Eddie Hearn believes he has the future heavyweight king in his Matchroom stable, predicting a future battle between his charge and Moses Itauma.
Many believe Itauma, at 21 years old, has the ring IQ, temperament and physical attributes to reign supreme over his division in years to come.
But while that might prove to be the case, there is also a selection of rising prospects who could pose a serious challenge to the talented Brit.
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One of whom is Teremoana Teremoana, who extended his flawless record to 10-0 (10 KOs) after scoring a first-round finish over limited heavyweight Curtis Harper.
The pair collided in the undercard of Carlos Adames vs Austin Williams, which took place at the Caribe Royale, Orlando, in the early hours of Sunday morning. Hearn talked up his charge pre-fight, saying he believed he is a world heavyweight champion in waiting.
The American, however, is perhaps better known for his disqualification against Efe Agagba in 2018, which saw him walk out of the ring without even throwing a punch.
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It therefore came as no great surprise when Teremoana scored his seventh consecutive first-round stoppage, landing a thudding right hand that sent Harper crashing to the canvas.
Clearly, the 28-year-old carries serious power and possesses a sharp boxing brain, but whether he can replicate this success against a higher standard of opposition remains to be seen – that’s where Hearn comes in, hoping to keep him busy and up the levels as he goes.
Either way, the Australian has proven to be a fan-friendly customer for viewers on DAZN, often delivering a highlight-reel knockout that merits considerable engagement on social media.
Villanova men’s basketball head coach Kevin Willard’s in-game joke did not land the way he may have hoped, but he didn’t apologize for it after the Wildcats’ loss to Utah State in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
Willard was interviewed by CBS Sports’ Lauren Shehadi during a timeout, and he ripped into his coaching staff as the Wildcats were struggling against the Aggies.
“I’m going to fire my staff,” Willard said in a now-viral moment. “Because we’ve given up eight points on underneath, out-of-bounds defense. The only thing I’m going do is fire them and get a new staff.”
Head coach Kevin Willard of the Villanova Wildcats looks on during the second half of the 2026 Big East Men’s Tournament – Quarterfinal game against the Georgetown Hoyas at Madison Square Garden on March 12, 2026 in New York City.(Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
Willard may have been joking, but his deadpan delivery had others thinking he was serious about it at the moment.
After the 86-76 loss to end the season, Willard sat for a post-game interview where he was asked about his in-game comments regarding his staff.
Again, he may have been joking, but he doubled down.
“We gave up a big three-pointer late,” Willard told the pool of reporters, per CBS Sports. “I’m probably going to have to make some changes to my staff because of how bad we were.”
As he was getting another question about his staff, Willard stepped back in.
“It’s a joke,” he said. “God bless it. …I don’t care. Welcome to my life. It’s a joke.”
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Head coach Kevin Willard of the Villanova Wildcats gestures during the first half against the Utah State Aggies in the first round of the 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Viejas Arena at San Diego State University on March 20, 2026 in San Diego, California.(Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images)
Willard wasn’t pleased with his team’s performance either way. While the in-bound plays were an issue, the Wildcats also blew a 10-point lead in the second half, which he credited to the Aggies’ relentless pressure.
“You know, we got up by 10, and then we gave up three offensive rebounds. Give them credit. They’re a veteran team, older guards. They did a great job of getting in late, but we had our opportunities,” he said. “Then, we were up 73-71, and we missed two layups that kind of really hurt us. Give them credit. They capitalized on it.”
Utah State head coach Jerrod Calhoun noted, “We did not like our seed,” after his No. 10 squad took down No. 7 Villanova. But they will have to prove it with another upset against top-seeded Arizona on Sunday at 7:50 p.m. ET.
“We won 28 games. We won the regular season title, we won the tournament title,” Calhoun said, per CBS Sports. “So when this team has an edge, and they play with a little bit of swagger and a little bit of toughness and resilience, we can cause a lot of problems.”
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Villanova Wildcats head coach Kevin Willard at press conference ahead of the first round of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Viejas Arena. (Kirby Lee/Imagn Images)
Willard was head coach of the Maryland Terrapins last season, where he was able to take his squad to the second round of the NCAA Tournament thanks to a clutch game-winning bucket by Derik Queen to beat Colorado State.
The Phoenix Suns will lock horns with the Toronto Raptors at Mortgage Matchup Center on Sunday for their 72nd regular-season game. The game will tip off at 9:00 p.m. ET and will be the last meeting between the two teams this season. The Raptors had secured a 122-115 win over the Suns in their last matchup on March 13.
The Suns are on a five-game losing streak. They are in seventh place in the Western Conference standings with a 39-32 record. Meanwhile, the Raptors are in fifth place in the East with a 39-30 record.
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Phoenix Suns vs. Toronto Raptors Preview, Starting Lineups Tonight, Betting Tips and Game Prediction
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Phoenix Suns vs. Toronto Raptors Betting Tips and Odds
Moneyline: Suns (+128), Raptors (-152)
Spread: Suns +2.5 (-110), Raptors -2.5 (-110)
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Total over/under o/u: Suns u219.5 (-110), Raptors o219.5 (-110)
Note: Odds listed are subject to change close to tip-off
Beting Tips
Devin Booker is expected to score over 25.5 points
Jalen Green is expected to score under 21,5 points
Scottie Barnes is expected to dish out over 4.5 assists
Phoenix Suns vs. Toronto Raptors Preview
The Suns suffered a 108-105 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday. Their defense has struggled in the absence of Dillon Brooks, who is out with a fractured left hand. Devin Booker was off his game against the Bucks as he finished with 14 points on 4 of 17 shooting.
Jalen Green stepped up his game in a failed attempt to save a sinking ship. He finished with 24 points. The Suns will have to find a way to get back their groove without Brooks on the floor.
The Raptors, on the other hand, faced a 121-115 loss to the Denver Nuggets. They dominated the Nuggets in the first and the third quarter, but their inconsistency got the best of them. They will need to work on getting their offense and defense consistent in all quarters.
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Phoenix Suns vs. Toronto Raptors Starting Lineups Tonight
PG: Immanuel Quickley, SG: Brandon Ingram, SF: RJ Barrett, PF: Scottie Barnes, C: Jakob Poeltl
Phoenix Suns vs. Toronto Raptors Prediction
The Suns are still figuring out chemistry late in the season. Jalen Green’s return from injury and Dillon Brooks’ absence have put them in a bind. The Raptors have a better chance of walking away with a win. The game will be close, but expect the Raptors to win by a five-point margin.
Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan believes the Punjab Kings are finally “moving in the right direction” after making smart and bold decisions at the auction table, raising hopes of ending their long wait for an Indian Premier League (IPL) title.
Speaking on IPL Today Live, Pathan highlighted how the franchise has shown renewed clarity in both leadership and squad-building. Punjab Kings finished as runners-up last season, narrowly losing the final to Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
Clear Leadership Driving Punjab’s Turnaround
“Leadership has played a huge role in Punjab’s turnaround. You win half the IPL at the auction table. Big purses don’t necessarily mean you will always get what you want, but they did, and they reached the final,” he said.
Smart auction moves key to Punjab’s rise
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Pathan pointed out that the franchise has not shied away from taking tough calls, including releasing underperforming players such as Glenn Maxwell, while also strengthening their bench.
“They took bold but important calls… and now you see all-rounders like Azmatullah Omarzai, Marco Jansen and Marcus Stoinis, along with a young Indian batting core. They also went all-out for Shreyas Iyer after deciding he would be the captain. There is clarity of thought, and I feel Punjab have started to move in the right direction,” he said.
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Punjab Kings in IPL 2025
The Punjab Kings enjoyed a breakthrough campaign in IPL 2025, emerging as one of the most consistent teams of the season. Under the leadership of Shreyas Iyer, they topped the league stage and advanced to the final, marking their first title clash after 2014. The team displayed remarkable balance, with Iyer leading from the front with the bat where he finished 604 runs, while Arshdeep Singh spearheaded the bowling attack finishing with 21 wickets. Punjab’s journey included a memorable win in Qualifier 2 against Mumbai Indians after failing in Qualifier 1 from RCB to secure a place in the final, but they ultimately fell short against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in finals. Despite the loss, the 2025 season signaled a major turnaround for the franchise, establishing them as genuine contenders and laying a strong foundation for future success.
Mar 21, 2026; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets goalie Elvis Merzlikins (90) and defenseman Ivan Provorov (9) celebrate the win over the Seattle Kraken after the game at Nationwide Arena. Mandatory Credit: Russell LaBounty-Imagn Images
Thanks to the Columbus Blue Jackets, the New York Islanders no longer are the most surprising team in the Metropolitan Division.
And thanks to the Blue Jackets and a spate of surging teams around them, the Islanders no longer are in a playoff spot, either.
New York (39-26-5, 83 points) will attempt to halt an untimely losing streak and climb back into a wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference on Sunday vs. Columbus (37-21-11, 85 points) in Elmont, N.Y.
Both teams will complete a back-to-back set.
The Islanders completed a three-game Canadian swing Saturday night when they suffered their second straight loss, 7-3 to the Montreal Canadiens.
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The Blue Jackets remained hot a few hours earlier with a 5-2 victory over the Seattle Kraken for their fourth straight win.
The results gave Columbus sole possession of third place in the Metropolitan Division over New York, although the Blue Jackets have a game in hand.
The Islanders are 5-5-0 this month, but their 10 points are tied with the Red Wings (4-4-2 in March) for the fewest among the eight teams jockeying for the final Eastern Conference playoff spots.
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New York is just two points ahead of the Ottawa Senators (7-2-1 this month) and three points ahead of the Philadelphia Flyers (7-2-1 in March). The Islanders also are three points behind the Pittsburgh Penguins (5-3-3 this month) in the race for second place in the Metropolitan.
The Bruins (6-2-3 in March) and Canadiens (5-4-1 this month) also have more points in March than the Islanders. Montreal, which scored four unanswered goals to end Saturday’s game, is in third place in the Atlantic Division with 86 points.
“Once we gave up that one to give them the lead again in the third, we just kind of broke down after that,” Islanders defenseman Ryan Pulock said of Saturday’s game. “What’s important is a regroup in here. (Sunday is) huge, so that’s where our focus has to be.”
Nobody has been hotter in the East than the Blue Jackets, who are attempting to make the playoffs for the first time since the 2020 bubble. Columbus has gone 8-0-3 (19 points) this month while extending its point streak to 12 games (8-0-4) — a streak that began with a 4-3 overtime loss to the Islanders on Feb. 28.
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Columbus is 18-2-4 since Rick Bowness took over for Dean Evason as coach on Jan. 12. The Blue Jackets were in last place in the East with 45 points, seven points out of the second wild card and 10 points behind the Islanders, who were in second place in the Metropolitan.
The win Saturday was the fifth wire-to-wire victory of the month for the Blue Jackets, who have outscored the opposition 44-29 over the last 11 games.
“We know where we’re at,” said defenseman Damon Severson, who scored the Blue Jackets’ second goal Saturday. “We’ve battled this far to get in the position we’re in, to kind of battle back and put us in a good spot here moving forward.”
Trained by Michael Freedman, Marhoona prevailed in the Golden Slipper 12 months prior and returned firing to bag her latest Group 1 prize in The Galaxy.
“So much for the Slipper hoodoo,” Freedman said.
“I don’t think I’ve had a horse that’s just got as much tenacity as she does. She hates losing.
“She looked out on her feet at the 100m there and just refused to lay down, a bit like the Slipper last year. What a filly.”
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The Galaxy handicapping was accurate, seeing nine horses hit the line inside one length.
Kerrin McEvoy guided the $12 chance Marhoona home by a head from fast-finisher Jedibeel ($21), with bold frontrunner Mazu ($18) third by a short head and Briasa ($4 equal elect) nipped in fourth.
Chaos erupted pre-start as $4 favourite Grafterburners reared in the barriers, flipped out the rear, dismounting Zac Lloyd from his Golden Slipper mount and delaying proceedings over five minutes.
On veterinary recommendation, Grafterburners was declared a late scratching, Lloyd exiting with muscle issues in leg and ankle.
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Becoming the pioneer post-She Will Reign (Golden Slipper, Moir Stakes 2017), Marhoona is the first Golden Slipper winner to snag another Group 1 beyond juvenile days.
Marhoona links with 1978 hero Luskin Star as the exclusive Golden Slipper winners also victors in The Galaxy.
“We discussed before the race maybe ending up in the one-one,” Freedman said.”But, you know, Kerrin showed great initiative and just went and parked outside the leader.
“I knew when she was there she’d be certainly right in the finish, but I was a little bit concerned, maybe at the furlong (a200m) where I thought maybe she’s going to get sort of steamrolled, but she’s just got such an incredible will to win.”
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McEvoy’s 88th Group 1 arrived as he noted slight nerves entering the straight.
“But full credit to her, the more I asked, the more she dug,” McEvoy said.
“Michael said to me, ‘Look, she’s right in it with the weight’ and we were confident she would handle the ground.
“I was under pressure from the top of the straight but she kept fighting back.
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“At the 100m, I was still there. It’s a nice surprise when they get off the canvas like that.
“She’s a star filly, its onwards and upwards from here. She’s won a couple of Group 1 races now so well played by Michael.”
Trainer Freedman has Marhoona set for Group 1 $3m TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) Royal Randwick April 4, plotting towards spring’s Group 1 $20m The Everest (1200m).
Brad Widdup’s Jedibeel was last early, buried on the turn, then rocketed through to eye Marhoona.
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“He is in super order,” jockey Tommy Berry said. “He gave away a bit of start from the gate and just narrowly missed. It was a tough effort.”
Mazu set the speed and only succumbed late. “He is going super this horse,” jockey Rachel King said of Mazu. “He has his quirks which we all know about, he likes to do things his own way, but he couldn’t be going any better.”
After fourth in last The Galaxy then TJ Smith glory, Briasa’s latest Rosehill feature fourth has Team Hawkes hopeful for Randwick lightning strike soon.
“I thought he was terrific,” jockey Tyler Schiller said of Briasa.
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“He got into a lovely spot from the wide gate, three deep with cover, and tracked into it nicely.
“His runcame to an end with the heavy weight and the wet ground. A couple with the pull in the weights got him but he did a great job.”
Racing fans should check betting sites for the best sports betting options on elite sprints such as The Galaxy.
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) lines up during game action on Sep 8, 2019, at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, facing the Detroit Lions as he surveys the defense and prepares to operate the offense in his early career debut season. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports.
The Minnesota Vikings’ heavy-lifting portion of 2026 free agency is largely over, and we have grades for the transactions. The club was quieter than usual because of a cash-strapped budget, but that didn’t stop it from landing a big fish at quarterback in Kyler Murray.
Some moves landed better than others for Minnesota.
Oddsmakers believe Minnesota will win eight or nine games in 2026, a familiar spot, as the club seems to have that forecast every offseason at this time on the calendar.
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One Vikings Decision Already Looks Better Than the Rest
How did the Vikings fare in free agency? We have answers.
Carolina Panthers punter Johnny Hekker (10) stands ready during special teams action against the Philadelphia Eagles, Dec 8, 2024, at Lincoln Financial Field, tracking field position and preparing for the next snap as Carolina navigated a road matchup in a competitive late-season NFC contest. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images.
Signing Johnny Hekker (P) Grade: C
Signing Hekker as the punting solution after Ryan Wright’s unexpected departure is phenomenal — if the year were 2015 or 2016.
Indeed, Hekker is a six-time All-Pro, but his best days are in the rearview. In 2026, his performance mirrored that of a middle-of-the-road punter. Thankfully, he can still hold field goals and extra points with the best of them, music to Will Reichard’s ears, who lost his holder when Wright skedaddled for the New Orleans Saints.
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Hekker could embark on a late-career surge in Minnesota, but it’s probably best for the Vikings to draft a punter in Round 7 or sign one from undrafted free agency. Georgia’s Brett Thorson comes to mind.
Signing James Pierre (CB) Grade: B
The Vikings needed a CB3, and if Mike Tomlin trusted Pierre for six seasons, so should Brian Flores’s Vikings. Last year’s CB3 at the end of the season, Fabian Moreau, played well, but has not re-signed to date. Minnesota should add him back as the CB4 if it does not draft a cornerback next month.
Pierre logged an outstanding 86.2 Pro Football Focus grade last season, playing 408 snaps — about 40% of the time — and a 41.4 passer rating allowed. If he replicates those stats in Minnesota, the guy should start.
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The only knock on Pierre? He’ll turn 30 in September. He’s not a long-term CB1 or anything close to it.
The Extensions Grade: B
The Vikings have re-signed or tendered these free agents:
Andrew DePaola (LS)
Ivan Pace Jr. (LB)
Jalen Redmond (DT)
Bo Richter (OLB)
Zavier Scott (RB)
Tavierre Thomas (S)
Carson Wentz (QB)
Eric Wilson (LB)
Wilson posted Pro Bowl-adjacent numbers in 2025; the team gets a ‘B’ for re-adding him alone. The Vikings owed it to themselves to find out if Wilson is suddenly the real deal as an over-30 linebacker.
Re-adding Redmond was a no-brainer; he might’ve been the best defensive player overall on the roster in 2025. Perhaps Pace Jr. will fix his tackling woes. Wentz returning as the QB3 ensures the quarterback room will be deeper than the Pacific in 2026 — unlike last year at this time, when Minnesota enjoyed only Brett Rypien as the QB2.
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The Departures Grade: B
These players said their goodbyes:
Jonathan Allen (DT) → CIN
Ty Chandler (RB) → NO
Javon Hargrave (DT) → GB
Jalen Nailor (WR) → LV
Ryan Wright (P) → NO
The only soul-crusher here might be Nailor, especially as the Raiders are on deck to showcase him as the WR1, given their weak WR1 depth chart.
This grade would otherwise be an ‘A’ — nobody really cares that Allen, Chandler, Hargrave, and a punter left — but we’re playing it safe with a ‘B’ in case Nailor erupts for 1,000+ yards in Las Vegas.
Signing Ryan Van Demark (OT) Grade: B+
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Buffalo had a deadline to match this offer, but declined. Van Demark ended up in Minnesota, and the depth OT concerns will be basically solved. He’s the new Justin Skule or David Quessenberry.
Buffalo Bills offensive tackle Ryan Van Demark (74) loosens up and stretches with teammates during minicamp drills, Jun 11, 2025, at Highmark Stadium, preparing for upcoming reps as Buffalo evaluated depth and development along the offensive line ahead of the new season. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images.
This is the PFF skinny on Van Demark
2025: 74.4 (312 snaps)
2024: 53.3 (199 snaps)
2023: 60.2 (47 snaps)
The pass-blocking:
2025: 65.6
2024: 51.8
2023: 27.2
The run-blocking:
2025: 74.9
2024: 51.4
2023: 64.4
These grades are similar to what Skule brought to the table during the 2024 campaign with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Van Demark fetches the ‘B+’ because there’s a chance that he’s sitting on a career breakout, and that would be music to the Vikings’ ears.
Signing Kyler Murray (QB) Grade: A
When it started to feel like Murray would be available this offseason, the first instinct was to think of a trade. Was Murray worth a 3rd-Rounder? Maybe a 2nd-Rounder? Had that deal gone down for Minnesota, this initial grade would be the ‘B’ range.
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray goes through pregame warmups with focus and precision, Nov 12, 2023, at State Farm Stadium ahead of a matchup with the Atlanta Falcons, working through throws and mechanics on the field as the environment builds toward kickoff. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports.
But the Vikings got Murray for the NFL’s version of free. All 31 teams should’ve attempted to sign him, if only as a backup; that’s how outstanding the value is for Minnesota. Kevin O’Connell is getting a quarterback who averages just under 4,000 passing yards, 30 passing + rushing downs, and about 600 rushing yards every 17 starts.
The Murray acquisition is all about the value. If he gets hurt right away, it doesn’t really matter; his price tag is $1.3 million. Suppose he constructed a season of dreams — even better. The Vikings can make him their franchise quarterback until 2033 or so.
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This is an unabashed ‘A’ grade for Murray to Minnesota. The Vikings might’ve stumbled into “their guy” at the sport’s most important position, a la Drew Brees to New Orleans two decades ago.
Michael Page was nonchalant when asked about Dana White leaving during his fight at UFC Fight Night 270.
Page (25-3 MMA, 4-1 UFC) drew boos from the crowd when he outpointed Sam Patterson (14-3-1 MMA, 4-2 UFC) in a unanimous decision win Saturday at The O2 in London. “MVP” was pretty vocal about his discontent with the UFC’s decision to matchmake him against Patterson, who’s a relatively unknown welterweight on the rise.
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Now Page had the UFC CEO exit his seat during his fight.
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“No, not really,” Page said during the UFC London post-fight news conference. “Again, it’s just, when you’re a man in those positions, you need to remember that everything that you do has a big effect, you create bigger waves with what you do and what you say. So, you just need to be mindful of these things, but he’s known to be his own man. He does what he does, but for me, it’s just go out and perform as best as I can, and next time make him sit in his seat.”
White was critical of Page’s performance during the UFC Fight Night 270 post-fight news conference.
“I didn’t think it was a great fight either,” White said. “It was a bad fight. I don’t know. He won, so we’ll see what’s next.”
The Portuguese coach, champion of the Libertadores and the Brasileirão with Botafogo, was announced by Raposa this Sunday (22).
The contract is valid until 2027.
Along with Artur Jorge, André Cunha, assistant coach, João Cardoso, assistant coach, Tiago Lopes, physical trainer, and Rodrigo Mira, performance analyst, are also joining.
Ty Simpson helped push himself into first-round consideration after a solid 2025 campaign with the Alabama Crimson Tide. While several quarterback-needy teams are expected to target him early in the April draft, not everyone is sold on the hype.
Former New York Jets scout Daniel Kelly, in his analysis on X on Saturday, raised concerns about using a high draft pick to select Simpson.
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Kelly drew a comparison between Simpson and former No. 2 pick Zach Wilson. Wilson is widely seen as a bust after a disappointing three-year stint with the Jets, during which he posted a 12–21 record and struggled with consistency before being traded to the Denver Broncos.
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Kelly outlined several similarities between Simpson and Wilson, focusing on their scouting profiles, college development and potential risks. He noted that he labeled Wilson a “surefire bust” before the Jets selected him in the first round of the 2021 draft, and warned that Simpson could follow a similar path.
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“What are the similarities? Reckless with the football. Best out of structure and off-platform. Hold the ball too long,” Kelly said. “What pre-draft grade do I have on Simpson? 3rd round. Exact same grade as I gave Wilson!
“‘Don’t do it in the first or second round.’ That’s what I would say if I was still sitting in that building, and I was asked what my opinion is on Ty Simpson.”
While many of Kelly’s comparisons focus on playstyle, there are also broader concerns surrounding Simpson that are similar to the pre-draft narrative of Wilson, especially regarding experience and consistency.
The Alabama quarterback started just 15 games in his college career, all during the 2025 season. While he showed promise early, his form dipped down the stretch, with his completion rate sliding from 66.9% in his first nine games to 60.5% in his final six.
Top-3 potential landing spots for Ty Simpson in the draft
1) Miami Dolphins
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The Dolphins may not be in the market for a quarterback early after parting ways with Tua Tagovailoa and signing Malik Willis, but they shouldn’t be ruled out entirely.
If Ty Simpson slips into the second round, Miami could take a chance on his upside. Adding him would provide depth and also set up a potential competition with Willis for the future of the franchise.
2) Pittsburgh Steelers
Even if Aaron Rodgers returns in 2026, the Steelers still need to think long-term at quarterback. At 42, Rodgers is only a short-term answer. That’s where Ty Simpson comes in. Pittsburgh could draft him as a developmental prospect, allowing him to sit and learn behind one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history.
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For Simpson, landing with a well-run, stable franchise like the Steelers could be the perfect situation to maximize his potential.
3) Arizona Cardinals
There’s still plenty of uncertainty in Arizona after the team moved on from Kyler Murray. With Jacoby Brissett and Gardner Minshew leading the quarterback room, the Cardinals remain without a clear long-term answer.
That could put Ty Simpson on their radar. While selecting him at No. 4 might be a reach, Arizona has the flexibility to trade down, pick up extra assets and still land its quarterback of the future.
That’s not to say less of his 63-65-64 start. It’s more to acknowledge how DeChambeau has shown frustration at the numerous putts he’s left short, or the consecutive days where he missed the easy par-3, 17th green, or the sloppy double bogey he made Friday afternoon.
“That back nine just kind of didn’t go my way on some of it,” DeChambeau said. “I made a great eagle on 10 and a great birdie on 18, but everything else was kind of a bit scrambly.”
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In large part, DeChambeau has turned a long, wet property into something that feels much lesser. The 5,000 feet of altitude makes his longer-than-anyone long game seem even longer. The 393-yard par-4 1st amounts to a pitch-n-putt, from which he dunked his approach on Friday. Same for the 364-yard drivable 5th. He’s played those two holes six times and carded eight under between them.
“It’s key to get off to a good start,” said his chief chaser, Jon Rahm. “Bryson has done a great job on that every single day.” Rahm has played those two holes in five under, really as good as anyone not named DeChambeau.
It would be the fifth LIV win of DeChambeau’s career and would make him the first player since Talor Gooch in 2023 to win consecutive LIV events. Now that the league receives world ranking points, it’ll also help DeChambeau climb back into the top 25, granted he finishes the job. And while he has no doubt energized the rabid crowds in Johannesburg, he may find many of them rooting against him Sunday morning.
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Four shots back is South African Dean Burmester, who has been the clear fan-favorite. So much that he was brought to tears on the 1st tee Saturday morning. Two shots back is South African Branden Grace, who has been chasing DeChambeau for 72 hours now, playing the last two rounds with him. Event organizers have been swapping out the white, wooden picket fences that flanked various holes for sturdier, steel fences that won’t buckle under the pressure of crowd weight. That feels like a sign of the Sunday to come. So did the opening exchange of Grace’s press conference.
When asked, in the name of South Africa’s famous wildlife, if he would have to be a bit of a cheetah, racing out to a catch DeChambeau, Grace pivoted cleverly.
“Listen, I think I have to be a little bit of a rhino tomorrow,” he said. “I have to be tough tomorrow. This is going to be a battle. Listen, he’s playing phenomenal golf. I feel that I’m also playing phenomenal golf. You just need a couple of things to go your way and then a couple of shots can turn out — it can change quickly.”
;)
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