The New York Giants grabbed headlines on Saturday after trading away standout defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence to the Cincinnati Bengals for a No. 10 pick in the 2026 NFL draft.
The trade now gives Giants two top 10 picks for Thursday’s draft. However, the Bengals trading away the No. 10 pick for Lawrence has surprised several NFL coaches, per Connor Hughes.
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The NFL analyst reported that the coaches are “stunned” with the Bengals giving away top 10 pick for a “very good player” who is not worth the No. 10 pick.
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“Talking to several coaches around the NFL right now … they are STUNNED the #Giants got what they did for Dexter Lawrence. All agree: Very good player, but not worth No. 10. Age, injury and concerns regarding his conditioning pointed out.
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“Also that you need to limit the number of snaps he plays to maximize his production; really just a one position player. Needless to say: Great return for #NYG.”
The Giants were expected to move on from Lawrence, who was reportedly disgruntled over failed contract negotiations. The Bengals signed him on a one-year, $28 million extension after his trade on Sunday.
Bengals reportedly offered the “most” for Dexter Lawrence
While the Bengals traded for the veteran Pro Bowler, no their team reportedly offered a higher price than Cinccinati for Dexter Lawrence, a Giants source told ESPN.
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“They offered the most,” the Giants source said. “Nobody was going to beat the 10th pick.”
The Giants were expected to fetch a late first-round pick or an early second-round pick for Lawrence, but the Bengals have raised a few eyebrows with their offer.
The 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has made a confident statement about his approach to the game and long-term ambition of representing India at the senior level, while also underlining his belief in his ability to change matches in pressure situations. Speaking on Doordarshan, Sooryavanshi reflected on his mindset at the crease and the conversations he has had with his family regarding his cricketing journey. Emphasising his self-belief, he said he remains focused on utilising his skills to influence games whenever he is at the crease.
“For whatever duration I am on the ground, as long as I am using my skills, dominate and play, I can snatch the match from opponents’ hands. I also spoke to my father. He said I have fulfilled half of his dream, but half is still left. I need to play in the World Cup for the senior Indian team. Of course, every player shares the same dream: to play for the seniors and win for their country, India. That is my focus for India,” Sooryavanshi said.
Former India cricketer Saba Karim, who also featured in the discussion, praised Sooryavanshi’s natural striking ability and compared his raw power to some of the best batters seen at a young age.
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However, he made a distinction between power and technical refinement, suggesting that the youngster’s biggest strength lies in his natural ability rather than structured coaching.
“The power I saw in Sachin Tendulkar at a similar age, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has more power than that. I am talking about power, not technique. This boy’s bat speed, his swing, his high back-lift, that is unbelievable. And no coach can teach that. You get that by birth.”
In the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 so far, Rajasthan Royals opener Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has smashed 246 runs in six matches at a staggering strike rate of 236.53.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
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IPL 2026 | Delhi Capitals Wins By 6 Wickets Against Mumbai Indians: Redemption For Sameer Rizvi
The league table never lies, apparently. It may do now. A supposed title decider ended with the side still in second nevertheless possessing the advantage. It has been Arsenal’s title to lose for months, but perhaps this defeat means it is being lost.
They had retreated down the tunnel at the Etihad Stadium as Manchester City went on their lap of honour, a bare-chested Erling Haaland letting his hair run free, Pep Guardiola directing kisses to the crowd, Gianluigi Donnarumma beating the badge on his chest, relieved the biggest error of his season had become a footnote, not the faulty footwork that determined the destination of the trophy.
An epic game delivered a massive momentum shift to Manchester. In their last four matches against domestic opponents, Arsenal have lost to City twice, Southampton and Bournemouth. In their last four fixtures, City have beaten Arsenal twice, Liverpool and Chelsea. They are peaking when it matters. “We are alive,” said Guardiola, who had warned it would be all over with defeat. “I’m happy because we can extend the hope.”
Where there was Haaland, there was hope. City had the big man for the big occasion. Three years ago, Haaland – along with Kevin de Bruyne – decided a similar clash with Arsenal. History repeated itself when the striker contorted his giant frame to hook in a shot.
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He had hit the post earlier. He had not scored in the Premier League for two months. He has had a barren 2026 but his last two home games have yielded a hat-trick against Liverpool and now this, perhaps the most seismic of his 158 City goals.
Erling Haaland provided the key moment for Man City (AP)
He also nearly managed to goad Gabriel into a red card for a ‘headbutt’ (PA)
He was too much of a handful for Gabriel Magalhaes, who ripped his shirt tugging the Norwegian and somehow escaped a red card for aiming a headbutt at him. “I think if I fell on the floor, which I will not do unless someone really attacks me, it will maybe be a red card,” said Haaland. His honesty did not cost City. But Arsenal, the supposed defensive masters, were frayed in other respects, caught crucially on a counter-attack.
The talismanic Nico O’Reilly, Arsenal’s Carabao Cup final nemesis, was his provider, with a low cross after running the ball out from his own half. A move begun by Donnarumma – this time his distribution was good – was finished by Haaland. He was there at the end, too, hoofing the ball clear from the edge of his own box. It amounted to a marauding display. “Today he fought like an animal,” said his captain, Bernardo Silva.
Donnarumma had particular grounds to be grateful to the warrior-striker. The goalkeeping error in the Carabao Cup final came from Arsenal and it was costly. This stemmed from City, but it was not. Kai Havertz scored a Champions League final winner against them, but when it seemed he had delivered a goal of a similar magnitude in the Premier League, Haaland ensured otherwise. “The difference was in both boxes,” lamented Arteta.
Gigi Donnarumma made a huge error early in the game (Getty)
Each had scored from inside them as they traded goals in 107 seconds. Rayan Cherki, who had already hit the woodwork, weaved his way between Gabriel and Declan Rice, and angled his shot in off the far post.
But Arsenal were bolder than many expected. They did not come just to nullify City, and Arteta used their physical power to press high. It yielded a remarkable goal. Havertz charged down Donnarumma’s clearance, the ball flying in. It was a reminder that Donnarumma is no Ederson, no typical Guardiola goalkeeper. It revived the old criticism about his shortcomings with the ball at his feet. “The mistake from Gigi is our mistake,” said Guardiola. He could be forgiving because the Italian was to have a redemptive second half: a superb save from Havertz, the quick ball out that led to City’s second goal.
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Which rendered it tougher for an Arsenal side who have only scored four times in six games. They scarcely fashioned their latest effort with creativity. And yet they were agonisingly close to more.
Havertz was denied by Donnarumma. Eberechi Eze struck one post with a shot, Gabriel the other with a header that deflected off O’Reilly. Havertz headed just over in the 95th minute. They could scarcely have come closer. “The margins,” sighed Arteta. “We hit the post [with Eze], I look at the images, it is incredible how the ball doesn’t go in.”
Eberechi Eze was agonisingly close to scoring (Getty)
Part of the frustration for him may be that Arsenal were far better than they were against Bournemouth, and that he did much right. Choosing both Eze and Odegaard added flair; one almost scored, the other nearly assisted. Havertz looked a vast upgrade on the dropped Viktor Gyokeres. And yet it still was not enough.
Guardiola, Arteta’s boss for three-and-a-half years, can still be the boss when it matters. The business end of the season often brings the best from him. The strangest, too. He had slapped his thighs in irritation.
He went through his repertoire of extraordinary – at times, indescribably weird – gestures on the touchline. When he complained Gabriel did not see red, he got his seventh yellow card of the campaign. He may get his seventh Premier League title.
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Arteta’s first could remain elusive. “We go again,” he said. But they may be second again.
India captain Harmanpreet Kaur admitted her team is going through a tough phase but stressed the need to stick together and bounce back after suffering their second successive defeat to South Africa in the women’s T20 International series here on Sunday. India went down meekly by eight wickets in the second women’s T20I to trail 0-2 in the five-match series here on Sunday. Asked to bat first, India were all out for 147 and SA chased down the target quite comfortably, reaching 148 for 2 in 17.1 overs.
“Tough time. We as a team need to stay together,” Harmanpreet said at the post-match presentation.
“Hopefully, we’ll go (to Johannesburg for the third match on April 22) with positive approach. T20 format is like that: it’s about staying together.” Harmanpreet rued that her team could not do well in the death-over batting and powerplay bowling.
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“I think with bat, we were not able to contribute way we wanted. Last ten overs of the innings we did not bat well. We need to think how we go about next three matches. When you’re not getting the shots, rotating strike is a key point. We were discussing… we can rotate strike and it can help us through that time. But it’s a time when things didn’t work.
“Powerplay, while bowling, is not going our way.” Opener Shafali Verma was the lone bright spot for India with a 38-ball 57, which was studded with seven fours and two sixes.
“Shafali been a great talent for us. Attacking batter. Hope she’ll continue for us,” the skipper said.
South Africa captain Laura Wolvaardt said restricting India to 147 all out was a good job done by her side.
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“Pretty good catching, one or two put down, but we took one or two good ones as well. After start they had, restricting them was great,” she said.
“Area we struggled with last season (death bowling), bowlers identified bowling slower ones into the wicket was helping. It’s something we’ve talked a lot about. Being present on the cricket field. Little things showing on the field.” “(We’re in) great position to be in. But India, world champs in ODI cricket, they’ll come back pretty hardly. Switch off tomorrow and then be ready for the next one.”
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
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Bayern Munich came from behind to beat VfB Stuttgart at the Allianz Arena and secure the Bundesliga title for a record 35th time.
The Bavarians, who have been dominant this season with only one defeat, needed just a draw to be confirmed champions after Borussia Dortmund lost to Hoffenheim on Saturday.
However, Stuttgart made a bright start and nearly delayed the celebrations. Chris Führich opened the scoring in the 21st minute with a fine curling effort that left the home fans stunned.
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Bayern reacted quickly. Raphaël Guerreiro equalised 10 minutes later, before Nicolas Jackson, filling in for Harry Kane, put the hosts ahead just two minutes after the equaliser.
Alphonso Davies added a third goal before half-time, reacting smartly inside the box to guide the ball past Alexander Nübel after a pass from Luis Díaz.
Kane, who replaced Jamal Musiala at the break, made an instant impact. The England striker scored Bayern’s fourth goal just seven minutes into the second half, taking his league tally to 32 for the season.
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Stuttgart managed a late reply through Chema Andrés in the 88th minute, but it was not enough to stop Bayern’s celebrations.
The victory means Bayern have now won 13 titles in the last 14 seasons, underlining their dominance in German football. They remain on course for a possible treble, with important semi-final clashes against Bayer Leverkusen in the DFB-Pokal and Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Champions League still to come later this month.
A total of two matches took place on Sunday, but the IPL 2026 points table saw only two teams swapping their positions. In the day game, Kolkata Knight Riders registered a comeback win by four wickets against Rajasthan Royals at Eden Gardens. With the win, the three-time champions rose to the ninth spot, with Mumbai Indians slipping to the bottom position in the points table. In the night game, Punjab Kings outplayed Lucknow Super Giants by a massive margin of 54 runs to retain their top position. Despite the loss, LSG remained in the eighth spot.
Explosive knocks from opener Priyansh Arya and Cooper Connolly helped table-toppers Punjab Kings hammer Lucknow Super Giants by 54 runs to stay unbeaten this season. Arya struck 93 off 37 balls, while fellow left-hander Connolly hit 87 to power Punjab to this season’s highest total of 254/7 after being invited to bat first in Chandigarh.
In reply, Lucknow managed just 200/5 as Punjab consolidated their top spot in the 10-team table with five wins and one no-result in six matches. An early reprieve for Connolly proved costly for Lucknow after skipper Rishabh Pant decided not to review an lbw call in the second over from Mohsin Khan, with replays suggesting the ball would have hit the stumps. Australia’s Connolly was on four at the time and went on to add 182 runs for the second wicket with Arya as the duo bludgeoned the opposition attack with 16 sixes between them.
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“It was exceptional, some of the shots were jaw-dropping,” said Punjab skipper Shreyas Iyer. “I was just talking to Cooper and Priyansh; we were challenging each other on who will hit the most sixes this season. They are up for it.”
Arya reached his second fifty of the season in just 19 balls, and soon the Lucknow attack had no answers for the batting blitz. Connolly went after Aiden Markram with three straight sixes, and Arya finished the over with two more in a 32-run 13th over as Punjab threatened to breach 300. However, pace bowler Prince Yadav dismissed Connolly, and Arya fell three balls later in the next over to miss out on a century.
Mohsin Khan then dismissed Iyer for five, but Australia’s Marcus Stoinis steered the team to a mammoth total with a 16-ball 29. Mitchell Marsh, who hit 40, and Ayush Badoni (35) handed Lucknow a brisk start, while Pant struck 43. However, regular wickets and the ever-increasing run rate kept the side behind the chase. Markram hit a valiant 42 off 22 balls, but despite a few dropped catches by Punjab fielders, Lucknow suffered their third straight loss.
“Definitely, we believe in this team for sure,” said Pant. “But at the same time, when the opposition is playing well, like Punjab is playing now, you’ve got to give credit to them for playing good, hard cricket.”
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In the first match of the day, Rinku Singh hit an unbeaten 53 to lead Kolkata Knight Riders to their first win of the IPL season as they beat Rajasthan Royals by four wickets. Rajasthan posted 155/9 as their batting faltered after 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi top-scored with 46 at Eden Gardens. Three-time champions Kolkata slipped to 85/6 before the left-handed Rinku steered the team home with two balls to spare.
(With AFP inputs)
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Mazu, the standout eight-year-old, preserves his blistering speed and love for racing, leading all the way to bag his hat-trick in the Group 3 $250,000 Hall Mark Stakes (1200m) on Saturday.
Joe Pride’s veteran had prior Hall Mark successes on heavy tracks suited to his style, but he adapted superbly to the firm conditions, recording a swift 1m 8.19s for the win.
The result showcased Pride’s training prowess from various angles, most notably with the stable locking the trifecta as King’s Secret and Private Eye filled the next two berths, separated by less than half a length among the three.
The trainer’s fourth participant, Kerguelen, was a length-and-a-half behind in fifth.
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“To train the trifecta in any race, particularly a Group 3, is very satisfying,” Pride said. “All four of my horses ran great races.
“But Mazu, what a fantastic old warrior he is. We’ve won three of these in-a-row and done it on a dry track today.
“I think this track’s got a little bit of give in it because In Flight won here last week and she has a similar record where her best form is on wet tracks.”
Rachel King guided the $3.70 chance Mazu to a brave head verdict over $7.50 shot King’s Secret, as $3.30 market leader Private Eye surged late for third, a short neck back.
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“I think he knows this is his race; he loves it,” King said of Mazu.
“I was concerned with the firmer deck today, I just didn’t know how he’d let down on it.
“But that last 50m, he pinned his ears back and he just wanted to beat them.
“I love seeing an older horse like that, even if he only wins one race a year, he deserves it.”
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At Randwick, the Hall Mark Stakes provided Pride’s second feature trifecta in succession, emulating Chris Waller’s trio of Fireball over Campione D’Italia and Diameter in the Group 1 Champagne Stakes.
Mazu now has 10 wins from 46 attempts, elevating his stake money to $10.8 million courtesy of owners Triple Crown Syndications via Chris Ward and Sam Manion.
Pride assessed the runs of each sprinter in turn, opening with Mazu. “Mazu’s grumpy, he’s not the kind of guy you want to hang out with on a long-term sort of basis,” Pride said.”It has to be all on his terms and we let him do that. He does everything as he wants, we don’t tell him what he has to do. He’s enjoying his racing and hopefully there’s another season or two left in him.
“We might give him a break. He doesn’t do much in Brisbane generally, but we’ll get him home and have a look at him.
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“King’s Secret was really good. I think, out of the race, he’s probably the real eye-catcher because he’s not ready for all this yet, but I thought it was terrific.
“Private Eye’s probably looking for that a little bit further. Maybe just being a bit older, being first up is not as big an advantage as it used to be, but I thought he was good to the line.
“Kerguelen was super, he was really good from the back – so I couldn’t be happier with how it has worked out for the stable.”
Fans can check racing betting markets for similar sprint showdowns via online bookmakers.
Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer was left impressed after Priyansh Arya and Cooper Connolly produced a stunning batting display to power their side to a 54-run win over Lucknow Super Giants on Sunday. Arya, one of the country’s most talked about T20 batting talents alongside Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, smashed 93 off 37 balls, while Connolly, the highly rated Australian next-gen batter, struck 87 off 45 deliveries. Their 182-run partnership off just 80 balls laid the foundation for PBKS posting a massive 254 for 7. In reply, LSG could only manage 200 for 5 despite a fighting 43 from Rishabh Pant and 40 from Mitchell Marsh. Iyer was full of praise for the duo’s intent and mindset. He called the performance “exceptional” and said “some of the shots were jaw dropping”, highlighting the courage and composure shown at the crease. He also revealed a light-hearted challenge within the group, saying he had been “just talking to Cooper and Priyansh” about who would hit the most sixes this season, adding that both were “up for it”. The PBKS captain stressed the team environment gives young batters full freedom. “When you just let them be, go out and express themselves, they deliver,” he said, adding that he does not dictate how they should construct their innings as they follow their own routines and processes. Iyer also credited the support system around the team, mentioning Ricky Ponting’s involvement before games while he chips in with inputs. On the bowling group, he said PBKS have a largely international-quality attack and pointed to their execution levels as key to the win, while admitting the team takes “a lot of satisfaction” from reading and adapting to the wicket. The victory underlined PBKS’ growing confidence this season, built on aggressive intent and clarity in roles, as they continue to push towards a stronger campaign after finishing runners-up in 2025.
Bayern Munich secured yet another Bundesliga title after beating Stuttgart 4-2 at home on Sunday.
Top scorer Harry Kane scored his 32nd goal of the season after coming on as a second-half substitute as the Bavarians won their 35th German league trophy.
“To finish the league off in the way we have with the goals we scored… credit to the lads… we still have a lot to play for… but all the hard work, this makes it all worth it,” said Kane.
Bayern Munich cruise to title
The win moved the Bavarian giants an unassailable 15 points clear of second-placed Borussia Dortmund with four games to spare.
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Germany captain Joshua Kimmich, who won his 10th league title with Bayern, called the victory “very special.”
“The way we did it, we were very consistent…and we haven’t achieved that form so often. I hope 10 more titles come on top of this,” he said.
The “Meisterschale” (“champions’ shield” in English) trophy is expected to be handed out after Bayern’s final game of the season at home to Cologne on May 16.
Vincent Kompany (center) became Bayern Munich head coach after Thomas Tuchel’s exit in 2024Image: Martin Agüera/kolbert-press/picture alliance
Another dominant campaign
Bayern have only suffered one defeat in the league this season, at home to fellow Bavarians Augsburg in January, and a league-low of four ties so far.
They have also scored 109 goals so far this season — another record.
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Bayern already clinched the Super Cup in August, also against Stuttgart, and will take on Bayer Leverkusen in the German Cup semi-final on Wednesday.
In Europe, Vincent Kompany’s team has reached the Champions League semi-finals, where they meet holders Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg on April 28.
“It is April 19 and we are in every competition. We have had lots of success with every player in the squad. We go to Leverkusen knowing anything can happen, but with real belief,” Kompany told DAZN.
Kompany, whose only previous job as head coach was at Premier League side Burnley, took over in 2024.
The Jets defense recorded only 26 sacks (31st) last year. The best way to improve your entire defense is to add defenders who can pressure QBs. Bailey was one of the best rushers in college football, a tone-setter who fits Aaron Glenn’s archetype and gives this defense the juice it desperately needs.
The NFC West is a QB gauntlet, with two Super Bowl-winning signal-callers (one MVP) and a third (Brock Purdy) who has already made a Super Bowl with a 67.3% career winning percentage. Defense is a must, and Reese is a violent, rangy defender.
Arguably the best player in the draft, Love can have a three-down impact on every offensive possession. If Tennessee wants to see growth from second-year QB Cam Ward, adding the best offensive weapon in the draft will help his development and give this offense an identity piece.
A young QB’s best friend is good protection. The Giants brought back Jermaine Eluemunor to protect the right side, but Mauigoa is too good to pass up here. If needed, he can become an All-Pro guard and turn what was once a weakness into a strength for the G-Men.
One of the more versatile offensive linemen in the draft with hot tape. Injuries and depth were issues for Cleveland last year on the O-line, and adding Fano helps erase those concerns. His versatility is the selling point.
Washington needs a WR2 with real upside, and Tate gives them a long-term answer while helping stabilize the uncertainty at the position outside of Terry McLaurin.
Cornerback is a huge need after losing Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson. Delane is plug-and-play with inside-outside versatility and gives Kansas City immediate help.
When healthy, Jordyn Tyson could be considered the best WR in this draft, and it sounds like he’s healthy. Malik Nabers, Isaiah Likely and Tyson — good luck slowing that trio down.
New Orleans trades back and still gets its guy. Bain is a Saints-type DL — violent, heavy-handed and a disruptive presence. The Big Easy won’t be easy for visiting QBs this year with his addition.
Baltimore loves unicorns, and Sadiq is a matchup nightmare who gives Lamar Jackson a new dimension. We’ve all seen the magic Jackson and Mark Andrews create, but Sadiq is a different magician. His tricks happen fast — 4.3 fast — and it’s hard to pass that up.
Ioane is the safest interior offensive lineman available. Last year, Tampa Bay’s running game was inconsistent, and Baker Mayfield took a beating at times. Ioane instantly improves both areas and gives the Bucs the O-line stability they need.
Minnesota needs a pass rush in a division full of high-end QBs, and Mesidor fits Brian Flores’ style. When you’re facing Jordan Love, Jared Goff and Caleb Williams, defensive pressure is a must.
Cooper is a football player who happens to play WR, a perfect fit for Sean McVay. He loves smart, tough, versatile receivers, so this is very on-brand.
Protecting Patrick Mahomes is the only correct answer. In 14 games, he was sacked 34 times, the second-most in his career, so keeping him upright is a must. Proctor has All-Pro traits.
Pittsburgh’s passing game lacked juice a year ago, and Concepcion brings a cooler full of it. He’s instant electricity with a four-down impact and gives the Steelers the explosive playmaker they need.
Interior pressure is the Chargers’ biggest defensive hole, especially in the AFC West. Woods is a high-upside swing, and his potential makes this a slam-dunk selection for L.A.
We saw last year how important the O-line is in Philly. Injuries and lack of depth derailed the entire offense. With Lane Johnson’s future uncertain after the 2026 season, this gives them a clear succession plan moving forward. Smart, boring, correct.
You never question linebackers from Georgia — they’re pro ready — and Buffalo needs a defensive leader. CJ Allen is smart and violent, which fits what Jim Leonard wants.
Houston stacking defensive talent is terrifying, and Banks is a luxury pick with massive upside. The rich get richer, and his potential in this defense won’t be fair for the AFC South.
Hood is one of the more patient CBs in this draft at the line of scrimmage and is very comfortable in press, reminding me of Jaylon Johnson. He fits the Cowboys’ new defensive identity and could be a Day 1 starter.
Miami’s secondary overhaul continues, and this revamped group could use the versatility Thieneman brings. The 4.35-second 40-yard dash he ran in Indy matches the speed you see on film.
Quarterback is a major need, and Simpson is the consensus No. 2 QB in this draft, so Arizona couldn’t afford to wait and risk missing on him. Simpson at 31 feels like the most realistic outcome for the Cardinals.
This is a Seahawks defender through and through: bendy and violent with a non-stop motor. Thomas is relentless and physical, and it won’t take long for him to fit in.
Erling Haaland and Gabriel endured a war on Sunday as Manchester City beat Arsenal 2-1 to take control of the Premier League title race
Manchester City striker Erling Haaland said he would never feign injury to get another player sent off after a controversial incident involving Arsenal centre-back Gabriel. With the Blues leading 2-1 thanks to Haaland’s second half strike, tempers flared when Haaland pushed the defender after a free kick was awarded in his favour.
The two players then squared up to each other with Gabriel appearing to be the aggressor as he moved his head towards Haaland. Instead of going to ground, the City man continued to face off with the Arsenal defender before both sets of players piled in to separate them.
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When asked about the incident at full time, Haaland told Sky Sports: “If I fell on the floor there, which I will not do unless someone really attacks me, then it would be red card. I’m not sure, I haven’t seen the situation. It is what it is, I will not fall on the floor. For me I don’t know why he comes up to my face.”
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Once the incident had settled, both Haaland and Gabriel were booked. Former Premier League referee Mike Dean said on commentary the defender was ‘very, very lucky’ not to be sent off and former Manchester United captain Gary Neville was equally confused by the decision.
Post-match, he told Sky Sports: “If Gabriel had scored later on or had some impact on the game, Pep Guardiola would’ve been fuming. It’s accepted in football you can put your head against each other, but once you push it forward, it’s usually a red. I was happy he didn’t send him off. I got sent off for it against Steve McManaman, I leant my head forward.”
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Former City and Arsenal midfielder Patrick Vieira added: “I really enjoyed that battle [between Haaland and Gabriel]. In the last couple of years those two players have been really hard for each other, but the referee managed it really well.
They were competitive, they were difficult, but these are the kind of games we want to see, that we enjoy watching. I don’t think Gabriel deserved a red card.”
On the game itself, Haaland concluded by paying tribute to Bernardo Silva who was awarded Man of the Match. “I told him, when he headed [a late cross beating Viktor Gyokeres to the ball] out: ‘You were like f****** [Fabio] Cannavaro today,” he said.
“Today, Bernie, I’m not going to make it emotional, you were amazing today as well. Every game is a final. On Wednesday we have a new final. When we have stopped speaking here, it’s about recovering for the Burnley game. Because the Burnley game just as important as this game. We need to stay focus, stay humble.”
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