My positional rankings for the NFC North moves to the back end of the defense and the all-important cornerback position – click here for last year’s rankings.

NFC North Cornerback Rankings for 2026

For a division that is full of wide receiver heavyweights the roll call for cornerbacks feels somewhat lackluster in comparison. However, there are a couple of big names and some solid rankings. Here are my rankings for this year.

1. Detroit Lions

DJ Reed, Rock Ya-Sin, Roger McCreary, Ennis Rakestraw, Keith Abney

Last year, Detroit made the big acquisition of DJ Reed, with the Lions signing him to a three–year, $48 million contract. Reed wasn’t at his best in his first season in Detroit, which included a spell on injured reserve due to a strained hamstring but he is still a good cornerback.

Former second round pick Ennis Raketraw should be back after missing all of last season due to a shoulder injury that required surgery. Rock Ya-Sin returns to give the team a solid veteran presence while there are two new faces in town in the shape of Roger McCreary and Keith Abney. McCreary was a second round pick for the Titans back in 2022, while Abney was selected in the fifth round of this year’s draft.

The depth looks solid. If Reed can return to his best this could be a very strong unit.

2. Chicago Bears

Jaylon Johnson, Kyler Gordon, Tyrique Stevenson, Malik Muhammad, Terrell Smith

The Chicago Bears are home to the best CB in the division in Jaylon Johnson. Johnson needs a return to full health and form in 2026 as the Bears look to win back-to-back NFC north titles for the first time since 2005/2006.

Chicago spent second-round picks in consecutive years (2022/2023) on Kyler Gordon and Tyrique Stevenson. Both have played plenty of football and done OK without ever without ever reaching the levels the Bears would have hoped.

Terrell Smith will hope to return from a torn patellar tendon that ended his 2025 season during the preseason while Chicago have looked towards the draft again with fourth round rookie Malik Muhammad. There is potential for a good unit here which largely hinges on Johnson getting back to his best we here he can go toe-to-toe with the best receivers in the game.

3. Green Bay Packers

Keisean Nixon, Carrington Valentine, Benjamin St-Juste, Brandon Cisse

The Packers CB room may lack star power but it looks solid if somewhat unspectacular all the way down the depth chart. Keisean Nixon and Carrington Valentine return after solid seasons in 2025 but aren’t exactly a starting duo to strike fear into the hearts of the high powered wide receivers that call the NFC North home.

Green Bay signed Benjamin St-Juste in free agency, adding a good veteran with inside/outside versatility. The key to the team’s success defensively on the perimeter likely falls to the development of second-round draft pick Brandon Cisse. If he can have success early then things will look much brighter at the position for the Packers. If he struggles early on then it could be another difficult season at corner in Green Bay.

4. Minnesota Vikings

Byron Murphy, James Pierre, Isaiah Rodgers, Dwight McGlothern, Charles Demmings

The Vikings’ search for answers at cornerback moved to the signing of James Pierre, who had an excellent 2025 as a depth player for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Minnesota looks set to hand him an increased role and will hope he can maintain his standards from last year.

Doing so could push Isaiah Rodgers’ playing time down. His peak performance last season was exceptional but not seen often enough. Byron Murphy will hope to return to the production levels that saw him named to the Pro Bowl in 2024.

The depth chart is rounded out by Dwight McGlothern, a former undrafted player still waiting for a real chance and rookie Charles Demmings who has been getting buzz as a draft steal with the potential to develop into a starter.

Proud UK Viking. Family Man. Enjoy writing about my team. Away from football an advocate for autism acceptance.

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England’s Mark Swan won the first gold medal of the Glasgow Commonwealth Games with a lift of 222kg in the lightweight powerlifting competition.

Swan set a new European record with a lift of 220kg in the up to 80kg category at the European Open Championships in March.

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He improved that to secure gold and then attempted a world record-equalling lift of 232kg in his final attempt but was unsuccessful.

“To get the first medal, especially gold, for Team England in the very first medal event, it’s absolutely huge,” Swan told BBC Sport.

“Hopefully this motivates the rest of the athletes in Team England to go out and push.”

The silver medal went to Roland Ezuruike of Nigeria, while world record holder Malaysia’s Bonnie Bunyau Gustin claimed the bronze after failing to lift 230kg in his final attempt.

Swan won silver at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham in 2022.

The Ciaron Maher stable is commencing the campaigns of two young horses at Caulfield this Saturday, with the hope that they can step up to more significant assignments in the upcoming spring racing season.

Ghana’s Akan and Milsons Point are slated to compete in the Stow Robotics Handicap (1100m), their initial outings since the autumn racing period concluded.

Milsons Point has been gelded following his participation in the VOBIS Showdown (1200m) at Caulfield in March. Jack Turnbull, National Assistant Trainer for Ciaron Maher Racing, commented that Saturday presents a suitable starting point with larger races in mind.

“He’s a big lad,” Turnbull remarked about Milsons Point. “Last prep he was strong as a colt, but he has softened up a touch as a gelding. He is a miler, that’s his future, so he’ll go up in trip pretty quick.”

Milsons Point has undergone two jump-outs in preparation for his return to racing and won an 800-metre heat at Caulfield last week.

“We’re pleased with how he’s come back, but his Grand Finals are down the track,” Turnbull stated. “The Caulfield Guineas would be his Grand Final, but we don’t know if he’s good enough. We’ll give him his chance to get there in races like the Mike Moroney at Flemington, the Prelude or the Stutt Stakes.”

Ghana’s Akan is yet to secure a victory in four career starts, but she has achieved two second-place finishes and accumulated prize money just shy of $470,000.

The daughter of Street Boss finished second in the Inglis Millennium at Randwick before concluding her previous preparation with a fifth-place finish in the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes at Caulfield.

Despite not having won a race, Ghana’s Akan has been assigned the top weight of 59kg, which will be mitigated by the 3kg claim from jockey Jabez Johnstone.

“We were sort of surprised in a way with the weight, but she’s a talented filly that put the writing on the wall last prep,” Turnbull said. “She’s strengthened up but will be better again coming out of the spring into the autumn. She’s quick, she had a nice trial last week and she’s cleaned up in the skin.”

Turnbull indicated that Ghana’s Akan would be kept to sprinting distances throughout the spring, with the Group 3 Quezette Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield on August 15 being a potential early target.

“The three weeks should work well, so that’s her path,” Turnbull added. “I think she’s more short course. That’s the way we see her, and I think the 1100 and 1200 metres is her go this prep.”

Saturday’s Stow Robotics Handicap provides a good starting point for these two stablemates to kick off their spring campaigns.

Check the latest racing odds on the action at Caulfield through Australian betting sites.

Ask Kevin O’Connell and he’ll say that some news coaches have been helping. Frank Smith is a tremendous mind for the rushing attack. Meanwhile, Keith Carter comes to work prepared and determined. Combined, these two are meant to push the Vikings’ rushing attack to a new level.

All eyes are on the quarterbacks in the Twin Cities. Perhaps the best way to support whoever wins the job will be through a potent ground game. Being able to control the clock, grind down defenses, remain unpredictable, and setup play action will pay dividends whether Kyler Murray or J.J. McCarthy get the nod. Kevin O’Connell has consistently praised these two new coaches, Smith and Carter, for what they’re contributing to the rushing attack.

Kevin O’Connell Points Toward Pair of New Coaches

Quite possibly, leaning on Jordan Mason is the way to go. After all, he’s a 27-year-old runner who hasn’t had a huge workload to this point in his career. The fresh, physical runner boasts a nasty demeanour even if he does have limitations in the passing game.

Otherwise, the main names to know are Aaron Jones, Demond Claiborne, and Max Bredeson (the 5th-Round rookie fullback). Jones, in particular, is going to receive a meaty workload. A touch less athletic than the Jones of yesteryear, the veteran is only hindered by injury. A healthy Jones is an effective Jones; expect him to be featured prominently

In fact, Jones has been outspoken about the brilliance of Coach Smith, pointing to Miami’s former OC as somebody who understands the game at a very high level. Jones is a smart guy who has been around for a while. Impressing the veteran therefore says something.

Check out some of what Kevin O’Connell had to say back in June about these coaches: “I think Keith’s done a phenomenal job. Really being the engine behind the technique and fundamentals. And can’t understate Frank’s impact from a schematical, big-picture standpoint of really being what we want to be as an offense.”

— READ MORE: Ian Rapoport Offers His 2 Cents —
— READ MORE: The Former Vikings GM’s Training Camp Preview —
— READ MORE: Is Kyler Murray the Answer that Justin Jefferson Needs? —

To clarify, O’Connell is discussing o-line coach Keith Carter and assistant head coach Frank Smith, both of whom are bringing a fresh perspective to the coaching staff.

More broadly, O’Connell is responding to a question of running wide zone. Picture the offensive line moving horizontally as a runner glides toward the sideline. That runner needs good vision and decisiveness. When a sliver of daylight appears between the large lads, explode vertically. The basic philosophy sounds simple but it’s the sort of thing that needs extensive practice to perfect. Football is all about the details.

And, no doubt, there’s plenty of merit in sticking with the ground game. A run that went for 3 yards in the 1st quarter may go for 13 yards in the 4th quarter due to the fatigue that sets in on the gridiron. Can these new coaches push O’Connell toward being more patient with the ground attack?

In fact, Coach Carter spoke to that reality not too long ago when he chatted with the Vikings’ Tatum Everett. “The run game isn’t always pretty,” the coach said, “it’s not always even exciting. But you need belief that it’s getting better as the game goes. And the more ops we get, the more we’re going to be able to make it better as the game goes.”

Carter is speaking toward a central issue for Kevin O’Connell: being too reluctant to commit himself to calling run plays consistently.

The Vikings are moving into the fifth season with Kevin O’Connell as the head coach. Continuing to struggle on the ground could plausibly be a central reason for the team failing to live up to its potential. Or, perhaps, the opposite occurs as the O’Connell offense figures out how to arrive at a healthy balance. Doing so would position the Vikings to get into the playoffs and do damage once there.

Senior Editor for Vikings Territory & PurplePTSD . Twitter & Bluesky: @VikingsGazette. Email: k.joudry[at]vikingsterritory[dot]com. Canadian. Jude 1:24-25.

As we count down to the first college football game of the 2026 season, we continue our new series: The records of each top CFB program in the West against all the others in the region.

Some schools have met many times over the years, while others are beginning new rivalries in the wake of recent realignment.

For each opponent in the table below, we provide the total games played, wins, losses, ties, winning percentage, first year played, and most recent contest.

We continue with San Jose State, which has played 627 games against regional foes, winning 249, losing 365, and recording 13 ties, for a winning percentage of .407.

The Spartans have recorded the most wins () an39d played the most games (88), and lost the most games (46) against Fresno State.

Here is a breakdown of San Jose State’s records vs. the region’s teams.

Adam Ramsay-Peaty shrugged off a bizarre delay to power through to the semi-finals of the men’s 100 metres breaststroke event at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

Ramsay-Peaty’s heat was temporarily halted as he was on the blocks when a lane divider broke off, requiring an official to strip to the waist and enter the pool to reconnect it.

Ramsay-Peaty duly wasted no time in recording the fastest time of the morning, 59.46 seconds, with only two rivals, Australia’s Sam Williamson and Filip Nowacki of Jersey, also finishing in under a minute.

The three-time Olympic champion is taking part in his fourth Commonwealth Games having clinched his first medals as a 19-year-old in Glasgow in 2014.

Since then he has become a fixture of the gossip columns after marrying Holly Ramsay, daughter of celebrity chef Gordon, in December last year, and experiencing a rift with the majority of his family.

Ramsay-Peaty has described these Games as a “full circle moment” as he looks to reignite his career. A silver medal at the Paris Olympics in 2024 helped him refocus after a difficult 2023 in which he withdrew from a series of events in order to focus on mental health concerns.

His win in the 100m in 2014 began eight years of almost total dominance in the event. That streak came to an end in dramatic fashion in Birmingham four years ago when he trailed home in a shock fourth place in the event.

Ramsay-Peaty, who is due to return for his semi-final on Friday evening, told TNT Sports: “Job done, really. We’ve got a busy two weeks coming up, so we’re reserving energy where we can.

“Last time I was here, I was very young. We barely had any world records to my name, or known world records to my name, so it’s been a very long journey.”

Germany have unveiled Jurgen Klopp as the new head coach of the national team, following the departure of Julian Nagelsmann after the disappointment of the 2026 World Cup, when Germany were knocked out by Paraguay in the round of 32. Klopp, who left Liverpool ahead of the summer 2024 and since worked as RedBull’s head of soccer, started a new chapter of his incredible career and will be leading the German national team at the 2028 UEFA Euro and at the 2030 World Cup and seems willing to be on the job for even longer.

“The day you don’t want me anymore, I’m gone, without any severance pay. If you say tomorrow that he’s rubbish, I’m gone. Not just one person, it would have to be more than that. If the federation says he’s rubbish, I’m gone. If you behave badly and don’t leave my family in peace, I’m gone. Criticize me if something doesn’t work. I’m happy to work on it. It’s all about the job. Klopp doesn’t have a career after the national team. Ideally, this is the highlight of my career,” he said. 

Klopp also said he’s ready to make changes in the national team and also on German soccer.

“I want to get very involved in the structures. Whoever brings in Jurgen, gets Jurgen. Everyone is happy today, but I’m not sure if that will be the case every day. I want to improve everything. I want to present the German national team in a positive light, so that we can eventually get back to the top. I’m looking forward to the challenge,” he said. 

He also spoke on the players and how he wants to make an impact on some of them, looking to find stability and then, they hope, dominance on the global stage. Since winning the 2014 World Cup, the Germans crashed out in the group stages of 2018 and 2022 before the shock defeat to Paraguay in the round of 32 this past summer.

“Players will get opportunities they might not even be expecting right now, because I like to be bold. I’m keen to work with guys who want to play a style of football that everyone enjoys. It’s not always immediately successful, but I also want to achieve something with the national team that makes people go home and think, ‘Wow, that was really cool.’ A few things are needed to achieve that. Everyone who is eligible to play for the national team should give their all. I’ll be watching. Nobody is being written off today. It’s a fresh start,” he said. 

“Success is how you perform in relation to the expectations. When we ask in Germany: are we as good as France? And the answer is no, that’s not true. The question should be: do we have players like Dembele, Mbappe, Doue, Barcola? The answer is no. But we still can beat them. It’s not important to look at France, Spain, Argentina. The most important thing is to look at ourselves and how we play football. We aren’t number one in the world at the moment, that’s true. There are 11 nations ahead of us in the ranking — but we have to make beating them possible, with the way we play football.

“Luckily, the first game isn’t tomorrow. I’d be overwhelmed. I’ll be watching games in every country where our players are, including here in Germany, of course. I’ve gained a tremendous amount of insight lately. Maintaining contact with the players is very important, and I’ll try to get in touch with them early on. That will be my first task.”

DFB President Bernd Neuendorf also confirmed that the staff will consist of Peter Krawietz, Pepijn Lijnders and Sven Bender and it’s also confirmed that Per Mertesacker will replace Andreas Rettig as DFB managing director at the end of the year.