With the results of the NFL combine in the books, there is always a reevaluation of draft boards as players’ draft stock goes up or down depending on their performance. That has been the case for some players who are potential Vikings draft targets.
Several Fits for Minnesota Took a New Turn in Indianapolis
The NFL combine is an essential part of the pre-draft process. It gives players a chance to showcase their raw ability, which can be compared not only with their fellow draft prospects this year but also with the historic results of players who have gone on to achieve great things in the league.
Several Vikings draft prospects have seen their draft stock go up or down following the combine. I will look at four players whose stock has risen and three whose stock has fallen, and what that means for their prospects of becoming a Minnesota Viking.
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Dillon Thieneman (S), Oregon – Stock Up
Dillon Thieneman is being compared to Harrison Smith, and with the Vikings needing help in the secondary, he is becoming a more popular choice at 18th overall. That high in the draft might have been seen as too high for Thienemen before the combine, but not so much now.
Nov 29, 2025; Seattle, Washington, USA; Oregon Ducks defensive back Dillon Thieneman (31) intercepts a pass against the Washington Huskies during the second half at Husky Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-Imagn Images
His athletic prowess is undeniable after he ran a blazing 4.35-second 40-yard dash with an equally impressive 1.52-second 10-yard split. Thieneman also ranked second among the safety group with a 41-inch vertical jump. Thieneman has pushed his claim to be not just a first-round pick but in the top 20, which puts him in the Vikings’ range. Landing in Minnesota with Smith comparisons will bring with it a unique kind of pressure.
Chris Johnson (CB), San Diego State – Stock Up
The Vikings need help at CB, but I’m not seeing the lockdown outside corner the Vikings need at 18 – without there being a catch. Chris Johnson looked smooth on tape during his college career without looking like a top-flight athlete. After an excellent combine, Johnson’s draft stock is up, so the question for the Vikings is will he be available at 49?
Caleb Banks (DI), Florida – Stock Up
My 2026 draft crush has been Caleb Banks, and the Florida interior defensive lineman did his best to back up my claims at the combine. Banks measured and tested like an absolute beast, allaying any concerns created by the foot injury that made him miss much of the 2025 season. Any doubts that he is first-round material are now gone. I’m sticking to my claim that Banks would be an excellent choice for the Vikings at 18.
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Eli Stowers (TE), Vanderbilt – Stock Up
Kenyon Sadiq has been the clear TE1 in this draft class, but after showcasing his elite athleticism at the combine, Eli Stowers may have solidified himself as TE2 in this class and weighed in at 239 pounds. His 4.51-second 40-yard dash ranked second among the TE group, behind only Sadiq. He led all players with his incredible 45.5-inch vertical jump.
Stowers has put some weight on for the draft process and probably needs to add a bit more to be an every-down player. With TJ Hockenson and Josh Oliver already in Minnesota, Stowers would be an intriguing receiving option who could develop into a starter with some added bulk if the Vikings can land him on Day 2.
Jermod McCoy (CB), Tennessee – Stock Down
Jermod McCoy is one of the most intriguing prospects with medical concerns, having been 13 months removed from a major knee injury, meaning scouts haven’t seen him in action since last January. McCoy did not participate in any testing aside from the bench press.
Nothing makes a player’s draft stock slide like injury concerns, and if McCoy doesn’t perform well – or at all – at his pro day, he will represent a big risk. These concerns might see him slide down to the Vikings at 18, but will they also be the reason they let him keep sliding?
Emmett Johnson (RB), Nebraska – Stock Down
Emmet Johnson has been a favourite of some Vikings onlookers and was at least in the mix for RB2 with all the backs jockeying for positioning behind Notre Dame’s Jeremiyah Love. Johnson had a rough time at the combine, running a relatively average 4.56-second 40-yard dash.
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He also failed to impress with a 35.5-inch vertical jump and a 10-foot broad jump, and he logged a well-below-average 7.32 seconds in the three-cone drill. Johnson’s game is based more on his vision and craft behind the line of scrimmage, and he can certainly be a productive runner in the NFL, but his lack of elite traits may make him slide. Possibly good news for the Vikings if they want to hold off on selecting an RB.
Peter Woods (IDL), Clemson – Stock Down
Peter Woods looked like a top 10 pick and a certainty to be the first interior defensive lineman off the board. That’s all changed as his slide started before the combine. It felt like Woods needed a good week with his 2025 tape a step back from 2024.
Aug 31, 2024; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Clemson Tigers defensive lineman Peter Woods (11) shown on the field pregame prior to the game against the Georgia Bulldogs at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images
While other IDLs like Banks and Lee Hunter are having excellent pre-draft processes, Woods didn’t participate in any drills and measured in at 6-2, 298, with 31-inch arms. He is in danger of becoming the forgotten man in this draft, but that could be to the Vikings’ advantage.
Proud UK Viking. Family Man. Enjoy writing about my team. Away from football an advocate for autism acceptance.
Manchester City will return to Wembley later this month for the FA Cup semi-final
19:54, 05 Apr 2026Updated 20:10, 05 Apr 2026
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Manchester City will face Southampton in the FA Cup semi-final later this month. The Blues will take on the Saints at Wembley on either Saturday, April 25 or Sunday, April 26.
Southampton dramatically knocked out Premier League leaders Arsenal on Saturday night, beating Mikel Arteta’s side 2-1 in arguably one of the shocks of the competition so far.
Ross Stewart opened the scoring ten minutes before half-time with Viktor Gyokeres equalising for Arsenal with 22 minutes left to play. Former City youngster Shea Charles netted a dramatic winner five minutes from time, though, to deal Arsenal back-to-back cup blows after Pep Guardiola’s men beat them in the Carabao Cup final before the international break.
City, meanwhile, booked their place in the last four after a comfortable victory over Liverpool on Saturday. Erling Haaland opened the scoring from the spot after Nico O’Reilly was fouled by Virgil van Dijk.
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On the stroke of half-time City doubled their lead as Antoine Semenyo’s cross was headed in by Haaland. Semenyo added his name to the scoresheet shortly after the break to seal the victory, and there was still time for Haaland to complete his hat-trick as he tapped in O’Reilly’s low cross to make it 4-0.
The Blues are now favourites to win the FA Cup after Premier League leaders Arsenal were knocked out on Saturday night. City remain in the hunt for a domestic treble.
Having already won the Carabao Cup, the Blues need to eat up a nine-point gap to leaders Arsenal in the Premier League title race. City have a game in hand on the Gunners and will host them in a couple of weeks in a potentially title-deciding game.
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The lineup for the semi-finals of the FA Cup was confirmed after Leeds United’s dramatic penalty shootout win at West Ham United on Sunday Afternoon. After City dispatched of Liverpool on Saturday, Chelsea and Southampton beat Port Vale and Arsenal respectively.
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Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez looks set to get an immediate opportunity to win back one of the world titles he lost to Terence Crawford in September last year.
While the WBO and IBF still remain vacant, Jose Armando Resendiz now holds the WBA, and the WBC – who actually stripped Crawford days before his retirement – has upgraded Christian Mbilli to full champion.
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Mbilli is the man expected to face Canelo in his September comeback fight, currently booked for Saudi Arabia, though the location may change due to the war in the Middle East.
Responding to a fan on X, Crawford backed Alvarez to become champion once more if things play out that way.
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Ryan O’Hearn homered and matched a career high with four RBIs as the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Baltimore Orioles 8-2 on Sunday to sweep a three-game series and extend their winning streak to five.
O’Hearn hit a two-run shot to right-center in the first inning. In the second, his two-run double highlighted a four-run outburst as the Pirates pushed their lead to 6-0.
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Oneil Cruz made it 8-1 with a two-run homer to center field in the sixth. He also singled home a run in the second.
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Cruz’s homer came off left-hander Cade Povich. The center fielder is 7 for 10 with three homers against lefties after going 11 for 108 with one homer last season.
That was plenty of support for Braxton Ashcraft (1-1), who allowed one run and four hits in six innings. He had a career-high eight strikeouts and no walks.
Pirates starters have given up two earned runs or fewer in each of their eight games since 2025 NL Cy Young Award winner Paul Skenes was tagged for five runs while only getting two outs against the New York Mets on opening day.
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Orioles starter Chris Bassitt (0-2) was roughed up for six runs in two innings. Signed to an $18.5 million, one-year contract as a free agent just before spring training, the right-hander has given up 10 runs over 6 1/3 innings in two starts.
Pete Alonso had an RBI double and Taylor Ward got three hits for the Orioles, who lost for the fifth time in six games.
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Orioles: Were undecided on a starter for Monday night when they open a three-game road series against the Chicago White Sox and Erick Fedde (0-1, 5.40 ERA).
Pirates: Begin a three-game home series with San Diego on Monday night as rookie RHP Bubba Chandler (0-0, 0.00) faces RHP Germán Márquez (0-1, 12.00).
Mar 26, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Astros starting pitcher Hunter Brown (58) pitches against the Los Angeles Angels in the first inning at Daikin Park. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Shea-Imagn Images
The Houston Astros placed ace right-hander Hunter Brown on the 15-day injured list Sunday with a right shoulder strain.
The move was retroactive to Thursday.
Brown finished third in American League Cy Young Award balloting last season. He is 1-0 with an 0.84 ERA in two starts this season, striking out 17 in just 10 1/3 innings.
Brown, 27, last pitched Tuesday when he defeated the Boston Red Sox. He gave up one run and one hit and struck out eight against two walks in six innings.
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There was no immediate word on how long Brown might be sidelined. Houston announced the move before manager Joe Espada met with reporters prior to the club’s Sunday afternoon road game against the Athletics.
Brown made the AL All-Star team for the first time last season when he went 12-9 with a 2.43 ERA in 31 starts. He struck out a career-high 206 and posted a stellar 1.03 WHIP.
He is 37-31 with a 3.44 ERA in 102 appearances (94 starts) since reaching the majors in 2022.
The Astros promoted right-hander Christian Roa from Triple-A Sugar Land in a corresponding move. He had a 6.75 ERA in two relief appearances for Houston earlier this season.
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The 27-year-old pitched one scoreless inning of relief in his lone outing for Sugar Land this season.
Gerry Harvey, the owner-breeder and entrepreneur, offered a timely advisory to yearling buyers when two passed-in horses from his stock notched feature victories one after another at Randwick.
Part of the ownership for Campione D’Italia involves Harvey with an elite partnership including Newgate Bloodstock owned by Henry Field, and the colt had also been passed in at sales.
“I passed it in, and Henry Field and I had a talk. I said, ‘I want six hundred (thousand dollars) mate’, and he said, ‘I’ll give you five hundred’ and I said, ‘get lost’. Then I thought I better do it,” Harvey said.
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“It’s a very exciting day because we just had the country winner as well. We passed it in for $25,000. No-one wanted it.
So if you want to buy a horse from my horse studs, always buy the passed-in ones. Never buy in the ring. You’ll do much better buying a passed-in one.”
Campione D’Italia, by Snitzel, elevated his stallion value via the Group 1 conquest, extending from a powerful fourth in the Golden Slipper (1200m) closing from the rear.
The horse’s trainer, Chris Waller, highlighted the enhanced starting position and steady improvement as decisive.
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“Today was his fourth career start and each run has got a little bit better, a little bit better,” Waller said.
“His run in the Golden Slipper was amazing. He just got too far back. It was no-one’s fault, and the horse is just learning all the time.
He got a lovely draw today, and that was the difference between having him in the firing line or going back like he was last start.
It was good to see him knuckle down and get the job done.”
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A next step could be the Champagne Stakes (1600m) for Campione D’Italia, emulating stablemate Militarize who achieved it three years back after Sires’.
“Militarize, he won the Sires’ and then he won the Champagne, so I’ll have a talk to the team and see what they suggest,” Waller said.
“We’ve got to nurse him a little bit, so we’ll see how he comes through it.”
At $4.20, Campione D’Italia held off Miss Chanel ($15) by three-quarters of a length, followed identically by stablemate Fireball ($18) in third.
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The Champagne Stakes is on the table for Fireball subject to how he pulls up.
Be a Lucky Block is a tycoon-based simulation game where you play as a block running on a treadmill. NPCs will chase and break you open, revealing a Brainrot. Your objective is to escape their plans and return to your base to store the Brainrot, allowing you to earn revenue. The new Be a Lucky Block update added a new plot skin called Stranger base to the game. You can acquire it once you have collected all Brainrots from the Ink and Alien Events.
This article covers everything about the Strange Base in Be a Lucky Block.
Everything about the Stranger Base skin
The Stranger Base skin (Image via Roblox)
To get this alluring skin in the title, you will have to collect all 10 Brainrots from the Ink and Alien Events. The Luminous base skin featured a similar requirement to this. Since this Roblox experience now has four events that take place every four hours, it is going to be challenging to acquire specific Brainrots, as the run time of these events is very short. Hence, the only way to complete this feat is by joining the game at regular intervals and keeping note of the next event’s timer.
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To avoid confusion, it is worth mentioning that all base skins in Be a Lucky Block do not provide any perks or buffs to the game and are just mere cosmetics, meant to elevate the look of your plot. Here are the Brainrots you will need to get the Stranger Base in this title:
Alien Event units:
Spaceshipini Tortini: 50%
Astro Bandito: 40%
Chachelien: 9%
Aliensini Octosini: 0.95%
La Vacca Galactica: 0.05%
Ink Event units:
Glorbo Inkdrillo: 50%
Inknina Bombardino: 40%
Ink Din Din Dun: 9%
Cavallo Inkuoso: 0.95%
La Vacca Singolarita: 0.5%
How to get the Ink and Alien Brainrots?
To get the Ink and Alien Brainrots, you will need to venture into the treadmill, where there’s a 40% chance of getting caught by an NPC. After getting caught, you get caught, wait for the bosses to break the Block to reveal the Brainrot. Only then should you escape the plot through the portal to get back to the safe zone. Note that your chances of getting them increase during an Admin Abuse event.
FAQs on Be a Lucky Block
How do you unlock the Stranger Base in Be a Lucky Block?
To unlock the Stranger Base skin in Be a Lucky Block, players must collect all 10 Brainrots from the Ink and Alien Events.
Do base skins provide any gameplay advantages in Be a Lucky Block?
No, base skins in Be a Lucky Block are purely cosmetic, and they do not provide any boosts, perks, or gameplay advantages.
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How to get Ink and Alien Brainrots?
The best way to obtain Ink and Alien Brainrots is to participate in the treadmill while an event is active and let these NPCs capture your Lucky Block and break it to reveal a Brainrot. After the Brainrot appears, you must escape through the portal to safely return to your base to get it.
NEW DELHI: Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru continued their dream run in IPL 2026 with a commanding 43-run victory over Chennai Super Kings at the Chinnaswamy Stadium on Sunday, powered by a sensational batting display and timely strikes with the ball.Put in to bat, RCB endured a cautious start on a slightly tacky surface, going boundary-less in the first three overs. Virat Kohli looked the most assured early on, while Phil Salt gradually found his rhythm. The innings gained momentum after the PowerPlay, with Salt (46) and Devdutt Padikkal stitching a crucial stand.
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Padikkal then took charge, compiling a fluent 50 off 29 balls to anchor the innings.However, the real carnage unfolded in the death overs. Following Padikkal’s dismissal, skipper Rajat Patidar joined forces with Tim David, and the duo unleashed a brutal assault. David was particularly destructive, smashing an unbeaten 70 off just 25 balls, including eight towering sixes. Patidar played the perfect foil with a blistering 48* off 19 deliveries as RCB surged to a massive 250/3.In reply, CSK’s chase got off to a shaky start. Jacob Duffy struck early to remove both Ruturaj Gaikwad and Sanju Samson, while Bhuvneshwar Kumar dismissed Ayush Mhatre to leave them reeling. Despite the early setbacks, Sarfaraz Khan launched a stunning counterattack, racing to a 24-ball fifty and propelling CSK to 77 in the PowerPlay.Just when CSK looked to rebuild, Krunal Pandya turned the game on its head, dismissing Sarfaraz with his very first delivery and removing Kartik Sharma soon after. A spectacular one-handed catch by Jitesh Sharma to dismiss Shivam Dube further dented the chase.Though Prashant Veer (43) and Jamie Overton (37) offered resistance, the required rate kept climbing. Bhuvneshwar (3/41) and Krunal (2/36) ensured regular breakthroughs, while Suyash Sharma impressed with his control.CSK were eventually bowled out for 207 in 19.4 overs, falling well short. With this emphatic win, RCB not only extend their winning streak but also reinforce their status as early title contenders. On the other hand, CSK now find themselves at the bottom of the table with three back-to-back defeats in the new season. Brief score: RCB 250/3 (20 overs) beat CSK 207 all out (19.4 overs) by 43 runs
Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) side Kun Khalifat FC have announced the death of their team manager, Ekpemadu Chigioke.
The sad news was shared by the Imo State-based club on their official social media handle on Sunday, April 5, 2026.
In a short statement, the club wrote:
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“Farewell, Our brother Ekpemadu Chigioke ️
Your passion as the team manager and player, dedication, and impact will never be forgotten.
Rest in peace… till we meet again.
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#ThePrideOfImo | #WeAreKunKhalifatFC”
The cause of his death was not disclosed by the club.
Chigioke’s passing is a big blow to Kun Khalifat FC, especially as the team is set to face Nasarawa United in an NPFL away match later on Sunday.
Tributes have already started to pour in from fans, players, and members of the football community, who have described him as a committed and passionate figure in the club.
Lola Vice competes against Kendal Grey during NXT at The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York on March 31, 2026.(Rich Freeda/WWE)
The match was fast-paced and featured hard-hitting action as all competitors tried to make quick work of each other.
Grey and Vice quickly picked up where they left off on Tuesday night. The two grappled for control and tried to get quick pins on each other after throwing Jayne out of the ring. No woman had the upper hand in the very beginning, but the match quickly moved outside the ring. Jayne threw Grey into the stairs while Vice hit a Meteora on the champ to take advantage.
Jayne came in with some momentum. She already defeated Grey and Vice in the past. She had her Toxic Influence stablemates, Fallon Henley and Lainey Reid, on the outside of the ring and in her corner. Grey also had the backing of Wren Sinclar, while Vice only had herself.
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Jayne tried her darndest to keep it a one-on-one match, tossing either Grey or Vice out of the ring to keep the numbers even inside of it. She showed her veteran abilities often throughout the match.
Kendal Grey competes against Lola Vice during NXT at The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York on March 31, 2026.(Rich Freeda/WWE)
But Grey, who won the Iron Survivor Challenge when she was still the Evolve women’s champion, would not be beaten down – neither would Vice. The Cuban American pro wrestler used her own mixed martial arts background to keep her opponents at bay.
Just as Jayne thought she was going to get a pin on Grey, Vice – who was on the outside of the ring – put Grey’s foot on the rope to break the count. Toxic Influence got into the mix, but Sinclar hit a crossbody on the outside and sent Jayne’s partners running.
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Vice tried to put Grey into a sleeper. Jayne forced Grey out of the ring. Vice hit Jayne with a spinning backfist and pinned Jayne for the win.
It is Vice’s first title reign and she becomes a double champion with the victory as she also holds the AAA world mixed tag team championship with Mr. Iguana. She’s the first Cuban American female to hold the women’s championship in NXT.
NXT women’s champion Jacy Jayne addresses the crowd during NXT’s Vengeance Day on March 7, 2026, in Orlando, Florida.(Conor Kvatek/WWE via Getty Images)
Vice made her NXT debut in 2023 and earned her first title shot after winning the NXT Breakout Tournament.
The Boston Celtics trade-deadline acquisition will be back in the lineup on Sunday.
Centre Nikola Vucevic will return against the Toronto Raptors (3:30 p.m. ET / 12:30 p.m. PT on Sportsnet and Sportsnet+), the team announced.
Vucevic has been sidelined since suffering a fractured right ring finger against the Dallas Mavericks on March 6. He required surgery to repair the fracture.
The 35-year-old Montenegrin averaged 10.4 points and 21.7 minutes in 12 games with Boston after coming over from the Chicago Bulls.
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The Celtics sit second in the Eastern Conference and have already clinched a spot in the postseason.
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