NEW YORK — No sooner did the struggling New York Mets get a star player back than another one went down with a similar injury.
Francisco Lindor was removed Wednesday night against the Minnesota Twins with left calf tightness, just hours after teammate Juan Soto came off the injured list.
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Lindor labored around the bases while scoring from first on Francisco Alvarez’s one-out double up the right-center alley in the fourth inning. The switch-hitting shortstop grimaced as he rounded third and paused for a bit from the seat of his pants after beating the relay throw with a feetfirst slide.
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Lindor headed down the dugout tunnel with an athletic trainer and was replaced in the lineup by Brett Baty, who entered at third base in the top of the fifth. Bo Bichette slid over from third base to shortstop.
Batting cleanup, Lindor knocked in a run when he legged out an infield single with two outs in the first. Moments earlier, he made an outstanding leaping grab at shortstop for the second out of the game.
With the Mets on a 12-game losing streak, Soto was reinstated from the 10-day IL earlier in the day. The slugging outfielder had been sidelined since straining his right calf while running from first to third on April 3 in San Francisco.
HOUSTON — For the first time in 2026, the LPGA is center stage, and the year’s first major comes with massive stakes.
Under the direction of new commissioner Craig Kessler, the LPGA has big plans to break through. That includes a new broadcast television deal, schedule changes, purse increases and a plan to create a stable of global stars. All this serves Kessler’s main focus: Finding a way to grab attention and hold on to it — to better satisfy the current fans who desperately want to see women’s golf elevated while harvesting a new group of supporters.
Making that climb is easier said than done.
Perhaps no tournament better underscores the challenges facing the LPGA and women’s golf than this week’s Chevron Championship. It’s the year’s first major, but one that has lacked a significant identity. It was elevated to major status in 1983 but has gone through numerous name changes and moved from Mission Hills to the Club at Carlton Woods in The Woodlands, Texas, in 2023. The only things that have stayed the same are the iconic jump into Poppie’s Pond and the winning robe, and even that has had to be shoehorned in since the move.
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The move to Texas didn’t help with this unique crisis, as the course at Carlton Woods and the event’s broadcast failed to make it feel like the major it’s billed as. As the LPGA has looked to grow and expand, the Chevron Championship has found itself at a crossroads. It has a rich history, and Chevron has invested in the event, but it hasn’t fully cemented a major championship identity that the LPGA needs for the first big tournament of the season. The Masters signals the start of men’s major season and serves as a launching pad for the rest of the pro golf year. Women’s golf needs the Chevron Championship, or a different tournament, to be something similar.
That’s why this week looms as a massive test for the Chevron Championship and the LPGA.
After three underwhelming years at Carlton Woods, the LPGA and Chevron made the decision to move the tournament from the Houston suburbs to Memorial Park, a muni in the heart of the city that also hosts the PGA Tour’s Houston Open. The move to Memorial Park was universally praised. Moving the event into the city should make it easier to boost attendance, giving it a bigger feel, and Memorial Park is a far more interesting course, with tricky greens that demand precision and a memorable finishing stretch.
But the move to Memorial Park also further underscores the ongoing identity crisis. What makes the U.S. Women’s Open, AIG Women’s Open and KPMG Women’s PGA exciting is the rotation of venues those majors run through. It’s hard for a non-iconic course to take root as a standalone major venue. On the men’s side, the only constant is Augusta National. If a major is going to come back to the same place every year, the course has to be a central figure in the story. It has to be something fans are familiar with and want to return to every year.
In order for the Memorial Park move to pay dividends, it’s going to need the help of one of Kessler’s first big swings as commissioner: the enhanced broadcast.
Thanks to a deal with FM, Golf Channel and Trackman, LPGA broadcasts will have a 50 percent increase in cameras, three times as many microphones, quadruple the number of shot-tracing capabilities, more slow-motion cameras and drones. The LPGA rolled out the enhanced broadcast features at Sharon Heights earlier this year, and its debut was a clear win. There were kinks to work out and improvements to make, but the changes were noticeable and welcome.
This week is the real test for those enhancements and broadcast partner NBC’s willingness to give this event the major shine. It’s incumbent on the broadcast to use all of the bells and whistles for greater storytelling, to highlight the intricacies of the Tom Doak course and create major tension. It’s not enough to say it’s a major; you have to make the viewer feel it.
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All of that leads to the one thing that’s out of the LPGA’s control this week, but that is most vital in giving this major the juice it needs: the stars have to show up.
Back in November, Kessler said there’s “no silver bullet” to building stars. While that may be true, if you want to create inroads and build the audience, the needles have to be front and center on your biggest weeks.
That starts, and maybe ends, with Nelly Korda.
Just as men’s golf has become dominated by Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler, the LPGA needs Korda to do the same. After winning seven times in 2024, Korda went winless in what she called a “weird” 2025. She changed her schedule and preparation this year and has gone 1-2-2-T2 in four starts. The World No. 2 arrived in Houston after taking a week off and seems to be feeling free and easy as the first major arrives. Plenty of signs point to this being a Korda week, and that would be a welcome sight as the LPGA goes under the spotlight and the major season begins.
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Outside of Korda in 2024, the Chevron Championship has seen several first-time major winners in recent years. Building a base of major champions is good for the depth of the league, but if you’re looking to create a bigger fan base, the best path is to have your stars — Korda, Charley Hull, Jeeno Thitikul, Lydia Ko — in the mix entering the weekend, have them bring the eyeballs and then let them and the enhanced broadcast be the entry point to the rest of the tour.
That’s the formula for success for the LPGA and Chevron Championship. We’re about to see if they find it this week.
An envoy for President Donald Trump has reportedly asked FIFA to replace Iran with Italy in the 2026 World Cup this summer.
The Financial Times reported the plan is an effort to repair the relationship between Trump and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, which soured after the former’s comments against Pope Leo XIV regarding the war with Iran.
United States special envoy Paolo Zampolli suggested the idea to FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
President Donald Trump receives the FIFA Peace Prize from FIFA President Gianni Infantino during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Official Draw at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 5, 2025.(Emilee Chinn/FIFA)
“I confirm I have suggested to Trump and Infantino that Italy replace Iran at the World Cup. I’m an Italian native, and it would be a dream to see the Azzurri at a U.S.-hosted tournament,” Zampolli told the outlet. “With four titles, they have the pedigree to justify inclusion.”
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment by Fox News Digital.
Italy had a chance to be in the World Cup already, but it lost in a penalty shootout to Bosnia and Herzegovina in a qualifying playoff final.
Italy became the first World Cup-winning team to miss three consecutive tournaments after the 4-1 penalty shootout loss earlier this month.
“We still don’t believe it that we’re out and that it happened in this manner,” Italy’s Leonardo Spinazzola told reporters at the time, according to the New York Post.
“It’s upsetting for everyone. For us, for our families and for all the kids who have never seen Italy at a World Cup.”
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While Zampolli told Infantino about his proposed plan, FIFA’s president said Iran “for sure” will play in the World Cup despite the conflict involving the U.S.
Mehdi Taremi of Iran celebrates after scoring a goal during a 2026 FIFA World Cup Asian Qualifiers Group A game against Uzbekistan at Azadi Stadium in Tehran March 25, 2025.(Fatemeh Bahrami/Anadolu)
“The Iranian team is coming, for sure,” Infantino said during the CNBC Invest in America Forum earlier this month in Washington, D.C.
“We hope that, by then, of course, the situation will be a peaceful situation. That would definitely help. But Iran has to come, of course. They represent their people. They have qualified. The players want to play.”
Infantino visited the Iranian national team in Turkey, which is where it has its training camp.
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All three of Iran’s group stage games are scheduled to be played in the U.S. That remains the case after Iranian government officials suggested to FIFA that their games be moved to Mexico because they could not travel to the U.S.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum revealed FIFA’s rejection of Iran’s request, and it is insisting Iran play where it’s scheduled — SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, and Lumen Field in Seattle. Iran said earlier this month it would only decide on its team’s participation once it heard from FIFA regarding its relocation request.
Iran is scheduled to play at SoFi Stadium against New Zealand June 16 to begin its tournament. It will also play Belgium at the stadium before finishing group play against Mo Salah and Egypt in Seattle June 26.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino attends an international friendly between Mexico and Portugal at Banorte Stadium in Mexico City March 28, 2026.(Antonio Torres/FIFA/Getty Images)
Trump wrote in a Truth Social post last month that Iran would be welcome to compete in the World Cup as scheduled, though it might not be “appropriate” considering the conflict.
“The Iran National Soccer Team is welcome to The World Cup, but I really don’t believe it is appropriate that they be there, for their own life and safety,” he wrote.
Trump also told Politico, “I really don’t care,” when asked about Iran’s participation in the tournament. Infantino, who has a strong relationship with Trump, said Trump has “reiterated” to him that the U.S. welcomes Iran’s team to compete.
Fox News’ Paulina Dedaj and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
New photos of New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel and NFL insider Dianna Russini have been leaked online amid their alleged affair scandal. After Page Six shared exclusive snippets of them spending time together at a luxury private resort in Sedona last month, fresh photos from that time have raised more questions about this situation.
In the new photos shared, we see Vrabel and Russini having breakfast together. According to the article, several eyewitnesses claimed that they dined alone, but sources close to the insider claimed that a group of friends joined them.
Thanks for the submission!
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On X, NFL analyst Tony Farmer shared his thoughts on these new leaks of Mike Vrabel and Dianna Russini.
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“That’s Vrabel! Same shirt as the prior published photos. Not a girls trip. Not “laughable” to suggest it’s not innocent. This is breakfast guys, that means the sleepover is confirmed,” Farmer wrote.
Looking to predict NFL playoff Scenarios? Try our NFL Playoff Predictor for real-time simulations and stay ahead of the game!
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After receiving extensive backlash for the scandal, Dianna Russini decided to resign from her position at The Athletic earlier this month. In her resignation letter, she stated that she’s doing so to avoid it hampering the career that she’s built and denied the affair allegations.
“I have decided to step down aside now- before my current contract expires on June 30,” Russini wrote. “I do so not because I accept the narrative that has been constructed around this episode, but because I refuse to let it further oxygen or let it define me or my career.”
Mike Vrabel dodges a question about Dianna Russini’s resignation
After days of silence, Mike Vrabel finally addressed the affair allegations with Dianna Russini during a press conference on Tuesday. He was asked to share his thoughts on the insider’s resignation from The Athletic.
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However, the Patriots coach decided to dodge answering this question.
“I appreciate and respect every single question,” Vrabel said. “But I’m not going to be able to comment on anything as it relates to that. I appreciate your job and what you guys have got to do, but I have to make my comments and what I answer about our football team.”
The NFL has also come forward to state that it will not review and investigate the Vrabel and Russini situation.
Former Arsenal star and 1998 World Cup winner Emmanuel Petit believes Marcus Rashford would be a good signing for the Gunners.
Speaking via Andy’s Bet Club, he said: “I would love to see Marcus Rashford at Arsenal, I think he’d have a big impact. What he has done at Barcelona, after he struggled for two or three seasons, has impressed me.
“The Rashford we know wasn’t there for a while and everyone was criticising him, at Barcelona he has recovered his qualities.
“I was quite surprised that he didn’t start in the Champions League second-leg against Atletico, although Raphinha has been very good for Barcelona, too.
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“Robert Lewandowski, I was quite surprised that he was sitting on the bench for the two games. But coming back to Rashford, that could be something very good for Arsenal. He has something to prove coming back to England and they need wingers.”
Marcus Rashford has spent the season on loan at Barcelona from Manchester United(Image: Alex Caparros – UEFA, UEFA via Getty Images)
Wednesday night’s NBA playoff action was largely drama-free, as the No. 1 seeds in each conference cruised to double-digit wins. Early on, the Detroit Pistons used a 30-3 run in the third quarter to pull away from the Orlando Magic en route to a 98-83 win. And in the second game of the doubleheader, the Oklahoma City Thunder held off a fourth-quarter push by the Phoenix Suns for a 120-107 victory.
The Pistons and Magic are now all even at 1-1 and will have plenty of time off before Game 3 in Orlando on Saturday. The Thunder, meanwhile, have a commanding 2-0 lead on the Suns, who will host Game 3 of their matchup on Saturday.
Here’s a look at the winners and losers from Wednesday night in the NBA playoffs.
Winner: Chet Holmgren
This was, by far, Holmgren’s best season since being drafted No. 2 overall in 2022. He averaged career-highs in scoring, rebounds and field goal percentage, made his first All-Star appearance and finished second to Victor Wembanyama in Defensive Player of the Year voting. When the All-Defensive Teams are announced, he should make the First Team.
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Holmgren has continued his strong play into the postseason. After a strong 16-point, seven-rebound, two-block effort in just 25 minutes in Game 1, Holmgren went for 19 points, eight rebounds and four blocks on Wednesday. All of those blocks came in the third quarter, and were the most blocks in a quarter in the playoffs in 18 years. For the series, Holmgren is shooting 12 of 22 (54.5%) from the field, including 5 of 12 (41.7%) from 3-point range.
“He’s special, man,” Shai Gilgeous-Alexander said during his postgame interview on the broadcast. “He affects the game at a really high level every time he steps on the floor. I’m gonna sound like a broken record, but since the day that Chet Holmgren played for the Oklahoma City Thunder, we’ve been the first seed in the West, and it’s no coincidence. He makes plays, he anchors the best defense in the league.”
The Thunder are going to need even more from Holmgren if Jalen Williams ends up missing time with his apparent hamstring issue.
Loser: Thunder’s health
In the middle of the third quarter, the Thunder’s Jalen Williams ran the floor hard in transition, caught a pass from Gilgeous-Alexander and went up for a layup that he missed. Immediately, he grabbed for his left hamstring and took his time getting back down the floor.
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After taking a foul to stop play, Williams appeared to inform the bench that his left hamstring was bothering him, then went to the locker room and did not return. It’s far too early to know how long Williams may be sidelined — he’ll likely undergo an MRI either late Wednesday or early Thursday — but this was not what the Thunder wanted to see.
Williams played only 33 games this season due to multiple injuries, including a right hamstring issue that kept him out for eight weeks across two different stretches. The Thunder will be fine against the Suns even if Williams doesn’t come back, but if he’s facing another extended spell on the sidelines, that would be a big blow to their title hopes.
In Game 1, Williams put up 22 points, seven rebounds and six assists on 9 of 15 from the field. Though he had struggled at times this season, he is a proven playoff performer and was their second-best player last season en route to their first title.
Gilgeous-Alexander was also in pain early in the game after an awkward fall where he put his left hand out to brace himself and his fingers bent the wrong way. He was checked out by the team’s medical staff and remained in the game — and finished with 37 points and nine assists — but it was clear his hand was bothering him all night. That could be something to monitor over the next few days.
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Winner: The Pistons’ supporting cast
Even though the Pistons won 60 games and were the No. 1 seed, they weren’t the clear favorites in the Eastern Conference entering the playoffs, in large part because of concerns about their over-reliance on All-Star guard Cade Cunningham.
Game 1 was a perfect example. Cunningham poured in 39 points on 13 of 27 from the field on Sunday, but the Pistons lost because every other Detroit player combined for 62 points on 18 of 50 shooting. In fact, Tobias Harris was the only other player who scored in double figures that night, and he shot 5 of 15.
The Pistons won’t get past the Magic, let alone make a deep run, unless their supporting cast steps up to give Cunningham some help. They certainly did in Game 2. Cunningham went off again for 27 points, 11 assists and six rebounds. But the Pistons had five more double-figure scorers, including all four other starters.
The Pistons still only scored 98 points and shot 6 of 26 from 3-point range, so questions remain about their playoff offense, but this was a must-win game and an important confidence builder for the supporting cast.
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Loser: Desmond Bane
Bane didn’t ask the Magic to trade Cole Anthony, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, four first-round picks and a first-round pick swap to acquire him from the Memphis Grizzlies last summer. But fairly or not, the steep price has raised the expectations for him.
By any standards, his performance in Game 2 simply wasn’t good enough. He scored 12 points on 2 of 11 shooting and had more turnovers (three) than made baskets.
It’s one thing to miss shots, but Bane has to take them or the Magic have no chance. He is by far their best 3-point shooter (39.1% on 5.2 attempts per game in the regular season) and their most reliable shot creator in the backcourt. During the regular season, the Orlando was 7-8 when Bane took 11 or fewer shots and 38-29 when he took 12 or more.
Bane’s no-show on Tuesday was a big reason why the Magic had their worst offensive performance of the season. Their 83 points and 32.5 field goal percentage were both season lows.
Todd Pollard might be in the initial phase of managing his personal stable, but his roster has begun to build steadily after mere months.
Scrumptious joins as a late addition for the one-time aide to Annabel, positioning her as a valuable asset moving forward.
Until recently, the three-year-old filly was with Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, but post her $75,000 Inglis online transaction last month, Pollard is identifying her upside, potentially on display in the Seven Benchmark 70 Handicap (1350m) at Ipswich on Thursday.
“We scratched from a sticky draw yesterday at Doomben and this is a similar race although a step up in trip but this is a bit weaker than the midweek metro grade last time,” Pollard said.
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“She is a pretty handy horse and being a winner in town in Sydney, she does get hammered by the handicapper up here.
“She has been rated like she has won two-and-a-half races rather than one race.”
Her breakthrough maiden win came at Canterbury over 1250m on January 30, and she’s a $3.50 prospect for today’s Ipswich race.
Last appearance saw her seventh, beaten three lengths over 1200m at Doomben.
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“Last start in benchmark 70 grade, it was actually a pretty strong race and for a lightly raced three-year-old filly she was taking on handy opposition.
“There were horses there a couple of horses who have won six races and that was tough on a little three-year-old filly.
“She is probably looking for 1350m and, who knows, she might even get to a mile in time.”
Leading hoop Ben Thompson retains the ride on Scrumptious from draw two at Ipswich.
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Check racing betting markets for the Seven Benchmark 70 Handicap at Ipswich this Thursday.
Pep Guardiola believes Manchester City will need to win all their remaining games to claim the Premier League title after moving top on Wednesday.
Erling Haaland scored the only goal as City continued their recent charge to hit the summit with a hard-fought 1-0 victory at Burnley, who were consequently relegated.
It is the first time City have led the table since August and, with five games to play, they appear to be timing their run perfectly.
Yet their lead over Arsenal is slender, on goals scored only, and with the Gunners in action twice before City’s next league outing, Guardiola recognises the pressure is still firmly on.
The Spaniard said: “Now we have the FA Cup on Saturday and after that we have five games. The only chance is to win all the games.”
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Haaland also hit a post and Rayan Cherki had an effort deflected on to the woodwork but Burnley, battling to delay their return to the second tier after a single season in top flight, fought to the end.
Guardiola felt his players performed well so soon after Sunday’s victory over title rivals Arsenal.
He said: “It was such a demanding game on Sunday. It is not easy after three days, but in the Premier League you have to adjust.
“Winning is the main target and, considering the last three days and the emotion and physicality in the game we played, we made an extraordinary game.
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“With the chances we created we could have scored more goals, but the important thing is winning every game. Five games in the Premier League – we see what happens.”
With the race so close, Guardiola admitted he would have liked to have improved the goal difference.
He said: “Yes, we had chances – but we have to win the games. It was clear, clear, clear.
“We did not have ‘umph’ in the last part of the shots and sometimes that’s the fatigue. I had the feeling if we scored at 2-0 it would be more relaxed and we could be more composed in the final third.”
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City’s attention now turns to Saturday’s FA Cup semi-final against Southampton at Wembley and Guardiola will consider making changes.
“Now we have to think about it a lot because I had a lot of doubts about the line-up today because of the fatigue,” he added.
“Now it will be three in a row in three days, go to London. I have to think about it.”
Victor Wembanyama wins Defensive Player of the Year
Victor Wembanyama has been named the 2025–26 NBA Defensive Player of the Year.
The San Antonio Spurs star was a unanimous choice, receiving all 100 first-place votes from the media panel and finishing with 500 points.
Wembanyama becomes the youngest player to win the award and the first to do so within his first three seasons since David Robinson. He is also the first unanimous Defensive Player of the Year winner since the award was introduced.
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Behind him in the voting were Chet Holmgren and Ausar Thompson, who finished second and third respectively.
The award recognises the best defensive player over the regular season, and Wembanyama’s impact on that end of the floor made him the clear choice this year.
Each year, in addition to various Minnesota Vikings-themed mock drafts, we get one on record for all the league. This is the last mock draft of 2026 — the leaguewide version for Round 1.
The board is set. Pandemonium is next.
This year may be more unpredictable than most, as the NFL shortened the clock between picks, and several teams are hoping to trade down.
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Final Forecast for Every Pick in Round 1
Not limited to the Vikings, here’s a full NFL mock draft.
Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza (15) watches from the sideline during a tense moment late in the game on Nov. 28, 2025, at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, as the Hoosiers battled Purdue in a rivalry matchup, with Mendoza tracking the action and awaiting his next opportunity. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-Imagn Images.
1 — Las Vegas Raiders
The Pick: Fernando Mendoza (QB) | Indiana
The first pick of the draft is inevitable. Mendoza gives the Raiders a legitimate shot at their quarterback of the future, which in turn allows the rest of their plans to fall into place. Any other choice would be an earth-shattering surprise; Las Vegas didn’t clear the runway solely for Kirk Cousins or a mid-round QB.
2 — New York Jets
The Pick: David Bailey (EDGE) | Texas Tech
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This debate — Bailey or Reese — has actually become annoying because it’s so difficult to decipher. The Jets ultimately roll with Bailey. He’s a purer pass rusher.
3 — Arizona Cardinals
The Pick: Arvell Reese (LB) | Ohio State
Pundits have teased Jeremiyah Love going here, but we’re just not buying it, not when the Cardinals have James Conner, Tyler Allgeier, and Trey Benson on the roster. This feels like a textbook smoke-filled rumor reserved for draft week.
4 — Tennessee Titans
The Pick: Jeremiyah Love (RB) | Notre Dame
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Tennessee effectively signaled this move by passing on top-tier running back help in free agency. Players like Kenneth Walker III, Travis Etienne, or Javonte Williams could have addressed their RB needs rather easily. Instead, the Titans left the door open for a premium runner, and Love walks right in. He’s explosive, elusive, and perfectly built to be a game-changer.
5 — New York Giants
The Pick: Sonny Styles (LB) | Ohio State
With Bobby Okereke off the roster, the Giants can approach the linebacker position from a fresh angle, prioritizing youth. Styles possesses the range, size, and play style that will integrate seamlessly in New York. He feels like a quintessential John Harbaugh defender.
6 — Cleveland Browns
The Pick: Spencer Fano (OT) | Utah
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Dawand Jones offered little to Cleveland last season, and his limited sample size didn’t inspire confidence. Tytus Howard is also on the roster, but the Browns still require a long-term solution on the offensive line. Fano perfectly addresses that need, bringing youth, consistent play, and a quicker-than-expected path to a starting role.
7 — Washington Commanders
The Pick: Caleb Downs (S) | Ohio State
It’s tempting to roll with a wide receiver here because the Commanders’ cupboard is a bit barren, but at the end of the day, Dan Quinn is a defense-first head coach, and he just can’t leave Downs on the board.
8 — New Orleans Saints
The Pick: Carnell Tate (WR) | Ohio State
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Next to Chris Olave, the Saints need another weapon for Tyler Shough. As the first wideout off the board to get the party cracking, it’s Tate to the Bayou.
9 — Kansas City Chiefs
The Pick: Rueben Bain Jr. (EDGE) | Miami
Kansas City will be elated that Bain Jr. fell this far, and he’ll instantly swipe Ashton Gillotte’s job.
10 — New York Giants (via Cincinnati Bengals)
The Pick: Francis Mauigoa (OT) | Miami (FL)
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A best player available pick, general manager Joe Schoen takes the plunge with Mauigoa, sending Jermaine Eluemunor to RT2.
11 — Miami Dolphins
The Pick: Mansoor Delane (CB) | LSU
Head coach Lane Kiffin speaks with cornerback Mansoor Delane (4) during a break in play, offering instruction and feedback on Sep. 27, 2025, at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium in Oxford, as LSU and Ole Miss squared off in a physical SEC matchup with both sidelines fully engaged. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images.
Miami arguably needs every position on the draftboard, but as No. 11, Delane is the best pick and the first corner off the board.
12 — Dallas Cowboys
The Pick: Dillon Thieneman (S) | Oregon
Daniel Jeremiah chirped this week that Dallas could pounce on Thieneman “early,” and we believe it. His Combine was that fantastic.
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13 — Los Angeles Rams (via Atlanta Falcons)
The Pick: Makai Lemon (WR) | USC
The Rams’ deep roster allows them to make a luxury pick here. Lemon provides Sean McVay with another dynamic weapon, converting that Atlanta trade from last year into a receiver with significant upside. Puka Nacua, Davate Adams, and Lemon will cook.
14 — Baltimore Ravens
The Pick: Olaivavega Ioane (G) | Penn State
Tyler Linderbaum’s departure created a significant void in Baltimore’s interior. The Ravens require significant power and consistent play inside, qualities Ioane provides. This feels like a classic Baltimore selection, one that makes too much sense to overthink.
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15 — Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Pick: Kenyon Sadiq (TE) | Oregon
Yes, the Buccaneers just extended Cade Otton to a handsome contract extension. No, that doesn’t matter.
16 — New York Jets (via Indianapolis Colts)
The Pick: Jermod McCoy (CB) | Tennessee
McCoy didn’t play at all last year due to an ACL tear, so he carries some risk. Sounds like a Jets draft pick to me.
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17 — Detroit Lions
The Pick: Kadyn Proctor (OT) | Alabama
Relying on Giovanni Manu as a starting tackle presents a precarious situation for a contender with Detroit’s strong roster. Proctor rectifies this immediately; he can step in right away, providing the Lions with a powerful bookend opposite Penei Sewell.
18 — Minnesota Vikings
The Pick: Peter Woods (DT) | Clemson
Two recently jettisoned defensive tackles, Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave, played a combined 1,300+ defensive snaps last year. Do you really think Levi Drake Rodrgiuez and Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins will split that new workload? We say no. The pick is Woods, the first DT of the night.
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19 — Carolina Panthers
The Pick: Jordyn Tyson (WR) | Arizona State
The Panthers’ brass love drafting wide receivers, and the pattern doesn’t stop in 2026. Tyson’s tumble ends, becoming Tetairoa McMillan’s running mate.
20 — Dallas Cowboys (via Green Bay Packers)
The Pick: Keldric Faulk (EDGE) | Auburn
Auburn defensive end Keldric Faulk addresses reporters, discussing his development and outlook on Jul. 18, 2024, at the Omni Dallas Hotel, as part of preseason media availability, providing insight into his role and expectations heading into the upcoming college football season. Mandatory Credit: Brett Patzke-Imagn Images.
This is the beginning of the plan to erase the sins of the Micah Parsons trade.
21 — Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pick: Omar Cooper Jr. (WR) | Indiana
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Aaron Rodgers, Will Howard, Ty Simpson, or Garrett Nussmeier will hope to feast with DK Metcalf, Michael Pittman, and Omar Cooper Jr.
Cooper Jr. will be a stud. Remember it.
22 — Los Angeles Chargers
The Pick: Akheem Mesidor (EDGE) | Miami
Khalil Mack remains a factor, but Father Time is an inevitable force. The Chargers require another solution on the edge, and Mesidor is their choice. At 25, he’ll be an older rookie, which might deter some teams, but Los Angeles can accept that if he’s ready to make an immediate impact.
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23 — Philadelphia Eagles
The Pick: Monroe Freeling (OT) | Georgia
The University of Georgia fetish continues.
24 — Cleveland Browns (via Jacksonville Jaguars)
The Pick: Kevin Concepcion (WR) | Texas A&M
Cleveland’s wide receiver room is in desperate need of assistance. Jerry Jeudy, Cedric Tillman, and Isaiah Bond form a group that doesn’t exactly strike fear into opposing defenses. Concepcion alters this equation, providing the Browns with another solid target and injecting much-needed energy into the position.
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25 — Chicago Bears
The Pick: Emmanuel McNeil-Warren (S) | Toledo
Tell us this doesn’t feel like a Bears pick. We won’t believe you.
26 — Buffalo Bills
The Pick: T.J. Parker (EDGE) | Clemson
Buffalo’s new-look OLB corps:
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Bradley Chubb
Greg Rousseau
T.J. Parker
That might just work.
27 — San Francisco 49ers
The Pick: Caleb Lomu (OT) | Utah
Trent Williams cannot play forever, so San Francisco must plan ahead at premium positions. Lomu embodies the 49ers’ “next-man-up” strategy; he can integrate into the system now, positioning himself to take over when the time comes.
28 — Houston Texans
The Pick: Kayden McDonald (DT) | Ohio State
Ohio State defensive lineman Kayden McDonald (98) celebrates a fumble recovery with teammate Jermaine Mathews Jr. (7) after a forced turnover on Oct. 11, 2025, at Gies Memorial Stadium in Champaign, as the Buckeyes capitalized on a key defensive play against Illinois. Mandatory Credit: Adam Cairns-Imagn Images.
Houston’s defense, thanks to DeMeco Ryans, boasts virtually no weak spots. However, if pressed to identify one, it would likely be defensive tackle, a spot where McDonald fits beautifully.
29 — Kansas City Chiefs (via Los Angeles Rams)
The Pick: Chris Johnson (CB) | San Diego State
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After Kansas City traded Trent McDuffie, cornerback immediately became their top priority. This makes Johnson a straightforward choice, as he fills that void and provides the Chiefs with a young defensive back to address a suddenly critical position.
30 — Miami Dolphins (via Denver Broncos)
The Pick: Denzel Boston (WR) | Washington
The Dolphins need WRs after booting Jaylen Waddle and Tyreek Hill. Boston is the last remaining option for Miami who deserves a 1st-Round pick.
31 — New England Patriots
The Pick: Blake Miller (OT) | Clemson
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Miller will eventually take over for Morgan Moses, possibly this summer.
32 — Seattle Seahawks (Pick Traded Elsewhere)
The Pick: Ty Simpson (QB) | Alabama
No, the Seahawks won’t draft Simpson, but someone will trade into the 1st-Round’s last spot — probably the Arizona Cardinals to capitalize on Simpson’s fifth-year option, if applicable, in 2030.
Rajasthan Royals fast bowler Nandre Burger was fined 10 per cent of his match fees and handed one demerit point for breaching the Indian Premier League (IPL) Code of Conduct during the match against Lucknow Super Giants on Wednesday. The South Africa international admitted to the Level 1 offence under Article 2.5-pertaining to using language, actions, or gestures which disparage or could provoke an aggressive reaction from another player in the match-and accepted the sanction suggested by the match referee. In the match itself, RR defeated LSG by 40 runs.
Meanwhile, Lucknow Super Giants captain Rishabh Pant did not have any answer for his team’s defence after a morale-crushing 40-run defeat against Lucknow Super Giants in an IPL match, other than accepting the responsibility that his side didn’t read the surface properly.
“I don’t have answers. Batting has let us down. We are disappointed as a team, as a group,” Pant said after his team were skittled out for 119 chasing a small 160-run target.
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“You have to look for answers inside, not outside. We could have taken some time while batting. No excuses out there. Including myself, we could have taken it deeper. As a batting group, we have to put our hands up,” Pant offered a feeble explanation.
Mohammed Shami’s bowling effort stood out and Pant found that to be a silver lining.
“We have to look at positives. We have to keep our head high and look for answers inside. We have the firepower to turn the season around.” Rajasthan Royals skipper Riyan Parag knew that there was help off the surface.
“We knew it would swing, the lines and lengths they (Nandre Burger and Jofra Archer) bowled, impressive. The message on the groups have been very positive,” Riyan said after the match.
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On his own poor show, Riyan said that he has been going through some personal crisis and the team stands firmly behind him.
“I had gone through something, even now I am going through something and everyone understands that,” he said.
(With PTI inputs)
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