Pep Guardiola could not hide his delight with Man City’s number two goalkeeper and knows the 23-year-old will probably want to move on if he cannot be guaranteed a Premier League place

There was a moment shortly before the late thrills of Manchester City’s FA Cup semi-final win when a long ball out of Southampton’s massed defensive ranks threatened to give Finn Azaz his first chance of the match. John Stones was caught flat-footed but James Trafford had anticipated the issue and came a good 35 yards to deal with the situation.

He did not deal with it by returning the long ball in kind – instead, he hit a first-time, shortish pass to a team-mate. And the only time Pep Guardiola showed more animated appreciation for one of his players’ actions was when Nico Gonzalez hit his laser-guided winner.

Guardiola skipped 15 yards along the touchline to show his acclaim for Trafford’s anticipation and calmness. And post-match, the pair were in animated conversation, Trafford appearing to tell his manager that he was not far from getting a fingertip to the strike that gave Azaz his Wembley goal.

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Trafford’s last three games have been at Wembley – two for City and one for England. And almost certainly, his next appearance will be at Wembley, in the FA Cup final on May 16.

The question of whether that will be his last appearance for City is becoming more pertinent by the day. Trafford was not overly busy in the semi-final but it was another assured display and there was an important save to keep the scoreline at 1-1.

Not only is it now accepted wisdom that Trafford is too good to be a number two, but the list of elite clubs that would sign him if he were available grows and grows. His rating is now so high that it would probably be easier to list the powerhouse teams who would NOT take Trafford.

He has not played a Premier League game in eight months but will be the back-up to Jordan Pickford at the World Cup. Some shrewd judges believe he will be England’s number one sooner rather than later. A lot sooner.

But for his career progression, Trafford cannot start next season as a reserve keeper. Simple as that. As much as their post-match talk showed mutual admiration, even the attraction of working for Pep as a cup keeper cannot be enough for Trafford.

He might yet end up being one of the stars of two cup finals but the bottom line is that it has still been an unsatisfactory season for Trafford. Bought back from Burnley for £30million, he was jettisoned from the number one spot after only three games when City swooped for Gianluigi Donnarumma. The domestic cup runs to two finals have helped but that still hurts.

So, what is the solution? Either Trafford looks for a way out or City sell Donnarumma. The idea that City might decide Trafford is, after all, a better option than Donnarumma, seems pretty outlandish. And anyway, that decision will be down to Guardiola, or whoever is manager next season.

Donnarumma has a big-game presence, a winner’s mentality. But Trafford – despite being four years younger than the Italian – has greater composure and is probably more accomplished in his distribution.

Guardiola clearly loves Trafford and loves the way he has handled the demotion. And for the start of next season, the Blues boss knows he will have to play him or sell him. Simple as that.

Chennai Super Kings XI vs GT: Sanju Samson (wk), Ruturaj Gaikwad (c), Urvil Patel, Dewald Brevis, Shivam Dube, Kartik Sharma, Jamie Overton, Akeal Hosein, Noor Ahmad, Anshul Kamboj, Gurjapneet Singh.

Sarfaraz Khan drops to the bench. Mukesh Choudhary may come in as the Impact.

Here, in ascending order, is DataGolf’s official ranking of the best amateur golfers since 2010.

Four, Patrick Cantlay; three, Jordan Spieth; two, Jon Rahm … and one, Jackson Koivun.

Wait, what?

Yep, on Friday afternoon, the 20-year-old junior at Auburn University watched his career enter historic trajectory. The principle act was Koivun’s victory at the 2026 SEC Championship, his third SEC Championship in as many collegiate seasons, making him the first player in more than 50 years to accomplish the three-peat.

In doing so, Koivun also moved into first of DataGolf’s all-time Amateur Golfers ranking, which uses strokes gained data to quantify a collegiate player’s skill relative to their fellow division 1 competitors. The ranking, which has captured all amateur golf data since 2010, helps to quantify Koivun’s success at the collegiate level next to some of the stars that have emerged from the NCAA over the last two decades. Now, that ranking has a new job: To quantify just how much better Koivun has been than each of those players.

Per the DataGolf ranking, Koivun’s strokes gained index of +3.25 ranks nearly a tenth of a shot (.09) better than Jon Rahm’s decorated amateur career at Arizona State, and .14 shots better than Jordan Spieth’s at the University of Texas, which springboarded the young Texan into three major championships in the dawn of his pro career.

Of course, the evidence of Koivun ‘s prodigious skill goes much further than just DG. In less than three years at Auburn, Koivun is the program’s all-time winningest player with 10 victories, and is also the holder of the NCAA 36-hole scoring record (25 under), beating a three-decade-old mark set by none other than Tiger Woods. He’s also served as the anchor of a winning Walker Cup team (with three points earned), recorded a top 5 finish in just nine PGA Tour starts, and locked up his future Tour status by proxy of the PGA Tour University Accelerated program. All this to say nothing of his SEC Championship three-peat, which was the first since 1967.

In fact, Koivun has might be trending in an outright historic direction as an amateur player had he found more success in USGA events. At the time of this writing, the biggest gap between Koivun and some of the most decorated amateurs in golf history is his performance at the U.S. Junior Amateur and U.S. Amateur Championships. While the legends of yesteryear (Woods, Nicklaus, Mickelson) each recorded wins in the biggest amateur events (including, in Woods’ case, a record 18 straight matches), Koivun has yet to advance past the quarterfinals.

Should he retain his amateur status through the summer, Koivun should have at least one last chance at amateur glory. The U.S. Amateur will return to Merion outside of Philadelphia in mid-August — giving Koivun a chance to record at victory at one of the USGA’s most historic host sites before the PGA Tour fall season would provide no shortage of playing opportunities, should Koivun turn pro then.

Either way, the resume is already stacked for the next great young player to enter the PGA Tour from the amateur ranks. Whether you’re counting by stats or by hardware, it’s clear the list of most decorated amateurs of the modern era has added a new name: Koivun.

Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal side beat Newcastle in the Premier League on Saturday and the manager made headlines after it

A few miles from Wembley on Saturday teatime, Arsenal were making an impressive statement. They are no longer in the FA Cup so Wembley glory is beyond them, but keeping a clean sheet and beating Newcastle at the Emirates was enough to make Manchester City took notice.

Newcastle have been Arsenal’s bogey team so often and Mikel Arteta’s side do not always enjoy the atmosphere and pressure on them playing at home, and in addition to that Eberechi Eze and Kai Havertz suffered injuries while there could also have been a red card given to Newcastle goalkeeper Nick Pope. Despite all this, Arsenal won to return to the top of the table and show that they had been able to put recent defeats to Bournemouth and City behind them.

Arteta had the chance to make Arsenal’s resilience the story coming out of the Emirates on Saturday, a tale of how the team had rebounded from successive losses and done even more to convince their manager they will win the league. With four games left to play, they are where they want to be – at least for now.

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Instead, the Arsenal manager had a whinge. Pope definitely should have been sent off, he moaned, and it was the second incident in as many games that a key decision had gone against them given how Arteta felt Abdukodir Khusanov should have been sent off for brushing Havertz as both raced for the ball at the Etihad.

“It’s a clear red card,” Arteta said of Pope. “I’ve watched it 10 times. If you have ever played football, it is a red card. It’s the second time in two games because I guess Manchester City when Kai Havertz goes through, Khusanov fouls him, 1-1, the title is there… it is a red card, guys. So these are the margins as well and hopefully that’s going to change.”

A few notes, then. The title may well have been Arsenal’s if Khusanov had been sent off at that moment, but it would have been due to a hugely controversial refereeing decision that was out of character with the whole game; Anthony Taylor let Gabriel and Erling Haaland wrestle all match without giving anything so the idea he would have acted on two players barely coming together is fanciful at the very least.

Then there’s the more obvious point of Gabriel escaping a red card for what he did to Haaland at the Etihad, which anyone who has ever played or watched football would tell you should mean the Brazilian was sat in the stands on Saturday rather than helping his team to a clean sheet. It’s very hard to argue that referees are against you when your best player has miraculously survived missing three out of the last five games of the season.

Most important though is that what kind of message does it send out for his players? The team have just returned to winning ways after a difficult few weeks and the manager comes out and says that they need more refereeing decisions to go in their favour.

Maybe it puts pressure on the officials for the remaining games (although that would suggest both that they listen to this stuff and are then actually capable of enacting it) but it is hardly a show of faith in the Arsenal squad to be appealing for help. It could not be more different from Pep Guardiola’s usual mantra of drilling into his players that they cannot make any excuses.

Arsenal felt like they had done well out of City only beating Burnley 1-0 in midweek in a title battle that could come down to goal difference. Similarly, the Blues will have heard the noise coming out of the Emirates on Saturday and felt encouraged that Arteta is focusing on referees rather than the players that can make them irrelevant.

The future of Gervonta Davis is currently up in the air but that hasn’t stopped one reigning world champion from calling out ‘Tank’ for a showdown.

It’s been over a year since Davis was last in action, with that coming in March 2025 against Lamont Roach Jr. That bout ended in a controversial majority decision draw, but nonetheless saw ‘Tank’ hold on to his WBA lightweight title.

Things have been extremely difficult for the Baltimore man since then though, first seeing a planned exhibition in November with YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul cancelled after Davis was at the centre of domestic abuse allegations.

Further allegations led to ‘Tank’ losing his WBA belt and being named as champion in recess, but there were reports earlier this year that he could be set to return against former foe and reigning WBC interim super-lightweight champion Isaac Cruz.

It is another former Davis foe who is now calling for a rematch, after Ryan Garcia posted on social media his intention to secure a second fight.

“I pray I get my rematch with tank one day I need that one back on even grounds I need that!!!”

Garcia suffered a seventh round stoppage loss to Davis when they met in April 2023, but ‘King Ry’ has claimed repeatedly since the contest that he was far from his best due to it being a 136lb catchweight bout with a 10lb rehydration clause.

In February, Garcia defeated Mario Barrios to win the WBC welterweight title, and if Davis chooses to campaign at 147lbs, the prospect of earning world honours in another division could possibly tempt him into a rematch with ‘King Ry.’

The 2026 NFL Draft is in the books, and while teams are celebrating their newest additions, it’s already time to look ahead. If you’re wondering what the next class might look like, here are 32 future stars who could define the 2027 NFL Draft.

This class is expected to be loaded, especially at quarterback, with Dante Moore and Arch Manning headlining a group that could surpass what we just saw in 2026. Several teams that passed on a quarterback this weekend – or didn’t land a long-term answer – could already have their eyes on this group, which also features high-end playmakers like Jeremiah Smith and impact talent across the board.

More names will emerge as the season unfolds, but here’s a first look at some of the top prospects to know.

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1. Jeremiah Smith, WR, Ohio State

“Generational talent” is an overused term, but Jeremiah Smith is a unicorn who likely could have gone straight from high school to the NFL. Rare talents like Smith don’t come around often, and he has the ability to take over a game every time he touches the football. He has exceptional length and speed, along with the ability to run through defenders after the catch. His presence opens things up for teammates, and when he gets his shots, he delivers.

2. Dante Moore, QB, Oregon

It’s somewhat puzzling that Dante Moore returned to Eugene despite being a no-brainer top-five pick, but he clearly believes he can improve, and the Ducks return a loaded roster in 2026. Moore plays like a seasoned veteran and throws an accurate ball, completing 72.5% of his passes this season. He looked cool under pressure and delivered in the clutch in numerous games, throwing 24 big-time throws and 24 touchdowns. He can extend plays and create on the move.

3. Colin Simmons, EDGE, Texas

An explosive edge rusher who causes major issues for opposing offenses, Colin Simmons finished the year with 11 sacks, 32 hurries and 13.5 TFLs. He’s an excellent speed rusher who has improved his counters and can convert speed to power. He’s also disruptive against the run and can take over a game if offenses don’t account for him with multiple sets of eyes.

4. Jordan Seaton, OT, LSU

The former No. 1 offensive tackle recruit in 2024 is one of the best tackles in the country. Jordan Seaton offers a strong mix of athleticism and technique and is one of the better pass protectors in the country with great feet. His ability to be physical in the trenches is something to monitor closely. He should see a significant uptick in development both in practice against starters and in the SEC gauntlet.

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5. Arch Manning, QB, Texas

Arch Manning finished the back half of the season strong and showed massive improvement after a rocky start. He settled in, showing more consistency and growth. His ability to run is a weapon, and 2026 should be the year he puts it all together. Manning threw 24 touchdowns and showed he can deliver the ball on time with good velocity.

With Arch Manning ‘100%’ healthy, Heisman hype builds as Texas QB preps for breakout 2026

Brad Crawford

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6. Leonard Moore, CB, Notre Dame

Leonard Moore boosted his value after an outstanding sophomore season and is one of the better corners in the country. He’s an exceptional athlete who plays sticky coverage with consistent technique. Moore has excellent hips, breaks well on the ball and isn’t someone you want to test regularly. He finished the year with five interceptions and seven PBUs.

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7. Dylan Stewart, EDGE, South Carolina

Dylan Stewart is a game-wrecker who must be accounted for on every snap. He’s twitchy with length and wins with speed and bend, showing improvement from last season. He finished with 27 hurries, five sacks and 12 TFLs — subpar production for his talent level — so expect a big 2026 campaign.

8. Ellis Robinson IV, CB, Georgia

A Georgia staffer told me Ellis Robinson IV had a standout spring and was nearly impossible to complete a pass against. He has the length the NFL covets and does a nice job playing the ball in the air (four interceptions last season). Robinson can play press but excels in zone coverage, showing great instincts. He mirrors routes well and can fill the alley in run support despite a thin frame.

9. Trevor Goosby, OT, Texas

Trevor Goosby has plenty of NFL traits, with ideal size and length, despite only one full season as a starter. He excels in pass protection with good feet and can anchor against speed-to-power, allowing just one sack last season. He flashes physicality in the run game but needs to put it all together in 2026 to have a shot at OT1.

10. David Stone, DT, Oklahoma

David Stone is a physical presence against the run, capable of eating double teams while also disrupting one-on-one matchups. Oklahoma moves its defensive line frequently, and Stone shows excellent lateral quickness, closing quickly on the quarterback while also overpowering linemen.

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11. Damon Wilson II, EDGE, Miami

Long and strong, Damon Wilson II has developed his pass-rush repertoire with a blend of speed and power. He finished with nine sacks and 33 hurries and will be a name to watch on a well-coached, reloaded defensive line led by Hall of Famer Jason Taylor.

12. Cam Coleman, WR, Texas

Cam Coleman has the size, speed and catch radius to produce a monster season in a Texas offense that looks dangerous. He’s a big-time prospect who should benefit from improved surrounding talent and could be the No. 2 receiver drafted.

13. Kelley Jones, CB, Mississippi State

Kelley Jones is a rare, tall, long corner with excellent range and a bright future. He excels in press coverage and shows strong quickness, with the ability to run with receivers on in-breaking routes. He had two interceptions and 11 PBUs in 2025 and has top-10 potential.

14. Jamari Johnson, TE, Oregon

Oregon continues to produce tight end talent, and Jamari Johnson looks like the next in line. He’s a big target with good hands and a large catch radius, along with run-after-catch ability. He dominates short and intermediate routes but also shows open-field running skills and a solid stiff-arm.

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15. Kewan Lacy, RB, Ole Miss

Kewan Lacy was a game-changer, rushing for nearly 1,300 yards and 20 touchdowns with 37 explosive runs last season. He excels as a north-south runner with good contact balance and cutback ability, and he also caught 25 passes. He could be RB1 in 2026.

16. Quincy Rhodes Jr., EDGE, Arkansas

Quincy Rhodes Jr. is a versatile, twitchy edge rusher who broke out with eight sacks and 27 hurries. He has a wide array of moves, shows excellent change of direction and can dominate at the line of scrimmage. Rhodes could have entered this year’s draft but returns to build on his breakout.

17. LaNorris Sellers, QB, South Carolina

LaNorris Sellers had a disappointing 2025 season behind a porous offensive line, but if traits are what you’re looking for, he has a ton of them. Sellers has a cannon arm and makes unscripted plays look routine. He is an exceptional athlete with a big frame and can turn negative situations into explosive plays.

18. Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa, LB, Notre Dame

Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa is an underrated prospect with the size and athleticism to dominate in the box and contribute on the edge. KVA has great feet, lateral quickness and the ability to cover ground while overpowering backs and tight ends.

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19. Darian Mensah, QB, Miami

A big-time talent now on a much-more talented roster, Darian Mensah has been a dynamic dual-threat. He led Duke to an ACC championship, showing accuracy and arm strength to attack the entire field. Mensah threw 30 touchdowns, completed 68% of his passes and displays strong mechanics and decision-making. Expect a monster season.

20. KJ Bolden, S, Georgia

A high-production player with a lean frame, KJ Bolden shows great range and a quick trigger. He’s sudden, fluid and has strong ball skills, with the versatility to line up across the secondary. He doesn’t shy from contact but can get overpowered at the catch point by bigger targets. He’ll need to add more mass to hold up in the NFL.

21. Anthony Smith, DL, Minnesota

A disruptive edge player with ideal size and length who could kick inside at the next level. Anthony Smith recorded 14 sacks and 23 hurries in 2025. He lacks elite twitch but wins with heavy hands, power and solid instincts.

22. Ty Benefield, S, LSU

Ty Benefield is a big-time player who likely would have been a Day 2 pick this year. He shows excellent range and recorded over 100 tackles at Boise State, along with two interceptions and three PBUs. He should make a major impact in the LSU secondary.

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23. Trinidad Chambliss, QB, Ole Miss

One of the biggest surprises of 2025, Trinidad Chambliss emerged as a dynamic dual-threat who delivered on a weekly basis. He never looked overwhelmed and came through in clutch moments. He threw for more than 3,000 yards, 18 touchdowns and just three interceptions while adding 470 rushing yards and six scores.

24. Demond Williams Jr., QB, Washington

Demond Williams Jr. is an elusive, efficient dual-threat signal-caller with a quick release and strong accuracy. Demond Williams completed over 70% of his passes for 21 touchdowns while adding nearly 600 rushing yards and six scores. He has an extremely high ceiling despite being undersized.

25. T.J. Moore, WR, Clemson

T.J. Moore is a long, rangy receiver with a large catch radius and natural hands. He beats press coverage and can play both inside and outside, offering a high ceiling. 

26. Ahmad Moten Sr., DL, Miami 

Ahmad Moten Sr. had a monster 2025 breakout campaign and will be in the mix as one of the top interior defensive tackles. He blends finesse and power as a rusher and makes plays behind the line of scrimmage. He shows strong instincts, a quick get-off and solid hand usage against the run.

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27. Sam Leavitt, QB, LSU

Sam Leavitt is one of the most dynamic players in college football. He took a slight step back as a passer before a season-ending injury but continued to make plays as a runner. He’ll have a strong opportunity to shine with a more talented offense under Lane Kiffin.

28. Zabien Brown, CB, Alabama

Zabien Brown is a ballhawk and playmaker with good size and change-of-direction skills. He had two pick-sixes and six PBUs, excelling in press coverage while matching up with top receivers.

29. Carter Smith, OT, Indiana

Carter Smith had a solid 2025 season on an underrated offensive line that helped fuel a historic national championship run. He shows good technique in the run game and creates ample movement. He also excels in pass protection, mixing up his sets and using his feet and hands to mirror and stone defenders. He could be a candidate to kick inside at the next level.

30. A’Mauri Washington, DT, Oregon

A’Mauri Washington is an explosive, powerful interior defender with strong knock-back ability. He plays with excellent leverage, lateral movement and the ability to disrupt in the backfield. He combines heavy hands with flashes of finesse as a pass rusher.

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31. Rasheem Biles, LB, Texas

Rasheem Biles is an extremely athletic linebacker who’s a tackling machine against the run and is no slouch in coverage. He excels in space and profiles as a tweener between linebacker and nickel. A playmaker who had three defensive scores for Pittsburgh last season.

32. Coen Echols, IOL, Texas A&M

Coen Echols is a powerful guard who excels in both phases. He shows excellent footwork, strength at the point of attack and natural pass protection ability with a strong anchor.

The NFL Draft is done, and the Vikings rumor mill is already spinning again. Fans are quite enthused about the team’s haul, and now it’s time to peek at the second rumor mill update of the weekend.

The draft ended, and Minnesota’s rumor cycle immediately shifted to bigger roster questions.

Things are about to shift gears quickly as Minnesota transitions to the schedule-release portion of the offseason. That will be followed by OTAs and minicamp, kicking off the next phases of spring and summer.

Post-Draft Chatter Turns Toward Veterans and Roster Fallout

The Purple Rumor Mill is coming at you for Sunday, April 26th.

Rumor: Mike Florio wanted the Vikings to explore trading Justin Jefferson to the Arizona Cardinals for running back Jeremiyah Love.

Florio rolled out the take on NBC Sports airwaves, stating, “One of the things that Kevin O’Connell told us in Arizona a couple of weeks ago, the Vikings learned down the stretch how to win without a passing game. And he’s been so wired to pass, pass, pass, pass, pass. Great way, great way to take pressure off your quarterback if you bring in your next Adrian Peterson.”

“And that’s one thing my son’s been saying for a couple of years now, the Vikings desperately need a great running back. I mean, Aaron Jones is good, not great. Jordan Mason, is that his name? Yeah, the guy with the 49ers. The guy they traded with the 49ers for.”

Mason and Jones are in line to share the RB1 duties this season.

Florio continued, “A lot of high hopes, but it did not go well. They need somebody great. That may be too high to come up, and who knows what you’d have to give up to get him? Maybe you have to send Justin Jefferson to Arizona to get him.”

“But you know what? At this point, I love Justin Jefferson. This feels even more blasphemous than making an AI version of myself as Jesus and claiming it was a doctor later. But I would do Justin Jefferson for Jeremiah Love.”

Worth noting: the trade idea came from Florio, and that’s where it remained. There isn’t any active chatter about a Jefferson trade. Trading Jefferson before June 1st would involve a $70 million dead cap hit. Sheer lunacy.

Rumor: Harrison Smith’s return remains 50/50.

When asked if he’d been in contact with Smith recently, who turned 37 in February, Vikings skipper Kevin O’Connell said this week, “It’s been a few days, but now that you remind me, I’ll probably bug him today. It’s something where we’re still trying to give Harrison as much space as possible, and I think he’s earned that. If it’s anything at this point, it’s seeing how he’s doing, seeing how his family is, seeing how his golf game is.”

Smith’s offseason has taken an unexpected turn, with his unusual silence becoming a real story. Unlike previous years, and contrary to what Vikings fans have come to expect, he has neither announced his plans nor offered any hints about his future.

Typically, Smith would commit to returning by February or March, providing the Vikings with crucial clarity for their defensive planning. This year, however, that traditional faux deadline passed without any word from him.

The last significant moment involving Smith was the Vikings’ Week 18 victory over the Packers in January. That game carried the air of a perfect farewell, leading many to anticipate a swift retirement announcement. Yet, none ever materialized.

Since then, Smith has remained conspicuously silent, even as other players made their plans public. Adam Thielen and C.J. Ham, for instance, officially announced their retirements, adhering to the typical offseason timeline. Smith, however, has not followed suit.

Without a retirement declaration, speculation has now shifted toward him playing at least one more season. Eventually, however, Smith will need to make his intentions official. For now, it’s a coin flip. O’Connell will have to bug him for some more.

Rumor: NFL teams’ draftboards had defensive tackle Caleb Banks much higher on their draftboards than the media.

VikesInsider, a Twitter (X) account with nearly 40,000 followers, tweeted Friday, “Multiple teams picking in the 20s had interest in DT Caleb Banks, according to The Athletic‘s Alec Lewis. The Vikings didn’t want to get overly creative by trading back and risk the possibility of missing out on their top prospect.”

This is the same take that followed the Vikings’ draft pick last year: Donovan Jackson. Minnesota knew that the Houston Texans would pick him one selection later, and to get its man, the Vikings had to “reach” by the standards of media-driven draftboards.

The Vikings really, really wanted Banks. They evidently didn’t care that the mock-draft community believed he could be scooped from Round 2.