The keyword, folks, is tiny. Several things still need to happen for the Vikings’ dream trade scenario to become a reality.

Acquiring DT Dexter Lawrence, a tremendous talent who would form a deadly duo with Jalen Redmond, would instantly supercharge Minnesota’s defensive line. The All Pro is looking to leave New York behind, so it’s notable when those same Giants start doing work on a free agent DT option.

Does D.J. Reader end up replacing the soon-to-depart Lawrence?

Consider the basic update. Jordan Schultz offers the word: “Sources: The #Giants hosted veteran DT DJ Reader for a visit today. Reader, who also recently visited the #Ravens, has started 128 career games and has been a consistent presence on the interior.”

Shrinking things from a national level down to a local level means relaying the insight from Jordan Raanan: “The Giants hosted veteran DT D.J. Reader for a visit on Monday, source confirmed. No signing imminent at the moment. See what happens around the draft. Reader, 31, would help greatly as interior run stopper. Giants are thin on DL, even with Dexter Lawrence on the roster.”

The Vikings’ Dream Trade Scenario: Dexter Lawrence

Prying away Mr. Lawrence would be a bold, aggressive move.

The defense would instantly look very different. Lawrence stands at a hulking 6’4″ while weighing 340 pounds. Normally, DC Brian Flores has uplifted smaller DTs — Redmond, for instance, is a highly-athletic player at 6’3″ and 305 pounds — but Lawrence is a powerful playmaker, a ballerina bully. Putting those two on the field at the same time would be too much for most center/guard combos to handle.

The Vikings would be wise to seriously consider making a move, even if there needs to be a meaty extension on the back end of things. Special players are difficult to acquire; Dexter Lawrence is a special player who is 28 and who plays a position of need.

Putting Lawrence onto Minnesota’s roster would mean being able to trot Justin Jefferson onto the field as a clear-cut, no debate elite option. Next up would be the trio of LT Christian Darrisaw, EDGE Andrew Van Ginkel, and DT Dexter Lawrence as those who don’t get enough respect for playing elite ball.

The Reader update makes the trade scenario a tiny bit more plausible.

The NFL is a place where actions communicate much. Bringing in a veteran DT for a workout could be due diligence. Or, perhaps, it’s a sign that moving on from Lawrence is being given serious consideration. Adding Reader, a veteran DT who possesses a similar build at 6’3″ and 330 pounds, would allow the Giants to solidify the d-line’s floor even as the ceiling has taken a hit.

The pivot in New York would then be to rally around the deep, talented cluster of edge rushers: Abdul Carter, Brian Burns, and Kayvon Thibodeaux.

Quite possibly, the Vikings would need to take action in other ways to accommodate Dexter Lawrence.

Maybe that means a trade involving LB Ivan Pace Jr., a swap that would clear modest cap space ($3.52M, per OTC) alongside bringing back modest draft compensation.

Or, perhaps, the move would be to offload Jonathan Greenard. Doing so would help the finances in a more robust manner while bringing back a move valuable pick. Gaining a 2nd could be too ambitious for Mr. Greenard, but the general consensus is that Minnesota wants a Day 2 pick(s). Does a 3rd get the job done?

Lawrence would be the best defensive tackle Minnesota has had since at least Linval Joseph, someone who got his career started with the New York Giants before becoming a Viking. In fact, there could even need to be a further journey into franchise history to uplift options such as Kevin Williams and Pat Williams to find someone as good as Lawrence.

Dexter Lawrence boasts the nickname Sexy Dexy.

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

Manchester United were reportedly on the verge of offering Michael Carrick the head coach job on a permanent basis, but are now said to be reconsidering their options

Manchester United are reportedly reconsidering handing Michael Carrick the permanent head coach’s role at Old Trafford. The Reds appointed Carrick as interim head coach until the end of the season back in January, following the exit of Ruben Amorim.

Since taking charge, Carrick has steered United to third place in the Premier League, placing the club in a commanding position to secure Champions League football with six matches still to play.

The past couple of months have been swirl with speculation surrounding whether Carrick could be handed the United job on a full-time basis this summer, and a fresh update has now emerged regarding the thinking of those at the top of the Old Trafford hierarchy.

According to the i Paper, United were on the verge of offering Carrick the role on a permanent basis.

READ MORE: Andoni Iraola odds to become next Man United manager slashed after shock Bournemouth announcementREAD MORE: Marcus Rashford’s ‘I don’t understand’ rant falls on deaf ears as UEFA reject complaint

However, the report suggests that news of Andoni Iraola’s impending departure from Bournemouth this summer is prompting United to reconsider their position.

Iraola has been linked with the United job for several months, and the 43-year-old is set to leave the Vitality Stadium when his contract expires at the end of the campaign.

Precisely what decision United will make regarding the club’s future direction remains to be seen, with the outcome of the current season likely to prove pivotal in those discussions, reports the Mirror. United sit third in the Premier League table, level on points with fourth-placed Aston Villa following Monday night’s 2-1 defeat to Leeds.

Liverpool trail by three points in fifth, while Chelsea find themselves seven points adrift of United in sixth place, currently outside the Champions League qualification spots.

Iraola is not the only Premier League manager poised to depart their current club amid speculation over the Old Trafford vacancy.

Oliver Glasner is also understood to be in the frame for the role, having already confirmed he will leave Crystal Palace when his contract comes to an end at the close of the season.

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The Minnesota Vikings are doing their homework on rookie backs for next week, and they’ll probably leave the draft with one. That’s the good news. The bad news? Notre Dame’s Jadarian Price may not be available.

Price’s draft momentum may force Minnesota to pivot at running back.

Price is increasingly being discussed as a late 1st-Rounder, and if so, he’d work his way out of Minnesota’s draft range.

The Vikings’ RB Options Expand beyond Jadarian Price

It might be time to cross Price off the purple bingo board.

Price as a 1st-Rounder

Bleacher Report‘s Moe Moton sized up five players who could sneak into Round 1 this week, and Price was the one running back to get the nod.

He wrote, “NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport believes Jadarian Price will be the second tailback off the board and may sneak into the first round within a shallow class of ball-carriers.”

“Jeremiyah Love, a projected first-rounder, and Price played together through three terms with the Fighting Irish. The former took on the featured role after Audric Estime’s departure to the NFL, while the latter served in a complementary role.”

Until recently, Price has been considered a safe Round 2 or 3 pick.

“Although Price didn’t rack up more than 746 yards in a single collegiate term, he averaged at least six yards per carry and scored 18 touchdowns over the last two years. After a couple of seasons as Notre Dame’s No. 2 running back, Price may have more to offer a team that wants a decisive early-down ball-carrier who can also contribute on special teams,” Moton continued.

“He returned three kickoffs for touchdowns in college. Most of the league’s clubs featured multiple running backs, so don’t discount one of them taking Price on Day 1.”

Others, like Vanderbilt tight end Eli Stowers and Indiana cornerback D’Angelo Ponds, got shoutouts from Moton, too.

Then What for the Vikings?

Suppose Price indeed slips into the bottom of Round 1 or the top of Round 2, disqualifying him from the Vikings’ grasp. It’s not doomsday. The club would just have to pivot and explore an alternative rookie running back.

Per the current Consensus Big Board, the options would look like this:

• Mike Washington Jr. (Arkansas, R3)
• Jonah Coleman (Washington, R3–R4)
• Emmett Johnson (Nebraska, R4)
• Kaytron Allen (Penn State, R4)
• Nick Singleton (Penn State, R4–R5)
• Demond Claiborne (Wake Forest, R5)

Washington Jr. has speed that kills, along with size. And Minnesota has met with Coleman, Johnson, and Claiborne.

Price’s Landing Spots

Regarding Price, if the late-Round-1 or early-Round-2 steam comes to fruition, the list of his suitors might look like this:

Pick No. 25: Chicago Bears
Pick No. 29: Kansas City Chiefs
Pick No. 32: Seattle Seahawks
Pick No. 41: Cincinnati Bengals

All the Round 1 chatter for Price that has emerged might be code for the Seahawks. The Super Bowl champions have the luxury of a deep roster, and picking a running back like Price might be fair game after Kenneth Walker III left in free agency for the Chiefs.

SI.com‘s Michael Hanich on Price to Seattle: “The Seahawks could find a way to trade back into the second round for more picks and still find a way to get Price. He might be one of the most undervalued players in this draft. In the last two seasons, Price has rushed for 1,420 yards and 18 touchdowns on 233 carries, averaging 6.1 yards per carry.”

“In the receiving game, he also caught 10 receptions for 97 yards for two touchdowns. Price is also a serious threat on special teams by taking two kickoff returns for a touchdown. Price would come in and immediately be the favorite for the starting running back. He has a much higher ceiling than George Holani and newly signed Emanuel Wilson. The Seahawks could have Price be a main contributor until Zach Charbonnet returns from his injury, but even then, he could be the main back.”

Time for a Rookie RB

While the Vikings’ ground game has improved gradually under Kevin O’Connell, it has yet to become a dominant strength. Here’s their rushing DVOA and NFL ranking during his tenure:

Vikings Rushing DVOA
NFL Ranking in O’Connell Era:

• 2022: 27th
• 2023: 27th
• 2024: 20th
• 2025: 13th

The significant jump in 2025 is encouraging. However, the play-calling reveals another aspect of the story. Minnesota ran the ball on 43% of its plays, ranking 19th in the league. This indicates that while their rushing production improved to a Top 13 ranking, their commitment to the run still ranked in the bottom half of the league.

Meanwhile, the Vikings have no running backs scheduled under contract next offseason. Aaron Jones will be a free agent; so will RB2 Jordan Mason. Jones will be 32 at that time, Mason 27.

Beyond the shadow of a doubt, it’s time for a young running back to enter the mix for Minnesota. While that may not be Price, Washington Jr., Johnson, and Coleman make sense.

The 2026 NBA Play-In Tournament begins tonight, providing high-intensity matchups to claim the latest DraftKings promo code to get $300 in bonus bets if your first $5 wager wins. Tuesday features Heat vs. Hornets in an elimination game in the Eastern Conference, followed by the Trail Blazers vs. Suns, with the winner earning the No. 7 seed in the Western Conference NBA playoffs. The SportsLine Projection Model is backing the Suns, who made the playoffs four of the previous five years, to cover as 3.5-point favorites as part of its Tuesday NBA best bets at DraftKings Sportsbook.

One of SportsLine’s top experts has locked in his pick on Heat vs. Hornets as well, taking Tyler Herro Over 21.5 total points in NBA prop betting. The model is also backing the Milwaukee Brewers to defeat the Toronto Blue Jays at -131 odds for Tuesday MLB best bets. Claim the latest DraftKings promo code, where new users get $300 in bonus bets if your first $5 bet wins: 

Check out our DraftKings promo code review for full details.

The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in betting profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past eight-plus seasons. The model entered the 2026 NBA playoffs on a sizzling 23-9 roll (72%) on top-rated NBA spread picks this season. Anyone following its NBA betting advice at sportsbooks and on betting apps could have seen huge returns.

Tuesday best bets at DraftKings Sportsbook

• Brewers (-131) vs. Blue Jays
• Tyler Herro, Heat, Over 21.5 total points (-107)
• Suns (-3.5) vs. Trail Blazers (-110)

Combining the three picks into a Tuesday parlay at DraftKings would result in a payout of +551 (risk $100 to win $551, odds subject to change). Claim $300 in bonus bets with a winning $5 wager at DraftKings here:

Brewers (-131) vs. Blue Jays 

The Brewers are set to start 24-year-old Jacob Misiorowski, who soared to one of the top prospects in baseball last season and made last year’s MLB All-Star Game after allowing one run or fewer in three of his first five MLB starts and just two runs over his first three outings. This season, he has 28 strikeouts over 16 1/3 innings with a 3.31 ERA and 1.04 WHIP. Meanwhile, the Blue Jays turn to 35-year-old Kevin Gausman, who allowed three runs over 5 1/3 innings to the Dodgers in his last start. The Blue Jays are off to a 6-9 start while the Brewers are 8-7 this season, and the model gives the Brewers the advantage at home on Tuesday. Milwaukee wins in 61% of simulations. Back the Brewers at DraftKings here, and claim $300 in bonus bets if your first $5 bet wins as a new user:

Tyler Herro, Heat, Over 21.5 total points

“Tyler Herro sat out Friday with foot soreness and then played just 22 minutes in Sunday’s rout of the Hawks. Miami was saving Herro for Tuesday’s play-in game at Charlotte,” SportsLine expert Larry Hartstein said. “Herro put up 33 points and 20 points in two meetings with the Hornets last month, going 9 of 12 from deep and 12 of 12 from the foul line combined. The Heat will need a huge game from Herro to pull off the upset, so I’m betting on Erik Spoelstra giving Herro 35-plus minutes.” Back Herro’s Over at DraftKings here, and claim $300 in bonus bets if your first $5 bet wins as a new user:

Suns (-3.5) vs. Trail Blazers

The Suns went 2-1 against the Trail Blazers this season, with each of their wins coming by more than four points. The Suns have the top scorer in this matchup in Devin Booker, who was ninth in the league at 26.1 points per game this season. He rested the final two games of the regular season due to an ankle that has bothered him since late January, but Booker scored at least 30 points in each of his last three games in April. He’s scored at least 30 points in five of his last six games, and could be too much for Portland to handle. The Suns are a win away from their fifth playoff appearance in the last six years, while the Trail Blazers haven’t made the playoffs since the 2020-21 season. The model projects the Suns to cover in 60% of simulations. Back the Suns to cover at DraftKings here, and claim $300 in bonus bets if your first $5 bet wins as a new user:

Want more NBA and MLB picks on Tuesday?

You’ve seen some of the model’s Tuesday best bets. Now, get against the spread, total and money-line picks for all games, including the NBA, MLB, NHL, and more, all from the model that’s simulated every game 10,000 times. 

NEW DELHI: Virat Kohli was seen training with his left knee heavily strapped ahead of Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s IPL 2026 clash against Lucknow Super Giants at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Tuesday.In a video shared by LSG’s social media handle, Kohli was seen walking with his left knee strapped while meeting New Zealand great Kane Williamson. He greeted Williamson, who is part of LSG’s support staff, and also hugged LSG skipper Rishabh Pant.