feet to match and mirror edge rushers, which contributed to him allowing zero sacks this past season and only one the year before. He will need to add more mass to his frame, but he’s got the starter kit to be a standout right tackle in the NFL. The Browns gave up 51 sacks last season, seventh most in the NFL.

---

Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State

The Commanders have made it clear that they need to get younger on defense, so a pass rusher could be tempting here. But they can’t overlook their need for another receiver opposite Terry McLaurin. Tate had a fantastic 2025 season and is one of most pro-ready prospects in the class. He’s a terrific route runner who makes difficult catches look routine with his awesome hands and body control. Tate averaged more than 17 yards per catch in 2025 and had at least one 40-plus-yard catch in six games. That sort of field-stretching speed and tracking ability could make him an ideal option for quarterback Jayden Daniels.

---

Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State

Quarterback Tyler Shough provides the Saints with plenty of hope going forward, as he finished his rookie season with a 4-1 record. Tyson would be a huge addition to Kellen Moore’s offense, which still needs more playmaking alongside Chris Olave. At 6-foot-2 and 200 pounds, Tyson is electric with the ball in his hands. He totaled 29 catches, 444 yards and three touchdowns in the final three games he played in 2024 before being knocked out for the season with an injury. His 2025 season was limited by uneven QB play and injuries, but he can be schemed up for as many touches as possible in New Orleans.

---

Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame

While I don’t know if Love will fall to this pick in April, I would be surprised if he makes it past the Chiefs. Simply put, Love is the biggest non-QB difference-maker in the class. As a runner, he has terrific explosiveness and vision. As a receiver, his routes from the slot look no different from a wideout. The Chiefs need a major boost to their backfield after ranking 25th in rushing yards per game (106.6). And I’d imagine general manager Brett Veach would be tempted to sprint the card in himself to make this pick.

---

Rueben Bain Jr., Edge, Miami

The Bengals are desperate for defensive help across the board, but it’s hard to achieve much in the NFL without a forceful pass rush. They swung big on an answer to that issue last year by taking Shemar Stewart, who had only 4.5 sacks in three college seasons but posed athletic upside. But Stewart had one sack across eight games as a rookie.

Bain is the exact opposite archetype, with 20.5 sacks in three seasons but a lack of premiere physical traits. He makes up for his more compact frame with overpowering strength and quick hands. Bain earned ACC Defensive Player of the Year honors this past season, dominating opposing offenses on the way to the CFP Championship game. With Trey Hendrickson likely moving on this offseason, Bain would fit nicely here.

---

Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU

The Dolphins patched together their secondary last season, so it will be no surprise if new general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan swings for cornerbacks in the draft and free agency. Delane broke out in his final collegiate season at LSU after previously playing at Virginia Tech. His excellent ball skills and man-coverage technique made most targets against him unsuccessful. Delane allowed a 27.8% completion percentage as the closest defender in coverage, the FBS’ third-lowest mark in 2025.

While some scouts are still eager to see his timed speed in a 40-yard dash, his play speed seems more than sufficient on tape. Rasul Douglas and Jack Jones — the Dolphins’ two primary outside corners in 2025 — are both free agents.

---

Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State

Dallas’ offseason should be filled with defensive reinforcements, as the roster was imbalanced in 2025. Styles, who started as a safety at Ohio State, fits the mold of a modern NFL linebacker with his sideline-to-sideline range and ability to drop into coverage. He showed plenty of blitzing prowess in 2024 with six sacks, blending timing and instincts with his length and easy acceleration.

There are few 2026 prospects with as much versatility as Styles, who played under longtime NFL defensive coordinator Matt Patricia this past season. New Cowboys defensive coordinator Christian Parker would love to have Styles as a building block in his scheme. After all, Dallas allowed 6.1 yards per play last season, second worst in the NFL behind the Bengals.

---

Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee

The Rams have two first-round picks, and the tenor of their offseason would’ve changed dramatically if quarterback Matthew Stafford retired. But Stafford said he’ll be back in 2026 during his MVP speech, making cornerback the primary need. Los Angeles learned the hard way last season that a strong front seven can’t neutralize a capable passing game — Jaxon Smith-Njigba combined for 354 receiving yards in three matchups against the Rams.

McCoy is a wild card. He is clearly talented enough to go in the top 10, but he missed the entire 2025 season after tearing an ACL last January. He’s a long, confident and talented man-to-man cover corner who stood out in 2024 (four interceptions and seven passes defensed). If his medicals are fully on track, he’ll go early.

---

Makai Lemon, WR, USC

It would be nice for the Ravens to beef up the interior offensive line, but they are a playmaker short in the passing game as well. The Ravens finished 30th in receiving first downs this past season (141), ahead of only the Jets and Browns. They were also 30th in yards after the catch.

What Lemon lacks in stature (5-foot-11, 195 pounds), he makes up for in several ways. He has an off-the-charts catch radius, elevated instincts and a determined running style after the catch. He can shake defenders in the short and intermediate passing game, which led to him averaging the third-most receiving yards per game in the FBS last season (96.3).

---

Cashius Howell, Edge, Texas A&M

The Buccaneers must add pass-rush juice this offseason, as they have gone four straight seasons without a player reaching the eight-sack mark. There’s an argument that Howell is the most explosive rusher in the class — he and Bailey are my top two contenders. Howell won SEC Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2025 with 11.5 sacks. He lacks prototypical arm length for an edge rusher but more than makes up for it with his athletic burst and ability to bend around offensive tackles. He’d help get this pass rush on track.

---

Caleb Banks, DT, Florida

Quarterback was once again a consideration for the Jets, but they can afford to be patient with three first-round picks in 2027. The extremely talented Banks could pair with Reese and solidify their defensive cornerstones moving forward. Banks was limited to just three games this past season due to injury, but he showcased his upside during a dominant week of practice at the Senior Bowl. At 6-foot-6, 330 pounds with 35-inch arms, his overwhelming size should translate to the NFL level. He could become a top-10 player from this class with the proper development.

---

Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia

With Taylor Decker‘s future uncertain, the Lions must shore up the left tackle spot. Freeling is a player I’m higher on than most draft analysts, ranking him third among offensive tackles. I believe he has a real shot to skyrocket his draft stock between now and April. Freeling has only 18 career starts and under 1,600 snaps played, but the upside is massive. He stands at nearly 6-foot-7 and 315 pounds with 35-inch arms; those measurables combined with great pass protection skills are hard to find. Freeling allowed only two sacks last season.

---

Brandon Cisse, CB, South Carolina

Cisse is one of the most unique prospects in this class, as he’s a cornerback with uncommon strength and athletic ability; if he tests at the combine, get ready for a show. While a perimeter corner at his core, Cisse took occasional slot snaps at South Carolina. He was a force against the run from either alignment and can plaster perimeter wideouts in man coverage, staying physical and matching them stride-for-stride.

Cornerback is a need for Minnesota, as Isaiah Rodgers is entering the final year of his deal. Plus, defensive coordinator Brian Flores has the ingenuity to deploy Cisse in many ways.

---

Akheem Mesidor, Edge, Miami

The Panthers addressed their pass-rush need last year by taking Nic Scourton and Princely Umanmielen in the second and third rounds, respectively. But no Panthers player reached the six-sack mark for the second straight season.

Mesidor is a tenacious rusher who had 5.5 sacks and 16 pressures in Miami’s four CFP games. He has violent hands, a diverse arsenal of moves and a first step that throws tackles onto their heels. The complicating factor is that Mesidor will turn 25 before the draft. Would every team be comfortable taking him in the first round? I don’t believe so, but this is a worthwhile move for a roster that is aiming to step up in the NFC hierarchy.

---

Keldric Faulk, Edge, Auburn

Let’s keep the Cowboys’ defensive theme going with Faulk, who could help bolster a pass rush that tied for 22nd in total sacks this past season. Faulk was in the conversation as a top-10 prospect after seven sacks in 2024, but he had just two in 2025. This pick would be a calculated bet on his upside at 6-foot-6, 280 pounds with smooth movement skills, stout hands to set the edge in the running game and overall growth potential. Faulk is among the youngest players in the draft, as he won’t turn 21 until Sept. 7.

---

Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama

One of the most pressing questions of this draft is how high Simpson will go. He was entrenched in the top-10 conversation midseason before a significant second-half slide. The pros for Simpson? He can throw with pristine accuracy, improvises in the pocket and has enough arm strength to drive the ball downfield. The cons? His decision-making waned down the stretch, as he had four interceptions and a combined 62.6% completion percentage in Alabama’s final six games.

Regardless, I think the Steelers could take a chance on him here. They might bring back quarterback Aaron Rodgers if he doesn’t retire, but that is far from a certainty. And while new head coach Mike McCarthy has praised Will Howard, he was a sixth-round pick last year. It feels unlikely Pittsburgh would completely anchor its future around him.

---

Olaivavega Ioane, G, Penn State

No fan base needs to be reminded less on the importance of offensive line play and health than the Chargers’ faithful. Los Angeles allowed 60 sacks last season while quarterback Justin Herbert was hit more than any other signal-caller. The return of Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater from injury will go a long way, as will the hiring of Mike McDaniel at offensive coordinator, but the interior needs reinforcements.

Enter Ioane, a no-nonsense, rugged guard who is perhaps the most physical offensive player in the class. He’s a body-mover as a run blocker and terrific in pass protection, not allowing a single sack over the past two seasons.

---

Max Iheanachor, OT, Arizona State

The Eagles have work to do along the offensive line this offseason, especially with the injury issues that 35-year-old right tackle Lane Johnson had in 2025. Iheanachor had a great week at the Senior Bowl that fortified his status as one of the highest-upside players in this class. He has terrific size at 6-foot-6 and 330 pounds, plus his nifty footwork allows him to hold up in pass protection.

Iheanachor will need time to develop, as he did not play high school football and must refine his technique. (He took nine penalties in 2025, too.) Philly would be an ideal landing spot since he can sit and learn behind a future Hall of Famer for at least a year.

---

Denzel Boston, WR, Washington

After addressing offensive tackle with their first pick, the Browns could stick to offense and take a wide receiver. Boston has excellent size (6-foot-4, 209 pounds) and is super fluid in his route running, allowing him the flexibility to operate out of the slot. He is a true red zone threat, with 20 receiving touchdowns over the past two seasons, tied for the third most in the FBS.

Good things happen when the ball is thrown Boston’s way, as he posted 13 contested catches in both the 2024 and 2025 seasons. He has been credited with only four drops on 209 targets in four collegiate seasons.

---

Zion Young, Edge, Missouri

Pass rush is an obvious need after the Bears posted the NFL’s second-worst pass rush win rate in 2025. Young would help improve the unit in a hurry with his power and heavy hands off the edge. He also brings versatility, having played some at defensive tackle during his first two collegiate seasons at Michigan State. Young’s upper-body power and 33.5-inch arms allow him to power through the anchor of opposing tackles. That was on full display during a rock-solid Senior Bowl week. I could see him pairing with Montez Sweat really well.

---

Peter Woods, DT, Clemson

Woods is a polarizing evaluation for scouts. He’s an explosive, twitchy, powerful defensive tackle with natural disruption skills. But there’s a worry about his shorter frame/arms, and his skill set did not often lead to production (only five sacks in three college seasons). I’ll bet on the athletic upside of Woods, who occasionally played fullback — he even scored a touchdown against Boston College last season. He’s an urgent and sudden player who can impact both a pass rush and run defense. The Bills need a ton of the latter after allowing the third-most yards per rush in 2025 (5.1).

---

KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M

The 49ers are desperate for help at wide receiver and edge rusher this offseason, but the latter has a natural lift coming with the return of Nick Bosa and Mykel Williams from ACL injuries. However, their top wide receiver (Jauan Jennings) is a free agent and Brandon Aiyuk is all but gone from the team.

Concepcion is an explosive play waiting to happen, as he scored 25 receiving touchdowns in three college seasons and took a pair of punts to the house during his lone season at Texas A&M. He’s a contender for the fastest wideout in the class and would be a fun player for coach Kyle Shanahan.

---

Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama

The Texans’ playoff loss was marred by quarterback C.J. Stroud‘s carelessness with the football, but protection was undoubtedly an issue, too. Houston drafted a young left tackle to build around in Aireontae Ersery last year, and Proctor would give them another gigantic pillar.

Proctor had an uneven 2025 season at Alabama, which made some scouts wary of his overall foot quickness against twitchy edge rushers. But there is zero debate about his power and size (6-foot-7, 366 pounds), which could be crucial for Houston’s rushing attack. The Texans were last in run block win rate in 2025.

---

Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee

A double-dip at cornerback for the Rams? And from the same college?! This would be the first instance of a team taking two players from the same school at the same position in the first round during the common draft era (since 1967), per ESPN Research. But I believe this move merits consideration given the overall strength of the Rams’ roster and the vulnerability of their secondary. Hood didn’t actually take any snaps on the field with McCoy, as he transferred to Tennessee prior to the 2025 season that McCoy sat out due to injury. But Hood more than made up for McCoy’s void with 10 pass breakups this past season.

---

Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon

Sadiq’s range surely starts sooner than here, as this would be great value for a Broncos team with limited needs. Coach Sean Payton has long valued a player who can be their “joker,” a player who is either a top-end receiving back or mismatch tight end. Previous examples from Payton’s time in New Orleans include Darren Sproles, Alvin Kamara and Jimmy Graham.

Sadiq fits that description with an outstanding athleticism that makes him a threat after the catch. He had to wait his turn behind Terrance Ferguson at Oregon, but Sadiq blossomed in the primary role last season with team highs in both catches (51) and receiving touchdowns (8).

---

Caleb Lomu, OT/G, Utah

The Patriots’ run to the Super Bowl was impressive, but it underscored the team’s need to beef up quarterback Drake Maye‘s protection. Lomu, who took over at left tackle for Utah in 2024 when Fano moved over to the right side, could slide in at tackle or guard for New England. (Note: I am a firm believer that the Patriots should stay fully committed to Will Campbell at left tackle, as coach Mike Vrabel has already stated will be the case.) Lomu needs to further develop his strength, but the 6-foot-6, 304-pounder is already a solid pass protector who did not allow a single sack in 2025.

---

Chase Bisontis, G, Texas A&M

Unsurprisingly, the champs don’t have many holes on their roster, but their interior offensive line needs further addressing outside of left guard Grey Zabel. Bisontis is an agile and versatile player, as he played left guard the past two seasons after playing mostly right tackle in 2023. He has active hands, reactive athleticism and quickness — all tools that would fit great in Seattle’s zone scheme. This pick would mark the third time in the past four years that eight offensive linemen were drafted in the first round, per ESPN Research.