Sports
Parma Again? Connacht Return to the Scene of Their Last Away Win
This one looks straightforward on odds sheets, but it isn’t. Connacht’s away record has been grim, Zebre are a different animal in Parma, and the biggest swing factor is simple: who’s actually released to play.
Match details
- Fixture: Zebre Parma v Connacht Rugby
- Venue: Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi, Parma
- Kick-off: Saturday, 3.00pm
- Competition: United Rugby Championship (URC)
Team News
Connacht Rugby head coach Stuart Lancaster has named his matchday squad for Saturday’s BKT United Rugby Championship clash away to Zebre Parma (kick-off 3.00pm Irish time), making five changes to the side that started last week’s historic fixture against Leinster at Dexcom Stadium.
In the pack, Jordan Duggan, Jack Aungier, Joe Joyce and Sean O’Brien all come into the starting XV. Duggan replaces Billy Bohan at loosehead, while Aungier starts at tighthead in place of the injured Sam Illo. Joyce returns to the second row and O’Brien is named on the openside flank. Paul Boyle captains the side once again from blindside flanker.
The other change comes in the back three, where Chay Mullins is named on the left wing. Niall Murray replaces Darragh Murray among the replacements, with Cian Prendergast unavailable for selection.
Otherwise, Connacht retain continuity across much of the side. Dylan Tierney-Martin continues at hooker, Josh Murphy partners Joyce in the second row, and Sean Jansen completes the back row at number eight. In the backs, Caolin Blade and Josh Ioane continue at half-back, with Cathal Forde and Harry West again paired in midfield. Shane Jennings and Sam Gilbert complete the back three.
Zebre Parma, meanwhile, are heavily affected by the Six Nations window, making nine changes from the side that faced Glasgow Warriors last weekend. The Italian side are without a number of first-choice options, including David Odiase, Alessandro Fusco, Damiano Mazza and Lorenzo Pani, forcing head coach Massimo Brunello into reshaping both the pack and the backline.
Among the changes, Paolo Buonfiglio, Giampietro Ribaldi, Matteo Canali, Giacomo Ferrari and Davide Ruggeri all come into the Zebre pack, while Gonzalo Garcia, Marco Zanon, Simone Gesi and Giovanni Montemauri are introduced in the backs. Leonard Krumov captains the side from the second row.
Despite last week’s narrow defeat to URC leaders Glasgow, Zebre will again look to lean on their physicality and work rate at Stadio Lanfranchi, though the enforced rotation significantly reduces their experience levels.
Connacht’s away record is the reason this preview can’t just be “Connacht should win”. The trend has been ugly for a long stretch.
Recent numbers underline why this fixture feels far less comfortable for Connacht than the betting might suggest. Across their last six URC matches, Connacht have picked up just one win, a 44–17 home victory over the Sharks.
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Sports
The Vikings’ Next Defensive Star Might Finally Be Here
As reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Minnesota Vikings are exploring the trade market for defensive standout Jonathan Greenard. The pass rusher signed with the Vikings two years ago as Danielle Hunter’s replacement.
If he’s out, Brian Flores’ unit would miss one of its key players. Fortunately, his successor is already around and could continue to thrive in Greenard’s role. That man is Dallas Turner, a 2024 1st-round pick.
While everyone was focused on quarterback J.J. McCarthy, his Draft classmate Turner was actually making major strides in the second half of his sophomore season. He benefitted from the five games Greenard missed with a shoulder injury, and the ones he appeared in when the veteran was clearly not at his full strength.
In his rookie season, Turner played a limited role as a rotational piece behind Pro Bowlers Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel, as well as backup Patrick Jones. His output, therefore, was fairly quiet, as he tabulated 20 tackles and 3 sacks.
In his second season as a pro, Turner appeared in all 17 games, making 10 starts. He logged 8 sacks, 66 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, and perhaps the best aspect of his numbers, a whopping 4 forced fumbles.
Earlier in the season, Turner stepped into the starting unit in place of Van Ginkel, who was slowed down by a neck injury and missed several games. Van Ginkel’s role is unique, with frequent coverage responsibilities, while Greenard operates primarily as a designated pass rusher. Turner appeared more comfortable in Greenard’s role, where he was able to consistently attack off the edge and maximize his burst.
“Turner,” PFF’s Dalton Wasserman recently wrote, “may have finally found his footing during the second half of this season. From Weeks 10 through 18, the former first-round pick racked up 24 pressures and seven sacks while ranking 16th among qualified edge rushers in PFF pass-rush grade (76.5). Turner also seemed to find further comfort in run defense, which could make him a more viable three-down player in 2026.”
Turner was flying off the edge in Greenard’s position. The explosiveness has always been there, but it’s fun to watch a young player turn that into production. He also provided solid help in the running game, something not all young edge defenders can do.
Coming out of college, Turner had outstanding physical tools, as evidenced by a 4.46-second 40-yard dash. He was raw as a pass-rusher, and perhaps still is, but he’s slowly but surely growing.
In the second half of the season, he undoubtedly looked like a future difference-maker.
What makes Turner’s trajectory especially encouraging is how quickly the game seemed to slow down for him. Early in his rookie year, he relied almost exclusively on pure speed. By December, he was mixing in counters, adjusting his rush angles, and showing better discipline, setting the edge. That kind of refinement usually takes years, not months.
Flores also began trusting him in bigger moments. Turner wasn’t just cleaning up plays — he was creating them. Forced fumbles, third-down pressures, drive-killing sacks — those are impact snaps. The Vikings didn’t draft him to be a rotational spark; they drafted him to tilt games.
If Greenard truly moves on, this won’t just be about replacing production. It will be about accelerating Turner’s arrival as a centerpiece defender rather than a complementary one.
With Greenard possibly leaving, the Vikings would hand the keys to Turner. Sure, they would acquire another veteran or even spend Draft capital on a rookie, but it’s unlikely that the new acquisition would be slotted ahead of Turner on the depth chart.
The 23-year-old was an expensive player to lure to the Twin Cities. First, the Vikings traded a pair of 2nd-rounders for the 23rd overall pick. That was expected to be used in a trade-up for a quarterback. However, the Vikings couldn’t land Drake Maye and only required a smaller trade for J.J. McCarthy. Suddenly, they were stuck at 23.
They didn’t stay there, however. Instead, the front office struck a deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars for pick 17. According to most trade charts, the Vikings used the value of two 1st-round picks to draft Turner.
So far, he has clearly not been worth that kind of investment, but an elevated role could bring him in position to change that. In the second half of the year, he certainly looked like a foundational piece on the defense for years to come.
Still only 23 years old, the sky is the limit for the young defender.
Editor’s Note: Information from PFF, Over The Cap, and Sports Reference helped with this article.
Sports
Tennessee vs. South Carolina prediction, odds, spread, start time: 2026 college basketball picks from proven model

Teams looking to get back on track battle when the 23rd-ranked Tennessee Volunteers face the South Carolina Gamecocks in a key SEC matchup on Tuesday. Tennessee is coming off a 71-69 loss to the Alabama Crimson Tide on Saturday, while South Carolina dropped an 87-68 decision at Georgia that same day. The Volunteers (20-9, 10-6 SEC), who are tied for fourth in the conference, are 4-5 on the road this season. The Gamecocks (12-17, 3-13 SEC), who are tied for 15th in the league, are 11-7 on their home court. Tennessee’s Nate Ament (leg) will not play.
Tipoff from Colonial Life Arena in Columbia, S.C., is set for 6 p.m. ET. Tennessee is a 10.5-point favorite in the latest South Carolina vs. Tennessee odds from DraftKings Sportsbook, while the over/under for total points scored is 141.5. Before making any Tennessee vs. South Carolina picks, check out the men’s college basketball predictions and betting advice from the SportsLine Projection Model.
New users can target the DraftKings promo code, which offers $200 in bonus bets if your first $5+ bet wins:
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every college basketball game 10,000 times. It entered Week 18 on a sizzling 11-1 run on its top-rated over/under college basketball picks dating back to last season, and is on a 23-17 run on top-rated CBB side picks. Anyone following its college basketball betting advice at sportsbooks and on betting apps could have seen strong returns.
Now, the model has simulated Tennessee vs. South Carolina 10,000 times and just revealed its coveted men’s college basketball picks and betting predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model’s picks. Here are several men’s college basketball odds and men’s college basketball betting lines for South Carolina vs. Tennessee:
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Tennessee vs. South Carolina spread: |
Tennessee -10.5 at DraftKings Sportsbook |
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Tennessee vs. South Carolina over/under: |
141.5 points |
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Tennessee vs. South Carolina money line: |
Tennessee -571, South Carolina +418 |
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Tennessee vs. South Carolina picks: |
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Tennessee vs. South Carolina streaming: |
Fubo (Try for free) |
New users can also check out the latest FanDuel promo code and get $100 in bonus bets at FanDuel if your first $5+ bet wins:
Top Tennessee vs. South Carolina predictions
SportsLine’s model is going Over on the total (141.5 points). The Over hit in five of the last eight meetings between the teams. Tennessee is 5-5 against the spread in its last 10 games. South Carolina, meanwhile, is 4-6 ATS in its last 10.
The model projects the Volunteers to have three players score 9.8 points or more, including Ja’Kobi Gillespie’s projected 18.9 points. The Gamecocks are projected to have three players score 11.3 points or more, led by Meechie Johnson Jr., who is projected to score 17.8 points. The model is projecting 148 combined points as the Over clears in 67% of simulations.
How to make South Carolina vs. Tennessee picks
The model also says one side of the spread hits 60% of the time. You can only see that pick at SportsLine.
So who wins South Carolina vs. Tennessee and which side of the spread hits 60% of the time? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the Tennessee vs. South Carolina spread to back, all from the advanced model that has simulated this game 10,000 times, and find out.
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Real Madrid slip up, fail to close gap on La Liga leaders Barcelona | Football News
Real Madrid lost a second straight La Liga match when a stunning volley from Martin Satriano gave Getafe a shock 1-0 win at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium on Monday.
The result prevented the capital club from cutting the four-point gap to leader Barcelona.
Getafe had lost all eight of its previous league encounters with Real Madrid and early saves from goalkeeper David Soria kept it from falling behind.
Soria turned over a shot from Arda Guler midway through the first half, not long after frustrating Vinicius Junior when he was through on goal.
Madrid had more of the ball but lacked punch up front and it paid a price for its profligacy six minutes before halftime when Getafe took the lead.
A hopeful cross from the right was headed clear but it fell to the feet of Satriano, who volleyed into the roof of the net from 20 meters out.
It was the second goal in three games for the Uruguayan, who joined on loan from Lyon during the last transfer window.
Madrid continued to dominate possession in the second half and Antonio Rudiger and substitute Rodrygo were among those who came close to grabbing an equalizer.
But it could not find a way past Getafe’s stuffy rearguard and an in-form Soria.
Madrid’s task became even harder when Franco Mastantuono was sent off for dissent in stoppage time and although the numbers were evened up in the last minute when Getafe’s Adrian Liso was also shown a red card it came too late to make any impact.
Getafe held on to secure a historic win, its first at the Santiago Bernabeu since 2008, and a vital three points in its bid to stay in La Liga.
“Coming here is always very difficult,” Getafe defender Kiko Femenia told broadcaster DAZN. “We have to congratulate the team, we did a superb job at the back and we scored when had the chance. We might even have scored more on the counterattack.”
They jumped three league places into 11th and were eight points above the relegation zone.
Sports
Latest report claims Eagles are still interested in re-signing Dallas Goedert
As much as everyone is focused on A.J. Brown and his future in Philadelphia, there seems like a heightened sense of urgency for the Eagles to figure out if tight end Dallas Goedert could still be part of their plans for 2026 and beyond. Despite rumors from the NFL Combine suggesting Goedert will “definitely” be gone in free agency, the latest reports suggest that Howie Roseman is actively trying to bring the veteran tight end back.
NFL Network insider Mike Garafolo reported that the team is trying to re-sign Goedert, and that both sides will have more discussions about the future in the coming days. One interesting bit Garafolo included was how other uncertain roster moves are affecting the team’s salary cap decisions.
“With less than a week to the start of the negotiating window, #Eagles TE Dallas Goedert is positioned to hit free agency for the first time in his career. Sources say the team has expressed interested in re-signing him and the sides will continue talking in the coming days.
However, Howie Roseman has a few balls in the air (e.g. A.J. Brown) that are affecting budgeting for his pending free agents. There are some moving parts that could change on a few fronts in the next few days.”
At this point, it seems like the Eagles want Goedert back, but know that he expects to be paid like one of the league’s top tight ends — whether they’re able to do that seems to be the sticking point. Another report out on Tuesday said that the Eagles are also looking into Browns tight end David Njoku, who is hitting free agency this offseason, so the team is at least exploring all options, even if re-signing Goedert is Plan A.
Sports
NDTV Exclusive – PV Sindhu On Two Days Of Horror In Dubai: “It Was Scary, Happy To Be Back Home”

In her glorious career, during which she became one of the most elite athletes in the world, PV Sindhu has seen and overcome many challenges. We are talking about a champion who has won two Olympic medals and five World Championship medals. Yet none of those experiences could prepare the 30-year-old badminton star for what she went through in the last 72 hours. Sindhu was travelling to Birmingham for the prestigious All England Championships, which started on Tuesday, with a layover in Dubai. But the two-time Olympic medallist found herself stranded at Dubai Airport amid a major flight disruption triggered by the escalating conflict in the Middle East.
What followed was a “scary” experience, as Sindhu described it. She returned home on Tuesday and spoke to NDTV about the ordeal. “I’m happy that I’m back home safe. I mean, it was scary, it was terrifying… it’s an experience nobody expects – that you get stuck in a war and the airspace suddenly getting closed. I was just in transit at Dubai and all of a sudden, all flights were suspended,” Sindhu said in the exclusive interview with NDTV’s Padmaja Joshi.
Sindhu landed in Dubai on February 28, and almost immediately, the airspace was shut.
“When we landed on the 28th at around 1 p.m., within minutes they told us the airspace was shut. Then they said flights were delayed, which sounded normal. But soon after, they told us all flights were suspended because of what was happening… it was confusing. A few hours earlier, some of my colleagues flying to Birmingham had also transited through Dubai and reached safely. So I kept wondering what had changed so drastically for us to be stuck,” Sindhu said.
#NDTVExclusive | “Happy that I am back home safe”: Badminton Player PV Sindhu to @padmajajoshi
Sindhu was stranded in Dubai due to ongoing #IsraelIranConflict pic.twitter.com/S4IAkgxVW1
— NDTV (@ndtv) March 3, 2026
Airport authorities moved passengers to transit hotels, but thousands of people were stranded.
“It was very crowded. At first, there was no place, and they were not allowing anyone to step out because immigration was shut. We waited for hours at the airport. Eventually, we were moved to a hotel.”
But that wasn’t the end of the ordeal. “While we were in the bus to the hotel, my coach was still at the airport. Suddenly he messaged saying there was a loud sound and everyone started running. He said there was a lot of smoke – we don’t know if it was an explosion, debris, or a drone – but it was terrifying. He was only about 100 metres away. They were evacuated to another hotel. We were so worried about his safety. That night, none of us could sleep. There were so many calls from family. It was very hard.”
The next day brought more fear.
“We heard loud sounds from our hotel window – five or six times. We even received an emergency alert on our phones asking us to stay indoors and away from glass windows. It was really hard mentally. We were constantly watching the news, and it kept sounding like things were getting worse.”
Sindhu was full of praise for the Indian authorities.
“I must say, the Indian Consulate in Dubai and our government were very, very helpful. They helped so many Indians stranded there. I received calls from our Sports Minister, from the Badminton Association, from Raksha Ma’am and from Rammohan sir, constantly asking about our situation. The consulate staff and airport staff were doing their best to accommodate everyone in hotels.”
Indian consulate members were physically present at the airport helping stranded passengers, including Sindhu. “They were asking everyone about their destinations because it wasn’t just passengers leaving Dubai – people coming from the US and other countries were stuck too. They were reassuring us constantly, giving us food, water, and saying everything would be okay,” she said.
#NDTVExclusive | PV Sindhu Returns To India After Being Stranded In Dubai Amid Ongoing Middle East Conflict. Shares Her Experience With @padmajajoshi #IsraelIranConflict pic.twitter.com/yM2yXWq3oH
— NDTV (@ndtv) March 3, 2026
Eventually, airlines began contacting stranded passengers. “Yesterday, we got a call from the airline saying that if we wanted to return to India, we should come to the airport immediately. I even asked if there were flights to London so I could still compete. But there were none – everything was shut.”
Sindhu had no choice but to give up her All England Open campaign. “I mean, it is sad. But at the end of the day, the priority was to be safe. That was most important. I just wanted to get out safely.
The star badminton player was all praise for the Dubai and Emirates officials who guided her team.
Topics mentioned in this article
Sports
Trainer Robert Garcia predicts Mayweather vs Pacquiao 2: “He’s got enough to win”

Former world champion and esteemed trainer Robert Garcia has revealed his take on the professional rematch between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao.
The two pound-for-pound icons will square off at the Sphere, Las Vegas, on September 19, over a decade removed from their first welterweight encounter.
Back then, Mayweather produced a controlled performance to emerge with a unanimous decision victory, yet both men ultimately seemed a far cry from the prime versions of themselves.
Pacquiao, though, has nonetheless continued to box professionally on a sporadic basis, with his last outing ending in a draw against Mario Barrios, the then-WBC world welterweight champion, last July.
This saw the Filipino end a near four-year layoff, which followed his points defeat to Yordenis Ugas, while Mayweather has not fought in a ‘professional’ bout since his 10th-round stoppage of Conor McGregor in 2017.
Since then, the American has been involved in several exhibitions and, in preparation for his rematch with Pacquiao, is set to face Mike Tyson in April and kickboxer Mike Zambidis in June, both in non-competitive affairs.
Even when considering his hiatus from a professional ring, though, top-level coach Garcia still sees Mayweather getting the job done in September.
Speaking with ES NEWS, Garcia highlights the 49-year-old’s ring IQ, skillset and longevity as determining factors.
“I think Floyd [wins the rematch]. Floyd’s too smart, man. Too good.
“Floyd’s very healthy and he’s got skills. He told us six [to] eight years ago that his body wasn’t that strong, but he’s still talented.
“The little that he’s got left, I think it’s enough to beat Pacquiao.”
It is difficult to gauge exactly how much Mayweather has ‘got left,’ while many believe that Pacquiao had done enough to emerge triumphant over Barrios.
The convincing nature of their first fight, however, makes Garcia’s prediction perfectly reasonable.
Sports
Befuddle eyes success on Flemington straight in 2026
John Sadler anticipates that Befuddle’s past experience on the Flemington straight will serve her well in the coming race.
On Saturday, the filly enters the HKJC World Pool Trophy (1100m), representing her second start over 11 months.
Sadler revealed the Hanseatic filly underperformed in the spring, but expressed satisfaction with her fourth placing at Caulfield Heath on February 9 for her return.
“For a horse that had been off the scene for a long time, she ran very well at Caulfield Heath,” Sadler said.
“She got very tired late, but they did run along, and she led them up and there were some quick horses in that race.
“We got her to the trial stage in the spring, but she just didn’t come up, so I tipped her out.
“There were no lameness issues or anything like that, she just didn’t look right.
“I’m happy with how she’s going but I still think she might be one race away, however I’m expecting her to run really well.”
The straight at Flemington is familiar territory for Befuddle, having raced there before on two occasions.
Her first go saw her finish sixth in the Talindert Stakes (1100m) to Tentyris, followed three starts later by third in the Group 3 Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes (1200m), before her recent reappearance.
“Before we figured out to let her stride, she was held up in the Talindert behind Tentyris where she over-raced shockingly,” Sadler said.
“Her run was actually a hell of a lot better than what it looks on paper.
“She came out a start later and led all-the-way at Moonee Valley and then went to Caulfield and ran second in The Showdown.
“I’ve always had a better opinion of her than what the market suggests and I hope I turn out to be right.”
At Flemington this Saturday, The Troubleshooter, Befuddle’s younger half-brother by I Am Immortal, will debut in the Listed TAB We’re On (1000m).
Sadler called the two-year-old a sharp prospect with solid grounding.
“He’s ready to run well, but it will depend on the others and how he handles the straight at his first start,” Sadler said.
Discover the best betting sites offering competitive odds for the HKJC World Pool Trophy.
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London emerges as favourite to host ‘Finalissima’ involving Lionel Messi as Qatar concerns grow
European and South American football authorities are set to convene for a final meeting before a Thursday deadline to determine the fate and location of this month’s “Finalissima” between Spain and Argentina, with London emerging as the leading candidate amidst significant doubts over the original Doha venue.
The highly anticipated clash, pitting European champions Spain against Copa America holders Argentina, who have Lionel Messi in their ranks, was initially slated for 27 March at Lusail Stadium in Doha.
However, Qatar’s ability to host has become increasingly unlikely following the Qatar Football Association’s indefinite suspension of football tournaments, a decision made in the wake of US and Israeli attacks on Iran and subsequent retaliatory missile strikes on the Arabian Peninsula.
The Spanish FA (RFEF) has been actively seeking a swift resolution, emphasising the critical importance of the March international break for World Cup preparations ahead of the June-July tournament in North America.
Spain coach Luis de la Fuente underscored this urgency, telling Spanish Public Radio (RNE) on Monday: “I know that negotiations are underway. The first thing, as a society, is to stop the conflict, but once you are immersed in it and you don’t know how long it will last, the solution would be, as long as you can’t play there, to find another venue as soon as possible.”
London has quickly risen as the most probable alternative should Doha be definitively ruled out.
While Wembley Stadium, which hosted the previous edition in 2022 when Argentina defeated Italy, is unavailable due to an England v Uruguay fixture on the same date, the English capital boasts several other stadiums capable of staging such a high-profile match, sources confirmed.
Despite a strong desire to face Argentina and its star players like Lionel Messi, sources close to the Spanish camp indicated that their primary concern is not to squander this final international window before the World Cup.
Consequently, Spain has reportedly begun contemplating alternative opponents should the “Finalissima” arrangements fall through.
Any alteration to the fixture would necessitate complex agreements between the RFEF, European governing body UEFA, South American confederation CONMEBOL, global body FIFA, and the Argentine FA (AFA), especially given Spain’s existing fixture against Egypt three days later.
Other potential venues were also explored and dismissed: Madrid was proposed by the RFEF but rejected by the AFA, who preferred a neutral ground.
Morocco’s offer to host was declined by the RFEF amid underlying tensions concerning the joint 2030 World Cup bid with Spain and Portugal.
Miami was also considered, partly due to Messi’s presence at Inter Miami, but the Hard Rock Stadium is already booked for the Miami Open tennis tournament.
Neither the RFEF, AFA, nor UEFA immediately responded to requests for comment.
A spokesperson for CONMEBOL confirmed that multiple meetings had occurred recently but refrained from confirming Thursday’s deadline or London as the preferred venue.
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Cap-strapped Vikings open to trading Jonathan Greenard; possible landing spots
Another notable name may be on the move with the start of NFL free agency on the horizon. The Minnesota Vikings are open to trading former Pro Bowl pass rusher Jonathan Greenard, according to ESPN.
While they’d reportedly like to keep him, the Vikings’ salary cap issues have forced them to consider trading Greenard, who has two years remaining on a four-year, $76 million deal that he signed in March of 2024. The Vikings, who are currently more than $45 million over the cap, are reportedly planning to release running back Aaron Jones and defensive tackle Javon Hargrave in order to get some necessary cap space.
A former member of the Houston Texans, Greenard was named to his first Pro Bowl during his first year in Minnesota after recording 12 sacks. He had just three sacks last year, however, while being sidelined for five games after sustaining a shoulder injury that ultimately required surgery.
Here are some possible landing spots for Greenard, who could provide a quick fix for a team that is in need of an upgraded pass rush.
Baltimore Ravens
Baltimore immediately came to mind given its immense need to acquire a proven pass rusher. The Ravens also have salary cap space to accommodate Greenard’s contract and could potentially package a trade with one of their young pass rushers. One potential trade piece here could be Mike Green, a 2025 second-round pick who had just 3.5 sacks as a rookie.
Making this scenario make more sense is where both Baltimore and Greenard are entering the 2026 season. The Ravens are eager to take the next step while maximizing Lamar Jackson‘s and Derrick Henry’s remaining prime seasons. Greenard, a seven-year veteran who has never been beyond the divisional round of the playoffs, would undoubtedly prefer to play somewhere that has legitimate Super Bowl aspirations.
San Francisco 49ers
No team was worse last year in terms of getting to the opposing quarterback. The 49ers recorded just 20 sacks last season, six fewer than the next-worse team (the New York Jets). Despite that, the 49ers still managed to get to the divisional round of the playoffs.
A lot of the 49ers’ inability to generate pass rush last year was the byproduct of Nick Bosa missing most of the year after he tore his ACL. But even with Bosa slated to make a full recovery, it would still make sense for the 49ers to have some reinforcements at pass rusher behind Bosa and 2025 first-round pick Mykel Williams, who also saw his 2025 season shortened due to injury.
Los Angeles Chargers
While they were one of the league’s better pass-rushing units in 2025, the Chargers may lose former Defensive Player of the Year Khalil Mack, fellow outside linebacker Odafe Oweh and starting defensive hand Da’Shawn Hand in free agency. In Greenard, the Chargers would be getting a positional replacement for Hand who can replicate the production that Mack had in terms of getting to the quarterback.
Cincinnati Bengals
While they seldom make splashy trades, it would make sense for the Bengals to do this for multiple reasons. Cincinnati, despite having some of the league’s highest-paid skill players, has loads of salary cap space that it should use to improve a defense that has held the team back the last few seasons.
Making this make more sense for the Bengals is the fact that Trey Hendrickson — their best pass rusher since 2021 — is slated to enter free agency. The Bengals are also slated to lose their other starting defensive end, Joseph Ossai, when free agency begins next week.
Buffalo Bills
Buffalo finished in the bottom half of the NFL in sack last year. Simply put, that is unacceptable for a team that has the aspirations that the Bills have. Rest assured that fixing that issue is among general manager Brandon Beane’s top offseason priorities.
Like some of the other possible landing spots, the Bills are hoping that 2026 is the year that they finally reach the Super Bowl. Money is the main roadblock here, as the Bills are currently still over the NFL’s allotted salary cap for the 2026 season.
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