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Vikings Linked to Major QB Reset in 2027

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Cocks QB LaNorris Sellers in the summer of 2025
Aug 31, 2025; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks quarterback LaNorris Sellers (16) drops back to pass against the Virginia Tech Hokies during the second half at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images.

The 2026 NFL Draft is in the books, and that just means the mock draft community can pivot to 2027. While doing so, one of the most accurate mock drafters in the industry has already connected South Carolina quarterback LaNorris Sellers to the Minnesota Vikings.

That projection would mean something went sideways with the current plan.

Indeed, we’re 51 weeks away from the event, but Sellers is evidently already a draft darling for the purple team.

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Sellers Would Signal a Total Quarterback Recalibration

Get to know Sellers — just in case.

LaNorris Sellers scoring a rushing touchdown during a game against Alabama. LaNorris Sellers Vikings
South Carolina quarterback LaNorris Sellers breaks into the end zone for a rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter against Alabama at Williams-Brice Stadium on Oct. 25, 2025, in Columbia, South Carolina. The play highlights his mobility and late-game impact as the Gamecocks push for a result in a high-profile SEC matchup. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Blake-Imagn Images.

Brendan Donahue: Sellers to MIN in 2027

Donahue for Sharp Football Analysis got the ball rolling on the 2027 mock draft process this week, with the Vikings owning the 14th pick.

On Sellers to the Vikings, he explained, “The 2026 season feels like a make-or-break year for both the quarterbacks currently on the Vikings roster. I don’t think head coach Kevin O’Connell will hesitate to move on from either or both if they miss the playoffs again in 2026 and replace them with someone who seems to be more of his prototype at the position.”

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“Many scouts believe Sellers has as much upside as any quarterback at the college level if he can just put it all together.”

It’s worth noting that Sellers was the fifth quarterback off the board in Donahue’s estimation. Arch Manning to the Arizona Cardinals headline his mock.

The Scouting Report

Norris is 6’3″ and 240 pounds — with 4.55 speed. Yes, he’s huge and fast. His arm strength is fantastic, deep-ball accuracy is on point, the size is obviously to die for, and he’s one of the best scramblers in college football. On the flip side, he takes too many sacks, his ball security is suspect, and his passing accuracy dipped in 2025.

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NFL Draft Buzz on Sellers: “The deep-ball ability is real. He can put the ball 55 yards downfield with accuracy, and his size and rushing ability give an offensive coordinator another dimension to work with in the run game and on designed movement plays. When things are clicking, he looks like a quarterback who can win from the pocket and hurt you with his legs when the structure breaks down. The concern is how often he creates his own problems.”

“The sack totals are not all on the offensive line. Sellers holds the ball, gets stuck staring down his primary target, and too often turns what should be a throwaway into a negative play. The 2025 season, even accounting for a bad supporting cast and a scheme that didn’t fit, showed a quarterback who hadn’t yet figured out how to lift the offense around him when things weren’t going well.”

LaNorris Sellers wearing the Old Leather Helmet after a South Carolina victory. LaNorris Sellers Vikings
South Carolina quarterback LaNorris Sellers celebrates postgame while wearing the Old Leather Helmet trophy after a win over Virginia Tech at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Aug. 31, 2025, in Atlanta, Georgia. The moment captures a tradition-filled celebration following a season-opening victory on a neutral field stage. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images.

It’s worth noting that quarterbacks’ draft stock can swing wildly in a year. By next April, Sellers could project as the first overall pick — or he could be a 3rd-Rounder. Stay tuned.

NDB added, “That matters at the next level. The right landing spot is a team willing to invest time in his development, ideally one with a strong offensive line and a play-caller who will use his athleticism while building structure around his reads. He fits best in a system that incorporates RPOs and bootleg concepts to simplify his progressions early on.”

“The ceiling is a productive dual-threat starter. The floor, without continued growth in processing speed and pocket discipline, is a backup whose athleticism keeps him on a roster but never translates to consistent quarterback play.”

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Would Imply That Murray and McCarthy Are No Good

The sad implication about Donahue’s mock is the fate of the 2026 Vikings. If they pick 14th next year, it will mean they missed the postseason, probably need a new head coach, and are in the market for a full quarterback facelift.

That isn’t the worst thing ever, but life will just be much easier if Kyler Murray unlocks Kevin O’Connell’s offense or if J.J. McCarthy finds his way into the starting lineup and never looks back. Fans would assuredly get excited about Sellers or another rookie quarterback next April, but the fact remains that a productive Murray or McCarthy means a full-scale upheaval isn’t needed.

Drafting Sellers would likely point to Murray or McCarthy nowhere near the Vikings’ 2027 roster.

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A Long Way to Go until April 2027

The 2027 draftboard will shift seismically between now and April 2027. The Vikings have a full season in their sights — one with pretty intense stakes if O’Connell wants to remain the head coach for years to come. Murray hasn’t taken a single snap as a Viking yet. And McCarthy, at age 23, hasn’t gotten a crack at redemption.

LaNorris Sellers warming up before a game against Missouri. LaNorris Sellers Vikings
South Carolina quarterback LaNorris Sellers goes through warmups ahead of a matchup with Missouri at Faurot Field on Sep. 20, 2025, in Columbia, Missouri. The scene shows his pregame routine as he prepares for action, offering a look at focus and readiness before kickoff in conference play. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images.

Whether Minnesota will need a quarterback in 2027 remains to be seen, but what is clear is that 17 regular season games will play out before then. If the Vikings reach the playoffs and win a game, two, three, or four, picking another rookie quarterback will be moot.

But just in case, keep an eye on Sellers. He’ll be all the rage in about eight months when the 2027 draft buildup formally begins.

Sellers will turn 21 this summer.

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Lindsey Vonn opens up on emotional struggle after Olympic crash as she weighs skiing future

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Lindsey Vonn is grappling with a profound physical and emotional recovery following her terrifying crash at the Winter Olympics, leaving the future of her illustrious skiing career hanging in the balance.

For now, the formidable decisions about her return to the slopes remain on hold.

The 41-year-old athlete has endured eight surgeries after suffering a complex left leg fracture during the women’s downhill skiing race on 8 February – an injury so severe it nearly necessitated an amputation. She faces at least one more operation to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in the same knee.

Should Vonn decide to race again – a decision she is not yet prepared to make – a return to competition would be at least a year and a half away, she told The Associated Press in an interview on Wednesday.

“I just don’t want to jump to any conclusions or even speculate on what I might do,” Vonn stated. “I may retire. I may never race again and that would be completely fine, but I’m not in a position emotionally to make that decision at this point.”

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Vonn believes she might have considered retirement had she been able to complete a comeback season that rivaled her career best.

She had ended a six-year absence from the sport primarily to compete at Cortina, Italy, a favored course and the future venue for the Milan Cortina Games.

Vonn broke her leg at the Winter Olympics
Vonn broke her leg at the Winter Olympics (Getty)

The winner of three Olympic medals, including a downhill gold in 2010, crashed just 13 seconds into the race. The incident, which resulted in a complex tibia fracture, shocked a star-studded crowd and prematurely ended a season where she had led the World Cup downhill standings, never finishing worse than fourth in any race.

While Vonn has a history of returning from various injuries – including a titanium implant in her right knee – she describes this latest setback as fundamentally different. The pain, she explains, is unlike anything she has experienced before. The eight surgeries for this single injury are just one shy of the total she underwent for all her previous injuries combined.

“It’s a much different injury in that way, again, like the severity of the injury and understanding that I could have lost my leg and how bad things were,” Vonn said. “I can deal with a lot of pain, but this was so extreme. It’s not even been in the universe of pain with this injury as what I’ve had before.”

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Vonn is making progress in her rehabilitation, both in and out of the gym, though not as swiftly as she would prefer. She has transitioned from a wheelchair to crutches – a mode of mobility she finds tiresome – and is expected to begin walking short distances next week.

Beyond her physical recovery, Vonn is also able to travel again, having recently visited New York to discuss her support for biopharmaceutical company Invivyd’s “Antibodies for Any Body” campaign. A holiday is also on the horizon.

However, the path ahead for her skiing career remains unclear. Vonn has not yet discussed a potential return to skiing with her doctor, preferring to focus on the current phase of her recovery.

“Regardless, nothing would really happen until ’27-28 because I still have one more surgery left to take out the metal and to replace my ACL. That still needs to happen,” Vonn explained. “Once I get my ACL fixed, then that’s another six months, so I have at least I would say a year and a half ahead of me before I could really be back to 100%, even just training in the gym.”

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Vonn acknowledges the inherent risks of a return, and her family has expressed concerns. Her father, while she was still in hospital the day after her crash, suggested her career should be over.

Vonn, however, remains defiant: “He means the best. He forgot the cardinal rule with me is that if you don’t want me to do something, you shouldn’t tell me I can’t. Tell me I can’t and I’ll prove you wrong.”

She has never shied away from taking chances, even competing in the Olympics just over a week after tearing her ACL in the past.

Vonn knows she still has a long recovery ahead of her
Vonn knows she still has a long recovery ahead of her (Getty)

“Downhill skiing is one of the most dangerous sports in the world, and that’s a risk that I’ve always taken happily, and this is the result, and I don’t regret it,” said Vonn, who confirmed she had done everything possible to prepare for the race. “I don’t want a do-over.”

Ultimately, Vonn will decide if she wants to race again. For now, her primary focus is on restoring her leg to full health. Only then can she begin to contemplate a career that may or may not be over.

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“I’m still, like I said, in survival mode that I just want to get through this phase and be able to assess where I am in my life,” said Vonn, whose 84 World Cup wins place her second among women, trailing only teammate Mikaela Shiffrin (110). “And take count of what I’ve done and take count of what could be and make decisions in a much better place than where I am now.

“I don’t want to make a decision now because I think that would be rash and probably too emotional and I don’t want to make a mistake, you know?”

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How Man United can add millions to transfer budget ahead of summer rebuild

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Manchester United are on the cusp of qualifying for next season’s Champions League ahead of this weekend’s Premier League fixtures

It has been another rollercoaster season for Manchester United supporters but their campaign should end on a positive note. The 2-1 victory over Brentford on Monday night put the Reds 11 points clear of sixth-place Brighton with four games remaining. The Premier League was awarded a fifth Champions League spot this season thanks to their UEFA coefficient ranking.

With United now needing to finish in the top five, Brighton and Bournemouth are the only teams that can mathematically catch Michael Carrick’s side, though they would need to win all of their remaining matches and hope the Reds lose all of theirs

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It is highly unlikely, and a return to the elite European competition could not come at a better time for United.

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The Reds will be overhauling their midfield this summer. Casemiro will be leaving at the end of the campaign having already announced his exit. Supporters gave him a hero’s reception after the Brentford win as the Brazil international scored his ninth goal of an impressive campaign.

Despite Casemiro’s affection for United, Carrick has insisted there will be no U-turn on the decision for him to leave. Following him out of Old Trafford could be Manuel Ugarte. The Uruguay international joined in 2024 but has not managed to replace Casemiro in the starting line-up. When he has played, Ugarte has struggled to live up to his £50m price tag.

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His last start came in the 2-1 defeat to Leeds at Old Trafford. Barring injuries or suspensions, that will be Ugarte’s last start for United this season, perhaps ever.

Kobbie Mainoo will stay at United beyond this season. The midfielder agreed a new five-year deal with the club that will raise his wages in line with his status in the squad.

United are on the hunt for midfielders this summer, the trouble is they won’t come cheap. The likes of Elliot Anderson, Carlos Baleba, Adam Wharton and Aurelien Tchouameni will command fees of around £100m. United are also in the market for a left-sided winger.

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To complete their summer transfer objectives, United will need to raise funds and they could be a matter of weeks away from adding £80m to their budget. While exact figures will not be released until next season, United will bank approximately £16.1m for reaching the league phase of the Champions League – based on this year’s figures.

United’s prize pot will only go up further from there but that money is not guaranteed. They will earn £1.8m per win in the league phase and £600,000 for a draw.

There is also extra money on offer for the club’s final position in the standings and qualification for the knockout stages. Prize money will continue to grow should United progress.

The Reds will, of course, add more money to the kitty from player sales. Rasmus Hojlund is all but guaranteed to complete a permanent move to Napoli this summer.

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Napoli and United agreed on achievable clauses to complete the deal. For instance, the deal will be completed if Napoli qualify for the Champions League.

They currently sit second in Serie A, eight points clear of fifth-place Como, with 12 points to play for. Regardless, Napoli’s sporting director Giovanni Manna described the deal as a ‘formality’ in December and once done, the Reds will land £38m.

Marcus Rashford is also expected to complete a permanent move this summer. United agreed a £26m option to buy with Barcelona.

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Barca have not made the same strong statements as Napoli. But after three goals in his last four La Liga appearances, Rashford is doing all he can to make the move permanent.

United are going to have to spend big this summer, but there are plenty of ways they can add to the kitty.

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Iceland Cricket Shows No Mercy To Pakistan Expert Over Vaibhav Sooryavanshi ‘AI Chip’ Jibe

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File photo of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi© AFP




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Iceland Cricket took a sly dig at Pakistan expert Nauman Niaz, who jokingly said that 15-year-old sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has an Artificial Intelligence (AI) chip inside his bat that allows him to hit such massive sixes. Sooryavanshi has been enjoying a stunning run of form in the ongoing IPL 2026, and he is currently the highest run-scorer in the competition. He dominated star bowlers like Josh Hazlewood and Jasprit Bumrah-a feat that left both fans and experts spellbound. That prompted Niaz to make the comment, which has led to a lot of buzz on social media.

“Think about it. What is this kid? Get his bat checked. Like WADA conducts dope tests, send him to a lab. He probably used an AI chip in his bat. He is unreal. What a player,” Niaz said in a viral YouTube video. “When you’re 18, your body builds muscle, biceps, and triceps. This one is just 16. He was born when Virat Kohli was a world champion. He doesn’t have the power game as much as he has technique. He is a wristy player, plus if you look at his arc, he uses the full 360-degree range,” he said.

In response, Iceland Cricket took to social media and asked for the AI chips that were being used by the prodigy in a cheeky dig. Some users even joked that Pakistan batters may need similar AI chips to perform well.

Sooryavanshi responded to the viral “AI chip” claims surrounding his bat, delivering a humorous and composed reply that quickly grabbed attention. The young batter joked that whatever power he has comes straight from above, adding that if anything is installed, it’s by God and he’s simply using it.

“God has given it to me. He himself said something is installed in my bat. I am using that,” Vaibhav said in a video released by Rajasthan Royals on X.


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At The Letters | Sportsnet

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Ben Nicholson-Smith is Sportsnet’s baseball editor. Arden Zwelling is a senior writer. Together, they bring you the most in-depth Blue Jays podcast in the league, covering off all the latest news with opinion and analysis, as well as interviews with other insiders and people around the team.

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LIV Golf hires new chairman, seeks funding without Saudi backing

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LIV Golf announced a new board and a new business strategy Thursday as it tries to forge ahead without Saudi Arabian funding that allowed the league to launch nearly four years ago with oversized contracts and prize funds.

Yasir Al-Rumayyan, the Public Investment Fund governor who was behind the creation of LIV Golf, is no longer listed as chairman of LIV Golf.

LIV announced Gene Davis of Pirinate Consulting Group and Jon Zinman of the strategic advisory firm JZ Advisors are leading a newly created board, with Davis as chairman. The focus is on securing long-term financial partners when Saudi funding ends after this season.

LIV said it was seeking to move toward an investment model involving multiple partners and team franchises. The league has said it expects 10 of its 13 teams to be profitable this year.

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“The executive leadership team, along with Jon and I, see a clear opportunity to help the league formalize its structure, attract and secure long-term capital, and position the business for growth while continuing to promote the game across the world,” Davis said in a statement. “We look forward to positioning LIV Golf for future success.”

Sports Business Journal reported Wednesday night Al-Rumayyan has resigned as LIV chairman. There has been no official announcement from PIF on Al-Rumayyan or LIV Golf funding.

Scott O’Neil, the CEO at LIV Golf, had told Britain-based TNT two weeks ago during the Mexico event: “The reality is that you’re funded through the season, and then you work like crazy as a business to create a business and a business plan to keep us going.”

That raised questions whether LIV Golf could keep some of its top players once their lucrative contracts expired. With financial muscle from Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, LIV was able to spend $1 billion to land the likes of Bryson DeChambeau, Brooks Koepka, Phil Mickelson, Cameron Smith and eventually Jon Rahm, the last big signing at the end of 2023.

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The newsletter Money in Sport reported earlier this year that LIV Golf already had spent $5.3 billion since the league launched in 2022, a figure that would be $6 billion by the end of this year.

LIV staff and players have been aware Saudi funding was only through the 2026 season. Thursday’s announcement was to outline plans to seek other sources of funding for a league that currently offers $30 million prize funds at each tournament.

Al-Rumayyan is passionate about golf and long wanted a seat at the table with the sport’s leadership. He signed a framework agreement in 2023 with the PGA Tour and European tour and was set to join the PGA Tour Enterprises board if it was approved.

The deal never materialized, except for ending antitrust lawsuits. PGA Tour Enterprises instead got a minority investment from a consortium of North American sports owners.

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Al-Rumayyan was at the White House in February 2025 to meet with President Donald Trump along with a PGA Tour team that included Tiger Woods, Adam Scott and Commissioner Jay Monahan. But it was clear LIV and the PGA Tour could not find common ground, mainly because the Saudi league wanted to stick with a team component.

DeChambeau and Rahm — both multiple major champions — are considered LIV’s top two players.

DeChambeau said in an interview with the Flushing It social media site that “as long as LIV is here, I would figure out a way for it to make sense.”

“There’s a lot of moving parts like in any business,” DeChambeau said. “It’s a startup, right? And so there’s going to be times where we’re squeezed and punched. This is one of those moments. But I’m going to do everything in my power to make it work and I really see the value in franchise golf.”

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LIV Golf earlier this week said it was postponing its June 25-28 event in Louisiana to the fall. The next event is scheduled for May 7-10 in northern Virginia, and O’Neil had said in a memo to staff two weeks ago the season would be uninterrupted and “full throttle.”

Al-Rumayyan was all about team golf when he and former CEO Greg Norman launched the league, even though the team concept was one reason it took more than three years for LIV to get recognized by the Official World Golf Ranking.

Koepka left LIV after last season and the PGA Tour granted him a path back with stipulations that included no access to equity grants for five years, a $5 million charity donation and no bonus money this year.

The tour offered it to three other LIV players who had won majors since 2022 — Rahm, DeChambeau and Smith — and gave them a Feb. 4 deadline to accept. None did.

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In an interview earlier this week with The Wall Street Journal, PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp said: “We’re interested in having the best players who can help our tour. Not every player can do that.”

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Rohesia primed for Adelaide Guineas in 2026

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According to Will Hayes, a series of favourable circumstances have come together enabling talented filly Rohesia to regain her victorious touch.

Hanseatic-sired Rohesia has notched successive 1400m wins, her newest at stakes level, which has seen the camp opt to stay in Adelaide for this Saturday’s Listed Adelaide Guineas (1600m).

Having tackled sprint journeys early on, the filly saw off a quality Class 3 line-up at Ballarat before backing up her $3 status as favourite in the Listed Nitschke Stakes (1400m) conducted at Morphettville Parks April 18th.

Hayes mentioned that blinkers have transformed her, particularly noting her calm acceptance of the gear during her recent double.

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“We’re going to look at the mile in the Adelaide Guineas,” Hayes said.

“She was so strong through the line the other day, we thought we’d give her the chance to add another stakes victory.

“I think that the defining moment is when we got the blinkers on, she’s very genuine, but they really have improved her.

“So it’s really good that she’s tractable, and she’s relaxed in them and she keeps finding the line, so we’ll definitely get a good guide on her out to the mile.”

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Rohesia’s time in Adelaide these past two weeks has highlighted her amenable character as essential to her development.

“She’s stayed here with Stuart and Lizzy Gowers and she loves it,” Hayes said.

“She’s very straightforward, Ash Alford who’s travelling our horses has done a great job and says she hasn’t missed a beat since her last win.”

The Adelaide Guineas has attracted 16 acceptors including Rohesia from post three aboard which Daniel Stackhouse is confirmed, with odds of $6 trailing Gold Coast Belle on $2.15.

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Head to the betting sites for competitive betting markets for the race.

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2026 NFL Draft: One instant-impact rookie from every round

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In the NFL, we’ve seen teams change their fortunes instantly with one great pick or one great draft class. Teams that looked good but not great elevated their play thanks to standout rookies. 

Just last year, first-round left guard Grey Zabel and second-round safety Nick Emmanwori helped the Seahawks win the Super Bowl, and the year before that, cornerbacks Cooper DeJean and Quinyon Mitchell helped the Eagles lift the Lombardi Trophy.

This season, several rookies landed in ideal spots to contribute right away, and their talent plus fit could help solidify teams looking for a boost. Here’s one player from every round who can make an instant impact. 


Bain slid down the draft board Thursday night, but he landed in the perfect spot for his talent to shine under a defensive playcaller who’ll unleash him. 

The Buccaneers’ defense fell below its usual standard in 2025, largely because it couldn’t convert pressures into sacks. While Tampa Bay finished 12th in the NFL in pressure rate, its sack rate tied for 22nd (per TruMedia). Remove blitzes, and that pressure rate drops to 20th. 

Injuries up and down the line prevented the Bucs from finding the right combination up front, and they lacked anyone who could consistently win without blitzing. 

Adding Bain gives this defense another sawed-off, full-speed maniac off the edge that Todd Bowles can deploy in multiple alignments. Bain’s superpower is gaining leverage instantly while playing with power and excellent hand usage, and in Bowles’ scheme, he’ll line up all over the formation. Whether Bowles uses him to dent pockets in a Rolodex of pass-rush games or eases up on the blitz dial, Bain can become the versatile edge winner Yaya Diaby hasn’t yet developed into. 

I’ll be curious to watch whether Bowles blitzes as heavily now that he has even more hellraisers on defense. 


I’ve said before that the Chiefs need to diversify their body types and personnel on the edge. For the longest time, defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo leaned on bigger, longer EDGE defenders to compress the pocket while Chris Jones created cleanup sacks. 

But as Jones begins to slow down, the rest of the EDGE room hasn’t been able to win consistently without him. According to NFL Pro, no Chiefs defensive lineman posted a pressure rate above 14%, and Jones led the team in both quick pressures (20) and average get-off time (0.85 seconds). 

Kansas City needed another player who could win quickly and force quarterbacks up into Jones instead of the other way around.

Enter Thomas, who brings electrifying speed and burst off the edge. Though undersized, Thomas finished 12th in college football in sacks across the 2024 and 2025 seasons combined while posting a 15.4% pressure rate. He brings a different flavor to the Chiefs’ EDGE room with his lightning-quick first step and bend around the corner. 

I was a big fan of Thomas entering the draft, and I think this landing spot will help unlock his full potential while allowing him to grow into a three-down threat for Kansas City. 

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Prisco’s Better-Than Team for 2026 NFL Draft: The 20 prospects he’s higher on than scouts

Pete Prisco

Prisco's Better-Than Team for 2026 NFL Draft: The 20 prospects he's higher on than scouts
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“Big Citrus” in Minnesota is a great fit for both player and team, even after Caleb Banks went to the Vikings in Round 1. I think both players complement each other well, but Orange has a chance to instantly elevate Minnesota’s run defense. 

The Vikings struggled last season when opponents deployed bigger personnel packages. According to TruMedia, Minnesota ranked 25th in defensive success rate against runs out of 12, 13, 21, and 22 personnel. 

As fun as Brian Flores’ defense can be, it’s hard to consistently ask defensive backs to fit the run against 300-pound offensive linemen because the front was simply too small. 

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Orange combines great size (322 pounds), power, and run-game awareness to hold the point as a nose tackle, just as he did at Iowa State. In Minnesota, he’ll get the chance to do the same. A player like Orange not only eats double teams to free up the second level, but he can also shed blockers and make plays at or behind the line of scrimmage. 

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He may not offer much pass-rush juice, but if he consistently helps force second- and third-and-long situations, that’s a win.


Anytime your future offensive coordinator says he’ll take his shirt off in the draft room if they pick you, you belong on an instant-impact list. 

With Mike McDaniel bringing his Need for Speed offense to Los Angeles to pair with Jim Harbaugh’s Big Mean Machine foundation, the Chargers needed a true floor spacer. 

Ladd McConkey thrives in intermediate areas, but adding someone who can stretch the field vertically will create more room underneath while further unlocking Justin Herbert as a downfield passer.

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Thompson is instant juice. He was the fastest player at the NFL Scouting Combine, running a 4.26-second 40-yard dash. He’s not just a straight-line burner, either — he can stop, sink his hips, and change direction better than many speed specialists. 

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Thompson is diminutive at 5-foot-9 and 164 pounds, but he won’t have to play on the outside. He can truly be the “three-point shooter” in the Chargers’ offense. 


While Carolina’s offensive line appears built for both the present and future after signing tackle Rasheed Walker and drafting left tackle Monroe Freeling, Hecht might be the biggest steal of Round 5. 

Luke Fortner currently projects as the starting center, which would mark a major step back for a run game that performed well in 2025. 

With Cade Mays and Austin Corbett gone, the Panthers need a dependable center to keep things moving efficiently.

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Hecht is a reliable player even without elite physical tools. I thought he displayed the best technique and hand placement among centers in this class and showed solid explosiveness, evident by his 5.10-second 40-yard dash at the combine.

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He knows how to win leverage, and between road graders Damien Lewis and Robert Hunt, he could quickly become a stabilizing presence for a team trying to maximize Bryce Young’s supporting cast. 

I’m a big fan of Hecht’s game, and I think he can start from Day 1. 


The Lions have searched for pass-rush juice opposite Aidan Hutchinson for *checks notes* about three years now. 

According to Sports Info Solutions, Detroit’s pressure rate with Hutchinson on the field is 42.2%, which would lead the NFL. Without him, that number plummets to 21.1%, which would rank dead last by a wide margin.

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Finding anyone who can provide complementary pass-rush juice would dramatically help this defense, especially if the secondary gets healthy.

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Skyler Gill-Howard

DET • DT

Career: Former Division II walk-on who transitioned from Northern Illinois linebacker to Texas Tech defensive tackle


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Gill-Howard was an unsung hero on Texas Tech’s interior defensive line. While I’m not saying he’ll start immediately, he can provide pass-rush pop from the interior. 

He has impressive quickness and can cross blockers’ faces, which could be useful when the Lions run pass-rush games up front. He also offers effective secondary moves when his first rush stalls, helping him win late in reps. 

With Tyleik Williams and Alim McNeill handling early downs, Gill-Howard could carve out a valuable third-down role.

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Ryan Wilson

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I’m not sure how Burks lasted until Round 7, but it benefits the Colts because he provides a second gear not many in the draft class possess. Burks ran a 4.30-second 40-yard dash, posted a 42-inch vertical and broad-jumped 131 inches at the combine. 

That athleticism absolutely shows up on tape. He’s a field-tilter who can take the top off a defense, but he’s more than just a vertical threat. His body control and ball tracking — especially along the sideline — impressed me.

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Indianapolis already paid Alec Pierce handsomely and still has Josh Downs, but the depth behind them remains thin. Players like Nick Westbrook-Ikhine and Anthony Gould don’t meaningfully move the needle for a team trying to win now.

Burks’ speed is a game-changer, and despite his draft fall, if there’s any Day 3 player who can make an instant impact, it’s him.

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Prospects Report: Landon DuPont, Silvertips eye elusive title

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It has been 12 long years since a WHL team lifted the Memorial Cup.

An associate coach on that winning 2013-14 Edmonton Oil Kings team just might be the next man to guide a squad from his league to a CHL crown.

Veteran coach Steve Hamilton and the Everett Silvertips advanced to the WHL final by completing a 4-0 sweep of the Penticton Vees with a come-from-behind 4-2 road win on Tuesday.

“Incredibly proud of our team. Big-time effort tonight,” Hamilton, named WHL coach of the year on Tuesday, said after his team captured the Western Conference crown, per the Silvertips.

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The Edmonton native more than landed on his feet after the Calgary Hitmen announced they would not be renewing his contract as head coach following the 2023-24 season.

Less than four months after the Hitmen made that call, the Silvertips hired Hamilton as head coach.

Lo and behold, he arrived at the same time as the CHL’s latest exceptional-status player, Landon DuPont. The talented blue-liner has been as advertised, and is very much in the running to go No. 1 overall in next year’s NHL Draft.

The team from Washington state had the best regular-season record in the league last season before bowing out in the second round of the playoffs. This year, the Silvertips again finished tops in the regular season and now are four wins away from a league title and a trip to the Memorial Cup in Kelowna, B.C., after going 12-1 in the first three playoff rounds.

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The Silvertips now await the winner of the Eastern Conference final between the Prince Albert Raiders and Medicine Hat Tigers.

DuPont (17 points in 13 playoff games) truly is exceptional, but it’s not a one-man show.

Finnish forwards Matias Vanhanen (undrafted last year, but sure to be selected this year) and Julius Miettinen (Seattle Kraken second-round pick) are 1-2 in WHL playoff scoring after playing for their country at this year’s world juniors.

Detroit Red Wings first-round pick Carter Bear, a member of Team Canada at the world juniors, is also in the top 10 in playoff scoring. In net, Alaska native Anders Miller has a .936 save percentage in the post-season.

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“It’s a dream come true,” Miettinen, now in his third year in Everett, said. “We’ve been playing for this the whole year and now we’re here.

“I don’t even know how to put this in words. It’s been a long three years and I couldn’t be happier than to do it with these guys

Founded in 2003, the Silvertips are looking for their first WHL title. They lost in the final in their expansion year and in 2017-18.

The Brantford Bulldogs have a whopping five NHL first-round picks on their roster and a sixth, Caleb Malhotra, who will go in the first round this year.

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But it’s not always the biggest names playing the biggest roles for the OHL’s top squad.

Just look at Game 4 of the OHL Eastern Conference final, where the undrafted and undersized Cooper Dennis had two goals and an assist in a 6-1 win over the Barrie Colts, giving the Bulldogs a 3-1 lead in the series.

The five-foot-six Michigan commit, from Ithaca, N.Y., has fit right in on a line with Malhotra and Dallas Stars pick Charlie Paquette.

“Coop’s been strong for us throughout the whole playoffs,” Bulldogs coach Jay McKee said. “The numbers haven’t shown for, but he’s probably generated more chances than most of our guys and had a lot of good looks at the net. We had a talk the other day on the ice. You know it’s coming when you’re generating, and he’s been playing fantastic. To see him get rewarded was nice.”

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The Bulldogs have a chance to wrap up the series against Barrie on home ice on Thursday.

The QMJHL scored a recruiting win this week when 2027 first-round NHL Draft prospect James Scantlebury, a native of Chicoutimi, Que., announced he will play for the Quebec Remparts next season after being a rookie-of-the-year finalist in the USHL with the Chicago Steel this season.

Scantlebury may not be the only potential 2027 first-rounder landing with the Remparts.

Kevin Dubé of Le Journal De Quebec reported Wednesday that there are strong rumblings that American Carter Meyer, a Remparts first-round pick, will report to Quebec. Meyer played for the U.S. National Development Team this year.

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Freddy Meyer, Carter’s brother, plays for the Remparts.

The QMJHL lost 2026 first-round prospect Tynan Lawrence and potential 2026 QMJHL first-round pick Zaac Charbonneau to the USHL, but the developments in Quebec this week are promising for the league.

Meanwhile, Willy Palov of the Halifax Chronicle Herald reported Wednesday that American-born Moncton Wildcats star defenceman Tommy Bleyl will return to the QMJHL powerhouse next year instead of reporting to Michigan State. Bleyl was the league’s rookie and defenceman of the year this season and could be a first-round NHL pick in June.

The Wildcats and Blainville-Boisbriand Armada are tied 2-2 in what has been a very entertaining QMJHL semifinal.

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Kentucky Derby 2026 odds, post positions, picks, date, time: Renegade, Commandment, Further Ado best bets

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A double-digit longshot won the Run for the Roses every year from 2021-24, but that trend stopped in 2025 when Sovereignty won at 5-1. Still, he was not the favorite in that race, and the morning-line betting favorite has only won the first jewel of the Triple Crown 18 times in the race’s existence. That’ll be the challenge for Renegade at the 2026 Kentucky Derby as he’s going off at 4-1 ahead of Saturday’s 6:57 p.m. ET post time at Churchill Downs.

His half-brother Commandment and Further Ado are close behind at 6-1, with a half-dozen total Kentucky Derby 2026 horses at 15-1 or lower on the odds board. How should you formulate your 2026 Kentucky Derby betting strategy? Before making any 2026 Kentucky Derby picks, be sure to see the 2026 Kentucky Derby predictions from SportsLine’s elite horse racing expert Jody Demling.

Bet the Kentucky Derby with the latest TwinSpires offer code CBSSPORTS to claim up to $400 in bonus bets here:

A fixture in the horse racing world who has been writing about, talking about and betting on races for years, Demling has nailed the Kentucky Oaks-Derby double 12 times in the last 17 years. He also predicted the top three 2025 Kentucky Derby finishers in the correct order and hit a $1,682 supefecta, and then went on to nail the exacta in last year’s Preakness. Anyone who has followed him on horse racing betting sites could be way up. 

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Now, with the 2026 Kentucky Derby approaching and horse racing futures odds on the board, Demling is sharing his 2026 Kentucky Derby betting picks and 2026 Kentucky Derby predictions over at SportsLine. Go here to see them.

Top 2026 Kentucky Derby predictions, expert analysis

One of Demling’s surprising 2026 Kentucky Derby picks: He’s completely fading Renegade, the morning-line favorite at 4-1. In fact, Demling says Renegade will barely finish inside the top 10 on Saturday. Renegade comes to Churchill Downs off wins at the Arkansas Derby and the Sam F. Davis Stakes. He drew the challenging inside rail position, however, and 1986 was the last time a horse won the Kentucky Derby breaking from Post No. 1. The favorite also hasn’t won the Kentucky Derby since 2018, so Demling sees too much working against Renegade this year. See who to back at SportsLine.

Demling also locked in his 2026 Kentucky Derby prediction for Commandment, who is the half-brother of Renegade and is listed at 6-1 in the Kentucky Derby odds. Commandment comes to Churchill Downs on a four-race winning streak, including winning back-to-back graded-stakes races: the Florida Derby and the Fountain of Youth Stakes. The Florida Derby has produced more Kentucky Derby winners than any other prep race, but it’s been nearly a decade since the most recent one, so that’s a trend to keep in mind when betting on Commandment. Bet the Kentucky Derby with the latest FanDuel Racing promo, which lets users bet $5 and get $25 in bonuses:

Demling has also locked in his 2026 Kentucky Derby picks for Further Ado (6-1). Further Ado was a longshot in the Kentucky Derby futures throughout the early spring, but he’s surged up the board after three wins in his last four races, including a victory at the Blue Grass Stakes on April 4. If there’s a question about Further Ado, it might involve his level of competition. His win at the Blue Grass Stakes wasn’t against a loaded field. “Is he really improving that much?” Demling said to SportsLine. “Hard to tell, so I can’t throw him out.” See which other horses to back at SportsLine, and you can make 2026 Kentucky Derby bets at TwinSpires here with the offer code CBSSPORTS:

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How to make 2026 Kentucky Derby picks, bets

Demling is also high on a longshot who “demolished the field” in his last start. Anyone who backs this colt could hit it big. Demling is sharing which horse it is, along with his entire projected 2026 Kentucky Derby leaderboard, over at SportsLine.

Which horse wins the Kentucky Derby 2026, and which longshot is a must-back? Check out the latest 2026 Kentucky Derby odds below, then visit SportsLine to see Demling’s picks for the Kentucky Derby, all from the expert who has nailed 12 Derby-Oaks doubles.

2026 Kentucky Derby odds

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IPL 2026: ‘That’s not good enough’- Aakash Chopra fires warning to star RCB player | Cricket News

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IPL 2026: ‘That’s not good enough’- Aakash Chopra fires warning to star RCB player
RCB’s Jacob Bethell and Virat Kohli run between the wickets (PTI Photo)

Former India opener Aakash Chopra has raised concerns over Jacob Bethell’s form ahead of Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s clash against Gujarat Titans on April 30, suggesting the youngster could be feeling the heat after a quiet start to his stint this season.Bethell, who came into the side for the injured Phil Salt, has featured in the last two matches but hasn’t managed to convert his starts. Scores of 14 off 10 and 20 off 11 have shown glimpses, but Chopra believes that won’t be enough to satisfy expectations within the camp.Speaking on his YouTube channel, Chopra said the team combination does not necessarily need a change, but added that Bethell’s performances will be under scrutiny. He also referenced Alastair Cook’s earlier remarks about the youngster’s playing time, pointing out the irony of him getting opportunities but failing to make a strong impact.“Don’t change anything, although there will be slight pressure on Jacob Bethell because some time back, Alastair Cook was asking him to return if he was not being played. He is playing, but he isn’t scoring runs. He is playing cameos. That’s not good enough. So that is one thing they would want to change,” Chopra said.Chopra also questioned how RCB are utilising Romario Shepherd, noting a lack of clarity around his role. He highlighted that Shepherd has been expensive with the ball and hasn’t had enough chances to contribute with the bat, making his presence somewhat ineffective in the current setup.“They still don’t know what Romario Shepherd’s role is because he gets hit a lot when he comes to bowl, and he is not getting to bat at all. This is another incredible part that all teams are playing with 12, they are playing with 11, and are winning despite that,” he observed.Turning his attention to Gujarat, Chopra identified two major concerns that could hold them back. The first, he said, is their heavy reliance on the top order, particularly Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill and Jos Buttler. According to him, the team’s fortunes are closely tied to whether this trio delivers.“GT, you have two issues. It includes your dependency on the top three, which will remain. You cannot do anything about that. Sai Sudharsan scored runs that day (away game against RCB) and needs to score runs today as well, or else Shubman Gill or Jos Buttler should score runs,” he said.The second issue Chopra flagged was Gujarat’s struggles at the death. He pointed out that their scoring rate in the final four overs has been underwhelming, with 42 being their highest return in that phase so far.“Your problem is that you don’t score runs in the last four overs. The highest you have scored is 42. If 42 is a team’s highest in the last four overs, it means you have a problem. You will have to address that problem. How will you progress if you don’t address that?” he added.With both teams carrying specific concerns into the contest, the upcoming clash could hinge on whether individuals like Bethell step up and whether Gujarat can fix their finishing issues in time.

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