The winter sun shone brightly, albeit briefly, for the start of the Cheltenham Festival, the highlight of the jump racing season.
More than 57,000 racegoers – from binocular-armed racing enthusiasts to city hipsters – congregated in this corner of the Cotswolds, sending opening day attendance up 3 per cent from last year.
The excitement of the smiling crowds entering Prestbury Park, many arriving after a testing six-hour journey from Ireland, was palpable, and as the first race set off – met, of course, by the rousing Cheltenham roar – there was consensus on the terraces that the festival was back to its best.
After the controversy of 2020, when huge crowds were blamed for spreading Covid, followed by price rises and squeezed-in crowds on Gold Cup day, there was a sense among some that the festival had lost its way.
But changes this year, including a 66,000 cap on attendance and a redesign in outdoor drinking areas, were warmly welcomed. Clouds above threatened but never released an expected downpour on proceedings.
A packed Grandstand watches the first race – the Supreme Novice Hurdles – at the Cheltenham Festival (Action Images/Reuters)
“Those lads going to Benidorm [people watching Cheltenham on television],” said Craig Jones. “Don’t tell them, but we’ve got our Cheltenham back.”
The 41-year-old quantity surveyor was standing inside the Guinness Village, where pints of the “black stuff”, along with beers and cider, were reduced this year by 30p to match 2022 prices.
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Prosecco was also served for the first time, as an alternative to the £32 glasses of champagne on offer.
Also new this year, a huge tented area called “The Retreat” with a DJ, self-service bars and food outlets. Drinking restrictions were relaxed in the Club Enclosure, meaning punters didn’t have to rush pints to move in and out of the trackside area.
Mr Jones, who “voted with his feet” when he stopped coming to Cheltenham after 2023, said: “I didn’t like paying so much to get in when it was so busy. You’d be queuing for ages to get a drink, and when you had one you’d have to be careful not to get knocked over.
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Cliff Henry and friend Craig Jones, right, who said the festival was back to its best (The Independent)
“It’s better now. There’s space, no queues, and just a really good atmosphere so far with a good dynamic of racing fans and people here for the day out.”
Tom Robinson, who arrived for the opening day with 20 others from Melksham in Wiltshire, agreed.
“It feels good this year,” the 38-year-old said. “We accept the money situation; it’s a highlight in the calendar and you save up money all year for it, so for me it’s a bit irrelevant – but the numbers this year are good. I’ve been here when it’s been way too busy, and it can take away from the experience, but it’s just right today.”
His brother Miles Robinson, 35, added: “The relaxation of restrictions on drinks make the festival more accessible, and there’s no rushing your drink and getting drunk just to get outside and watch a race.”
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Brothers Miles and Tom Robinson came for the first day from Melksham in Wiltshire (The Independent)
There was one queue inside the festival at lunchtime. It was for the burger outlet on the edge of the Guinness Village, where a Cheltenham Blue cost £13.95. Richard Price, 78, from Taunton, who went for a £11.45 burger, said: “I’ve been coming since 1981, and although much has changed, I remember it being so quiet and driving in with no traffic, the event is still a great experience for everyone.”
Behind the Guinness Village, where a band singer asked the crowd “are you drunk yet” at 1.45pm, a more relaxed atmosphere was contained within the Orchard area, where there were boutique shops, spa treatments and upmarket drinks on offer.
One of the new additions was English sparkling wine producer Chapel Down. The Kent-based vineyard has seen demand double in a decade, and with a presence at Ascot and Newbury races, Susie Goldsmith, head of PR, said Cheltenham was a “natural step” in the company’s offering within the sporting calendar.
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From left: Mark Unsted, Bradley Larimore and Shaun Hogg (The Independent)
Among those inside the tented bar was Bradley Larimore, managing director of Derby-based PMB Pallets, who bought a three litre bottle of Brut, priced at £290, for his business clients.
“I love coming here every year,” he said. “It’s a great occasion to network with businessmen and women, while also enjoying the atmosphere of the day. The money side of it doesn’t bother me, it’s all worth it.”
The official attendance for the opening day was 57,242, up from 55,498 last year, providing bosses with a boost on a week they expect around 250,000.
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Among the youngest at the festival was six-month-old Logan, whose parents James Purchase and Abbie Watson watched a race from the outdoor screens within the venue. They praised its child-friendly facilities, including a spacious changing area and parking close to the entrance.
“Cheltenham is Cheltenham,” said Mr Purchase, 38. “It’s the event of the year for racing enthusiasts, but really it’s a place for everyone to come to enjoy.”
There was one downside to the opening day, with horse Hansard suffering a fatal injury during the Singer Arkle Trophy Novices’ Chase – however, it failed to spoil an enjoyable day for most.
The Croatian, who replied “no comment” when asked if he deserved to remain in charge of Spurs, said he had never taken a goalkeeper off as early during his 15 years as a manager and said Kinsky apologised to the team for his mistakes.
The 22-year-old Czech was surprisingly selected ahead of usual first-choice Guglielmo Vicario, who was instead brought off the bench and conceded the last two goals in Atletico’s 5-2 win.
But Tudor claimed: “It was the right decision to pick him (Kinsky) before. Toni is a very good goalkeeper. Unfortunately what happened, happened. Afterwards it is easy to say it was not a right decision.
“It happened very rare things in my coaching 15 years, I never do that. It was necessary to preserve the guy, to preserve the team. Incredible situation.”
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Kinsky gave the ball away for Atletico’s sixth-minute opener, scored by Marcos Llorente, and presented it straight to Julian Alvarez for their third goal.
Tudor denied that captain Cristian Romero told him to take Kinsky off and explained why he ignored the upset goalkeeper as he went off, adding: “We don’t need to comment. We don’t need to speak too much. I explained to Toni, also speaking after, that he is the right guy and a good goalkeeper. Unfortunately, it happened in this big game, these mistakes.”
Tudor said Kinsky was apologetic in the dressing room and accepted the decision to take him off.
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Antonin Kinsky was comforted by his Tottenham team-mates as he left the pitch (PA Wire)
He added: “He was sorry. He made an excuse for the team. The team is with him. Me too. I was speaking with him. He understands the moment. He understands why he go out.”
Tudor has lost all four games since Tottenham appointed him and said he was not worried about being sacked.
“It is not a topic for me,” he said. “It is not about my job, it is about how to help the team. It will be always be about that.”
Spurs are waiting to discover if Romero and substitute Joao Palhinha are concussed after an injury-time clash of heads, which would rule them out of Sunday’s Premier League game against Liverpool.
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“We will see,” Tudor said. “Sometimes it is difficult to explain. It looks like everything is against us. Incredible things.”
The stable of Tony and Calvin McEvoy relies on a grade reduction to trigger improved performances from Veight.
Last successful in the Group 1 George Ryder Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill close to two years ago, the Grunt-sired Group 1 winner has struggled since.
Post his latest Group 1 assignment, Veight lines up in Saturday’s $200,000 VOBIS Gold So Si Bon (1400m) at Caulfield.
In the 2024 spring Veight laboured, was gelded amid pneumonia troubles, then posted a lone 2025 appearance finishing bottom in the Group 1 Doomben 10,000.
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Returned to spell, a paddock accident inflicted neck damage, halting spring aspirations.
Veight seemed on track for the McEvoys after opening with second in the Group 2 Australia Stakes (1200m) at Pakenham and bronze in the Group 3 Kevin Heffernan Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on February 7, the five-year-old now primed.
The trainers were left puzzled however when he was beaten out of sight in the Futurity Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield February 21.
“We went over him thoroughly and he has no issues at all,” Calvin McEvoy said.
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“The first two runs were good for the prep, but he had a tough run last time and put the white flag up early which was disappointing.
“We sent him back to Ballarat for a change of scenery and he’s down in grade on Saturday, so we’ll be looking for him to perform.”
Through 18 outings, Veight has tackled stakes races bar his February 2023 Pakenham maiden win and the ensuing Golden Eagle.
With 61kg declared for Saturday, Jackson Radley takes the mount claiming 3kg.
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An apprentice will pilot Veight in competition for the initial time.
“I’m not sure what’s happened there, but we’re able to use his claim,” McEvoy said.
“He’s got 58 (kg), so he’s in pretty well in off his best form.
“I expect him to bounce back, but if he doesn’t bounce back he might be looking after himself a little bit.”
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PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. — It’s Players Championship week, and you know what that means: The collective gaze of golf fans zooms in on the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass and zooms in further to its 4,000-square-foot 17th green.
On Sunday, the tournament will be decided in part based on whether the best golfers in the world can find that green in regulation.
But first: How about Rob Gronkowski?
That’s the question posed by gambling giant and PGA Tour gambling partner FanDuel, which pays Gronkowski a fancy number to serve as a frontman in its marketing schemes. The future Hall-of-Fame tight end was out at Sawgrass Tuesday with a fleet of producers capturing content. If he hits the green, FanDuel will offer its users a share of $300,000 in Bonus Bets across its platform. This was multi-level modern marketing at its finest. Educating the public about an upcoming event, drawing them in with a person of influence, promising something (or at least a chance for something) in exchange for their attention. But also … asking them to pony up, too.
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You see it everywhere in sports these days. Gambling, gambling, gambling. It’s a massive industry — $166 billion was wagered on sports in America in 2025 — and it’s legal (to varying degrees) in more than 35 states. Betting can also be a controversial, inflammatory corner of the sports world. Just this week, two MLS players received lifetime bans for their roles in corrupting game action. Numerous pro and collegiate basketball players have been indicted by the federal government for their roles in rigging outcomes for money. Similar controversy landed at the MLB’s doorstep with a pair of Cleveland Guardians pitchers last fall.
Golf hasn’t had that type of front-page scandal. At least not yet. And the PGA Tour is keen to keep it that way. But they also remain keen to lean in wherever they can to the mutually beneficial partnerships between sports leagues and gaming operators.
A recent development in the Tour’s balancing act has come in just the last few weeks. On Monday, DraftKings announced it would offer same-game parlays on golf events for the first time ever. It has often been proven that these multi-leg bets offer odds more tilted against bettors than normal, but they have nonetheless exploded in popularity thanks to a boosted reward at a tinier cost. That’s been very good for sportsbooks and occasionally very good for individuals, but it nets out as good business for the Tour. The timing ahead of the Tour’s biggest event seems like no coincidence.
“The reason we got into [gaming] was for engagement,” said Scott Warfield, the Tour’s VP of gaming. “If we can get people watching longer through this legalized activity, what that does to quarter-hour ratings, what that does to media deals, interest coming to attend events … That’s the lens through which we sort of judge success.”
On the other side of the coin, just two weeks ago the Tour issued new guidelines to its players on how to report gambling-related harassment, both in person or online. If a caddie hears too much from an overserved spectator, the Tour can do something about it. If an unsuccessful gambler in North Dakota goes after Chris Gotterup on Venmo, for instance, DraftKings can suspend (or ban) their account. The new measures are a proactive move, to be sure, but also an open acknowledgement of the ecosystem the Tour now swims in. Hey, you’re bound to deal with this stuff, but we’ll do everything we can to defend against it.
The Tour, like other sports leagues, understands that revenue and engagement will climb the more it leans into gambling. Hence the hard work to get same-game golf parlays ready for the Players Championship — and hard work to ready its technology for more markets, too. Three years ago, the Tour reworked its 20-year-old ShotLink system to eliminate nearly all room for human error. What started as tournament-long gambling opportunities in 2018 has progressed to thousands of individual-hole opportunities. Arriving in the next few years, Warfield believes, are every-shot opportunities. And why? Because each full-field event offers roughly 30,000 shots. Like a casino offering an array of table games, the Tour is interested in options. As is, the Tour has seen 30 to 35% annual gains in the golf betting handle. It’s a very popular gambling sport, particularly in the summer.
Golf has its specific advantages. One of those: It operates at a slower pace than some of its peers. The NBA shot clock is 24 seconds and the NFL play clock is 40 seconds, but golfers take minutes to walk between each shot and 15 minutes to play each hole, allowing plenty of time for both operators and bettors to take advantage.
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But golf’s customs also make it vulnerable. Spectators are expected to stay silent when players are over their golf ball — but what if they don’t?
At the Waste Management Phoenix Open in February, YouTuber Jack Doherty purposefully tried disturbing Mackenzie Hughes while he stood over a shot in a fairway bunker thanks to a $100 dare. (Not even through an approved sportsbook, it’s worth noting.) Doherty unapologetically told on himself in a number of ways — posting video from the incident online — and earned a lifetime ban from the Tour in return. Not every punter would be so bold as to say, Hey, look! I did it.
And so the Tour is trying to keep pace. The league is so interested in preventative measures that is has begun training volunteers to stand in the middle of a crowd (rather than inside the ropes) to better identify perpetrators and bad behavior.
“You have to understand that we’re not immune to it,” says Andy Levinson, SVP of Tournament Administration at the Tour. “We’re not immune to the potential for corruption, we’re not immune to bad actors, all that. That exists and that threat is always gonna be there. So the first and foremost thing is — everything we do in this space is integrity first.”
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The Tour’s “Integrity Program,” as it is aptly named, spells out all kinds of regulations for not just players, but anyone who could naturally gain access to inside information. Their agents, caddies, coaches, even their wives, mothers and fathers. Board members, tournament volunteers, even Tour employees cutting video clips for social media are not allowed to bet on golf. The stipulations of the program are both specific — gambling on elite amateur events is off-limits, too — and also purposefully vague to cast a wide net against potential infractions.
Not every element of the Tour’s gambling ops mimic the work of other leagues, especially given the shifting landscape. As an organization, the Tour is letting the prediction market fracas develop, “and not be a first-mover,” Warfield said. (Tour pros can accept sponsorships from gambling companies but not prediction markets, according to the Player Handbook.) The Tour also does not produce injury reports like the kind that other leagues have made mandatory. “It’s really, really complicated to do,” Levinson said. “And in golf, you can be injured all year [and still play].”
Nonetheless, Levinson and Warfield take pride of the proactive role the Tour has taken in lobbying legislators in cities and states across the country to get their part of the gambling world right. It’s an inexact science to squeeze all they can from the business opportunity while also defending its product from bad actors. They’ve partnered with Genius Sports to monitor all betting markets and also reached a deal with IC360, the same company recently tasked with monitoring officials in the upcoming March Madness.
“Not a lot of folks have two different integrity monitoring partners,” Warfield pointed out.
Manchester City return to the Champions League tonight when they face Real Madrid in the first leg of their round of 16 tie.
Manchester City turn their attention to the Champions League tonight when they face Real Madrid at the Bernabeu. City have already faced Los Blancos this season and won 2-1 thanks to Nico O’Reilly and Erling Haaland’s goals.
City will hope to secure a positive result tonight before returning to the Etihad Stadium next week. The Blues made changes on Saturday night with this game in mind, so we can expect plenty of alterations in Madrid.
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Gianluigi Donnarumma will return ahead of James Trafford while Marc Guehi should make his Champions League debut alongside Ruben Dias. Matheus Nunes did feature at St James’ Park but should retain his spot having made the right-back position his own. Rayan Ait-Nouri is also likely to return despite Nathan Ake’s solid performance at Newcastle.
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Having avoided a ban on Monday, Rodri will start in defensive midfield. In front of him is where difficult decisions need to be made. Antoine Semenyo has been in brilliant form and should also make his Champions League debut.
Captain Bernardo Silva will return to the starting XI. Nico O’Reilly should be given the nod, despite a quiet game against Newcastle. Starting against the Magpies shouldn’t deter Guardiola from picking him.
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The Carabao Cup Final will see Arsenal v Manchester City at London’s Wembley Stadium this March.
Savinho played well at Newcastle, as did City’s hero in the north east, Omar Marmoush. Rayan Cherki has been singled out for praise recently, too. But Jeremy Doku could be favoured. The Belgian offers City speed and directness – two qualities needed if they want to catch Real on the counter.
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Leading the line will be Haaland. Marmoush will feel hard done by, but the Norwegian was rested so he could come back for this game. There is no way he does not start if fit.
City predicted XI vs Real Madrid: Donnarumma; Nunes, Dias, Guehi, Ait-Nouri; Rodri; Semenyo, Bernardo, O’Reilly, Doku; Haaland
The former Juventus manager made the decision to start substitute goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky for the first leg at the Metropolitano, though his choice quickly backfired as the 22-year-old made an early mistake to gift the hosts the opener before a slip a few minutes later allowed Julian Alvarez to tap in the third.
Tudor then decided to withdraw Kinsky within 17 minutes, replacing him with usual starter Guigliemo Vicario, though the damage was already done and Spurs went on to concede two more, leaving them with a mountain to climb if they want to overturn the deficit and make the quarter-finals next week.
After the match, TNT Sports pundits Joe Hart and Steve McManaman questioned Tudor’s decision-making, suggesting that the manager has now “almost decided his own fate”.
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The decision to start and then withdraw Antonin Kinsky drew plenty of criticism (AFP via Getty Images)
“He was brought in for an immediate bounce, immediate reaction,” said McManaman after the full-time whistle.
“It wasn’t just the performance tonight, it was everything on the periphery. The peripheral nonsense on the goalkeepers, how he chose his team, his set-up,” explained the former Liverpool midfielder.
“At half-time he’s gone back to bringing on Solanke, who you thought should have played, Conor Gallagher, Xavi Simons, Palhinha, who would’ve been ideal for tonight. Every decision he’s made he’s gone against it at half-time. It was a surreal performance,” he added.
The pair questioned the Spurs boss further after he’d given his post-match interview, with both highlighting a lack of accountability and willingness to speak.
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“We talk about Tottenham at the moment, they’re faceless. Who’s in charge of it?” asked Hart.
Tudor encouraged ‘less talking’ after the loss, and said everything was going against his side (AFP via Getty Images)
“How can the man who’s been put in charge to steer them in a better direction not want to speak. What sort of message is he sending there? Did he send a message to the fans, he didn’t acknowledge them in the stadium.
“To say that you’re not willing to speak…that’s your job, you’re the coach, it’s no surprise the club are under the cosh at the moment. You need someone standing up in front of the media, re-assuring everyone,” he added.
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“He was spiky yesterday before the game. And again he hasn’t helped himself today, he should be there fronting up. He’s the one who needs to front up, he’s the one who’s getting paid,” agreed McManaman.
“When it’s bad, say it’s bad, apologise, say ‘I’m sorry’, and have this air of positivity. We understand it was bad luck today, and you’re right, Romero and Palhinha getting concussion [with a late clash of heads], everything is just piling up.
“But he knew that, he was brought in when they were in a dire position. The fact that he’s made them more dire is on him,” he added.
Spurs return to the Premier League relegation battle as they take on Liverpool at Anfield this weekend, before the second leg of their Champions League tie at home to Atletico next week, and a potential six-pointer after on 22 March as they host Nottingham Forest.
Eddie Howe will send his players into battle in Barcelona having told them they have shown they can mix it with Europe’s best.
The Magpies will head for the Nou Camp next Wednesday evening knowing they would have been doing so with a precious 1-0 advantage had Lamine Yamal not denied them victory with the final kick in the first leg of their last-16 tie at St James’ Park.
A 1-1 draw was scant reward for a fine performance against one of the very biggest names in European football and head coach Howe, who described the equaliser as “soft”, is confident they can make life intensely difficult for Hansi Flick’s men on their own pitch.
He said: “In the cold light of day when we wake up tomorrow, we’ll see the positives. The tie is very much alive, we played really well.
“We showed our qualities. We’ve been really competitive. The challenge is we need more on a consistent basis. We’ve showed we can play against the very best when we’re at our best.”
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Yamal’s spot-kick in the sixth minute of stoppage time denied the Magpies a deserved victory on the night and left them very much alive, but with a major task on their hands if they are to progress.
Harvey Barnes’ 14th goal of the season had given the hosts an 86th-minute lead and seemingly a priceless advantage ahead of the return, but a famous victory was snatched from their grasp at the death.
Malick Thiaw’s challenge on substitute Dani Olmo prompted Italian referee Marco Guida to point to the spot, and Yamal duly obliged to leave Barca with the advantage when the sides reconvene in Spain.
Asked if he felt his team deserved more, Howe said: “Yes, we do.
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“A really good performance from the team, very, very good in all phases, really. I thought we limited them with a really good defensive performance from the team and I thought we attacked really well too.
“Although we didn’t create an abundance of clear-cut chances, I thought there were chances all through the game for us.
“It was great to see us finally score and then the last attack of the game, the last kick of the game, it’s a tough one to take.”
Hansi Flick, whose men won 2-1 at St James’ in the first fixture of the group phase back in September, showed flashes of their brilliance and eventually emerged with something to show for their efforts.
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However, they were under the cosh for long periods and were happy to leave on level terms.
Flick said: “If you had asked me before the game with a 1-1, I was always happy.
“With the ball, we made not a good game. We lost too many balls, easy mistakes and this is what Newcastle only wants. When they get the ball, the transition they make is good, they have a lot of dynamic, very fast players, so it was not easy.
“But at the end, what I appreciated a lot from my team is that we defended together, the performance in defence was really good today.”
Tottenham manager Igor Tudor insists his decision to substitute Antonin Kinsky was done to “protect” the team, after the goalkeeper was replaced by Guglielmo Vicario after just 17 minutes, with Tottenham already 3-0 down to Atletico Madrid in the first leg of their last-16 tie in the Champions League.
“I respect there’s lots of discussion around our tactical plans – when you look at the end point, look at the result and you the number of tries scored, that’s completely understandable,” said Borthwick
“I think it’s more about improving that incisiveness with our attack and getting over the try line rather than necessarily any major overhaul.
“You have an overview, a structure of ‘this is how we want to approach the different aspects of the game’, and then talk about the players bringing their points of difference.”
Borthwick says that he speaks with Sweeney “at least once or twice a week” and Conor O’Shea, the RFU’s director of performance rugby, “pretty much on a daily basis”.
“Ever since I started this role back in late 2022, we have always worked very, very closely together,” Borthwick added.
“I think that I’ve always been very clear on the vision of the team, initially going very quickly into that 2023 Rugby World Cup which was just around the corner, and ever since then building through each of these competition windows since.
“We are all disappointed and frustrated.
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“We came to this tournament with really high aspirations, as did the players, and we’ve been unable to meet those targets we set for ourselves.”
Sep 12, 2021; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Christian Kirk (13) after a reception against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
The Minnesota Vikings have signed one external free agent so far this cycle: cornerback James Pierre from the Pittsburgh Steelers. The club has somewhere between $20 million and $30 million to spend after player releases and contractual restructures, so the money has to go somewhere — soon. These are five free agents that Minnesota should target.
The Vikings still have room to make a few smart additions.
Most of the heavy-hitting free agents have found new teams, but Minnesota can strike on these players.
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Numerous Logical Targets Remain for Minnesota in Free Agency
It’s the quietest Vikings free agency to date since 2020.
Jacksonville Jaguars running back Travis Etienne Jr. (1) rushes through traffic while Indianapolis Colts defenders Zaire Franklin (44) and Nick Cross (20) close in during third-quarter action, with Dec 7, 2025 marking the matchup at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida. Jacksonville secured a 36–19 victory as Etienne powered the ground attack. Mandatory Credit: Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union.
**Note: This list does not contain Kyler Murray because he’s technically not a free agent.
1. Nick Cross | S
At 24 years old, Cross is projected to command $6–8 million per season on his next contract. While Pro Football Focus gave him a grade of only 59.8 in 2025, with a 50.4 in coverage and a 72.0 against the run, his earlier performance suggests greater potential.
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Cross is a popular name in IDP fantasy football due to his knack for accumulating tackles and splash plays. Although his production dipped in 2025 as he adapted to a new defensive coordinator and shared the secondary with Camryn Bynum, his previous seasons offer a more encouraging outlook.
From 2022 to 2024, Cross earned PFF grades of 56.5, 71.8, and 70.3, respectively. This upward trend indicates that the right defensive scheme could unlock his previous form. Brian Flores, known for favoring aggressive safeties who quickly attack downhill and excel with straightforward reads, could be the key to maximizing Cross’ strengths.
Flores has a track record of revitalizing similar careers, as demonstrated by Eric Wilson’s resurgence in 2025 within his system. Give Cross a whirl.
2. Christian Kirk | WR
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Kirk has missed 35% off all games in the last three seasons; he is not known for durability, at least not as of late.
However, not long ago, the Arizona Cardinals employed Kirk, and he cooked with Kyler Murray, who may be the Vikings’ next quarterback. The 29-year-old logged 77 receptions for 982 yards and 5 touchdowns with Murray’s Cardinals in 2022, the springboard season and event that landed Kirk big money in Jacksonville the following season.
He won’t cost much during the next wave of free agency — probably about $5 million per year — and Minnesota should onboard him for WR3 duty to replace Jalen Nailor, who signed with the Las Vegas Raiders.
As a matter of fact, Murray and Kirk are best friends. See: here.
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3. Rachaad White | RB
White is a pretty steady halfback — nothing too fancy, and his struggles are never long-lasting. He’s 6’0 and 215 pounds with 4.48 speed. He can catch the ball out of the backfield. White can also block against the pass, ranking as a Top 20 tailback in the trait last season.
In 2023, with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, before the arrival of Bucky Irving, White produced 1,539 yards from scrimmage and 9 touchdowns. That’s not very long ago, nor is White old at age 27. Irving later took over more of the workload, but White’s recent output suggests that he would be a fine RB2 in Minnesota.
4. Ethan Pocic | C
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Pocic is 30 and has an estimated market value of $8–12 million per year. PFF gave him an overall grade of 63.8 in 2025, with scores of 62.2 for pass protection and 63.2 for run blocking.
Cleveland Browns center Ethan Pocic (55) walks off the field following a loss to the San Francisco 49ers, with Nov 30, 2025 marking the game at Huntington Bank Field in Cleveland, Ohio. Pocic headed toward the sideline as players exited the field after the late-season matchup. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images.
The veteran center entered the NFL as a second-round pick in 2017 — the same draft that brought Dalvin Cook to Minnesota — and played out his first contract with the Seattle Seahawks before signing with the Cleveland Browns in 2022. His durability has been a concern throughout his career, though, as he tends to miss games each season due to injuries.
If this trend continued in Minnesota, the Vikings would have sufficient depth to rely on, with players like Blake Brandel and Michael Jurgens available as replacements.
5. Trevon Diggs | CB
Diggs’s value has diminished after brief stints with the Dallas Cowboys and Green Bay Packers in recent months, making him a potential low-risk acquisition for a team seeking depth. Diggs has shown flashes of strong play since 2020, as reflected in his passer rating against.
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Dallas Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs (7) celebrates with teammates after recording an interception during second-quarter action against the Philadelphia Eagles, with Nov 10, 2024 marking the matchup at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Diggs and the Cowboys defense reacted following the momentum-changing takeaway. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-Imagn Images.
In 2020, opposing quarterbacks had an 85.8 rating when targeting Diggs, which improved to 55.8 in 2021, before rising again to 86.1 in 2022. Injuries plagued his 2023 season, and while his rating was 85.3 in 2024, it spiked to 154.2 in 2025, albeit on only 22 targets. His PFF grades follow a similar trend: 62.7 in 2020, 58.5 in 2021, 67.6 in 2022, a 2023 season affected by injury, 56.6 in 2024, and 58.7 in the limited 2025 sample size.
Entering 2026, the Minnesota Vikings boast a respectable cornerback unit comprised of Byron Murphy Jr., Isaiah Rodgers, and newcomer James Pierre. Their collective health last season contributed to the defense’s strong performance under Flores, ranking third in EPA per play. Nevertheless, depth remains a concern, and Diggs could immediately provide valuable experience to the secondary.
Signing Diggs would also ensure that Minnesota isn’t forced to select a corner in Round 1 or 2 of April’s draft.
Former NFL running back Matt Snell has died at age 84, the New York Jets confirmed.
A cause of death was not immediately announced.
In addition to his heroics in Super Bowl III, Snell is remembered for a standout rookie season, earning AFL Rookie of the Year honors and setting the Jets single-game rushing record. In the franchise’s only Super Bowl title, Snell rushed for 121 yards and scored New York’s lone touchdown.
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Snell overcame a knee injury to play a key role in the Jets’ 16-7 victory.
New York Jets’ fullback Matt Snell watches the action from the sideline during Super Bowl III against the Baltimore Colts at the Orange Bowl Jan. 12, 1969, in Miami, Fla.(Focus on Sport via Getty Images)
In a statement, Jets Chairman Woody Johnson said Snell represented the heart of the franchise and left a lasting legacy.
“Matt Snell will forever hold a special place in the history of the New York Jets,” Johnson said. “He was the embodiment of toughness, selflessness and belief — traits that defined our organization’s proudest moments. His performance in Super Bowl III was nothing short of legendary. Against the odds, Matt set the tone with his physical running, delivering the Jets’ lone touchdown and helping secure one of the most important victories in sports history.”
Injuries marred the end of Snell’s career, limiting him to 12 games over his final three seasons. Snell stepped away from the NFL after the 1972 season.
Shortly after he left the Jets, Snell’s relationship with the franchise appeared to quickly deteriorate.
The 2018 book, “Beyond Broadway Joe: The Super Bowl Team That Changed Football,” later provided context behind the dispute. In the book, Snell wrote that then–Jets owner Sonny Werblin offered him a lifelong role with the franchise.
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New York Jets running back (41) Matt Snell in action during Super Bowl III against the Baltimore Colts at the Orange Bowl. Snell rushed for 121 yards and scored a touchdown Jan. 12, 1969, in Miami, Fla.(Malcolm Emmons/USA Today Sports )
Snell later said a miscommunication may have caused a lack of follow-through after Werblin’s stake was purchased.
“I don’t know if Sonny ever communicated what he had promised me to the other owners. I know there were people around the organization that were not happy that Sonny and I were friends, and some of them jumped on the opportunity to say bad things about me when Sonny was gone,” Snell recalled, according to an excerpt from the book.
New York Jets running back (41) Matt Snell follows a block of Bill Mathis against the Baltimore Colts during Super Bowl III at the Orange Bowl Jan. 12, 1969 in Miami, Fla. (Malcolm Emmons/USA Today Sports)
Legendary Jets quarterback Joe Namath reflected on the lasting impact Snell made on the field.
“I’m really sad to hear that he passed,” Namath said, via the team’s official site. “Matt was not only a hell of a player — he was a terrific teammate, and without him, we wouldn’t have had a chance to win a championship.”
;)
