In 20 days, longtime Vikings executive Rob Brzezinski will select the newest group of Minnesota Vikings players in the draft. As always, the draft remains a mystery, although analysts all over the country seemingly want to make it official with mock draft darling Dillon Thieneman joining the club.

There are other scenarios that don’t include the safety and Alex Ballentine from Bleacher Report has a different idea for Minnesota’s first-round pick in a perfect world.

He wrote, “Injury concerns push Jermod McCoy to the Vikings at No. 18. Even getting their choice of McNeil-Warren or Thieneman would be great. They need to stock up on secondary talent to take on Caleb Williams, Jared Goff and Jordan Love.”

Minnesota’s second could certainly use an infusion of youth, as the youngest member of that group who’s expected to play a significant role is Jay Ward, who’s set to turn 26 in the summer. Defensive coordinator Brian Flores has made it work with veterans and patchwork one-year solutions. The Vikings featured an outstanding pass defense in 2025.

At some point, however, developing some in-house talent certainly makes sense and McCoy or the safety duo could fit his unit.

McCoy is in the conversation to be the first corner taken this year despite missing the entire season due to a torn ACL suffered in January 2025. He then skipped the combine workouts, which raised some alarms.

This week, however, he posted a 4.38 40-yard dash with test scores in the jumping department that confirm his athleticism. In 13 games at Tennessee, McCoy registered 44 tackles and four interceptions.

ESPN’s Matt Miller noted on Friday, “The feedback I received from teams was that McCoy is back in the running for CB1. There were some questions even from the morning of the workout about what drills he would participate in. But he did everything, including positional drills.

“Teams love McCoy’s size (6-foot, 193 pounds) and his over 1-inch advantage in terms of arm length over Delane — 31¼ inches compared to 30 inches. And while Delane’s elite final season might keep him in the top spot, both players feel like top-12 locks.”

Mansoor Delane (LSU) is the other cornerback in the mix for CB1. He also sent strong signals at his pro day and he played in the final season of his collegiate career. In most mock drafts, both are drafted before the Vikings are on the clock at 18.

It should be noted that cornerbacks tend to fall on draft day unless they are elite prospects like Sauce Gardner or Derek Stingley in 2022 and Devon Witherspoon in 2023. The top true corner (Travis Hunter went second overall) last year was Jahdae Barron at 20. In 2024, Quinyon Mitchell was selected 22nd.

That recent history lesson, paired with McCoy’s injury, could put him in range for the Vikings. At cornerback, the club employs Byron Murphy and Isaiah Rodgers from last year and James Pierre was signed in free agency. Only Murphy is under contract beyond the 2026 campaign.

More secondary help could arrive in the form of a safety, as Ballentine alluded to. McNeil-Warren and Thieneman could both add talent to a room that is set to lose Harrison Smith either this year or in 2027. They have the versatility to be used in the box and deep, which is crucial in a Flores defense.

Thieneman turned heads at the scouting combine and his draft stock exploded that day with a 4.35 40-yard dash. He was the backbone of Oregon*s defense last year after starting his career at Purdue.

McNeil-Warren is the next player from Toledo’s DB school after Mitchell has established himself as one of the league’s top cornerbacks. He ran a 4.52, which is still good for a safety and he brings a bigger frame into the NFL.

The Vikings didn’t add a safety in free agency. Josh Metellus could step into an even bigger leadership role depending on Smith’s future, while rotational guys Theo Jackson and Jay Ward could also earn a promotion.

McCoy, Thieneman, and McNeil-Warren would be investments for the future but would likely still play meaningful roles in their rookie seasons.

Editor’s Note: Information from PFF, Over The Cap, and Sports Reference helped with this article.

Janik Eckardt is a German sports nerd, who likes numbers and stats. He chose the Vikings to be his … More about Janik Eckardt

The Los Angeles Lakers’ championship hopes just took a major hit.

NBA scoring leader Luka Dončić will miss the rest of the regular season with a Grade 2 strain of his left hamstring, the team announced Friday.

It’s unclear what his status is for the postseason.

Dončić was the main reason the Lakers climbed into the third spot in the Western Conference standings. But an injury to his leg during Los Angeles’ blowout loss in Oklahoma City Thursday has taken that all away after an MRI exam revealed the severity of the strain.

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Lakers coach JJ Redick said Dončić was injured in the first half against the Thunder but was cleared to return to the game while his team was getting plastered by the defending NBA champion Thunder. 

Dončić lasted only about four minutes before he spun, stopped and went down on the court in pain, leading to his departure.

Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Dončić controls the ball against the Orlando Magic in the first quarter at Kia Center March 21, 2026. (Nathan Ray Seebeck/Imagn Images)

The Lakers acquired Dončić in a surprising and controversial trade in February 2025, when the Dallas Mavericks sent the Latvian superstar, along with Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris to LA in exchange for 31-year-old Anthony Davis, Max Christie and a 2029 first-round pick. The move left many fans and pundits puzzled, believing the trade was lopsided in favor of the Lakers.

The Pacific Division champion Lakers (50-27) have just five games left before the postseason, starting Sunday at Dallas.

Grade 2 hamstring strains sometimes require several weeks of recovery, but Dončić also has prior experience with hamstring issues. He missed four games right before the All-Star break with another left hamstring strain but returned to the lineup after the break.

LAKERS STAR LUKA DONČIĆ SAYS HE’S IN A CUSTODY BATTLE WITH FIANCÉE OVER DAUGHTERS

Guard Luka Dončić of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts after a foul call in the first half against the Los Angeles Clippers at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles Nov. 25, 2025. (Keith Birmingham/MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News/Getty Images)

Dončić is putting up spectacular numbers in his first full season with the Lakers, who acquired the Slovenian superstar from the Mavericks last season. 

He is averaging 33.5 points, 8.3 assists and 7.7 rebounds per game for Los Angeles, and he was named the NBA’s Western Conference player of the month for March after racking up 13 consecutive 30-point performances, including seven 40-point games, a 51-point barrage against Chicago and a 60-point masterclass in Miami.

Dončić scored 600 points in March, becoming only the 10th player in NBA history to hit that mark in a single month. While LeBron James and Austin Reaves have also played well down the stretch, the Lakers depend on Dončić, who either scored or assisted on 58% of their total points in March.

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Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Dončić controls the ball against the Atlanta Hawks during the first half at State Farm Arena in Atlanta Nov. 8, 2025. (Dale Zanine/Imagn Images)

The Lakers’ regular-season finale is next Sunday, April 12, at home against Utah. Their first-round playoff series is expected to start the following weekend.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) skipper Rajat Patidar has achieved what no other captain of the franchise had managed since the start of the Indian Premier League (IPL) in 2008 – leading the side to an IPL title. Under Patidar, RCB created history by winning the IPL in 2025. The start to their title defence has been impressive as well, with RCB beating Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the opener. After the match, Patidar took part in a fun rapid-fire question round. He was asked several questions, and the following were his responses.

Best batter: Virat Kohli 

Best captain: Rohit Sharma

Best fielder: Faf du Plessis 

Best away ground: Eden Gardens 

Best cover drive player: Virat Kohli 

Best fast bowler: Dale Steyn 

Best spinner: Sunil Narine

Best finisher: AB de Villiers

Best death over bowler: Jasprit Bumrah

Best dressed teammate: Virat Kohli

Best music taste: Romario Shepherd

Rajat Patidar’s picks in the IPL:

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Best Captain – Rohit Sharma.

Best batter – Virat Kohli.

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— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) April 2, 2026

Earlier, Patidar praised Virat Kohli as the team’s top “chase master.” He said he has always admired Kohli’s batting and enjoys watching him from the dugout, highlighting his shot selection and ability to read match situations as particularly impressive.

Kohli played a match-winning, unbeaten knock of 69 off 38 deliveries, including five fours and as many sixes, against Sunrisers Hyderabad, helping the defending champions chase down the fastest 200-plus target in IPL history. Bengaluru chased down the 202-run target in just 15.4 overs in the IPL 2026 opener.

“Virat Kohli is our number one chase master, as we all know. I have always admired his batting, and watching him bat from the dugout-the way he played his shots and assessed the situation-was really good to see,” Patidar told reporters.

Patidar also lauded RCB speedster Jacob Duffy as a skilled T20 specialist, saying the team has full confidence in him and that his bowling performance and execution have been excellent.

“He’s a specialist T20 bowler, and we have a lot of confidence in him. That’s why we’ve given him a chance. The way he’s delivering and showcasing his skills has been tremendous,” he added.

Duffy took three wickets to help RCB beat Sunrisers Hyderabad by six wickets and get their IPL 2026 campaign off to a winning start. He was also named Player of the Match for his impressive spell with the ball

Accor Stadium will play host to Friday’s
Round 5 NRL game between South Sydney Rabbitohs and
Canterbury Bulldogs. The game kicks off at 4:05 pm with South Sydney Rabbitohs heading into the game as favourites with the bookmakers. Continue reading for our in-depth preview of the South Sydney Rabbitohs vs.
Canterbury Bulldogs
game and give you our free tips and bets.

When: Friday April 3, 2026 at 4:05 pm

Where: Accor Stadium

Bet 💰: Bet On This Match HERE

South Sydney Rabbitohs vs Canterbury Bulldogs Odds

South Sydney Rabbitohs vs Canterbury Bulldogs Preview

South Sydney face Canterbury in a clash that pits attacking flair against defensive grit. The Rabbitohs’ ability to create opportunities through their spine remains a key strength, while the Bulldogs will rely on structure and resilience. Field position and completion rates are likely to shape the outcome, with both sides aiming to control tempo. Expect a competitive contest, with momentum swings and pressure moments playing a decisive role. This encounter provides a valuable measure of both teams’ early-season form.

Shreyas Iyer (BCCI Photo)

NEW DELHI: Punjab Kings registered an impressive five-wicket win over Chennai Super Kings in their IPL 2026 clash at Chepauk, chasing down a big target of 210 with confidence. Despite CSK putting up a strong total, PBKS handled the pressure better and sealed their second straight victory of the season.After being put in to bat, CSK built their innings around a solid partnership between Ayush Mhatre and Ruturaj Gaikwad. The duo added 96 runs for the second wicket, giving the team a strong platform.