Tom Brady arrived at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles with a look that only meant one thing: business. The seven-time Super Bowl champion worked hard to hype up the Fanatics Flag Football Classic, even engaging in a tense back-and-forth with WWE superstar Logan Paul in the lead-up to the event.
After several months of waiting and a change of venue due to the ongoing war in the Middle East, the event became a reality. The NFL’s X account shared a video of Brady entering the stadium while wearing a white Fanatics hat with a white T-shirt and black pants. He had a serious look, which drew plenty of attention from fans.
Thanks for the submission!
Advertisement
Advertisement
•
Plenty of people made the same comment about Brady taking things too seriously.
Looking to predict NFL playoff Scenarios? Try our NFL Playoff Predictor for real-time simulations and stay ahead of the game!
Advertisement
“The way he’s dressed tells me he’s taking this way too seriously. Flag football is about to get its first ever 7-time Super Bowl winning ‘amateur’ lol,” one fan said.
The way he’s dressed tells me he’s taking this way too seriously. Flag football is about to get its first ever 7-time Super Bowl winning ‘amateur’ lol
“Yeah… if you know, you know 👀 this one about to be lowkey elite. I’m tuning in just to see who shows out fr,” another fan said.
Yeah… if you know, you know 👀 this one about to be lowkey elite. I’m tuning in just to see who shows out fr
“Tom Brady is definitely going to treat a friendly flag football game like it’s the Super Bowl. Someone’s catching a stray today,” another fan predicted.
Tom Brady is definitely going to treat a friendly flag football game like it’s the Super Bowl. Someone’s catching a stray today.
Tom Brady’s vibe caught a lot of attention, and people continued to say the same about his approach.
Advertisement
“Yeah this one feels different already 👀 You can tell it’s not just a casual run-out, there’s real competition and pride in it. Events like this always surprise you with moments you didn’t expect. Definitely tuning in to see who actually shows up and takes over,” one fan said.
Tom Brady called out opposing QBs Jayden Daniels and Joe Burrow before FFFC
Tom Brady didn’t hesitate to hype up the Fanatics Flag Football Classic. His old trash-talking version returned during Wednesday’s draft. The New England Patriots legend called out Washington Commanders legend Jayden Daniels, mocking him by saying his mother/agent let him play.
Additionally, he threw shade at Cincinnati Bengals star Joe Burrow after he was seen leaving the Oscars with Brady’s rumored girlfriend, Alix Earle.
It seems that Brady took it a little personally, and he won’t back down against the new generation.
Mason Mount is coming towards the end of his third season at Old Trafford, where injuries, setbacks and competition have reduced him to just 69 appearances
Gary Neville has called on Manchester United to cash in on Mason Mount in order to help raise funds for a squad overhaul this summer. The midfielder’s Old Trafford career hasn’t quite turned out how he would’ve hoped, and the United icon believes now might be the time to move him on.
United will be back in the Champions League next season after Michael Carrick’s huge impact since replacing Ruben Amorim in January. Carrick has led the Reds to third in the table, with Sunday’s 3-2 victory over Liverpool guaranteeing their place in Europe’s premier competition next season.
Advertisement
Despite this, Neville believes that if his old club are going to be able to compete both domestically and in Europe next season, then a squad overhaul will be required – and Mount is a player who should be considered being sacrificed.
Click here to find out the latest Manchester United news in our daily newsletter
“Michael Carrick will be very happy tonight but I think he will also be disappointed deep down that they haven’t gone on to win that game 3-0 or 4-0,” he said on his Sky Sports podcast.
“They should have killed that game and put Liverpool to sleep because they were nowhere near this football match.
Advertisement
“He’s won the game and that’s the most important thing but Carrick won’t be fooled by some of what he saw in that second half.
“He will know he needs to rebuild the defence and midfield. If you’re going to play 4-4-2, which I am massively in favour of United doing, you have to have two very special players in there and defenders who can play one-on-one.
“You’re asking a lot of the players. I think United need a left-back for next season because Luke Shaw has played every game this year and he may struggle. They need a centre-back, 100 per cent, and they need two midfield players.
“They are the four priorities right now. They’re the players I would look at adding to this squad.”
Advertisement
And one way Neville believes United can fund a rebuild of their defence and midfield is by selling Mount.
It has long been reported that United’s priority this summer is to revamp their midfield, with Adam Wharton, Elliot Anderson, Sandro Tonali and Aurelien Tchouameni all being linked with moves to Old Trafford this season.
While Mount is coming towards the end of his third season at Old Trafford, it is safe to say that the transfer has not worked as he would have hoped.
Advertisement
Injuries, setbacks and competition have reduced the England international to just 69 appearances since joining from Chelsea.
The 27-year-old, who is under contract with United until the summer of 2028, has only made 20 appearances in all competitions so far this season.
And Neville appears to given up hope on the England star, adding: “Look, if you could then maybe trade Mason Mount for someone else who maybe can play in and out and can be a bit more flexible across the midfield and forward line then I would say go for a fifth.
“But if you can’t, I would say those four areas are the priority and they’ve got to be top-notch, those players.”
Advertisement
Neville calling on United to cash in on Mount should not come as a surprise, as he voiced concern about the midfielder moving to Old Trafford back in 2023.
The former full-back didn’t believe Mount was the solution to his old side’s problems at the time, suggesting they should be aiming to bring in a more established option to help the club take the next step.
He said: “I am surprised about the Mason Mount one, to be honest with you. For the reported £60million fee… he is a very good player, that isn’t a question for me.
Advertisement
“But I look at the players United have got already in terms of Bruno Fernandes, Christian Eriksen, Casemiro, Fred and Scott McTominay. Do I think Mount is the player to go in and sort all that out? I’m not quite sure.
“I think you would have been better off going and playing £100million plus on Jude Bellingham or £80-100million on Declan Rice and getting something you think can be the real thing. Mount would be a very good addition to United’s squad, but it is a lot of money for a squad addition.
“Does Mount, Casemiro and Fernandes work as a midfield-three? Spending £60million, you have got to get that jump towards winning the league from third place.
“United, at this moment in time, they haven’t got the money and they haven’t got the promise of the new ownership to be able to throw the big money at players.”
Advertisement
Sky Sports, HBO Max, Netflix and Disney+ with Ultimate TV package
This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more
Sky has upgraded its Ultimate TV and Sky Sports bundle to now include HBO Max, Netflix, Disney+, discovery+ and Hayu, as well as 135 channels and full Sky coverage of the Premier League and EFL.
Sky broadcasts more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more with at least 215 live from the top flight alongside Formula 1, darts and golf.
Stoney, Harrop, Beard Inducted into WSL Hall of Fame
Casey Stoney, Kerys Harrop and Matt Beard have been inducted into the Women’s Super League Hall of Fame.
They were recognised for their impact on women’s football and their time with Arsenal Women, Chelsea Women, Tottenham Hotspur Women and West Ham United clubs in London. They will be formally inducted at the WSL Football Awards next month.
Beard, who passed away in September 2025, managed Chelsea Women in the league’s first match in 2011 and later coached West Ham. He also won back-to-back league titles with Liverpool in 2013 and 2014 and led West Ham to the 2019 FA Cup final. He was named WSL Manager of the Season in 2013 and 2024.
Advertisement
Harrop spent three seasons with Tottenham between 2020 and 2023 and previously played for Birmingham City, where she won the FA Cup in 2012. She retired in 2023 and now works as an agent.
Stoney played for both Arsenal and Chelsea during her career and won multiple major honours, including league titles and domestic cups. She later became the first head coach of Manchester United Women and now manages the Canada women’s national team.
The inductees were selected by a panel of former players, coaches, officials and journalists, along with existing Hall of Fame members.
Group 1 winner Sepals remains on course for a Queensland raid under trainer Cliff Brown.
Last spring, the gelding secured the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield, Brown’s debut Group 1 win since resuming in Australia post his 2021 Singapore spell.
Focus lies on the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm come June 13, with Brown ready to cease activities if the four-year-old isn’t fully fit.
Von Hauke’s Listed Golden Mile (1600m) victory at Bendigo on Saturday positions the stable with a possible second Stradbroke aspirant.
The gelding lacked sharpness then, per Brown, who cited a burdensome weight and a track softened by Sydney Carnival usage, and Sepals stayed off-form in Melbourne.
Plans for Randwick’s Group 1 All-Aged Stakes (1400m) on April 18 were shelved in favour of a short paddock holiday.
“He had 10 days off and he’s come back in tremendous order,” Brown said.
Advertisement
“He just wasn’t himself, but he seems right now.
“I don’t think he appreciated the track up in Sydney, but just afterwards when we got him home, he just wasn’t himself.
“We know him intimately and he wasn’t right.
“I gave him a jump-out, which was OK, without being great, but then he had the 10 days off and I thought, if he’s OK, we’ll be able to continue on and if he’s not, we’ll go to the paddock.
Advertisement
“At this point he seems good and if he’s right, we’ll head up to Queensland, and he can have a run at the end of the month with the aim of hopefully getting him to the Stradbroke.”
Marc Guehi looked glum as he headed for the Manchester City bus outside Hill Dickinson Stadium. Understandably, too. His ability to pick the right pass had helped him settle smoothly into the City defence. Until he picked the wrong pass, supplied Thierno Barry with a goal and a 3-3 draw altered the title race.
This had seemed a sequel to 2014 and 2023, a night when City chalked up crucial wins at Everton in the run-in. Instead, there were flashbacks to a couple of other games which, indirectly, led to City becoming champions. City conceded three times in 12 minutes on Monday; in 2014, in ‘Crystanbul’, Brendan Rodgers’ Liverpool let in three in the last 11 minutes away at Crystal Palace. That also finished 3-3. Go back to 2012, and City’s first league title since 1968 was aided by David Moyes’ Everton, mounting an extraordinary comeback to draw 4-4 with Manchester United. In each case, two points were dropped in dramatic fashion.
It may be of scant consolation to Guehi now but, if Arsenal hold on to their advantage at the Premier League summit, his uncharacteristic error will be far from the only reason. In the last couple of years, there has been the temptation to deem this team the City of old: the relentless, remorseless winning machine. They are not, though. City have finished a league season with 14 straight wins before. They needed to be perfect in this run-in, to win their last eight: but this is an imperfect side.
Pep Guardiola’s side dropped points in a 3-3 draw at Everton to hand Arsenal the advantage in the title race (Getty)
They have spent the season playing catch-up after losing twice in August. City have reeled in Arsenal before, but it is not a failsafe formula. Especially when Guardiola’s City, who used to be frontrunners in title races, have had issues when in front in games. City are far above Arsenal in one table: for points lost from winning positions. Lost leads could be decisive. Their second defeat of the season, at Brighton, came when they led for half an hour.
They have drawn eight times. There was a stalemate at Sunderland. In each of the other seven, City have lost a lead. Perhaps the most damaging was also the most forgivable: amid considerable pressure, Guardiola’s injury-hit side almost held out for victory at Arsenal in September before Gabriel Martinelli’s injury-time lob.
Collectively, it points to a lack of ruthlessness. It also suggests that, defensively, City are not quite good enough. That is in spite of some spectacular saves from Gianluigi Donnarumma: briefly on Monday night, it felt like a block from Iliman Ndiaye could be bracketed alongside a magnificent stop from Alexis Mac Allister at Anfield as a transformative moment in the season.
City’s lost leads came with a host of different defences and centre-back partnerships. A mitigating factor in the draw with Chelsea was the loss of the injured Ruben Dias and Josko Gvardiol during the second half; when they were held by Brighton three days later, it was with the rookie Max Alleyne starting.
Guehi and Abdukodir Khusanov had shown promise as a partnership but, even before Barry’s first goal on Monday, it was notable how isolated they looked. Guardiola’s latest revamp has given his team running machines as full-backs, but Matheus Nunes and Nico O’Reilly’s forward momentum is not always allied with defensive solidity.
Arsenal’s style of play has been criticised this season but their caution could ultimately be rewarded if they win the league (AP)
For the second successive season, City have had a reminder of the importance of Rodri in his absence. Their best form of the campaign, in the trio of wins over Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea in three different competitions, came with the Ballon d’Or winner partnered with Bernardo Silva in the middle of midfield. Maybe Rodri would have given them the calm and authority they lost at Everton.
There were warning signs in a couple of other games he sat out, even if City ultimately emerged victorious. They lost control in the second half at home to Leeds and away at Fulham, eventually prevailing 3-2 and 5-4 respectively. The latter, in particular, is not a typical Guardiola scoreline.
Advertisement
Neither is 3-3. It was Guardiola’s 376th Premier League game and just a second to end with an equal split of six goals. Everton finished with the third highest open play expected goals of any team against Guardiola’s City in the English top flight. Moyes nonetheless described City as the best team in the division. But, five months ago, his former midfielder Mikel Arteta brought Arsenal to the banks of the Mersey, ground out a forgettable 1-0 win and allowed his old club an xG of just 0.24 and one shot on target.
There has long been a theory Arsenal’s defence could win them the league. And perhaps the difference between the top two will be City’s struggles to hold on to leads.
Manchester City scored a late equaliser against Everton but defender Marc Guehi’s error proved significant with the margins in the title race with Arsenal so small
Manchester City’s stars have rallied around Marc Guehi after the England international’s error cost the Premier League title challengers against Everton. Rayan Cherki, Nathan Ake and Gianluigi Donnarumma all responded after Guehi spoke out.
The January signing produced a disappointing backpass that released Everton forward Thierno Barry to equalise in the 68th minute after Jeremy Doku had given Pep Guardiola’s side the lead. Everton won some momentum to then go 3-1 up, thanks to another striker from Barry and a goal from Jake O’Brien.
Get MEN Premium now for just £1 HERE – or get involved in our City WhatsApp group by clicking HERE. You can also join our City Facebook page by clicking HERE and don’t miss out on our brilliant selection of newsletters HERE.
Following the match, Guehi acknowledged that he needed to do better and was focused on an improved performance against Brentford at the weekend.
“I need to do better,” he said on Instagram. “But we keep going & focused on the next. Thank you for your support as always! Thank you Jesus!”
Advertisement
A wave of support followed his post with team-mate Cherki sending an emphatic reply. “You are STRONG,” he said, accompanied by two fire emojis.
Ake and Donnarumma both responded with hearts to Guehi’s words.
Thierry Henry could not understand the defender’s thought process in playing the ball back inside his own area. The former Arsenal forward believes the ex-Crystal Palace star would have been aware of Barry’s presence.
“I don’t know why Guehi makes that pass because you know he’s offside,” he said. “It’s tough on the defence because you hold the line so well. You put him offside, you know he’s offside.
“I don’t know why Guehi here, doesn’t keep the ball and step out with it. He knows. He passes the ball. They were nervous as soon as Everton went more direct, long ball, fighting for the second ball.”
Speaking following the match, Guardiola admitted that Premier League success is now out of his team’s control.
“It depends. [The title] is not in our hands. Before that game it was, and Arsenal’s as well. But now, in our hands, no,” Guardiola said.
Advertisement
“We have four games in the Premier League, next is Brentford, and it will be quite similar because the competitors are good, and we will see what happens. “Of course, [we go into those games with belief], like we came here.”
Xavi Hernandez is under consideration by Chelsea to be their next manager, as they lean towards a coaching ideology already set down by the four years of the ownership so far.
The London club are undergoing what is described as a “period of self-reflection” after the debacle of the Liam Roseniorappointment and a generally disappointing season outside the FA Cup, but have naturally had to consider what next as they want everything fully in place for pre-season.
The feeling is that the club have made significant progress in instilling a football identity that is now visible in the academy right down through the age groups, and that one of the values of Enzo Maresca was that his teams typified this approach.
Chelsea consequently want to persevere with a coach of similar principles, which is how Xavi has come into a conversation that also includes Xabi Alonso, Porto’s Franceso Farioli and Cesc Fabregas. Fabregas, however, is not expected to leave Como this summer.
Andoni Iraola is also greatly admired by the football hierarchy but he is seen as of a separate school to the other contenders. Chelsea would have to weigh up whether to commit to a deviation of approach for the first time were they to push for the Basque, although they do have considerable competition for his signature.
Advertisement
Hence, Xavi has become a name more prominently mentioned. He has been out of work since leaving Barcelona in 2024, a three-year period that brought one league title.
While the manner in which that spell ended has brought more debate about his potential and career, there is a belief that Xavi himself has sought to learn from the period, and that part of the issues were because of his emotional attachment to his boyhood club.
The Catalan now wants a “project” that would allow more space than Spanish football usually allows.
The 2026 Truist Championship heads back to Quail Hollow in North Carolina, and a four-time winner of the event (who is also the reigning Masters champion) is the pre-tournament betting favorite. Here is everything you need to know about the Truist Championship odds and other betting favorites to start the week.
Truist Championship betting favorites
The last time we saw Rory McIlroy, he was wearing the green jacket on Sunday at Augusta National after winning the 2026 Masters. McIlroy then took some time off following his second Masters victory, but now that break is over.
McIlroy returns to the Truist Championship this week, an event he has dominated in his career. McIlroy has four career wins at the Quail Hollow event, though the tournament was then known as the Wells Fargo Championship. He comes into the week as the betting favorite with +600 odds-to-win.
However, no golfer is hotter than the player in second in the pre-tournament Truist odds: Cameron Young (+900). Young is fresh off a Signature Event win at the Cadillac Championship, which followed his breakthrough victory at the 2026 Players Championship.
You can see the top 20 and ties in the 2026 Truist Championship betting odds as of Monday morning below, or download the Fanatics Sportsbook app to see the full list of odds and bets for this week.
NEWSLETTER
Sign up for GOLF’s Top Stories Newsletter!
Advertisement
Get the latest golf news and our most-read stories delivered to your inbox daily!
2026 Truist Championship betting odds (top 20 and ties)
Rory McIlroy (+600) Cameron Young (+900) Xander Schauffele (+1000) Matt Fitzpatrick (+1400) Ludvig Aberg (+1600) Tommy Fleetwood (+2200) Si Woo Kim (+2500) Nicolai Hojgaard (+2800) Patrick Cantlay (+3250) Rickie Fowler (+3250) Robert MacIntyre (+3250) Sam Burns (+3250) Adam Scott (+3500) Hideki Matsuyama (+3500) Min Woo Lee (+3500) Viktor Hovland (+3500) Ben Griffin (+4000) Chris Gotterup (+4500) Harris English (+4500) J.J. Spaun (+4500) Jake Knapp (+4500) Jordan Spieth (+4500) Maverick McNealy (+4500) Sepp Straka (+4500)
Kevin Cunningham
Golf.com Editor
As senior managing producer for GOLF.com, Cunningham edits, writes and publishes stories on GOLF.com, and manages the brand’s e-newsletters, which reach more than 1.4 million subscribers each month. A former two-time intern, he also helps keep GOLF.com humming outside the news-breaking stories and service content provided by our reporters and writers, and works with the tech team in the development of new products and innovative ways to deliver an engaging site to our audience.
The UFC announced the main and co-main events for its upcoming return to Baku, Azerbaijan.
Lightweights Rafael Fiziev and Manuel Torres will compete in a five-round main event, while middleweights Sharabutdin Magomedov and Michel Pereira meet in a three-round co-headliner.
Fiziev, 33, is the No. 11-ranked lightweight contender who defeated Ignacio Bahamondes in June of 2025 when the UFC debuted in Baku.
Torres is unranked with a 5-1 UFC record whose lone loss was to Bahamondes in September 2024. The 31-year-old from Mexico is coming off consecutive first-round technical knockout wins over Drew Dober and Grant Dawson in 2025.
Advertisement
The June 27 card is scheduled to take place at Baku Crystal Hall like last year’s event.
Magomedov is coming off a decision win over Canada’s Marc-Andre Barriault and Pereira won a split decision over Zach Reese in his most recent outing.
Fiziev is one of a handful of fighters in the UFC who represent Azerbaijan. The others are fellow lightweights Tofiq Musayev and Nazim Sadykhov, both of whom also competed on the Baku card from last year.
More matchups will be announced for the event in the coming week. It is not clear whether Musayev and/or Sadykhov will be added to the lineup.
Manchester City will host their FA Youth Cup final against Manchester United at their smaller Joie Stadium after turning down an offer to switch it to Old Trafford.
City were drawn at home for the game but are unable to use the main pitch, with Pep Guardiola’s first team still having three home Premier League games to play.
United, who last won the trophy in 2022 – when more than 60,000 were at Old Trafford to watch a team including Kobbie Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho beat Nottingham Forest – told City they were prepared to host the game.
City said no, so the game will be played at the 7,000-capacity ground, which is used by the club’s Premier League 2 and women’s teams.
Advertisement
The club have used the stadium to host Youth Cup finals previously but since 2000, every other host club has played the game at their main stadium.
Two years ago a crowd of 20,000 watched City beat Leeds United in the final at Etihad Stadium.
It is a repeat of the 1986 final, hosted over two legs at Old Trafford and Maine Road and won by City.
United sources feel it is a mistake and will cost the majority of the players involved an experience in what could turn out to be the biggest game of their lives.
Advertisement
City are yet to confirm a date for the game but it is likely to take place on Thursday, 14 May. The club have been asked for a response.
Nov 12, 2024; San Francisco, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel watches action between the Golden State Warriors and the Dallas Mavericks in the third quarter at the Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images
The Minnesota Vikings probably need an extra WR3 for the 2026 campaign, and Pro Football Focus knows just the guy: veteran Deebo Samuel. The wideout curiously hasn’t signed anywhere through two months of free agency, a drought that could end if PFF’s Bradley Locker gets his way.
Samuel would bring experience, versatility, and another catch-and-run weapon to Minnesota’s offense.
Samuel is 30 years old and should have a few productive seasons left in the tank.
Advertisement
A Veteran Playmaker Could Round Out the Vikings’ WR Room
Would you endorse Samuel to Minnesota?
Washington Commanders wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. secures a scoring catch in stride, with Oct 5, 2025 set at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood as he finishes a touchdown against the Chargers during second-half action, highlighting his playmaking ability and impact in open space during a key road matchup. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
PFF: Vikings Should Sign Samuel
Locker sized up the NFL’s 1o best free agents on the open market last week and where they should land. On Samuel, he picked the Vikings and wrote, “The Vikings put an emphasis on retooling their impressive defense in the draft, grabbing Caleb Banks, Jake Golday and Domonique Orange with their first three picks.”
“However, Minnesota could use more at receiver after losing Jalen Nailor to the Raiders. Samuel’s effectiveness has taken a step back over the last two campaigns, but he still finished 2025 with a 70.3 PFF receiving grade and 1.66 yards per route run.”
Advertisement
The Vikings did not draft any receivers last month despite a widespread expectation for them to do so.
Locker added, “Further, Samuel’s 6.5 yards after the catch per reception was fourth among wideouts with 95 or more targets. Next to Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison, Samuel could help fill Nailor’s void in the slot while infusing more juice after the catch and overall creativity for Kevin O’Connell.”
The Career Output
Samuel certainly has the career numbers for Minnesota’s WR3 job. Here’s his receiving resume since turning pro in 2019:
Samuel, too, is known for his versatility, able to run the football as a tailback better than most wide receivers. In seven seasons, he’s tabulated over 1,200 rushing yards and 21 rushing touchdowns. His speed isn’t quite the same these days, but the Vikings could still get creative with him.
Would-Be WR Corps
Suppose Minnesota runs with PFF’s idea, adding Samuel from free agency. Before training camp, the WR depth chart would look like this:
Advertisement
WR1: Justin Jefferson WR2: Jordan Addison WR3: Deebo Samuel WR4: Tai Felton WR5: Myles Price WR6: Jeshaun Jones WR7: Dontae Fleming WR8: Joaquin Davis WR9: Dillon Bell WR10: Luke Wysong WR11: Marcus Sanders WR12: Shaleak Knotts
Jefferson-Addison-Samuel would form one of the NFL’s top WR3 trios, and few would debate it. In fact, Samuel’s production from last year in Washington — 72 catches, 727 yards, and 5 TDs — would be just what the doctor ordered in O’Connell’s offense, even dwarfing Nailor’s 2025 campaign, when he banked 444 receiving yards.
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. breaks free downfield for a long score, with Oct 10, 2024 placed at Lumen Field in Seattle as he outruns defenders on a 76-yard touchdown against the Seahawks, showcasing explosive speed and run-after-catch ability during first-half action. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-Imagn Images
Our Janik Eckardt on the prospect of Samuel to Minnesota: “Samuel has been an outstanding after-the-catch player in the NFL, something the Vikings have lacked in recent years. Sure, Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison can run with the ball in their hands, but they are far too valuable down the field. Samuel, meanwhile, excels in the short passing game.”
“That could be attractive for the Vikings, especially with Kyler Murray under center, whose short passing rate has been off the charts. His asking price could be a challenge for the Vikings, though. While his athleticism has declined, he might still view himself as a WR2 in the league and the Vikings wouldn’t offer a groundbreaking salary for someone who’d be third in their WR hierarchy. The Jennings sweepstakes might present a comparable problem.”
Keep an Eye on the Other Ex-49ers WRs
Advertisement
Minnesota needs a WR3; that’s not a controversial take, unless it loves Felton, who barely played as a rookie in 2025. It’s a safe bet to assume that interim general manager Rob Brzezinski will end up with a wideout who used to play for the 49ers:
Brandon Aiyuk
Jauan Jennings
Deebo Samuel
San Francisco wants to trade Aiyuk, probably after June 1st, when the financial pain will diminish. He’s arguably the best option of the three. Jennings met with the Vikings’ brass last week, though no contract came together.
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel reacts during live game action, with Dec 19, 2021 centered at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara as he shows emotion in the third quarter against the Falcons, capturing intensity and engagement during a home performance late in the regular season. Mandatory Credit: Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports.
And then there’s Samuel, whom PFF has nominated as the wisest fit.
Samuel will turn 31 during the 2026 playoffs. His birth name is Tyshun Raequan.
![Who's your favorite girl in Digital Circus? [Money Money Green green meme] #shorts #trend](https://wordupnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/1771002718_maxresdefault-80x80.jpg)
You must be logged in to post a comment Login