Olympic gold medal winner Hilary Knight said Wednesday that a widely circulated comment from President Trump about the United States women’s team was a “distasteful joke” and that she’s more focused on celebrating women’s accomplishments at the Milan Games.
During the American men’s team’s locker room celebration in Milan, Trump extended an invitation to the players to come to Washington and the State of the Union address. “I must tell you, we’re going to have to bring the women’s team, you do know that,” adding with a laugh that if he didn’t also invite the women’s team, “I do believe I probably would be impeached.”
Appearing on “SportsCenter” on Wednesday, Knight said, “I thought it was sort of a distasteful joke and unfortunately that is overshadowing a lot of the success, the success of just women at the Olympics carrying for Team USA and having amazing gold medal feats.
“We’re just focusing on celebrating the women in our room, the extraordinary efforts, and continue to celebrate three gold medals in program history as well as the double gold for both men’s and women’s at the same time. And really not detract from that with a distasteful joke.”
Knight later said that she was looking forward to “celebrating all great things that have come out of the Olympics and feeling the love and support and getting back in our respective communities and sharing this journey with them. And that’s what this is all about.”
Several players on the men’s team appeared to laugh at Trump’s comment, a reaction that drew criticism when the video went viral. Jack Hughes, who scored the men’s gold medal game winner, and his brother Quinn were asked about the situation Tuesday and focused on the team’s relationship with the women’s squad.
“Our relationship with them, over the course of being in the Olympic Village, I think we are so tight with their group,” Hughes said in an interview with his brother Quinn on “Good Morning America.” “After we won the gold medal, we were in the cafeteria at 3:30 a.m. in the morning with them. We go from there, pack our bags and we’re on the bus.
“People are so negative about things. I think everyone in that locker room knows how much we support them, how proud we are of them. The same way we feel about them, they feel about us.”
Knight echoed that the teams get along well.
“I think there’s a genuine level of support there and respect,” she said. “I think that’s being overshadowed by a quick lapse. I think the guys were in a tough spot, so I think it’s a shame this storyline and narrative has kind of blown up and overshadowing that connection and genuine interest in one another and cheering each other on.”
While the men’s team did attend the State of the Union address, the women’s team, which won gold for the third time since the Olympics added the women’s hockey competition in 1998, declined an invitation, citing logistics and scheduling concerns.
“We are sincerely grateful for the invitation extended to our gold medal-winning U.S. Women’s Hockey Team and deeply appreciate the recognition of their extraordinary achievement,” the U.S. women’s team said in a statement released Monday. “Due to the timing and previously scheduled academic and professional commitments following the Games, the athletes are unable to participate. They were honored to be included and are grateful for the acknowledgment.”
Knight scored the tying goal against Canada on a redirection in the final two minutes. Megan Keller scored in overtime to lift the Americans to the 2-1 victory.
This was the final Olympic game for the 36-year-old Knight, who with her second gold medal became the most decorated player in U.S. women’s hockey history. She announced in May that these Games — her fifth — would be her last.
She ends first among American skaters — men or women — in Olympic goals (15) and points (33) in a career.
Knight told SportsCenter that this whole situation is a “really good learning point, to really focus on how we talk about women, not only in sport but in industry. Women aren’t less than and their achievements shouldn’t be overshadowed by anything else other than how great they are.”
Canada’s Sidney Crosby (87) reacts after Canada lost to the United States in a men’s ice hockey gold medal game between Canada and the United States at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
The year that Inter last won the Champions League, their historic treble season of 2009-10, Bodo/Glimt finished sixth in the Norwegian second division.
We could be here for quite a while, listing ways to measure the gulf in the respective sizes and international reputations of these two clubs, but that seems as good as any.
One of the most historic and storied football clubs to ever exist – 20-time Serie A champions and three-time European champions – were beaten on Tuesday, and beaten easily, by “a team from a small town up north”, as their head coach, Kjetil Knutsen, put it after the game.
Even that is an understatement: Bodo is so far north that it is located just above the Arctic Circle, home to a population of just over 40,000, all of whom could have fitted comfortably inside Inter’s San Siro stadium.
And this isn’t just a plucky upstart taking down a faded giant: Inter are 10 points clear at the top of Serie A and have reached the Champions League final in two of the last three seasons.
It also wasn’t a fluke, or a mugging that Bodo didn’t deserve: they hammered Inter in the first leg in Norway and kept them at arm’s length in the second. Despite having less possession (71 per cent to 29 per cent) and fewer shots (30 to seven) in Milan, they never looked in real danger.
Image: Hakon Evjen celebrates scoring Bodo/Glimt’s second goalPiero Cruciatti/AFP via Getty Images
This is Bodo’s first ever season in the Champions League, having come through the qualifiers to reach the league phase, but they also looked odds on to go rather quietly out at that stage: after six of their eight games, they were 32nd in the table, having not recorded a win. They had to beat Manchester City and then Atletico Madrid to stand a chance of even reaching these play-offs, which they somehow managed, but surely they wouldn’t be able to pull off another upset? As it turns out, they very much could.
“Can you believe it?” Knutsen said to TNT Sports after the game, his eyes wide with wonder at what they had achieved. “I can’t actually believe it. The players were amazing. I’m so proud.”
It’s also worth pointing out that Bodo are playing in their off-season: the Norwegian league finished in November, and while it does seem to suit them – the end of the domestic season coincided with their revival in Europe, and they haven’t lost since – it goes against conventional wisdom that a team can succeed without the rhythm of regular football.
“It sounds not true!” said Jens Petter Hauge, the winger who started at Bodo, but then left for Inter’s rivals Milan in 2020, before returning in 2024. “What we have done, it’s really, really… I’m so proud of the group. We’re all in this together and we believe so much in this project.”
For those unfamiliar with the project, you should know that Bodo’s success has not come because of some wealthy benefactor. This is more ‘organic’, broadly explained by Knutsen’s adherence to high-intensity, high-energy football and a recruitment strategy that not only finds players who fit that approach, but also identifies those with raw talent and an “X factor”, one single outstanding quality that everyone else might have overlooked because the player might be raw and unpolished.
“Each player we sign has an X (factor),” their former assistant coach Morten Kalvenes told The Athleticin 2022. “Does this player have the specific X that we are looking for? That we can build his development around, and find a position in the team where we can really use it?”
It worked then, when they were merely bloodying the noses of the big boys in European football’s two lesser competitions, the Europa League and the Conference League, but it’s still working at the highest level, and with some gusto.
Image: Kjetil Knutsen has overseen a miracle in BodoPiero Cruciatti/AFP via Getty Images
They also employ a former fighter pilot called Bjorn Mannsverk as a mental coach, who uses his own experiences to train the players’ brains after Knutsen has done the same with their bodies.
One concept he brought from his previous life was ‘the ring’, which calls for the players to come together in a circle after they have conceded a goal to discuss what has gone wrong.
“When it comes to flight safety, it was really important that we immediately stood up and were honest about our mistakes,” he told Sky Sports last year. “It was not to blame each individual, but we understood that we needed to learn from it. You can make a mistake and survive, but the next one, you could do the same one and you could kill yourself. It was really important to share the mistakes, so you weren’t afraid of them. That was a must.
So, to summarise: they do things differently. But when you’re from where they’re from, and the size they are, you have to do things differently.
Is their win over Inter the biggest upset in the history of the Champions League knockout stages? It could well be. Other nominations might include Dynamo Kyiv beating Real Madrid in 1999 (but they had Andriy Shevchenko, a talismanic striker, and were managed by the legendary Valeriy Lobanovskiy); Deportivo La Coruna producing an astonishing comeback to beat Milan in 2003-04 (but they were Spanish champions a few years earlier); or maybe Monaco beating Manchester City in 2016-17 (but they had Kylian Mbappe, Radamel Falcao and Bernardo Silva, who all went on to become international superstars). This is different from all of those.
It’s certainly one of the more extraordinary runs of form the Champions League has ever seen. It is also, as the football data firm Opta pointed out, the first time since 1972 that a team from outside the top five European leagues – England, Spain, Germany, Italy and France – have won four consecutive games against sides from those nations in the Champions League, or its predecessor, the European Cup. That team in 1972 was Ajax, who went on to win the whole thing.
This isn’t the first time Bodo/Glimt have made an Italian giant look small: in 2021 they hammered Jose Mourinho’s Roma 6-1 in the Europa Conference League. It’s either Sporting or Manchester City next. You wouldn’t bet on it being their last miracle, either.
Seth Walder is an analytics writer at ESPN, specializing in quantitative analysis. He is also a regular on “ESPN Bet Live” and helps cover sports betting. Seth has been at ESPN since 2017. He previously worked at the New York Daily News covering the Jets and Giants. You can follow Seth on X via @SethWalder.
Multiple Authors
The 2026 NFL quarterback market is about to open up, and the future at the game’s most important position hangs in the balance for several teams. And with only one surefire first-rounder in the 2026 NFL draft, plenty of teams will have to seek a new QB via free agency or a trade — or stick with who they have right now.
The Vikings must decide if they want a quarterback to come in to replace, compete with or back up J.J. McCarthy. The Cardinals must determine whether Kyler Murray has played his last snap with the team. Do the Colts want to combine an injuredDaniel Jones with a short-term solution? And who might the Dolphins and the Jets turn to for hope?
So, who will be the quarterback for each team? I tried to read the tea leaves and predict how it will all shake out. In this case, I am specifically predicting who will be the Week 1 starter for next season. That means even the Chiefs — with Patrick Mahomes coming off an injury — are very much a question mark here. Let’s dive into the 32 potential Week 1 starters for 2026.
I wonder if the Seahawks winning the Super Bowl with Sam Darnold at quarterback will be good for the reclamation quarterback market. And frankly, Murray is a much less daunting proposition now than Darnold was when he signed with the Vikings two years ago.
Though Murray’s play dropped off last season, he’s only one year removed from a 63.4 QBR in 2024, the ninth best that season. That was his second top-10 QBR campaign, after ranking seventh in 2021.
Cleveland’s eternal search for a quarterback could lead it to Murray, especially with the draft lacking top-flight QB prospects beyond Fernando Mendoza. Murray is due $42.5 million in cash, which hovers around fair value for one season, especially since he’d be under contract for non-guaranteed years at similar prices in 2027 and 2028. Cleveland is tight on cap space (due in large part to quarterback Deshaun Watson‘s contract), so I would expect the Cardinals to eat some of Murray’s 2026 money in exchange for a Browns draft pick.
Some might clamor to give Shedeur Sanders more development time, but I think that would be a mistake. A fifth-round pick whose 18.9 QBR would have been by far the worst in the league had he played enough to qualify ought to be considered the longest of shots, so the Browns should be pursuing other quarterback options.
Despite Cleveland boasting a similarly strong defense, it would be overly optimistic to compare the 2026 Browns to the 2025 Seahawks. Cleveland is in much worse shape than Seattle was a year ago because its offensive roster is completely lacking — it needs an entire O-line! — even if the Browns acquire Murray and he regains his previous form. But remember, this could be a multiyear arrangement, as Murray has three years left on his contract. It’s a bet worth making for the Browns.
Let me be the millionth person to connect the Packers’ backup quarterback to the Dolphins, but I think Miami is Willis’ most likely landing spot.
Miami’s new brain trust consists of two former Packers in general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan and coach Jeff Hafley. While I think NFL coaches and front office personnel dramatically overemphasize the importance of previously working with a player, there’s no denying it plays a huge role in personnel decisions. Therefore, I think it absolutely increases the probability Willis ends up in Miami.
Willis’ results in his limited time across 2024 and 2025 were incredible. He posted an 86.3 QBR in that span, a plus-7% completion percentage over expected (per NFL Next Gen Stats), zero interceptions (three fumbles, though) and 9.2 yards per dropback. He scrambled on 13% of his dropbacks and had 17 designed rushes.
But he started only three games, so the Dolphins would be basing their 2026 starting quarterback decision on an extremely small sample size. And those three games came under coach Matt LaFleur, an elite offensive designer. So, there certainly is risk. But there’s also upside.
The Dolphins are hamstrung at quarterback and in terms of cap space due to Tua Tagovailoa‘s extension. Tagovailoa was benched toward the end of last season. But Willis is the type of player they should make an exception for, and signing him would be worth a chance in the quest to find their quarterback of the future.
The Vikings managed 14 wins in 2024 with a quarterback (Darnold) who ranked only 14th in QBR. While they won’t always have a defense as dominant as that team had, I have to imagine Minnesota is hankering for palatable quarterback play.
J.J. McCarthy’s performance last season did not indicate he could deliver it. Given how Minnesota let its known quantity in Darnold walk out the door in favor of McCarthy, I suspect coach Kevin O’Connell will want to go back to known, solid production. And Cousins represents that. The veteran quarterback was playing some of the best ball in his career with the Vikings in 2023 prior to suffering an Achilles injury. Cousins wasn’t the same with Atlanta, though he did play well at the end of last season.
The Falcons are expected to release Cousins. Once they do, the Vikings might take him back.
The Jets were the hardest team for me to predict in this exercise. There are so many feasible candidates.
New York certainly could be a landing place for a non-Mendoza rookie quarterback, and it would make sense for the Jets to be in the Willis sweepstakes. If they want a stable veteran, perhaps the Jets would look at Cousins or Derek Carr, though neither would be the necessary long-term solution. Or New York could contemplate a few trade candidates, with Mac Jones, Tanner McKee and Rattler among them.
Though he ultimately gave way to rookie Tyler Shough, Rattler was solid last season in New Orleans. He recorded a 50.3 QBR and a plus-3% completion percentage over expected, and his 9% off-target rate was the lowest among all QBs with at least 100 pass attempts. The former fifth-round pick is entering his third season, so he could still improve. And Rattler likely would cost less on the trade market than Jones, as well.
The Colts are in an interesting bind, having found success with Daniel Jones last season but:
Not having him under contract for 2026 or beyond.
Needing a stop-gap solution even if they do bring Jones back after he suffered an Achilles injury in December.
Let’s start with the first point. I suspect the Colts want to bring Jones back but would likely prefer to sign him to a multiyear deal considering he is unlikely to play until late 2026 at the earliest. But the Colts have some leverage. As much as they might need Jones, the Colts also offer him a better path to starting again in a situation where he’s had more success than anywhere else. They would probably offer him more money than anyone else due to that success.
But if the Colts bring Jones back, they’ll need another QB to start the season. And they would want it to be someone who they can win with in the short and medium term — but probably not someone who would cost too much or that they would have to commit to beyond 2026.
Enter Minshew. The journeyman had more success playing for Shane Steichen in 2023 than at any other point in his career. Steichen got much more out of Minshew — who recorded a 60.4 QBR that season — than he has out of Joe Flacco (50.0) or Anthony Richardson Sr. (44.4). That 2023 earned Minshew $15 million fully guaranteed from the Raiders the next offseason, but it went so badly in Vegas that he played for the Chiefs for just $1.2 million last season. It was feared that Minshew had torn his ACL in December, but he did not.
Because Minshew star’s has fallen, he would be a cheap option for the Colts to pair with second-year QB Riley Leonard while they wait for Jones to heal.
Of course, this hinges on the recovery timeline of Patrick Mahomes, who had surgery in December to repair two ligaments in his left knee. Mahomes has indicated he wants to be back for Week 1, and perhaps that will happen. But any prediction about his Week 1 status is just a guess, so I imagine that the Chiefs would want to be cautious with Mahomes given his importance to the franchise.
If that is the case, they’d want a reliable backup who can ideally win a few games while Mahomes finishes up his recovery. I believe Mariota fits the bill.
The 32-year-old stood in for Jayden Daniels for eight starts in Washington last season and was capable, with a 50.2 QBR. He has a long history of being solid, which is essentially what Kansas City needs — a player who can keep the team afloat in Mahomes’ absence but is willing to be a backup and won’t be overly expensive.
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2:08
Where should Chiefs look to improve with savings from Mahomes’ restructuring?
Louis Riddick and Kimberley A. Martin examine where the Chiefs should look to improve with the cap space provided by Patrick Mahomes’ restructured contract.
The Cardinals don’t have to move on from Murray, and with a new regime coming in, maybe they won’t. But the vibes from last season pointed to a quarterback change and Brissett is the most likely Week 1 starter, even if only as a bridge after starting 12 games in 2025. Murray is currently slated to make $42.5 million in cash, per OverTheCap.com, so if the Cardinals are able to trade him they would save all or part of that by turning to the much cheaper Brissett (due $5.4 million in cash).
Though Brissett averaged 280.5 passing yards in his starts last season, that number was more an indication of how often he passed than his true efficiency, as his 41.2 QBR was well below average. But he can serve as a short-term fix. The Cardinals could draft Alabama’s Ty Simpson — perhaps late in the first round or in the second — and Brissett could start the 2026 season before yielding to the rookie.
Penix suffered a torn ACL in November, so his status for the season opener is in question. Also, what kind of player will the Falcons get when he returns to the field? Penix was inconsistent last season, producing a QBR of 83 or higher in four of his nine games … and a 31 or lower in four others.
I don’t think Rodgers’ return is a foregone conclusion, but Mike McCarthy’s introductory news conference pushed me to thinking it will happen. When asked if he wanted Rodgers back, McCarthy said, “I mean, definitely. I don’t see why you wouldn’t.”
Despite McCarthy’s comment, there are plenty of reasons why the Steelers might not want Rodgers back. He’s a 42-year-old quarterback who was last an above-average starter in 2021 (to be fair, he did win MVP that season). And Rodgers must decide if he wants to play football in 2026 too.
But I suspect the Steelers won’t have the appetite to rebuild or take a flier on an unknown QB. So they’ll try to recreate the Packers of yesteryear, with Rodgers and McCarthy at the helm. Rodgers recorded a 44.4 QBR with the Steelers last season (23rd best). He continued to excel at turnover avoidance, but it came in conjunction with short, safe throws that weren’t that productive. Rodgers’ 2.59-second average time to throw was the fastest in the league, and 76% of his pass attempts were under 10 air yards, higher than any other quarterback.
Pittsburgh can rely on its defense, and with a smart addition or two, things could break right when coupled with a turnover-averse Rodgers — even if his upside is severely limited at this point of his career. Perhaps that’s why they aren’t ready to tear it all down just yet.
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The Aaron Rodgers predicament facing Mike McCarthy
Jeff Saturday and Jason McCourty discuss Aaron Rodgers’ short-term impact and the Steelers’ long-term QB plan.
After winning the MVP in 2023 and almost winning it in 2024, Jackson had a down season in 2025 in which he missed a few games and wasn’t quite himself when he played. Now Jackson will be in a new system under offensive coordinator Declan Doyle, but there should be high confidence that he can return to form in 2026.
The Bills have it better than perhaps anyone else at the game’s most important position, as Allen would arguably be the QB1 in a leaguewide quarterback redraft. Allen is coming off a “down” year in which he still got a couple of MVP votes. He finished only seventh in QBR, but his receiving options weren’t great. If Allen is on the field, the Bills have a good chance to win any game, no matter the opponent.
The pendulum on how much the Panthers should believe in Young continued to swing back and forth in 2025, as it has for his entire career. On one hand, Young led the Panthers to the playoffs and looked quite improved at times. But he also had his share of down moments. He ended the season with a 47.6 QBR (22nd best) and only 5.7 yards per dropback — nothing to write home about.
He showed enough to be the starter again in 2026 and have his fifth-year option picked up in 2027. But the Panthers should be hesitant to commit to Young beyond that until he shows more growth.
Williams took a big step in his second season and delivered some truly unforgettable throws during Chicago’s improbable run to the divisional round of the playoffs. There are still accuracy questions — Williams ranked last among QBR-qualifying quarterbacks in both off-target rate and completion percentage over expected (per NFL Next Gen Stats). But the Bears know they can win with Williams at the helm.
A toe injury derailed more than half of Burrow’s 2025 campaign, helping extend the Bengals’ frustrating three-year streak of missing the playoffs. If Cincinnati can get a healthy Burrow and also improve its defense to support him, the Bengals will be back in the postseason.
Prescott’s exceptional play last season was overshadowed by the Cowboys missing the playoffs. He ranked fifth in QBR and third in completion percentage over expected (per NFL Next Gen Stats) despite playing with the lead on only 26% of his snaps. If the Cowboys’ defense can improve to merely average and Prescott maintains his 2025 level of play, Dallas should easily return to the postseason.
Losing Nix to injury in the divisional playoffs was a brutal blow for the Broncos, who could have (should have?) advanced to the Super Bowl otherwise. That was especially true because Nix finished the season strong. Though he was 15th in QBR for the season (58.3), he registered a 66.3 from Week 13 on (the equivalent of ranking seventh). I previously believed Nix was good enough to win with, but he showed signs that he could ascend to become a player the Broncos could win because of.
Like the rest of his team in 2025, Goff didn’t reach his previous level of play, when Detroit’s offense was at the top of the league. But considering that he played behind an offensive line that quietly ranked 31st in pass block win rate last season, Goff’s 18th-ranked QBR starts to become more understandable. He, and the Lions, certainly can get back to previous form in 2026.
Love took a step forward in 2025, finishing third in QBR behind Drake Maye and Brock Purdy thanks to his ability to avoid major mistakes. Love committed only eight turnovers last season and took sacks at a 4.3% rate (seventh best). If the Packers continue to get that level of performance from Love, they will be contenders.
The results weren’t pretty the last time we saw Stroud — he threw four interceptions in a playoff loss to the Patriots. But ball security was a strength for most of 2025 and Stroud was mostly solid, especially considering that Houston ranked 30th in pass block win rate. We still don’t quite know Stroud’s long-term path, but he’s locked in for 2026.
The second half of 2025 finally saw Lawrence become the player who had been promised since he entered the league in 2021. Lawrence ranked fifth in the league in QBR after Jacksonville’s Week 8 bye — and from Week 11 on he moved up to third. Normally I’m wary of strictly looking at second-half splits to project forward, but there’s a reasonable explanation in this case, as it was his first year in coach Liam Coen’s system. Jaguars fans have the right to be bullish on Lawrence for 2026 and beyond.
Is it too early to call this locked in? I don’t think so.
The Raiders need a quarterback badly. The Heisman Trophy winner looks like he fits the bill. And most important: There’s no other quarterback in the draft that seems particularly close to his tier. Even now, Mendoza’s odds of being selected first by the Raiders are -20000 at DraftKings Sportsbook.
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2:00
Is Fernando Mendoza not throwing at combine a big deal?
Mike Tannenbaum and Dan Graziano examine Fernando Mendoza’s potential combine week after his decision not to throw there.
Herbert has long been held in a slightly higher regard than his production would indicate, and the pairing with new offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel (and, ideally, two healthy tackles) should give us the opportunity to finally see Herbert perform with a favorable supporting cast. This could be the year we see Herbert’s elite ceiling.
Stafford has already announced he’ll be back for 2026. After winning MVP last season, he and the Rams will surely revisit a contract that currently underpays him, but it’s hard to imagine the two sides not working it out. The expectation for Stafford continues to be excellence, as long as he is healthy.
Sure, things were undeniably rough for Maye in the Super Bowl (perhaps due to injury). But Maye was exceptional in 2025 and was the league’s Most Valuable Player in my view. New England is set for years to come and can go all-in in 2026 knowing they have an elite starter on a rookie contract.
Shough’s immediate success was a pleasant surprise last season. The numbers weren’t overwhelming — 21st in QBR, 16th in completion percentage over expectation, 12th in turnover rate and 18th in yards per dropback — but they were strong enough over nine starts to show his NFL potential. The Saints might have found themselves a quarterback — and outside the first round, too.
As poor as 2025 was recordwise for the 4-13 Giants, it gave the franchise optimism going forward. The most important part of that hope is Dart, who finished 17th in QBR as a rookie (despite mostly being without emerging star receiver Malik Nabers) and lifted the team when he played. The Giants’ offense averaged 0.05 EPA per play when Dart was on the field, roughly the same as the Super Bowl champion Seahawks.
If Dart can take another leap in Year 2 and the rest of the offense’s core — Nabers, offensive tackle Andrew Thomas and second-year running back Cam Skattebo — can also stay healthy, the Giants’ improvement could happen quick.
Hurts is just a year removed from being a Super Bowl MVP quarterback, but his stock has fallen after a poor 2025 season in which he ranked only 20th in QBR. If he doesn’t improve in 2026, will we be putting him in a different category in this exercise next year? Given the Eagles’ track record, I bet so.
Purdy is coming off an excellent 2025 season … when he was on the field. The nine games he did play were stellar, producing a 72.8 QBR that ranked second only to Maye. And when Purdy was active, the 49ers often looked like the best offense in football (especially when they weren’t playing the Seahawks). If Purdy can stay healthy, the 49ers will be contenders again.
Even after a second straight 14-win campaign and leading the Seahawks to the Super Bowl title, it’s still reasonable to ask which Darnold the Seahawks will get going forward. He was legitimately lights-out in the first half of the season but then one of the least efficient QBs in the second half. He finished somewhere between good enough and actually good in the playoffs.
In the end, Darnold finished 19th in QBR, but the Seahawks clearly feel pretty good about him heading into 2026 considering how last season turned out.
Mayfield started 2025 hot but cooled off to finish 12th in QBR and with a minus-2% completion rate over expected, per Next Gen Stats. Mayfield can play at a good enough level that the Buccaneers can win the division and then some with support around him. And given his cost — $40 million in 2026 — it makes sense for the Buccaneers to remain on the same trajectory at quarterback.
Last year’s first overall pick finished last in QBR among qualifying quarterbacks. But considering what he went through as a rookie — an early-season coaching change, no rushing attack and a lackluster receiving group — Ward showed enough flashes to justify the optimism toward him when he entered the league. He will be Tennessee’s starter for the first season of the Robert Saleh era.
After a stellar rookie campaign, Daniels’ sophomore season was an unequivocal disappointment, with knee, elbow and hamstring injuries limiting him to only seven games in 2025. But perhaps more worrying was Daniels’ efficiency when he was on the field, with his QBR dropping from 67.7 in 2024 to 44.7 in 2025, which would have ranked 23rd had he played enough to qualify. It prompts a question — was 2025 an outlier, or was it 2024?
Hall of Famer Rogers Hornsby, not remembered for his soft side, uttered one oft-repeated romantic quote that has stood the test of time:
“People ask me what I do in winter when there’s no baseball,” Hornsby said. “I’ll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring.”
I know the feeling, but rather than staring out my window, I do an adult version of something I loved to do when I was a kid. Back then, I’d take my baseball cards from the previous summer and sort them out into team defensive alignments or primary batting orders, depending on my mood.
Then, when I got my copy of “The Sporting News” that had all the moves from the previous week, I’d swap cards from team to team, envisioning what the next summer would look like. These days, I don’t do that with the cards, but I do love to sketch out projected lineups.
With spring training underway, those projections are starting to come into focus. While there will be further iterations between now and Opening Day, let’s take a snapshot of how each team’s lineup fares in the revised MLB landscape.
Grades: Hit: B+ | Patience: A | Power: A | Baserunning: A- | Durability: B+ | Depth: B | vsR: A+ | vsL: A+ | Stars: 7 | Holes: 1
The durability grades are based on playing time forecasts at FanGraphs, and if this one turns out to be accurate, we’ll learn why last year’s Braves fell so far short. But the middling depth grade underscores the need for that to happen.
If the Braves’ lineup can stay mostly healthy, it’s a stacked order with no real holes.
Grades: Hit: B | Patience: C+ | Power: B+ | Baserunning: B | Durability: B- | Depth: B- | vsR: B+ | vsL: A | Stars: 6 | Holes: 1
The Mets finished fifth by team WRC+ last year, then went out and turned over more than half of the lineup. The bottom line is a slightly more prolific group with a little different profile: more aggression, more average, good balance across the board.
Whatever the middle of the lineup ends up looking like, you get the feeling that this crew carries with it the key to the Mets matching or beating last year’s attack.
Last season, Seattle’s 113 wRC+ was tied with the Dodgers for second in the majors, trailing only the Yankees. While close observers pointed out the success of the Mariners’ revitalized offense in one of baseball’s roughest home environments, it still feels like the Seattle attack is slipping under the radar.
The key question revolved around who will be positioned to pick up the slack from a Raleigh drop-off, which seems all but certain. Raleigh should still be among the best, but repeating last year’s historic performances is just such a tall order.
Grades: Hit: A- | Patience: D+ | Power: B- | Baserunning: C- | Durability: B | Depth: A | vsR: B | vsL: B | Stars: 4 | Holes: 3
Slow and strong. Isn’t this kind of what you think about when it comes to a contention-worthy Athletics lineup?
The patience part of the dossier is not really on brand for the A’s, however, and you do wonder if maybe there is some progress to be made in that department considering the youth up and down the batting order.
Grades: Hit: C | Patience: C | Power: C+ | Baserunning: C+ | Durability: A | Depth: A- | vsR: C+ | vsL: B- | Stars: 5 | Holes: 2
The durability and depth grades are presented together for a reason: Scoring low on the first but high on the latter shows a team is built to withstand some injuries.
The Cubs, it seems, are built to deploy a stable lineup but have plenty of options if the injury bug bites.
The grading curve hands out three F’s in every category, and the Yankees’ projected No. 28 ranking in park-adjusted batting average lands them a failing grade in that department.
This is exciting news for Yankees fans. No, really. Because with No. 1 rankings in power and patience, a bit of good balls-in-play luck in the average column could mean an especially monster-ish Yankees offense. If healthy, that is, and of course the durability grade suggests that should not be taken for granted.
Grades: Hit: B | Patience: D+ | Power: C- | Baserunning: A+ | Durability: B | Depth: D | vsR: B- | vsL: C- | Stars: 6 | Holes: 2
Most of this is pretty self-evident if you watch the Phillies a lot except, perhaps, the No. 1 ranking in the baserunning category. That one at least caught me off guard despite the presence of Turner.
The Phillies ranked sixth in team BsR in 2025 and led the majors in Statcast’s team-level sprint speed score. Now they are trying to work in the fleet Crawford as a regular.
If the Padres could pair their hyper-aggressive, high-contact approach with a Blue Jays-like leap in power on contract, this could be an exciting group.
Tatis and Machado are the standouts. Now the Padres need a bounce-back season from Merrill and a throwback season from Bogaerts to double that star count.
With the acquisitions of Ward and Alonso, the Orioles have fashioned a take-and-rake profile that Earl Weaver would find most agreeable.
Health is already an issue with Holliday and Westburg dealing with maladies, but in addition to staying on the field, Baltimore badly needs Rutschman to rediscover the superstar track he once seemed destined to follow.
Grades: Hit: B+ | Patience: D- | Power: C | Baserunning: D- | Durability: C+ | Depth: F | vsR: C | vsL: B+ | Stars: 3 | Holes: 1
Healthy versions of Pena and Alvarez would paper over a lot of dings, but this is a shaky profile for Houston’s attack. Paper-thin, slow, overly aggressive and dependent on batting average.
These are not the industry-defining Astros we once knew.
Grades: Hit: C+ | Patience: D | Power: C | Baserunning: C- | Durability: C+ | Depth: D- | vsR: C | vsL: C | Stars: 1 | Holes: 3
This Royals’ season will be a feast for the senses for data nerds.
The Royals have attacked their poor track record for plate discipline by bringing fresh voices to the hitting program. They’ve tried to address the franchise’s long-standing power deficiency by messing with the fences in their home park, which could make Kauffman Stadium a lower-altitude version of Coors Field.
We will see how it works out in the cold, indifferent world of baseball analytics. Either way, at least the Royals are trying.
Grades: Hit: A | Patience: D | Power: F | Baserunning: B | Durability: B | Depth: C+ | vsR: C | vsL: C | Stars: 3 | Holes: 1
It’s strange-looking profile for the Brewers’ offense.
The power grade might surprise you, but it shouldn’t. Despite the Brewers’ homer-happy home venue, Milwaukee ranked just 22nd in long balls. The offense was really good anyway. The patience grade is more surprising, as the Brewers were an excellent on-base team in 2025, even beyond their elite average.
The Brewers lost some of their top walk guys from last season (Isaac Collins, Rhys Hoskins among them) so a dip on offense might be in the offing.
Grades: Hit: C | Patience: B+ | Power: B | Baserunning: C | Durability: D | Depth: C- | vsR: B- | vsL: C | Stars: 1 | Holes: 3
It’s a new-look offense for the Rangers, who are banking on better plate discipline and better health from a group that has struggled to stay on the field.
Can Langford make the leap from good to elite? If so, that would make this portrait a lot more promising.
Apparently, the Giants are too slow to get injured, so expect to see a lot of the same players standing around day after day playing station-to-station offense for a team with middling power.
The depth of the lineup, illustrated here by the star count, looks like a plus.
Grades: Hit: C- | Patience: C+ | Power: B | Baserunning: C | Durability: C- | Depth: C- | vsR: C | vsL: B | Stars: 1 | Holes: 3
An atypical season of health might not lift the Twins’ offense into the elite, but it would at least give us a better sense of who they are.
Alas, with the bad early pitching news (Pablo Lopez, Joe Ryan), Minnesota’s hopes for contention might hinge on these hitters staying on the field and building on that foundation of above-average power.
This is the second-most surprising ranking for me, after Detroit a couple of spots down, but after digging into it to make sure it wasn’t a product of baseball analyst error, it is what it is.
There is a lot of upside with this group, from those displayed and others — such as Kristian Campbell, Triston Casas and Masataka Yoshida — who are not. But it is a group that a year ago opened with Alex Bregman and Rafael Devers as fixtures in the lineup. Now, they’re not here.
The kids will have to step up.
Grades: Hit: F | Patience: B- | Power: B- | Baserunning: D+ | Durability: C- | Depth: F | vsR: D | vsL: C+ | Stars: 3 | Holes: 3
The Rays are the main example of why you might want to think of the durability category as a measure of stability rather than health. It’s both, really.
The Rays spread their playing time around to so many contributors that it makes them look fragile in an exercise like this. But the quality of the depth isn’t great on paper, either, so maybe that doesn’t matter.
As I’ve written before, we’re at the point where the Rays need to prove they are still ahead of the analytical curve.
Grades: Hit: D- | Patience: C- | Power: C | Baserunning: F | Durability: D+ | Depth: A+ | vsR: D | vsL: D | Stars: 1 | Holes: 3
I love this profile because I’m certain it’s going to be wildly off — and I think it’ll be off because the Tigers keep iterating their lineup as the season goes along.
It’s a hard thing to predict. For example, in two weeks it might make sense to plug Kevin McGonigle in as an every-day player. Right now, it’s probably jumping the gun. Yet McGonigle’s forecast is one of the reasons why Detroit’s depth rating is MLB’s best.
So if the injuries come, the Tigers might actually get better as they unfurl their fill-ins. It’s a team that is a lot of fun even beyond its standout rotation.
Grades: Hit: D+ | Patience: B- | Power: D | Baserunning: D | Durability: D | Depth: B | vsR: C- | vsL: D | Stars: 1 | Holes: 4
The Pirates finished 29th in wRC+ last season. Despite a busy offseason, there was just no way to lift Pittsburgh into an elite offensive projection.
The baseline is a lot better, though, and this version does not pencil Konnor Griffin into the base lineup projection. Obviously if he works his way into that, the upside of this improved baseline increases considerably.
Grades: Hit: D | Patience: C | Power: D+ | Baserunning: B+ | Durability: C+ | Depth: C | vsR: F | vsL: C- | Stars: 2 | Holes: 3
Suarez hit 49 homers last season and now returns to Great American Ball Park, one of baseball’s launching pads, where he has hit more than twice as many homers as any other venue. So think of what Cincinnati’s power grade looked like before.
The grade against righties is rough, however, and it’s a reflection of Cincinnati’s lack of lefty swingers, both in quantity and quality.
Grades: Hit: C- | Patience: C | Power: D | Baserunning: B | Durability: C | Depth: B+ | vsR: D | vsL: D- | Stars: 3 | Holes: 2
It’s a very young and unproven lineup. You might have to go back decades to find a St. Louis lineup with such a short collective track record.
But if Wetherholt becomes what the Cardinals hope he can become, we might look at this transitional lineup as the beginning of something truly interesting.
Grades: Hit: D | Patience: C | Power: D+ | Baserunning: D- | Durability: D- | Depth: C | vsR: C- | vsL: F | Stars: 2 | Holes: 5
It’s such a weird group. Roster Resource has the Guardians platooning at four positions. So despite the collective talent of lefty swingers Manzardo, Valera, DeLauter and Naylor, they all have righty partners to face southpaws in this configuration. Yet the Guardians don’t profile to hit lefties at all.
The takeaway: Cleveland needs that quartet of young hitters to step up so that the platooning isn’t necessary. Or it needs better righty hitters on the bench. The first option would bode better for the long term.
Grades: Hit: D- | Patience: B | Power: D- | Baserunning: F | Durability: C- | Depth: F | vsR: D- | vsL: D | Stars: 3 | Holes: 3
The Marlins can be better than this, but obviously this is a low baseline.
The foundation for a breakout would be laid in the middle of the order, with full seasons from Stowers and Ramirez, and Caissie acclimating to the majors quickly and moving up from this bottom-of-the-order projection.
Grades: Hit: F | Patience: F | Power: D | Baserunning: C- | Durability: F | Depth: D | vsR: F | vsL: F | Stars: 0 | Holes: 8
It’s a brand new operation and, goodness knows, there is plenty of space for innovation.
Grades glossary
Note: All grades are based on park-neutral projections. Grades are assigned according to a version of a bell curve using their ranking in each category.
Hit: Team batting average
Patience: Portion of OBP based on walks and HBPs
Power: Slugging percentage minus batting average (isolated power)
Baserunning: Based on Fangraphs’ BsR metric
Durability: Percentage of plate appearances projected to go to the base lineup. This category could also be called “Stability”
Depth: Aggregate wRC+ for all players projected by Fangraphs to receive plate appearances who are not part of a base lineup, either as an every-day regular or as part of a platoon
vsR: Lineup wRC+ against right-handed pitchers
vsL: Lineup wRC+ against left-handed pitchers
Stars: Batting order slots projected to land in the top 10, based on weighted runs created
Holes: Batting order slots projected to land in the bottom 10, based on weighted runs created
The Scottish Women’s Premier League post-split fixtures have been released as a number of clubs battle for the title and to avoid relegation.
Unbeaten Glasgow City are currently top of the league, five points clear of Rangers and Celtic after 18 matches. Meanwhile, Hearts are one point adrift of the Old Firm, while champions Hibernian are a further six points back in fifth.
Partick Thistle round off the top six, with the first of 10 post-split fixtures taking place on March 15 and the season ending on May 24.
Image: SWPL leaders Glasgow City have not lost a game this season and sealed their spot in the Sky Sports Cup final next month (Credit: SWPL/Colin Poultney)
At the other end, four teams make up the bottom section of the table, with Hamilton Accies winless at the foot of the league.
Aberdeen and Motherwell are nine points ahead as they bid to avoid finishing in the relegation play-off spot, with Montrose seventh – four points clear of those below. The first of six fixtures in that section of the table also takes place on March 15 with the regular season ending on May 17.
Image: Hamilton Accies are bottom of the SWPL, with Motherwell and Aberdeen nine points ahead (Credit: SWPL/Colin Poultney)
The first post-split fixtures…
Leaders Glasgow City face sixth-placed Partick Thistle, while second-place Rangers are at Hearts and Celtic are at home to champions Hibernian on March 15.
Image: Rangers are second in the SWPL, behind Glasgow City, who they will face in the Sky Sports Cup final in March (Credit: Colin Poultney/SWPL)
At the other end of the table, there is a key fixture to get things underway as Aberdeen host Motherwell as both sides aim to avoid the relegation play-off spot, while bottom side Hamilton Accies head to Montrose.
Who faces who on the final day?
Image: Celtic are five points behind leaders Glasgow City in the SWPL (Credit: SWPL/Malcolm Mackenzie)
The SWPL title race has come down to the final day of the season during the past three campaigns – will history repeat itself again?
On May 24, leaders Glasgow City host Rangers, while Celtic are at home to Partick Thistle and champions Hibs host Hearts in the final Edinburgh derby of the season.
Image: Hearts are one point behind the Old Firm and six off the top heading into the post-split fixtures (Credit: SWPL/Malcolm Mackenzie)
At the other end, there could be a final day shoot-out to avoid finishing in that ninth spot too, as Motherwell host Aberdeen, meanwhile Hamilton Accies face Montrose – both on May 17.
Fixtures in full
Image: Hibernian won the top-flight title for the first time since 2007 last season
FORT WORTH, Texas — Micah Robinson scored 20 points, Xavier Edmonds added 17 and TCU rolled to a 90-78 victory over Arizona State on Tuesday night.
TCU took the lead for good with about six minutes to play before halftime led by as many as 18 points in the second half.
Edmonds and Robinson each made three of TCU’s eight 3-pointers. Brock Harding shot just 1 of 10 from the floor but made 8 of 11 free throws and finished with 10 points and distributed 11 assists for the Horned Frogs. Tanner Toolson added 12 points and Liutauras Lelevicius scored 10.
TCU (18-10, 8-7 Big 12) has won five of its last six and four straight against Arizona State (14-14, 5-10).
Maurice Odum scored 21 points and had 10 assists to lead the Sun Devils. Anthony Johnson added 18 points and Massamba Diop 13.
Edmonds scored 14 points and Lelevicius added nine to help TCU take a 33-30 lead to halftime. With 13:30 left, TCU started a 9-0 surge for a 58-46 lead and the Horned Frogs held a double-digit advantage for most of the remainder.
Brady Henderson is a reporter for NFL Nation and covers the Seattle Seahawks for ESPN. He joined ESPN in 2017 after covering the team for Seattle Sports 710-AM.
Multiple Authors
As the Seattle Seahawks embark on their quest to become only the third team this century to repeat as Super Bowl champions, they do so with an ownership change hanging over the organization’s head.
But as general manager John Schneider spoke with reporters at the combine in Indianapolis on Tuesday, six days after it was announced that Jody Allen has officially put the Seahawks up for sale, he conveyed an expectation that the situation won’t have much of an impact on Seattle’s offseason.
Specifically, Schneider was asked whether the sale process will impact his day-to-day job in any way, such as his time demands or budget.
“No,” he said. “I had a great talk with Jody the other night and she’s like, ‘Let’s go for it, let’s rip it.’ It’s just business as usual for us. Business as usual and all football.”
Schneider, though, said he plans to meet this week with Denver Broncos general manager George Paton for advice on the sale process, as Paton went through it in 2022 when that organization was sold.
Schneider answered “no” when asked later if he expects anything to change in terms of the team’s free agent spending with a sale on the horizon. He also said he doesn’t know whether Allen — who controls the team as the chairperson of the estate of her late brother, Paul — will still be in charge when next season begins.
In its announcement last week, the estate said the sale process is “estimated” to continue through the 2026 offseason. No news has emerged since then about potential buyers.
The more pressing matter for Schneider and the Seahawks is trying to keep together the roster that won a club-record 14 games during the regular season and three more in the playoffs to secure the franchise’s second Lombardi Trophy. Schneider knows it won’t be easy, with six key players set to become unrestricted free agents.
“It’s going to be a challenge to figure this year’s puzzle out,” Schneider said. “It’s a really cool team and they’re all special people. So we’re going to try to retain as many of those guys as we possibly can. As long as we can keep that … that collective 70 together.”
Schneider shared a similar sentiment about viewing free agent decisions through the lens of the entire roster — 53 active players and 17 on the practice squad — while answering an earlier question on Walker.
“We’d love to have Ken back, and he knows this better than anybody — it’s about our 70 and our collective and what that’s going to look like,” he said. “We’ll have those meetings down here. We’ll start talking to all the agents and we’ll have a better feel of where we’re going towards the end of the week. We want to have everybody back. Right when you get done with something special like that, you’re like, ‘Let’s run it back. Let’s run it back.’ It’s going to be an interesting process.”
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported last week that Seattle does not plan to use the franchise or transition tag on Walker. Schneider declined to comment Tuesday on a potential tag.
The Seahawks entered the offseason with a healthy cap situation. OverTheCap.com projects them to have roughly $59 million in effective cap space, sixth most in the NFL. However, in addition to their six key free agents as well as the uncertainty over whether 33-year-old defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence will retire, they have two star players in line for massive raises.
Cornerback Devon Witherspoon and wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba are both eligible for extensions that would likely put them at or near the top of the pay scale at their respective positions. Schneider confirmed Tuesday that the organization’s rule of not redoing contracts with more than one year remaining will not preclude extensions this offseason for either of its two first-round picks from 2023, as 2027 would be an option year if exercised.
That rule would, however, apply to quarterback Sam Darnold, who has two years left on the three-year, $100.5 million deal he signed last March.
Mel Kiper Jr. has served as an NFL draft analyst for ESPN since 1984. He is a regular contributor on “SportsCenter,” ESPN studio shows and ESPN Radio. He is the co-host of the First Draft podcast, and he writes regularly for ESPN+.
Multiple Authors
More than 300 prospects will be in Indianapolis this week for the combine, but only 32 of them will ultimately go in Round 1 of the 2026 NFL draft on April 23. Let’s project those picks with my second mock draft for this cycle.
You’ll notice some similarities to my January predictions; there hasn’t been a ton of movement on the board quite yet. But I suspect we will have some big risers during combine workouts, and remember that NFL team needs will change quickly during free agency in March, shaking up the first round. I’m not projecting any trades in this mock draft, but four selections have already changed hands: The Rams have the Falcons’ selection, the Jets have the Colts’ selection, the Cowboys have the Packers’ selection and the Browns have the Jaguars’ selection.
Here’s my current thinking on how Round 1 could look based on what I’m hearing from execs, scouts and coaches in the league. And for more, check out “NFL Draft Daily” at 3 p.m. ET on ESPN2 all week long.
I won’t waste a lot of time here: Mendoza to the Raiders seems pretty obvious at this point. The Geno Smithtrade didn’t solve the post-Derek Carr quarterback problem in Las Vegas, and new coach Klint Kubiak will want a signal-caller to build his offense around. Mendoza is the No. 1 prospect on my board and far and away the best QB in the class. He is competitive and precise with his ball location.
If the Raiders bring in a receiver or two during free agency and maybe shore up the O-line a bit, this offense could take a step forward with Mendoza, Kubiak, running back Ashton Jeanty and tight end Brock Bowers.
This would be the highest draft slot for a safety since Eric Turner went No. 2 in 1991. Downs is worthy, though. He reads the offense so well, and then he has quickness, physicality and ball skills to make plays against both the run and the pass. He can truly impact a defense’s ceiling from the back end, with six interceptions, 18 tackles for loss and 22 run stops over his three college seasons. The Jets’ defense didn’t have a single INT in 2025 — yes, you read that right — and only the Cowboys gave up more points (29.6 per game). Plus, Andre Cisco is hitting free agency.
Tough call here between Bailey and Ohio State’s Arvell Reese. I have Reese one spot higher on my board, but the Cardinals might opt for the more proven production. Bailey had 14.5 sacks, 23 tackles for loss, 71 pressures and three forced fumbles last season. Simply put, he gets after the QB. That’s what the Cardinals need after managing just 30 sacks last season, tied for the third fewest in the NFL.
And yes, the team might need a quarterback this offseason if it moves on from Kyler Murray. But it’s also too early to reach for the draft class’s QB2 when Arizona has other big holes in the roster. I would expect the Cardinals to address their quarterback situation in free agency and turn their attention to defense in Round 1 — despite new coach Mike LaFleur’s offensive background.
Reese’s instincts and burst are all over the tape. I’m still ranking him as a linebacker at the moment, and he could help Tennessee there. But new coach Robert Saleh might very well move him to the edge, where he played the majority of the time in 2025. Although the Titans’ 42 sacks tied for 12th most last season, 11 of them came from defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons on the interior. The edge is a weakness. Reese could be a high-impact player in this unit no matter where he lines up.
In January, I had Ohio State receiver Carnell Tate here. I think that’s still very possible, as New York needs a WR2 opposite Malik Nabers. But it doesn’t matter who Jaxson Dart is throwing to if he doesn’t have enough time to get the ball out. Fano started 36 games over three seasons, and he allowed just four sacks (and only one over the past two years once flipping from left tackle to right tackle). His technique and power are outstanding. If free agent Jermaine Eluemunor doesn’t return, I like Fano sliding into the RT spot in the lineup, helping keep Dart clean and driving defenders out of the way for running back Cam Skattebo.
Like the Giants, the Browns need offensive line and receiver reinforcements. Unlike the Giants, the Browns have two first-round picks. So, although Miami lineman Francis Mauigoa is tempting here, Cleveland would likely take its pick of the entire WR class and kick the can down the order on the OL. Tate is at the top of the receiver list right now, with great hands and savvy route running. Cleveland wideouts combined for just four touchdowns last season, so after an 875-yard, nine-TD season, Tate could step in as the top option for the Browns.
This would be the fourth Ohio State player off the board — the most ever in the first seven picks for one school, per ESPN Research. Styles is getting a lot of love around the league right now, and he’s going to be fun to watch at the combine if he works out. The former safety has real speed on a 6-foot-4, 243-pound frame.
With the Commanders’ defense getting crushed for 6.0 yards per play last season (tied for third worst) and potentially losing 35-year-old free agent Bobby Wagner up the middle, this fit makes sense. But also keep an eye on Miami edge rusher Rueben Bain Jr. and the receiver class as a whole if the board falls this way.
Quarterback Tyler Shough flashed down the stretch of his rookie season, but now the Saints must help him take the next step in Year 2. I had Arizona State’s Jordyn Tyson to New Orleans in my first mock draft, and though I’m sticking with the same position, I’m going with Lemon this time around. He attacks the ball in the air and would be a productive player for Shough after amassing 1,156 yards in 2025. Regardless of whether Chris Olave is in the team’s long-term plans, New Orleans could improve the offense with someone like Lemon running routes out of the slot.
Love is No. 2 on my Big Board, showcasing elite-level vision and burst. He can make a house call any time he touches the ball, and with his hands out of the backfield, he can stick on the field on third down. Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt are free agents, and they weren’t exactly lighting up the ground game last season anyway. Love — who had 1,372 rushing yards and 18 rushing TDs in 2025 — could bring a whole new element to the Kansas City offense.
If Bain is still on the board at No. 10, the Bengals should sprint the card in with his name on it. This has been a very rough defense for a few years now, and things could look a lot worse if Trey Hendrickson leaves in free agency. Last year’s Shemar Stewart pick hasn’t yielded immediate returns, either. But Bain has the ability to wreck opponent game plans. He brings power, speed and bend, and he had 9.5 sacks in 2025. Defensive coordinator Al Golden could move him around on the D-line to find matchup advantages and turn him loose in the pass rush.
The Dolphins’ quarterback situation is unsettled, as they explore trade options for Tua Tagovailoa. But Alabama’s Ty Simpson is still a reach here. So, let’s instead look at the offensive line. Right tackle Austin Jackson — the team’s last first-round pick on the offensive line back in 2020 — has struggled to stay on the field, and fill-in Larry Borom is a free agent. Mauigoa comes with 42 starts of experience and a mauling attitude. Plus, he’d be able to keep his parking pass at Hard Rock Stadium as he comes over from the Hurricanes.
If Jackson stays healthy and takes ownership of the RT spot, Mauigoa could easily kick inside to guard. Some scouts think he’s a better fit there, and plenty of attention will be paid to his arm length measurements this week at the combine.
No team gave up more passing plays of 25 or more yards last season than the Cowboys (46). Trevon Diggs was cut at the end of the season, and DaRon Bland is coming off his second surgery on his left foot in two years. If there weren’t already enough signs for Dallas, the entire cornerback class is still available at No. 12 here. Delane can shut down opposing receivers while also making a bunch of plays on the ball. He broke up 11 passes and pulled down two interceptions last season.
No change for the Rams’ first pick from my last mock draft. McCoy didn’t play at all in 2025 after tearing an ACL last January, and the medical checks this week in Indianapolis will be key for him. But there’s no arguing his on-the-ball production. He had four picks and nine pass breakups in 2024.
The Rams have the sort of roster that can go to the Super Bowl, and quarterback Matthew Stafford is set to return for another season. But cornerback is a definite weak spot; GM Les Snead has to make that position a priority this offseason.
The Ravens should bounce back in 2026, but they will be looking for a true outside receiver with the hands to soak in a bunch of Lamar Jackson targets. Going with Tyson here would allow Zay Flowers to live in the slot — where he is at his best — and lift the whole offense. Tyson caught eight TD passes in 2025, and he excels on contested catches thanks to his 6-foot-2 frame and overall strength.
It would be the sixth time that Baltimore took a pass catcher in the first round since 2015, but the team clearly needs more options in the pass game. Rashod Bateman has been inconsistent, and DeAndre Hopkins, Isaiah Likely and Tylan Wallace are all free agents.
Lavonte David had 114 tackles last season, but he can’t play forever. He’s 36 years old and joins fellow linebacker Anthony Walker Jr. in free agency this offseason. Allen is a three-down linebacker who mixes speed with power to make plays in coverage, against the run and as a blitzer. He might be LB3 in the class, but he’s a top-25 prospect overall. He’d be a good fit under coach Todd Bowles as the Bucs try to retool a bit to reclaim the NFC South.
The Jets are back on the clock, and after I handed them a difference-making safety in Caleb Downs earlier, I’ll go with a Quinnen Williams replacement this time around. Three Jets defensive tackles are hitting free agency, and they’ve lacked a real impact player in the middle of the D-line since trading Williams at the deadline. Woods didn’t have elite production in 2025, but the tape was still really good. He has the power to be a force at 3-technique for New York.
I had the Jets taking Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson here in January. I could still see it. But the Jets have three first-round picks in 2027, when the QB class should be much better. It makes more sense to find a bridge in 2026 and focus on rebuilding the defense before going with someone like Arch Manning or Dante Moore next spring.
We’ve been begging the Lions to add a long-term threat off the edge opposite Aidan Hutchinson for a while now. Al-Quadin Muhammad had a surprise breakout last season with 11 sacks, but he’s a free agent. Tyrus Wheat was next best in sacks among pure edge rushers … with 1.5. So, although the interior offensive line might warrant a look (Penn State’s Olaivavega Ioane?), Detroit has to address the lack of depth on the edge. Young has strong hands and good quickness, and he had 6.5 sacks and 46 pressures last season.
Harrison Smith is 37 years old; he might retire this offseason, and even if he returns, the safety room in Minnesota still has to be replenished. How about a Smith clone? Thieneman might not have Smith’s 6-foot-2 size (he’s 6-foot), but he reads the QB well and is savvy. That matters a lot in defensive coordinator Brian Flores’ defense, which asks a lot of rookies. Plus, Thieneman has versatility to move around the alignment, is a force against the run and had a six-INT season at Purdue back in 2023 before transferring to Oregon. He’d be a seamless fit in the Vikings’ defense.
The Panthers took a leap forward last season, but the pass rush is still lagging behind. Their 30 sacks tied for the third fewest in the NFL, and their 26.6% pressure rate was second lowest. I liked what I saw out of second-round rookie Nic Scourton (five sacks), but Carolina needs more. Faulk is a people mover, and although he managed only two sacks last season, he had seven in 2024. If defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero can unlock Faulk’s potential, this pick could look like a steal in a few years.
It’s an all-defense first round for Dallas — first cornerback (Mansoor Delane at No. 12), now edge rusher. Of course, Mesidor wouldn’t be a one-for-one replacement for Micah Parsons, who was sorely missed in Dallas last season. But with 12.5 sacks in the final season of a six-year college career, Mesidor would at least jump-start the pass rush and start to build that unit back up. Jadeveon Clowney was the lone Cowboys player to crack six sacks in 2025 (8.5), and he’s a free agent. Jerry Jones has to commit to using premium picks on the edge, especially with one of the league’s tighter cap situations.
The Steelers have to think about the QB position with a longer-view lens. They could bring back Aaron Rodgers or opt for another veteran stopgap to keep them in contention next season, but even if they go that route, they should still address their future at the position. Simpson has just 15 starts to his name, and his 2025 season was uneven, but his game has a lot of promise. He navigates the pocket well and threw 28 touchdown passes to just five interceptions last season. Pittsburgh could let him learn behind a veteran for a little while before turning the offense over to him.
A lot of the Chargers’ offensive line woes can be traced back to injuries to tackles Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater. But the interior had its own problems. Zion Johnson (now a free agent) and Mekhi Becton both struggled at guard. GM Joe Hortiz has to do something to prevent all these hits quarterback Justin Herbert is taking every Sunday, and Ioane has a great combination of sheer power and agility. He hasn’t given up a sack since 2023. Plus, Ioane could help open some rushing lanes for Omarion Hampton in the back’s second year.
If Philadelphia doesn’t bring back free agent Dallas Goedert, it would be smart to draft a top-end replacement. Quarterback Jalen Hurts found Goedert for a team-high 11 receiving touchdowns last season, and he was the third-most-targeted pass catcher on the roster. In other words, Hurts likes throwing to his TE1. Sadiq had eight touchdown receptions last season, and he’s explosive and does a lot of damage after the catch. NFC defenses would have a tough time matching up with him because of his speed and 6-foot-3, 245-pound size.
play
0:18
Dante Moore throws 21-yard touchdown pass to Kenyon Sadiq
Dante Moore throws a 21-yard touchdown pass to Kenyon Sadiq
Freeling has started only 18 games, but he’s a solid pass protector. He just needs some work as a run blocker. His ceiling is high, and I like the idea of pairing the 6-foot-7 Freeling with the 6-foot-8 Jones as the O-line’s bookends.
It’s probably a little early for Texas A&M’s Cashius Howell, Clemson’s T.J. Parker or Oklahoma’s R Mason Thomas. The Bears obviously need more edge rush support, but the board just isn’t lining up. But with Gervon Dexter Sr. signed for only one more season and Grady Jarrett turning 33 in April, it would make sense to pad the defensive tackle group. McDonald is actually the DT1 on my Big Board, and he has a nose for the football. He had 17 run stops in 2025. Having him on the interior would be huge for a Bears team that allowed 5.0 yards per carry last season (fourth worst).
Boston’s hands, catch radius and vision would quickly make him a go-to option for quarterback Josh Allen. He finished with 881 yards and 11 scores last season, bullying opposing cornerbacks along the way.
Proctor’s tape is all over the place. The highs are really, really good. The lows raise a lot of questions. But in the right situation, he could become a standout tackle in the NFL. And there might not be a better situation than learning behind one of the best to ever do it in San Francisco. Trent Williams will be 38 by Week 1, and he’s entering the final year of his contract. So, Proctor could develop in Year 1 while kicking inside to guard and/or playing a swing tackle role before perhaps taking over for Williams in 2027. He has 40 career starts — all at left tackle — and is reliable in pass protection. This would be an upside pick for GM John Lynch.
Per ESPN Research, this would be the fourth time two running backs from the same school both went in Round 1 — and the first time since 2008, when Arkansas’ Darren McFadden and Felix Jones were Day 1 selections. But just because Price was second on the Fighting Irish’s depth chart to Jeremiyah Love doesn’t mean he can’t be an RB1 in the NFL. He’s a powerful runner who plays a one-cut-and-go brand of football. There are ball security concerns (four lost fumbles over three years), and we haven’t seen a ton from him as a pass catcher, but Price is dynamic. He ran for 11 touchdowns, caught two TD passes and scored two more times on kickoff returns last season.
The Texans lacked juice in the run game. Woody Marks is probably more of a change-of-pace guy, Nick Chubb is a free agent, and Joe Mixon‘s future is uncertain. Time for an upgrade.
Rob Havenstein retired, and Warren McClendon Jr. is entering the final year of his deal. That means there could be a big hole at right tackle. Miller has 54 career starts, and his game just keeps growing on me. In pass protection, he stays square and handles most pass-rush moves with ease. And as a run blocker, he can get to the second level to spring big gains. The blocking is so important to the Rams’ excellent run game, and having a savvy right tackle is key.
The Rams’ first pick in this mock draft went to the defense (Jermod McCoy), but I really like the idea of L.A. adding to the offensive line with its second one.
The Broncos have two solid safeties in Talanoa Hufanga and Brandon Jones, so this pick might not reap immediate rewards. But neither did the Jahdae Barron pick last April. Denver is planning ahead in the secondary and building something there, as coach Sean Payton focuses on keeping this defense strong.
McNeil-Warren is a bit of a sleeper right now, but I think he could have been a top-15 pick had he played for a Power 4 team. His performance against Kentucky at the beginning of the season got my attention. He had 11 tackles and a fumble recovery in that game. His tape shows real speed to the football, and he has five interceptions and 12 forced fumbles over his four-year career.
As they try to get back to the Super Bowl with a talented roster, the Patriots could use another solid edge rusher or two. Thomas can get offensive tackles leaning and then beat them with either speed or power. He uses his hands well and shows good bend off the edge. He had 15.5 sacks over the past two years. K’Lavon Chaisson is hitting free agency, so New England would love to have someone like Thomas getting after the quarterback.
Let’s close out Round 1 with a talented cornerback to replace free agents Riq Woolen and Josh Jobe, giving this Super Bowl champion defense yet another playmaker. The brother of A.J. Terrell Jr., Avieon Terrell can fly in coverage, and he had 27 pass breakups over three seasons. He could slide into the lineup opposite Devon Witherspoon, with Nick Emmanwori in the slot.
West Brom have sacked Eric Ramsay just 44 days after appointing him head coach.
Appointed in January to replace Ryan Mason, Ramsay made the step over from manager of Minnesota United in the MLS, but struggled during his time at The Hawthorns, failing to win any of his eight league games in charge.
The 34-year-old drew four and lost four of his Championship matches during his short stint.
His Baggies side were also knocked out of the FA Cup after they lost at Norwich.
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Highlights of the Sky Bet Championship game between West Brom and Charlton
A statement released after Tuesday night’s 1-1 draw with Charlton said: “West Bromwich Albion have parted company with men’s first-team head coach Eric Ramsay.
“Assistant head coach Dennis Lawrence has also departed The Hawthorns.
“The club would like to place on record its thanks to Eric and Dennis and wishes them well for the future.
“First-team coach James Morrison will oversee first-team affairs on an interim basis.”
West Brom sit 21st in the Championship, one point above the relegation zone.
Image: West Brom sit one point above the Championship relegation zone
Ramsay’s final press conference: No lack of connection between me and the team
Eric Ramsay speaking after West Brom’s 1-1 draw with Charlton:
“We’re not talking about this performance in isolation – we are adding this to multiple draws, not enough wins and not enough getting over the line so it has the feeling of a step backwards.
“I know what this situation needs at the moment – it needs wins, it doesn’t need draws.
“The number of chances were enough to win the game but it wasn’t good enough.
“We are lacking a real spark and quality in front of goal.
“I am not sat here on the back of five losses where the team has not been competitive.
“Over the last four league games, the team has been competitive, it’s fighting and I don’t feel there’s a lack of connection between me and the team.”
DJ Bien-Aime covers the Houston Texans for ESPN. He joined ESPN in July of 2022 after covering the New York Jets for the New York Daily News. He’s a former athlete who finished his college career at Louisville. You can catch DJ on ESPN Radio on his show “Talkin’ Texans.”
Multiple Authors
INDIANAPOLIS — Houston Texans general manager Nick Caserio called the trade talk regarding quarterback C.J. Stroud “moronic.”
At the NFL scouting combine, Caserio shot down rumors of potentially moving Stroud and reaffirmed his commitment to his fourth-year quarterback.
“We are not trading the guy. He’s our quarterback,” Caserio said Tuesday. “He’s going to be playing quarterback for the Houston Texans in 2026.”
Stroud’s name surfaced online in trade speculation after a seven-turnover playoff run, highlighted by a four-interception outing against the New England Patriots in a 28-16 divisional round loss.
The 2023 No. 2 draft pick just completed his third season, throwing for 19 touchdowns while completing 64.5% of his throws for 3,041 yards and eight interceptions in 14 games.
The Ohio State standout sat out three games because a concussion that he suffered in Week 9 against the Denver Broncos. He is eligible for a contract extension, but Caserio hasn’t given any insight on whether the organization will extend him.
And while it was an effective season as the Texans went 9-5 in Stroud’s regular-season starts, the overall production fell short of his outstanding rookie year.
In 2023, Stroud became the fifth rookie to pass for 4,000 yards in a season and the first Ohio State quarterback to be named to a Pro Bowl. He also led the NFL in touchdown to interception ratio (23-to-4).
There has been a consistent magnifying glass on how to revive that production for Stroud. But based on Caserio’s comments, the Texans will be the ones trying to do so, not another team.
“He’s been a good player and won a lot of football games,” Caserio said. “Quarterback is the hardest position to play in sports. He had some ups and downs — that’s natural for a position, but overall, he’s had a pretty significant impact on what we are as a program. … He’s not going anywhere.”
The grin indicated there would be nothing to add. To borrow a phrase from Dan Hicks at NBC when Woods forced a playoff in the 2008 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines, “Expect anything different?”
He wasn’t about to rule out playing in the Masters with two months to go. And having not competed in more than a year, Woods just doesn’t know yet. But big decisions are looming for Woods in the next month.
The Masters gets all the attention because a red shirt on Sunday has become nearly as common as a green jacket at Augusta National. But there’s also that small matter of the Ryder Cup.
Woods is the top choice — the only choice at the moment — to be captain for the 2027 matches in Ireland, just like he was for the last Ryder Cup before he turned it down. Officials were forced to wait longer than ever before announcing Keegan Bradley as captain at Bethpage Black.
Now the PGA of America is asking Woods to decide before the Masters whether he wants the job. Two people informed of the situation describe it more as a soft deadline than an ultimatum. They spoke on condition of anonymity because these matters are private.
The Ryder Cup captaincy has become a time-consuming job, and Woods sounds as though he is busier than ever. His most important role is chairman of the Future Competition Committee as it works toward one of the biggest and most complicated overhauls of the PGA Tour schedule.
Woods offered as much when he said, “I thought I spent a lot of hours practicing in my prime. It doesn’t even compare to what we’ve done in the boardroom.”
This is what drives him at the moment. He would love to be at the Masters, where in 2024 he set the record by making his 24th consecutive cut. He is a player at heart.
Woods looked good last week in his role as tournament host at the Genesis Invitational. More than one person noticed the purpose in his step — and how big he looked — just walking through the locker room. He was comfortable in his news conference and in the CBS booth with Jim Nantz and Trevor Immelman.
Good enough to compete while walking 72 holes at Augusta? Woods kept them guessing, too.
He said he is hitting full shots — “Not well every day, but I can hit them,” he said — and the Achilles tendon he ruptured a year ago is no longer an issue, rather it’s the recovery from a seventh back surgery in September to replace a disk in his lower back.
Age doesn’t help. He turned 50 at the end of last year and recovery takes longer.
As for the Ryder Cup captaincy, it’s all about time and priorities. Woods is driven by the idea that as much as he has done for the game already (think prize money), he can do even more as a chief architect that reshapes the model of golf at the highest level.
So when the Ryder Cup came up, his first response was he hasn’t decided.
“I’m trying to figure out what we’re trying to do with our tour,” he said. “That’s been driving me hours upon hours every day and trying to figure out if I can actually do our team — Team USA and our players and everyone that’s going to be involved in the Ryder Cup — if I can do it justice.”
By the time the azaleas are bursting with blooms in early April, Woods could be wearing yet another hat as Ryder Cup captain. Or the PGA of America will move on to a Plan B that includes predictable options and few surprises.
Meanwhile, the next two weeks might offer hints on how much progress Woods is making on the job taking up most of his bandwidth.
PGA Tour Enterprises CEO Brian Rolapp is expected to give an update, pulling back the curtain as much as he can, on the progress of the new schedule. The committee is looking at the sequence of events — a splashy start and a finish that makes sense — with an eye on big markets.
Woods said the final work might not be done in time for 2027, perhaps only portions of what to expect. That would seem to indicate a later start to the season (Aloha, Hawaii) and moving around some of the postseason events.
The tour has been looking at moving some of the premier West Coast stops to August for better (warmer) weather and prime-time viewing.
To move Riviera to August would make sense except golf in LA doesn’t have a history of big attendance in August, and title sponsor Genesis already has a PGA Tour event in July (Scottish Open). Torrey Pines? It was worth noting the strong attendance this year by officials from Wisconsin-based Sentry, currently the title sponsor at Kapalua.
Pebble Beach has a massive car show that dates to 1950 and is among the best in the world in the middle of August. That tournament is unlikely to move to summer.
“There’s been a lot of moving parts over the last couple years,” Woods said.
He was speaking about the tour. He could just as easily be talking about himself.
___
On The Fringe analyzes the biggest topics in golf during the season.
Kent State did the unthinkable this past week. After pushing LSU to the edge in Baton Rogue in a midweek matchup, the Golden Flashes took that momentum with them into Knoxville and won a road series against Tennessee. And as a result, the Vols took a big slide in this week’s rankings, dropping seven spots to No. 20.
How will the Vols respond? Well, they’re facing the top team in the country in UCLA on Friday, so they’ll have to bounce back fast. The Bruins, and the four teams behind them, held steady in the rankings after dominant performances, but after that there were more shakeups.
TCU had a rough week overall. After losing its midweek game to UT Arlington, it got swept by UCLA in Los Angeles, causing the Horned Frogs to drop 11 spots. The week’s biggest risers were Southern Miss and Oklahoma, which each climbed up eight spots. Louisville fell out of the rankings completely, paving the way for Ole Miss to break through at No. 25.
Here are how the entire top 25 rankings look as of Feb. 23, plus our favorite plays and what we’re watching in the week to come.
Top plays
Not that LSU needs anymore power than it already has, now it has Jake Brown launching home runs like this.
Flora has been rising up draft boards, and for good reason. The junior, who Kiley McDaniel has at No. 4 in his MLB draft rankings, touched 100 MPH in his 2026 debut and he has kept up the heat since then. Does he have enough to over take Cholowsky for the No. 1 pick? We’ll just have to wait and see.
FLO-STATE 🌊
Back-to-back strikeouts for Flora as he escapes the bases loaded jam!
Game 1: 7 p.m. on Friday (ACC Network Extra) Game 2: 6 p.m. on Saturday (ACC Network Extra) Game 3: 1 p.m. on Sunday (ACC Network Extra)
We can’t get enough of these early top-ranked series, and an in-state one makes this all the better. Miami has been solid to open the season, and though the Canes are ranked behind Florida, they do sport a perfect 7-0 record for the year, while the Gators have already dropped one game. Florida will have to be ready for Miami’s Alex Sosa, who has been dominant this season so far with five home runs and 17 RBIs. And if he wasn’t a tall enough task, there’s Daniel Cuvet right behind him with five homers himself to go along with 13 RBIs. It looks to be a high-scoring affair in Coral Gables this weekend.
Updated top 25
Here are D1baseball.com’s latest rankings, plus information on each team’s next game.
All times Eastern.
1. UCLA Bruins
Previous rank: 1 Record: 6-1 Next game: vs. Tulane, 8 p.m. on Tuesday
2. LSU Tigers
Previous rank: 2 Record: 8-0 Next game: vs. McNeese, 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday (SEC Network+)
3. Texas Longhorns
Previous rank: 3 Record: 7-0 Next game: vs. UTRGV, 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday (SEC Network+)
4. Mississippi State Bulldogs
Previous rank: 4 Record: 8-0 Next game: vs. Austin Peay, 5 p.m. on Tuesday (SEC Network+)
5. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
Previous rank: 5 Record: 8-0 Next game: at Georgia State, 4 p.m. on Tuesday (ACC Network Extra)
6. Arkansas Razorbacks
Previous rank: 8 Record: 6-1 Next game: vs. Arkansas State, 4 p.m. on Monday (SEC Network+)
7. Auburn Tigers
Previous rank: 9 Record: 6-1 Next game: vs. West Georgia, 7 p.m. on Wednesday (SEC Network+)
8. North Carolina Tar Heels
Previous rank: 10 Record: 6-1-1 Next game: vs. NC A&T, 4 p.m. on Tuesday (ACC Network Extra)
9. Coastal Carolina Chanticleers
Previous rank: 6 Record: 5-2 Next game: vs. Campbell, 4 p.m. on Tuesday (ESPN+)
10. Florida Gators
Previous rank: 12 Record: 7-1 Next game: vs. FIU, 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday (ESPN+)
11. Georgia Bulldogs
Previous rank: 14 Record: 6-1 Next game: vs. Troy, 3 p.m. on Wednesday (SEC Network+)
12. Southern Miss Golden Eagles
Previous rank: 20 Record: 6-1 Next game: vs. Alabama, 7 p.m. on Tuesday (ESPN+)
13. Oklahoma Sooners
Previous rank: 21 Record: 7-0 Next game: vs. Arizona State, 5 p.m. on Tuesday (SEC Network+)
14. NC State Wolfpack
Previous rank: 17 Record: 5-1 Next game: vs. Richmond, 3 p.m. on Tuesday
15. Clemson Tigers
Previous rank: 19 Record: 7-0 Next game: vs. Presbyterian, 4 p.m. on Tuesday (ACCNX)
16. Wake Forest Demon Deacons
Previous rank: 22 Record: 6-1 Next game: at UNCG, 5 p.m. on Tuesday (ESPN+)
17. Miami Hurricanes
Previous rank: 23 Record: 9-0 Next game: at FAU, 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday
18. TCU Horned Frogs
Previous rank: 7 Record: 2-5 Next game: at Loyola Marymount, 4 p.m. on Monday
19. Oregon State Beavers
Previous rank: 11 Record: 4-3 Next game: at Houston, 3 p.m. on Friday
20. Tennessee Volunteers
Previous rank: 13 Record: 5-2 Next game: vs. Bellarmine, 4 p.m. on Tuesday (SEC Network+)
21. Florida State Seminoles
Previous rank: 16 Record: 4-2 Next game: vs. North Florida, 5 p.m. on Wednesday (ESPN+)
22. Kentucky Wildcats
Previous rank: 18 Record: 5-2 Next game: vs. Western Kentucky, 4 p.m. on Tuesday (SEC Network+)
23. Texas A&M Aggies
Previous rank: 24 Record: 7-0 Next game: vs. Lamar, 7 p.m. on Tuesday (SEC Network+)
24. West Virginia Mountaineers
Previous rank: 25 Record: 5-1 Next game: vs. Ohio, 1 p.m. on Wednesday (ESPN+)
25. Ole Miss Rebels
Previous rank: NR Record: 8-0 Next game: vs. Southeast Missouri State, 5 p.m. on Tuesday (SEC Network+)
MUNICH — Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown says a long-time dream will come true after his team was confirmed to play in the NFL game in Munch this year.
St. Brown’s mother was born in Germany and his career has been closely followed by the NFL’s large German fan base.
“It has been a dream of mine to play a game in my mother’s home country of Germany since coming to the league,” St. Brown said in a league statement on Tuesday.
“I cannot wait to play in front of the incredible fans that I’ve gotten to know through my visits and football camps in the country. Their support for me and the country’s instant connection to the Lions brand is inspiring, and I’m looking forward to our team getting to showcase Detroit football on an international scale.”
Detroit’s opponent will be confirmed later. The Munich game is part of a record schedule of nine international games in 2026 including new host cities in France, Australia and Brazil.
The NFL is heading back to Munich for its third game at a stadium better known as the home of German soccer champion Bayern Munich. The city hosted the NFL’s first game in Germany in 2022 and another in 2024. Frankfurt and Berlin have also hosted games.
After Luke Littler’s emphatic victory at the Polish Darts Open, Josh Rock believes the Warrington ace is still “the man to beat” in this year’s Premier League.
The teenage phenom, who comfortably disposed Ross Smith, Josh Rock and Chris Dobey to make his way into the final, claimed the title with an 8-4 victory over Gian van Veen, who hit a nine-dart finish in the final.
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Gian van Veen hits an incredible nine-darter in the Poland Darts Open final against Luke Littler.
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Although Littler sits outside the top four positions in the standings, debutant Rock, who has suffered a hat-trick of 6-2 defeats in this season’s competition, warned the rest of the pack: “The Polish Open is a ranking tournament and they always turn up at a ranking tournament. He’s the world No 1 and world champion for a reason. He is the man to beat.”
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Highlights of the semi-final game between Littler and Jonny Clayton in Glasgow
Rock has lost to Luke Humphries, Michael van Gerwen and Jonny Clayton on successive Thursday nights, but is hoping to kick-start his campaign when he takes on World Championship finalist Van Veen in the quarter-finals.
He said: “I haven’t been playing badly. Everybody’s just been playing better than me. Jonny averaged 110 and obviously I averaged 106, so there’s not much you can do unless you’re hitting 110s yourself.
“I think it’ll mean more than any other night [playing in Belfast], obviously, but I wouldn’t say it’s added pressure. I think I’ll maybe enjoy it a lot more, because all my family and friends are there, so I don’t think it’s added pressure.
“I’ve been unlucky – everybody’s just been playing well at the moment. Hopefully, that’ll turn around now.”
Rock, who won the World Cup of Darts for Northern Ireland alongside Daryl Gurney last year, claimed the soap in the toilets during his pre-game visit to the bathroom affected his grip after losing to Michael van Gerwen in Antwerp on Night Two.
“I was laughing and joking just before I went up on stage in Glasgow saying I had wipes beside my case for a laugh, just to make a bit of fun of it,” laughed Rock. “Stuff like that doesn’t bother me.
“I don’t dwell on anything bad, so I’m usually one who’s quick to forget everything that’s bad. I’ve been playing decent enough in this Premier League, I just haven’t got the results just yet.”
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Rangers fan Josh Rock is booed during his walk on and practice in Glasgow
Rangers supporter Rock was booed by a minority in Glasgow last week, and the 24-year-old added: “I love it. If you’ve watched my walk-ons, I’ve been smiling every time walking down that oche because I know what I’m there for in the Premier League, playing in these big arenas.
“Standing before the doors open for the public, we were all having a practice on the stage and I just looked around and went ‘wow, that’s big’ – you dream to play in arenas and I’m just grateful I’m playing in them.
“I don’t know what to expect from Belfast. Hopefully a lot of cheering. I would like to think obviously a homeboy in town, but we’ll see what happens.”
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Rock hit this sensational checkout to silence the minority in Scotland
What’s happening on Premier League Night Four in Belfast?
Image: Rock headlines Premier League Night Four in Belfast
Rock will take centre stage, with the Northern Irishman facing fellow Premier League newcomer Van Veen.
Night Four: SSE Arena, Belfast on Thursday February 26
Quarter-Finals
Luke Littler
vs
Jonny Clayton
Stephen Bunting
vs
Luke Humphries
Michael van Gerwen
vs
Gerwyn Price
Gian van Veen
vs
Josh Rock
Littler faces Jonny Clayton, with Stephen Bunting up against Humphries, while Michael van Gerwen will be aiming to return from his absence in Glasgow to take on Gerwyn Price in a must-watch quarter-final tie.
Who will win this year’s Premier League Darts? Luke Humphries will be defending his title and you can watch the action every single Thursday until May on Sky Sports. Stream darts and more top sport with NOW.
– Tottenham Hotspur defender Micky van de Venis on the radar of Liverpool, Manchester United and Real Madrid, according to TEAMtalk. It is reported that the 24-year-old is expected to leave Spurs in the summer, regardless of whether they avoid relegation, and the Red Devils are the latest club to join the race to sign him. TEAMtalk also reports that the Premier League side aren’t close to reaching an agreement over a new contract with Van de Ven, whose deal expires in 2029, and the Netherlands international is now weighing up his options.
– Chicago Fire, Benfica, and Juventus are looking at signing Manchester City midfielder Bernardo Silva in the summer, says the Daily Mail. Silva, 31, is out of contract at the end of the season and is reportedly keen to leave for a new challenge. The Portugal international has been a key player for Pep Guardiola over the past decade, and there has also been interest from the Saudi Pro League.
– Real Madrid are weighing up a move to bring back Como defender Jacobo Ramón, according to AS. It is reported that Los Blancos now see the 21-year-old as a potential long-term starter for the club after they let him leave in 2025, but luckily they included a clause which allows them to sign him back for €8 million. The report adds that the LaLiga side haven’t made contact with the respective representatives of defenders Antonio Rüdiger, 32, andDavid Alaba, 33, regarding potential contract extensions, which could see Ramon brought in as one of the reinforcements to replace them.
– Barcelona and on-loan Manchester United winger Marcus Rashford have reached an agreement in principle on personal terms, says Nicolo Schira. The 28-year-old has reportedly agreed a four-year contract until 2030, with the Blaugrana pushing to sign him on a permanent deal. Fresh talks are expected to take place, but sources told ESPN last week that United have no plans to accept anything less than the permanent option clause fee, which is worth between €30 million and €35 million.
– Chelsea have made an approach to sign Independiente del Valle and Ecuador international midfielder Patrik Mercado, according to TEAMtalk. The Blues are reportedly among several Premier League clubs keen on the 22-year-old, with Brighton, Bournemouth and Fulham also interested in securing his signature. Any move to Stamford Bridge for Mercado would be expected to include a spell at Strasbourg on loan to allow him to develop, while also making the future switch to West London more feasible due to their ownership under BlueCo.
EXPERT TAKE
ESPN’s Sam Tighe on the future for Tottenham defender Micky van de Ven.
No one could blame Van de Ven for wanting to leave Spurs this summer. Despite impressing greatly since joining in 2023, the club have only moved backwards.
With the ball at his feet, he’s a rare breed of game-breaking central defender. He can carry the ball through the opposition lines and over long distances, picking up serious speed in the process — only three Premier League center backs have clocked a max speed faster than his 34.12 km/h this season, per Gradient Sports. He’s delivered remarkable goals and remarkable assists at the end of these long runs.
That speed also helps him immensely in defense, enabling him to stop strikers from working space in behind. The only weakness in his game is perhaps a lack of progressive passing: He’s inconsistent (at best) in feeding the ball forward and into dangerous areas.
It wouldn’t surprise if Liverpool were weighing him up as a long-term replacement for Virgil van Dijk, while Real Madrid’s center back situation is so unhealthy they need answers fast. But Man United? For the first time in a while, they seem quite set there; Lisandro Martinez is fit again, Matthijs de Ligt was having an excellent season until injury paused it, Leny Yoro and Ayden Heaven are high-potential players, and Harry Maguire seems to be working his way towards a fresh deal with the club.
So perhaps they don’t need to spend more on another defender.
OTHER RUMORS
play
2:30
Laurens: Glasner is tarnishing his Crystal Palace legacy
Gab & Juls discuss Oliver Glasner’s future at Crystal Palace.
– Juventus and USMNT midfielder Weston McKennie are “one step away” from sealing an agreement for a new contract extension. (Nicolo Schira)
– Manchester United midfielder Casemiro is open to a switch to MLS. (Telegraph)
– Manchester United and defender Harry Maguire remain in talks regarding a new contract, with ‘positive signs’ that a deal could be reached. (BBC)
– Liverpool left-back Andy Robertson remains on the radar of Atletico Madrid. He has also attracted attention from Crystal Palace, Aston Villa, and Wolverhampton Wanderers. (Caught Offside)
– Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea remain interested in Bayern Munich defender Kim Min-Jae (Football Insider)
– Chelsea manager Liam Rosenior wants to keep hold of striker Liam Delap amid interest from Everton. (Football Insider)
– Boca Juniors are interested in Roma forward Paulo Dybala when his contract at the Stadio Olimpico expires. (Matteo Moretto)
– Marseille are unlikely to activate the permanent option clause to sign on-loan defender Benjamin Pavard from Internazionale in the summer. (Gazzetta dello Sport)
– Galatasaray are considering a move for Juventus midfielder Teun Koopmeiners. (Gazzetta dello Sport)
– Juventus are weighing up an approach to sign Atalanta goalkeeper Marco Carnesecchi. (Corriere dello Sport)
– Internazionale are monitoring the situation of Udinese defender Oumar Solet, and recently sent scouts to watch him. (Nicolo Schira)
– Athletic Club could make another attempt to sign Girona midfielder Ivan Martin in the summer. (Marca)
Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant will be less than two months shy of his 40th birthday when the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics begin, but he says he told USA Basketball Managing Director Grant Hill he’d like to be considered for the U.S. men’s team when…
HOUSTON — Rockets forward Kevin Durant will be less than two months shy of his 40th birthday when the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics begin, but he said Monday night he told USA Basketball Managing Director Grant Hill he’d like to be considered for the U.S. men’s team when the time comes.
“I didn’t want to just take my name out of consideration just because of the simple fact that I’m older and I did it before,” Durant said after scoring 18 points for Houston in a 125-105 win over the Utah Jazz. “Grant understands my love for Team USA. That’s my family. The level of love I have for Team USA and the whole organization over there is unmatched, so I’d love to be part of it until I’m done playing.”
Durant has played in the last four Olympics, becoming USA men’s basketball’s career scoring leader in the process, but he says he doesn’t want to just be handed a spot on the 2028 team. He wants to earn it.
“I understand how tough that decision is for Grant, and how many great players are going to emerge the next year and a half, and I’m also very old compared to a lot of these players,” Durant said. “I know I’ve got my work cut out for me to make that team.”
During the 2024 Paris games, Durant became the first American player to win four Olympic gold medals in men’s basketball. United States stars Diana Taurasi and Sue Bird won five gold medals in women’s basketball, but Durant says joining that club is not his motivation for wanting to go through another Olympic cycle.
“I just love playing for Team USA. I love representing my country. That’s the first and most important thing — it’s putting that USA across my chest and representing where I come from,” he said.
Durant is averaging 25.9 points per game on 50.7% shooting in his 18th NBA season.
Claressa Shields deserves to be recognised as the No 1 fighter in woman’s boxing ahead of Katie Taylor, believes promoter Dmitriy Salita.
Shields just successfully defended her undisputed heavyweight championship in a dominant unanimous decision victory over Franchon Crews-Dezurn to extend her perfect professional record to 18-0.
The double Olympic champion has amassed 18 world championships across five weight classes and is the only female boxer ever to have held four major world titles in three different weight divisions.
Undisputed super lightweight Taylor similarly reigns as an icon and trailblazer of women’s boxing, within which she is widely considered to be the greatest.
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Watch highlights of the epic between Claressa Shields and Savannah Marshall in a fight-of-the-year contender!
“Katie Taylor is a historic figure in boxing, and I’ve said many times – personally and professionally – that I’m a fan of hers and what she has done for the sport,” Shields’ promoter Salita told Sky Sports.
“That said, Claressa Shields is definitively the No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter in women’s boxing today.
“What separates Claressa is not just what she’s accomplished in the ring which already stands on its own but the totality of her impact. There is something more to being a bona fide superstar than simply being elite in the ring. There’s an “IT” factor. The ability to headline, to sell out arenas, to create moments, to carry events regardless of the opponent – and Claressa has that.
“She may be the first woman in the history of the sport consistently selling out major arenas regardless of opponent.”
Shields has stormed through the weight divisions as one of the face’s of women’s combat sport, a marquee moment in her career coming in 2022 when she defeated long-time rival Savannah Marshall in London.
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Savannah Marshall says that Claressa Shields is a brilliant fighter although not as fast as she anticipated after her defeat via unanimous decision.
She would later go on to move up to heavyweight before becoming undisputed champion with a unanimous decision win over Danielle Perkins.
Salita says she is now eyeing a clash with unified world super-welterweight champion Mikaela Mayer, who is coming off back-to-back wins over Sandy Ryan and, most recently, a unanimous decision win over Mary Spencer.
“Since the very beginning of her career, Claressa has chased greatness,” Salita added. “She’s moved up and down in weight. She’s crossed oceans. She has taken on the toughest challenges available to her.
“A fight with Mikaela Mayer is something she has openly said she wants. She also made it clear last night that she is willing to come back down in the 160 range to pursue meaningful fights – including Shadasia Green.
“Absolutely incredible! The fire inside that she has to fight the best, in any division, at any time, is rare. That mindset is what separates champions from generational talent.”
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Danielle Perkins stopped Che Kenneally in sensational fashion as she won the WBA light heavyweight title.
Shields had been involved in a heated face-off and ensuing clash with Crews-Dezurn and her team at the weigh-in prior to the pair’s fight on Sunday.
Crews-Dezurn was notably evaluated by a doctor on Sunday morning for knee and ankle problems before being cleared to fight.
The rivals, who fought in Shields’ first professional bout in November 2016, ended the night with a mutual respect.
“Absolutely,” said Salita. “They’ve now shared the ring twice at the highest level. That’s a deep, emotional, and physical experience. There was a competitive fire that evolved into the highest level of respect.
“They are sisters in spirit in many ways – pioneers who helped elevate women’s boxing together. After two fights like that, the bond, the respect, and the appreciation for what they’ve built in this sport together is lasting.
“Franchon is a true champion. She came prepared, fought hard, and represented herself with world championship ability.”
Zach Kram is a national NBA writer for ESPN.com, specializing in short- and long-term trends across the league’s analytics landscape. He previously worked at The Ringer covering the NBA and MLB. You can follow Zach on X via @zachkram.
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The 2026 Winter Olympics have concluded, and the United States, unsurprisingly, did not place atop the medal table. The United States usually excels more at the Summer Olympics; the Americans haven’t won the medal count at a Winter Games since 1932, but they have topped the medal table in seven of the past eight Summer Games. (China was the only exception at the 2008 Beijing Games.)
Team USA has consistently medaled in five-on-five men’s basketball. The Americans have won five gold medals in a row — but they’ve had to work for the past couple, including close calls in the medal rounds against Serbia and France.
On top of the growing international competition, this is a time of transition for Team USA. Its top three scorers in the 2024 Paris Games were Stephen Curry, LeBron James and Kevin Durant, all of whom seem unlikely to return for the 2028 Games in Los Angeles. Curry and James have made it clear they don’t plan to play on another Olympic roster. Durant, who will be a month shy of his 40th birthday at that point, recently told ESPN’s Vincent Goodwill, “Hell yeah, I want to play. But I gotta stay on top of my game. … Today, yeah I feel like I’ll put my name in that hat.”
As the Olympic focus shifts from Milan to Southern California, it’s time to take stock of who might make the new-look American roster. We started with a long list of more than 80 candidates, based on previous Olympic and FIBA World Cup rosters and player development over the past couple of years. Let’s whittle them down to a projected 12-man Olympic squad.
The 2024 Olympic squad was the oldest in Team USA history, with an average age of 30.1 and seven repeat players. Anthony Edwards (22), Tyrese Haliburton (24) and Jayson Tatum (26) were the only Americans younger than 27.
That’s not a typical distribution. The majority of Team USA representatives since the introduction of NBA players in the 1992 Games have been in their mid-to-late 20s, with only rare exceptions for much younger or older players.
This year’s Rookie of the Year favorite Cooper Flagg has a strong chance of becoming the seventh such player; he’ll be 21 in summer 2028. But if Flagg makes the team, then it’s unlikely that any of the top prospects in the ballyhooed 2026 draft class — Darryn Peterson, AJ Dybantsa and Cameron Boozer — will join him. In 2004, the only time that multiple 21-and-under pros appeared on Team USA’s roster, the Americans won bronze.
Meanwhile, only two Americans since 2000 have made their Olympic debut at age 32 or older: Curry, who was 36 in his lone Olympic appearance in 2024, and JaVale McGee, who was a 33-year-old addition to the 2020 roster after Kevin Love pulled out late in the process.
Unsurprisingly, given the evolution of the NBA this century, the Americans’ pool of guards is their deepest of any position.
That list starts with Edwards, who will be 26 in 2028 and might be the Americans’ best player at that point. He ranked fourth on the 2024 team in scoring, and he’s as close to a lock as exists for the next Team USA Olympic roster.
At point guard, Haliburton is a strong candidate to return after he played sparingly at the 2024 Olympics and celebrated his gold medal with the joking message, “When you ain’t do nun on the group project and still get an A.” It remains to be seen how Haliburton performs once he returns from his torn Achilles in the 2025 Finals, but he’ll have three years of recovery between that injury and the 2028 Olympics. Haliburton’s up-tempo style is a perfect fit for international play, and he’s the best pure point guard in the player pool.
Beyond that duo are candidates with scarcely any separation among them. Devin Booker is already a two-time gold medalist, and he could go for a third at 31 years old. Donovan Mitchell and Jalen Brunson will also be 31 in 2028 — potential first-time Olympians after previously playing in the World Cup.
Dropping down a few years in age, Tyrese Maxey and Cade Cunningham should be strong contenders, as they continue to ascend and will be squarely in their primes in 2028. And rookie Kon Knueppel could vault onto the Olympic roster, given the incredibly impressive start to his NBA career; he will be just shy of his 23rd birthday during the next Olympics.
If Edwards isn’t the best American player in 2028, then Tatum might be. Tatum is a two-time Olympian, and he said after the 2024 Games that his “tough” and “humbling” experience, in which he fell to the end of Steve Kerr’s bench, won’t affect whether he participates in Los Angeles. If Tatum wants to play now that Erik Spoelstra has taken over for Kerr — and, similar to Haliburton, returns to his previous level by 2028 after his own Achilles tear — he’s an easy choice.
So is Flagg, who impressed the Team USA brass with his performance in scrimmages against the 2024 Olympic roster before playing in college at Duke. Given Flagg’s rapid rise during his rookie season, he’s on a path to become an All-Star and one of the best two-way players in the world by 2028.
Incidentally, the crop of American wings is full of two-way stars. Jaylen Brown and Mikal Bridges would be on the older side for first-time Olympians (both 31 in 2028), but could be worthy candidates; so, too, could the younger Jalen Williams, Jalen Johnson and Scottie Barnes, who will all be in their primes in a couple of years. Brandon Miller is younger than this group but has the potential to raise his game to its level.
This positional grouping might feature the most changes between 2024 and 2028. The three big men from Team USA’s roster in Paris will all be in their 30s by 2028 — Bam Adebayo (30), Joel Embiid (34) and Anthony Davis (35) — and small-ball center options Durant and James are even older.
This positional grouping also might be the most crucial to pick correctly, as Team USA’s toughest competition in the tournament should include France, with Victor Wembanyama, and Serbia, with Nikola Jokic. The Americans will need accomplished, mobile centers to keep pace with the best bigs in the world.
If Embiid and Davis want to play, then Team USA might keep their spots reserved. But it’s hard to predict whether either will be healthy next season, let alone 2½ years from now. Two-time gold medalist Adebayo, meanwhile, doesn’t have as high a ceiling as Embiid or Davis, but he has three advantages to return to the roster: He’s younger, less injury-prone and coached by Spoelstra, who has worked with him in Miami for his entire NBA career.
The next set of bigs includes the past two Americans to win Defensive Player of the Year, Evan Mobley and Jaren Jackson Jr., and the player who might join them this season, Chet Holmgren. All three are superb defenders who can space the floor on the other end, though Jackson’s candidacy could be marred by his weak national team performance at the 2023 World Cup.
Other center candidates come with less shooting range but more bulky physicality, including Jalen Duren, Walker Kessler, Jarrett Allen and Donovan Clingan. Zion Williamson and Paolo Banchero are wild cards who balance tremendous potential with major flaws. Williamson’s health and defensive shortcomings mean he’s not a favorite to be an Olympian, while Banchero, who played as a small-ball center at the 2023 World Cup, has slid since then due to his continued inefficiency and poor advanced stats.
Projecting the 12-man roster
As has become the custom for Team USA’s rosters, we’ll bring nine perimeter players and three bigs to Los Angeles.
Haliburton and Edwards grab the two starting backcourt spots as returning members of the 2024 roster. But the third spot goes to a new player: Knueppel. With a 43% 3-point stroke on a high volume of attempts, he’s set to be one of the NBA’s most effective shooters for years to come, and that’s a valuable skill in international play. With decent size and playmaking ability, Knueppel can also contribute in other ways beyond 3-point shooting.
The last guard spot was the hardest decision on the roster, but for now, Cunningham gets the honor ahead of Booker, Mitchell, Brunson and Maxey. The Detroit Pistons‘ leader isn’t as efficient at scoring in the NBA as those other options, but that won’t be needed on a loaded Olympic roster, and his size and defensive advantages mean he’s the slight favorite. It’s notable that two of the reserve guard spots in 2024 went to Jrue Holiday and Derrick White rather than score-first stars.
That spot might be earmarked for Booker, who played a strong supporting role on the past two Olympic squads. But his combination of age and slight performance decline — he’s shooting just 32.6% on 3-pointers over the past two seasons — suggests he might not be the best option several years from now, compared with players in their mid-20s.
On the wing, Tatum and Flagg are shoo-ins to start at forward. Williams also gets in, assuming his wrist issues resolve within the next two years and his shooting returns to normal — after shooting 38% on 3s his first three seasons, he’s at only 31% this season. He’s the kind of two-way wing with playoff experience who belongs on an Olympic roster.
Amen Thompson grabs the next spot because this team needs another elite perimeter stopper next to Edwards. Thompson will be tasked with guarding Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in a potential matchup against Canada. And Barnes rounds out the perimeter group because of his positional versatility, defensive ability and sublime fit as a role player among a collection of stars. Imagine lineups with Flagg, Thompson and Barnes after they’ve had a few more years of development — opponents would be lucky to get a clean look at the rim.
Note that if Durant is still engaged and deserving, that last spot will be his instead. He’s already the most decorated Olympian in men’s basketball history, with four gold medals, and his performance in the NBA has scarcely declined. But given his age and injury history, it’s hard to ensure he’ll be one of the Americans’ best options in 2028, so he’s not in the projection for now.
Finally, Adebayo is the lone returning center. He’ll either start or back up Holmgren, who offers the roster’s best combination of rim protection, defensive mobility and 3-point shooting.
The final big man in this projection is Duren, a selection that would have seemed shocking a few months ago. But he has made immense strides for the East-leading Pistons. And though Mobley might be a better player in a vacuum, his skill set is a bit duplicative with Holmgren’s, while Duren provides a different look and bigger body to match the best international bigs. Duren will also be the best rebounder on the roster.
Thus, my current projection for Team USA’s 2028 roster is:
Cooper Flagg (21 years old at the time of the 2028 Olympics)
There’s plenty of time for that forecast to change, particularly because of the narrow close calls. Things have already changed. Right after the 2024 Games, Kevin Pelton predicted a 12-man Team USA roster for 2028 that included only six of the players I picked today: Adebayo, Edwards, Haliburton, Holmgren, Tatum and Williams.
Kevin’s other six choices were Banchero, Booker, Brunson, Davis, Embiid and Maxey, who are all still reasonable candidates worthy of consideration in two years. But among my six other choices, Cunningham and Barnes have matured into full-fledged stars since 2024, Flagg and Knueppel have burst onto the NBA scene, and Thompson and Duren have improved from intriguing young players into stars in the making.
The Kansas City Chiefs released veteran defensive end Mike Danna on Monday as they work to get under the salary cap by the start of the new league year in two weeks.
The move saves the Chiefs $9 million on their salary cap for the 2026 season, according to Roster Management System.
Kansas City also restructured star quarterback Patrick Mahomes‘ contract last week, which created $43.65 million in cap space.
The Chiefs entered the offseason more than $57 million over the cap before reworking Mahomes’ deal and releasing Danna.
Danna, 28, started 14 games for the Chiefs last season and had a sack and an interception. He has started 32 games over the past three seasons.
A fifth-round pick by Kansas City in the 2020 draft, Danna has spent his entire career with the Chiefs. He has won two Super Bowl titles with Kansas City and has 23.5 sacks during his NFL career (including playoffs).
2. LSU Tigers
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14. NC State Wolfpack
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22. Kentucky Wildcats
23. Texas A&M Aggies
