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The Vikings’ 2026 Draft Class Might Be Better Than It Looked
As soon as the 2025 season ended, we all shifted to the draft and impatiently awaited its arrival. Most of us thought the Vikings draft would be a cavalcade of players destined to fill roster holes with the best player available or one that all the experts said would be there for the taking.
Everyone felt that this draft would be different from the last four, with head coach Kevin O’Connell having most of the say, and defensive coordinator Brian Flores and interim general manager Rob Brzezinski supporting and helping to make a plan. Most fans went in with a positive outlook on this go-round, trying to buffer against the terrible season that 2025 doled out.
Minnesota’s Draft Plan Looks Clearer after the First Reaction
The 2026 Draft wasn’t seen as a strong year for top prospects. Reports indicated that several teams had only around 12 to 20 1st-round-caliber picks. That’s never a good way to start things.
Not getting to pick until number 18 cast a shadow over the Vikings’ fans’ hopes. As the draft approached, things were looking up, as all the pundits said the team would select a perfect replacement for a Hall of Fame player.
Other than the Raiders’ first pick of Fernando Mendoza being a lock, the only other one by all professional and amateur mock draft nerds was Dillon Thieneman, a safety, who would be the pick at 18. Harrison Smith could retire or, hopefully, stick around one more year as a mentor, and the team wouldn’t miss a beat other than a few growing pains. Safe, secure, stable pick to make most folks happy. All that changed in moments on April 23rd, 2026.
Another player all the aforementioned draftniks talked about was one to be avoided due to injuries that limited him to three games last season.
Sure, he seemed like an absolute beast based on tape from two seasons ago, before he got hurt, and he dominated at the Senior Bowl. Again, the injury bug bit at the NFL Combine, and he broke his foot. I myself wrote a “naughty list” of players to avoid, where I didn’t even mention him because it seemed so obvious that he was going to tumble down the boards.
The Vikings didn’t trade down at 18. They didn’t hesitate. They didn’t take the safety. When commissioner Goodell stepped to the mic, he called out, “Caleb Banks”, and everyone went, “What?!” Even my wife had a few colorful metaphors at the announcement, knowing of his injury history. This was the last guy I wanted them to take.
It was a gut punch. Not because I was wrong on my guess, which everyone else also had. Who cares? It’s all a guess. It was more than that; if it weren’t going to be Thieneman, it would be another safety, maybe a cornerback, a wide receiver, or even a different defensive tackle. I just didn’t want it to be him.
I stewed on it after the pick and 1st Round ended that night. Eventually, my thoughts turned to the next two days of the Draft, where I figured they would make up for it with some impact players at spots that needed shoring up.
The defensive line needed more impact before they took Banks, and there was no reason they still couldn’t take another lineman there, shore up the middle linebacker position, or add to the wide receiver core with the upcoming picks. However, pick after pick left me scratching my head, with players and positions in greater need of attention being passed up.
For the most part, I had no problem with the picks the coaching staff made because they weren’t bad players. Jake Golday and Domonique Orange were players I had seen on the prospects list, and I only thought that Orange would be available and be picked by the team.
I figured another linebacker-hungry team would take Golday before we even had a chance at him. Offensive tackle Caleb Tiernan was nowhere on my radar, with tackle being a position I felt the team had addressed in Free Agency and already has Brian O’Neill and Christian Darrisaw on the roster. Jakobe Thomas was a safety I saw from time to time in my mocks, while Max Bredeson was a player I only knew because he was the sole fullback listed on NFL.com as a draft prospect.
CB Charles Demmings was a complete unknown, and running back Demond Claibourne and center Gavin Gerhardt were players I only saw in flashes while studying. I admit I wasn’t overly impressed by the end of the weekend. It didn’t help that coverage was negative about the Vikings’ picks, and neither the NFL Network nor ESPN even mentioned the Purple’s picks.
In their recap montage of the first round, which played almost at the top of every hour after the first round, the NFL Network skipped replaying pick 18. An ultimate slap in the face.
Was The Vikings Draft That Bad?
At first glance, I thought this draft was questionable at best. I loved the Orange pick! “Big Citrus” is such a big man, sturdy in the run game, and his teaming up with Minnesota’s veteran line was a recipe for a top rush defense.
The Golday pick was a little confusing at first, but he has played every linebacker spot invented, which shows his versatility. Once Johnathan Greenard was traded, it made even more sense for his pass-rushing ability. The Tiernan pick puzzled me the most because there was no mention of needing to replace the current tackles, regardless of their ages or injury histories.
They brought in Ryan Van Demark from Buffalo as a swing tackle, and Walter Rouse has been serviceable in spot duty, with the centers still on the board – a position that was supposed to be a target; it just didn’t make sense.
Taking Thomas at this point was expected, as the safety position needed to be addressed. He’s attached to the Greenard pick now and will need to have a strong career to show the trade wasn’t a bust. Bredeson was again a surprise until the NFL broadcast showed he is a hybrid back who could improve run and pass blocking, and he was picked about where most expected.
I was hoping for Emmett Johnson at this point, but the Chiefs took him a few spots later. Demmings was again a surprise, being from a smaller school. He’s also tied to the Greenard trade and possibly had the best team interview after they picked him. Claiborne may be a sneaky pick that pushes as a “steal of the draft” type player. Gerhardt fills the need at the backup center, but he’s in the realm of being a training camp cut or practice squad player.
The sad thing is that the two stations covering the draft seemed to be ignoring the Vikings altogether. Their picks were glossed over, if barely mentioned, other than when they were announced. I literally had to wait until KFAN personalities started talking about the picks on social media or on the radio.
They were similarly not very impressed. Banks had everyone polarized with the injury issues, but the thought is that if he’s healthy, he could be dominant. Brzezinski made a great point: the injuries helped him get down to them. Reports started trickling in that the Bears were going to take Banks at 25, and the Chiefs and Texans were trying to trade up with the Vikings to take him.
So, maybe teams were more interested than the expert mock drafters knew, and he got drafted right where he was supposed to be. If healthy, Banks, Orange, Levi Drake Rodriguez, Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins, and Jalen Redmond could be quite the mix up front. Similar to adding Golday to the mix with Andrew Van Ginkel and the suddenly elevated Dallas Turner.
Thomas is on the edge of being a starter if he shines in training camp. The rest are depth. Tiernan was considered the top tackle at the 2nd tier of prospects and could be the future at right tackle when O’Neill rides into the sunset.
It Was The Plan All Along
A concern as the draft went on was that it seemed overly defensive. Once we finally got better breakdowns of why these players were selected, things began to clear up. This was the front office’s plan all along: stick to your board and take the best player available.
They said before the draft that they were going to take players who performed well in college and not worry so much about the analytics involved. Not only that, but these players fit the team’s schemes on both sides of the ball. They did exactly as they should have with this draft, considering it was top-heavy. There’s no guarantee that this draft course corrected everything the team messed up on in previous ones.
We won’t know its realistic success until two to three years down the road. After a week with better information, I feel much better about a draft I rated a C- and can move up to a B-. Maybe not immediate help at key positions, and they’re taking risks on a player with injury history, but solid to shore up where needed, and they didn’t reach for players in a panic.
Banks may be a homerun if he plays up to expectations, and the team will be lauded for taking the big swing instead of the safe pick. I would have given the 2022 draft an A, but it has become an F. Those who gave this draft a low grade in anger might have to adjust the curve in a few years, if we’re lucky.
May 1, 2026; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Vegas Golden Knights right wing Mitch Marner (93) celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal against the Utah Mammoth during the second period in game six of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Delta Center. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-Imagn Images Mitch Marner scored two goals and had an assist as the Vegas Golden Knights defeated the Utah Mammoth 5-1 to clinch their first-round Western Conference playoff series in Game 6 on Friday in Salt Lake City.
It was the sixth career three-point playoff game for Marner, tying his postseason high. Brett Howden scored a goal for the third straight game and Colton Sissons and Cole Smith also scored goals for Vegas, which advanced to the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs for the sixth time in its nine-year history.
Carter Hart made 21 saves for the Golden Knights, who will face the Ducks in the Western Conference semifinals. Anaheim eliminated the two-time defending conference champion Edmonton Oilers in six games.
Kailer Yamamoto scored a goal and Karel Vejmelka finished with 21 saves for Utah, which was playing its first playoff series since the franchise moved from Arizona in April 2024.
Vegas took a 1-0 lead at the 15:02 mark of the first period. Marner’s shot from the high slot caromed off the end boards straight to Howden parked alone by the left post. Howden swept in a shot for his fourth goal in three games.
The Golden Knights came within inches of doubling the lead early in the second period. Tomas Hertl’s attempt from the left circle squeaked past Vejmelka and was within inches of the goal line before the Mammoth goalie reached back and knocked it away.
Marner made it 2-0 with 44.1 seconds left in the second period. His first goal of the playoffs, a slap shot from the top of the right circle, went past Vejmelka’s glove side and inside the far left corner.
It snapped a 10-game goal drought in the playoffs for Marner that dated back to last season, when he was playing for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Utah cut the deficit to 2-1 with 12:19 remaining in the third period when Yamamoto came down the right wing and snapped a shot past Hart’s stick side.
Vegas restored the two-goal margin just 1:58 later when Sissons shoveled the rebound of a Brayden McNabb point shot past Vejmelka’s stick side.
Marner sealed the win by netting a power-play goal with 7:51 to go, ripping in a rebound of a Shea Theodore shot from the low slot.
Utah pulled Vejmelka for an extra attacker with 4:15 left, and Smith added an empty-netter from inside his own blue line with 3:36 remaining to end the scoring. –Field Level Media
Texas Tech is not likely to have Brendan Sorsby for the 2026 season amidst an NCAA investigation.
Could the Red Raiders explore transfer portal QBs currently available?
On today’s episode of Locked On College Football, Spencer McLaughlin discusses USC and Michigan going into the 2026 season.
The Trojans should expect to remain ahead of the Wolverines after beating them in 2025.
Florida has one of the most compelling QB battles in the country between Aaron Philo and Trammel Jones. Did either one separate himself during Spring Practice?
00:00 Texas Tech’s quarterback decision
03:38 Discussing potential football lineup adjustments
09:25 Discussing Texas Tech’s strong roster
12:52 USC and Michigan football schedules
16:37 USC and Michigan football outlook
20:54 Unresolved quarterback battle
28:10 Evaluating Tramell Jones’s potential
With the FIFA World Cup 2026 approaching fast across the United States, Mexico, and Canada, excitement is building globally. However, the buildup has also been overshadowed by a wave of injuries that could keep several top footballers out of the tournament. With just weeks remaining before kick-off in Mexico City on June 11, even minor setbacks are proving costly for players hoping to represent their nations.
Brazil’s Attacking Crisis
Brazil’s squad depth in attack is world-class, but injuries have disrupted their plans. Rodrygo is one of the biggest misses after suffering a serious ACL injury, ruling him out of the tournament. He had hoped to bounce back after earlier heartbreak but now faces a long recovery.
Defensive concerns also persist as Éder Militão is unlikely to recover in time following major surgery in April, while young talent Estevão remains doubtful due to a hamstring issue.
France Lose a Rising Star
Netherlands Without Xavi Simons
The Netherlands, semi-finalists at Euro 2024, have also been hit hard. Xavi Simons has been ruled out after tearing his ACL during a Premier League match. Known for his creativity and attacking spark, his absence leaves a major gap in Ronald Koeman’s midfield plans.
Germany Face Attacking Concerns
Germany’s attack has also suffered a setback with Serge Gnabry sidelined due to an adductor injury. His versatility and goal-scoring ability were expected to play a key role under Julian Nagelsmann, but he now misses another major international tournament.
USA Lose Home Advantage Boost
Co-hosts USA have been dealt a blow as striker Patrick Agyemang is ruled out with a serious Achilles injury. He had been a promising option after scoring against Portugal in recent internationals, but will now miss the chance to play on home soil.
Mexico’s Goalkeeping Setback
Mexico will also be without key goalkeeper Luis Ángel Malagón, who suffered an Achilles rupture during club duty. His absence opens the door for veteran Guillermo Ochoa, who could make history by appearing in a sixth World Cup.
As preparations continue for the global tournament, injuries are reshaping national team plans across continents. With several stars already ruled out, coaches will now be forced to rethink strategies ahead of football’s biggest stage.
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The New York Mets, despite having the worst record in Major League Baseball at 10-21, will not be making a managerial change.
New York Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns said the team’s problems do not lie with Carlos Mendoza.
“We know our record is not what we want, and we know we are capable of more,” Stearns told MLB.com. “We don’t view this as a manager problem, and we don’t intend to make a change.”
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New York Mets manager Carlos Mendoza leaves the field after removing pitcher Devin Williams during the ninth inning against the Minnesota Twins in New York, N.Y., April 21, 2026. (Frank Franklin II/AP Photo)
The Mets’ 10-21 start is the third-worst in franchise history, and only the 1981 (8-22-1) and 1964 (9-22) Mets teams had worse starts through 31 games. The Mets have endured a 12-game losing streak and have lost their last five out of six games to the lowly Colorado Rockies and Washington Nationals.
No team has ever lost 12 consecutive games and made the postseason.
Mets officials still believe in the roster assembled by Stearns but believe the roster and baseball operations also share blame for the team’s poor start, according to MLB.com.
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New York Mets manager Carlos Mendoza returns to the dugout after making a pitching change during the sixth inning against the Chicago Cubs in Chicago April 18, 2026. (Erin Hooley/AP Photo)
Mendoza, 46, is in his third season managing the Mets. In 2024, the team started 24-35 but rallied and made a surprise run to the NLCS before losing to the eventual World Series champions, the Los Angeles Dodgers.
In 2025, the Mets had the best record in the National League on June 4 at 39-23, but the team went into free fall after that and missed the postseason by one game, going 44-56 down the stretch.
With the team’s struggles from the second half of last season and the horrid start to this season, the noise around Mendoza’s job security has only increased. But the Mets don’t intend to make any changes just yet.
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New York Mets manager Carlos Mendoza stands for “The Star-Spangled Banner” before a game against the Chicago Cubs in Chicago April 17, 2026. (Erin Hooley/AP Photo)
Mendoza has a 182-173 record in his three seasons at the helm.
The Mets will look to begin their journey out of MLB’s basement when they play the Los Angeles Angels (12-20) on Friday at 9:38 p.m. ET.
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After years of back and forth, an agreement has finally been made for a blockbuster domestic clash between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua, and now promoter Frank Warren has revealed whether a rematch clause is in place.
Fury has been involved in a host of rematches during his career; fighting each of John McDermott, Derek Chisora, Deontay Wilder and Oleksandr Usyk on more than one occasion, seeking to avenge controversial wins, draws or defeats.
Similarly, Joshua instantly rematched both Andy Ruiz and Usyk after suffering the first two losses of his career, but has shown little interest in revisiting a scrap with Daniel Dubois – the only other man to hand him a defeat in his 33 pro fights.
In a matter of months, ‘The Gypsy King’ and Joshua look set to collide at last, providing Joshua gets through his comeback against Kristian Prenga unscathed, but Warren told BBC Sport that this will be the only occasion on which they fight, suspecting that the loser may retire.
“Yes, [it is a one-fight deal]. The fight, when they step into the ring with Tyson and AJ, for the loser – that will be it. That will be it and that is how it will be. The loser, I don’t see where he will go. For the winner, it’s a choice of what does he wants to do next?”
First things first, ‘AJ’ must overcome the unheralded Prenga in July, while ‘The Gypsy King’ could also now be set to take a bout in the interim too, before Joshua and Fury then turn their attention to one another.
Former India cricketer Mohammad Kaif believes Mumbai Indians hold the edge over Chennai Super Kings ahead of their high-profile IPL 2026 clash, citing the depth and experience in Mumbai’s squad.Chennai Super Kings (CSK) host Mumbai Indians (MI) tonight, May 2, 2026, at the M. A. Chidambaram Stadium (Chepauk) in a high-stakes “El Clásico” that could determine playoff survival for both struggling five-time champions. Both teams are languishing in the bottom half of the table, CSK sits at No. 6 with 6 points, while MI is 9th with just 4 points from eight games.
In their previous meeting this season, Chennai Super Kings dominated their arch-rivals with a massive 103-run victory. Sanju Samson starred with an unbeaten 101, guiding CSK to a formidable total of 208. The bowlers then took charge, with Akeal Hosein leading the charge with figures of 4/17 as Mumbai Indians were bundled out for just 104.He received solid support from Noor Ahmad, Mukesh Choudhary, Jamie Overton, Anshul Kamboj and Gurjapneet Singh, who all chipped in with wickets to seal a comprehensive win.Speaking on Star Sports ahead of the much-anticipated ‘El Clasico’ clash, Kaif said that while Mumbai Indians look stronger on paper, their inconsistent form remains a concern.“On paper, Mumbai Indians look stronger than Chennai Super Kings because they have a lot of match-winners and experienced players. But when you look at recent form, questions arise because MI haven’t been winning consistently. That said, on their day, if they play a dominant brand of cricket, they can be very hard to stop,” Kaif said.Kaif also pointed out that CSK’s heavy reliance on Samson could prove to be a weakness in a high-pressure contest.“Chennai, on the other hand, have largely depended on Sanju Samson so far. They are relying heavily on his performances to win games. That’s why Mumbai head into this crucial match with the upper hand,” he added.
The closer you are to the green, the better your chances of sticking it close. Yet for most amateur golfers, that’s usually where things start to unravel.
Inside 100 yards, nerves creep in and these short wedge shots feel anything but simple. You second-guess your setup, forget fundamentals and lose confidence in yourself at the worst possible moment.
Instead of letting tension take over, causing you to blade it over the green — or worse, chunk it a few yards in front of you — David Armitage, a GOLF Top 100 Teacher, offers a simple solution.
“It’s all about leaning left, and staying left,” Armitage says.
With this simple phrase and the three keys below, you’ll learn how to build a solid setup every time and turn these delicate wedge shots into scoring opportunities.
Load your lead side for better low-point control
In order to execute these shots successfully, Armitage says you need to have low-point control — and it starts before you even take the club back.
“For me, low-point control is all about the setup,” he says. “What I want you to do is I want you to get about 65% of your weight on that front, lead leg. Once you’ve got that there, I want it to also feel like it’s leaning there with your sternum.”
They key here is loading your lead side completely — not just your lower body. Armitage says amateurs often let their weight drift backwards during their backswing on these short wedge shots. When that happens, it becomes almost impossible to return to a forward position by the time your club passes through impact. As a result, players hang back or lean away from the target as they hit the ball, followed by a slew of contact issues.
By remembering to pre-set your entire lead side, you set yourself up to make ball-first contact and stay forward through the shot, helping you improve the quality of your strike and avoid a common error that can quickly break down your contact and confidence.
Keep your nose over lead toes as you swing
After you’ve loaded your lead side and established a good setup, it’s time to practice your swing. Armitage says the key here is maintaining the foundation you’ve already built at address.
“As you make a backswing, I want you to feel like your nose and your weight stays there [just in front of the ball],” he says.
To build this feel, take a few practice swings without a ball, keeping your sternum and nose positioned over your lead leg throughout the motion. You’ll know you’re doing it right if your divot is happening in front of your ball position.
When you bring a ball back into the equation, you should notice that your shots have a lower trajectory and more spin — hallmarks of a great wedge player.
Develop stock swings for better distance control
There are several ways to dial in different yardages with your wedges. You can open the face or grip down, but Armitage says the most reliable method for controlling distance is to adjust the length of your swing.
To do that, you need a set of defined stock swings. You can build them by creating clear, repeatable boundaries — or “triggers,” as Armitage calls them. His checkpoints are:
- Hip to hip
- Rib to rib
- Shoulder to shoulder
Much like the clock system many players use, these checkpoints give you a clear, repeatable reference for how far the club travels back and through. That structure allows you to make a repeatable swing with the same tempo every time, which is ultimately what builds dependable distance control and feel.
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The Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office in Michigan announced Friday that Pittsburgh Steelers star wide receiver DK Metcalf will not be charged for an altercation with a Detroit Lions fan at Ford Field in December.
The Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office also denied a request for a warrant.
“On December 21, 2025, during an NFL football game at Ford Field, located in the 2000 block of Brush Street in Detroit, a 45-year-old male Lions fan, was seated in the stands behind the Pittsburgh Steelers’ bench, allegedly heckling player DeKaylin Metcalf, 28,” the announcement said.
“At approximately 5:30 p.m., it is alleged that the fan left his seat holding a Metcalf jersey to get an autograph.
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DK Metcalf of the Pittsburgh Steelers before a preseason game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pa., Aug. 16, 2025. (Joe Sargent/Getty Images)
“As he approached the front railing of the stands, he said something to Mr. Metcalf. As Mr. Metcalf approached the stands, there was a brief interaction where Mr. Metcalf grabbed his shirt and pushed him back. The fan did not appear to be injured, nor did he seek medical attention at the game.”
The Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office said the fan, Ryan Kennedy, security staff and people in attendance were all interviewed, and video footage was reviewed from various angles. After an extensive review, it opted not to charge Metcalf.
Kennedy filed a $100 million lawsuit that names Metcalf, the Pittsburgh Steelers and Ford Field, the Lions’ stadium, Chad Johnson and Shannon Sharpe as defendants.
The filing outlines nine counts, including negligence against Ford Field and multiple defamation claims against Metcalf, Johnson and Sharpe’s Shay Shay Media.
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Detroit Lions fan Ryan Kennedy holds a news conference at the Head Murphy Law office in Farmington Hills, Mich., Dec. 26, 2025, discussing the fan-involved altercation with Pittsburgh Steelers player DK Metcalf. (Ryan Garza/USA Today Network)
Kennedy’s lawyer, Jon Marko, told Fox News Digital the lack of criminal charges for Metcalf is irrelevant for their civil case. He cited the prosecutor’s lack of resources for not charging Metcalf.
“The prosecutor’s decision is completely irrelevant to our case, our civil case,” Marko told Fox News Digital. “You know, prosecutors’ offices, especially busy prosecutors’ offices and major metropolitan areas like Detroit, have priorities when making charging decisions. And they have a very limited amount of resources that they can use, and they use those resources to go after the most egregious crimes, such as homicides and things of that nature.
“I mean, in this case, clearly, the video shows what I believe to be an assault and battery. Any reasonable person looking at it, I think, would see the same thing.
“This was out in public. There was numerous witnesses, and it was on a video, but I think that just the expense and resources necessary to prosecute this misdemeanor assault and battery … was most likely what led the prosecutor’s office to decide not to charge, not the idea that the crime did not commit, was not committed. So, it’s irrelevant for us whether the prosecutor charged or not. We’re gonna still be seeking full justice for the assault and battery through our civil case.”
Mitch Schuster of Meister Seelig & Schuster, the attorney for Metcalf, applauded the decision to drop the criminal charges.
DK Metcalf of the Pittsburgh Steelers runs during a game against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field in Detroit, Mich., on Dec. 21, 2025. (Nic Antaya/Getty Images)
“The Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office has declined to bring charges against DeKaylin Metcalf related to the incident involving Ryan Kennedy on December 21, 2025. We applaud the decision and are thankful for the hard work and thorough investigation that led to this just result.
“We are confident that justice will also prevail in the civil claim involving Mr. Kennedy. As Mr. Metcalf’s counterclaim in the civil case makes clear, Mr. Kennedy’s hate-fueled conduct has no place anywhere and especially not in professional sports.”
Metcalf was suspended two games by the NFL for the incident.
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Detroit Lions fan Ryan Kennedy sits with attorneys Sean Murphy and Shawn Head at the Head Murphy Law office in Farmington Hills, Mich., Dec. 26, 2025, discussing the fan-involved altercation with Pittsburgh Steelers player DK Metcalf. (Ryan Garza/USA Today Network)
Metcalf was shown by a CBS broadcast grabbing a fan by the shirt and taking a swing at him. The NFL Network reported that the fan made derogatory comments toward the 28-year-old. Kennedy later denied the allegation.
Kennedy told The Detroit Free Press he was heckling Metcalf by calling him by his full name.
Fox News Digital reached out to Metcalf’s agent for comment but did not immediately hear back.
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UFC Fight Night odds, fight card, predictions: MMA expert reveals picks for Della Maddalena vs. Prates, other fights
Top-ranked Jack Della Maddalena will battle fifth-ranked Carlos Prates in a welterweight bout in the main event at UFC Fight Night: Della Maddalena vs. Prates on Saturday at RAC Arena in Perth, Australia. The five-bout main card is scheduled to start at approximately 7 a.m. ET on Paramount+. Della Maddalena is coming off a unanimous decision loss to Islam Makhachev at UFC 322 this past November. Prates, meanwhile, won by knockout over Leon Edwards in his last match at UFC 322.
Both Della Maddalena and Prates are -110 on the money line (risk $110 to win $100) in the UFC Fight Night: Della Maddalena vs. Prates odds at DraftKings Sportsbook. Before locking in any UFC Fight Night picks, make sure you see the MMA predictions and betting advice from SportsLine expert Kyle Marley.
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Over the past three-plus years, $100 bettors who have followed Marley’s picks are up nearly $10,000, and since May 2018, he has returned well over $21,000. The accomplished MMA analyst has provided consistent winners for SportsLine members for the past five years. His accomplishments include hitting five consecutive main-event underdog winners in 2020 following the UFC’s brief pause in action because of the pandemic. Anyone who has followed Marley’s UFC betting picks could have seen huge returns.
Now, Marley has studied Jack Della Maddalena vs. Carlos Prates from every angle and revealed his top betting picks and best bets. Head to SportsLine to see them.
Della Maddalena vs. Prates preview
Della Maddalena, 29, had his 18-bout winning streak stopped last November. He returns home and looks to start a new streak against Prates. Since turning pro in 2016, he has compiled an 18-3 record with 12 wins by knockout, two by submission and four by decision. The former UFC welterweight champion will be making his second fight in his home country and first since February 2023.
Della Maddalena has also earned a number of honors. Among them, he is a four-time Performance of the Night honoree and two-time Fight of the Night winner. He was named the 2024 Fan’s Choice Comeback of the Year nominee and was the 2022 Newcomer of the Year by UFC.com. He was also named 2022 Newcomer of the Year, along with Jailton Almeida. Check out SportsLine to see Marley’s picks and analysis.
Prates, 32, has won two bouts in a row and has won 13 of his last 14 matches. Prates has earned Performance of the Night honors in each of his last six fights he has won. He has the third-highest knockdown average per 15 minutes in UFC welterweight division history, and the seventh-highest knockdown average per 15 minutes in UFC history. He was the 2024 MMA Fighting Rookie of the Year.
In 30 professional matches, he has compiled a 23-7 record. He has 18 wins by knockout, three by submission and two by decision. Prates turned pro in 2012 and made his UFC debut in 2024. He was a 2024 first-team MMA all-star and 2025 second-team MMA all-star. You can only see Marley’s picks and analysis at SportsLine.
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UFC Fight Night predictions
One of of Marley’s UFC Fight Night: Della Maddalena vs. Prates picks: He is backing Jonathan Micallef (-218) to win via unanimous decision against Themba Gorimbo (+180) in a welterweight bout.
“Gorimbo is going to need to wrestle heavily in this matchup and win at least two rounds of top control time,” Marley told SportsLine. “Micallef is going to be the better striker, and he is also the more dangerous submission grappler. I’ll take Micallef to avoid getting laid on, and he can get his hand raised by any method.” See who else to back here.
How to make UFC Fight Night picks
Marley also has strong picks for Della Maddalena vs. Prates and other bouts on the UFC Fight Night: Della Maddalena vs. Prates card. He’s also backing a fighter who is “the more technical fighter,” to emerge with a big victory. He’s sharing who it is only at SportsLine.
Who wins Burns vs. Malott, and how exactly does the fight end? Visit SportsLine now to get detailed picks and analysis from the incomparable expert who is up over $21,000 on his UFC picks since May 19, 2018, and find out.
UFC Fight Night main fight card, odds
See picks at SportsLine.
(Odds from DraftKings and subject to change)
Jack Della Maddalena (-110) vs. Carlos Prates (-110)
Beneil Dariush (+295) vs. Quillan Salkillo (-375)
Tim Elliott (+150) vs. Steve Erceg (-180)
Shamil Gaziev (-120) vs. Brando Pericic (+100)
Marwan Rahiki (-700) vs. Ollie Schmid (+500)
Tai Tuivasa (-218) vs. Louie Sutherland (+180)
SALT LAKE CITY — Held without a goal through the first five games of his first playoff series with the Vegas Golden Knights, Mitch Marner chose the perfect time to finally light the lamp.
His first goal of the series, scored late in the second period of Game 6 against the Utah Mammoth Friday night, gave the visitors a little breathing room and ultimately served as the game-winner to secure the Golden Knights’ 5-1 victory and a trip to Round 2. For Marner, it was a goal very much worth the wait, a stunner both in style — about as perfect a slapshot as could possibly be unleashed — and reception, doing much to quiet the home crowd, and his critics.
You could almost see the monkey being lifted from his back as Marner celebrated. One of the game’s most talented playmakers in the regular season, Marner’s post-season scoring woes have been well-documented from his nine-year tenure with the Toronto Maple Leafs. With each Golden Knights playoff game that passed without a goal from No. 93 this round, it felt as though perhaps old afflictions might re-emerge, as though a familiar wall was starting to build, brick-by-brick, between him and the back of the net. And after five games of butting up against it, Marner received a pass from Ivan Barbashev, skated in close, and unleashed a slapshot from the faceoff dot that blasted right through it, scoring in a series-clinching game for the first time in his career.
“I’ve had a couple opportunities in that kind of same area that I just have missed on, and that’s why I kind of just decided to quickly wind one up and see if I could get a clapper through,” Marner explained post-game, describing his marker that put Vegas up 2-0. “Lucky enough, it went through and found a hole and found the net.”
Then, he did it again. With less than eight minutes remaining in the third frame of what was then a 3-1 game, Marner potted a snapshot on the power play to put a dagger in Utah’s hopes of third-period surge. That goal, a rare PP marker for his club in this series, gave Marner his third point of the night after he’d also assisted on Brett Howden’s game-opening goal.
Marner had been far from a no-show up to this point in the series. His efforts didn’t always earn a place on the scoresheet, though, and when they did, they came in the form of four assists through the first five games of the series.
“Mitchy’s been doing a lot of little things people don’t understand — some small little plays,” Golden Knights head coach John Tortorella said post-game. “But he had some big plays tonight that everybody can see. So, really good for him, for his confidence, going into the next series.”
Friday marked Marner’s first multi-point playoff game since Game 3 of Toronto’s second-round series against Florida last May and his first multi-goal post-season effort since the spring of 2023.
“He was great. I think tonight, he was probably at his best,” Colton Sissons said of Marner. Sissons scored early in the third to make it 3-1 Vegas after Kailer Yamamoto got Utah on the board. “We need Mitchy on the scoresheet as much as possible, so hopefully he can take some confidence into the next series.”
This is the Marner the Golden Knights believed they were signing when they inked the star forward to an eight-year contract worth $12 million a season. Was this what Marner envisioned, too?
“I think, this is what I hoped for, for sure — an opportunity to do something special,” Marner said. “When I first got here, I knew it was a special group.”
“All four lines contributed throughout the series,” he continued. “There was different moments that we needed every line to step up and come in big, and every line did that. So, yeah, this is what I what I hoped for.”
The Golden Knights’ victory Friday night sets Vegas’ sights on Round 2 and a date with the Anaheim Ducks, and has the Mammoth looking inwards as they contemplate their first post-season heartbreak.
“Your failure makes you stronger — you learn from it, it makes you better. But in order to make sure that happens, it has to hurt,” an emotional André Tourigny said post-game. The Mammoth head coach was at a loss for words when asked about the big-picture impact of the season and how it came to a close. “I don’t even want to feel good about it. I want that to hurt, and I want to learn from it. And there will be a ton of things we will unpack and learn and grow — as a coach, as a player, as an organization.”
It’s an organization that in just two years has taken root in the NHL’s newest market and grown exponentially, its identity already woven deeply into the fabric of this city. The franchise has been a Mammoth-sized success from the start, this group of players from Arizona adopted in 2024 by a then-untapped hockey market that welcomed them with open arms and then raised those arms in celebration this spring through what’s been a thrilling first-round series that looked destined to go the distance but ended in six.
Utah’s first playoff run has come to a close, but their window of contention is officially open.
“It was a hard-fought series. I have a tremendous amount of respect for Andre and his staff. That’s a good hockey team,” Tortorella said. “That’s a team, they’re gonna be reckoned with for quite a while now, as far as some of the kids and skill and speed that they have. So, we’re fortunate, moving on, but I think Andre and his staff have done a fantastic job with that team.”
The team that showed up Friday night looked like a squad that simply ran out of juice. Vegas, meanwhile, has all the makings of a club that’s just heating up for what they hope will be a long run.
“Now there’s a lot more work to keep going,” said Marner. “So [we’ll] get the rest we need here and be ready for Anaheim.”
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