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NHL coach narrowly avoids disaster as glass shatters behind bench

Wed, 22 Apr 2026 07:40:51 -0400

Los Angeles Kings head coach D.J. Smith narrowly avoid disaster in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Colorado Avalanche on Tuesday night.

Raucous Avalanche fans banging on the glass behind Smith caused the pane to shatter after Colorado goaltender Scott Wedgewood made a stop on Quinton Byfield. Some pieces of glass rained down on Smith. He covered his head and brush the glass off his suit before running down the tunnel to get checked out.

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Smith was OK and he returned to the game.

"Whoever the guy (was) just kept pushing and pushing and pushing," he called. "I looked back because it hit me a bunch of times, then it broke."

The incident delayed the game for about 15 minutes. The score was even at zero when the glass broke. Colorado eventually picked up the 2-1 win in overtime thanks to Nicolas Roy’s game-winner. The Avalanche had a 2-0 series lead.

Avalanche star Gabriel Landeskog said he was "loud" when Wedgewood made the save and admitted that the "fans got a little too excited."

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"There's nothing you can do to control it. There's nothing you can do about it, so you just deal with it," he said of the delay. "I think maybe the only thing was that there were so many bodies on the ice that it (wore) the ice out a little bit for the rest (of the period).

"I thought the ice crew did a good job and they did their best to fix it as fast as possible. Doesn't happen every day."

Colorado head coach Jared Bednar said the delay was a first for him.

"That’s a different one," Bednar said. "But, I mean, stuff happens. Fans get excited. Our guys were excited, competing hard. There was a bunch of melees on the ice today. It felt like playoff hockey."

Game 3 is set for Thursday night in Los Angeles.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Mets’ losing streak moves to 12 games after painful collapse vs Twins

Wed, 22 Apr 2026 06:37:35 -0400

The light at the end of the New York Mets’ clubhouse tunnel appeared bright after Francisco Lindor hit a three-run home run in the bottom of the third inning, and starter Nolan McLean was mowing down Minnesota Twins batters, taking a no-hitter into the sixth inning.

The Mets’ losing streak, sitting at 11 games as they returned home on Tuesday, the longest it’s been for the franchise since 2004, was on the way to ending at Citi Field.

Until it wasn’t.

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McLean’s no-hitter ended when Matt Wallner singled to lead off the sixth inning, but the young starter who was featured in Team USA’s World Baseball Classic rotation was able to get the next two batters out. But his Team USA teammate, center fielder Byron Buxton, gave all Mets fans a "here we go again" moment when he hammered a two-run homer to left field to cut New York’s lead to just one run.

McLean came out to the mound for the top of the seventh inning instead of manager Carlos Mendoza going to the bullpen, and Luke Keaschall tied the game after singling home Kody Clemens, who doubled to right field just an at-bat prior. It was a 3-3 ball game, and just like that, the Mets’ losing streak was getting close to extension.

The wheels fell off in the top of the ninth inning, as reliever Devin Williams, who has struggled in his previous two outings, ensured the losing streak continued.

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Williams walked Josh Bell and Ryan Jeffers to begin the inning, and Clemens’ sacrifice bunt ended with the bases loaded after the Mets were unable to secure an out. Then, Keaschall came through with yet another clutch single, scoring James Outman with the eventual game-winning run.

Williams’ lack of control cost him once more following the Twins’ first lead of the night, walking Wallner to allow a free run to trot home from third base. It could’ve been even worse if not for Austin Warren coming into the game and striking out all three Twins he faced to stop the bleeding.

But, with a two-run deficit in the bottom of the ninth inning, the Mets couldn’t muster their own come-from-behind magic. Luis Torrens struck out, Francisco Alvarez lined out to right field, and Tyrone Taylor struck out swinging. In fact, the Mets didn’t have a hit in the final five innings of the loss.

Now, for the first time since 2002, the Mets, owners of the highest payroll in MLB at around $334 million, have lost 12 straight games.

Some fans entered the stadium wearing paper bags on their heads with drawn tears flowing from their eye cutouts. There may have been a moment where they were close to taking them off, but this is simply the way things are going for the Mets at the moment.

"They're not going to be happy, that's not a secret," Mendoza said before Tuesday’s loss, per ESPN. "Our fan base, they're going to let you know when you're not playing well."

This is a Mets team with playoff expectations, but their losing streak has them with a 7-16 record – tied for the worst in MLB with the Kansas City Royals.

New York will try it all again tomorrow in Flushing, Queens, with Clay Holmes getting the start for the Mets. And perhaps the latest sliver of hope for fans is that Juan Soto, their superstar outfielder, is expected to return to the lineup after dealing with a calf strain.

Former Yale coaches speak out against athletic director to student newspaper

Wed, 22 Apr 2026 06:23:57 -0400

Disgruntlement continues to leak out of the Yale athletic department.

Yale University's student newspaper, The Yale Daily News, reported that eight former university coaches and athletic staff members "backed" the complaints shared in a letter from former Yale hockey coach Keith Allain to President Maurie McInnis.

The letter, which was first reported by Fox News Digital on March 23, alleged Yale athletic director Vicky Chun fostered a "toxic environment."

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"Vicky Chun is the absolute worst leader I have ever been around in my life. She is dishonest, self centered and inaccessible. Vicky’s singular talent is self promotion and has created a toxic environment within the department where she is insulated by a cadre of administrators whose main task seems to be silencing any dissent," Allain's letter read.

The Yale Daily News reported that eight of 12 anonymous former coaches and staffers interviewed agreed with Allain that Chun has created a "culture of fear."

McInnis told the student newspaper that "many people" have sent letters about Chun as the university considers whether to renew her contract.

The status of Chun's contract renewal has become a topic of uncertainty after a Fox News Digital investigative series into Yale's athletic department under her leadership. Yale has not responded to Fox News Digital's inquiry on the status of Chun's contract renewal.

Fox News Digital's investigative series also found that, under Chun's leadership, former Yale strength and conditioning coach Thomas Newman's lawyers alleged that he was unknowingly recorded and was "ultimately forced out"; a woman's track and field athlete left her program due to an alleged "toxic culture"; and two of Yale's top athletic officials bought a house together a year before one of them was hired by the university, while a former employee was allegedly pushed to retire to open a job for one of those officials.

Ann-Marie Guglieri, Yale's executive deputy director/chief operating officer of athletics, and Mary Berdo, deputy director of athletics, the second- and third-ranked positions in the department under Chun, purchased a house together in Milford, Connecticut, in June 2018, the deed shows. Berdo was then hired by the university in April 2019.

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Two former employees of the Yale athletics department have alleged that Guglieri and Berdo are in a romantic relationship. Additional former employees have alleged a former administrator was pressured to accept a voluntary retirement package, which then created an opening for Berdo.

Two former employees said the athletics department could not increase its headcount to hire Berdo at the same time it hired Guglieri. But Fox News Digital learned that a former athletics department administrator reluctantly accepted a voluntary retirement package, and then Berdo was hired shortly thereafter.

The former senior associate athletic director was allegedly given "no choice" but to accept the voluntary retirement package in the fall of 2018, creating a vacancy in the department’s front office prior to Berdo’s hiring, according to a former Yale Athletics employee with firsthand knowledge of the situation.

"A senior associate athletic director was called in October of 2018 and was pressured to accept a retirement package, and this person had no choice but to take this retirement package and give 90-day notice, and just after the 90-day notice, Mary Berdo was hired," the former employee said.

Allain told Fox News Digital that the former employee’s recollection of the pressured retirement and eventual hiring of Berdo is consistent with what he had been told by individuals within the athletics department.

While Yale declined to comment "on individual personnel matters," a spokesman for the university president’s office told Fox News Digital: "We can confirm that Yale has a robust set of personnel and disclosure policies that it followed."

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Chun, a former volleyball player and later head coach for Colgate University, took over as Yale athletic director in 2018 after serving in the same position at Colgate from 2012-18.

In an interview earlier in March with the Yale Alumni Association, Chun admitted to making a mistake that made her cry in her first year as Yale AD.

"I was talking to the football alums, you know, there's this great helmet that I had at my previous institution. And I thought if Colgate can afford it, we definitely can afford it. So I announced, we are getting these coolest, custom-made Riddell helmets. So then my deputy comes to me and says ‘What are you thinking? Do you know how much these helmets cost?' And I said, ‘Yeah, we had them at Colgate.’ She goes, ‘Yeah, like six or seven of them,’" Chun said in the interview.

"And I did cry. Because I thought, ‘Wow, this is going to be the shortest-lived athletic director,’ and, you know, here I am!"

Fox News Digital has reached out to Yale for further comment but has not received a response.

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Drake seems to troll Bears star QB Caleb Williams with ‘Iceman’ album promo in Toronto

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 22:53:26 -0400

As rapper Drake rolls out the latest promotion for his upcoming "Iceman" album, it appears he’s also taking a jab at Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams in the process.

The Canadian artist posted a photo on Monday of himself rocking a Green Bay Packers jacket in front of blocks of ice that were set up in downtown Toronto with the release date of his highly anticipated album hidden inside. The promotion led to fans trying to speed up the melting process of the heavy blocks.

A streamer who goes by "Kishka" ended up finding the envelope, took it to Drake’s home in the area, and the May 15 release date was eventually revealed for all to see.

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The Packers even reposted the pictures of Drake, with a simple "Hi" in their caption while tagging the famous rapper.

So, where does Caleb Williams come into play here?

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Well, as Williams helped lead the Bears to the playoffs, he claimed himself the "Iceman" after coming from behind for dramatic wins during a remarkable 2025 campaign.

Then, Williams took it to another level, trying to trademark the nickname in March, though he received scrutiny not from Drake, but Basketball Hall of Famer George Gervin. The four-time scoring champ and 12-time All-Star was called "Iceman" throughout his career.

But now, Drake is claiming himself the "Iceman." And while it could just be a coincidence Drake was wearing the Packers bomber jacket, he is quite known for jabs at his "foes," whether straightforward or through subtle things like his attire.

Drake has been hinting at this new album for some time now, slowly releasing promos since last summer. Considering his love for sports, he made sure to play that up to build anticipation for the album.

At Scotiabank Arena, the home of the Toronto Raptors, Drake had fake icicles placed on the two courtside seats that he usually sits in when he attends NBA games. They were spotted on April 12 — a 136-101 blowout win for the home team.

Meanwhile, Bears fans have learned to enjoy "Iceman" Williams, even if the games are roller coasters at times. The 24-year-old threw for 3,942 yards with 27 touchdowns and just seven interceptions, while leading the team to the playoffs with an 11-6 record.

The Bears eventually fell to the Los Angeles Rams in the divisional round in an overtime thriller. It wasn’t Williams’ best game, throwing for two touchdowns, but three interceptions in the loss.

But feelings around the Bears are that the No. 1 overall pick is the right guy to continue leading the franchise, especially when it comes to defeating divisional opponents like the Packers.

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Spurs star Victor Wembanyama enters concussion protocol, ruled out of Game 2 after fall against Trail Blazers

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 22:34:14 -0400

San Antonio Spurs phenom Victor Wembanyama was ruled out of Game 2 against the Portland Trail Blazers after he was placed in concussion protocol.

Wembanyama was out of sorts after hitting the court face first in the second quarter. The NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year this season was fouled by Blazers guard Jrue Holiday, and Wembanyama was unable to brace his fall, as his jaw hit the hardwood and play stopped midway through the quarter.

After staying down on the court for some time, Wembanyama sat up in a seated position as coach Mitch Johnson called timeout to check on his big man.

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Despite seeming dazed at first, Wembanyama was able to stand and ran into the tunnel to get further evaluation in the locker room. However, the Spurs announced that he wouldn’t return to the game due to protocol.

The Spurs, who won Game 1 of the first-round series, are looking to further their advantage in the best-of-seven matchup with the Blazers. But doing so without Wembanyama, who led the team with 35 points in the Game 1 victory, isn’t ideal for the Spurs.

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But it’s hard not to look ahead for the team and fan base alike. Being in concussion protocol means having to hit all checkpoints in recovery before making a return to the court.

San Antonio is set to play in Portland for the first time in this series on Friday, with a 10:30 p.m. tip-off for Game 3. Luckily for Wembanyama and the Spurs, that gives him some days to potentially check those boxes needed to play.

This is the Spurs’ first trip to the playoffs since 2019, and Wembanyama, an MVP finalist, played a large role in helping the team achieve regular-season success, enough to earn the No. 2 overall seed in the Western Conference with a 62-20 record.

Wembanyama was also just named the league’s Defensive Player of the Year, marking the first time anyone has been a unanimous winner as well as being the youngest to ever win the prestigious award.

The 7-foot-4 Frenchman earned all 100 first-place votes, while Oklahoma City Thunder’s Chet Holmgren finished with 76 second-place votes. Detroit Pistons guard Ausar Thompson was third.

Former Detroit Piston Ben Wallace came closest to a unanimous Defensive Player of the Year in 2001–02, falling just four votes short in a 120-person panel.

Wembanyama averaged 25 points, 11.5 rebounds and a league-high 3.1 blocks this season.

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Eli Manning fires back amid debate comparing ex-Giants star to Falcons great Matt Ryan

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 19:39:23 -0400

Eli Manning retired in 2019 and missed out in his first year of Hall of Fame eligibility in 2025. He was passed over again earlier this year but still fired back at a fan who claimed one of his contemporaries was the better quarterback.

On Tuesday, a social media user floated a theory about former Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan. Ryan, who now oversees football operations as the team’s president, last played in an NFL game in 2022. He announced his retirement in 2024, making him eligible for Hall of Fame consideration beginning in 2028.

"Matt Ryan was a better QB than Eli Manning… people just worship rings. Agree or nah," the post read.

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Manning caught wind of the suggestion and weighed in, pointing to the two Super Bowl-winning teams he was part of during his standout run with the New York Giants.

"I will ponder this while I play with my rings…," Manning wrote in a quote-tweet.

Ryan’s statistical production surpasses Manning’s, at least on paper. He was named NFL MVP in 2016, an honor Manning never earned. Ryan is also the most accomplished player in Falcons history and finished his career with more than 62,000 regular-season passing yards, compared with Manning’s 57,023.

Both quarterbacks were selected to four Pro Bowls, but the key difference lies in championships. Manning won the Super Bowl in 2007 and 2011, while Ryan reached it once but fell short. Manning threw for a single season career-best 4,933 during the run leading up to the second Super Bowl title.

Ryan threw for 284 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions to help the Falcons build a 25-point lead in the championship game — a matchup remembered for the New England Patriots engineering the largest comeback in Super Bowl history.

Manning struck a measured tone in February when discussing his Hall of Fame chances.

"If I never get in the Hall of Fame, it’s not going to change anything," Manning told Forbes. "I’m not gonna be bitter or mad or upset, and if I do get in, it would just be an unbelievable honor to be associated with some of the great athletes and football players ever. But it’s not going to change my outlook or my approach to how I feel about the game of football."

The Falcons have reached the Super Bowl twice in franchise history, first in 1998, but the team is still chasing its first elusive championship.

The Giants marked their 100th season in 2024, winning four Super Bowls over the franchise’s century-long history.

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Trump warns US 'won't have much of an Olympic team anymore' without new college sports regulations

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 18:58:09 -0400

President Donald Trump warned that the U.S. "won't have an Olympic team anymore," if not for regulation on the NCAA to address dwindling resources for certain non-revenue college sports in the U.S.

Trump gave the warning at a White House ceremony honoring several recent NCAA champions in non-revenue sports.

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"75% of Olympians competing for Team USA played as college athletes. If we don't straighten out this, we're not going to have much of an Olympic team because you have so many of these sports, especially certain sports where it's like the minor leagues — you could call it the major leagues; you could call it whatever you want — but we train unbelievable athletes to go in and win the gold medal," Trump said Tuesday.

"Without college sports, without your ability to go into college sports and compete and learn really how to play and get better, we're not going to have much of an Olympic team anymore."

Approximately 75% of U.S. Olympians have a collegiate background, competing in NCAA, NAIA, or junior college programs, per the NCAA. For the 2024 Paris Olympics, 65% of the U.S. roster consisted of current or former NCAA student-athletes. Key sports with high collegiate representation include swimming (96%), rowing (95%), and track and field.

Trump made the comments while honoring the NCAA champion Youngstown State bowling, Oklahoma State men’s golf, Texas A&M women’s volleyball, Wake Forest men’s tennis, Georgia women’s tennis, West Virginia mixed rifle and Florida State women’s soccer teams.

Trump even made a rare admission of a skill he is not so good at during the White House ceremony.

Trump, while honoring the Youngstown State bowling champions, confessed that he's not a great bowler.

"It's not easy bowling. I've tried it. It doesn't work too well for me. It's very difficult, actually. It's very difficult," Trump said.

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The ceremony gave a spotlight to the nonrevenue college sports that Trump seeks to preserve with his recent executive order, titled "Urgent National Action to Save College Sports."

Since NIL payments were legalized for college athlete in 2021, new business methods employed by universities to stay competitive in revenue sports has introduced significant financial strain on non-revenue college sports like swimming, tennis, track, often forcing universities to cut programs due to budget reallocation toward football and basketball.

Trump has taken executive action to mandate that revenue-sharing models implemented by universities must preserve or expand scholarships and opportunities for women’s and Olympic sports, dating back to last year with a similar executive order.

Last July, Trump signed an executive order, "Saving College Sports," aimed at stabilizing NCAA athletics amid rising NIL costs. The order aimed to protect Olympic and women’s sports from funding cuts by curbing "pay-for-play" schemes and ensuring revenue-sharing models preserve, rather than eliminate, non-revenue sports opportunities.

Tuesday's ceremony came in the same afternoon that Trump extended the ongoing ceasefire with Iran.

"Based on the fact that the government of Iran is seriously fractured, not unexpectedly so, and, upon the request of Field Marshal Asim Munir and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif of Pakistan, we have been asked to hold our attack on the country of Iran until such time as their leaders and representatives can come up with a unified proposal," Trump said in a post shared on Truth Social.

"I have therefore directed our military to continue the blockade and, in all other respects, remain ready and able, and will therefore extend the ceasefire until such time as their proposal is submitted and discussions are concluded, one way or the other."

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49ers turning to artificial intelligence ahead of NFL Draft as GM says laggards are 'already behind'

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 18:12:10 -0400

The San Francisco 49ers have made a key addition to their front office ahead of this week's NFL Draft: AI.

The Niners own six picks this draft, including the 27th overall selection, and it sure sounds like artificial intelligence will be playing a role in who they select.

"If you aren't using it, you're already behind," Lynch told reporters Monday.

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Lynch is not wrong, but the continuation of that remark may raise some eyebrows.

"And the cool thing is, what we found is you don't need to be an expert," Lynch said. "Just like you at home, planning a travel itinerary, you can just ask the thing, and it can spit out pretty good things, some pretty good ideas."

Analytics has obviously taken over in sports, but this undoubtedly could take things to a whole new level.

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"Some pretty good ideas, our developers, I think we’re fortunate to be where we are down at the epicenter of the innovation there, and we’ve tried to take advantage of that," Lynch added. "And I do think every team is probably using it in some form or fashion. And I think that will only increase as we move forward."

San Fran made a big splash this offseason when they signed wide receiver Mike Evans to a three-year deal with $42.5 million. The Niners have struggled with consistency from their wide receivers, largely due to injuries.

Jauan Jennings led all Niners wide receivers with 90 targets, and Kendrick Bourne and Ricky Pearsall were both tied for second with 53. Brock Purdy largely relied on Christian McCaffrey (129 targets) and George Kittle (69). However, Kittle's timetable is uncertain after rupturing his Achilles in the NFL playoffs.

Who knows what AI could have come up with when Brock Purdy was taken with the last selection in 2022, though.

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Padres' Mason Miller's path to Cy Young requires unprecedented dominance from a closer

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 17:48:19 -0400

When Korn’s "Blind" blares from Petco Park’s speakers in the top of the ninth inning, the San Diego Padres' opponent knows the game is over because Mason Miller is coming into the game.

The lights around the ballpark flash on and off while the music blares, moments before Miller turns the lights off on whichever unfortunate hitters have to face him.

The 27-year-old Pittsburgh native has been a different kind of dominant so far this season. In 11 games, he has a 1-0 record with a 0.00 ERA, recording eight saves in 11.1 innings pitched. He has allowed just four baserunners to start the season, yielding just two singles and two walks.

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What makes Miller’s scoreless start to the season even more impressive? He has faced 38 batters and struck out 27 of them, good for an otherworldly 71.1% strikeout percentage. He averages 21.4 strikeouts per nine innings pitched.

Yet, even if Miller keeps up his video game-like start to the season, does he have a realistic chance to win the Cy Young? Highly unlikely.

The Padres closer currently has the fifth-shortest odds to win the NL Cy Young, according to Draftkings.

So, what does Miller have to do to feasibly have a chance to win the NL Cy Young? Something not seen before.

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First, let’s look back at the previous nine relievers to win the Cy Young Award.

Mike Marshall, Dodgers, 1974

Sparky Lyle, New York Yankees, 1977

Bruce Sutter, Chicago Cubs, 1979

Rollie Fingers, Milwaukee Brewers, 1981

Willie Hernandez, Detroit Tigers, 1984

Steve Bedrosian, Philadelphia Phillies, 1987

Mark Davis, Padres, 1989

Dennis Eckersley, for the then-Oakland Athletics, 1992

Eric Gagné, Dodgers, 2003

We can safely rule out Marshall (208 innings pitched), Lyle (137 innings pitched), Sutter (101.1 innings pitched), and Hernandez (140.1 innings pitched) as comparisons because Miller will not pitch nearly as many innings this season. Miller is on pace to throw roughly 81 innings this season.

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Miller’s projected 81 innings falls in line with the other five relievers. Fingers threw 78 innings, Bedrosian threw 89, Davis threw 92.2, Eckersley threw 80, and Gagne threw 82.1.

Bedrosian had a 2.83 ERA in his year, but Miller will have to pitch better than that to win the award. Paul Skenes, who won the 2025 NL Cy Young, was 10-10 with a 1.97 ERA in 187.2 innings pitched in 32 starts.

Skenes, the odds-on favorite at the time of this writing, currently has a 3-1 record in five starts with a 3.27 ERA in 22 innings pitched. His ERA is inflated because he allowed five runs and only recorded two outs against the New York Mets on Opening Day. In the four starts since, he has allowed just three runs.

So, let’s look further into Davis, Eckersley, and Gagné’s cases.

Davis, in 62 games, had a 4-3 record, 44 saves, and a 1.85 ERA with 92 strikeouts in 92.2 innings.

Eckersley, in 69 games, had a 7-1 record, 51 saves, and a 1.91 ERA with 93 strikeouts in 80 innings.

Gagné, in 77 games, had a 2-3 record with 55 saves and a 1.20 ERA with 137 strikeouts in 82.1 innings pitched.

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All of those seasons are incredible, but if they happened in 2026, they probably wouldn't win the Cy Young. Baseball has changed too much since when they won.

The two main differences between eras are the innings in which starting pitchers throw and the quantity of elite relievers in today’s game.

In 2003, 20 pitchers threw over 200 innings. Last season, only four pitchers threw over 200 innings, making starting pitchers who are both a) able to throw 185-200 innings and b) with a high one and low two ERA more valuable nowadays than they were then.

Combine that with more relievers coming out of the bullpen firing 100+ mph fastballs with wipeout off-speed stuff, it makes Miller not as much of an outlier as he would have been 25 years ago. No reliever is dominating quite like he is this season, but many aren’t too far off.

St. Louis Cardinals closer Riley O'Brien has a 0.00 ERA in 12 games with six saves in 12.1 innings pitched with 14 strikeouts.

The voters aren’t as taken to one closer dominating today like they might have two to three decades ago when not as many people were doing it.

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Unfortunately for Miller, he might become another star closer who becomes a victim of a new era of baseball in Cy Young voting.

Since 2016, only two relievers have finished higher than fourth place in Cy Young voting: Baltimore Orioles’ relief ace Zach Britton (4th) and Cleveland Guardians star closer Emmanuel Clase (3rd).

In 2016, Britton, in 69 games, had a 2-1 record with a 0.54 ERA with 47 saves, striking out 74 hitters in 67 innings. A whopping 79% of balls put in play against him were groundballs. Yet despite that, he finished fourth.

Boston Red Sox starter Rick Porcello won the Cy Young that season instead. He went 22-4 with a 3.15 ERA in 223 innings pitched.

In 2024, Clase, in 74 games, had a 0.61 ERA with 47 saves while striking out 66 hitters in 74.1 innings.

Detroit Tigers starter Tarik Skubal won the Cy Young that season instead. He went 18-4 with a 2.39 ERA in 192 innings. Kansas City Royals starter Seth Lugo finished in second, going 16-9 with a 3.00 ERA in 206.2 innings pitched.

Reliever dominance isn’t valued the same in today’s game as it was then.

Aroldis Chapman had a 1.17 ERA and 32 saves for the Boston Red Sox last season in 67 games and finished in seventh place.

This isn’t to say Miller can’t win the award, but he has a major uphill climb.

While he isn’t likely to strike out 71.1% of batters he faces throughout the season, and he'll eventually give up some runs, he might have to strike out hitters at a historical rate, while also leading the National League in saves, to keep the voters’ attention throughout the season.

This isn’t to say that the voters are blind to the relievers' dominant seasons over the past decade, but recent history shows hitters might have a better chance at getting on base against Miller than Miller does at winning the Cy Young Award.

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Legendary Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski's grandson charged with DWI after collision that killed teen bicylcist

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 17:45:08 -0400

Joseph Savarino, the grandson of legendary Duke basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski, was charged Monday with misdemeanor driving while impaired in connection with a collision that killed a 15-year-old bicyclist.

Savarino, 26, admitted to drinking before the incident Saturday night, and a Breathalyzer test measured his blood alcohol concentration at 0.11%, according to Durham County court records. The legal limit is 0.08%.

The boy was riding his bike in northwest Durham when Savarino’s vehicle struck him, according to the police. Savarino was tested with the Breathalyzer about an hour after the incident, according to a police affidavit.

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Savarino made his first court appearance Monday, and a judge revoked his driver’s license before releasing him on a $100,000 secured bond. The bond was posted by Debbie Savarino, Joseph's mother and Krzyzewski's daughter. She is an assistant athletic director at Duke.

Fox News Digital reached out to Savarino’s attorney, Butch Williams, but did not immediately hear back.

NCAA SETTLEMENT CHAOS: NEW LEGAL MOVE COULD TRIGGER MASSIVE INCREASE IN NIL SPENDING

Savarino’s brother and another of Krzyzewski’s grandsons, Michael Savarino, pleaded guilty to a DWI in July 2022 stemming from a November 2021 incident.

Michael Savarino was operating a vehicle owned by then-Duke star and current Orlando Magic star Paolo Banchero in November 2021. As part of his plea agreement, he was sentenced to 12 months’ probation, was fined, had to do community service, and completed a treatment program.

Banchero was charged with aiding and abetting DWI, but the charges were eventually dropped.

Savarino, who was 20 at the time of the incident, was a walk-on for his grandfather’s team and played in 13 games.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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2026 NFL Draft Betting Report: Lack of Information Creates Chaos for Books

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 16:44:21 -0400

If you’re thinking of betting on NFL Draft odds for the No. 1 overall pick, don’t waste your time.

At -20000 odds — meaning it takes a $200 bet to win one dollar — Fernando Mendoza is the overwhelming favorite. The Indiana quarterback is practically signed, sealed and delivered to the Las Vegas Raiders.

But things get more interesting from there.

"When someone is that big a favorite, the conversation seems to shift to pick No. 2. And it has," Caesars Sports head of football trading Joey Feazel said. "That’s the most-bet prop, the biggest-bet market right now."

Feazel helps break down the most notable 2026 NFL Draft odds, ahead of the Thursday-Saturday event in Pittsburgh.

This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports.

Information Age

Before addressing the No. 2 overall pick, it’s first worth noting how NFL Draft betting differs from what bookmakers typically face.

"In the trading department, we like to use math," Feazel said, alluding to how odds are set for games. "But the NFL Draft is information-based. When a bet comes in on information, the difficulty is deciding whether it’s a rumor or if the bettor on the other side has information. And whether a rumor is true or not.

"When you take math out of the equation, it normally isn’t that helpful to us."

Sharp bettors often heavily engage in NFL Draft odds, and they tend to do well. It’s a tough event for sportsbooks to win.

"We have won sometimes, and we’re certainly trying to win. But we’re not expecting a lot of the information to go our way," Feazel said.

Two-Man Battle

The No. 2 overall pick is still very much in flux, although it’s clearly a two-man battle between Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese and Texas Tech defensive end David Bailey.

It’s so close, in fact, that as of Tuesday afternoon, Reese and Bailey are -115 co-favorites at Caesars. After those two, odds stretch out to +6000 for Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles.

No surprise, information is affecting this NFL prop bet.

"It was starting to look like David Bailey was gonna be the No. 2 pick, so we moved him to the favorite. But then it was thought that the Jets were maybe trying to trade the pick," Feazel said.

Don’t be surprised if Reese and Bailey’s odds continue to be volatile. And if a trade happens at No. 2, things could get much murkier.

"There could be someone who’s not even expected to be in the mix," Feazel said.

QBs or Not QBs

Among the slew of NFL Draft prop bets available, one of the most popular is on the number of quarterbacks drafted in the first round.

This year, the expectations are quite low. Pretty much every sportsbook has the Over/Under at 1.5. However, the Over 1.5 is a growing favorite, now at odds of -225, with Under 1.5 a +175 underdog.

Mendoza is obviously a lock. The deciding factor is whether Alabama QB Ty Simpson is deemed first-round worthy.

"It’s kind of been going up and down. And it correlates to the price of Simpson to be drafted in the first round," Feazel said.

In fact, it directly correlates. On the separate NFL Draft prop of players to be first-round picks, Simpson is -225.

However, there is a difference of opinion among bettors.

"It’s been two-way action, all based on speculation on Simpson," Feazel said. "There are rumors that the Cardinals or someone else might be interested."

Arizona has the No. 3 overall pick — which it certainly won’t use on Simpson — then the second pick of the second round, No. 34 overall. The thought is that the Cards might try to trade up from that No. 34 slot, into the first round, to draft Simpson.

But if you think Arizona holds pat and Simpson slips to Round 2, then there might be some betting value on Under 1.5 QBs. At +175, a $100 bet would net $175 profit (total payout $275).

More Popular Plays

Feazel said three more markets consistently draw attention in NFL Draft prop bets: players to be picked in the top 5, top 10 or the first round.

"Bettors are trying to find value at a plus-money price," Feazel said. "One thing we saw recently, with the Giants sneaking back into the top 10, was interest on Jordyn Tyson, the wide receiver from Arizona State."

Tyson had hamstring issues that kept him out of the NFL combine and ASU’s initial pro day. And previous injuries are a concern, as well, including a multi-ligament knee tear in 2022.

On Friday, though, he had a private workout that, by all accounts, went well. And the rumors are that the Giants are a strong possible suitor, after they traded Pro Bowl defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence to the Bengals in exchange for the 10th pick.

"Early on, we had Tyson at +220 to go in the first 10 picks. Now, we’re at -375," Feazel said of the wideout going from an underdog to a favorite in that market. "He’s expected to be picked early."

Tyson’s top-10 prop ties into the market for the number of wide receivers to go in the first round. Feazel said that Caesars opened Over 5.5 as a modest -125 favorite, but those odds are now out to -190.

Also, Caesars opened the prop of offensive linemen drafted in the first round at 7.5, with odds of -115 on both the Over and Under — a pick ‘em. However, Over 7.5 is now a substantial -280 favorite.

"A lot of people are expecting a big run of offensive linemen, from picks 10 to 20," Feazel said.

2026 NFL Draft Odds: Who Will Make Up the Top 15 Picks?

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 16:11:29 -0400

The 2026 NFL Draft is just three days away, and the odds for which players will be taken at or near the top are on the move.

All eyes are on the Las Vegas Raiders, who are heavily favored to take Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 overall pick.

But what about picks two through fifteen?

After Mendoza, the rest of the first round is wide open, with plenty of twists expected on draft night.

With the board still taking shape, several early betting markets are beginning to stand out.

One of the most intriguing markets is the No. 2 pick, where Arvell Reese is currently a slight favorite over David Bailey to be selected by the New York Jets.

This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports.

Jeremiyah Love remains one of the most fascinating prospects in the class. His odds have surged in the No. 3 overall pick market, while he is still favored to come off the board at No. 4.

Meanwhile, the New York Giants’ recent trade of Dexter Lawrence to the Cincinnati Bengals has reshaped the top 10. Now holding two picks in that range, New York’s strong interest in Jordyn Tyson has helped drive a surge in his odds as an early selection.

Let's take a look at some of those odds at DraftKings Sportsbook as of April 21.

Fernando Mendoza, Indiana: -20000 (bet $10 to win $10.05 total)
David Bailey, Texas Tech: +9000 (bet $10 to win $910 total)
Arvell Reese, Ohio State: +9000 (bet $10 to win $910 total)
Ty Simpson, Alabama: +9000 (bet $10 to win $910 total)

Arvell Reese, Ohio State: -175 (bet $10 to win $15.71 total)
David Bailey, Texas Tech: +125 (bet $10 to win $22.50 total)
Sonny Styles, Ohio State: +8000 (bet $10 to win $810 total)
Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame: +8000 (bet $10 to win $810 total)
Rueben Bain Jr., Miami: +9000 (bet $10 to win $910 total)
Ty Simpson, Alabama: +9000 (bet $10 to win $910 total)
Fernando Mendoza, Indiana: +10000 (bet $10 to win $1,010 total)
Caleb Downs, Ohio State: +10000 (bet $10 to win $1,010 total)
Carnell Tate, Ohio State: +10000 (bet $10 to win $1,010 total)

David Bailey, Texas Tech: +135 (bet $10 to win $23.50 total)
Arvell Reese, Ohio State: +250 (bet $10 to win $35 total)
Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame: +270 (bet $10 to win $37 total)
Francis Mauigoa, Miami: +850 (bet $10 to win $95 total)
Ty Simpson, Alabama: +2200 (bet $10 to win $230 total)
Sonny Styles, Ohio State: +2200 (bet $10 to win $230 total)
Rueben Bain Jr., Miami: +2200 (bet $10 to win $230 total)
Spencer Fano, Utah: +3000 (bet $10 to win $310 total)

Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame: -135 (bet $10 to win $17.41 total)
David Bailey, Texas Tech: +370 (bet $10 to win $47 total)
Sonny Styles, Ohio State: +475 (bet $10 to win $57.50 total)
Arvell Reese, Ohio State: +1000 (bet $10 to win $110 total)
Carnell Tate, Ohio State: +1200 (bet $10 to win $130 total)
Rueben Bain Jr., Miami: +2500 (bet $10 to win $260 total)
Francis Mauigoa, Miami: +2800 (bet $10 to win $290 total)
Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State: +3000 (bet $10 to win $310 total)
Caleb Downs, Ohio State: +5000 (bet $10 to win $510 total)

Sonny Styles, Ohio State: +165 (bet $10 to win $26.50 total)
Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State: +275 (bet $10 to win $37.50 total)
Caleb Downs, Ohio State: +425 (bet $10 to win $52.50 total)
Francis Mauigoa, Miami: +750 (bet $10 to win $85 total)
Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame: +750 (bet $10 to win $85 total)
Carnell Tate, Ohio State: +1200 (bet $10 to win $130 total)
Spencer Fano, Utah: +1500 (bet $10 to win $160 total)
Mansoor Delane, LSU: +2500 (bet $10 to win $260 total)

Carnell Tate, Ohio State: +300 (bet $10 to win $40 total)
Spencer Fano, Utah: +380 (bet $10 to win $48 total)
Sonny Styles, Ohio State: +450 (bet $10 to win $55 total)
Francis Mauigoa, Miami: +600 (bet $10 to win $70 total)
Monroe Freeling, Georgia: +800 (bet $10 to win $90 total)
Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State: +800 (bet $10 to win $90 total)
Caleb Downs, Ohio State: +1200 (bet $10 to win $130 total)
Kadyn Proctor, Alabama: +1300 (bet $10 to win $140 total)
Rueben Bain Jr., Miami: +1500 (bet $10 to win $160 total)

Carnell Tate, Ohio State: +225 (bet $10 to win $35 total)
Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame: +400 (bet $10 to win $50 total)
Sonny Styles, Ohio State: +450 (bet $10 to win $55 total)
Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State: +600 (bet $10 to win $70 total)
Mansoor Delane, LSU: +650 (bet $10 to win $75 total)
Rueben Bain Jr., Miami: +800 (bet $10 to win $90 total)
Caleb Downs, Ohio State: +850 (bet $10 to win $95 total)
Francis Mauigoa, Miami: +2000 (bet $10 to win $210 total)

Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State: +220 (bet $10 to win $32 total)
Carnell Tate, Ohio State: +400 (bet $10 to win $50 total)
Mansoor Delane, LSU: +400 (bet $10 to win $50 total)
Rueben Bain Jr., Miami: +500 (bet $10 to win $60 total)
Francis Mauigoa, Miami: +1400 (bet $10 to win $150 total)
Caleb Downs, Ohio State: +1600 (bet $10 to win $170 total)
Spencer Fano, Utah: +1600 (bet $10 to win $170 total)
Kenyon Sadiq, Oregon: +1600 (bet $10 to win $170 total)
Sonny Styles, Ohio State: +1800 (bet $10 to win $190 total)
Makai Lemon, USC: +1800 (bet $10 to win $190 total)

Rueben Bain Jr., Miami: +370 (bet $10 to win $47 total)
Mansoor Delane, LSU: +450 (bet $10 to win $55 total)
Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State: +450 (bet $10 to win $55 total)
Spencer Fano, Utah: +500 (bet $10 to win $60 total)
Francis Mauigoa, Miami: +900 (bet $10 to win $100 total)
Carnell Tate, Ohio State: +900 (bet $10 to win $100 total)
Caleb Downs, Ohio State: +1100 (bet $10 to win $120 total)
Kenyon Sadiq, Oregon: +1200 (bet $10 to win $130 total)

Caleb Downs, Ohio State: +290 (bet $10 to win $39 total)
Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State: +400 (bet $10 to win $50 total)
Olaivavega Ioane, Penn State: +500 (bet $10 to win $60 total)
Francis Mauigoa, Miami: +600 (bet $10 to win $60 total)
Spencer Fano, Utah: +900 (bet $10 to win $100 total)
Mansoor Delane, LSU: +1000 (bet $10 to win $110 total)
Sonny Styles, Ohio State: +1500 (bet $10 to win $160 total)
Makai Lemon, USC: +1600 (bet $10 to win $170 total)
Carnell Tate, Ohio State: +1600 (bet $10 to win $170 total

Spencer Fano, Utah: +400 (bet $10 to win $50 total)
Francis Mauigoa, Miami: +500 (bet $10 to win $60 total)
Mansoor Delane, LSU: +600 (bet $10 to win $70 total)
Olaivavega Ioane, Penn State: +750 (bet $10 to win $85 total)
Caleb Downs, Ohio State: +800 (bet $10 to win $90 total)
Rueben Bain Jr., Miami: +800 (bet $10 to win $90 total)
Makai Lemon, USC: +850 (bet $10 to win $95 total)
Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State: +1200 (bet $10 to win $130 total)
Monroe Freeling, Georgia: +1300 (bet $10 to win $140 total)

Mansoor Delane, LSU: +600 (bet $10 to win $70 total)
Rueben Bain Jr., Miami: +650 (bet $10 to win $75 total)
Caleb Downs, Ohio State: +850 (bet $10 to win $95 total)
Sonny Styles, Ohio State: +850 (bet $10 to win $95 total)
Kadyn Proctor, Alabama: +1000 (bet $10 to win $110 total)
Spencer Fano, Utah: +1000 (bet $10 to win $110 total)
Francis Mauigoa, Miami: +1100 (bet $10 to win $120 total)
Dillon Thieneman, Oregon: +1100 (bet $10 to win $120 total)
Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State: +1400 (bet $10 to win $150 total)
Jermod McCoy, Tennessee: +1600 (bet $10 to win $170 total)

Makai Lemon, USC: +250 (bet $10 to win $35 total)
Monroe Freeling, Georgia: +750 (bet $10 to win $85 total)
Kenyon Sadiq, Oregon: +750 (bet $10 to win $85 total)
Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State: +800 (bet $10 to win $90 total)
Spencer Fano, Utah: +900 (bet $10 to win $100 total)
Olaivavega Ioane, Penn State: +1000 (bet $10 to win $110 total)
Francis Mauigoa, Miami: +1100 (bet $10 to win $120 total)
Omar Cooper Jr., Indiana: +1200 (bet $10 to win $130 total)
Rueben Bain Jr., Miami: +1400 (bet $10 to win $150 total)
Ty Simpson, Alabama: +1500 (bet $10 to win $160 total)

Olaivavega Ioane, Penn State: +230 (bet $10 to win $33 total)
Kenyon Sadiq, Oregon: +425 (bet $10 to win $52.50 total)
Spencer Fano, Utah: +425 (bet $10 to win $52.50 total)
Rueben Bain Jr., Miami: +750 (bet $10 to win $85 total)
Makai Lemon, USC: +1100 (bet $10 to win $120 total)
Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State: +1200 (bet $10 to win $130 total)
Jermod McCoy, Tennessee: +1300 (bet $10 to win $140 total)
Kadyn Proctor, Alabama: +1400 (bet $10 to win $150 total)

Kenyon Sadiq, Oregon: +300 (bet $10 to win $40 total)
Akheem Mesidor, Miami: +425 (bet $10 to win $52.50 total)
Keldric Faulk, Auburn: +750 (bet $10 to win $85 total)
Olaivavega Ioane, Penn State: +850 (bet $10 to win $95 total)
Jermod McCoy, Tennessee: +1000 (bet $10 to win $110 total)
Spencer Fano, Utah: +1000 (bet $10 to win $110 total)
Monroe Freeling, Georgia: +1000 (bet $10 to win $110 total)
Kadyn Proctor, Alabama: +1500 (bet $10 to win $160 total)

2026 NFL Draft Odds: Back David Bailey as No. 2 Pick, Jeremiyah Love to Giants

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 16:09:19 -0400

The countdown to the 2026 NFL Draft is almost over.

The draft brings hope to fans that brighter days are ahead for their favorite team, hoping their franchise's next star player will have his name called this weekend.

While we will all enjoy the draft on Thursday night, how about we try to enjoy it even more by finding a few winning wagers?

Let's take a look.

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David Bailey to be drafted second overall (+275)

After the Las Vegas Raiders select Fernando Mendoza first overall on Thursday night as expected, all eyes will turn to the New York Jets, who own the second pick in the NFL Draft.

This time last week, Bailey — a 6-foot-3 defensive end from Texas Tech — was favored to go second. A couple of weeks prior to that, Ohio State standout Arvell Reese was favored to be the Jets’ pick. Now, the odds have swung back to Reese once again, and many believe he will be the choice.

While there is support in the betting market for Reese going off the board here, it’s far from unanimous.

Many of the top-respected mock drafts still have the Jets nabbing Bailey, and there’s been enough waffling by the others to make me believe this is more of a coin flip than these odds suggest.

Bailey had 14.5 sacks in his final collegiate season, and could prove to be an elite edge rusher at the next level. Getting him at almost 3/1 odds and considering the uncertainty here regarding this pick, it's worth a shot.

PICK: David Bailey (+275) to be drafted second overall

Jeremiyah Love to be drafted by New York Giants

The former Notre Dame star is widely viewed as the best running back in this draft class and has been deemed generational by some analysts. Granted, we heard similar superlatives in recent years to describe running backs Ashton Jeanty and Bijan Robinson.

Regardless, Love is a highly coveted dual-threat running back and is expected to have his name called early Thursday evening.

Love is heavily favored to go in the top five, but exactly where he lands is the question.

The Cardinals pick at No. 3 and will seemingly have a chance to snag him. But with a ton of needs, they could also opt to draft whoever doesn’t go second between Bailey and Reese. If they do go with defense, up next is the Titans with the fourth pick. New head coach Robert Saleh has a defensive background and perhaps the Titans choose to build up that side of the ball as opposed to taking a running back this early.

That brings us to the Giants at No. 5.

Over the weekend, they acquired the 10th overall pick, sending Dexter Lawrence to the Bengals. Could new Giants’ head coach John Harbaugh view having that extra selection as a chance to use the fifth pick to help out his young quarterback, Jaxson Dart? Dart was hit and often injured last year, and the presence of a potentially elite running back could take pressure off of him, allowing Dart to run less.

Getting long odds on Love lasting to the Giants is tempting, and if he is there, I don’t think New York will be able to resist.

PICK: Jeremiyah Love (+600) to be drafted by New York Giants

Jermod Mccoy draft position Over 32.5 +120

The former Tennessee cornerback would be a lock to get drafted on Thursday night if he was fully healthy.

Unfortunately for McCoy, that does not seem to be the case.

McCoy missed all the 2025 season recovering from a torn ACL. This week, reports have surfaced that there is concern he will require another surgery, this time to repair an issue with his knee cartilage.

This potential surgery would be unrelated to his previously torn ACL, as the medical red flags seem to be piling up. Hopefully, McCoy can overcome these concerns and have a long and productive NFL career, but for a cornerback that relies on speed and athleticism, there might be too many medical issues for him to go in the first round.

PICK: Jermod Mccoy (+120) draft position Over 32.5

Stephen A Smith refuses to call golfers, NASCAR drivers athletes: 'That don't count'

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 16:03:05 -0400

Stephen A. Smith might marvel at the skills of golfers and NASCAR drivers, but he praises them with caution.

Smith said the professionals are "elite at what they do," but he is drawing a line when describing them.

On his SiriusXM show, while debating some of the greatest athletes of all time, a caller suggested NASCAR legend Richard Petty, and Smith launched into a rant.

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"Come on, man. That don’t count. You driving a car!" Smith began, via Awful Announcing. "I’m being honest. It’s a great sport. But come on, bro. Getting behind the wheel of a car is not the same.

"You can be behind the wheel of a car in your 60s and 70s for crying out loud."

Smith also insinuated that "just because you gotta walk the course for 18 holes for four days, that don’t make you an athlete."

STEPHEN A SMITH SAYS HE BELIEVES DIANNA RUSSINI AND MIKE VRABEL ARE INNOCENT - FOR NOW

"They’re skilled players, they’re elite at what they do. But athletes? Athletes? Are you kidding me? Is walking the latest sport that you want to turn into an Olympic sport? Because I guess that would make them athletic, right?" Smith continued.

"Because they can walk. If you’re out there doing stuff that grandmas and grandpas can do, I’m not gonna look at you that way. You’re skilled, you’re phenomenally skilled as a golfer … but that is not an athletic sport."

Smith, though, did make an exception for 15-time major champion Tiger Woods — not necessarily due to his golf skills, but because of his build and athleticism in general.

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NFL Draft: The Best Player Taken at All 32 1st-Round Picks Since 2000

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 15:30:03 -0400

Obviously, the first round of the NFL Draft has loads of talent. But which first-round picks are the best of the best? We worked to answer that question … sorta.

As the countdown to the 2026 NFL Draft has moved from weeks to days, we decided to determine which player was the best selection at every first-round pick since 2000. The premise was relatively simple, but some draft picks (looking at you, pick No. 11) were loaded with Hall of Fame talent, while others (pick No. 23) were actually a bit tougher to figure out due to a lack of accomplished careers of players drafted at that pick number.

Going through this exercise, some teams stand out as strong drafters, too. The Pittsburgh Steelers make a handful of appearances on this list. The Green Bay Packers and New England Patriots also proved you can find talent toward the end of the first round.

So, which players were the best selected at each pick number in the first round? Let's dive in.

Matthew Stafford has won a Super Bowl and has an MVP now. That, and his career numbers — 423 touchdown passes and counting — should put him at the top among the quarterbacks taken at No. 1. You can make a strong case for edge rusher Myles Garrett (2017), who has seven Pro Bowls and five first-team All-Pro nods in nine seasons. He's already at 125.5 sacks and just set an NFL record with 23, but it's also the first time he's led the league, just as 2025 was the first year Stafford led the league in passing yards or touchdowns. Stafford has been a great passer in the playoffs as well, with 25 touchdowns against seven interceptions, while Garrett has one sack in three career playoff games. You can go either way, but we'll take Stafford for a larger body of work and more playoff impact.

As you might expect, there are many compelling options here. Receiver Calvin Johnson (2007) had an amazing career, but only played nine years. Fellow Lions draft pick and defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh (2010) had five Pro Bowls in his first seven seasons but none in the final six. We narrowed to two players, and a strong case can be made for both. Edge rusher Von Miller (2011) had 4.5 sacks in two Super Bowl wins, has 138.5 sacks and made the Pro Bowl eight times in his first nine seasons. But he hasn't had a double-digit sack season or a Pro Bowl since 2019. So we chose Julius Peppers, an exceptional player who had 10 seasons with 10-plus sacks to finish with 159.5, as well as an incredible 51 forced fumbles and six defensive touchdowns. He lost his only Super Bowl, but had a sack and an interception in the game.

Here we were, worried this list would be overstacked with quarterbacks at every spot, and if anything, the opposite is true. So Matt Ryan (2008) is in the top 10 all-time in passing yards and touchdowns, but that doesn't trump Larry Fitzgerald, who was so good for so long he's second all-time behind Jerry Rice in both receptions (1,431) and receiving yards (17,492), with 121 touchdown catches as well. His 11 Pro Bowls are one more than tackle Joe Thomas (2007) and he's our pick at No. 3.

You feel bad for Philip Rivers, who ranks sixth all-time in passing touchdowns (425) and eighth in passing yards (63,984), but there are very few people with 12 Pro Bowl selections, like Trent Williams. Williams has also spent more than a decade among the best — if not the best — tackles in the game. He's over 200 starts and still going, another that lost in his only Super Bowl, but we must respect the longevity and sustained run he's had at a crucial position.

None of the picks this high will be easy. You have young elite players like Ja'Marr Chase (2021), three more guys with at least eight Pro Bowls in edge Khalil Mack (2014) and corners Jalen Ramsey (2016) and Patrick Peterson (2011). But we'll go with LaDanian Tomlinson, who is second all-time in rushing touchdowns (145) and rushed for 13,684 yards while mixing in 624 receptions. Never made a Super Bowl, kinda quiet in his biggest playoff games, but as entire bodies of work go, he'll get our pick at No. 5.

There may be a time when Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (2020) owns this spot, but he's not there yet — not without a playoff win. You can make a case for Colts guard Quenton Nelson (2018), who's made the Pro Bowl in all eight of his years in the league. But for now, we're going with Julio Jones, who had six straight seasons with at least 1,394 receiving yards, making the Pro Bowl all six years. His touchdown total (66) isn't what it should be. He lost his only Super Bowl, but he gets the nod in a close call.

We hear you, Bills fans: Josh Allen is really deserving here as well, with an MVP already on his résumé. But Adrian Peterson ranks in the top five all-time in rushing yards (14,918) and touchdowns (120), with a 2,000-yard season under his belt. He had seven Pro Bowls by the time he was 30, then awkwardly bounced around way too much. Do you remember him with the Saints? Cardinals? Washington? Lions? Titans? Seahawks? Shoutout to receiver Mike Evans (2014), who would be deserving at other spots.

[2026 NFL Draft: Pro Player Comps for Fernando Mendoza, Other Top Draft Prospects]

Another active player makes the list, and with good reason. Christian McCaffrey has had four seasons where he's played eight games or fewer due to injury, and he still has 98 total touchdowns and nearly a decade as one of the best dual-threat backs in the NFL. He had 1,000 yards rushing and receiving in the same season in 2019, and he's had two other 100-catch seasons as well. What's wild is that former Cowboys safety Roy Williams (2002) actually has more Pro Bowl nods than McCaffrey.

This is a legit, hard-to-answer debate: Did Brian Urlacher or fellow linebacker Luke Kuechly (2012) have the better career? Urlacher played four more years, had one more Pro Bowl (8) and one fewer first-team All-Pro (four). Urlacher has more sacks and interceptions, and two more defensive touchdowns. Both made a single Super Bowl and lost. We went with Urlacher, though tackle Tyron Smith (2011) also deserves consideration.

Maybe the easiest one of the lot. Patrick Mahomes is a two-time MVP who led the Chiefs to five Super Bowls in six years, winning three of them. He has 267 touchdown passes and he's still only 30, and while he's looked mortal enough to not even make the Pro Bowl the last two seasons, once he's healthy again, he's the quarterback everyone else is chasing. We should mention edge rusher Terrell Suggs (2003) and his 139 sacks, but it's a distant second here.

How good was the No. 11 spot? Three Hall of Famers in a six-year span, with edge rusher Dwight Freeney (2002), edge rusher DeMarcus Ware (2005) and linebacker Patrick Willis (2007). Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (2004) could join them next year. But J.J. Watt is a three-time Defensive Player of the Year — 114.5 sacks, 195 tackles for loss in a career that had him limited to eight games or fewer in four seasons. This is the sweet spot of the draft — if you can trade up or down to 11, not a bad idea.

Another no-brainer, as Micah Parsons has 65 sacks in his five years in the league, making the Pro Bowl every year and first-team All-Pro in three of those. We'll give a shoutout to defensive tackles Fletcher Cox (2012) and Haloti Ngata (2006) for six and five Pro Bowls, respectively, but Parsons is still adding to his totals in a big way.

The options at 13 include great offensive tackles like Tristan Wirfs (2020) and Laremy Tunsil (2016), but nobody has a chance when up against Aaron Donald, a Pro Bowler in all 10 of his NFL seasons and a first-team All-Pro in eight of those. He's a three-time Defensive Player of the Year who finished with 111 sacks and 24 forced fumbles. He also had 3.5 sacks in the 2021 postseason, two in the Super Bowl, in leading the Rams to a Super Bowl.

Darrelle Revis was the premier corner in the NFL for a good stretch there, earning first-team All-Pro honors three years in a row from 2009-11, part of a run that had seven Pro Bowls in eight years. Even after a major knee injury, he helped the Patriots win a Super Bowl in 2014 and finished with 29 career interceptions. When we give corners "Island" nicknames, that started with Revis, an easy choice over longtime Panthers linebacker Thomas Davis (2005).

Jason Pierre-Paul is still trying to play in the league after 15 years and 94.5 career sacks — he helped two teams win Super Bowls nine years apart, first with the Giants, then the Bucs. Only three Pro Bowls, but gets the nod here over linebacker Derrick Johnson (2005) and guard Mike Pouncey (2011), who nearly joined his brother on the list.

Neck-and-neck call between Troy Polamalu and guard Zack Martin (2004). Martin had more Pro Bowls and first-team All-Pro nods, but we'll choose Troy Polamalu, who still had eight Pro Bowls and four All-Pros, and helped Pittsburgh to two Super Bowl wins. He finished with 32 interceptions and five defensive touchdowns. Either of these players could make it at other spots in the top 20, though.

Good group to choose from here. Guard Steve Hutchinson (2001) had seven Pro Bowls, safety Derwin James now has six, but we'll go with CeeDee Lamb, who has five Pro Bowls in his six years in the league. After barely missing as a rookie, he's topped 1,000 yards in each of the last five seasons, and he led the NFL with 135 catches in 2023. He took a step back last year with George Pickens' emergence, but remains one of the league's highest-paid receivers, getting $34 million a year.

[2026 NFL Draft: 8 Prospects Who Will Make This Draft One to Remember]

Hard to beat nine Pro Bowls in 10 NFL seasons. You can appreciate Joe Flacco's longevity, but Maurkice Pouncey had a dominant run in Pittsburgh, despite basically losing two full seasons to injury. In the entire 2010 draft, only Trent Williams (12) has more career Pro Bowl honors than Pouncey.

Tempting to go with defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons (2019), who already has four Pro Bowls, but we'll throw back to Shaun Alexander, who had five straight 1,000-yard seasons, culminating with a monster 2005: a league-high 1,880 yards and somehow 27 rushing touchdowns. Defensive end Jared Verse (2024) could end up being the long-term answer here as well.

We're going to upset people here with all kinds of recency bias, but Jaxon Smith-Nigba is coming off an amazing season — leading the NFL with 1,793 receiving yards and helping the Seahawks to a Super Bowl championship. We totally get that corner Aqib Talib (2008) had five Pro Bowls and 35 interceptions, and that defensive end Tamba Hali (2006) also had five Pro Bowls and 89.5 sacks. We're just trusting that five years from now, JSN will have those kinds of career accolades and we're just ahead of things.

Our first New England star to make the list, Vince Wilfork, is that rare non-Brady player to get a ring in the Patriots' early Super Bowls and their later run as well. He played in 19 playoff games for New England, getting five Pro Bowls between 2007-12. The other option at 21 is center Alex Mack (2009), who earned seven Pro Bowl nods with 196 career starts, but didn't have the same postseason presence.

An easy call, even though Justin Jefferson's only six years into his NFL career. He's topped 1,000 receiving yards in all six seasons, with a combined 42 touchdowns and four Pro Bowl nods. The next-best is receiver Demaryius Thomas, who had 63 touchdown catches in his 10 NFL seasons. This is going to be a more compelling case for Jefferson every year for a while. Amazing to think he was the fifth receiver taken in 2020.

Now, pick No. 23 — a number synonymous with greatness — has nowhere close to the talent of 24, with no players getting more than two Pro Bowls in their careers. We could go with someone like tackle Bryan Bulaga (2010), but we'll go with Willis McGahee, who had four 1,000-yard seasons and two Pro Bowl nods, bouncing around to four NFL teams in his 10-year NFL career. It's closer than you think between McGahee and Deuce McAllister (2001).

This one's a little ridiculous for the second half of the first round. Sorry to Hall of Fame safety Ed Reed and eight-time Pro Bowler Cameron Jordan, you guys aren't going to beat out Rodgers, who has 527 career touchdowns against just 123 interceptions, a Hall of Fame ratio. Rodgers is a four-time NFL MVP and he's still going — we think — at age 42, trying to add to his 66,274 career passing yards.

The postseason success makes it easier for players picked by the Patriots to grab spots on this list. Dont'a Hightower only had two Pro Bowls in his career, but he had three sacks in four Super Bowls, helping New England to three championships. His splash plays aren't gaudy — one career interception, two forced fumbles, 27 sacks — but he gets the nod over another Super Bowl hero, receiver Santonio Holmes (2006).

Can't ask for better NFL bloodlines, and Clay Matthews made the Pro Bowl six times in his first seven seasons — 91.5 sacks and 150 career starts, with three defensive touchdowns as well. The underrated pick here is tackle Duane Brown (2008), who made five Pro Bowls and finished with 218 starts, most with the Texans.

He's bounced around to three teams in the last two seasons, but DeAndre Hopkins was a star in his Texans heyday, with five Pro Bowls in six years, three with at least 11 touchdowns. If it's not Hopkins at 27, it's likely another receiver, Roddy White (2005), who had 63 touchdowns in 11 seasons with the Falcons.

[2026 NFL Draft: Rankings, Best Team Fits for Top-12 Quarterbacks]

There's a sweet spot for offensive line value late in the first round, and Joe Staley had a run of six Pro Bowls in seven seasons from 2011-17, retiring with 181 career starts, all for San Francisco. He played for six different head coaches with the 49ers, from the height of Jim Harbaugh's success to a two-win season to the beginning of Kyle Shanahan's tenure there.

Nick Mangold, who passed away in October, made the Pro Bowl seven times in eight years from 2007-15, helping the Jets to a pair of AFC Championship Games. A model of durability, he missed two games total in his first eight NFL seasons. The close call was for safety Harrison Smith, another 29th pick who has 39 career interceptions, a huge number for today's NFL.

It's hard to beat out receiver Reggie Wayne, but T.J. Watt has made the Pro Bowl in each of the last eight seasons and already has 115 career sacks, leading the league three times. His 36 forced fumbles are an extremely good number, and even nine interceptions are great for his position. His 22.5-sack season in 2021 has been the gold standard, earning him AP Defensive Player of the Year honors and one of his four first-team All-Pro honors.

It's easier to reward longevity when it's 15 seasons and counting with the same team. Cam Heyward made seven Pro Bowls in an eight-year span from 2017-24 and has totaled 92 sacks in Pittsburgh. He's old enough to have played in a playoff win for the Steelers — the next-closest 31 is probably center Travis Frederick (2013) or tight end Greg Olsen (2007).

You know it's tough when a two-time MVP can't get the nod, but Lamar Jackson is still chasing Drew Brees, who ranks second all-time behind Tom Brady in career passing touchdowns (571!) and passing yards (80,358). Brees led the league in passing yards seven times, led in touchdown passes four times, and won a Super Bowl in 2009. Jackson would have a lot of spots with what he's done in just his first eight seasons, but he doesn't get 32. We should also note that Brees actually wasn't a first-round pick when the Chargers drafted him in 2001, as there were still only 31 teams at the time.

Dept of Interior compares Trump to Teddy Roosevelt amid Hall of Fame reports

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 14:11:24 -0400

The U.S. Department of the Interior has addressed a recent report that Secretary Doug Burgum is pushing for former President Teddy Roosevelt to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

In a statement to Fox News Digital, the department compared Roosevelt's impact in saving American football to President Donald Trump's recent executive action to reform college sports.

The New York Post reported Saturday that Burgum made the comments about Roosevelt's Hall of Fame candidacy at a Bank of America reception on Thursday.

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"Roger Goodell was in the White House in the Oval Office, I had a chance to be with him there, because we, the National Park Service, control the National Mall," Burgum reportedly said. "The draft for the NFL is being held on the Mall a year from now (and) the Capitol will be in the background.

"Keep it a secret. Keep your fingers crossed, but I think we’re going to see Theodore Roosevelt inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame….it’s going to be announced on the Mall when Roger Goodell is conducting the draft."

Teddy Roosevelt is credited with saving football in 1905–1906 by forcing college leaders to reform the game's rules after frequent injury-related deaths of players.

MICHIGAN HOLDS OFF UCONN TO CAPTURE FIRST MEN'S BASKETBALL NATIONAL TITLE SINCE 1989

The reforms led to the creation of the forward pass and the banning of dangerous formations.

Meanwhile, Trump has passed several executive orders aimed at regulating NIL, while protecting non-revenue sports and women's sports amid growing financial pressure for universities to invest in revenue programs like football and basketball.

Trump signed an executive order on April 3 titled "Urgent National Action to Save College Sports," aimed at curbing the influence of NIL collectives and transfer portal freedom. The order proposes strict five-year eligibility limits, caps transfers, and threatens to pull federal funding from institutions not following NCAA rules to establish a uniform national framework.

Trump has also taken executive action to mandate that revenue-sharing models implemented by universities must preserve or expand scholarships and opportunities for women’s and Olympic sports, preventing them from being reduced to pay football or basketball players.

In February of last year, Trump signed the "Keeping Men Out of Women's Sports" executive order that redefined Title IX to mean that "sex" is based on reproductive biology and genetics at birth. This explicitly banned transgender women from competing in women’s college sports.

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2026 NFL Mock Draft: Who's the First WR Picked? Where Do Ohio State's Stars Land?

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 13:50:38 -0400

With the 2026 NFL Draft now just hours away, it's time to get down to the nitty-gritty. After weeks of testing, film-watching and interviews, the scouts are making their final evaluations.

So it's time for me to do the same. The New York Giants' recent acquisition of the No. 10 pick shifts the landscape. Ohio State's quartet of top prospects remains in the top 10, as predicted in my most recent mock. Only now, they're going to different teams.

Let's take a look at where everyone lands, from Fernando Mendoza to the choice of the Super Bowl champs at No. 32.

The Heisman Trophy winner steps into the perfect system for his talents as a high-IQ playmaker. Mendoza’s pinpoint passing skills and underrated mobility mesh well with the play-action-heavy scheme new Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak prefers to run.

Defensive-minded head coach Aaron Glenn could build his scheme around Bailey’s destructive talents as a pass rusher. As a speed rusher with an explosive first step and a challenging signature move (dip-and-rip), the Texas Tech standout could create more turnover chances with his consistent harassment off the edge.

The versatile defender would add some sizzle to the Cardinals’ defense as a hybrid playmaker with disruptive potential.

Putting an All-Pro-caliber running back behind Cam Ward will not only help the franchise quarterback take his game to another level, but it will also allow the Titans to control the game with a diversified offensive approach. Love is a special playmaker with the potential to have a Christian McCaffrey-like impact on the offense.

The oft-injured playmaker is a worthwhile gamble due to his spectacular receiving skills and route-running ability. If healthy, Tyson is an unstoppable force on the perimeter who will force defensive coordinators to change how they defend the Giants’ passing game.

The acrobatic pass-catcher is a dynamic route-runner and playmaker who flashes "take over the game" potential as a WR1.

Adding a sideline-to-sideline playmaker would help the Commanders eliminate some of the explosive plays generated by their opponents. Styles’ speed, quickness and burst not only show up on running plays, but it makes him a disruptive force on blitzes and in coverage.

The high-motor defender is the perfect replacement for Cam Jordan on the edge. Bain’s heavy hands and violent approach would complement the rugged approach utilized by Chase Young on the opposite side.

The ultra-athletic pass-catcher would upgrade the Chiefs’ passing game as a mismatch creator. Sadiq’s speed, quickness and athleticism would force opponents to direct double coverage his way, leading to more one-on-one matchups for Travis Kelce and others on the perimeter.

The high-IQ safety is the traffic cop every elite defense needs in the middle of the field. Downs’ instincts, awareness and diagnostic skills led to countless big plays by him and his teammates at Ohio State.

The talented cover corner gives new head coach Jeff Hafley a versatile technician to feature in his "vision-and-break" scheme. Delane’s instincts, awareness and diagnostic skills make him an ideal fit for a defense that wants to utilize more zone-based concepts.

The ball-hawking center fielder will eliminate some of the big plays that tormented the Dallas secondary a season ago. Moreover, Thieneman’s range and ball skills will help the Cowboys produce more takeaways in 2026.

Adding a versatile frontline blocker will give Sean McVay the flexibility to reshuffle his offensive line to feature the best front five on game day. Fano’s physicality and toughness will add a dimension to the Rams’ offensive line.

Adding a big-bodied bully to the frontline should help the Ravens get back to the rugged offensive approach that has helped them crush opponents for years. Ioane plays with the violence, physicality and nastiness that the Ravens demand from their offensive line.

Todd Bowles needs a disruptive edge defender to elevate the Buccaneers’ defense in 2026. Mesidor is a plug-and-play prospect with the talent, tools and potential to become a double-digit sack producer in an aggressive scheme.

Adding a dynamic slot receiver to the lineup should alleviate some of the pressure on WR1 Garrett Wilson to carry the passing game. Lemon is a spectacular route-runner with outstanding hands and ball skills.

After moving on from left tackle Taylor Decker, the Lions take a talented developmental prospect to feature at the marquee position of the frontline. Although Freeling will need some time to grow into his role as a blind side protector, the Georgia standout has all the tools to play at an elite level early in his career.

If healthy, McCoy is an elite cover corner with the tools to develop into a Pro Bowl-caliber defender on the island. As a featured playmaker in defensive coordinator Brian Flores’ aggressive scheme, the ball-hawking cover corner will force quarterbacks into more tight-window throws.

As a rangy center fielder with outstanding ball skills and awareness, EMW will add some much-needed playmaking ability to a unit that needs to generate more turnovers in 2026.

The versatile cover corner is a pro-ready defender with the tools to flourish in a "see ball, get ball" system that prioritizes tackling and takeaways.

Adding a sturdy interior blocker will not endear general manager Omar Khan to the fan base, but the move could stabilize the Steelers’ offensive line for the next five years. The talented technician plays well within the phone booth, exhibiting the nastiness and toughness the Steelers covet in their offensive linemen.

With Khalil Mack’s time nearing an end, the Chargers need a power rusher to fill the role. Parker’s strength, power and burst should make him an effective complementary pass rusher opposite an emerging star.

The super-sized edge blocker could crack the lineup immediately as a guard before bouncing out to right tackle when Lane Johnson retires.

As a natural left tackle with flawless footwork in pass protection, the Utah standout gives the Browns a blind side protector for the next decade. Lomu must improve as a run blocker, but his outstanding agility, balance and body control should enable him to effectively shadowbox elite pass rushers on the edge.

The ultra-aggressive edge defender specializes in stopping the run, but possesses the tools to develop into an effective pass rusher off the edge.

The dynamic pass rusher brings the juice off the edge, providing new defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard a high-energy pass rusher to build around.

Adding the big-bodied pass-catcher to the room provides the 49ers with a succession plan after Mike Evans’ eventual departure. With Boston serving as an apprentice to a perennial Pro Bowler, the 49ers’ passing game should be in good hands with their future WR1.

The run-stuffing defensive tackle will occupy multiple blockers at the point of attack to create more big-play opportunities for Danielle Hunter and Will Anderson Jr.

The loss of Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watkins forces the Chiefs to address the cornerback position with a top pick. Hood is the instinctive cover corner who typically thrives in Kansas City's ultra-aggressive scheme.

The pass-catching phenom is the dynamic playmaker new QB1 Malik Willis needs on the perimeter. Despite his struggles with drops, Concepcion terrorizes opponents between the hashes as a catch-and-run specialist who routinely registers his touches on crossers and square-in routes.

The big-bodied edge blocker is a work in progress, but the Patriots can redshirt him for a season behind Morgan Moses before he takes over for the veteran at right tackle.

The defending champs add a high-motor pass rusher to a rotation of edge defenders with complementary skills. Lawrence’s fanatical effort and relentless approach fit the Seahawks’ throwback culture.

Chris 'The Bear' Fallica's Best Bet, Prediction for NFL Draft Round 1

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 13:46:08 -0400

"Bear Bets" are real wagers that Chris "The Bear" Fallica is actually making.

Let's be honest: The pickings are slim in the NFL Draft betting markets.

At this point, attractive prices are few and far between. You’re paying a premium based on information and there's not a lot to choose from for any good wagers close to -110 or -120.

But if you know anything about me, then you know I can still find somewhere to sprinkle some cash — even if it's just a few bucks.

Here's what I'm on so far.

This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports.

Over/Under 5.5 WRs in first round

One bet that I'm eyeing is Over/Under 5.5 for wide receivers drafted in the first round.

We don’t expect more than two quarterbacks to go in Round 1. We don’t expect more than one running back to go in the first round, either. And interior defensive linemen are lacking.

The picks have to come from somewhere and wide receiver is the area I believe they will come from.

We know for sure Makai Lemon, Carnell Tate and Jordyn Tyson are going in the first round. KC Concepción and Omar Cooper Jr. are projected first-round picks.

Denzel Boston is the wideout on the edge and there are some that think he could be a great weapon on contested catches. He’d be very attractive to a contender at the back end of Round 1.

I’ll lay it. I expect six WRs to hear their names called Thursday night.

PICK: Over 5.5 WRs in first round (-155)

Tyler Reddick's 'Going to Break' Wins Record in 2026, Kevin Harvick Says

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 13:38:04 -0400

We're seeing a new and improved Tyler Reddick during the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season.

Entering the season, he had a total of eight Cup race wins — three with Richard Childress Racing in 2022 and five with 23XI Racing across 2023 and 2024. But in 2026 alone, he might match that total as he currently owns five wins through nine races. FOX Sports NASCAR analyst Kevin Harvick certainly thinks the mark is possible.

"He's going to break the record for most wins in a Gen-7 car," Harvick said on the latest edition of "SPEED With Harvick and Buxton". "The record is six right now… He's going to break that record."

Reddick, Harvick believes, will join the likes of Kyle Larson, William Byron and Denny Hamlin in terms of most victories achieved in a single season in the newest generation car, introduced in 2022. It's a mountaintop he can soon reach because of the changes he, individually, has made, and the upgrades 23XI Racing have put in place this season.

"When you get the momentum, and the car's right, and the pit crew, and everything's lined up right, and you have an elite driver — like you do with Tyler Reddick — you can get on a roll," Harvick said. "I think the biggest difference for Tyler Reddick and 23XI this year… they're able to really focus on who they are as a race team."

Harvick first noticed that before the Daytona 500. When he was preparing for the broadcast, a crew member told him that Reddick was already out and ready for his interview. That stood out to Harvick as he had never seen that punctuality from Reddick.

"That was the first time that I had really heard, ‘Wow, Tyler Reddick’s going next level Cup racing this year with himself, mentally," Harvick said.

[NASCAR POWER RANKINGS: Tyler Reddick Too Hot & Can't Be Stopped]

Harvick expressed to Reddick that he was impressed with him showing up early and prepared to do the Daytona 500 interview, and Reddick replied:

"Had to change. Had to get my stuff together. I needed to be on time."

That commitment to preparedness was the final step in Reddick's rise to being elite. He, Harvick explained, was "handpicked by Hamlin and Michael Jordan" to race for 23XI because "his ability within the race car is elite."

Now that he's honed in on the mental side and increased his focus, there's nothing stopping him from fulfilling Harvick's prediction and breaking the record for wins in a Cup series season during the current generation.

CHECK OUT THE FULL EPISODE OF "SPEED":

Basketball Hall of Famer Billy Donovan steps down as Bulls head coach after 6 seasons

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 13:36:49 -0400

After six seasons as the Chicago Bulls' head coach, Billy Donovan decided to step down from his role, the team announced Tuesday.

The Bulls, who fired executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas and general manager Marc Eversley two weeks ago, wanted Donovan back in the fold. But Donovan held an option in his contract for next season and opted out, according to ESPN.

"After a series of thoughtful and extensive discussions with ownership regarding the future of the organization, I have decided to step away as the head coach of the Chicago Bulls, to allow the search process to unfold," Donovan said in a statement released by the team.

"I believe it is in the best interest of the Bulls to allow the new leader to build out the staff as they see fit. My gratitude for this community and this organization is permanent.

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"I owe so much to my players and staff over the last six years. You all have worked side by side with me, day in and day out, to drive the Bulls organization forward. And a huge thank you to Bulls fans. Your energy, passion and unwavering support provided a home-court advantage that is generally unmatched around the league."

Team owner Jerry Reinsdorf said he wanted Donovan to return for another season.

SPURS PHENOM VICTOR WEMBANYAMA MAKES NBA HISTORY WITH FIRST CAREER DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR AWARD

"Billy Donovan is one of the finest people and coaches I have had the privilege of knowing and working with. He brought class and genuine care to this organization that made a real impact on people. We wanted Billy to continue as our head coach — that was never in question," Reinsdorf said in a statement released by the team.

"But through honest conversations, we all agreed that giving our new Head of Basketball Operations the right to build out his staff was the most important thing for the future of this franchise. That is the kind of person Billy is — he put the Bulls first. We are deeply grateful for everything he has given to this organization."

Donovan, 60, was elected to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2025. The New York native wants to continue his coaching career, according to ESPN’s report.

In six seasons with the Bulls, he went 226-256 and made the playoffs once, in the 2021-22 season, when the Bulls lost in five games. Prior to coaching the Bulls, Donovan coached the Oklahoma City Thunder for five seasons, going 243-157 and making the playoffs all five seasons.

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Patriots coach Mike Vrabel breaks silence on Dianna Russini photos that led to 'difficult conversations'

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 13:23:24 -0400

Mike Vrabel addressed the Diana Russini matter in person for the first time on Tuesday, as the New England Patriots began media availabilities during their offseason conditioning program.

To begin: No, he didn’t admit or deny anything.

There was an underlying tone of contrition. But there was no apology about anything.

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Yeah, too late

"I've had some difficult conversations with people that I care about, with my family, the organization, the coaches, the players. Those have been positive and productive, " Vrabel told reporters at the start of his first press conference since the saga and photos attached to it became public.

"We believe in order to be successful on and off the field, you have to make a good decisions. That includes me. That starts with me. I never want our actions to negatively affect the team. We never want to be the cause of a distraction."

Vrabel and Russini were photographed together at a Sedona, Arizona private resort by an unknown person who sold the photos to the New York Post, which published them on Page Six.

The photos of the head coach and NFL reporter sunbathing by a pool, in a hot tub, and on the roof of a bungalow holding hands and embracing caused a league-wide uproar. Russini, the subject of an investigation by her employer The Athletic, resigned as a result.

The Athletic’s investigation into the matter is ongoing.

The NFL has no intention of currently starting an investigation into the matter as a possible violation of the Personal Conduct Policy. And the Patriots intend to keep the conversations between Vrabel and owner Robert Kraft and the players as private as possible.

GREG OLSEN ON TRAVIS KELCE RETURNING TO CHIEFS FOR 14TH SEASON: 'LEAGUE IS BETTER OFF WITH HIM PLAYING'

Although both Russini and Vrabel released statements claiming no wrong-doing and said other people were present when they were together, neither had spoken publicly about the issue – until Vrabel did.

The two-week delay in addressing the matter caused Vrabel to open his statement by addressing New England area reporters who cover the team on a daily basis.

"Let me first begin by saying thank you," the coach said. "Thank you for your patience, that you've shown in a personal and private matter for me, and obviously everybody involved. I know that that's not easy for you, and I respect that, and I appreciate your efforts in doing so.

"I understand I could have, you know, trusted you guys sooner, but it was important to me to have a conversation with the players, which I did yesterday, very candidly, as we began our offseason program, which everyone is excited to be a part of."

Vrabel said that club vice president of media relations and communication Stacey James pointed out to him that players were scheduled to speak to reporters on Tuesday afternoon. And that would put those players in a position to address their head coach’s situation with a female reporter before the coach did.

That helped force Vrabel’s hand.

"It was never my intention to have them speak to you or address you before I did," Vrabel said. "And so I asked him to come in today and to talk with you.

"You know, I also don't want to take away from our, you know, the draft, the weekend of the draft. This is an important time for us, our organization and the excitement and the joy that those players are going to have that we bring onto our football team.

"They're starting an amazing journey, one that should be celebrated as we welcome them onto our team."

Raiders' Super Bowl hero Rod Martin, who holds major record in big game, dead at 72

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 12:35:52 -0400

Rod Martin, a key contributor to Super Bowl-winning teams, died at 72, the Las Vegas Raiders announced.

Martin is perhaps best known for his record-setting performance in Super Bowl XV, when he picked off three passes from Ron Jaworski en route to a 27-10 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles.

Martin set the tone by picking off the Eagles quarterback on his first pass of the game, and Jim Plunkett turned it into six points just a few plays later on the ensuing drive.

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As the Eagles trailed 21-3, they attempted to mount a comeback and were marching, but Martin picked off Jaworski again. Martin's third pick all but sealed the victory late in the fourth quarter for the Raiders during their first stint in Oakland.

Three years later, when the then-Los Angeles Raiders won Super Bowl XVIII over the Washington Redskins, he had a sack and a fumble recovery.

"The Raiders Family is deeply saddened by the passing of Rod Martin, a standout linebacker and key player on two Super Bowl championship teams..." the team said in a release.

STEPHEN A. SMITH SAYS HE BELIEVES DIANNA RUSSINI AND MIKE VRABEL ARE INNOCENT -- FOR NOW

"A beloved member of the Raiders Family and a favorite of Raiders fans everywhere, the deepest condolences of the entire Raider Nation are with Rod's family at this time."

Amazingly enough, Martin's career-high in interceptions in a regular season is four from his 1983 campaign, the same year as his second Super Bowl victory. Two of those went for pick-sixes, which led the league.

The following season, he was named a first-team All-Pro for the only time in his career.

Super Bowl XV was the only time he recorded at least one interception in a playoff game, and it was the only time in his career he had more than one in any game, regular season or postseason.

Martin was a 12th-round pick out of USC but became a mainstay on the Raiders' defense, starting 147 of his 165 career games across his 12-year career, all of which were with the Raiders.

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Projected top pick Fernando Mendoza reveals why he’s skipping NFL Draft

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 12:20:53 -0400

Heisman Trophy winner and projected top pick Fernando Mendoza revealed why he won’t be attending the NFL Draft in Pittsburgh on Thursday night.

Mendoza’s mother, Elsa, has lived with multiple sclerosis for over 15 years and is currently using a wheelchair. The 22-year-old said his parents wanted to do the draft at home.

"My mom really wanted to do it at home, and so did my parents. It’s a lot easier for us, especially with the family situation. I’m going to have to hop on a plane (in) the morning anyways. For that travel, it will be a lot easier to stay at home," Mendoza said Monday during an appearance on "The Rich Eisen Show."

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The last time the top projected quarterback did not attend the NFL Draft was in 2021, when Trevor Lawrence was selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars. Mendoza said that because he is staying at home, he will be able to have more people who helped him on his journey share the experience.

"I wanted to stay and make the memory with everybody who poured into my football journey," Mendoza said. "Mentors, coaches, family, friends, we want to share that memory with all of them is going to be the best memory that I could make, rather than limit it to 10 or 12 people in Pittsburgh."

While Mendoza will stay at home, he said that there will be cameras at home to catch his reaction for when the Las Vegas Raiders likely take him with the top pick.

GREG OLSEN ON TRAVIS KELCE RETURNING TO CHIEFS FOR 14TH SEASON: 'LEAGUE IS BETTER OFF WITH HIM PLAYING'

"I still want to be the best league partner I can become and make sure that there is how ever many camera as ESPN wants there," Mendoza said. "Whatever they need from me, I will do. However, I think it is very important to start off this journey with everyone who has got me to this point."

While he won’t be in Pittsburgh, he did call it a great venue.

"Pittsburgh is a great opportunity and great venue, and I’m really excited to see all the guys walk across the stage on Thursday night," Mendoza said. Mendoza has been projected to be the No. 1 selection this year after starring on an undefeated Indiana team that won the national championship.

In 16 games last season, Mendoza completed 72% of his passes for 3,535 yards with 41 touchdowns and six interceptions. Mendoza’s 41 touchdowns led all Division I quarterbacks. While Mendoza starred with the Hoosiers, there is no guarantee he starts Week 1 if he does indeed get selected by the Raiders.

Raiders minority owner Tom Brady and general manager John Spytek have said numerous times that they believe in not playing a young quarterback right away, making it no sure thing that Mendoza would start Week 1.

The Raiders signed Kirk Cousins a couple of weeks ago, providing them with a veteran quarterback who can start while Mendoza develops.

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Cubs manager calls out 'special exception' for Shohei Ohtani; Dodgers' Dave Roberts comes to rule's defense

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 12:12:45 -0400

It goes without saying that by being a unicorn, Shohei Ohtani certainly gets "exceptions."

Major League Baseball allows 13 pitchers on a roster, but the Los Angeles Dodgers, including Ohtani, have 14. That's because Ohtani is officially listed as a two-way player, not a pitcher.

During a game in Philadelphia on Monday, Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell was asked about the 13-pitcher rule when, unprovoked, hinted at the Dodgers and Ohtani getting a "special consideration."

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"It’s a rule to help offense, I think, more than anything, if you ask me," Counsell said. "And then there’s one team that’s allowed to carry basically one of both, and that he gets special consideration. Which is probably the most bizarre rule. ... For one team."

The two-way player designation is for players with at least 20 innings pitched in the major leagues and at least 20 big league starts as a position player or designated hitter, with at least three plate appearances in each of those games. The player has to reach those numbers in the current or any one of the two most recent seasons.

The designation went into effect for the 2020 season. The 31-year-old Ohtani is the only current player who meets the criteria.

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"There’s not another player like that, but one team gets different rules for that player," said Counsell.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, however, defended the rule and noted that it's available to everyone.

"The thing is, it certainly benefits us, because we have the player," Roberts said in Colorado. "But that’s something that, any team that had Ohtani would have that player."

"We’re more than willing for other teams to go out and find a player who can do both. He’s an exception because he’s an exceptional player. It is what it is."

Entering the 2022 season, months after Ohtani's day was cut short after pitching just one-third of an inning while hitting leadoff, Major League Baseball made a rule so that if a starting pitcher was in the batting lineup, he could stay in the lineup even after being taken out of the mound as a designated two-way player.

During the World Series and even earlier this month, Ohtani brought attention to seemingly longer warmup sessions on the mound because he had been on the basepaths.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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OutKick Mock Draft 3.0: Cowboys make big splash, Jets shore up shaky defense

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 12:01:35 -0400

With the 2026 NFL Draft kicking off on April 23 in Pittsburgh, it’s time to publish the final version of the OutKick Mock Draft.

The Raiders have tried to fill the Derek Carr-sized void at quarterback since they let the veteran quarterback walk after the 2022 NFL season. Rather than invest in the position through a high pick in the draft, the team has tried to patch the hole with several veterans (including Jimmy Garoppolo, Gardner Minshew, Geno Smith) and 2023 fourth-round pick Aidan O'Connell. None of them worked.

There are some rumblings that Mendoza might not go No. 1 overall, particularly when it was revealed that the Heisman Trophy and National Championship-winning quarterback wouldn't attend the draft in Pittsburgh. But attending the draft is becoming less and less common for players and I don't buy into that idea at all. Part of having the top pick isn't just about picking the right guy, but about winning the PR campaign. Teams want fans to be happy and Mendoza is the safest pick at the top of the board. There's just no way, in my opinion, that the Raiders don't select Mendoza.

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Obviously, the Jets need a long-term answer at quarterback, even after trading for veteran Geno Smith, but it just doesn't make sense to take one at No. 2 with Mendoza off the board. New York would be wise to try and trade out of this spot, but the Jets might not find a dance partner. If they stay here, it makes the most sense to give head coach Aaron Glenn, a defensive-minded coach, a pass rusher who can disrupt the game.

New York had the second-fewest sacks in the NFL last year (26) and didn't force a single interception (which is often an indictment of the pass rush more than it is of the secondary). According to Pro Football Reference, the Jets ranked dead-last in the NFL in pressure percentage (15 percent).

The Cardinals are another team that needs a quarterback, with the franchise having moved on from Kyler Murray. But in the same vein as the Jets, that guy doesn't exist at the top of the board and the Cardinals also desperately need to improve on their awful pass rush (tied for third-fewest sacks in the NFL).

The Titans need a lot of help on both sides of the ball, and they should use this pick on a premium position. But I don't think they will. Titans fans miss Derrick Henry, and it's easy to envision a scenario where they see Love becoming the focal point of a functioning offense (something the team really hasn't had since Henry) that helps take some of the stress off Cam Ward in his second season as the starting quarterback. Plus, Love has a chance to be the rare RB prospect who can elevate an entire offense, something Tennessee desperately needs.

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The Giants have their quarterback in Jaxson Dart and two other stars on offense: Cam Skattebo and Malik Nabers. All three dealt with injuries last season and the team needs better luck in the health department to have a chance to compete. One way to help the overall health of its offensive players is to bolster the offensive line. Although it won't help on injuries Dart suffers while he's running all over the field, cleaner pockets mean less scrambling and less scrambling means less injury opportunity for the team's franchise passer.

No matter who Cleveland decides to roll with at quarterback in 2026, the team has to give him some weapons. Although the Browns don't usually spend high draft picks on receivers (they've only taken one first-round wide receiver since 2006, Corey Coleman in 2015), now is the time to make the move. Cleveland needs Tate to turn into an alpha, but since they're unlikely to contend until they get a quarterback, Tate has time to do it (which is helpful since he turned 21 in January). Plus, he played at Ohio State, roughly a 2-hour drive from Cleveland, and grew up in the Midwest, making him a clean personality fit for the Browns.

MOCK TRADE - Rams receive: No. 7, Commanders receive: No. 13 (via Falcons), 2026 3rd-round pick, 2027 4th-round pick

We already know the Rams have no problem shipping off picks to improve the roster now, and it's easy to envision them wanting to slide inside the Top 10. Matthew Stafford isn't getting any younger, so the team is going to go all-in to make a push to win one more Super Bowl before he retires. Plus, the Commanders desperately want to move down and acquire more picks.

There are rumors about a potential Davante Adams trade, and we'll project the Rams to give Puka Nacua some help on the other side by grabbing Lemon, who is from Southern California and went to USC, as a legitimate No. 2 in what figures to be another high-powered Rams offense. After seeing Tate come off the board at No. 6, the Rams might be eager to jump and get Lemon before a run on receivers starts.

MOCK TRADE - Cowboys receive: No. 8, Saints receive: No. 12 + 2026 3rd-round pick, 2026 5th-round pick

Perhaps no team needs to address its defensive woes as much as the Dallas Cowboys (except, maybe, the Cincinnati Bengals – and the Bengals just traded their first-round pick for Dexter Lawrence). No team allowed more points or passing yards than the Cowboys in 2025. Styles is an athletic freak who turned heads at the combine and is exactly the type of player Jerry Jones could fall in love with and trade up to make sure he gets him. Styles can help in both rush and pass defense and Dallas needs to get better in both areas so it's a great fit.

The Chiefs' offensive line was a disaster in 2025, and it led to the worst season of Patrick Mahomes' career. The team is mercifully moving on from penalty machine Jawaan Taylor, and the team has to protect Mahomes (who is coming off a torn ACL). Fano is the second-best offensive-line prospect in the 2026 NFL Draft and should be a Day 1 starter for Kansas City.

The Giants surprised most of the football world when they managed to obtain a Top 10 pick in the NFL Draft for Dexter Lawrence. It's not that Lawrence isn't a great player, he is. Still, it felt like the Bengals overpaid a bit for his services. But this puts the Giants in a terrific spot to pick twice in the first 10 selections and start rebuilding the team. They need cornerback help and by getting to No. 10, they have the opportunity to pick whichever corner they covet most. In this draft, that should be Delane.

The Dolphins are entering a full rebuild, and if Downs falls this far (he could, simply because teams don't value safeties like they used to), Miami would have no choice but to snag him. They let Jevon Holland walk in free agency and Downs could be a perfect plug-and-play replacement. For a team that's going to need young leaders on the defensive side of the ball, Downs to the Dolphins makes almost too much sense. With the Bengals trading out of the No. 10 spot, Downs just might slide the one additional slot that Miami needs.

The Saints are talking with Chris Olave about a potential contract extension, but there's no guarantee. Olave struggled with concussions throughout his career (he has suffered at least four) and New Orleans might decide it's not a great idea to commit $35 million/season to a guy who might be one big hit away from retirement. Tyson could immediately slot in across from Olave in 2026 to give second-year quarterback Tyler Shough a dynamic wide receiver duo and Tyson could take over the alpha role in 2027 should the Saints decline to sign Olave long-term.

No team allowed more yards to opposing offenses than the Washington Commanders in 2025, so they have to address their defensive issues. Washington really needs corners who can cover and McCoy can definitely cover. He doesn't turn 21 until August, so he's very young, and he missed the entire 2025 season after tearing his ACL in January 2025 while training. Those are both red flags for a Washington team that wants to contend now, but McCoy's talent is too tantalizing to pass up with the No. 13 pick in the draft. He's a guy that could easily have been a Top 5 pick if not for the injury issues. It's a risk, for sure, but it's a risk worth taking because McCoy has the potential to become a shutdown NFL corner.

The Ravens tried to trade this pick for Maxx Crosby, but ultimately pulled out of the deal citing medical concerns. In this mock, Bain suffers a slight fall down the draft board after reports surfaced that he was driving during a 2024 car crash that took the life of a young woman. Although Bain was only cited for careless driving and the citation was dropped, it could affect his draft stock. That being said, I don't know how the Ravens could pass up his talent in this spot, especially after failing to acquire Crosby.

It's not often you see two players from the same school who play the same position being drafted back-to-back, but that's how the board shaped up in this mock draft. The Bucs were middle of the pack in sacks in 2025, but were one of just seven teams with a pressure rate under 20 percent. They need to do a better job getting after opposing quarterbacks and Mesidor is the best option on the board.

The Jets traded away Quinnen Williams and can use their second pick in the first round to add his replacement in McDonald. After grabbing an EDGE player at No. 2 overall, the team should look to continue to improve a defensive line that really struggled in 2025. McDonald is a great fit for Aaron Glenn's scheme and would help the team form an identity as a physical defense.

Detroit took a big step back last season, failing to make the playoffs. Part of the reason was the struggles on the offensive line. Jared Goff took 38 sacks in 2025, the most in a single season in his career, and posted the worst passing success rate of his four seasons in Detroit. The team has to upgrade its offensive line to complement three-time All-Pro left tackle Penei Sewell.

Like the Lions, the Vikings were a huge disappointment in the NFC North. They don't seem sold on quarterback J.J. McCarthy and added veteran Kyler Murray. It's unlikely the team would use the draft to add another first-round quarterback, and quite frankly, the offense should improve with even average quarterback play. That's why it makes sense for the team to use this selection to improve its defense.

Sadiq is a potential matchup nightmare and pairs well with Rookie of the Year wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan to give Bryce Young two massive weapons in the passing game. Other than McMillan, no other Panthers pass catcher had at least 400 yards receiving and the team's best tight end, Tommy Tremble, had just 249 yards. Sadiq adds depth to the passing game that desperately needs it.

The Cowboys' defense was so bad last year, they should look to use both first round picks to help. They made the decision to trade Micah Parsons, which is why they have this pick, so it makes sense to use it on a Parsons replacement. There are scenarios where Jerry Jones falls in love with a flashy offensive weapon instead of making the sensible move, but Dallas has been making those mistakes for years. It's time to start being smart on draft night.

Hosting the NFL Draft puts a little extra pressure on a team's first-round pick and I think Cooper is the type of player that would get the fans in Pittsburgh cheering. He's coming off a national championship win with Indiana, wide receiver is a sexy position that fans like to see their team draft, and if Aaron Rodgers returns, he's going to need all the help he can get. New head coach Mike McCarthy likes to feature a lot of different receivers, so there's still room for Cooper alongside D.K. Metcalf and free-agent signing Michael Pittman.

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Justin Herbert played some incredible football despite being sacked 54 times in 2025, which was one fewer than Cam Ward and Geno Smith, who tied for the league lead. So, yeah, the team needs to keep its franchise quarterback upright. If Proctor falls to them at No. 22, that would be an ideal scenario for LA.

The Eagles took a bit of a step back in 2025 and much of it had to do with the offensive line not performing as well as it had the past few seasons (losing Jason Kelce didn't help). Philadelphia is a team that likes to control the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball and that has served the Eagles well for many years. That's why it makes sense for them to go out and get an offensive lineman (if they don't trade this pick for more capital).

MOCK TRADE - Cardinals receive: No. 24, Browns receive: No. 34, 2026 3rd-round pick

Ty Simpson to the Cardinals seems inevitable and in this mock draft we project Arizona to slide up from its early second round position to grab Simpson at the tail end of the first round. The benefit of picking a QB in the first round, rather than waiting until the second round, is that teams get that coveted fifth-year option, which is an extra year to decide if he can be the future.

The run on offensive line continues because arguably no team needs more help up front than the Bears. Caleb Williams took a meaningful step forward in his sophomore NFL season, but if the team wants him to keep improving, it has to invest in the offensive line to protect him. Iheanachor is the type of player that can help stabilize an entire unit.

Buffalo addressed its major offensive need by trading for receiver D.J. Moore from the Bears, but the team still needs to get more pressure up front on the defensive side of the ball. After moving on from Von Miller prior to last season, the team tried another veteran, Joey Bosa. But Bosa only recorded five sacks in 15 games and remains a free agent. Howell can step in across from Greg Rousseau starting Week 1.

After signing Trent Williams to a two-year contract to keep the offensive line intact, it's time for the 49ers to bulk up on the defensive side of the ball. Nick Bosa is an All-Pro on the outside and San Francisco is looking at his brother, and NFL free agent, Joey Bosa. But they need to get tougher in the middle of the line to help eat up blockers and allow their edge rushers to get to the quarterback.

C.J. Stroud hasn't been able to replicate the success he had in his rookie season, and a lot of that is because the offensive line hasn't done him any favors. The Texans have plenty of weapons, including two-time Pro Bowler Nico Collins, but they have to work to keep Stroud upright and throwing from clean pockets more often. Picking at 28 doesn't allow the Texans to get an elite offensive lineman, especially after a lengthy run at the position, but Ioane is a good blocker who should help the interior of the offensive line from day one.

The Chiefs traded McDuffie to the Rams, so it makes sense that they'd target a young, cheap cornerback with their second first-round pick. Steve Spagnuolo loves to blitz and to do that, he needs corners who who can hold up in press-man coverage and not get beaten over the top. Hood is very young (turned 21 in February), so he might need some time to develop. But he should also be able to get some key snaps as a rookie due to his great size (6'0", 195lbs) and speed (4.4 40-yard dash).

The Dolphins acquired this pick by trading WR Jaylen Waddle, and they can effectively use it to replace him with Concepcion, who profiles similarly to Waddle but is obviously younger and cheaper (exactly what Miami needs during this rebuilding phase). Concepcion wrote a letter in The Players' Tribune to tell NFL GMs that he's the best wide receiver in the draft and will outwork anybody. That's the type of attitude this young, rebuilding team desperately needs to add.

The Patriots signed Kevin Byard in free agency, but he's 32 years old. McNeil-Warren would be well-served to spend a year learning how to play the safety position behind a guy like Byard. Plus, the younger legs could give Byard more time off the field throughout the season to keep him fresh for another potential deep postseason run.

If there's one position group from the Super Bowl champion Seahawks that could see a lot of turnover, it's cornerback. Josh Jobe and Riq Woolen are both potential free agents and the team probably can't afford to pay both of them (along with paying the "Super Bowl tax" on other players), so it makes the most sense to use the team's first round pick on a corner.

That’s it for our final mock draft of the 2026 NFL Draft season! Have thoughts? Hit me on X: @RealDanZak.