Chennai Super Kings’ captain Ruturaj Gaikwad (PTI Photo)

Ruturaj Gaikwad reflected on a complete team performance after guiding Chennai Super Kings to a commanding eight-wicket win over Mumbai Indians, a result that keeps their playoff hopes alive. Named Player of the Match for his unbeaten 67, Gaikwad highlighted how CSK managed to wrest back control after a brief phase of pressure. “Feels good. We started really well, first couple of overs, they got a momentum after that and we pulled it back,” he said, pointing to the bowlers’ ability to respond under pressure. MI had raced to 57 for 1 in the powerplay, but CSK’s attack, led by Noor Ahmad (2/26) and Anshul Kamboj (3/32), tightened the screws through the middle overs. Gaikwad was particularly pleased with Kamboj’s approach, saying, “He is someone who is keeping it really simple, sticking to the process and his mind is thinking like a batters mind.” He also noted Noor’s improvement, adding that the spinner “has made some adjustments and come along really well.” Chasing 160, CSK lost Sanju Samson early to Jasprit Bumrah, but Gaikwad stressed the importance of one of the top three batting deep. “It was about getting through the first couple of overs and then it was about one of the top three staying there,” he explained. He anchored the innings alongside Kartik Sharma, who impressed with an unbeaten 54. Praising the youngster, Gaikwad said, “Good confidence booster for him and us as well. Yes, he is a six-hitter but he has the other game as well, but he picks and chooses particular deliveries.” Gaikwad also shed light on team selection decisions, explaining the balance CSK sought by opting for all-round options. “We thought about how to get the balance right, how to get a batter at eight and the extra bowler. Veer and Ghosh are someone who can contribute with both.” Reflecting on his own form, he remained composed. “As I always saying, I was feeling well, feeling confident, but it is T20 cricket. I have been in a good frame of mind and it was only a matter of time.” With the win, CSK stay firmly in the playoff race, and Gaikwad emphasised the team’s simple approach going forward: “Mistakes are going to happen but have to make sure we come back strong, give everything for the jersey and the fans.”

Because of free agency and the draft, most NFL teams have at least a handful of new starters each season, and the 2026 Minnesota Vikings are no different. Consider this the batch for the upcoming season, which is suddenly four months away.

Minnesota’s roster reset could look dramatic by Week 1, especially after a busy offseason and draft.

Oddsmakers expect Minnesota to win about eight or nine games in 2026, a familiar forecast that seems to follow the franchise every offseason and preseason. The list below features prospective new starters, with No. 1 as the most impactful.

Eight Lineup Changes Could Reshape Minnesota’s Week 1 Look

Which starter are you most excited about?

8. Max Bredeson (FB)

C.J. Ham is gone and isn’t coming back. Rather than delete the fullback position, as many NFL teams have over the last five years, the Vikings have renewed their FB vitality with Bredeson, a former teammate of J.J. McCarthy.

7. Tai Felton or Veteran WR3 (WR)

Jalen Nailor signed a fat contract with the Las Vegas Raiders two months ago, and he may be on deck for WR1 duty with Klint Kubiak’s team. That leaves Felton as the next man up, though Minnesota is flirting with Jauan Jennings, who would be a magnificent WR3.

6. Jay Ward (S)

Ward saw more playing time down the stretch of 2025, even taking Theo Jackson’s spot in Brian Flores’s defense. With Harrison Smith perhaps retired, Ward would be the natural choice to start next to Josh Metellus.

5. Blake Brandel (C)

Ryan Kelly retired after three concussions in 2025, a wise move. Then, Minnesota signed no replacement centers in free agency and didn’t pick any in the first six rounds of the 2026 NFL Draft, waiting on Round 7 to choose Cincinnati’s Gavin Gerhardt. It’s probably Brande at center for Week 1.

Our Janik Eckardt on Brandel: “A clear need entering the offseason was the center position, especially since veteran Ryan Kelly announced his retirement following a concussion-plagued campaign. However, instead of spending money in free agency or a draft pick last week. Minnesota’s decision-makers appear happy with the current top option, versatile backup Blake Brandel.”

“The asterisk was that a new center could still arrive in the draft, but only seventh-rounder Gavin Gerhardt joined, who’s certainly unlikely to take over. It’s Brandel’s position now.”

4. Domonique Orange (NT)

The Vikings haven’t employed a prototypical starting nose tackle since Linval Joseph — seven years ago — and Orange is the solution to that drought. So long as he can defeat Levi Drake Rodriguez at training camp in August, he’s the shiny new nose tackle.

3. Caleb Banks (NT)

Minnesota booted Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave from the roster, and instead of signing Christian Wilkins, for example, it took a swing with a boom-or-bust 1st-Round pick in Banks.

If Banks’s foot is good to go, he has an All-Pro upside. For 2026’s purposes, it’s all a matter of whether the broken bone in his foot from the Combine is completely healed. If so, he’ll start in September.

2. Dallas Turner (OLB)

Interim general manager Rob Brzezinski traded Jonathan Greenard to the Philadelphia Eagles eight days ago, grabbing two 3rd-Rounders for his troubles. Turner, a 2024 1st-Rounder, is now vividly in line to hold a starter’s job for the long term.

It’s time to see if the 2024 trade — the expensive one — was worth it.

MSN’s Adam Patrick on Turner: “The 23-year-old pass rusher appeared in all 17 games for the Vikings last year, including 10 in which he was a starter. In those 17 contests, Turner accumulated 66 tackles (11 for a loss), 24 pressures, eight sacks, four forced fumbles, and three pass deflections.”

“When filling in for Van Ginkel last season, he did a solid job. But when Greenard was sidelined was really when Turner got to play a role in Minnesota’s defense that better suited his strengths. The Vikings clearly noticed what the young pass rusher was able to do when filling in for Greenard in 2025, which made it that much easier for the team to complete the trade with the Eagles on Friday.”

1. Kyler Murray (QB)

He’s in town, folks. Murray, a two-time Pro Bowler, picked the Vikings for his “prove it” season after the Arizona Cardinals kicked him to the curb in favor of Jacoby Brissett.

Barring a stunning training camp upset by the aforementioned McCarthy, Murray is the Vikings’ new QB1, and if he plays his cards right — Minnesota reaches the postseason and wins a playoff game or multiple — he’ll probably be the team’s signal-caller well into his 30s.

Murray fell into the Vikings’ lap like a gift from the Almighty.

Agit Kabayel has emerged as an elite operator in recent years, but despite struggling to secure fights against the division’s biggest names, he has ruled out a clash with a two-time world heavyweight champion.

A shock victory over Arslanbek Makhmudov kickstarted a run of triumphs on the big stage for Kabayel, with stoppage wins against Frank Sanchez, Zhilei Zhang and Damian Knyba extending his knockout streak to six consecutive bouts.

During that time, the undefeated German has also claimed and defended the WBC Interim title, positioning him for a shot at Oleksandr Usyk’s full WBC crown.

While he may hold that belt, there appears to be a lack of willing dance partners for Kabayel. Lawrence Okolie has talked up the fight in the past, but his recent failed drugs test could prevent that from happening anytime soon.

Yet, Kabayel himself has now named a man that he is not prepared to fight, telling Pro Boxing Fans that he will never take on Tyson Fury, who he sees as a ‘brother’.

“I am not interested in a fight with Fury, he is my brother. He has helped me so much in my career, when I fought with Makhmudov, he supported me and I have no interest [in that fight].”

Kabayel and Fury share both the same promoter and manager and have used each other as sparring partners during training camp, with ‘The Gypsy King’ sure to prove to be even more useful if Kabayel manages to secure his planned showdown with Usyk, whom Fury has faced twice.

The 2026 NFL Draft is complete, and Minnesota Vikings fans now turn their attention to the rest of the spring and summer, with training camp three months away. When we get there, per usual, the club will have a handful of intriguing roster battles.

Minnesota has several summer competitions that could tweak the roster.

Some will claim that Kyler Murray must duel J.J. McCarthy in a camp battle, but we’re just buying that, so the QB1 spot has been excluded from this list. We believe Murray has the job in the bag. We also assume that the Vikings will sign a WR3 like Jauan Jennings before too long.

Five Roster Fights Could Define the Vikings’ Summer Evaluation

The battles are ranked in order of the most fascinating (No. 1 = most fascinating).

6. RB3
Demond Claiborne vs. Zavier Scott

This one may not be much of a competition if the draftheads are right about Claiborne. He has 4.37 speed, the same size as Miami Dolphins halfback De’Von Achane, and the Vikings just so happen to employ Achane’s offensive coordinator from the last three years, Frank Smith.

Scott has clawed his way up the depth chart over the last couple of seasons, but in reality, he’s probably best suited as a practice squad commodity.

VT’s Prediction: Demond Claiborne

5. Punter
Johnny Hekker vs. Brett Thorson

The past versus the future. Eight years ago, Hekker was the best punter in the world. He’s now a Viking, but Minnesota scooped Thorson from undrafted free agency last weekend. Thorson was one of the best punters in college in 2025; he’s also a Viking.

Some intel even hinted that Thorson could be a mid-round pick during the draft, but that proved to be smoke.

Still, Hekker performed at an average clip last season. His prime is over. Thorson is just getting off the ground.

VT’s Prediction: Brett Thorson

4. NT
Domonique Orange vs. Levi Drake Rodriguez

Disclaimer: this discussion is about Week 1 — not the long haul. Orange will obviously be the Vikings’ nose tackle of the future. He better be.

Still, Rodriguez has performed decently over two seasons, and there’s a world in which defensive coordinator Brian Flores takes it slow with Big Citrus. In fact, in recent years, Minnesota has preferred not to play rookies, though most assumed that former general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah just didn’t draft good ones.

VT’s Prediction: Domonique Orange

3. Safety
Theo Jackson v. Jay Ward

Ward took Jackson’s job down the stretch of 2025, and that actually flew under fans’ radar. Jackson could’ve used the offseason to reset because, at the start of 2025, he held the advantage of roster placement over Ward.

Ward is a faster and meaner safety. He has one year left on his rookie contract, and Minnesota should roll with him over Jackson, especially if Harrison Smith retires.

Our Janik Eckardt noted on Ward this week, “The Vikings were widely expected (by the media) to address the position in the draft by adding Oregon’s Dillon Thieneman. They didn’t, and now the safety room looks like last year’s, but with Smith potentially out and Jakobe Thomas, a third-rounder in.”

“It remains to be seen if Thomas can clinch a significant role in his debut season. Jay Ward usurped Theo Jackson late in the 2025 season and should be the front-runner for the second starting job next to Joshua Metellus.”

VT’s Prediction: Jay Ward

2. Center
Blake Brandel vs. Michael Jurgens v. Gavin Gerhardt

Vikings fans thought Minnesota would leave the draft with Connor Lew, Logan Jones, Jake Slaughter, or Sam Hecht. Instead, head coach Kevin O’Connell waited until Round 7, unearthing his version of a gem in Gerhard from Cincinnati.

Round 7 rookies usually don’t start right away, so this is Brandel’s job to lose — unless the Vikings get frisky and trade for Aaron Brewer of the Dolphins, for example.

VT’s Prediction: Blake Brandel

1. OLB3
Bo Richter vs. Tyler Batty vs. Free Agent Signing

VT’s Prediction: Free Agent Signing to Be Named Later

With no Jonathan Greenard — he’s a Philadelphia Eagle — Minnesota has a major question at OLB3: Is Richter or Batty ready to serve as an OLB3 behind Andrew Van Ginkel and Dallas Turner?

Richter has played 81 defensive snaps in two seasons. That’s not exactly a green light to OLB3 trustworthiness for the 2026 regular season. Batty played 42 snaps in 2025 as a rookie. Neither is very experienced.

Therefore, the Vikings probably need to sign an extra veteran EDGE. Vikings defensive coaches have ties to these veteran OLBs:

• Joey Bosa
• Von Miller
• A.J. Epenesa
• Kyle Van Noy
• Leonard Floyd
• Cameron Jordan
• Emmanuel Ogbah
• Marcus Davenport

We will formally predict Floyd from that list. Jadveon Clowney, who logged 8.5 sacks in under 400 snaps last year with the Dallas Cowboys, is also on the open market.

Each May, we reveal the Mount Rushmore of the Minnesota Vikings’ offseason, which is basically code for the four best moves or decisions from January through April. This is the 2026 edition.

Minnesota’s recent months left the franchise, with risk, urgency, and a new Super Bowl window attached.

The Vikings finished 9-8 last season, one win away from facing the Green Bay Packers in Week 18 for a winner-take-all contest to decide the NFC North. So close; no cigar.

Four Decisions Define the Vikings’ 2026 Offseason Reset

What is your top offseason moment so far?

George Washington
Firing Kwesi Adofo-Mensah

Even with a generous assessment, the Vikings have yielded only five or six significant contributors from the four draft classes on Adofo-Mensah’s watch: Jordan Addison, Jalen Nailor, Dallas Turner, Levi Drake Rodriguez, Will Reichard, and potentially Donovan Jackson.

That leaves a long list of players still trying to make an impact in Minnesota and around the NFL:

• Akayleb Evans
• Andrew Booth
• Brian Asamoah
• DeWayne McBride
• Ed Ingram
• Esezi Otomewo
• Gavin Bartholomew
• J.J. McCarthy
• Jaquelin Roy
• Jaren Hall
• Kobe King
• Lewis Cine
• Mekhi Blackmon
• Nick Muse
• Tai Felton
• Ty Chandler
• Vederian Lowe

The success rate? Around 15%-20%, even with a generous interpretation of borderline players.

Such low numbers cannot build a contender; they hinder progress. Persistent roster holes prevent the development of solid depth and quickly erode organizational flexibility.

Meanwhile, free agency also failed to consistently remedy the situation. Aggressive free agent signings, such as those of Javon Hargrave and Jonathan Allen, only inflated costs and aged the roster without addressing core problems.

The handling of the quarterback position further complicated matters. Sam Darnold’s departure, followed by his Lombardi Trophy win in Seattle, cast a long shadow over the Vikings — indefinitely.

All told, a clear pattern emerged: the team consistently missed on draft picks, high-profile free agent acquisitions underperformed, and the roster consequently stagnated. The Vikings desperately needed a complete reset, requiring leadership capable of identifying and developing young talent. The draft remains the most critical pipeline for talent in professional sports; teams either excel at it or struggle for years.

So, the Vikings fired Adofo-Mensah, and now drafts are guaranteed to be futile.

Thomas Jefferson
Retaining Brian Flores

Had Flores vamoosed, the Vikings would have faced the daunting task of rebuilding their defense at the worst possible time.

Both the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers chatted with Flores about their head-coaching vacancies, and if either team had secured him, Minnesota would have launched the Kyler Murray era with a new quarterback, a new defensive leader, and significantly less stability than any true contender desires.

Instead, retaining Flores provided the Vikings with one of their strongest chances at a Super Bowl run in 2026.

His defense proved to be the backbone of Minnesota’s 2025 season, especially after a challenging 4-8 start. The unit always brought pressure, disguised coverages, disrupted opposing quarterbacks, and frequently set up the offense with advantageous field position.

The numbers undeniably support this elite production. Over the last two seasons, Minnesota led the NFL in EPA/Play allowed. In 2025, Flores’ defense ranked third in EPA/Play, trailing only the Seattle Seahawks and Houston Texans.

Further cementing their dominance, the defense also ranked:

• 1st in Pass Rush Win Rate
• 2nd in Yards Allowed
• 3rd in Defense DVOA
• 3rd in EPA/Play
• 4th in Defensive 3rd-Down Conversion Percentage
• 7th in Points Allowed

Recognizing this elite performance, the Vikings secured Flores with a $6 million-per-year extension, ensuring the defensive mastermind remained with the franchise for at least one year — probably more.

The momentum surrounding Murray’s arrival critically hinged on Flores’ continued presence. Without him, all the Vikings’ 2026 hype would have been overshadowed by a significant defensive stain.

Teddy Roosevelt
Rolling the Dice on Caleb Banks

Did everyone love this Round 1 draft pick? Absolutely not. Will everyone love this draft pick two years from now? Probably.

Last year in the draft, the Vikings “played it safe” by picking a sturdy guard, Donovan Jackson from Ohio State. If you do your homework right, you can’t go wrong with an interior offensive lineman, so long as injuries don’t ruin everything.

This time, Minnesota got frisky. It bet on Banks. He has the potential to be Chris Jones in 2-5 years; he could also see his career derailed by foot injuries. Any time a large man has a foot injury, people hold their breath. Still, it was exciting to see the Vikings get bold, unafraid of Banks’s bust potential. They could’ve played it cleaner by drafting Dillon Thieneman, but Minnesota is evidently eyeing Super Bowl dreams, not 9-8 glory.

Abraham Lincoln
Signing Kyler Murray for $1.3 Million

Minnesota acquired Kyler Murray for an astonishingly low cost — less than what some teams allocate for a long snapper.

Over a 17-game season, Murray delivers impressive statistics on average:

• 4,000 Passing Yards
• 600 RushingRards
• 30 Total Touchdowns
• Top 5 All-Time Completion Percentage

This is franchise-level production, now poised to thrive in Kevin O’Connell’s offense.

The fit sure appears seamless. Murray, a lifelong Vikings fan, brings an immediate emotional connection, and his two Pro Bowl selections underscore his proven talent. Minnesota has J.J. McCarthy ready, willing, and waiting if Murray gets hurt.

Once widely considered the premier rookie quarterback talent in the NFL, that same player — now fully developed and still in his prime — has arrived in Minnesota.

Minnesota secured a proven quarterback at minimal cost, injecting a significant boost into the roster that few teams could match. The entire scenario highlights a front office that identified a massive opportunity and executed swiftly.

There’s a chance for Murray to be the Vikings’ franchise quarterback for the next decade. That isn’t outlandish.

When Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves were both ruled out ahead of Round 1’s Los Angeles Lakers vs. Houston Rockets playoff matchup, many had written off the purple and gold.

But LeBron James pulled off another unthinkable playoff victory, defeating the Rockets in six games.

Of course, the Rockets only had superstar Kevin Durant for one game this series. But James only had Reaves for one game, and new reports indicate that Doncic isn’t anywhere near a return for the Lakers.

“I’m kicking (Father Time’s) ass,” James told the Prime Video studio crew following Game 6.

He’s not wrong.

James averaged 23 points, eight assists and seven rebounds against the Rockets in the first round. Without Doncic and Reaves, James proved that he’s still capable of winning in the NBA Playoffs almost singlehandedly. The 41-year-old averaged 38.7 minutes per game in this series.

We’ve never seen longevity like this in the history of the NBA.

Until the end of time, basketball fans will debate if James was better than Michael Jordan, who won six championships and was undefeated in the NBA Finals. But one thing that’s not up for debate is that Jordan was not doing this. At 41, Jordan was retired. He took on a management position with the Washington Wizards and only served a few seasons as President of Basketball Operations.

At 41, James isn’t playing a Udonis Haslam role for the Lakers. This isn’t an old man at the end of his career holding onto the glory days. Sure, it might be an old man at the end of his career. But even though James isn’t the same player that dragged teams to eight consecutive NBA Finals, he’s playing some damn good basketball and looks to have a lot more in the tank.

His actual son is playing meaningful minutes in this series, as Bronny James has gotten some run due to Doncic’s absence. Around the NBA, “great” teams like the Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics are struggling against lower-seeded opponents. At 41, James is dragging an undermanned Lakers team through the first round somewhat easily.

After a reverse dunk earlier in the series, James said he “needed to sit down somewhere.” After handling business against the Rockets in six games, James thanked the Toronto Raptors for forcing a Game 7 against the Cleveland Cavaliers, buying the Lakers an extra day of rest.

There’s no denying that James is probably physically dealing with the taxes of playing elite basketball into his 40s. But hopefully he understands how much this greatness is being appreciated from basketball fans everywhere.

What’s next for LeBron?

The Oklahoma City Thunder, the No. 1 seed in the NBA, await James and the Lakers.

It’s a good thing Reaves is back, because the Thunder will pose more of a challenge than the Durant-less Rockets did.

Even if the Thunder take down the Lakers, LeBron’s future in the NBA will be under a microscope. Recent reports have indicated that he doesn’t want to deal with the pressure of a farewell tour. However, he just displayed that he’s capable of playing at a very high level. He has nothing left to prove, but walking away from the game now would somehow feel premature, even at age 41.

Prediction markets like Kalshi are giving the Thunder a 91% chance of winning this series. A contract on Los Angeles to upset this series would payout 10.4x the initial stake.

But if James has one more miracle in him, this could be a series for the ages. Literally.

The Vikings’ draft effort in 2026 wasn’t without some detractors. Consider the anonymous NFL executives among those who aren’t totally sold.

Mike Sando of The Athletic leveraged his league connections to assemble a piece covering the NFC’s draft hauls alongside the AFC’s draft hauls. Maybe predictably, the Minnesota Vikings didn’t earn pristine grades. Check out what some NFL employees had to say about the draft haul under Rob Brzezinski.

NFL Executives Aren’t Sold on Vikings’ Draft Picks

On a basic level, the Vikings did much to beef up the roster. Minnesota went defense early, showing a particular preference for the front seven (consider a complete tracker if there’s a desire for more precise details).

Sando’s article offers a few words on opting for Randy Moss a while ago, a similarly controversial pick that happened to turn out alright. Can the same be said of the Caleb Banks decision? Someday, perhaps, but not everyone thinks it will turn out well.

To begin, there’s a reflection on the influence of Minnesota’s defensive coordinator. Some Sando and some NFL executive thoughts:

“The takeaway from the Minnesota draft is that (defensive coordinator) Brian Flores has a lot of say in the building,” an exec said.

In 2019, when Flores was the Dolphins’ new head coach, many believed he wanted to draft defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons, who was not invited to the combine after video footage (from 2016, when Simmons was in high school) showed him punching a woman while she was on the ground. The Dolphins, then led by fourth-year GM Chris Grier, instead drafted Christian Wilkins, a solid player with less perceived risk.

Flores got his guy this time. There is no denying the immense talent Florida defensive tackle Caleb Banks brings to the field — if he makes it there after breaking his left foot before the 2025 season and again at the combine.

Advertisement

Consider another opinion: “‘Caleb Banks is really talented but does not play with great desire and is hurt all the time,’ a different exec said. ‘Scares me to death.’”

Likewise, there’s skepticism about the merit of moving on from Jonathan Greenard. “‘Greenard is too good of a player at a premium position to let go,’ a fourth exec said. ‘You gotta figure out a way to make that one work.’”

Note that there’s some optimism about the Jake Golday addition sprinkled into the mix, with a different NFL executive insisting that he’s “‘a perfect scheme fit for what Flores wants to do on the edge there.’”

Add it together and there’s an overwhelming takeaway: the Vikings made some risky decisions that defied expectations. People outside of the NFL and inside of the NFL don’t see things working out particularly well. Or, at the very least, there’s a widespread leaning toward a more negative assessment.

Minnesota’s path toward a strong draft haul begins with DT Caleb Banks. Seeing him turn into an elite defensive lineman who generates All Pro attention will mean that Vikings did tremendously well. Falling short of that lofty ideal means criticism will be upcoming, especially if the problem ends up being due to his health.

What should be remembered, though, is that the Vikings aren’t betting everything on the powerful defensive lineman. Minnesota’s legendary 2015 draft is considered so remarkable not because of the 1st-Round selection (CB Trae Waynes) but due to the 2nd-Round selection (LB Eric Kendricks), 3rd-Round selection (EDGE Danielle Hunter), and 5th-Round selection (WR Stefon Diggs).

So, keep an eye on what the other young lads do. They’ll be leaned on to help the Minnesota Vikings, too. Getting a stud in the Golday selection, the Domonique Orange add, and/or the various others (I’ve got my eye on CB Chuck Demmings) will mean that the chorus of critics start singing a different song. Even the UDFA haul has a role to play.

Next week, the Vikings are going to get into rookie minicamp. There will then be OTAs alongside mandatory minicamp coming up (read more). The other most notable story to watch is how these young fellas develop alongside whether the Vikings get a Jauan Jennings deal done.

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

The 2026 Kentucky Derby is just hours away and the field of 19 horses is set following the surprising news that the Puma scratched on Saturday morning. The 152nd “Run for the Roses” is set for Saturday with cool and dry conditions in the forecast. Post time from Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., is slated for 6:57 p.m. ET. Bet the Kentucky Derby with the exclusive TwinSpires offer code CBSSPORTS to receive up to $400 in bonus bets here, double what’s available to the general public:

Renegade enters as the 4-1 favorite. Other contenders include Commandment and Further Ado, both at 6-1, Chief Wallabee at 8-1 and Emerging Market and So Happy, both at 15-1. Before making any 2026 Kentucky Derby picks, be sure to see the 2026 Kentucky Derby predictions and best bets from SportsLine’s elite horse racing expert Gene Menez.

A former reporter and editor at Sports Illustrated, Menez covered an array of sports, including horse racing, for the magazine and its website for almost 14 years. Between 2010 and 2012, he served as SI’s handicapper for the Triple Crown races and correctly predicted Super Saver to win the Kentucky Derby in 2010.

In 2015, while writing for Sports on Earth, Menez accurately gave out the Kentucky Derby superfecta (American Pharoah, Firing Line, Dortmund and Frosted), which paid $1,268.20 for $2. Then in 2017, he tweeted out his Kentucky Derby picks, including Always Dreaming to win, and hit the Pick 4, which paid almost $6,900 on a $1 bet. In 2024, Menez gave out 18-1 Mystik Dan as a live longshot in the Kentucky Derby. In last year’s Kentucky Derby, he hammered the exacta and trifecta for a $1,045 payout. Anyone who has followed his horse racing betting advice could be way up.

Now, Menez has handicapped the 2026 Kentucky Derby field and revealed his picks. Go here to see them. Sign up for FanDuel Racing, where new users get $25 in bonuses with a $5 bet:

Top 2026 Kentucky Derby predictions

One of Menez’s surprising 2026 Kentucky Derby picks: He is fading the favorite, Renegade. Renegade won the 2026 Arkansas Derby on March 28 at Oaklawn Park, covering 1 1/8 miles in 1:49.7, and before that won the 2026 Sam F. Davis at Tampa Bay Downs. If we take a closer look at the 2026 Kentucky Derby odds and his full resumé, the red flags start to pile up. Before those two wins, Renegade had finished second twice, including a runner-up effort in the 2025 Remsen at Aqueduct in December. He is a late-running closer, something tough to do in the chaotic, 20-horse Kentucky Derby 2026 field.

Veteran Todd A. Pletcher trains Renegade for the Kentucky Derby 2026, but the 58-year-old Hall of Fame conditioner has not had a Derby winner since 2017. Adding to the concern is the No. 1 post, a spot that has not produced a Derby winner since Ferdinand in 1986. “As a late-running closer, he will be at the mercy of a fair pace and a clean trip and is in danger of losing massive ground if he tries to pass horses on the outside on the far turn,” Menez said of the 2026 Kentucky Derby favorite. See who to back at SportsLine.

Another stunner: Menez is high on Chief Wallabee at 8-1. Not since Bob Baffert in 1997 and 1998 and D. Wayne Lukas in 1995 and 1996 have trainers been able to win back-to-back Kentucky Derby races. Bill Mott, however, may join them if Chief Wallabee is victorious on Saturday. Last year, the Mott-trained Sovereignty edged out the favored Journalsim by 1 ½ lengths on a sloppy track.

Chief Wallabee is fresh off a third-place finish at the 2026 Florida Derby on March 28. He was second at the February 2026 Fountain of Youth. He opened his racing career in January with a win at the MSW at Gulfstream Park. He is no stranger to facing Kentucky Derby favorites, having already squared off with Commandment. See which other horses to back at SportsLine, and you can make 2026 Kentucky Derby picks at TwinSpires here with the offer code CBSSPORTS:

How to make 2026 Kentucky Derby picks, bets

Menez’s top pick is a horse who was “the big winner of the post draw.” He also is high on a double-digit longshot who he deems the best win value in the field. Menez is sharing which horse it is, along with his entire projected 2026 Kentucky Derby leaderboard, over at SportsLine.

Which horse wins the Kentucky Derby 2026, and which longshot is a must-back? Check out the latest 2026 Kentucky Derby odds below, then visit SportsLine to see Menez’s picks for the Kentucky Derby, all from the expert who had a $1,045 payout at last year’s race.

2026 Kentucky Derby odds

Paul Murray, the Kembla Grange horseman, has perpetuated his family’s notable ties to the Wagga Cup carnival through victory in the $200,000 Town Plate with Harry’s Bar.

His late father Bede, a storied South Coast trainer, initiated trips to the major country gathering in the 1970s, almost invariably returning victorious, with highlights like the Wagga Gold Cup (2000m) aboard Vanquished and the Town Plate (1200m) on Scorpio.

On Thursday, Paul Murray swelled the family coffers as Harry’s Bar ($9) overhauled leader Love Shuck ($61) for a three-quarter length margin, Bandi’s Boy ($11) producing a solid finish for third, another two lengths behind.

Murray oversees a select group of horses at Kembla Grange, and this success follows his recent feature conquest six months ago when Where’s The Circus took the Inglis Nursery (1000m) at Randwick during December.

Yet, the Wagga two-day carnival’s place in Murray family lore lent this Harry’s Bar triumph special importance.

“It’s unbelievable. I was only a boy when we used to come down with Dad,” Murray told Sky Racing.

“We had a runner after (Scorpio), Sure And Fast, and I think he ran second or third in it, but this is my first runner.”

The result was Harry’s Bar’s third from 16 starts, merited by her dependability including second in the Gosford heat of the Provincial-Midway Country Championships and a gritty fifth place to Lord Of Biscay in the Final.

“She is just a very good mare,” Murray said.

“She gives you two hundred per cent. Every time you go to the races you know you’re going to get a run for your money.

She loves a fight, and I’ve never seen a mare as tough as her.”

Murray has yet to finalise Harry’s Bar’s next move but floated the Dark Jewel Classic (1400m) at Scone two weeks hence as a possibility.

Jean Van Overmeire, Harry’s Bar’s steady rider, notched a double after piloting Luke Pepper’s Brutal Belle to an earlier win on the program.

The event rolls on Friday with the Wagga Gold Cup on deck, Chris Waller’s Travolta the $3.20 top pick. View betting markets for the race ahead of the Wagga Gold Cup.