Sports
Raiders draft Fernando Mendoza No. 1 in 2026 NFL Draft
There’s a new chapter in Fernando Mendoza’s fairytale story. The kid who once had just one scholarship offer is now the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, headed to the Las Vegas Raiders.
The latest coronation comes after a 16-0 season at Indiana, complete with a Heisman Trophy and a College Football Playoff National Championship.
That’s the holy trinity for an NFL Draft prospect. He’s the fourth player to win a Heisman, a national title and go No. 1 overall in the common draft era (since 1967), joining Cam Newton, Jameis Winston and Joe Burrow.
Those sky-high expectations could be a match made in heaven for Mendoza, who joins a franchise in need of a savior. “It [has] to be the last time we ever have [the top draft choice],” Raiders GM John Spytek said at last month’s owners meetings.
Fernando Mendoza
IND • QB • #15
Cerebral pocket passers can still win in the NFL — especially when they have the kind of performance in high-pressure situations that Mendoza possesses.
That won’t be easy. The Raiders can make a case as the NFL’s worst franchise this century. They haven’t won a playoff game in 23 years and have posted only two winning seasons in that span. If you’re under 40, you probably know little to nothing about the Raiders’ glory days with John Madden, Tom Flores, Ken Stabler, Marcus Allen, Bo Jackson and company.
But you’re all too familiar with the Tuck Rule game, Rich Gannon’s five-interception performance — including two pick-sixes — in the Super Bowl, Jon Gruden’s two infamous exits and countless draft blunders.
Bottom line, they need to finally get this right, and it has to start with this pick.
2026 NFL Draft essentials
The Raiders’ draft blunders in the 2000s
Most of the Raiders’ struggles this century trace back to the NFL Draft, which has become a black hole for a once-proud franchise.
Statistically, they are the worst drafting team in the NFL since 2000. Pro Football Reference has a metric called Approximate Value. Think of it as football’s version of WAR. Using that metric, no team has gotten less value from its draft picks than the Las Vegas Raiders.
It’s been a comedy of errors, beginning with drafting kicker Sebastian Janikowski (yes, a kicker!) in the first round in 2000. They are still the only franchise to select a kicker in the first round in the common draft era (since 1967). If that wasn’t enough, they also drafted a punter (Shane Lechler) in the fifth round that year. They remain the only team in the modern era to take the first kicker and punter off the board in the same draft.
Somehow, that’s just the beginning. Look away, Raiders fans. From 2002-07, they made first-round picks like Napoleon Harris, Robert Gallery, Fabian Washington and JaMarcus Russell. The punch line: the four players drafted immediately after those picks — Ed Reed, Larry Fitzgerald, Aaron Rodgers and Calvin Johnson. Talk about a bad beat four times over.
Those four will all have a Hall of Fame bust someday (three already do), and all the Raiders have to show for their picks is the start of a legendary list of draft busts. Let’s not forget Darrius Heyward-Bey, D.J. Hayden, Karl Joseph, Rolando McClain, Gareon Conley, Johnathan Abram, Clelin Ferrell, Damon Arnette, Alex Leatherwood, Henry Ruggs III and Tyree Wilson.
No whiff was worse than JaMarcus Russell, of course — the Raiders’ last No. 1 overall pick back in 2007 — who is considered one of the biggest busts in draft history. Incredibly, he had the same number of regular-season wins in his career as Tom Brady (199th pick in 2000) had Super Bowl wins (seven). Go figure: a player with all the talent in the world, renowned for his ability to throw 60-70 yards from his knees (Russell), could become an all-time bust, while someone viewed as a nobody became the winningest player of all time (Brady).
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Unfortunately for the Raiders, they’ve had enough brushes with unrealized potential to make a painting. Al Davis’ obsession with speed took a dark turn in the 2000s that still haunts the franchise. In his final 10 years as Raiders owner (2001-11), Davis drafted 14 players (many of them first-round selections) who ran a 4.35 or faster 40-yard dash at the NFL combine. That’s 10 more than any other team in that span. None of the 14 made a Pro Bowl with the Raiders.
The nightmarish list: Kenyon Rambo, Phillip Buchanon, Justin Fargas, Carlos Francis, Fabian Washington, Stanford Routt, Michael Huff, Tyvon Branch, Darren McFadden, Darrius Heyward-Bey, Louis Murphy, Jacoby Ford, DeMarcus Van Dyke and Taiwan Jones.
Davis took the player with the fastest 40 time in each of his final three drafts (2009-11): Heyward-Bey, Ford and Van Dyke. It was a strategy that more closely resembled what you’d do playing franchise mode in Madden than what actually happens in real life.
Davis’ worst bad beat in the draft may have come in 2010, when he traded the pick the Patriots used to draft Rob Gronkowski — yet another reason Brady needs to repay this franchise.
The blame for the Raiders’ draft woes hardly falls on one person, though. They have had 14 different head coaches during the 23-year playoff win drought, the most in the NFL. They’ve had seven different general managers since Davis’ death in 2011. Nobody has figured it out.
The Jon Gruden-Mike Mayock pairing combined for six first-round picks from 2019-21: Johnathan Abram, Josh Jacobs, Clelin Ferrell, Damon Arnette, Henry Ruggs III and Alex Leatherwood. It was an utter disaster outside of Jacobs, as Ferrell, Arnette and Leatherwood were widely considered reaches. The duo had a chance to put its stamp on the team with three first-rounders in 2019, but none of them (Ferrell, Jacobs, Abram) got a second contract with the team.
The Raiders may have nabbed Maxx Crosby in the fourth round that year, but their drafting has been so poor that they’ve actually had to trade three of their best draft picks this century (Khalil Mack, Amari Cooper and Crosby — though that trade was ultimately nixed) in rebuilding efforts.
The jury is still out on last year’s first-round pick Ashton Jeanty, but it’s never an ideal start when you finish last in the NFL in rushing after taking a record-breaking running back with your top pick.
One pick can erase all the bad history
As horrific as the Raiders’ draft history has been this century, it could take just one selection to change everything.
Five quarterbacks in NFL history have won a Super Bowl for the team that drafted them first overall: Eli Manning, Peyton Manning, Troy Aikman, John Elway and Terry Bradshaw.
If Mendoza eventually joins that company, all of the bad draft history becomes a silver lining that led to the right guy.
And why not Mendoza? He’ll face the pressure that comes with being the No. 1 pick, but none of the bad history should matter. He wasn’t even alive the last time the Raiders won a playoff game.
“He’s a winner, he’s accurate, he’s tall, intelligent,” Raiders coach Klint Kubiak said last month at the NFL owners meetings.
He’s drawn comparisons to Matt Ryan thanks to his high football IQ, physical traits, accuracy and clutch ability. He’ll be playing in a proven system that has worked with quarterbacks who share similar traits, including Kirk Cousins, Brock Purdy and Sam Darnold. He’ll also have the GOAT in his corner.
Mendoza, who was born in Boston, grew up idolizing Tom Brady, the seven-time Super Bowl champion and Raiders minority owner. He spoke candidly about meeting Brady during the pre-draft process.
“He gave me the message that he’s going to push me, and he’s not going to be all lovey-dovey — and that if the Raiders draft me, he’s going to be a mentor and wants to pour into whatever QB the Raiders have.”
Indeed, there’s a lot to like about Mendoza, from his fit with Las Vegas to his championship pedigree and humble beginnings (he was the 134th-ranked QB prospect in the 2022 recruiting class, per 247Sports). Not to mention the competitive drive it took to get across the goal line on that play.
If he doesn’t live up to the hype, it won’t be due to a lack of effort. “If there were 25 hours in a day, he would spend all 25 hours preparing,” Indiana coach Curt Cignetti said this past season.
To his credit, Mendoza has already watched all of Kirk Cousins’ film from his time in Minnesota, where he played under Kubiak. That work dates back years, when Mendoza studied Cousins and Sam Darnold in college after drawing comparisons to both.
He’s also worked with Brian Griese on playing under center, which will be a key transition as he enters the NFL. Indiana operated out of shotgun 97% of the time last season, while Kubiak used it far less (47%) as the Seahawks offensive coordinator in 2025.
He checks a lot of boxes, but Raiders owner Mark Davis offered a sobering reminder last month. “Having the first pick in the draft is exciting because we kind of control the draft — we get to make the decision on who we’re gonna pick. But we’ve had that position before, and it didn’t work out. So there’s no magic bullet there, but it’s a great opportunity to get a great player, whoever they decide to pick.”
To his point, plenty of people were praising JaMarcus Russell in 2007 when the Raiders drafted him. They were likely making a similar case for his success with the franchise.
That’s the beauty and the tragedy of the draft. One top pick can become a bust in a string of nightmares, while another can make you forget all the rest.
Which category will Mendoza fall into? It feels like the right player and the right fit at the right time, but nobody really knows. This is the NFL Draft — a complete crapshoot, a gamble the Raiders are praying pays off so all of this becomes ancient history.
They need to finally get it right and build a championship team around Mendoza. If they do, it’ll be another chapter in his fairytale — this time with a storied franchise.
Sports
Chris Hughton: Former Brighton manager and Tottenham player reveals prostate cancer diagnosis
Former Brighton and Newcastle manager Chris Hughton has revealed he was diagnosed with prostate cancer in April last year.
The cancer was detected early and he had successful surgery in May.
“The news certainly didn’t scare me,” the 67-year-old told the Daily Mail., external
“I know everyone is different, but my first impression was ‘I’ll be fine’. I didn’t instantly think ‘this is probably just going to kill me’. I just thought, ‘OK, we’ll have to do what we have to do’.”
During his playing career full-back Hughton most notably represented Tottenham, making 398 appearances for the north London club and winning a Uefa Cup and two FA Cups in the early 1980s.
He ended his career with West Ham and Brentford, and won 53 caps for the Republic of Ireland.
For a long time, it seemed like 2027 would be the year 15-time major champion Tiger Woods finally captained the U.S. Ryder Cup team. Instead, a one-time major winner is expected to play the American captain role for the second time.
According to a report from the Associated Press, Jim Furyk will be named 2027 U.S. Ryder Cup captain for next year’s event in Ireland.
AP sources say Furyk will be U.S. Ryder Cup captain again in 2027
When the 2027 Ryder Cup begins at Adare Manor next September, the European team will have a repeat captain in the form of Luke Donald, who has led his team to back-to-back victories.
The American team will have a repeat captain as well, though one with a less gleaming Ryder Cup resume.
;)
‘We support his decision’: Tiger Woods turns down U.S. Ryder Cup captaincy, PGA says
The AP reported Friday morning that “three people aware of the selection process said the Ryder Cup committee chose Furyk once Tiger Woods removed himself from competition after his March 27 arrest on suspicion of DUI.”
The PGA of America did not immediately respond to a GOLF.com inquiry on the report.
The U.S. team has suffered two consecutive defeats in the biennial event. In 2023, the Americans suffered a lopsided defeat in Rome 16.5-11.5 with Zach Johnson as captain.
For last year’s Ryder Cup, Keegan Bradley was named U.S. Ryder Cup captain in a surprising and controversial move by the PGA of America, who operates the U.S. team. The bold choice did not work out.
The U.S. team got embarrassed over the first two days at Bethpage Black while American fans embarrassed themselves hurling invectives at the European players and their families. A spirited comeback on Sunday left the final score Europe, 15; U.S., 13.
Jim Furyk’s experience as U.S. Ryder Cup captain
Furyk has a strong playing resume. In a lengthy PGA Tour career, he captured 17 Tour wins, including a victory at the 2003 U.S. Open at Olympia Fields.
He also played on nine different U.S. Ryder Cup teams. More importantly, he has the one type of experience that counts most: Furyk served as the U.S. Ryder Cup captain at the 2018 event in France.
Unfortunately, that first experience may not provide American golf fans with much hope. With Furyk as captain, the U.S. team got throttled by Europe 17.5-10.5 at Le Golf National and Furyk’s captain’s picks went 2-10-0.
Furyk also served as one of Keegan Bradley’s vice captains last year in the Americans’ loss at Bethpage Black and in 2023 for the U.S. defeat in Rome. He was, however, also a vice captain for the last U.S. Ryder Cup victory in 2021.
1 positive to Jim Furyk’s Ryder Cup captaincy
Though Furyk’s first go at Ryder Cup captain in 2018 did not end well, there is one area of recent experience that supports the argument for his captaincy.
This is completely by accident, but I have a bit of a theme with my free home run picks for Friday in that I’m taking outfielders in their first seasons with new clubs who will be facing former teammates. Specifically, I’m talking about the Dodgers‘ Kyle Tucker and Rangers‘ Brandon Nimmo. Both will be playing in hitter-friendly parks and facing struggling starting pitchers they should know quite well.
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Over the past four MLB seasons, I’m up $1,681 on my MLB picks. You can find more of my picks at SportsLine, and in the member-exclusive SportsLine Discord server, a community of sports betting enthusiasts and SportsLine experts.
Last Friday, my two home run plays were Arizona’s Ketel Marte vs. Toronto — while also mentioning teammate Nolan Arenado — and the Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani at Coors Field. As I will always say, I’d obviously recommend Over 1.5 total bases on any players I’m picking to hit a home run. Marte didn’t go yard but had two hits. Arenado did homer, but he was not the official play. Ohtani didn’t homer but had two hits, so all three of those players would have cashed on Over 1.5 total bases. Just saying, in case you’re looking for more MLB betting opportunities.
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Top Friday MLB home run picks
- Kyle Tucker, Dodgers (+537, DraftKings)
- Brandon Nimmo, Rangers (+410, FanDuel)
Kyle Tucker, Dodgers (+537, DraftKings)
One of the series I was most looking forward to this MLB season — at least as much as one can in the grind of 162 games — was Cubs at Dodgers in what’s hopefully a preview of the NLCS. It’s a first pitch of 10:10 ET tonight on Apple TV.
When there is no 2027 MLB season because of a likely lockout, the Dodgers’ signing of Cubs free-agent outfielder Kyle Tucker to a four-year, $240 million contract in January will be a major talking point. It’s not that Tucker is not a fine player, but the Dodgers’ collection of All-Stars because of their spending spree has become a source of controversy.
Tucker is good at everything but outright stellar at anything, and that includes power. His career high in homers is “only” 30. Sometimes players will press early in their first season with a new team after signing a big contract and Tucker might be doing that, as he’s currently batting .245 with three homers and a slugging percentage of .372 that is Tucker’s worst since his first year in the Show in 2018. Just for a point of comparison, Dodgers reserve outfielder Alex Call, a journeyman, has a .375 slugging percentage this year. I feel like I’m talking myself out of this… but I’m playing something on Cubs-Dodgers, so why not.
Dodger Stadium is near the top in terms of home run park factor and Tucker has terrific splits off 2025 teammate Jameson Taillon at 4-for-12 with a homer, a double and 1.051 OPS. Taillon doesn’t throw very hard and has allowed six homers over his past three starts. Also consider Shohei Ohtani (3-for-10, two HR, 2B vs. Taillon) and Teoscar Hernandez (two HR, double in 18 at-bats).
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Brandon Nimmo, Rangers (+410, FanDuel)
Just like Kyle Tucker above surely saw his Friday opposing starting pitcher plenty in batting practices and the like as former teammates, we should be able to say the same about Brandon Nimmo when his Texas Rangers open an AL West home series vs. the Athletics at 8:05 ET. I’ll get there, don’t worry.
Many Mets fans and current players in that squad were blindsided when New York traded Nimmo, the longest-tenured Met at the time and one of the leaders in the locker room, to Texas for second baseman Marcus Semien. To be fair, Nimmo did have to waive his full no-trade clause to complete the move.
I won’t sit here and say that deal is solely why the Mets are near the NL East basement, but it probably had some part. Semien isn’t hitting much. Texas, meanwhile, is contending in the mediocre AL West and Nimmo has settled in at the top of the lineup, batting .304 with four homers and an .892 OPS that would be a career high.
The Rangers’ Globe Life Field is not quite as hitter-friendly at Dodger Stadium, but it’s in the top 10 of the league and Nimmo gets to see struggling Athletics righty Luis Severino for at least two at-bats (we’d think). Severino, who played on the 2024 Mets, had a decent 2026 debut but is 0-2 with a 6.86 ERA and four homers allowed in his past four. Nimmo is 5-for-13 career off Severino with two doubles an a homer.
Severino lost in Sacramento to the Rangers on April 13 and allowed two homers in his six innings. Jake Burger hit both homers and is another option tonight at +436. But Burger is batting only .176 at home with no homers, so that’s also why I went with Nimmo. And, you know, the whole facing former a teammate theme.
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The San Francisco 49ers added to their Day 2 arsenal after trading back twice and completely out of the first round of the 2026 NFL draft. As such, San Francisco now has picks at Nos. 33, 58 and 90 — great spots to add depth at various positions.
We scoured the top Day 2 mock drafts to see what experts think the 49ers will do with their picks. Here’s a roundup of those predictions:
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Round 2, Pick No. 33: Edge T.J. Parker, Clemson
The 49ers didn’t make a first-round pick after trading down twice in the first round. They could look to add some pass-rushing help with Nick Bosa and Mykel Williams both coming off torn ACLs.
Round 2, Pick No. 58: WR Chris Bell, Louisville
The 49ers signed Mike Evans during the offseason, but it would behoove the team to add a potential successor for the 32-year-old wide-out.
If not for a torn ACL late in the 2025 college season, Bell would have gotten some first-round buzz. He’s explosive for his 6-2, 222-pound frame, but it isn’t clear exactly when he will be able to return from the injury. San Francisco can afford to wait on him and hope he develops into a high-quality weapon.
Round 3, Pick No. 90: OT Austin Barber, Florida
The 49ers should start planning for life after Trent Williams. Barber (6-7, 318 pounds) is a tall tackle who was a three-year starter on the left side at Florida. He is a great run blocker but will need to improve against speed rushers at the NFL level.
Round 2, Pick No. 33: Edge Zion Young, Missouri
The 49ers traded out of the first round and likely will field plenty of offers for this pick on Friday night, but Young fits the build of a traditional San Francisco pass rusher. The 49ers finished last in the league in sacks in 2025, and Young has the juice to elevate the unit this fall.
Round 2, Pick No. 58: OG Emmanuel Pregnon, Oregon
The 49ers may consider a tackle, but they need help on the interior, too. Pregnon, who stands 6′ 4″ and 314 pounds, has four years of starting experience at guard and brings a tough, physical presence.
Round 3, Pick No. 90: WR Brenen Thompson, Mississippi State
Round 2, Pick No. 33: S Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, Toledo
The 49ers moved out of Round 1, but the chance to take the player I originally predicted for them is still here as McNeil-Warren slips to Round 2. After watching rival Seahawks safety Nick Emmanwori neutralize offenses, former safety and 49ers general manager John Lynch can draft his own version.
Round 2, Pick No. 58: WR Antonio Williams, Clemson
San Francisco added Mike Evans in free agency, and they like Ricky Pearsall as a deep threat, but an intermediate option from the slot is needed. Williams is a precise route runner with consistent hands and yards-after-catch ability.
Round 3, Pick No. 90: OT Markel Bell, Miami
Round 2, Pick No. 33: Edge R Mason Thomas, Oklahoma
Thomas is a personal favorite in this draft class and has been on my radar since his high school days, when he was a late riser. He brings so much energy to the field and is relentless in pursuit of the quarterback. There are so many in this class who can set the edge, but not push the pocket or push the pocket, but not set the edge. Thomas is one I’d want in my corner to potentially grow into that well-rounded starter.
Round 2, Pick No. 58: WR Chris Bell, Louisville
Among Day 2 options at the wide receiver position, Bell has arguably the most potential. He has great size and is dynamic with the ball in space. There is absolutely some boom or bust potential with him coming off an injury, but he could develop into something more than the complementary receiver often found on Day 2.
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Round 2, Pick No. 33: S Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, Toledo
McNeil-Warren was a top-30 player on my final board and would check off a need for the 49ers, who moved out of the first round after missing out on “a couple of players” they had targeted, according to GM John Lynch. The best tackles in this draft are now gone, so it might make sense for San Francisco to check off another need here first.
Round 2, Pick No. 58: OT Caleb Tiernan, Northwestern
If there’s a tackle worth taking in Round 2 this year, it’s Tiernan. The hulking 6-7, 323-pounder has an outstanding work ethic and an even better anchor.
Round 3, Pick No. 90: Edge Dani Dennis-Sutton, Penn State
Round 2, Pick No. 33: WR Denzel Boston, Washington
The 49ers could opt for a tackle or edge defender here, but they displayed heavy interest in receivers with their documented top-30 visits — which makes sense given their need for more depth at the position. Boston’s blend of separation skill, contested catch ability (career 76.9% rate) and run-blocking prowess (77.1 grade in 2025) feel like too much to pass up for Kyle Shanahan considering the team lacks reliably healthy options out wide.
Round 2, Pick No. 58: Edge Gabe Jacas, Illinois
After acquiring Denzel Boston at the top of the second round, San Francisco will presumably add a defensive playmaker at Pick 58. Jacas’ 88.0 PFF pass-rush grade and 14.9% pass-rush win rate are needed on a 49ers front that ranked 23rd in pass-rush grade at the position — especially after losing Bryce Huff to retirement.
This article originally appeared on Niners Wire: Day 2 mock draft: Who do experts think the 49ers will take?
FC Barcelona have confirmed that Lamine Yamal, who was forced off on Wednesday against Celta Vigo, is suffering from a left hamstring injury. The club has nevertheless stated that his participation in the World Cup is not in doubt.
Elsewhere in La Liga, Rayo Vallecano defeated Espanyol Barcelona (1-0) thanks to a goal from Sergio Camello (87th minute), maintaining momentum ahead of their Europa Conference League semi-final against Strasbourg.
Levante secured a 2-0 win over Sevilla in a relegation clash, moving to within one point of safety.
In the German Cup, Stuttgart reached the final after a 2-1 extra-time victory over Freiburg, with goals from Undav (70’) and Tomas (119’).
In tennis, Gaël Monfils was eliminated in the first round of the Madrid Masters 1,000, while Terence Atmane and Aryna Sabalenka progressed. The tournament also featured the inauguration of a practice court at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium.
In the NFL, the Raiders selected Fernando Mendoza with the first overall pick in the 2026 Draft.
In the NBA, Atlanta lead New York 2-1 after a narrow 109-108 victory.
In the last few days, Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq has seized the Minnesota Vikings’ mock-draft momentum, and while that’s great, it’s important not to forget Vanderbilt’s Eli Stowers, who can rather reasonably be picked in Round 2.
The Sadiq buzz is louder. Stowers still matters.
The 2026 draft cycle for tight ends is basically SadiqMania, but whichever team lands Stowers, well, that fan base will be ultra-excited.
Round 2 Could Bring Minnesota a Different Tight End Path
Stowers might be a nice consolation prize.
Stowers Perfect Aligns for Vikings in Round 2
The Vikings own the 18th overall pick on Thursday night. They will not use that on Stowers. That’s too high. But as a matter of coincidence, Stowers lives at No. 49 on the Consensus Big Board on draft day, and that’s exactly where the Vikings pick in Round 2 — No. 49.
Therefore, if Minnesota wanted a tight end, but Sadiq flew off the board too early, to the Baltimore Ravens, for example, Stowers can get-got on Friday night instead of Thursday.
The Stowers Intel
Stowers is 6’4″ and 239 pounds, running a 4.51 forty at the NFL Combine. He was a quarterback in high school and has obviously made the switch to tight end quite adeptly. He’s known for his hands, catch radius, and versatility — offensive coordinators can line him up anywhere.
For weaknesses, Stowers is a bit undersized, and his run-blocking will need a lot of work.
The Ringer‘s Todd McShay on Stowers: “Stowers is still developing and needs to improve his route-running urgency and catch-point physicality. But from an athletic and explosive profile standpoint, he’s in the same elite tier as Vernon Davis, Kyle Pitts, and Noah Fant.”
“Combine that with his year-over-year production improvements and exceptional intelligence testing, and there’s a chance he’ll emerge as one of the best offensive playmakers from the 2026 draft class in a year or two. Stowers is a versatile F tight end with big slot receiver traits.”
Stowers turned 23 earlier this month.
McShay added, “He recorded a high rate of chunk plays (30.6 percent of catches going for 15-plus yards), was efficient (2.43 yards per route run), was solid after the catch (5.9 yards per reception), and flashed a good tackle-breaking ability (nine forced missed tackles) last season.”
“Stowers also has outstanding athletic testing numbers (4.51-second 40 speed, 45.5-inch vertical, 11-foot-3-inch broad jump) that could make him a mismatch creator in the NFL. Stowers showcases elite spatial awareness and coverage recognition as a route runner.”
The Hockenson Situation
When the offseason began, many Vikings fans expected TE1 T.J. Hockenson to be cut as a cap casualty. He was on tap to be the NFL’s highest-paid tight end. That didn’t make much sense because the Vikings used Hockenson as a blocking tight end in 2025, which makes the huge contract silly.
But the veteran playmaker agreed to a paycut and his restructured contract makes him a free agent next year. In all likelihood, Hockenson will depart in 2027 free agency. Therefore, with Hockenson probably existing as a short-timer, a new tight end is needed. If Sadiq isn’t the guy, Stowers in Round 2 could check some boxes.
Zone Coverage‘s Carter Cox on Stowers: “Above all else, Stowers is versatile. His history of playing quarterback also makes him a candidate for many trick plays, which would make him a huge asset to Kevin O’Connell’s offense. Stowers also has blazing speed, which makes him a mismatch against linebackers.”
“Whatever position Stowers plays in the NFL almost doesn’t matter, given his talent. Whether he is a tight end, wide receiver, or wildcat quarterback, Stowers is a weapon on the offense. Adding Stowers to Minnesota’s tight end room would be critical at a time when the rookie can learn from Hockenson, while T.J. can still offer production, which is the best way for the Vikings to build their roster.“
Other Round 2 Options
If Stowers does not interest the Vikings at Pick No. 49, non-TE options might look like this:
- Caleb Banks (DT, Florida)
- Chris Bell (WR, Louisville)
- Germie Bernard (WR, Alabama)
- Chris Brazzell (WR, Tennessee)
- Brandon Cisse (S, South Carolina)
- A.J. Haulcy (S, TCU)
- Anthony Hill Jr. (LB, Texas)
- Lee Hunter (DL, Texas Tech)
- Gabe Jacas (EDGE, Illinois)
- Christen Miller (DL, Georgia)
- D’Angelo Ponds (CB, Indiana)
- Jadarian Price (RB, Notre Dame)
- Eli Stowers (TE, Vanderbilt)
- Treydan Stukes (CB, Arizona)
- R. Mason Thomas (EDGE, Oklahoma)
Other tight ends after Round 2 include Ohio State’s Max Klare and Georgia’s Oscar Delp, among many others.
The second round of the 2026 Chevron Championship begins Friday morning at Memorial Park Golf Course in Houston. Here’s everything you need to know to watch the tournament on Friday, including full Chevron Championship TV coverage, streaming info and Round 2 tee times.
How to watch Chevron on Friday
Look out, Nelly Korda is starting major season on fire. The 2024 Chevron champion rocketed out of the gates on Thursday at Memorial Park, shooting a bogey-free seven-under 65. That gave the World No. 2 a two-shot lead to start her quest for her third major victory.
Patty Tavatanakit and Somi Lee will head into the second round T2 at five under.
World No. 1 Jeeno Thitikul did not fare as well on Day 1. Thitikul, who has never won a major, made five bogeys on her way to a two-over 74 on Thursday. She’ll start Friday’s second round T80 and in need of a low round to make the cut and play the weekend.
Defending champion Mao Saigo topped Thitikul by one shot. She’ll start Round 2 eight shots behind Korda.
You can watch the second round of the Chevron Championship on TV via Golf Channel, which will provide coverage beginning on Friday at 11 a.m. ET. A live simulcast of Golf Channel’s Friday coverage will be available on Peacock.
Below you will find everything you need to know to watch the second round of the 2026 Chevron Championship.
How to watch on TV Friday
Golf Channel will carry second-round TV coverage of the 2026 Chevron Championship on Friday from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. ET.
How to stream online Friday
You can stream the second round of the 2026 Chevron Championship via Peacock, which will provide a live simulcast of Golf Channel’s coverage for viewers beginning Friday at 11 a.m. ET.
2026 Chevron Championship Round 2 tee times (ET)
8:15 a.m. (10th tee) – Linnea Strom, Chanettee Wannasaen, Yuri Yoshida
8:15 a.m. (1st tee) – Albane Valenzuela, Suvichaya Vinijchaitham, Jessica Porvasnik
8:27 a.m. (10th tee) – Perrine Delacour, Yuka Saso, Gurleen Kaur
8:27 a.m. (1st tee) – In Gee Chun, Austin Ernst, Youmin Hwang
8:39 a.m. (10th tee) – Jenny Shin, Jodi Ewart Shadoff, Bailey Tardy
8:39 a.m. (1st tee) – Nastasia Nadaud, Ilhee Lee, Chiara Tamburlini
8:51 a.m. (10th tee) – Allisen Corpuz, Miranda Wang, Weiwei Zhang
8:51 a.m. (1st tee) – Lucy Li, Anna Nordqvist, Nanna Koerstz Madsen
9:03 a.m. (10th tee) – Cassie Porter, Pauline Roussin-Bouchard, Minami Katsu
9:03 a.m. (1st tee) – Stacy Lewis, Grace Kim
9:15 a.m. (10th tee) – Madelene Sagstrom, Ayaka Furue, Leona Maguire
9:15 a.m. (1st tee) – Lauren Coughlin, Lottie Woad, Chizzy Iwai
9:27 a.m. (10th tee) – A Lim Kim, Jenny Bae, Esther Henseleit
9:27 a.m. (1st tee) – Brooke M. Henderson, Jeeno Thitikul, Ruoning Yin
9:39 a.m. (10th tee) – Mi Hyang Lee, Angel Yin, Yealimi Noh
9:39 a.m. (1st tee) – Mao Saigo, Nelly Korda, Lilia Vu
9:51 a.m. (10th tee) – Laney Frye, Peiyun Chien, Nataliya Guseva
9:51 a.m. (1st tee) – Asterisk Talley (a), Ryann O’Toole, Robyn Choi
10:03 a.m. (10th tee) – Rose Zhang, Melanie Green, Ashleigh Buhai
10:03 a.m. (1st tee) – Farah O’Keefe (a), Paula Reto, Gabriela Ruffels
10:15 a.m. (10th tee) – Yunseo Yang (a), Megan Khang, Julia Lopez Ramirez
10:15 a.m. (1st tee) – Pajaree Anannarukarn, Saki Baba, Shauna Liu (a)
1:15 p.m. (10th tee) – Ingrid Lindblad, Yuna Nishimura, Gemma Dryburgh
1:15 p.m. (1st tee) – Moriya Jutanugarn, Shuri Sakuma, Jungmin Hong
1:27 p.m. (10th tee) – Carla Tejedo Mulet, Akie Iwai, Alexa Pano
1:27 p.m. (1st tee) – Celine Boutier, Sophia Schubert, Manon De Roey
1:39 p.m. (10th tee) – Benedetta Moresco, Paula Martin Sampedro (a), Yan Liu
1:39 p.m. (1st tee) – Dewi Weber, Mary Liu, Frida Kinhult
1:51 p.m. (10th tee) – Amy Yang, Jin Hee Im, Auston Kim
1:51 p.m. (1st tee) – Lindy Duncan, Carlota Ciganda, Aditi Ashok
2:03 p.m. (10th tee) – Brittany Lincicome, Jin Young Ko, Jennifer Kupcho
2:03 p.m. (1st tee) – Somi Lee, Rio Takeda, Ariya Jutanugarn
2:15 p.m. (10th tee) – Hannah Green, Hyo Joo Kim, Charley Hull
2:15 p.m. (1st tee) – Linn Grant, Yu Liu, Haeran Ryu
2:27 p.m. (10th tee) – Maja Stark, Minjee Lee, Miyu Yamashita
2:27 p.m. (1st tee) – Ina Yoon, Nasa Hataoka, Jing Yan
2:39 p.m. (10th tee) – Lexi Thompson, Patty Tavatanakit, Lydia Ko
2:39 p.m. (1st tee) – Hye-Jin Choi, Sei Young Kim, Andrea Lee
2:51 p.m. (10th tee) – Megha Ganne (a), Shannon Tan, Yana Wilson
2:51 p.m. (1st tee) – Narin An, Erika Hara, Pornanong Phatlum
3:03 p.m. (10th tee) – Kiara Romero (a), Mimi Rhodes, Karis Davidson
3:03 p.m. (1st tee) – Jasmine Suwannapura, Sora Kamiya, Stephanie Kyriacou
3:15 p.m. (10th tee) – Wei-Ling Hsu, Gaby Lopez, Alison Lee
3:15 p.m. (1st tee) – Andrea Revuelta (a), Ruixin Liu, Brooke Matthews
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The second round of the 2026 Zurich Classic of New Orleans begins Friday morning at TPC Louisiana. Here’s everything you need to know to watch the tournament on Friday, including full Zurich Classic TV coverage, streaming details and Round 2 tee times.
How to watch Zurich Classic on Friday
Matt Fitzpatrick and his brother Alex are teaming up at this week’s Zurich Classic for the second year in a row. The good news after Thursday’s opening round is that it doesn’t look like the Fitzpatricks will miss the cut as they did last year. The bad news is they have a lot of work to do in Friday’s second round to get into contention.
The Fitzpatricks combined for an eight-under 64 in the four-ball format in Round 1. That puts them six shots behind early leaders Alex Smalley and Hayden Springer.
Brooks Koepka and Shane Lowry, who are paired with the Fitzpatricks to start this week’s PGA Tour team event, went six under on Day 1.
For the second round, all players will compete in the foursomes format (alternate shot), which could cause a lot of movement on the leaderboard.
You can watch the second round of the Zurich Classic on TV via Golf Channel starting on Friday at 3 p.m. ET. PGA Tour Live on ESPN+ will provide exclusive streaming coverage beginning at 8:45 a.m. ET on Friday, as well as featured group and featured hole coverage all day long.
Below you will find everything you need to know to watch the second round of the 2026 Zurich Classic of New Orleans.
With an ESPN+ subscription, you gain access to PGA Tour Live, where you can stream the best PGA Tour events live from wherever you want.
Get ESPN+
How to watch on TV Friday
Golf Channel will air second-round TV coverage of the 2026 Zurich Classic of New Orleans from 3-6 p.m. ET on Friday.
How to stream online Friday
You can stream the second round of the 2026 Zurich Classic of New Orleans via PGA Tour Live on ESPN+, which will offer streaming coverage starting at 8:45 a.m. ET on Friday in addition to featured group and hole coverage.
2026 Zurich Classic Round 2 tee times (ET)
Tee No. 1
8:45 a.m. –
Troy Merritt/Robert Streb
Harry Higgs/Jeremy Paul
8:56 a.m. –
Brice Garnett/Lee Hodges
Eric Cole/Hank Lebioda
9:07 a.m. –
Adam Svensson/Adam Hadwin
Vince Whaley/Greyson Sigg
9:18 a.m. –
Garrick Higgo/Matt Kuchar
Erik van Rooyen/Christiaan Bezuidenhout
9:29 a.m. –
William Mouw/Takumi Kanaya
Matt McCarty/Mac Meissner
9:40 a.m. –
Adam Schenk/Tyler Duncan
Stephan Jaeger/Jackson Suber
9:51 a.m. –
Trey Mullinax/David Skinns
Scott Piercy/Taylor Montgomery
10:02 a.m. –
Doug Ghim/Jeffrey Kang
Dylan Wu/Zecheng Dou
10:13 a.m. –
John Parry/Dan Brown
A.J. Ewart/Casey Jarvis
10:24 a.m. –
Chandler Blanchet/John VanDerLaan
Keita Nakajima/Kensei Hirata
12:55 p.m. –
Peter Malnati/Russell Knox
Ben Silverman/Cameron Champ
1:06 p.m. –
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