Category: Sports

This is not a good time for NFL teams in need of a franchise quarterback. The 2026 draft class is thin. Scouts are mostly unimpressed. And some are already counting the days until the 2027 draft when a half-dozen QBs could end up with first-round grades. For teams that need help now, though, the cupboard isn’t completely bare. There are good quarterbacks in this class if teams look hard enough. You can expect that a number of clubs will, given that at least a handful of them are still searching for a long-term answer at QB. The 2026 prospects just might need a little extra time, patience and care. “There are 3-4 guys in this class that I think will have good NFL careers,” one scout told me. “Do I think any of them will be great? No. They’re not ‘can’t-miss’ (prospects). But there’s talent there if you know what to do with it.” So, who are the quarterbacks who could be “good”? I talked to seven scouts to get their insights on the five best in the class — what they like about them, what they need to work on and where they might end up. 5. Drew Allar, Penn State Expectations were high for Allar heading into the 2025 season, but he struggled early and then broke his left ankle in mid-October. It made for a disappointing end to a weird college career that never really rose to the heights many anticipated for a guy with such obvious physical tools. He was good as a junior (3,327 yards, 24 touchdowns, 8 interceptions in 16 games), but regressed as a senior (1,100 yards, 8 touchdowns, 3 interceptions in six games). The injury only complicated his outlook. He finished with 26 starts in college. Draft range: Round 3-4. “If a quarterback with his size is still sitting there when Day 3 starts, someone is going to jump up (to trade for him),” one scout told me. Height/weight: 6-foot-5, 228 pounds Scout takes: “My overall evaluation is that he’s good, but probably should have been better. He’s got great size and I love his arm (strength). His mobility is good. His accuracy is good, but inconsistent. There’s obviously a lot to work with there, but he was up and down his entire college career. … He was regressing as a senior before the injury. That’s a big red flag, especially after his interceptions jumped (as a junior) when they opened the playbook for him. But a guy that big who can throw like that? A lot of teams are going to want a piece of that. … If his career was a straight line, he might be a first-rounder based on talent and potential. But he was so all over the place. And it was easy to forget about him after the injury.” Pro comp: Josh Allen, Joe Flacco. “Same general scouting report as those guys (coming out of college): Big body, big arm, but an erratic arm,” one scout told me. “If he figures it out, he’s got Pro Bowl upside. If he doesn’t, he’s Drew Lock.” Biggest strength: Size. Every scout I spoke with raved about his size and strength, and great size can really matter for an NFL quarterback. “If you get a guy that big who can really play, you are set for a very long time,” one scout told me. Biggest question mark: Accuracy, or lack of it. He completed just 59.9% of his passes in his breakout sophomore year. That jumped to 66.5% as a junior, but so did his interceptions (from 2 to 8). Then, as a senior, his completion percentage dipped to 64.8%, and he was picked off three times in his six games. “It was all over the place,” one scout told me. “That’s worrisome since the sample size was big.” Best fit: Los Angeles Rams. “They’re so loaded they can afford to take a shot on him on Day 2,” one scout told me. “He’d be a steal for Sean McVay. There’s so much talent, but it has to be coached right. Watch McVay turn him into a Pro Bowler in 3-4 years.” 4. Carson Beck, Miami He was aiming to declare for the 2025 draft, but after a down season and the need for surgery on a torn UCL in his right elbow, he decided to transfer to Miami and give it one more year. He was outstanding for the Hurricanes, completing 72.4% of his passes for 3,813 yards, 30 touchdowns and 12 interceptions, and leading them on an improbable run to the CFP final. He started three full years between Georgia and Miami, throwing for 11,239 yards, 82 touchdowns and 30 interceptions. He started a whopping 43 games in college. Draft range: Rounds 3-4. “He’s a Day 3 guy,” one scout told me, “but the lack of quarterbacks gives him a shot to go Day 2.” Height/weight: 6-5, 233 Scout takes: “He’s got the look of a classic, big, strong, pocket passer. When he sets and throws, the ball just jumps out of his hand. That was even better before his elbow surgery. It didn’t have the same jump last season, and maybe it doesn’t come back. But that’s still his gift. … He can be rattled. I don’t know if it’s mental or a physical thing, but he’s susceptible to pressure. He doesn’t move well and when things are off schedule he’s not the same. … Last year was a big step up for him mentally. He looked like he was in more command of his offense and made better decisions. But the physical part took a dip. His throws weren’t the same. … He gets a lot of passes batted at the line of scrimmage for a guy his size. It’s not all his fault, but it’s still weird.” Pro comp: Mac Jones, Kenny Pickett. Neither are a perfect comparison. Pickett had more mobility and Jones wasn’t pressured as much at Alabama. But they are big, pocket passers who can wilt when the pass rush comes. “The upside to guys like that is they can play like Eli Manning,” one scout told me, “but they can’t process nearly as well as him.” Biggest strength: Arm strength and pocket presence. As the scouts said, his arm isn’t what it used to be, but he can still fire the ball a long way and throw it hard. That’s especially true when he’s comfortable in the pocket. Biggest question mark: Play under pressure. When the pass rush throws him off schedule, things can go wrong fast. “His decision-making when he’s rushed isn’t always good,” one scout told me, “and the zip in his fastball can disappear, too.” Best fit: Detroit Lions, San Francisco 49ers. “He looks a little like Jared Goff, even though he doesn’t have his talent,” one scout told me. “But that Lions offense is the kind that he needs, with a strong running game and good line.” Another scout added: “Look what Kyle Shanahan did for Mac Jones. (Beck) is the same type of player. And (Shanahan) doesn’t need his quarterbacks to run.” 3. Garrett Nussmeier, LSU Considered by many to be one of the top quarterbacks heading into the 2025 season, his prospects were dimmed by an injury-marred season. He had an abdominal/core muscle injury that left him with “a stabbing pain in my ab every time I went to go throw,” he said at the NFL Scouting Combine. He still threw for 1,927 yards and 12 touchdowns with five interceptions in nine starts. But that was way off his 2024 season — 4,052 yards, 25 touchdowns, 12 interceptions. He made 23 starts in college. Draft range: Rounds 3-4 Height/Weight: 6-2, 203 Scout takes: “It’s a shame about the injury because I really thought he was the No. 1 guy in the class going into the season. He’s got such a strong arm. He’s generally pretty accurate. But the injury took it all away. He never looked like himself. … He’s a gunslinger, with all the good and bad that comes with that. When he’s on and healthy, he can make some incredible plays. But guys who play like that also make some really big mistakes. … If that injury was as bad as he says, it shows a heck of a lot of toughness to play through it.” Pro comp: Baker Mayfield. Two scouts mentioned the No. 1 overall pick of the 2018 draft. “Baker was much better in all areas,” one scout told me. “But the style of play was the same.” Another scout added: “You have to go way back, but you know who I really think of when I see him? Tony Romo. There’s a lot of talent there. You just have to reign him in.” Biggest strength: His arm. He might not have the strongest arm in the draft, but one scout told me he “can deliver big throws from a bunch of different arm angles.” Another scout added: “He thinks he can make every throw, because he probably can.” Biggest question mark: Questionable decision-making, at times. It’s the boom-or-bust reality of a “gunslinger.” As one scout told me, “He likes to take risks. That’s fine. But it doesn’t always work out. You have to live with that with guys like him.” Best fit: Pittsburgh Steelers. “He looks like (Mike) McCarthy’s kind of quarterback,” one scout told me. “He’s not on the same level as (Aaron) Rodgers or (Dak) Prescott, but the style and ability to play on the move is the same.” The Steelers, of course, need a franchise quarterback to groom for when (or if) the 42-year-old Rodgers retires. Also, Garrett’s father, Doug, was McCarthy’s quarterbacks coach in Dallas for three seasons. 2. Ty Simpson, Alabama He bucked the transfer trend of this era and stayed at Alabama for four years, waiting his turn to play. His patience finally paid off when he earned the starting job last season and was very good on a CFP team, completing 64.5% of his passes for 3,567 yards, 28 touchdowns and just five interceptions. He also carried ‘Bama through a tough schedule, before fading down the stretch. He also made just 15 career starts in college. Draft range: Low first round or second round Height/weight: 6-1, 211 Scout takes: “Boy, does he need another year (in college). I like everything about him, but he’s not ready. He’s got to go to a team that has a starter and can take the time to work with him. If they do, he’s got the tools to be good. But he doesn’t have the experience to play right now. … He’s really smart and has a good arm, but he seems to think it’s better than it is. He thinks he can make every throw, but he can’t. … He’s tough and doesn’t like to give up on a play. But he’ll run himself into trouble trying to figure it out. That’s inexperience. … He’s a good mover, but not really a runner. He can scramble out of trouble, but doesn’t always know what to do once he does. He ends up holding the ball too long.” Pro comp: Brock Purdy. “He’s a better prospect (than Purdy),” one scout told me, “but the point is that he’s got the tools, and if the right guy develops him, he’ll be good.” Biggest strength: His accuracy. Scouts told me he didn’t seem to make a lot of mistakes with his decisions and ball placement, and that’s not easy against SEC defenses. Scouts also pointed to his four-week stretch against Georgia, Vanderbilt, Missouri and Tennessee, all ranked in the top 16 at the time. Simpson averaged 267 passing yards and threw nine touchdowns and just one interception in that stretch, while Alabama went 4-0. “That was a big-boy stretch,” one scout told me, “and he was big-time.” Biggest question mark: He’s inexperienced. “You just can’t find many successful NFL quarterbacks who only had 15 college starts,” one scout told me. “It’s a huge risk.” Best fit: Arizona Cardinals. Several scouts noted Simpson would be a good system fit for the Rams, which would make him the same for new Cardinals coach Mike LaFleur, the former Rams offensive coordinator. They wouldn’t take him at No. 3 overall, though, so they’d have to consider trading back into the first round, probably into the low 20s, or hope that he falls to them at No. 34. One sleeper possibility: The Steelers at No. 21, since Mike McCarthy knows QBs and Aaron Rodgers can’t play forever. 1. Fernando Mendoza, Indiana The reigning Heisman Trophy winner and national champion, he’s coming off a storybook season. In his one season with the Hoosiers, after transferring from Cal, he threw for 3,535 yards and completed 72% of his passes in 16 games, throwing 41 touchdowns and just six interceptions. He ran for 276 yards and seven touchdowns, too. He’s the clear cream of this crop. Draft range: Presumptive No. 1 overall pick (Las Vegas Raiders) Height/weight: 6-5, 236 Scout takes: “He’s the best quarterback in this class by far, but it’s not a good class. He would’ve been third (among QBs) last year and probably fifth or sixth (in 2024). … He’s a great kid and a strong leader. He comes off a little goofy, and I don’t know how well that’ll play (in the NFL), but his teammates seem to want to follow him. … He is so smart and so accurate. He can really thread the needle. If you give him time in the pocket, he can pick apart a defense. But that’s the key. You’ve got to give him time. He can’t move. … He needs to be behind a strong offensive line. He’s not going to create off schedule. I’m not sure Vegas is the best place for him.” Pro comp: The three names that came up the most were Jared Goff, Kirk Cousins and Matt Ryan — smart, pocket passers with limited mobility. “Goff had a better arm,” one scout told me. “Mendoza is more accurate than Goff was (in college), though. And he’s a much better prospect than Cousins was, but the style is similar.” Biggest strength: His accuracy and intelligence. Scouts raved about how he placed his throws in perfect spots, showing a remarkable ability to read defenses and his receivers’ intentions. It made up for what many told me was “average” arm strength. “If you look at his film,” one scout told me, “you’re not going to find many mistakes.” Another scout attributed that to “perfect” mechanics. Biggest question mark: His ability to move in the pocket and create off-schedule plays. His completion percentage dipped last season to 53.2% outside the pocket. He has trouble escaping pressure and doesn’t show the same arm strength when he’s not set. “That’s a real problem going to a bad team,” one scout told me. “He needs things perfect, and they won’t be.” Best fit: It’s a moot point because the Raiders will pick him No. 1 overall, even though one scout told me, “that might be the worst fit for him.” Another scout added: “Too bad he won’t drop to the middle of the first round. I’d love to see what a guy like (Vikings coach Kevin) O’Connell could do with him.”

The offseason and spring training are behind us, but there is plenty of MLB news left to cover now that the season is here. Here are the noteworthy transactions, injuries and more from the 2026 MLB season: Apr. 1 Lodolo making rehab start Reds pitcher Nick Lodolo is expected to throw 60-65 pitches during a rehab assignment on Thursday. The left-hander, who is on the injured list due to a blister on his left index finger, will make his rehab start for Single-A Daytona against Jupiter in a Florida State League game. If Lodolo has a successful outing, he could join the Reds’ rotation during next week’s series at Miami. Lodolo was 9-8 with a 3.33 ERA and 156 strikeouts last season. Left-hander Caleb Ferguson (right oblique strain) threw from 90 feet on flat ground before Wednesday’s game against the Pittsburgh Pirates. He is expected to accompany the team on their upcoming seven-game road trip to Texas and Miami. Red Sox catcher scratched Wednesday Red Sox catcher Carlos Narvaez was scratched from Boston’s finale with Houston on Wednesday for an undisclosed reason. Narváez was removed from the lineup about 2.5 hours before first pitch and replaced behind the plate by Connor Wong. “I just made a change,” manager Alex Cora told reporters. “I talked to Carlos a little bit and we move on from there. So, it’s one of those that I felt like we needed to make the change in the lineup. And I think it’s for the best.” When pressed if Narváez’s removal from the lineup was for a disciplinary reason, Cora didn’t directly answer the question. “Let’s keep it between me and Carlos,” Cora said. “And he understands. This is something that happens on every club. It just happens to be early in the season, and I think it’s the right thing to do.” The 27-year-old Narváez is hitting .444 in three games this season. He is in his second season in Boston after beginning his career with the Yankees. Mar. 31 DeLauter exits after injury Cleveland Guardians right fielder Chase DeLauter left the game in the first inning after fouling a pitch from Los Angeles Dodgers starter Shohei Ohtani off his back foot Tuesday night. After a trainer came out to check on DeLauter, the rookie took a few practice swings and returned to the batter’s box. He tried to run out a grounder to third, but was thrown out and then hobbled to the tunnel. He was diagnosed with a left foot contusion. X-rays were negative. DeLauter was replaced by CJ Kayfus in the bottom of the first. DeLauter was the American League rookie of the week after hitting four home runs in his first three games. He’s just the second player to accomplish the feat, joining Trevor Story of the Colorado Rockies in 2019. Umpire loses track of count in Red Sox-Astros Plate umpire Mark Wegner acknowledged he lost track of the count during Cam Smith’s nine-pitch walk Tuesday night in the fifth inning of the Houston Astros’ 9-2 win over the Boston Red Sox. In fact, Smith should have been out on strikes after the third pitch. Smith swung and missed at two cutters from Red Sox starter Brayan Bello to begin the plate appearance. After the second pitch, Joey Loperfido stole second base and Christian Walker scored on the play thanks to a throwing error by catcher Connor Wong. After about 40 seconds, Smith swung and missed at a sweeper. That should have been strike three but Wegner, a crew chief working his 29th major league season, flashed 1-2 for the count. Six pitches later, Smith worked a walk. “I just watched the video. I didn’t know what happened until I came in here and apparently, I somehow didn’t count the second swinging one because I said the count was 1-2. It was actually strike three,” Wegner told a pool reporter after the game. “Had anybody caught it, we can always go and call replay and check the count. I’ve never done that before. I’m not happy about it. Just made a mistake.” Wegner said no one on the field raised an issue in the moment. Bello said Wegner gave the count as 1-1 after his second pitch, and he didn’t question it at the time. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

When NASCAR introduced the new Chase system and got rid of the win-and-in element to its postseason, there was the thought that drivers might not make bold moves or crew chiefs might not take chances because of the new points system. And in some ways, fans can argue that has happened. Crazy moves for the win where the leaders crash? Haven’t seen it. But at least for one Cup race, that wasn’t the case. Chase Elliott’s team made a relatively bold decision to pit twice instead of once in the final stage, putting it in position to be a couple of laps down if the caution came out at the wrong time. Bubba Wallace appeared to let the frustration get to him as he turned Carson Hocevar (Wallace said in his television interview he misjudged it) and ended up wrecking himself out of the race. Both moves resulted in huge point swings. Elliott ended up with the win and a boatload of points. If he had lost a couple of laps, he possibly would have finished with around 15 points instead of 55. Wallace was the big loser, finishing with one point while Hocevar finished with 20. Just how much of a difference does that make? A difference of 40 points would have dropped Elliott from fourth to eighth in the standings. A difference of 19 points would have put Wallace from tied for eighth to sixth in the standings. Drivers and teams need to weigh these possibilities more in the new points system, where regular-season standing could make or break whether a driver qualifies for the Chase and how much of a shot that driver has at a championship. In the past, risking it on fuel mileage to get the win (and the automatic playoff berth or the playoff points) made sense, even if it cost 20-30 regular-season points. In the past, going off the strategy could win a race but if things don’t go the needed way, it could cost 10-20 points. In this system, teams and drivers need to make methodical and deliberate decisions. There is only one problem with that: They are competitors in race cars. That isn’t a recipe for methodical and deliberate for every occasion. Has the new points system made it so that a driver doesn’t make a crazy move for the win on the final lap? Possibly. And while that is a shame for the highlight reel or the water cooler talk, it probably adds to what fans view as the legitimacy of the racing. In past years, there was so much “don’t hate the player, hate the game” that NASCAR opted to change the game. But as long as there is a trophy available and fenders on the cars, there will be teams that roll the dice for a win and there will be drivers who make silly moves out of frustration. That isn’t necessarily a bad thing — unless you’re the driver losing points. The dramatic moments now will be more natural. Such as banking on the caution not coming out (or that history says it will come out). Such as getting into a wreck that is probably avoidable. Did the drivers do the right thing? It’s pretty obvious from the result in the points whether the choice was good or bad. And it shows that no matter the system, human nature and race cars can create drama.

The world’s best sporting event – the 2026 FIFA World Cup — is coming this summer, and it’s going to be bigger and better than ever. But which 48 fanbases will be the loudest? The most fun and the most passionate? Vote in our 2026 FIFA World Cup Ultimate Fan Base, sponsored by Lay’s! How It Works? This bracket consists of all 48 qualified teams for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Those teams are separated into four quadrants consisting of three of the current World Cup groups in each: – Region 1 has Groups A/B/C- Region 2 has Groups D/E/F- Region 3 has Groups G/H/I- Region 4 has Groups J/K/L Here’s the kicker! The teams are then seeded by each of their combined social media followings – including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X, and YouTube. And some of these times have some big-time followings. We’ve given the top four seeds (Brazil, USA, France, and Argentina) byes in the bracket. How To Vote? Easy! All voting takes place across the @FOXSoccer social accounts. So if you don’t already follow FOX Soccer, do so now! You’ll be able to vote on: – Instagram- Facebook- YouTube – X Or check out the polls below.  Vote on your platform of choice and it will count! Voting will take place over the entire month of April with a winner announced on the last day of the month! The winners will get an official billboard touting your nation as the best FIFA 2026 World Cup fans in front of your team’s training facility! Today’s Matchups: Bracket A/B/C – First Round Canada Fans vs. Switzerland Fans As one of the three co-host nations, Canada will be awash in red and maple leaves during the summer as Les Rouges fans cheer on their home team. In this matchup, they take on Switzerland fans who are among the most well-traveled fan bases across Europe. Scotland Fans vs. Bosnia & Herzegovina Fans Scottish fans, adorned in kilts and sporrans, will be in full force singing “The Flower of Scotland” before World Cup games. Bosnia & Herzegonvina supporters will look to bring the passion they had when their side ousted Italy from World Cup contention. Qatar Fans vs. Czechia Fans Qataris were gracious hosts at the 2022 World Cup and will now look to build on their legacy this summer. Meanwhile, Czechia fans are relishing the moment of having reached the tournament for the first time since 2006. South Africa Fans vs. Haiti Fans Song, dance and vuvuzelas. The passion and support for the Bafana Bafana (as the South Africa team is affectionately known) is well known. Haiti fans will also have plenty to cheer about as well – the country returns to the World Cup for the first time since 1974. 2026 FIFA World Cup: How To Watch The World Cup will run from June 11–July 19, 2026. Spread across three countries, the tournament will culminate with the final on July 19 at New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. All 104 tournament matches will air live across FOX (70) and FS1 (34) with every match streaming live and on-demand within both the FOX One and the FOX Sports apps. A record 40 matches, more than one-third of the tournament, will air in primetime across FOX (21) and FS1 (19).

UConn is in the Final Four for the third time in four years, and is once again hoping key transfers bring it yet another national title.

Kevin Harvick might know NASCAR’s next star pretty well. In fact, he might be influencing his driving style without even knowing it. Harvick’s son, Keelan, is 13 and has already signed a long-term deal with Toyota Racing Development. He’s following in the path of his father, and taking after his skills, too. That was displayed in a side-by-side shot on the latest episode of “SPEED with Harvick and Buxton” that showed the two Harvick’s behind the wheel of a car. Each of Keelan Harvick’s motions mimicked his famous father’s — from his hand placement on the wheel to his mannerisms. “I’m not sure which is which, mate,” Will Buxton said on the show. “I had to rewind it, and you look at his hand, and the way he turns his steering wheel, and everything that he’s doing in there. I’m definitely glad to know that he’s 100 percent mine,” Kevin Harvick opined. “I guess he’s listening.” While the two have a friendly father-son rivalry on the track in past racing showdowns, Keelan Harvick won Saturday night at The Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, leading the majority of the race to earn his first CARS Tour West Pro Late Model victory of the season in the 125-lap Terrible Herbst Showdown. Meanwhile, his father was surprised on-air Sunday with the news he was one of the 15 people named as nominees for induction into the NASCAR Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2027. CATCH THE FULL EPISODE OF SPEED:

PHOENIX — Seattle Seahawks general manager John Schneider’s eyes lit up when I asked about his team’s prized quarterback, Sam Darnold. In my conversation with Schneider, he emphasized the belief that the USC product has more to show entering his second season in Seattle. That’s right. Even after leading a different team to a 14-win season that included a run to hoisting the Lombardi Trophy in his first year with the Seahawks, Schneider said Darnold having a second offseason under head coach Mike Macdonald and getting more comfortable in the offense will lead to even more efficient performances on game days. “Yeah, I know it’s crazy to say that because he won 14 games last year,” Schneider told me, while posted up at a cozy table at the Arizona Biltmore hotel.  “But we’ve always said Sam is just a football player. When you take the quarterbacking out of it – all the quarterback schools and stuff that you go to – he’s just a football player.” What do you mean by football player, John? “It means the quarterback isn’t separated from the rest of the team,” Schneider said. “He’s one of the guys. And that means he’s a great leader.” Schneider expects Darnold to create even better chemistry with playmakers like Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Rashid Shaheed and Cooper Kupp by taking more on-field reps. And that’s something we should get an up-close view of, with the Seahawks set to appear on HBO’s “Hard Knocks” for the first time this year. Yes, offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak left to become the head coach for the Las Vegas Raiders. But the Seahawks replaced Kubiak with San Francisco 49ers run game coordinator and tight ends coach Brian Fleury, who coached with Kubiak and established a rapport with Darnold during their time together in San Francisco. So, the bottom line is the offense remains the same for Darnold. “He’s going to be that much more comfortable from being around his team,” Schneider told me. “Just his relationship with Coop and Rashid. Like, Rashid came in during the season, so that takes a minute to build chemistry. He gets another year with Jax (Smith-Njigba), and we have a really cool tight end group — [Elijah] Arroyo and [A.J.] Barner did a great job. “He can play even better.” Schneider will lean on his experience in reaching back-to-back Super Bowls during Pete Carroll’s tenure in replenishing his team’s roster to defend last season’s convincing Super Bowl victory over the New England Patriots. However, Schneider did not want to provide how that plan will be executed. “Yeah, tons of lessons learned,” a coy Schneider told me. “But I don’t want to get into specifics because I don’t want to tell people what we’re doing. But yeah, we learned a lot through that process.” Since Schneider is being a bit elusive, here’s what he told me about that time four years ago. Schneider said he felt that the Seahawks got away from the team’s core principles of acquiring fast, young, hungry athletes and letting them compete. “[It was] us not really doing a great job of bringing some guys in that were competitive enough to say, ‘I’m going to take Earl Thomas’ job.’ Or, ‘I’m going to go take Sherm’s [Richard Sherman’s] job.’” Schneider told me in 2022. “We got into a couple classes there where we learned those guys were Russell Wilson on Madden, or they were playing Kam Chancellor on Madden. And now they’re in a room with him and it’s like, ‘Oh s—, that’s Kam Chancellor.’ Instead of saying, ‘I’m going to go try and take his job.’ “So, learning from our mistakes and understanding it’s more about the makeup and character of the person or the man, the grit and the self-confidence that they have. Just really trying to focus on that.” The Seahawks will certainly need some players with the mentality Schneider’s looking for entering 2026. They created some scuttlebutt in league circles by letting some pretty good players sign with other teams in free agency. That list includes Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III signing a three-year, $45 million deal with the Kansas City Chiefs; safety Coby Bryant inking a three-year, $40 million deal with the Chicago Bears; edge rusher Boye Mafe agreeing to a three-year, $60 million deal with the Cincinnati Bengals and Riq Woolen signing a one-year, $12 million contract to join the Philadelphia Eagles. Instead of making a big splash in free agency to replace those lost assets, Schneider focused on re-signing his own players (Shaheed, cornerback Josh Jobe) and outside free agents on manageable deals, like running back Emanuel Wilson and cornerback Noah Igbinoghene, to compete for jobs made available by the lost talent to other teams. But as key contributors left Seattle this offseason, Schneider has also identified the Seahawks’ core pieces. He recently signed the best player on his team, Smith-Njigba, to a four-year, $168.6 million deal, making him the highest-paid receiver in league history. Keeping the young and elite performer around ensures that Darnold will have his security blanket on the roster for the foreseeable future. And with Darnold on a three-year, $100.5 million deal, Schneider doesn’t have to worry about negotiating a new deal with his starting quarterback this offseason. “It’s huge because of the competitor and person he is,” Schneider told me about the Smith-Njigba signing. “The way he handles his business, there’s zero problems. He just shows up every day and acts like he’s been there before.” Schneider will have to dig deep in the draft, though, to find some immediate help this offseason. The Seahawks only have four selections in this year’s draft, although they do have their own pick in each of the first three rounds. However, because the 2027 draft class is considered deeper than this year’s group, Schneider is attempting to load up for 2027. Seattle is projected to have four compensatory picks in 2027 due to the lost players in free agency. Including those projected selections, the Seahawks are expected to have 12 picks in 2027. Along with signing Smith-Njigba, the Seahawks are also expected to extend the contract of fellow 2023 first-round pick Devon Witherspoon at some point this offseason. And the Seahawks have already signed offensive tackles Charles Cross and Abe Lucas, ensuring that much of the offensive talent around Darnold is back for another season. Schneider has pinpointed the foundational pieces for the team at premium positions as they gear up to chase another Super Bowl. “It’s about identifying what your foundational pieces are, and what the landscape looks like at certain positions,” Schneider told me. “It’s not about those guys in particular [that we lost in free agency], it’s about the position and if you can replace them or not. “Obviously, those guys are unique people. And we’re not going to be able to replace the people. But those are positions we know we’re going to have to address. And we felt like from a depth standpoint and what other options are out there that we could to do that. We have a cool mix on our roster now of young guys who have never hit free agency before, and now a group that is hitting free agency for the first time. And you saw it with Jax.”

The D.C. Defenders secured the 2025 UFL championship in dominant fashion, toppling the Michigan Panthers 58-34 in the title game. It was the first UFL championship for D.C. and now the reigning champions look to defend their place on the throne. [UFL 2026: Everything To Know About the Upcoming Season] But will they be able to beat out Birmingham — an organization that won the spring football championship in 2022, 2023 and 2024? Here are the latest odds at DraftKings Sportsbook as of April 1. This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports. 2026 UFL Champion Dallas Renegades: +275 (bet $10 to win $37.50 total)Birmingham Stallions: +275 (bet $10 to win $37.50 total)D.C. Defenders: +425 (bet $10 to win $52.50 total)St. Louis Battlehawks: +500 (bet $10 to win $60 total)Orlando Storm: +650 (bet $10 to win $75 total)Columbus Aviators: +1000 (bet $10 to win $110 total)Louisville Kings: +1800 (bet $10 to win $190 total)Houston Gamblers: +4000 (bet $10 to win $410 total) Here is what to know about the oddsboard: The Favorites: Even though Birmingham (+275) fell short of winning the title last season, the Stallions have been the team to beat since 2022, winning the championship that season and then again in 2023 and 2024. And now they’ve got a new head coach in AJ McCarron, the former University of Alabama quarterback who had stints playing the position for several NFL teams and for the UFL’s Battlehawks. After Week 1, Birmingham’s odds shortened from +340 but Dallas also saw its odds shorten. Now the two squads are locked in the top spot. The Renegades defeated Houston 36-17 and their odds moved from +475. The Stallions sneaked past Louisville 15-13 and McCarron got his first win as a head coach. Bottom of the Board: With the longest odds in this market is Houston at +4000, moving from +1500 after a Week 1 loss to the Renegades. So bettors who really like testing their luck might consider taking a long-shot gamble here. Last season, Houston went 5-5, with one of its biggest wins coming in Week 5, a 27-3 victory over San Antonio. Can Houston — now that it has been rebranded to the Gamblers from the Roughnecks — make some noise in 2026?

There is always baseball happening — almost too much baseball for one person to follow themselves. Don’t worry, we’re here to help you by figuring out what you missed but shouldn’t have. Here are all the best moments from last night in Major League Baseball: Yankees match MLB record The Yankees did something that no team has managed since 1943: through their first five games New York has allowed just three runs. Somehow, the Yankees managed to lose one of those games by giving up two of those three and then scoring just one, but hey, no one is perfect. The driving force this time around — as it was in the first game of the season — was Max Fried. The lefty starter followed up 6.1 scoreless innings on Opening Day with seven more against the Mariners on Tuesday. He also found the strikeouts he was missing in his first outing, with six Ks against a single walk in those frames, while throwing two-thirds of his 90 pitches for strikes. The result? The Yankees defeated the Mariners 5-0, for their third shutout of the season and first W against Not The Giants. An important thing to remember about the 2026 Yankees is that Max Fried will, eventually, pair with ace Gerrit Cole like he was supposed to a year ago, before Cole underwent Tommy John surgery and missed the entire season. The rotation as a whole should not be expected to pitch like this all year, no, but Fried is legit and Cole is Cole, assuming his recovery has gone just fine — that is going to be some 1-2 punch for New York once everything settles. Ricochets count Not everything went New York’s way against Seattle — not that it ended up hurting them in the end. Still, check out how unfortunate this play was for the Yankees: star right fielder Aaron Judge hit a ball right back to the pitcher, reliever Cole Wilcox, and the ball deflected off of his glove… and right into the glove of second baseman Cole Young. That’s the Cole-to-Cole express right there. The Cole Train, if you will. It’s even wilder in slow motion, since you can really see the deflection in action. Baseball’s special brand of physics is truly something. Shohei Ohtani, folks Dodgers’ star two-way player Shohei Ohtani has already debuted in 2026, but Tuesday was his first time on the mound in the regular season. So he of course threw six shutout innings while allowing one hit and striking out six Guardians, helping the Dodgers to a 4-1 victory. But wait, there’s more: Ohtani last allowed a run in a regular-season game on Aug. 27, 2025 against the Reds. He gave up just the one, on a home run by right fielder Noelvi Marte in the third inning with one out. Since then — again, just in the regular season — Ohtani has not allowed a run. He threw another 1.2 innings in that outing, shutout opponents over his final three starts in 2025. Now he’s kicked off 2026 with six scoreless to extend that streak to 22.2 innings. Which is fun enough on its own since it represents a career-best for Ohtani, but it’s happening in conjunction with reaching base in 36-consecutive games as a hitter — he went 1-for-3 at the plate with a single and two walks against the Guardians on Tuesday night. C.B. Bucknor, what There has been plenty of praise to go around for MLB’s Automated Ball-Strike challenge system, which lets pitchers and players contest called balls and strikes, but longtime umpire C.B. Bucknor has been getting torn apart early on in the season for how regularly his calls end up challenged and overturned. Generally, the ABS challenges have shown just how difficult the job of umpires is, and how well they tend to do it—there aren’t that many challenges happening, in the grand scheme of things. Except in the case of a few umps like Bucknor, who has already had eight pitches challenged and six of those overturned, and that’s before he goes behind the plate again on Wednesday. Bucknor was the first base official on Tuesday while the Brewers hosted the Rays, but he still ended up having a call overturned anyway despite being free from ABS duty. And it was atrocious. First, a screengrab — pay close attention to what Bucknor is looking at here, because it sure is not the play he’s calling an out on. It was egregious enough of a call that the players — especially Brewers’ first baseman Jake Bauers, who is the one that hit this ball in the first place — all looked incredulous whenever the camera panned to their faces, and the announcers were openly mocking both the call and the amount of time it took to overturn it. A true “what are we even doing here?” moment. Well. At least a challenge system is already in place here to fix moments like this one. Painter debuts just how Phillies need The Phillies have had a rough start to the year, but Tuesday brought a bit of hope with it: top prospect Andrew Painter was making his big-league debut, and while he struggled a bit in Triple-A in 2025, there were reasons to believe that those issues were behind him enough to stick in the majors. The 22-year-old — 23 later this month — and former first-round pick certainly showed some of that promise against the Nationals, pitching 5.1 innings of one-run ball while allowing four hits, a walk and striking out 8. And hey, he even has his own fan section. That was fast. There are still reasons for Phillies fans to be upset and annoyed, of course — Painter is just one guy in one start — but designated hitter Kyle Schwarber bashed his second homer of the year, and free-agent signing Aroldis Garcia went deep for the first time in a Phillies’ uniform, too, so there were at least some signs of the way things can come together in 2026. This team won 96 games a year ago, and there are still a ton of talented players on the roster even if the offseason was a little quieter than it could have been, as far as acquisitions go. Painter showing up and regularly succeeding would go a long way toward keeping Philly in the race again this season. Alonso’s first O’s dinger Ex-Mets faced off on Tuesday, with Pete Alonso’s Orioles taking on Jacob deGrom’s Rangers. It was a good night for Alonso and not as good of one for deGrom, but in the end Texas got the W over Baltimore, anyway. As for Alonso, he hit his first homer for the Orioles, after signing a five-year, $155 million free-agent deal this offseason. And he hit it off of his former teammate, deGrom! The two also had a playful interaction later on, when Alonso was on first base and deGrom threw over to check on him. Pete Alonso is not really a guy a pitcher needs to worry about stealing a base — he had one in three attempts last year  — but that’s what makes this whole bit work. Alonso is off to a pretty solid start for the O’s, hitting .316/.381/.474 in his first five games and 21 plate appearances. Baltimore is going to need a whole lot more of that to keep up in a loaded AL East this season. Four-hit night for Adames Giants’ leadoff hitter and shortstop Willy Adames had himself a night against the Padres, as he recorded four hits in five at-bats, while scoring twice and driving in two runs, as well. San Francisco probably didn’t need quite all that from him, given it won 9-3, but hey: Adames set the tone. Really, though, he did. Adames hit a leadoff homer off of Padres’ starter German Marquez in the top of the first on the second pitch of the game. He then singled in the top of the second, singled again in the fifth to drive in outfielder Harrison Bader for his second RBI of the day, scored on a Heliot Ramos single later in the frame then doubled in the eighth for his fourth and final hit. Eight total bases is a pretty good day at the office. What a debut for Fernandez Shortstop Jose Fernandez made his big-league debut for the Diamondbacks on Tuesday against the Tigers, and it was one to remember. Signed as a teenager out of Venezuela, Fernandez wasn’t actually on Arizona’s Opening Day roster, but was added after Pavin Smith went on the 10-day IL with elbow soreness. Despite not being a top prospect in the system, Fernandez was added to the 40-man roster as depth and had a solid enough spring that the D-backs kept him in mind for a moment just like this one. It paid off for everyone involved. Fernandez went yard twice, becoming just the seventh-ever player to do so in his big-league debut, and the second of those blasts ended up being the game-winner, too, as part of a six-run inning. He had another hit besides, two runs, four RBIs and nine total bases. It’s just one game, but Arizona will have to give him some more opportunities to play is on the IL, to see if Fernandez can give this team a little boost while there is space on the roster for that opportunity. Langeliers is hot It has gone a little under the radar since the Athletics were winless to start the season — well, until they won on Tuesday night, at least — but catcher Shea Langeliers has been on fire to start 2026. Against the Braves, Langeliers picked up just the one hit, but it was a yet another homer — his fourth of the season already, and one that gave the A’s another insurance run against a potent Braves’ offense. Langeliers is batting .350/.381/.950 in his first five games, leading the league in homers and total bases (19), and the American League in slugging percentage and RBIs (7). It’s early, of course, but Langeliers also has 60 combined homers over the past two seasons, so it’s not as if this guy never mashes and is uncharacteristically good out of the gate. Shooters shoot, hitters hit, and Langeliers is a hitter. Just as good for the Athletics is that starting pitcher Aaron Civale had a solid outing: while he struck out just three batters and allowed a homer himself, Civale limited Atlanta to two runs in five innings, and the A’s bullpen kept the Braves scoreless the rest of the way. The pitching staff was the problem last season for the A’s, and could be an issue again in 2026, but more outings like this from Civale will keep that from being as much of a going concern. Raleigh is no pitcher, but that’s a strike Just watch that replay a few times, and check Cody Bellinger’s face, too. He can’t believe Mariners’ catcher Cal Raleigh can throw that fast and that accurately, but that’s just how he is back there.

The 2026 NFL Draft is loaded with pass-catchers who possess the skills to make an immediate impact as pros. Although the class is light on playmakers who rank as consensus blue-chip prospects, there is a collection of role players in this group who could emerge as superstar-caliber specialists at the next level. Given some time to study and assess the class, here are my top 10 receivers in this year’s draft: 10. Ted Hurst, Georgia State The long, rangy pass-catcher (6-foot-4, 206 pounds) is a natural “X” receiver with the speed, quickness and burst to develop into a 1,000-yard receiver as a pro. Despite his small-school status, Hurst brings a big-time game to the field that surprises defenders who are unable to handle his rare combination of size, speed and skill. As the league continues to evolve into a matchup league where coaches target mismatches, Hurst’s ball skills and playmaking ability make him one of the hidden gems in the 2026 class. 9. Denzel Boston, Washington The 6-foot-4, 212-pound Boston is a jump-ball specialist with the superior size, length and ball skills to dominate smaller defensive backs. Boston’s ultra-physical game overwhelms opponents who are unable to deal with his post-ups over the middle and down the field. While his lack of explosive speed and quickness could limit his effectiveness against elite cover corners, the Washington product’s competitiveness gives him a shot to consistently impact the game as a rugged possession receiver on the perimeter. 8. Malachi Fields, Notre Dame Despite a disappointing performance at the NFL Scouting Combine, Fields is the traditional “X” receiver offensive coordinators covet on the perimeter. Measuring 6-foot-4 and 218 pounds, with sticky hands and exceptional ball skills, Fields expands the strike zone for a quarterback, particularly in the red zone where 50-50 balls can decide games. Although his timed speed (4.61-second 40-yard dash) raises concerns about his separation ability, the former high school quarterback routinely whips defenders on the perimeter as a polished route-runner for his size. As a designated WR2 slated to play on the backside of an offense that features an established No. 1 option, Fields could flourish in the NFL as a chain-mover. 7. Chris Brazzell II, Tennessee The 6-foot-4, 198-pound speedster is one of the most dangerous vertical threats in the 2026 class. Brazzell’s speed, explosiveness and acceleration demand extra attention from the defense, leading to more room for other receivers to operate underneath. If defenders fail to respect his big-play potential, the lanky pass-catcher will punish opponents on go-balls or various vertical routes that enable him to utilize his superior burst with the ball in the air. While some will view the Tennessee product as a one-trick pony based on his size/speed profile, Brazzell flashes enough body control to develop into a well-rounded WR2 at the next level. 6. KC Concepcion, Texas A&M As one of the most explosive slot receivers to come out of the collegiate game, Concepcion has the potential to develop into a game-changing playmaker at the next level. The 6-foot, 190-pound pass catcher is a RAC (run after catch) specialist with the short-area quickness and burst to turn quick passes into big plays. As an explosive punt returner with excellent balance, body control and burst, Concepcion is at his best when he is able to transition from pass-catcher to playmaker on the perimeter. Although his occasional battle with the “dropsies” affects his overall score, the Texas A&M standout could shine as a slot receiver in the pros, with his tools and talent showcased in a wide-open offensive scheme. 5. Zachariah Branch, Georgia Teams looking for a speedy slot receiver to fill a role as the designated gadget playmaker should have Branch highlighted on this list. The 5-foot-9, 177-pounder is a bubble-screen specialist with the speed, quickness and explosiveness to outrun or outmaneuver defenders on the perimeter. He displays exceptional acceleration and stop-start quickness with the ball in his hands, and he also flashes the straight-line speed to add a dimension to the offense as a vertical threat on the perimeter. Factor in his dynamic return skills as a kick and punt returner with long-distance scores on his résumé and Branch is the prototypical slot receiver to build a package around. 4. Omar Cooper Jr., Indiana The fourth-year junior is a pro-ready playmaker with an understated game. Cooper wins with fundamentals over flash, utilizing patience and precision to create space as a route-runner. As a polished pass-catcher with a game that is seasoned like a 10-year veteran, the Indiana standout is a nice fit as a WR2/WR3 playing opposite an established No. 1 receiver. 3. Makai Lemon, USC As an electric “Z” receiver (flanker) with experience from the slot, Lemon is the type of catch-and-run specialist most offensive coordinators covet in the lineup. From bubble screens and fly sweeps to shallow crossers and dig routes, the 5-foot-11, 192-pound Lemon has a knack for converting underneath throws into first downs. With sticky hands and a fearless approach complementing his spectacular route-running skills, Lemon is a first down waiting to happen. 2. Carnell Tate, Ohio State The acrobatic pass-catcher blossomed into a hybrid WR1/WR2 candidate during his tenure with the Buckeyes. As the complementary playmaker opposite future a first-round pick, Tate punished opponents who attempted to double-team Jeremiah Smith. The 6-foot-3, 195-pound Tate averaged 17.2 yards per catch and scored nine touchdowns in 2025, exhibiting big-play potential as a vertical threat and chain-mover capabilities as an underneath receiver in the mold of Davante Adams. 1. Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State A polished route-runner with exceptional playmaking skills, Tyson reminds me of Seahawks star Jaxon Smith-Njigba. The 6-foot-2, 203-pound ASU star is a talented technician with experience playing out wide and in the slot. Although Tyson’s extensive injury history leads to durability concerns — torn ACL in 2022, broken collarbone in 2024, hamstring issues in 2025 — the tape is so impressive that he deserves the top spot on this list despite his boom-or-bust medical status. If Tyson is healthy, he will quickly emerge as a blue-chip player who warrants All-Pro and Pro Bowl consideration early in his career.