Anyone who watched him even peripherally could reach that conclusion. And that’s saying something, given that the 2025 draft class is giving every indication it will be one of the strongest and deepest in decades.
But even in that group, there were not 10 rookies better than the Raptors’ first-round pick. There were not 10 rookies who affected games on both ends more, who were more integral to a playoff team finding its identity, who were more able to elevate their own play even as the games got more meaningful.
The NBA announced its all-rookie teams on Wednesday night, and if the voters didn’t get it exactly right, they at least didn’t get it wrong.
The first four for the first team were set in stone, the voting roughly reflecting the draft order, with the Dallas Mavericks’ Cooper Flagg, Philadelphia 76ers guard VJ Edgecombe and Charlotte Hornets sharpshooter Kon Knueppel each earning all 100 first-team votes, and Dylan Harper of San Antonio getting 93.
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After that, Memphis Grizzlies wing Cedric Howard — the 11th pick — rounded out the first team.
Murray-Boyles was named to the second-team — the 13th Raptor to get all-rookie honours and the first since Scottie Barnes in 2021-22 — along with Ace Bailey (Utah), Maxime Raynaud (Sacramento) and New Orleans Pelicans freshmen Jeremiah Fears and Derik Queen.
Murray-Boyles got eight first-team votes, the fewest among the 10 rookies recognized. As one of the voters, I had the Raptors’ rookie on my first team, in place of Coward.
Regardless, the six-foot-seven front-court player from South Carolina deserved all-rookie recognition based on his regular season, even if it was hampered for all of the second half with multiple thumb injuries, and it was a little slow starting due to a few minor tweaks and strains coming out of training camp.
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But those didn’t hold him back from posting rookie numbers that more than justified his status as the No. 9 pick in the draft: 8.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 0.9 steals and 0.9 blocks might not leap off the page, but only 26 rookies in NBA history have managed it while playing at least 50 games.
The only other Raptor to do so was Vince Carter.
The only other rookies to do it this season were the No. 1 overall pick, Flagg, and No. 12, Queen.
No rookie in NBA history has done it while playing just 21.9 minutes per game as Murray-Boyles did this season.
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Murray-Boyles’ contributions to winning basketball games were his true superpower. He could keep possessions alive with his ferocious offensive rebounding (his 2.3 offensive rebounds per game was second among all rookies), or shift games with his hyperkinetic defence (his 4.9 deflections per 36 minutes was 12th-best among all NBA players with at least 1,200 minutes, per Craftednba.com, and best among rookies).
He was 20 years old and very much a first-year NBA player — he got his car filled with popcorn at one point during the year for the crime of failing to fulfill his undefined ‘rookie chores’ — but when the ball went up, all of that melted away.
He recognized a role the Raptors needed for someone with all-around defensive versatility combined with low-usage, high-impact offence and dove in headfirst.
“I know who we have on our team,” Murray-Boyles said as the playoffs were approaching, when asked how he had found a way to contribute so quickly in his first season. “We have a really, really good roster, very talented guys that can score, that can put the ball in the rim. So it was just me finding where I fit in and sticking to it, just to elevate the team as much as possible and really try not to get in anybody’s way and just do what I can to help elevate the team.”
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It worked. The Raptors scored 125 points per 100 possessions when he was on the floor — third best among Raptors regulars — and allowed just 112 points per 100, which trailed only Scottie Barnes and Jakob Poeltl.
His two-man defensive pairing with Barnes — where the Raptors put two big, fast, physical, five-position defenders together on the floor — was, not surprisingly, a hellscape for opposing offences. In the 637 minutes they played together, opponents scored just 104.5 points per 100 possessions, or two points per 100 possessions better than the league-leading Oklahoma City Thunder allowed.
Rookies aren’t supposed to contribute like that, but Murray-Boyles did.
“Very unique, right? From the moment that he came to our team and in Summer League, he showed that he can be the player we can count on,” said Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic when summing up Murray-Boyles’ rookie season. “When you have a rookie and you’re always thinking about what’s going to be his plan and how much he’s going to be playing in the G League with our 905 program, it was always pretty clear in September that he’s not going to be seeing a lot of minutes playing with 905.”
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“There’s just a lot of intangibles, a lot of things that he does on a nightly basis, how competitive he is, how hard he plays. It just gave us confidence from Day 1 that he’s going to be an important player in the rotation,” Rajakovic continued. “And then his development over the course of the season was outstanding. Just seeing him always being able to react to any challenge that was thrown his way was awesome.”
Of course, the all-rookie vote was taken before the playoffs started. Had they been calculated a couple of weeks later, Murray-Boyles very well could have been named to the first team. His role elevated, and as it did, the Raptors went from down 0-2 against Cleveland to forcing a Game 7.
He averaged 14.6 points, 6.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.0 blocks in 27 minutes per game of elite competition. He forced the Cavaliers to adjust their defence to account for him, the highest compliment a player can receive. Only seven rookies in league history had previously had those numbers or better across the board in the playoffs — Larry Bird, Anfernee Hardaway and Magic Johnson among them — and none did so with an effective field goal percentage better than .600; Murray-Boyles checked in at .685.
It’s way too early to predict where Murray-Boyles’ upside will take him and the Raptors. He’s already begun an off-season regimen aimed at developing his shooting and ability to attack the basket while facing it from 15 or 20 feet. If he can add that — and Murray-Boyles’ ability to learn on the fly was one of the qualities his coaches raved about this season — he’ll be that much more of a dangerous offensive option to go along with his already superb defence.
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If he achieves that, it won’t be all-rookie teams that Murray-Boyles will be in consideration for. Sooner or later, it will be all-star and all-NBA honours.
Manchester United have been busy in the summer transfer window as Michael Carrick aims to bolster his squad ahead of the upcoming Premier League season
Diario AS claims that any sale Real Madrid agrees to this summer must exceed £85million, meaning United will have to drop a hefty sum to secure his signature. It is understood that the France international is keen to stay in Spain but recent transfer activity between United and Madrid could help push the deal forward.
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Former Chelsea defender Desailly has pointed to the move of Raphael Varane as he gave the green light to Tchouameni’s potential move to United. Speaking to sportscasting.com, the ex-France international said: “I’m sure Aurelien Tchouaméni would move to the Premier League, and Manchester United is still a massive club; a massive name.
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“He had a difficult season, but at least he shows leadership. That’s why when you talk about Konaté or Tchouaméni, I’ll always choose Tchouaméni because of his desire. And he also wears my number 8 on his back, so I love him for this!
“I believe that he has that little bit of leadership and the desire to bring the team all together. So it could be a good move for him, just like when Raphaël Varane swapped Madrid for Manchester back in the day.
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“So why not? I would encourage him to go for it and try the Premier League.”
Varane is a prime example of a success story from La Liga to the Premier League, joining United in 2021 for a fee of around £41m. He won the Carabao Cup and FA Cup during his time at Old Trafford, making 95 appearances and becoming a defensive stalwart.
Casemiro also made the same move a year later and became a fan favourite at Old Trafford. The defensive midfielder racked up 160 appearances for United, making 40 goal contributions and securing two domestic cups along the way.
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His departure from the club this summer kick-started United’s pursuit of Tchouameni, and the 26-year-old could look to his old Madrid colleagues for inspiration in heading to the Premier League.
Michael Carrick has already secured the £35m signing of Atalanta midfielder Ederson this summer and will be keen to add more firepower to his squad as his first season in permanent charge edges closer.
Thousands of Man United fans upgraded their matchday last season. This is how they did it.
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Switzerland take on World Cup dark horses Colombia in Vancouver in the round of 16, stripped of injured 20-year-old breakout star Johan Manzambi. The winners will go on to face title holders Argentina, who survived an almighty scare against Egypt earlier today. Follow our liveblog for minute-by-minute match commentary.
Jannik Sinner believes the work he and his team put in after the French Open has already paid off following his straight-sets victory over Jan-Lennard Struff at Wimbledon.
The world No. 1 defeated Struff 7-5, 7-6(5), 6- 3 to reach the Wimbledon semi-finals for the second consecutive year.
Playing in hot conditions, Sinner admitted he was pleased to get through the match in three sets.
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When asked whether the heat made the victory even more satisfying, the Italian laughed before saying:
“Yeah, thanks for reminding me.”
He then explained how the French Open disappointment led to the important changes behind the scenes.
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“We worked a lot, especially after Paris, trying to understand what went wrong there. We prepared ourselves in the best possible way.”
Sinner said he was especially encouraged by how he felt physically throughout the match.
“It was a huge test today. I felt really, really comfortable on the physical side today. A good step forward.”
Although he hopes not to experience another setback like the one in Paris, Sinner believes his team is now better prepared.
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“If it would happen again like in Paris, I hope not, but if it happens again, we know we need to change some things again.”
The defending Wimbledon champion also praised Struff, describing the German as one of the toughest opponents on tour.
“Very, very tough player to play against. He deserves everything he’s done and achieved in his career.”
Sinner will now head into the Wimbledon semi-finals looking to continue his title defence after another composed performance on grass.
And the photo from that goal was just unreal. It was snapped by Elsa of Getty Images — she’s shot so many incredible sports moments — and just look at it: It’s from inside the net as the ball goes in, with Messi watching from afar and getting ready to celebrate. The rest of the players are watching it, with some realizing what just happened.
It’s so good:
ATLANTA, GEORGIA – JULY 07: (EDITOR’S NOTE: Image was captured using a remote camera inside of the goal.) Lionel Messi #10 of Argentina scores his team’s second goal past Mostafa Shoubir #23 of Egypt during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 match between Argentina and Egypt at Atlanta Stadium on July 07, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
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A tearful Messi perfectly celebrated Argentina comeback vs. Egypt
Argentina’s forward #10 Lionel Messi celebrates after winning the 2026 World Cup round of 16 football match between Argentina and Egypt at Atlanta Stadium in Atlanta on July 7, 2026. (Photo by Odd ANDERSEN / AFP via Getty Images)
(ODD ANDERSEN, AFP via Getty Images)
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A tearful Messi perfectly celebrated Argentina comeback vs. Egypt
Argentina’s forward #10 Lionel Messi celebrates after winning the 2026 World Cup round of 16 football match between Argentina and Egypt at Atlanta Stadium in Atlanta on July 7, 2026. (Photo by Odd ANDERSEN / AFP via Getty Images)
(ODD ANDERSEN, AFP via Getty Images)
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A tearful Messi perfectly celebrated Argentina comeback vs. Egypt
Argentina’s forward #10 Lionel Messi is lifted by teammates as they celebrate after winning the 2026 World Cup round of 16 football match between Argentina and Egypt at Atlanta Stadium in Atlanta on July 7, 2026. (Photo by Odd ANDERSEN / AFP via Getty Images)
(ODD ANDERSEN, AFP via Getty Images)
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A tearful Messi perfectly celebrated Argentina comeback vs. Egypt
July 7, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.; Argentina’s Lionel Messi is thrown in the air in celebration by teammates after the match as Argentina qualify for the quarter finals of the World Cup. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images
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(Brett Davis, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters)
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A tearful Messi perfectly celebrated Argentina comeback vs. Egypt
July 7, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.; Argentina’s Lionel Messi celebrates after the match as Argentina qualify for the quarter finals of the World Cup. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images
(Brett Davis, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters)
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A tearful Messi perfectly celebrated Argentina comeback vs. Egypt
July 7, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.; Argentina’s Lionel Messi celebrates after the match as Argentina qualify for the quarter finals of the World Cup. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images
(Brett Davis, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters)
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A tearful Messi perfectly celebrated Argentina comeback vs. Egypt
July 7, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.; Argentina’s Lionel Messi celebrates after the match as Argentina qualify for the quarter finals of the World Cup. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images
LONDON, ENGLAND – JULY 07: Karolina Muchova of Czechia serves against Naomi Osaka of Japan during their Ladies’ Singles quarterfinal match on day nine of The Championships Wimbledon 2026 at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 07, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images)
Karolina Muchova reached her first Wimbledon semifinal after defeating Naomi Osaka 7-6, 6-4.
The Czech star extended her winning streak to nine consecutive matches, producing another impressive performance to book her place in the last four.
After the match, Muchova laughed when told she looked calm throughout the contest.
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“Oh my God, I was nervous.”
She praised Osaka’s ability to punish even the smallest mistakes.
“She’s an unbelievable athlete. You can’t lose that focus. You have to keep playing every point. If you give her a little chance, she takes it.”
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Muchova also admitted she had never enjoyed playing on Centre Court before the breakthrough.
“I don’t know if you guys know, but I played three times on this court and it was 0-3, so I wasn’t in a very good relationship with this court.”
That finally changed with her biggest Wimbledon win yet.
“I’m super happy we finally made it today and I got that win in front of you all.”
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The victory sends Muchova into her first Wimbledon semifinal and her first Grand Slam semifinal in two years.
She will now face Coco Gauff for a place in the Wimbledon final. Although Gauff leads their head-to-head 6-1, Muchova won their most recent meeting in Stuttgart earlier this year. The semifinal will also be the first time they have faced each other on grass.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi takes a brilliant catch to remove Jacob Bethell and England lose Tom Banton in the next delivery as Harshit Rana strikes twice for India during the third T20 at Trent Bridge.
Jon Rahm says no, he hasn’t been asked to put his own money back into LIV Golf.
But what if the league made the request?
“Something I’ve learned in life, never say never,” he said Tuesday.
“I’m not going to say absolutely no to anything that can happen in the future.”
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Speaking Tuesday ahead of this week’s Genesis Scottish Open, Rahm had been asked whether he’d help finance the prize fund for the league in which he plays, an idea that a reporter said could be an option while LIV seeks new investors as it’s been told it will no longer be backed by the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund. In December of 2023, Rahm left the PGA Tour and signed what has been reported as a nine-figure deal with LIV.
But Rahm said he hasn’t been asked to invest into the tour playing its fifth season. Since the PIF announcement, LIV CEO Scott O’Neil has said he’s exploring options, though Rahm said early last month that he wouldn’t be involved in an investor search.
“I know Scott is doing a lot of work trying to find developers,” Rahm said Tuesday. “And there’s many ways around that. As far as putting my money into it, they have not asked me to do that yet.
“So I don’t know if they will or not. It’s not something that they have asked me, but there has been many different avenues to try to make it different, what we’ve had till now. They haven’t asked me to put my money in yet.”
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Several questions during his media session centered around LIV, which was to be expected given the league’s uncertainty — and the fact that Rahm is playing a tournament co-sanctioned by the DP World Tour and the PGA Tour. The latter does not allow players to play on LIV, but the formerly named European Tour, through an agreement, is letting LIV pros into its tournaments, all of which seemingly would lead to at least a different feeling this week, but Rahm said he hasn’t experienced that.
“Not really,” he said. “It’s just another event. Just happy I can — happy that the DP World Tour let me have the opportunity and that I can be here and play what’s not only a great week but a great golf course, great crowd. It’s one of my favorite weeks, so it’s really fun to be here again.”
A reporter also wondered whether Rahm thought that his appearance this week, along with those of other LIV players in the Scottish Open field, would be looked at as “a turning point” in the men’s game.
“Yeah, it could be,” he said. “Yeah, I mean, it’s a fantastic event, and I think a lot of us, if given the opportunity, we are going to continue to play in the events that we like to play. Myself, very thankful and happy that I can be here.”
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Rahm also said he hadn’t seen any of the news announced last week regarding the PGA Tour’s future schedule and format; when told by a reporter that there would be two tours, Rahm said: “That’s not the first time I’ve heard that, so it’s not a surprise that that would happen.” A reporter also wondered how difficult it was for Rahm to put himself in the present, while answering questions about the future.
But Rahm said that wasn’t hard.
“Maybe early on,” he said. “I think at this point, seeing whatever some of the headlines that come my way, I can pretty much predict what I’m being asked. I’m ready for what is coming. It’s not entirely a surprise.”
“I also understand it’s everybody’s job to do,” he said later. “I’m ready for it. I like to say I’m an open book, so I like to be as honest as I can.”
Minecraft has released the third snapshot for the upcoming 26.3 update, alongside a new Beta and Preview for the 26.40 update. These new releases introduce features confirmed for the Fall game drop, releasing later in 2026.
The latest Minecraft snapshot, Beta, and Preview introduce two main features for 2026’s Q3 update: cushions and straw beds. For the first time in years, Minecraft is getting decorative furniture with a sitting option. Players will no longer have to rely on awkward minecart setups while creating seating arrangements in their builds.
The second feature, straw beds, is a type of temporary bed that you can use to skip nights in Minecraft. Using a straw bed does not reset your spawn point, making it the perfect item for explorers who want to skip the night without risking their original spawn location. Let’s look at all the new features in today’s Minecraft snapshot and Preview.
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What’s new in Minecraft 26.3 Snapshot 3 and Bedrock 26.40.30 Preview?
Cushion
Alex on a cushion (Image via Mojang)
Cushions are one of the main new features in the latest Minecraft snapshot and Preview. You can craft them using three wool slabs. They come in 16 different colors, just like other wool items. You can interact with them to sit down. The best thing about cushions is that you can place them on a variety of flat surfaces, such as stairs, trapdoors, and more. The possibilities are endless!
Straw bed
Straw bed in an abandoned camp (Image via Mojang)
You can use three hay bales on a crafting table to make four straw beds in Minecraft. Like a regular bed, you can place them on the ground and sleep to skip the night. However, the straw bed disappears as soon as you wake up.
Using a straw bed does not change your spawn point, meaning you can carry multiple straw beds and use them to skip nights while avoiding hostile mobs. They can also stack up to 16, so carrying several of them does not take up much inventory space.
Other features and changes in Minecraft 26.3 Snapshot 3
Minecraft Snapshot 26.3 🔗 changelog:
Minecraft 26.3 Snapshot 3 adds Gothic language support to Java Edition. On the technical side, the snapshot introduces a new command called posteffect, which lets you add or remove post-processing shader effects for a player. The developers have also added technical changes and bug fixes, which can be found in the official patch notes.
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Changes and fixes in Minecraft Bedrock 26.40.30 Preview
All new features in one image (Image via Mojang)
Unlike 26.3 Snapshot 3, Minecraft Bedrock 26.40.30 Preview mainly focuses on changes related to abandoned camps and dappled forests. In this new version, abandoned camps now generate correctly in the Pale Garden and Flower Forest biomes. You will also find a straw bed inside abandoned camps.
As for the dappled forest, it now features new textures for poplar leaves and uses the same fog settings as other biomes.
Version 26.40.30 also fixes several graphical glitches, including extra pixels on the poplar door icon, incorrect poplar sign textures, a black background on poplar leaves, a miscolored pixel on sulfur spikes, Vibrant Visuals glitches on certain Android GPUs, and more. You can read the official Minecraft 26.40.30 patch notes for the complete list of changes and fixes.
Minnesota Vikings tackle Christian Darrisaw watched practice action during training camp at TCO Performance Center as players worked through another summer session in Eagan. On August 6, 2026, Darrisaw stood near the sideline in uniform while Minnesota continued evaluating its offensive line before preseason football arrived and the regular season drew closer. Mandatory Credit: YouTube.
Rookies will report to Minnesota Vikings training camp in 19 days, with veterans arriving a couple of days later, and fans formally invited on August 1st. The time is coming.
And while the club, like every summer, has several fascinating storylines, here’s what we can’t wait to see in Eagan three weeks from now. The items are listed in no particular order.
The Watchlist Has Real Stakes
Miami Hurricanes defensive back Jakobe Thomas lined up against the Indiana Hoosiers during the College Football Playoff National Championship at Hard Rock Stadium. On January 19, 2026, in Miami Gardens, Thomas worked through title-game action as Miami’s secondary faced Indiana in one of the season’s biggest national college football stages. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images.
1. The Pecking Order at Safety
This could be moot or less important if Harrison Smith returns to the Vikings, but as of early July, nobody knows if that will happen. Smith is acting mysteriously.
If Smith is gone-gone, the Vikings will unveil a safety unit without him for the first time since 2011. Josh Metellus will start, but after Metellus, it’s a crapshoot to determine the other main starter, among contenders Jay Ward, Theo Jackson, and rookie Jakobe Thomas.
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Ward is probably the frontrunner to obtain most safety snaps because he took over as the starter in December. That must be confirmed, though, and training camp will be the first major clue. Generally speaking, the Vikings’ safety room is no longer as straightforward as “Smith and Metellus.”
2. The Seriousness of the QB Battle
We fully understand and embrace the fact that Kyler Murray and J.J. McCarthy will battle at training camp; that’s healthy for a football team. We, however, believe that Murray will prevail rather handily — because he is the better, more experienced quarterback.
So, we ask: How interesting will McCarthy make the competition? Will it go down to the wire? Will preseason games be needed to weigh pros and cons of each combatant? Will Kevin O’Connell see a practice or two and say, “Murray’s our guy, folks.”
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It’s not a sham competition, but McCarthy’s legitimacy as a contender is “to be determined.”
3. Brett Thorson’s Leg
In March, Minnesota signed punter Johnny Hekker, who was the best punter on the planet in 2015. In April, Minnesota signed punter Brett Thorson, who was the best college punter in 2025. We wonder why Hekker is even needed.
There shouldn’t be much mystery about Thorson’s transition to the NFL; he’s the real deal. The Vikings may not have known that Thorson would fall into their lap after the draft in undrafted free agency. Perhaps signing him was a perk that rendered the Hekker signing useless.
Thorson should be the punter in 2026 and for the long haul, but he evidently has to prove it against Hekker at training camp.
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The Vikings always have some form of a kicking battle in the summer. Clockwork.
4. The Dillon Bell Glow-Up
The hype train began for Bell in late April, when, like Thorson, the Vikings signed him as an undrafted free agent. Georgia head coach Kirby Smart and former NFLer Steve Smith have pounded the table for Bell, who brings WR versatility and a chip on his shoulder to the Vikings.
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kyler Murray delivered a pass to wide receiver Dillon Bell during minicamp practice at TCO Performance Center. In June 2026, in Eagan, Murray connected with Bell as Minnesota continued offseason workouts and evaluated new offensive combinations, giving the rookie receiver valuable reps alongside the veteran quarterback before training camp arrived. Mandatory Credit: YouTube.
Boots on the ground also suggest that Bell looked the part at OTAs and minicamp. That’s great — but now Bell must earn a roster spot, dueling Tai Felton, Myles Price, and several other anonymous UDFA wide receivers at training camp.
Can Bell take the momentum through the summer and snag a September roster spot? Felton or Price might have to be cut to make room. You’ve been warned.
5. Caleb Banks and His Foot
Teams shied away from Banks in Round 1 of the draft because he injured his foot in the summer of 2025 and then broke the same foot at the NFL Combine. As a rule of thumb, it’s dangerous to draft big men with bad feet in the 1st Round.
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It’s just that the Vikings didn’t care.
Before the second foot injury, Banks held 1st-Round draft stock; it was just a matter of which DT-needy club would pick him. After the NFL Combine, Banks’s draft hopes fell into Round 2, and he lived there until the Vikings went against the grain, selecting him in Round 1.
Now, listen carefully: Minnesota absolutely cannot afford a draft miss, especially one from the 1st Round. The franchise is trying to emerge from the rubble of failed draft picks like Lewis Cine, Andrew Booth, Brian Asamoah, and others.
Watching Banks this summer will be a major clue whether the Vikings got this one right. He really can’t afford to “sit out” his rookie season with a bad foot. If so, a 1st-Round pick was not worth it.
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6. Demond Claiborne’s NFL Translation
The Vikings are starved for young legs at running back. It’s been nine years since they drafted Dalvin Cook. After Cook left — and fell off an NFL production cliff — Minnesota has preferred RB1 options like Alexander Mattison, Aaron Jones, and Jordan Mason. Those veterans are okay, but soon the Vikings must restart the clock with a promising, explosive tailback.
Wake Forest running back Demond Claiborne carried the football during first-quarter action against Virginia Tech at Lane Stadium, adding another road-game snapshot to his college profile. On October 4, 2025, in Blacksburg, Claiborne worked through the Hokies’ defense as the Demon Deacons tried to generate offense in an ACC matchup. Mandatory Credit: Brian Bishop-Imagn Images.
In theory, that could be Claiborne, a 6th-Rounder from Wake Forest with 4.37 speed.
Onlookers will be able to tell if Claiborne has the vision and tackle-breaking acumen to succeed as an eventual RB1 at training camp. He’ll provide hints. The early returns, too, are promising.
But he has to make a dent this summer to project well for the future. The question is this: Can Claiborne become a rare late-round RB success story? Or is he just another Ty Chandler or DeWayne McBride?
Do not forget: the Vikings are fundamentally starved for a young playmaking running back.
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Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … More about Dustin Baker
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