Oct 18, 2025; Piscataway, New Jersey, USA; Oregon Ducks tight end Kenyon Sadiq (18) warms up before the game against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at SHI Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images.
The time has come. Every April, just before the draft, we ask our staff to predict the Minnesota Vikings’ first draft pick, whether the franchise stays at its organic spot of No. 18 or trades up or down. These are our writers’ official predictions.
Twelve predictions. One pick. Draft night is almost here.
The prognostications are scattered in 2026, probably because Minnesota has an interim general manager, Rob Brzezinski, and he doesn’t have a track record.
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The Prospects Dominating Minnesota’s Draft Outlook and Our Pick
Showtime is in five days.
San Diego State Aztecs cornerback Chris Johnson (1) celebrates after a play against Washington State during the first half, Sep 6, 2025, at Gesa Field at Martin Stadium in Pullman, Washington, showing visible energy and emotion as he reacts near teammates following a defensive stop in a tightly contested early-season matchup. Mandatory Credit: James Snook-Imagn Images
1. Chris Johnson | CB, San Diego State
Predictor: Janik Eckardt
After botching recent drafts, the Vikings are in desperate need of hitting on several selections. To increase the odds, the front office adds even more picks in a trade-down. Johnson has an intriguing athletic profile and could be the young corner the Vikings have been looking for.
2. Caleb Banks | DT, Florida
Predictor: Josh Frey
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The Vikings need to recover at the defensive tackle position next season. Jalen Redmond blossomed into a very capable player in the middle of the defensive line, but Minnesota needs another player to line up alongside him. Caleb Banks is massive and strong, with an explosive first step that could make him a great pass rusher in the NFL.
3. Jermod McCoy | CB, Tennessee
Predictor: Kyle Joudry
The Vikings scoop up Jermod McCoy, doing so after a modest trade down.
4. Colton Hood | CB, Tennessee
Predictor: Brevan Bane
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It’s a trade-down with the San Francisco 49ers! The package looks a little something like this: MIN sends: Pick 18. SF sends: Pick 27, Pick 127, and a 2027 2nd Round Pick.
The Vikings trade down in the first round to pick up extra draft capital (including a 2nd in a very stacked 2027 draft), and keep the fifth year of control on their selection this year. That selection is Tennessee CB Colton Hood. The kid has fluid hips, natural ball skills, and an instinctual ability to play press-man at the line.
5. Peter Woods | DT, Clemson
Predictor: Dustin Baker
If you really want to get this prediction right, the process this year is not easy. The Vikings could bend in about five directions that would shock nobody. Usually, the draft pick, or at least the player’s position, is pretty damn evident.
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This year is different, mainly because Kwesi Adofo-Mensah isn’t employed in Minnesota.
In 2023, the Vikings needed a wide receiver. They drafted one. In 2024, they needed a quarterback. They drafted one. Last year, they needed a guard after the embarrassing playoff loss to the Los Angeles Rams. They drafted one.
In 2026, the Vikings have released defensive tackles Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave. They need an interior defensive lineman. Whether sticking-and-picking at No. 18 or trading down, Woods will be the guy. He’s considered by most as the top DT in an otherwise weak class.
t6. Kenyon Sadiq | TE, Oregon
Predictor: Wesley Johnson
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The Vikings could go in a few different directions here and are really set up to take the best player available. While I would entertain DT Kayden McDonald, OT’s Monroe Freeling and Max Iheanachor, or one of the WRs that may fall, Sadiq fits a more immediate need. T..J Hockenson will, in all likelihood, be leaving the team next offseason, and finding a capable replacement now is smart football.
Oregon Ducks tight end Kenyon Sadiq (18) catches a pass for a touchdown during the second half, Nov 22, 2025, at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon, securing the ball in stride as he breaks free from coverage and completes a scoring play that energizes the crowd in a late-season conference matchup. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images
While an athletic freak at TE, fans should temper their expectations for Sadiq compared to other recent first-round TEs (Loveland, Warren, Bowers), as he is not as refined a pass-catcher.
t6. Kenyon Sadiq | TE, Oregon
Predictor: Cole Smith
The Vikings’ first pick will be Kenyon Sadiq. Everyone has thought that safety Dillon Thieneman was destined to be the pick, but his Oregon teammate gives the Vikings a unique offensive weapon in year one while providing them with their next TE1 after T.J. Hockenson leaves following the season.
t8. Kayden McDonald | DT, Ohio State
Predictor: Adam New
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The Vikings trade back to later in the first round and select Ohio State’s Kayden McDonald. Giving the interior of the Vikings’ defensive line a boost by adding a big nose tackle.
t8. Kayden McDonald | DT, Ohio State
Predictor: Sean Borman
The Vikings need iDL, and McDonald has no injury-related absences. In McDonald, they’d be getting more powerful up front. He’s a big run stuffer with some flash quickness
t10. Dillon Thieneman | S, Oregon
Predictor: Tony Schultz
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So many are trying hard to figure out who the Vikings will draft. In some cases, maybe too hard. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again and a third time to make it happen: Thieneman! Thieneman! Thieneman! Dillon Thieneman is the popular choice not just because of his skills but also his fit and need in the Vikings’ defense.
The sphere of pick 18 is where he projects in this draft, regardless of who’s picking. Recent rumors suggest there could be a run on offensive linemen, and teams might trade up to get ahead of others. It would not shock me if the Vikings trade down a bit and still get their man in the former Oregon Duck.
Oregon Ducks defensive back Dillon Thieneman (31) reacts after defeating Penn State at Beaver Stadium, Sep 27, 2025, in University Park, Pennsylvania, displaying visible emotion following the final whistle as teammates celebrate a major road win against a ranked opponent in a high-stakes Big Ten matchup. Mandatory Credit: James Lang-Imagn Images
Adding a 3rd rounder or maybe a low second, while still landing the best player available and a player of need, will look great for a team trying to get over past mistakes. Don’t overthink it. Draft him!
t10. Dillon Thieneman | S, Oregon
Predictor: Ted Schwerzler
Every mock draft continues to say the same thing, and at this point, there’s no reason to believe they aren’t speaking it into existence. Dillon Thieneman, you are a Minnesota Viking.
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t10. Dillon Thieneman | S, Oregon
Predictor: Henrique Gucciardi
It’s one of the most common picks in mock drafts around the world, and for good reason. He’s a great prospect, safety is a position of need, and Thieneman could be an immediate heir to Harrison Smith.
Shivam Dube was disappointed as he walked back after scoring 21 off 16 balls.
NEW DELHI: Is there something called black magic? Does black magic work? During the IPL 2026 match between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Chennai Super Kings, a bizarre moment – described by fans as black magic – was caught on camera. A Sunrisers Hyderabad supporter holding a lemon appeared to perform a ritual that seemingly worked in the team’s favour.The incident occurred in the 17th over of Chennai Super Kings’ innings, with Shivam Dube at the crease and CSK at 154/7 while chasing 194. With Dube known for turning games around, SRH were desperate for his wicket.In a video that has gone viral, a fan in the stands is seen taking a lemon, rotating it a few times while muttering words, and then gesturing towards Dube, who was preparing to face a delivery from Sakib Hussain. Moments after the gesture, the left-hander was bowled. The entire stadium erupted in celebration.How Dube got dismissed:Sakib Hussain to Shivam Dube – BowledSakib bowled a fast, full delivery at middle stump and Dube missed it completely. The ball came quickly off the pitch and hurried him as he tried to flick it. He was late on the shot, and the ball may have brushed his pad before hitting the stumps. Dube’s feet did not move much, and he looked like he was expecting a slower ball. He was disappointed as he walked back after scoring 21 off 16 balls.Sunrisers Hyderabad defeated CSK by 10 runs to move to fourth place in the points table, also snapping CSK’s two-match winning streak.“Lovely. When you have a bunch of young bowlers and you know they’re executing their plans well. They’re coming up with their own plans as well and bowling as per the plan. So it’s very good to see, you know, there’s a lot of less pressure on the captain to set the field because they are ahead of the game anyway. So it was lovely to see them doing their job today,” SRH captain Ishan Kishan said after the match.“(were they 20 short?) Yeah, 100% I feel, Abhishek got out pretty early, but still, after scoring 60-odd runs, always when we have ended up scoring 220, 230. We’ve always seen there are…. from the first three batters, there’s one batsman is always scored big runs. So we were missing on that today, but especially with this team, with this batting line-up, I feel, yes, we were 20 runs short maybe,” he said.“(trusting his young bowlers) Yeah, actually looking at them in practice sessions, giving their best, trying to get better and better day by day. So you have to trust your bowlers. This is a bunch of bowlers we have at this point of time and I think they are very keen on doing well. So that is the time when you just give them the ball and let them do what they want to. (on the pitch) I think it was a pretty good wicket to bat on, to be very honest. That’s why I’m saying we were, I think, 30-40 runs short. But yeah, a lot to learn from this game as well. Looking at the shot selection, I think we could have done better. (on the points table) Nah, to be very honest, we’re not looking at the points table right now. I know it’s a very long tournament. We need to keep our head down, take a game day by day, just one match at a time and let’s see how it goes,” Ishan said.SRH will next face Delhi Capitals on April 21.
LAS VEGAS – Seth Rollins was supposed to be going up against Gunther at WrestleMania 42 on Saturday night but he wasn’t expecting a freight train to run through him.
Rollins appeared to be in the driver’s seat toward the end of the match. He hit Gunther with a pedigree on the announce table and followed up with a storm. All he had to do was get Gunther back in the ring and finish the job. As the referee tended to Gunther, a wild Bron Breakker appeared.
Bron Breakker performs during WrestleMania 42 Night 1 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nev., on April 18, 2026.(WWE)
Breakker ran down the side of the entrance ramp at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas at full speed and tore through Rollins with a gnarly spear. He rolled Rollins back in the ring, spat on him and waited for Gunther to finish the job.
Gunther put Rollins in a sleeper hold, forcing “The Revolutionary” to tap out.
Gunther has his arm raised by the referee after defeating Seth Rollins during their match on night one of WrestleMania 42 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nev., on April 18, 2026.(Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Gunther walked to the back as the winner. Breakker was hung around to pick apart the scraps.
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Breakker sprinted back down the ramp and hit Rollins with another crushing spear, stunning the crowd.
Breakker has been out of action for a few weeks with an injury, likely costing him a match of some kind at WrestleMania 42. Nevertheless, he still had bad blood with Rollins as their rivalry turned up a notch.
Seth Rollins enters the arena before his match against Gunther on night one of WrestleMania 42 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nev., on April 18, 2026.(Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
This will not be the last of Breakker and Rollins. On the flip side, Paul Heyman will now owe Gunther a favor. It’ll will be interesting to see how the favor gets cashed in.
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Ryan Gaydos is a senior editor for Fox News Digital.
Itauma seems destined to rule in the heavyweight division, improving in each fight whilst extending his record to 14-0 and climbing the world rankings, despite having never fought beyond the sixth round.
Speaking to Grosvenor Casinos, four-division world champion Jones Jr labelled Itauma as the ‘most exciting heavyweight since Mike Tyson’ but stated that Usyk is currently the man to give him his ‘biggest problem’.
“Is Moses Itauma the most exciting heavyweight since Mike Tyson? Right now, yes, I think he is.
“He’s got the explosive punching power that Mike Tyson had; if you can hit them before they hit you, most of the time you’re going to knock them out. That’s what Mike did. Mike hit them before they hit him, and he got them out, because he was so explosive.
“So if he can do that, he will knock out most of the heavyweights, but with Usyk, he’s a little bit hard to hit.
“Moses gives all the heavyweights a hard time. You can’t say he beats them until you put them in front of them, because you haven’t really seen him get cracked yet, but the only one I see that gives him the biggest problem is Usyk.”
The billionaire owners of Premier League side Bournemouth are closing in on a takeover of Exeter Chiefs.
It was revealed last week that an American consortium were on the verge of securing a major stake in the Prem club, with Exeter members set to vote in an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) in May.
If the deal goes through, Exeter will be latest Prem club to secure major new investment.
Last August energy drinks giant Red Bull bought Newcastle, while Bath have been boosted by businessman James Dyson taking a 50% stake in the Prem champions.
Senior sources in the English game have indicated to the BBC other clubs are also of interest to external investors as the league looks to launch a new era following the decision to ring-fence the top flight and revamp standards on and off the field.
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Black Knight board member Ryan Caswell was a guest of Chiefs chairman Tony Rowe at Saturday’s thrilling 35-28 defeat by Northampton.
Rowe, whose businesses have propped up Exeter for the best part of three decades, has been open about his desire to seek fresh investment in the club.
“I’ve effectively run a business for the last 30-odd years for a shareholder who’s got no money,” Rowe told The Guardian last week.
“What I’m looking forward to is an investor who’s got some money. That’ll be a massive difference for me.
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“I think it will put us in a really good place to take advantage of the future.
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“Whether you like it or not professional sport is all about money. We need money to survive.”
One of Chelsea’s more senior players, Marc Cucurella, tried to head straight down the tunnel at full time last night.
He had just played in Chelsea’s latest defeat, a 1-0 Premier League loss against Manchester United at Stamford Bridge – marking the fourth in a row in the league.
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The left back has been involved in a lot of drama at the club recently, speaking out about the project not being good enough and also mentioning he would join Barcelona if they came calling.
He’s supposed to be one of the leaders and more experienced players in this young team, yet he wanted to just run straight down the tunnel last night after they got beaten once again. A real sign of the times with this team.
Marc Cucurella looks sad. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)
Journalist Kieran Gill, who was at the game, posted on X last night:
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“Didn’t mention it in my write-up, but Marc Cucurella tried dashing down the tunnel after full-time, only to be told to turn around by Willie Isa. Two years remaining on Cucurella’s contract this summer. Could end up one of those sold unless Chelsea convince him to extend.”
In other news today
Chelsea boss Liam Rosenior spoke to the media after Chelsea’s defeat to Man United and tried to be positive about the whole thing.
Apr 18, 2026; Hilton Head, South Carolina, USA; Matt Fitzpatrick and Viktor Hovland at the end of their round during the third round of the RBC Heritage golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images
Another strong finish from England’s Matt Fitzpatrick would put him where he wants to be in the RBC Heritage.
Fitzpatrick turned in a strong stretch on the back nine Saturday to shoot a 3-under-par 68 and keep the lead through three rounds at Hilton Head Island, S.C.
“I felt like I was making good enough swings to make a turnaround on the back nine,” Fitzpatrick said. “Obviously, some nice momentum with the hole-outs on 14 and 15.”
Fitzpatrick moved to 17-under 196 and increased his lead to three shots, but world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler stands as his closest pursuer going into Sunday’s final round.
Fitzpatrick’s eagle 3 on the 15th at Harbour Town Golf Links capped a four-hole stretch that he played at 4 under. He settled down after three bogeys on the front side.
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“It’s always satisfying when you can turn it around, particularly if you have not played that well and you are struggling a little bit and not scoring as well as you want,” Fitzpatrick said.
Scheffler shot 64 to climb into second. Brian Harman (63) joined Austria’s Sepp Straka (67) and South Korea’s Si Woo Kim (66) at 13 under.
Fitzpatrick will be aiming for his second victory of the year. He won a month ago at the Valspar Championship, just one week after a runner-up finish at The Players Championship.
Saturday’s turnaround was rewarding.
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“I was pleased the way I hit the ball off the tee coming in,” Fitzpatrick said. “Obviously, then just some good putting on that back nine to take advantage of it.”
He rolled in a putt from off the green — 26 feet away — the par-3 14th. On the next hole, he chipped from off the green for the eagle on a shot from just inside 30 feet.
Scheffler sizzled at the start Saturday with birdies on five of the first six holes.
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“I was a little bit behind the 8-ball going into today but had a nice round to put myself back in position,” Scheffler said. “… As you start kind of getting back into contention, I think that’s always fun.”
Fitzpatrick said he understands there will be a pro-Scheffler tone in Sunday’s galleries.
“We’re in America, so I wouldn’t expect any different,” Fitzpatrick said. “Yeah, they’ve got to support their guy, and that’s totally fine.”
Harman became the clubhouse leader before the final groups reached the round’s midway mark. Harman began the day in 27th place, but he posted birdies on the final three holes to be the first to finish at 13 under.
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“Just tried to keep the pedal down,” Harman said. “It’s going to take a low number to win. The weather is going to turn a little bit (Sunday), so it was nice to get out there with some good conditions.”
Still, Harman said the setup could work to his advantage.
“You really have to think your way around this place,” he said. “It’s not just a bomb-and-gouge. I’m not a bomber.”
The golfers at 12 under are Andrew Novak (65), Gary Woodland (66), Patrick Cantlay (68), Sweden’s Ludvig Aberg (68) and South Africa’s Aldrich Potgieter (67).
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“I think I kind of got to go in with the same kind of attack mentality as today and get it going, go post a number, and see how guys handle the wind late,” Novak said.
Joe Gibbs Racing driver Taylor Gray won Saturday’s Kansas Lottery 300 and secured his second career win. The O’Reilly Series driver did so by holding off Haas Factory Team driver Sheldon Creed. Later, during a post-race interview, Gray expressed his views on the same.
The JGR driver qualified among the top ten drivers on the grid and began the 200-lap race from P10. Meanwhile, Creed was faster than him in the qualifying session and secured a P4 start. Gray made steady progress in stages one and two, securing sixth-place and seventh-place finishes, respectively.
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Following that, Taylor Gray secured the lead with a strategic move by his crew chief, Jason Ratcliff. The crew chief called Gray in the pits ahead of the dominant drivers Creed and Brandon Jones, giving him an advantage over his competitors with a set of fresh tires. As a result, the JGR driver took home his second career victory and told the media in the victory lane:
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“First of all, thank you to everyone at Joe Gibbs Racing,” said Gray in Victory Lane. “How about (crew chief) Jason Ratcliffe? That pit call was awesome. I knew we had a car capable of winning. I thought the No. 20 (Jones) was a little better than us before the green-flag cycle, but you just have to stay locked in.”
“Jason made a really good adjustment on the car, a really good pit call, and got us the clean air. I can’t thank everybody enough. It’s been a long start to the year, man. Not that we’re not bringing speed to the race track, but things just haven’t gone our way. So it’s nice to finally be able to close one out,” he added.
Taylor Gray crossed the finish line with a small margin of 0.718 seconds ahead of Sheldon Creed. Meanwhile, JRM driver Justin Allgaier secured third place, followed by Jesse Love in fourth place and Brent Crews in fifth place.
“Originally, I was supposed to be the 19”: When Taylor Gray opened up about his future with Joe Gibbs Racing in stock car racing
In October 2024, stock car racing driver Taylor Gray revealed that he was initially set to drive the #19 Toyota in his sophomore season with Joe Gibbs Racing. However, the NASCAR team announced that it would bring back the #54 Toyota for the last season and named Gray as the full-time driver.
The stock car racing team was impressed by the 21-year-old driver’s performance in the 2024 season. Following that, the team offered Gray a full-time contract for the 2025 season in the O’Reilly Series. Later, the JGR driver told the media:
“We were kind of talking about next year a little bit. And he was asking me about number stuff and what number I was supposed to be. And originally, I was supposed to be the 19. Like that was what I was going to do with the 19. And he looks at me and goes, “No,” he said, “you’re going to run the 54.” And so they, they drug the 54 kind of out of retirement. I like to say. And yeah, it’s pretty cool.”
Taylor Gray is currently ninth in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series with 294 points to his credit. He moved up three spots after the Kansas Speedway win. Additionally, he has secured one top-five and four top-ten finishes in ten starts so far.
KOLKATA : Vaibhav Sooryavanshi isn’t a normal 15-year-old kid. He is quite different and the Rajasthan Royals sensation has the cricket world watching him with great excitement. However, Kumar Sangakkara, the Royals head coach, wants this batting prodigy to be just like any other 15-year-old.“I just want him to be this 15-year-old kid that goes out and bats the way he wants,” Sangakkara said here on Saturday. “He has got to enjoy everything, whether it’s 100 off 35 balls, a 50 off 15 or a first-ball duck.”
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Sooryavanshi had his first taste of failure this season in the last game against Sunrisers Hyderabad, when he got out on the first ball he faced. The boy grimaced, perhaps a little angry at himself. “You’re allowed to score runs, you’re allowed to fail. It’s part and parcel of cricket,” was Sangakkara’s message to the youngster. “He must never lose the freedom he plays with.”
It was a shocking move for multiple reasons. Who would have thought a 28-year-old defensive tackle coming off his worst NFL season and due a massive raise was worth a top 10 pick? And who would have guessed the conservative Bengals would be the ones to facilitate this change of scenery? ESPN reports it’s the first time the franchise has traded a top 10 pick for a player.
The Giants are now the sixth team to own multiple first-round picks in the 2026 NFL Draft, but they are the only franchise to hold two selections in the top 10. New York could package the extra pick to move further up the draft board, or potentially move down depending on how the draft goes.
What happens at No. 10 overall depends on who the Giants take at No. 5 overall. If New York selects a wide receiver for example, the Giants wouldn’t take another wideout at No. 10. If the Giants go offense at No. 5, could they go defense at No. 10? When it comes to that top five pick, Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles and wide receiver Carnell Tate are a couple of players that have been commonly mocked to New York. Let’s take a look at the favorites to be selected at No. 5 overall, via DraftKings Sportsbook:
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Odds to be the No. 5 overall pick
LB Sonny Styles, Ohio State
+160
OT Francis Mauigoa, Miami
+400
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S Caleb Downs, Ohio State
+400
RB Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame
+500
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WR Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State
+800
WR Carnell Tate, Ohio State
+1400
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Regardless of who the Giants take at No. 5 overall, who are some of the best options that could be available at No. 10 overall? Let’s take a look:
5. EDGE Rueben Bain Jr., Miami
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Miami pass rusher Rueben Bain Jr. could fall to No. 10 overall due to his 30 7/8” arms. Pass rusher is not exactly the top need for New York, but Bain is CBS Sports’ No. 2 overall prospect in this entire class. He could also potentially move inside, and use his deep arsenal of pass-rush moves there.
Bain led all players last season with 83 pressures. He also stepped up his play in the College Football Playoff for the Hurricanes, recording 24 pressures and five sacks in those four games. If Bain does fall this far, he should be in consideration for the Giants.
Drafting an offensive guard at No. 10 overall could be considered a bit rich to some, but Vega Ioane is a clean prospect that fits a clear need for the Giants. At 6-foot-4, 323 pounds, he allowed zero sacks, zero QB hits and just four pressures in 2025. If we are talking about high-floor prospects in this class, Ioane should be mentioned.
I actually mocked Mansoor Delane to the Giants at No. 5 overall numerous times because I believe he’s arguably a top five talent in this class. He allowed the lowest passer rating (24.1) in the SEC, didn’t allow a single touchdown in coverage and had zero penalties. He reminded me a bit of Quinyon Mitchell, and I expect Delane to have that kind of immediate impact at the next level as well.
As soon as the Lawrence trade went down, it was Jordyn Tyson’s name that probably received the most buzz. In fact, Tyson is now listed at -360 to be a top 10 pick over at DraftKings. I guess that workout he had for NFL teams this past week went pretty well. ESPN reported that Giants general manager Joe Schoen was in Arizona on Thursday night, and had dinner with Tyson.
Tyson caught 61 passes for 711 yards and eight touchdowns in nine games played this past season, but had a 1,100-yard season in 2024. In fact, no Big 12 player has caught more passes than Tyson over the past two years. Yes, the injury history is worrisome. Over the past four years, Tyson suffered a knee injury where he tore his ACL, MCL and PCL, he broke his collarbone in 2024, and then had hamstring issues this past season. With all that being said, Tyson could be considered the top receiver in this class if we ignored the injury issues.
1. S Caleb Downs, Ohio State
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I don’t want to pretend that Caleb Downs is Ed Reed, but he may be underrated at this point. He was just the sixth college defensive back to be named a Unanimous All-American twice, and the only defensive back to record 250 tackles, 15 tackles for loss and five interceptions in the FBS over the past three seasons. Downs can play multiple positions in the secondary and potentially be John Harbaugh’s Kyle Hamilton.
Manchester City and Arsenal meet at the Etihad this afternoon in what is being billed as a Premier League title race decider.
Mikel Arteta started a fire at the training ground this week but if his Arsenal team fall at the Etihad tomorrow their season could go down in flames.
Manchester City have the momentum, the home advantage and the title-winning know-how. They’ve also seemingly clicked into gear at just the right time.
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Pep Guardiola oozed calm when he faced the media on Friday afternoon. The City boss, dressed in crisp white club attire, spoke at length on the match, the title race and how City must play the game and not the occasion.
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He referenced Arsenal’s 22-year wait for the title more than once, openly offered up an injury update on Nico O’Reilly when he often opts for caution, and seemed completely at ease with what is in front of him.
There is a sense at City that they have found their rhythm, that the team is settled and in sync, and that they are in the best possible place heading into the final few weeks of an absorbing campaign.
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Few gave City a chance of winning the league this year. Last season was way below par and they lost two of their first three this term. Liverpool set the early pace but quickly fell away and ever since it’s looked Arsenal’s to lose. It still is.
But the Gunners have looked frayed and frazzled in recent weeks, suffering a Carabao Cup final reverse to City and then exiting the FA Cup to Championship side Southampton. Defeat at Bournemouth followed in the Premier League and while the Gunners remain in the Champions League having progressed to a second successive semi-final, they were far from convincing in edging past Sporting Lisbon 1-0 on aggregate.
Mikel Arteta seemed calm enough in his media duties on Friday, engaging in a couple of jokes with journalists and insisting his side will not spend ‘one single second’ thinking about taking a draw at a place where they haven’t won in a decade.
City have had a full week on the training ground with no European commitments and the mood in the camp has been relaxed but buoyant. There is a confidence in the group that they are now comfortable with each other after 18 months of rebuilding.
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And yet there is an acceptance that even in three superb victories over Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea, aspects of all three matches could have been better. But the manner in which they took the game away from those sides in devastating fashion has raised belief levels.
“We are ready,” declared Guardiola in the build-up. So is the Etihad, the Premier League and the football world.
Sunday could see one team’s title aspirations go up in smoke.
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