Tadej Pogacar has won his third Tour of Flanders, his fourth consecutive Monument victory. Demi Vollering won the women’s race. Union Bordeaux-Bègles will face Stade Toulousain in the Champions Cup. French players have excelled in the NBA. Gaël Monfils has qualified for the second round in Monte Carlo.

The Minnesota Vikings’ rumor mill never takes days or weeks off, and in fact, the noise gets louder as the draft approaches. That just so happens to be 18 days from now.

Minnesota’s latest rumor roundup touches McCarthy, Murray, and a possible Brandel shift on the offensive line.

So, to keep you in the loop, here’s the second batch of Vikings rumors for the first weekend in April.

Latest Chatter Points to Key Decisions for Minnesota’s Offense

The Purple Rumor Mill for April 5th, 2026.

Rumor: J.J. McCarthy could be traded to the Jets in a deal centered around a 2nd-Rounder.

Pro Football Network‘s Josh Weil published a few McCarthy trade ideas, and for the Jets, he explained, “New York trades a 2026 second-round pick (No. 44 overall) to Minnesota for McCarthy and a 2026 third-round pick (No. 97 overall). Will the reunion with Geno Smith result in success for the Jets? Maybe, but with an aging quarterback who has had his share of injuries, bringing in a backup with more upside than Brady Cook can make an injury not devastating for the Jets.”

“They would be able to focus on other positions with their higher draft picks and still bring in a hungry McCarthy, who could very well win the starting job over Smith.”

McCarthy has raised no fuss about Murray’s arrival, and to be shipped out, McCarthy must likely ask for a ticket.

Weil also dropped a McCarthy trade theory to Cleveland: “Cleveland trades a 2026 third-round pick (No. 70 overall) and a 2026 fifth-round pick (No. 149 overall) to Minnesota for McCarthy. While the Browns picked a pair of quarterbacks in last year’s draft and still have Deshaun Watson under contract, it is clear they are looking for someone to come in and run away with the job.”

“It seems like the Browns didn’t want to invest a first-round pick in the position, but getting a first-round quarterback at pennies on the dollar in terms of draft stock may make them buyers for McCarthy. McCarthy’s QB Impact Score last season was 64.5, resulting in a D grade. While this is a far cry from where his expectations are, he still cleared Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel by a wide margin in that category.”

Generally speaking, the Vikings probably won’t trade McCarthy.

Rumor: Kyler Murray is the Vikings’ QB1 in 2026; Kevin O’Connell spilled the beans.

O’Connell chatted with KFAN this week and mentioned his offense in 2026: “I call it the Justin Jefferson program. If they’re playing man coverage, they’re absolutely not playing Justin 1 on 1… what that means if you’re going to try and play those coverages, and have a spy for Kyler Murray, or for that matter any of our other QB’s, you’re leaving yourself a 3 man rush.”

“So, you have to ask yourself, what do you have to take away? If the answer is Justin Jefferson or Jordan Addison, there’s going to be some opportunity.”

O’Connell’s comments left no doubt: he is building the offense around Murray as the starting quarterback and planning for September with Murray in mind. Defensive coordinators must now contend with Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and Murray’s mobility — a combination sure to cause headaches.

Coaches rarely speak this way about backup quarterbacks. As QB4, Max Brosmer received no extensive analysis on Tuesday, which is understandable. He’s not a starter.

O’Connell may not have intended to reveal his hand, but his plan is evident. While the Vikings will still hold a quarterback competition in training camp, Murray enters the summer as the clear frontrunner.

Rumor: Blake Brandel is the odds-on favorite to start Week 1 at center.

Until this week, no one really knew the Vikings’ plan at center. O’Connell changed that a little bit.

He said to reporters, “It is great that we feel that good about Blake’s versatility, but ultimately we want to do what’s best for Blake to ascend and reach his highest potential at one position or have the flexibility still to play multiple. What his offseason looks like, what his training camp looks like and what his work flow looks like leading into the season, we want to have him more than likely at that center spot and build on some things that he did last year.”

“It’s a position that’s got some really unique names in the draft, depending on where you may be looking to take one. There’s some guys with experience, there’s some guys with tremendous upside and then some guys that have that flex above the neck of really the smarts and the command that it takes to play center at the National Football League level. We’ll continue to work through it.”

ESPN’s Kevin Seifert added, “O’Connell said the Vikings plan to make center the permanent position for longtime backup Blake Brandel, making him the early front-runner for the job that was vacated by Ryan Kelly’s retirement.”

From an early April standpoint, the starting center job is Brandel’s. A rookie will have to outshine him at training camp.

The three-day competition in the rural town of Stawell featured more than 700 competitors and offered total prize money of A$155,000 (£81,000).

Jamaican Asafa Powell, Britain’s Linford Christie and Australian great Cathy Freeman are among the global champions to compete at the event since it was first held in 1878.

Richardson’s partner and fellow American sprinter Christian Coleman, holder of the indoor 60m world record, contested the men’s event.

The former 100m world champion was eliminated in the semi-finals, where he finished fifth in 12.48 seconds.

The men’s event was won by Australian 21-year-old Olufemi Komolafe in 11.93 off a five-metre start – starting behind all but one of his competitors, with runner-up Jake Ireland starting at 4.5m.

One week ago, we brought you the best draft picks in Minnesota Vikings history, a list headlined by Fran Tarkenton, which should surprise no one. You can read that here. This time, the naughty list is up for review, with the next draft just 18 days away.

A handful of Vikings draft swings aged terribly, leaving long-term scars on the franchise.

The list has a newcomer, sadly, now that the dust has settled, and he checked in at No. 3 — Lewis Cine.

First-Round Whiffs Still Haunt Minnesota’s Draft History

From bad to worse, these are the worst draft picks in Vikings history.

5. D.J. Dozier

Drafting Dozier with the 14th pick in 1987 represented a significant investment, as the Vikings envisioned him as the centerpiece of a run-oriented offense.

But Dozier never lived up to those expectations. In 37 games, he totaled just 691 rushing yards and 7 touchdowns, with his best season being his rookie year, in which he gained only 257 yards. He struggled to establish a consistent role and realize his potential.

After a brief stint in Detroit, Dozier was out of the league by age 26. For a Top-15 pick at a crucial position (back then, anyway), the Vikings received next to nothing for the long term.

4. Erasmus James

Picked 18th overall in 2005 — that’s where the Vikings draft this year — James was expected to become a dominant force on the Vikings’ defensive line. He possessed the necessary skills, and the opportunity was there for him to succeed.

Unfortunately, injuries rattled his career. In 23 games with Minnesota, James started 12, recording 38 tackles and 5 sacks before the team moved on in 2008. A subsequent stint in Washington did not improve his fortunes. Not one bit.

James’s career stalled prematurely, making him another 1st-Round pick that failed to deliver long-term value for the Vikings. Minnesota has only drafted one Round 1 EDGE defender since: Dallas Turner.

3. Lewis Cine

Cine’s tenure in Minnesota quickly soured. After only 10 defensive snaps, he suffered a severe leg injury in London during his rookie year, which dramatically altered his career trajectory.

Although he returned in 2023, he struggled to find a role, and the Vikings released him the following year. He either never fully recovered from the injury or just plain stunk. You pick.

Cine later joined a Super Bowl-winning team in Philadelphia, but his impact was negligible. While injuries are an unfortunate part of the game, Cine’s time with the Vikings stands out as one of the most disappointing first-round stories in franchise history.

He was also cut from a UFL roster not long ago. Brutal.

Minnesota Sports Fan‘s Eric Strack wrote about Cine a couple of months ago, “Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s biggest draft miss came during his very first swing — when he traded down 20 spots from No. 12 overall to No. 32 overall — passing on (S) Kyle Hamilton and (WR) Jameson Williams, in favor of (S) Lewis Cine, who’s rookie deal was worth $11.5 million. We all know the story, from there. Cine broke his leg during his first preseason as a Viking.”

“And when he finally got on the field one year later, not only was the hard-hitting Georgia safety lacking first round talent … but he didn’t even belong in the NFL. Before the start of the 2024 regular season, Lewis Cine was waived by the Minnesota Vikings. After he was kicked around between a few different NFL practice squads the past couple years, Cine was forced to settle for a UFL contract with the DC Defenders on January 22, 2026.”

Cine’s football career could be over.

“Not even two weeks later… the 2022 first round pick has been cut from the DC roster. And unless he’s willing to play overseas, it’s possible Lewis Cine may now be forced to look for jobs outside of playing professional football,” Strack concluded.

2. Leo Hayden

The Vikings’ selection of Hayden in the 1st Round of the 1971 draft never gained traction.

Despite participating in the preseason, he never played a regular-season game for Minnesota. He eventually landed in St. Louis, where he rushed for 11 yards before retiring at age 25.

The Vikings quickly rebounded by acquiring Chuck Foreman soon after, but the Hayden pick remains a significant miss that never had a chance.

1. Dimitrius Underwood

Underwood’s situation unraveled before it started. Drafted in Round 1 in 1999, he abruptly left training camp in August and never played a single snap for the Vikings.

He briefly appeared with Dallas, but his career failed to launch. Underwood faced off-field challenges, including legal issues and later discussions surrounding his mental health, which were not well understood or tolerated at the time.

From a football standpoint, the Vikings gained nothing from this pick, making it one of the most sudden and disappointing 1st-Round busts in team history.

Imagine if Donovan Jackson just never made it through the summer of 2025 and vanished. That was Underwood a quarter century ago.

With Pep Lijnders now watching on from the other side after playing such a key role during the Jurgen Klopp era at Anfield, it was strange to see him speak so passionately after full time.

DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL EMPIRE OF THE KOP APP FOR ALL THE LATEST & BREAKING UPDATES – STRAIGHT TO YOUR PHONE! ON APPLE & GOOGLE PLAY

Speaking in his post-match press conference via ESPN, the Dutchman was asked about a major departure in Manchester City’s squad and he delivered a strong statement.

Advertisement

Lijnders’ ‘end of story’ comment lands badly for Liverpool fans

After watching City dismantle us 4-0, our former assistant delivered a line that feels poignant.

He said: “Every good story comes to an end. I hope he enjoys the last months – there are only six weeks – and has a good farewell. He deserves all that attention as well.”

Those comments were aimed at Bernardo Silva, with our former staff member all but confirming he will leave at the end of the season.

With Pep Guardiola suspended, whether Lijnders was the man who was supposed to deliver this news or not – is hard to tell.

Pressure builds as Liverpool look for response

What makes this even harder to take is the context in which those words arrived, coming immediately after a heavy defeat where City completely outplayed us.

Advertisement

Lijnders himself had already been criticised for his touchline celebrations during the game, with many fans feeling it crossed a line given his deep connection to the club.

At the same time, there is a growing sense that we need leadership and unity more than ever, especially with Arne Slot facing huge pressure ahead of the Champions League clash with PSG.

That’s why discussions around the future structure of the coaching staff are already starting to emerge, particularly after Steven Gerrard admitted he would be open to returning in an assistant role if asked.

Right now though, all of that feels secondary, because performances like this only reinforce the feeling that we’re at a turning point, and how we respond in the next few weeks will define where this story goes next.

North Carolina Tar Heels football coach Bill Belichick was sued on Thursday over an alleged incident that occurred at his Massachusetts home in June 2024.

Painter Andrew Jackson sued Forty Five Fair Street LLC, a company managed by Belichick, in Nantucket Superior Court. Jackson said in his lawsuit that “construction practices created an unsafe work area for workers at the premises” and, because of that, he suffered injuries after a fall.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

Head coach Bill Belichick of the North Carolina Tar Heels looks on during the first quarter against the Syracuse Orange at JMA Wireless Dome on Oct. 31, 2025 in Syracuse, New York. (Bryan Bennett/Getty Images)

“As a direct and proximate result of the fall, plaintiff sustained serious bodily injuries including a severe right ankle injury, together with pain, disability, medical expenses, lost wages, and other consequential damages,” the lawsuit stated.

The filing added that Jackson received workers’ compensation benefits after the fall but “retains his rights to pursue this third-party negligence action against non-employer responsible parties.”

The lawsuit said that Belichick’s company should have made sure the construction site was in a safe-working condition.

North Carolina football head coach Bill Belichick and General Manager Michael Lombardi in action, looks on from the sideline vs TCU at Kenan Memorial Stadium in Chapel Hill, North Carolina on Sept. 1, 2025.
(Erick W. Rasco/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)

BILL BELICHICK DOWNPLAYS HALL OF FAME CONTROVERSY, SAYS FOCUS REMAINS ON NORTH CAROLINA FOOTBALL

“Defendant breached its duties by, among other things: a. causing, permitting, or allowing unsafe conditions to exist at the premises; b. failing to maintain the work area in a reasonably safe condition; c. failing to inspect the premises adequately; d. failing to remedy hazardous conditions it knew or should have known about; e. failing to warn Plaintiff of dangerous conditions; and f. otherwise acting negligently in the ownership, operation, management, supervision, maintenance, and control of the premises.”

Jackson is seeking nearly $300,000, according to the Nantucket Current, which first reported the lawsuit.

Fox News Digital reached out to Belichick’s representatives for comment.

North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Bill Belichick with the team before the game at Kenan Stadium. (Bob Donnan/Imagn Images)

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Belichick bought the Nantucket property for $4.8 million in 2024, according to Boston.com.

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

On March 25, the Minnesota Vikings submitted an application for an important annual event. According to the Minnesota Vikings team website, the team has submitted an application to host the 2028 NFL Draft.

Yes, I know the hype is building up toward the 2026 NFL Draft, but the thought of hosting a future NFL Draft is exciting in its own right.

Looking ahead, we are, at the time of writing this article (7:43 pm CT on Friday, April 3), just 20 days away from the 2026 NFL Draft beginning in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. And the 2027 draft will be in Washington, D.C.

So, the question is, what would the experience be like for the Minneapolis-St. Paul, area for the NFL Draft? Let’s take a deeper dive into the idea.

Could the 2028 NFL Draft be Coming To Minnesota?

The festivities surrounding the NFL Draft are an economic boon to the host city. And Minnesota Sports and Events Executive Vice President of Business Development & Tourism Matt Meunier wants to bring a strong regional flair to Minneapolis and St. Paul.

For the 2028 NFL Draft, Meunier’s submission likes his own location.

Per Meunier, “In terms of the location of the draft, the red carpet and all the ancillary events that go with hosting the draft, all those things are under evaluation by the league right now, so it’s to be determined, but what we can say is TCO Performance Center is a really viable option. We want to unite everybody with this event.”

Ties of the 2028 NFL Draft to Minneapolis

Not only will the potential 2028 NFL Draft have football ties to the Twin Cities, but another major sporting event could bring action to Minneapolis.

As Meunier notes, “Flag football, youth football is going to continue to be more prominent as it relates to the NFL and leaning into 2028 and the L.A. [Olympic] Games, so there’s potential to stage some youth football and community legacy events out at TCO Performance Center, but in addition to that, every event Minnesota Sports and Events hosts, we’re really intentional about staging events throughout the region and downtown [Minneapolis].”

And the team’s Executive Vice President of Public Affairs also noted that the event will bring in some major economic boom to the area.

As Lester Bagley notes, “The Vikings are vested and invested, and we will provide financial support, staff support, and organizational energy.”

Ties of the 2028 NFL Draft to the NFC North

Not only would the 2028 NFL Draft complete the cycle of major NFL events to come through the Twin Cities, but it would also complete the cycle of NFC North teams hosting an NFL Draft. Last year, the Green Bay Packers hosted the NFL Draft. 2024 was the year of the Detroit Lions hosting, and the Chicago Bears hosted in 2015 and 2016. And the Vikings also hosted the 2018 Super Bowl.

The Confidence of the Owner to Host the 2028 NFL Draft

Now, a week after the application was submitted, the team’s owner feels fairly confident that Minnesota can land the event.

As Mark Wilf noted on a recent radio interview, “Minnesota and the business community, and the entire community, really comes out and supports the big events. We’re working with the league officials to try to figure out the venue, and we’re working hard to try to win the bid for the 2028 draft. Coming up, later in April, it’s going to be in Pittsburgh, and Washington next year. So, we’re shooting for Minnesota. We think we’ve got a great chance. We’re very supportive of making sure the bid is as top-notch as it can be, and hopefully bring another great event to Minnesota.”

So, the 2028 NFL Draft will be very intriguing to Minnesota fans. Right now, the bid is in submission. Now, the Vikings play the waiting game. Hopefully, the application will be approved.