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Kenny Atkinson is only in his second year as the Cavaliers' head coach, and the team has been very successful in the regular season with him in charge, but if Cleveland has another early exit in this year's playoffs, Atkinson could be looking for a new job next year. High Pressure Playoff Run The Cleveland Cavaliers haven’t made it to the Eastern Conference Finals without LeBron James since 1992, and they’ve only done it two times ever. The James Harden trade at the deadline turned this year into one with an incredible amount of pressure. If this team is still unable to get out of the second round, then there will be big changes made in the offseason. Cleveland has not been hesitant to move on from coaches in the past. J.B. Bickerstaff was in the same position as Atkinson a few years ago, and those playoff failures led to his firing. I’m pretty confident that another early exit would give Kenny Atkinson the same fate. Would Firing Him be Smart? Atkinson has had some questionable decisions with his rotations this year. He has constantly played lineups with four guards on the floor, and those lineups have been brutal defensively. This is most likely just a product of having so many quality guards on the roster and not many good wings, but it is a real problem that the team has had. The good has certainly outweighed the bad with Kenny Atkinson in his tenure so far. I’m not saying that firing Kenny would be a terrible idea for the team, but I believe that roster changes would be much more beneficial in the offseason. You can only blame so many coaches for the team falling short so many times before you start looking at the roster. I think it would be very clear that the core four has to be broken up this offseason with another playoff disappointment. Mitchell and Harden would most likely be safe, but either Jarrett Allen or Evan Mobley would likely be on the trade block to shake up the team’s core. Again, I would certainly understand the Cavaliers making another coaching change in the offseason, but it could not be the only move they make if they want to see some serious changes. Playoffs Starting Soon There’s just four games left in the regular season for the Cavaliers, so we will finally be able to stop speculating about this team’s playoff potential and actually see what they can do. All of this is just thinking ahead to a scenario in which things go wrong, but Cleveland is more than capable of avoiding all of this drama in the playoffs. As of right now it’s looking like they’ll be matched up with the Atlanta Hawks in the first round, which is a complicated matchup for this team because of Atlanta’s size and athleticism across the board. If that’s who they draw in round one, then it will be a fascinating opportunity for this team to show that they are different than the past few years, and for all of these players and coaches to prove they can succeed in the playoffs.

The Fit Dexter Lawrence II is a top interior lineman in the NFL. His stats may not pop off the page, but if you look a little further, you will see an elite player in every facet of the game. With an 84.5 pass rush grade, a 55.5% double team rate, and a 32% run stop win rate, he’s still among the top of the hierarchy when it comes to the interior defensive line play in the NFL. As far as his fit in LA, the Chargers have a stable of strong interior defensive line play with Teair Tart, Justin Eboigbe and newly acquired Dalvin Tomlinson, but by no means should any of those names deter a front office from upgrading with the likes of “Sexy Dexy”. Whatever team looks to acquire Lawrence will immediately be put in a situation where they will have to pay up, with contracts like Milton Williams and his 27.5M AAV, it’s fair to assume Lawrence’s new deal would exceed the 30 Million bench mark, and the Chargers are one of the few teams would could actually afford not just to take him on, but extend him comfortably while not compromising their future. The Reality The Chargers and Lawrence, on paper, are a sensational fit, but alas, reality sets in. The Chargers have 5 total draft picks in the 2026 NFL Draft, making it extremely unlikely they will even entertain trading one of those picks, despite the opportunity to add an elite player and having the money to do so. It’s times like these you think back to trades like Austin Deculus and Trevor Penning, trades that took away draft capital and created a situation where the draft class becomes thin and removes flexibility for offseason moves such as this one. With Dexter Lawrence II having an asking price that will probably command a late first to a second round pick, the Chargers may not have the capital to do a deal that leaves them with only 4 picks in the upcoming draft, and without Pick 22 or 56 to bolster the interior offensive line, which is a much more drastic need than the alternative. Does He Even Get Traded? With all of this being said, the Chargers may still make a phone call and check in on the availability and asking price of the All-Pro, especially with the new Harbaugh connection between the Giants and Chargers, but the most likely scenario is that Lawrence stays put and that this is just a negotiation tactic to get the Giants to pay up, and he will be suiting up for Big Blue in MetLife come September. He’s too important to what they do, and it would be a cataclysmic mishandling of the superstar if John Harbaugh lets his new team's best player go out the door before making his first appearance as the Giants head coach in 2026.

The Indianapolis Colts are examining all of the options heading into the draft, taking place April 23-25. Part of this was hosting a local Pro Day in the city. An NFL Pro Day is a showcase for prospective talent that typically occurs at their colleges. They are similar to the combine in that they have a mix of both athletic abilities, position testing and interviews. These typically allow for athletes to be looked at in a closer manner since there are fewer people and it is with teammates. Indianapolis hosts a pro day event annually to view local talent. Any player with regional collegiate ties can be invited to participate. This year, it was on April 7 , and there were 73 players who participated. The ability and resources the Colts have to host one themselves may be an advantage in the long run. All NFL teams have the option to do a pro day, but not every team does, so it is a way for the Colts to have a unique view on talent that other teams do not see. Instead of one college being represented, it allows for multiple to be seen at once while still having that connection between teammates. This year in particular was a strong year for this event because of the success that Indiana University had in football. There were a lot of national championship-caliber players who were invited to come and get attention. Indiana, as a state, has various football programs to pull from, with Purdue, Indiana and Notre Dame being the main options. There were no Notre Dame players on the list this year, but there was no shortage of talent. There were 16 Hoosiers invited to the event, a direct result of the success the program had. Among those in attendance were top draft prospect cornerback D’Angelo Ponds and wide receivers Omar Cooper Jr. and Elijah Sarrat. Fernando Mendoza was not in attendance but did participate in Indiana University’s pro day earlier in the month. Ponds is predicted to be a first-round pick, according to ESPN . Top draft prospects were not expected to participate in workouts, but did do the media portion of the event. This gave the athletes a chance to talk with ownership and football executives ahead of the draft. For less notable athletes, the workouts give them another chance to be seen and considered as undrafted or practice players. The Colts get exclusive looks and insight on players that could lead to different draft decisions or spot new talent. For Indianapolis, the level of skill at this pro day was unlike any other year, raising the bar overall for players in the future. With Curt Cignetti signing a contract through 2033 , it is likely to continue. Cignetti creates a culture of success that attracts top talent, which in turn draws that talent to Indianapolis. With the level of play rising at the collegiate level, the Colts are seeing a rise in talent as well. It would be nice to see a local player drafted to a local program, but either way, the Colts get to see and know players better. With these pro days not being a standard around the league, it is an advantage, especially with the added talent Cignetti will bring in.

The Boston Red Sox are currently sitting with the worst record in baseball at 2-8. They have lost several close games and have had leads in games with the bullpen giving them up. Miscues are also a part of the problem; it seems like everything and anything is falling apart for them ... and it kind of is. My Hottest Take: Once the Pitching Figures Itself Out, This Team Will Be Scary Yes, the record is depressing. Yes, there are chants at the ballpark to sell the team. But it’s game 11. 11. People can say this team may not make the playoffs, but how is that determined in 11 games? The pitching has been a bit of a problem. The pitching staff is sitting at 22nd in the league with a 4.58 ERA. The only two starting pitchers to go more than five full innings in one game have been Garrett Crochet and Sonny Gray. Connelly Early has gone 5 1/3 innings in his second start. Ranger Suarez and Brayan Bello have not thrown well. Bello has gone just four innings, and Suarez has gone 4 1/3. That means the bullpen needs to go five-plus innings a night, which is not great for so early on in the season. The home run bug has also bitten the Red Sox pitchers. They have given up 13 homers in just 10 games, tied for eighth in the league; last year the team had the fourth-lowest home runs given up. What You Need To Know: The Offense is Figuring Itself Out Slowly While the offense needs to be a little bit more consistent, and they need to start being more relaxed in the box, the team can hit the ball. They currently sit 14th in the league with a team average of .226 . The last two games each they have scored six runs; before that, there were just two games where they scored more than four runs. The Red Sox are currently tied for 23rd in home runs, with just nine home runs on the season, which is normal given the fact that they do not have a power bat. Small ball has been starting to pay off for the team, with most of their runs having come from the doubles and singles that the players have hit. While they are waking up, the team is still working on the ABS system, as well as keeping swinging within the strike zone. Trevor Story alone has swung at 43 pitches outside the strike zone . The team has gotten better about challenging and will continue to improve as they start to settle down and stop chasing outside the zone. Before You Go: Baseball is a Marathon, Not a Sprint There is a reason baseball is referred to as a marathon, not a sprint. It fluctuates and changes; no game is ever the same. The worst team in the league can beat the best on any given day, and one game could have a position player pitching half the game. That is why fans, no matter what the record looks like, should not be worried. The pitchers will figure things out; they are just not syncing with their pitches, and their command is a bit off. If Suarez had not had that one bad inning in his last outing against the Padres, there was a chance he probably could have gone another inning or two. Game 11 marks the third time around for the rotation; maybe that's all they need to get kickstarted.

With the season just a few games away from being over, the Chicago Bulls have learned a lot about where the franchise truly stands within today’s NBA. And the reality is hard to ignore. This team is a far cry from the glory days of Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen leading the franchise to multiple championships. Back then, dominance wasn’t a goal. it was the standard. Now, to many fans, it feels like ownership has grown comfortable with mediocrity, leaning on nostalgia from prior generations instead of building toward the next great era. Yes, the Bulls of the ‘90s may represent the pinnacle of NBA greatness, but just like the world continues to rotate, the league evolves. And the Bulls have not kept up. If this franchise wants to recapture even a fraction of that greatness, it starts with this upcoming offseason. My Hottest Take: The Bulls Are the Worst-Run Team in the League For the last 25 years, the Chicago Bulls haven’t been built to chase greatness, they’ve been expected to maintain relevance. And there’s a difference. This franchise has been treated like a prized possession instead of a competitive weapon. Under the Reinsdorf family, the Bulls have operated like a team afraid to fully commit in either direction. Not bad enough to bottom out. Not aggressive enough to contend. Just … existing in the middle. Comfortable. Safe. Profitable. It’s like owning a championship blueprint and choosing to laminate it instead of build from it. We’ve seen flashes like Derrick Rose’s rise, Jimmy Butler’s emergence, and now recent sparks with young talent like Matas Buzelis and Josh Giddey . But every time the Bulls approach a real decision point, they hesitate. They prioritize control over risk. Continuity over boldness. And in today’s NBA, that’s the fastest way to get left behind. Because the truth is, building a contender requires uncomfortable decisions. Big swings. The willingness to be wrong in pursuit of being great. The Bulls haven’t taken enough of those swings. Instead, they’ve treated one of the most iconic brands in basketball like something to protect rather than maximize. It is like a collector’s item sitting on a shelf: valuable, historic, but not actively competing with what’s being built today. And until that mindset shifts, the Bulls won’t return to the pinnacle. They’ll just keep circling it. What You Need to Know: The Path to a Title Is Full of Bumps Understanding how championships are won in the NBA is a lot easier than actually going out and doing it. You need to hit on your draft picks. You need luck. And more importantly, you need time. Championship teams are not built overnight—they’re forged through failure, adjustments, and growth. History has shown that you need a top-five player in the league to truly compete for the Larry O'Brien Trophy. And even then, that player—and that team—has to go through heartbreak before breaking through. Look at the recent champions: Oklahoma City Thunder – Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Boston Celtics – Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown Denver Nuggets – Nikola Jokić Golden State Warriors – Stephen Curry Milwaukee Bucks – Giannis Antetokounmpo Every single one of those teams went through playoff failures before reaching the top. The Thunder had to rebuild and fall short as a top seed before breaking through. The Celtics spent years knocking on the door before finally winning. The Nuggets and Bucks endured multiple playoff disappointments before getting their moment. That’s the process. That’s the price. And it’s exactly what the Bulls have tried to avoid. Before You Go: The Bulls have not even hit rock bottom yet This is where everything comes to a head for the Chicago Bulls. Because knowing how to build a contender is one thing. Having the courage to follow that path is another. This upcoming offseason cannot be another middle-of-the-road adjustment. It cannot be another attempt to “retool” while staying competitive for a play-in spot. We’ve seen that story already and we know how it ends. If the Bulls are serious about returning to relevance they will continue to struggle to win games. Fully commit to building around the young core of Matas Buzelis and Josh Giddey, embracing development, patience, and draft capital. They could get agressive if a superstar becomes available, but that would only put the Bulls behind even further. If they can find a way to draft a superstar and plug him in next to Buzelis and Giddey. But what they cannot do is stay in between. Because the middle is where franchises stall. The middle is where potential fades into mediocrity. The middle is where fans lose belief. There are no shortcuts here. No half-measures that suddenly turn this roster into a contender. The Bulls need to embrace the reality of where they are even if that means taking a step back before moving forward. And yes, that comes with risk. It means trading players you like. Sitting through growing pains. Losing more games in the short term. But every contender we just talked about made that choice. They embraced the discomfort that comes with chasing greatness. That’s the part the Bulls have avoided. For too long, this franchise has tried to balance competitiveness with caution trying to stay relevant without fully committing to being great. And that’s why they’ve been stuck. So as this season comes to a close, the real question isn’t about roster moves. It’s about identity. Are the Bulls going to protect their past… Or finally risk it to build a new future? Because until that question is answered with action—not words—the Bulls won’t climb back to the top of the NBA.

The Titans have had an exciting offseason thus far and are looking forward to making a big splash in the 2026-2027 season. They have made plenty of trades this offseason and may not be done yet, as it looks like former starting quarterback Will Levis could be on the move soon. The Titans have Cam Ward as their starting QB, followed by backup Mitch Trubisky, and now new third-string QB Hendon Hooker, whom the team signed last week. With Levis coming off of shoulder surgery and ultimately losing his starting spot, his days in Tennessee seem numbered. The destination that seems most likely for Levis would be the Jets. The Jets brought in Geno Smith this season to be the starting QB, but the Jets don’t seem to have a backup, and Levis fits that mold perfectly. It would also be fitting for a guy like Levis to take over midseason and find success in a place like New York, where he can get a second chance. As for the Titans, many NFL analysts and journalists seem to think they are a wild card regarding what they will do with the number four pick in the 2026 draft. Many now seem to believe that the Titans will take Jeremyiah Love. Love was arguably the best running back in the country last year, if not the best. Love went for almost 1,400 yards and 18 touchdowns. Many seem to think that the Raiders made a great decision in drafting Ashton Jeanty, and they seem to think that the Titans' drafting Love would bring the same results. It would be nice to have Love, but the Titans don’t need a running back at the moment, considering they have Tony Pollard at running back, who has had back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons. Pollard still has two years left on his contract as well. If they did draft Love, it would be a great development process for him, and maybe it would pay off for the Titans in the long run. With this team trying to reinvent their defense, it seems that taking a defensive player would make more sense. However, you can’t rule out the offensive firepower in the first round of this draft. Beyond Love, Carnell Tate is considered a top-10 pick and the best wide receiver in the draft, while Jordyn Tyson isn’t far behind. The Titans find themselves in an excellent spot for this draft, as it seems whichever way they go, they will improve on either side of the ball. The Titans have done an excellent job building this team this offseason, and it's exciting to see where they will go next.

Every year before the NFL Draft, each team can host up to 30 draft prospects for isolated visits. These visits give teams the chance to cross off final boxes related to character and organizational fit. Prospect visits also give the fans an idea of what position their team is targeting heavily in that year's draft. For the Seahawks, the answer looks to be safety, cornerback, and running back. I’ll be taking a look at the names in each position group and giving a rundown on where you could expect them to be drafted. The Running Backs The Seahawks have four running backs coming in for visits. I’ve already talked about Arkansas super athlete Mike Washington Jr. as a fit in a previous mock draft, so I’ll focus on the other three. Most Seahawks fans are probably familiar with Washington’s Jonah Coleman, given his proximity. For those not familiar, Coleman followed Jedd Fish to Washington after a breakout 2023 for the Arizona Wildcats, where he rushed for 871 yards and five touchdowns. In two seasons with the Huskies, Coleman posted 1,818 yards and 25 touchdowns. He’s stout at 5-foot-9 and 228 lbs, allowing him to fight through contact, which is a big reason why he forced 174 missed tackles during his career. Coleman also has smooth hands and can catch the ball away from his body more consistently than most backs. Coleman is a likely day two pick and could be a Seahawk at pick 64 or 96. The other two visits are smaller school prospects who will likely see their names called on late day three, if at all. Toledo’s Chip Trayanum is a journeyman who has made stops at Arizona State, Ohio State, and Kentucky, peaking with 390 yards and a touchdown as a sophomore. Trayanum found his footing in his final college season, rushing for 1,015 yards and 12 touchdowns. He’s another compact runner at 5-foot-11 and 227 lbs, but he’s a better athlete than Coleman and would present a good flier at pick 188. Kennesaw State’s Coleman Bennett is another sixth-year journeyman, spending four years at Bucknell before a stop at Rice. Like Trayanum, Bennett's best year was his last, with 755 yards and four touchdowns. Bennett feels like a UDFA prospect given his age and lack of production, so look out for Seattle to bring him aboard quickly if his name isn’t called. The Safeties Technically, the Seahawks have only brought in one safety prospect in LSU’s AJ Haulcy, but were grouping South Carolina's Jalon Kilgore in at safety as well. Kilgore played 695 snaps on defense in 2025, and 654 of those were either in the slot or in the box at linebacker, making him an interesting fit for Seattle given Nick Emmanwori’s success in the slot last season. Kilgore’s profile is worth an early draft pick, standing 6-foot-1 and 211 lbs, he posted 62 tackles and two interceptions while allowing a passer rating of just 68.1 . This is a versatile player who will likely need some time to make the transition to full-time safety. Haulcy is one of my favorite players in the draft. A true ballhawking free safety with 10 career interceptions, Haulcy spent time at both New Mexico and Houston before making his way to LSU. His closing speed is rare, and it allows him to clamp down on digs and crossers over the middle. He’s a solid run defender, though his missed tackle rate has increased as the level of competition has, capping out at 15.8% this past year. Haulcy’s risk-reward nature won’t be for everyone, but given the structure Seattle would place around him in the secondary, Haulcy's upside is well worth pick 62 if he’s still available. The Cornerbacks So far, the Seahawks have brought in three players at corner who are likely to be selected in very different ranges of the draft. San Diego State’s Chris Johnson will be at play with pick 32, given his outstanding final year in college. Johnson allowed just 18 catches on 43 targets for 185 yards in 2025, and he picked off four passes as a cherry on top. His passer rating when targeted was just 16.1. His work against the run was also notable, with only eight missed tackles in his career and a miniscule 6.2% missed-tackle rate in 2024. Johnson would slot in nicely opposite Devon Witherspoon and give Seattle more upside than they’re getting with Josh Jobe. Georgia’s Daylen Everette presents an option on day two. A corner that excels in press coverage, Everette has struggled with consistency in a conference packed with future pros at receiver, but he’s steadily developed in all facets of the game during his time in Athens. Everett cut his missed tackle rate from 19.7% to 8.8% and his reception percentage from 68.2% to 55.9%. Even with tape that can be hit or miss, Everett’s steady development and athletic testing will push him into the range of Seattle’s second pick at 62. The third option is Toledo’s Andre Fuller. Overshadowed by his teammate and top safety prospect Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, Fuller turned in a fantastic senior season of his own for the Rockets. In coverage, Fuller allowed just 22 receptions on 52 targets and broke up nine passes. He’s a well-built player at 6-foot-1, 200 lbs, and a strong tackler. His athletic testing likely caught Seattle’s eye, and would make for a fun selection if they want to trade down from their third-rounder.

The official NFL schedule release is still pretty far out, but it’s been announced that the Seattle Seahawks will play a rare Wednesday night opener, and their list of potential opponents has already been released, so it feels like a good time to rank the top choices for Seattle's opponent. 1. Los Angeles Rams With the Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers set to play in Melbourne the night after Seattle’s opener, and thus out of consideration for the opening opponent, the Dallas Cowboys present a fun option that most are underrating. The Cowboys should have a dynamite offense once again, led by QB Dak Prescott and a WR duo featuring two of the league's best in Ceedee Lamb and George Pickens. The pressure would be on Seattle’s defense to generate quick pressure on Prescott and limit his damage through the air. On defense, the Cowboys still have major holes across the board after ranking dead last in opponent points per game at a whopping 30.1 . Defensive tackle Quinnen Williams could give Seattle’s interior all they can handle, but the Dallas secondary has little hope of containing Jaxon Smith-Njigba, meaning this matchup could provide points in bunches. 2. Chicago Bears A bit of an upside swing here. The Bears blew past expectations in year one under Ben Johnson, reaching the NFC divisional playoff round and giving the Rams all they could handle in a narrow defeat. The Bears have a lot to be excited about heading into Johnson's second year, with a QB in Caleb Williams who really popped in year two while learning to balance his love for play extension with the quick, concise decision-making it takes to operate a successful offense down-to-down in the NFL. Williams will have help from other ascending talents like Luther Burden and Rome Odunze at receiver, Colston Loveland at tight end, and an offensive line featuring Joe Thuney and Darnell Wright. The Bears' clear deficiency was their boom-or-bust defense, so this matchup could offer another chance at a shootout to open the season. 3. New England Patriots We’ve seen Super Bowl rematches in season openers before, most recently in 2016 between the Carolina Panthers and Denver Broncos, so this wouldn’t be shocking. The main question would be if the Patriots have done this offseason enough to avoid another  offensive flop  against the Seattle defense. They signed guard Alijah Vera-Tucker to bolster the offensive line that desperately needed help and swapped out Stefon Diggs for Romeo Doubs, who should fit in nicely but isn’t necessarily a needle mover against the Seattle defense. Another offseason of work for Drake Maye will likely mean he avoids another disaster of a game, and the Patriots would come out fired up for this rematch, which earns them the last spot on the list. Honorable Mentions Two other teams piqued my interest while putting together a top three. The Chiefs stood out partly due to Kenneth Walker III moving base to Arrowhead. But with the uncertainty around Patrick Mahomes' return date from ACL surgery, the league will likely want to avoid any chance of Justin Fields vs the Seattle defense in primetime. Finally, the Los Angeles Chargers have a great head coach and QB combo in Jim Harbaugh and Justin Herbert. They should be getting both Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt back from injury as well, giving Herbert a chance to do damage through the air, yet this Chargers team doesn’t have the weaponry on the outside to exploit Seattle’s defense.

The New York Giants have a budding star at quarterback in Ole Miss product Jaxson Dart. After posting 24 all-purpose touchdowns and over 2,700 all-purpose yards, the 22-year-old is looking to take the next step in his sophomore year. New York has taken serious steps to upgrade its whole offensive production by signing Baltimore Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely and wide receivers Darnell Mooney and Calvin Austin III. That’s also being cushioned by the hopeful return of superstar wideout Malik Nabers and the resigning of right tackle Jermaine Eluemunor. It remains to be seen which direction they take at the NFL draft, but the onus is now on Dart. The second-year quarterback is getting all the tools he needs to succeed in his second year. The question he should be asking himself is: What steps should he take now to make 2026 a real breakout year? The Hot Take: Get On The Same Page With Harbaugh Harbaugh’s signing from the Giants’ standpoint came down to a sense of order and stability, something the team has lacked over the last decade. He brings a sense of aggression and excellence to the team, combined with a player-first attitude in which he sees the team as “family.” It’s also important to note that he loves to be creative and pivot when the team needs to, which is something unconventional players thrive on. Under Harbaugh’s reign in Baltimore, we saw him develop Lamar Jackson into an MVP-caliber quarterback who’s a true dual-threat. He essentially scrapped the team’s Joe Flacco-oriented offense, centered on an old-school build with mid-yardage plays and limited pocket movement, in favor of one tailored for a Michael Vick-esque player. It paid off dividends. “The vision that we have together is that Lamar Jackson is going to become and be known and be recognized as the greatest quarterback ever to play in the history of the National Football League,” Harbaugh said in 2024 about Jackson. While Dart isn’t a Jackson-level type of player. Yet. As far as the league can see at the moment, Harbaugh has the ability and toolset to turn him into another dual-threat quarterback that could jostle a long-decaying offensive carcass. The only thing he has to do is listen to Harbaugh and work with him every step of the way; he needs to listen and learn while also giving his own input. Sure, there will be some head-butting along the way behind the scenes. Still, with Harbaugh’s attitude towards his players and Dart’s creativity in the pocket, there could be some good things on the horizon. What You Need To Know: Dart Needs To Take More Risks Downfield On top of utilizing his legs a little more and being a bit safer by sliding for a first down, Dart could excel if he began to take some risks downfield. That’s not saying he’s thrown a couple of downfield dimes in 2025, but the second year should be better given the new coaching style, the return of Nabers, and a sturdy offensive line to give him time. In the modern game, big-time dimes downfield are becoming more normal with more dynamic route-runners and crazy acceleration off the line. One can argue he was limited with Nabers on the sideline recovering from a torn ACL, but in 2026, there is no excuse if the opportunity arises. Even Harbaugh agrees that there’s “nothing he can’t do.” “Power run, dropback pass, quarterback-driven stuff, RPOs, quick ball-out type of completions. He can throw the ball downfield, throw it off play action. I'm not sure what he really can’t do, you know? So we're gonna try to live in those different worlds and see how it fits all the other guys on the offense,” Harbaugh said  recently . There is some room for improvement , with only 3,703 passing yards from the entire Giants team when including Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston. At the same time, there are also some issues with his air distance, which ranks among the shortest in the league. He’ll need to build some arm strength and communicate better with his new receivers in 2026. Before You Go: Beware The Sophomore Slump It’s a real thing, and it could very well happen to Dart in his second season. Usually, defenses don’t have a real clue what a rookie product is capable of doing until they actually see him or see the tape. Even then, there are serious risks of curveballs thrown into their game plan due to the ever-changing dynamics of the offense. By the second year, after a full offseason of studying their game, defenses might have a better idea of what they’re going up against. It  happened  to Matt Ryan, and it also happened to Tim Couch, where defenses were able to really solve their puzzles. Ryan did have a successful career, whereas Couch fell out of the league quickly. Of course, coaching cultures and offensive structures can absolutely play a role. Dart has the ability to become a Matt Ryan instead of a Tim Couch, but it’s up to him not to sink to that level if he has a slump next year.

I thought I’d try something new this week and try and simulate seven rounds of the 49ers draft. I’ll not bore you with each pick for each team, but I will show you my options at each pick and tell you who I went with. I have used PFF’s Mock Draft Simulator. Some other ground rules for this are: - No trade-ups – I don’t think the 49ers will do this, which is what’s widely seen as a weak draft anyway (except possibly to get into the 3rd round), but it’s actually quite hard to make sense of who’s still available on the PFF simulator before you pick, so we’ll mostly stand pat. - We can trade down, however, if we think the value isn’t there. I’m most likely to do this in Round 1. Let’s get started. My Hottest Take: Day 1 For The 49ers brings… Alright, so you already know my thoughts, if you’ve been reading, about what the 49ers could do here. I think pretty much any position, bar quarterback and probably linebacker, is open to us, but the draft seems to have a glut of late-first talent at EDGE, OL, and WR, which are a bunch of places we need talent. So, what’s available to me at 27? My personal draft crush, Dillon Thieneman, goes at #8 to the Saints, while Akheem Mesidor, Blake Miller, and Omar Cooper Jr, another three potential possibilities in my mind, also don’t make it to us, going in the handful of picks before. I’m presented a board containing the likes of CB Avieon Terrell, ED Cashius Howell, Ts Kadyn Proctor and Max Iheanachor, and DL Kayden McDonald, while just out of that range are Utah OT Caleb Lomu and Texas A&M WR KC Concepcion, two popular mock picks. My only offers for trades are from picks 61 (The LA Rams), 71 (The Washington Commanders), and 92 (The Dallas Cowboys), so I think we’re standing pat here. Where to go, though? Kadyn Proctor has been mocked to the Niners, but I just don’t see it – he’s a poor scheme fit, way above our usual size recommendations, and he’s an extremely inconsistent player. The Alabama OL gives me the heebie-jeebies in the draft anyway, so we’ll rule him out. Avieon Terrell’s fall is a bit of a surprise, but I don’t think he’s athletic enough for the Niners. Iheanancho seems too raw for the 49ers, and McDonald doesn’t fit either, so it’s essentially down to Howell, Boston, Lomu, or Concepcion, I think. With the 27th pick, the 49ers select: EDGE Cashius Howell I just couldn’t pass him up – he’s too good a pass-rusher for that. We need some actual talented pass-rushers for defensive line coach Kris Kocurek to work with, and getting Howell is far too tempting to pass on. He’s got a solid track record of production, with room to grow, and in some ways mirrors a former 49ers first-rounder in Aldon Smith, in that he’ll likely have a role in pressure packages from the off while rounding out into a better all-around player (particularly in run defense). He needs some work, but as a productive lump of clay for this coaching staff, this is probably the ideal scenario. You Should Know: Day 2 puts a smile on my face Day 2 gets interesting fast, with pick 58 our first of the day. We’ve got trade options at #60 and #67 (Bears and Raiders, respectively). But, well, there's too much on the board. WR Bryce Lance and CB Treydan Stukes are both available to me, while Joshua Josephs is just out of number range here as well. In any other circumstances, I think the Tennessee EDGE might have appealed. But as soon as I saw one name on the board, my pick was in. (And no, it’s not Bryce ‘brother of Trey’ Lance). With the 58th pick, the 49ers select S A.J Haulcy I’ve been banging on about needing a ball-hawking safety since Week 3, and I absolutely love Haulcy’s skill set. Not only does he show great ball skills, but he’s likely good enough as a hitter and tackler to impress the Neanderthals that seem to run the 49ers' safety and defensive back scouting department as well. A good all-rounder with great experience, he slots right in for Raheem Morris in a spot that’s been troublesome since Jimmie Ward left the team. And hey, there’s no harm in drafting a guy who calls himself ‘Mr. Give Me That’ when you’ve struggled to generate turnovers, either. Before You Go: Day 3 rounds things out Finally, we come to Day 3, though for the 49ers it’ll essentially be a half-Day 3, with four picks in the fourth round making up our quota, all within 12 picks of each other. As such, I’ll spare you the boards on this one and merely tell you who I take: With the 127th pick, the 49ers select G Beau Stephens Something leads me to think the 49ers would be interested in an Iowa guard – possibly because they took Connor Colby from there last year – and that’s because of some things that help Iowa’s appeal to the notoriously hard-to-please Niners. Namely, they run a pro system, many of their linemen have experience in zone blocking, and, moreover, it’s a place where a couple of 49ers have emerged in recent years, most famously George Kittle. A natural fit in the 49ers' scheme with good technique, Stephens raises the floor at a position of very little depth on the 49ers roster. He does have shorter arms than some in Santa Clara would like, but I think he can hide them well enough with the rest of his skills. With the 133rd pick, the 49ers select WR Ja’Kobi Lane Projecting USC wideouts to the pros is very, very difficult, but I think the value of Lane here outstrips any concerns. With size and athleticism, he could be a really solid addition to Kyle Shanahan’s offense. Tough at the point of attack, long, and an ideal redzone target, he could really benefit from the veteran tutelage of new signing Mike Evans, especially in how to use his size to create separation. Oh, he’s not bad after the catch either, which would be a nice thing to add to the Niners’ current room. With the 138th pick, the 49ers select EDGE Nadame Tucker There’s not much buzz about this kid, and I’m not sure why. Perhaps it’s the strength of competition or his relatively raw nature, but I see an athlete that could make noise as a pass-rusher from Day 1, and that’d be welcome in the 49ers frequently attritioned defensive line room. Moreover, if I can hand raw tools to a guy like Kris Kocurek, who has coaxed career-best years out of the likes of Cle Ferrell, Charles Omenihu, and Arden Key, you best believe I’m going to do it. Value spot here, I think. With the 139th pick, the 49ers select CB Charles Demmings I found myself picking between two corners here: Demmings and NC State corner Devon Marshall. I personally prefer Marshall as a prospect, but I see the Niners going with the bigger player and better athlete here. Demmings is a solid player with room to grow – his floor certainly seems higher than the likes of Darrell Luter Jr., who he’s likely to compete against, while his ceiling suggests he could be a very useful rotational corner. With the staff seemingly down on Renardo Green, getting players who can play meaningful snaps at corner should be a priority for the next year or so, particularly as only Deommodore Lenoir and nickel back Upton Stout would seem to have long-term futures. And that’s it! PFF’s overall grade was an A-. So I’m ready whenever you are, John Lynch. In all seriousness, I doubt it happens this way – there are thousands of unpredictable variables that go into a draft – but it’s fun to speculate. In my picks, I believe I’ve filled roster spots for the team at weak positions (sans maybe defensive tackle, although there’s enough versatility in the likes of Mykel Williams to cover that, and the 49ers drafted two last year), while finding players with enough upside to potentially restock the shelves for a few more Super Bowl runs. And you can’t say fairer than that, can you? What would you do? Reach out to me on Twitter @JPorterdoes or @jporterdoes.bsky.social and tell me why I’m wrong. Or right. In fact, I think I’d prefer the latter. See you next week – we’re almost close to having something meaningful to talk about again!

The Long Island Nets Are No Longer Just a Pipeline The G-League was not taken seriously for a time. The Nets have changed that now. The Long Island Nets, the G-League-affilated team, been executing their ideas and play the same way. This season, they are doing well. That shows the system is working. The Long Island Nets just had a game against Capital City (Wizards), They just made it in to the playoffs as well. This shows that the team can develop players and still win games at that level. The Long Island Nets winning also helps translate to the NBA talent and that helps players get better faster. Nets and LI Nets use the same philosophy and schemes They have the same defensive schemes, down to the core beliefs The coaches talk to each other all the time to discuss improvements in certain players Each player has a role to fit on both sides and is expected to play their part. The players do not have to learn two different systems. They just have to master one system. That is why when players join the Brooklyn Nets after their stint with Long Island, they are ready to play. They do not look confused or out of place. Development That’s Translating Several players whose development was with the Long Island Nets are now playing minutes in the NBA, and they are doing important jobs on the Nets.This Brooklyn team is not just looking at how many points these players can score in the G-League; they want to know if they can do the things that will help them win games and progress towards the future, especially this upcoming season. The Brooklyn Nets are looking for effort and consistency, the ability to do what Coach Fernandez says within a system. How hard they try and their effort on the defensive end and rebounding. This way of doing things is making players compete with each other. And importantly, it is making them responsible for what they do. The Brooklyn team is creating a system where players have to be accountable for their actions on the court. One of those players is Drake Powell. He's 20 years old, got drafted by the Brooklyn Nets and still getting used to playing in the big leagues. Powell has played 51 games far. He doesn't take a lot of shots as of now, which is something he was used to doing in college. This makes it hard for him to show off his skills on offense. Here are some of Powell's stats: He makes 25.5% of his three-pointers this year He makes 55% of his two-point shots He makes 90% of his free throws Powell is really good at scoring close to the basket and making free throws. He struggles with shooting from outside and sometimes doesn't take enough shots from out there. When Powell played a few games with the Long Island team, he started to play aggressively. He averaged 15 points and took 11 shots per game. He even helped his team win three games. When Powell went back to Brooklyn, he kept playing with confidence. He took 13 shots. Had three assists in one game, against Atlanta. Powell said that playing for Brooklyn and Long Island feels like he's part of "one club." The teams have the system and coaches, which makes it easier for him to adjust. “I think it’s just all one club. And the coaches down there, they’ve been up in Brooklyn during the summer… which was good.” Powell also praised his Long Island coach, Mfon Udofia, for being a leader and always communicating with him. “Great leader. Talks to me one-on-one, before and after the game … he’s been great over there.” Noah Clowney's Improvement Noah Clowney is one of the big successes of this way of developing players. Toward the end of his year, Clowney really started to do well after spending a lot of time in Long Island. It happened because he was put in situations to learn and get better. At that time, Coach Kevin Ollie said that Udofia and his team did a job of helping Noah Clowney grow and become more confident in his own abilities. “He’s just growing down there … putting him in positions to succeed, and he’s letting his seeds grow.” Now the same approach is still working well for the group of players the same way it worked for Noah Clowney. Chaney Johnson's Opportunity Chaney Johnson’s story is not like other players. He is 23 years old. Has played for many teams. Division II ball, Auburn, and the G-League. Now he has a two-way deal with Brooklyn. Chaney Johnson played a game against Portland about a week ago and claimed his best game of his career so far. This was his fifth game, and he is still learning a new position. After the game, Chaney Johnson said what is helping him do well: "Coach Udofia and the other coaches give us confidence. If you do not have confidence, then working hard will not really help you." Bench Building There have been a lot of times when the second unit has actually played better than the starters. You have players like E.J. Liddell, Chaney Johnson, Tyson Etienne, Josh Minott, Ben Saraf, and Malachi Smith. All of these players came from Long Island and already made a impact. They bring a lot of energy to Brooklyn coming off the bench. Some players who are just with the Nets for a short amount of time are also making a difference. This is what a good development system should look like in the NBA. It should give players who're ready to jump in and make an impact on a team right away. In this case, these players are given a opportunity to not only play and showcase themselves but also potentially securing a permanent spot on the NBA roster coming into next season. One player who is doing this after falling off with his stints at Minnesota and Boston is Josh Minott. Minott's Development into Rotation Player After the trade from Boston, Josh Minott spent some time on Long Island. Josh Minott needed this time to get back on track. Sometimes you have to take a step and start over, and the G-League affiliate is exactly what helped for Josh Minott: it gave him a fresh start for his body and his mindset. Josh Minott said it himself in these terms: “It’s a great group of guys down there… the training staff really helped me… I don’t really notice any difference in terms of the professionalism." After three games with Long Island, Josh Minott came back to Brooklyn, and you could feel something change right away. Josh Minott did not just look like a guy with potential anymore; he looked like a guy who belonged. All the recent talk about Josh Minott is real with his recent stats in games. Josh Minott is standing out for a few things: his defense is everywhere, his energy is very high, he scores in transition, and he does not force things. Everything feels under control, he is not trying hard on offense at all. The coaches are trusting Josh Minott every night because he sticks to the system, competes all the time, and makes a real impact without needing the ball in his hands every time. To be honest, Josh Minott is not some guy the system helped develop. Josh Minott is turning into someone Brooklyn can actually count on on a consistent basis during the final days of the NBA season. Sean Marks' vision comes to light When Sean Marks stepped in as general manager in 2016, the Long Island Nets were just getting started. At that time nobody thought the G-League team was a part of building the Brooklyn roster. The Brooklyn Nets found guys like Joe Harris and Spencer Dinwiddie from teams not from their own development system.Now it has been ten years, and things are totally different. The Long Island Nets are now a part of the Brooklyn Nets rebuilding plan. The Brooklyn Nets are serious about growing their players, and it is clear that the Brooklyn Nets actually have a plan. Or to say it like Jacque Fernández said: the Brooklyn Nets players play the way. The Brooklyn team is not just thinking about making their players better now they are thinking about the future. They have nine games left to play and they have a good chance of getting a top player in the lottery. One of those players in Cameron Boozer. Could Boozer Be A Centerpiece? People think Cameron Boozer is one of the players in his draft class. He scores points easily grabs the ball when it bounces off the hoop, he is already big enough to play in the NBA, He knows how to play basketball really well with great IQ Cameron Boozer has verious of ways of playing that makes it easy for him to play with the professionals especially getting up to the NBA. The Brooklyn team knows what kind of team they want to be, which helps a player like Cameron Boozer to fit in and get better without getting confused. This helps the young star a lot of if he is projected to fall to the Nets with the Top 5-10 Lottery picks. Final Thoughts Brooklyn may not be winning right now, but they are building something real for the future and as long as Coach Fernandez can stay the path. They should have a bright future. The Long Island Nets are helping the Brooklyn team by giving them players who can help. Young players are getting to play they are getting more confident and getting Cameron Boozer would give the team a direction to follow. This is not, about trying to win the Brooklyn team is building for the long term and you can see that they are doing it.

With a few games left heading into the playoffs, can the Oklahoma City Thunder chase history and repeat as champions? As the playoff chase looms closer, it seems that there will be a lot to expect from the defending champs as they try to win a title once more. Right from the start of the season, Oklahoma City has been the favorite to win the 2026 NBA Finals. Now that we are in the playoff chase, the Thunder remain the best team in the league to look out for. Of course, there are now teams that have gotten better , and they’ve posed bigger threats to OKC more than ever. For a team that was hyped to win 77 games when the season began, the Thunder were a far cry from that. But they’re certainly not that far from the team that finished 68-14 last season. By now, you should know that this squad didn’t budge from being the top team in the league. Their playoff chances aren’t that bad either. They are projected to be nearly 40% as winners of the NBA Finals. In fact, there’s even a strong chance that they’ll still plow through the competition even if they face the heavyweight teams in the Western Conference. That would at least be the San Antonio Spurs , the Denver Nuggets, or probably the Los Angeles Lakers. First-round opponents may not be that big a problem, considering they’ve swept teams they faced there in two straight playoff runs. At this point, one can say that the Thunder really have it all in their favor, and it may tilt them towards a historic finish. The fact that they’ve gone for 60 wins in back-to-back seasons is a massive feat. Now that they’re setting their eyes on the playoff stage. In fact, it’s going to be a huge campaign for them to prove their critics wrong, and no one would want to miss out on their storied journey so far. A Chance at Immortality Not every team has managed to come up with back-to-back championships. In fact, the list is so short that it has become a standard of NBA immortality. The Lakers, for instance, have done this feat multiple times. The Celtics? They had an eight-year reign back in the 1960s. The Michael Jordan-led Bulls had two three-peat championships in seven years. The most recent team to win back-to-back titles? The Golden State Warriors in 2017 and 2018. Since then, it’s been a parity era in the NBA, with a new champion named every season. This year, however, it does seem that the Thunder stand with a strong chance to pull off such a feat. To be fair, Oklahoma City finds itself in historic company at this point. Not long ago, they posted one of the league's best defenses . It cannot be denied that we’re looking for the same energy that they boasted back then. They’re not a dominant 3pt-shooting team like the Warriors, but they’re certainly capable of pulling off big threes when they need them. But what makes OKC unique is that they are doing it all with effective defense. Then turning defense into offense. When they play freely on the floor, Oklahoma City is a very dangerous team to contend against. Just ask the Grizzlies, the Nuggets, the Timberwolves, and the Pacers–who all fell victim to them in the 2025 Playoffs. This season may not be that different at all. The Thunder have shown that they can match opponents when needed. The fact that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has played fewer fourth quarters this season than last year is astounding. With all the injuries that they’ve seen so far, it’s hard to believe that they’re still the best in the NBA. Waging War Against the West The Thunder aren’t exactly as dominating as they were last year. In fact, they’ve lost multiple games to Eastern Conference teams this season. Last season, they went undefeated. The gap between the rest of the West isn’t also that convincing. OKC finished with a 16-game cushion over the Houston Rockets last season. They were winning games dominantly. This season, they’re not exactly winning a lot by double digits this season. The Spurs beat them in the season series , but the Thunder actually won the last one convincingly. Denver hasn’t been really great against OKC, and not much of a collection of teams can beat them well other than San Antonio. To sum it up, maybe the Thunder has a strong chance to win it all, especially against the West. Sure, it does look like the Spurs may become their Kryptonite soon. However, it may be one way to really test the Thunder’s mettle. Denver was a proving ground for OKC last season, and now it seems that San Antonio may be the next hurdle. Can OKC Storm Back to the Top? A few more games left to play in the season, the Thunder hope to prove that they can win it all again. In fact, it’s very timely that they try to embrace the villain arc. After all, most teams that have been labelled villains have become champions. Just look at LeBron James and Stephen Curry–who have come up with recent legacies as villains as well. Shai is showing the rest of the league that the Thunder has what it takes to be a dynasty. They are one of the best teams we’ve seen so far, and it does point toward a chance at winning this year. No team has been able to repeat as champions in a long while. The odds are in OKC’s favor so far, and this is their chance to make the most out of their window.

The St. Louis Cardinals' catching position has been in limbo since the retirement of Yadier Molina following the 2022 season. The Redbirds signed former Chicago Cubs backstop Willson Contreras to be Molina’s successor. Still, during his tenure, the Cardinals moved him to first base, and Ivan Herrera and Pedro Pages took over duties behind the plate. Since then, Herrera has struggled defensively, throwing out six would-be base stealers on 81 attempts. Meanwhile, offensively, Herrera has a .282/.366/.431 slashline at the major league level as of Wednesday. The Cardinals' right-handed slugger did undergo elbow surgery in the offseason to clean up his throwing arm , and while he has yet to be tested in his two starts behind the plate, the jury is still out on his defensive improvements this season. Pages has struggled offensively at times, but has been regarded as a good handler of the pitching staff, understanding pitchers' strengths and hitters' weaknesses. One of the new skills that teams are asking their catchers to use is the ABS system effectively, and flip the counts in favor of the pitcher. Pages, who was winless in his challenges in the first four games of the season, won his first challenge behind the plate on Wednesday afternoon, and maybe that can start a streak for the Cardinals backstop. All while this is happening, Cardinals No. 8 prospect Jimmy Crooks , according to MLB Pipeline , is on an absolute tear for the Memphis Redbirds after missing the Opening Day roster. Crooks went 4-for-4 with a homer and double in Wednesday’s Triple-A game and is 8-for-15 with three home runs in the first four games of the season. While it is still early, and Pages’ defensive prowess might give him a bit of a longer leash, if Crooks keeps this up, it can only be a matter of time before he gets another shot at the big leagues. The left-handed-hitting catcher got a taste of the big leagues last season, but hit .133 with one home run in 15 games. The Cardinals' third catcher on the roster, Yohel Pozo, has not made an appearance in the first two series of the year, and it would be hard to see the team carrying three catchers on the roster. Pozo, a strong power bat off the bench, has not been needed quite yet for the Cardinals this season, and if it takes much longer, he could be the roster casualty to make space for Crooks. Crooks is not the only top-10 prospect that the Cardinals have, with Leonardo Bernal and Rainel Rodriguez ranked at No. 6 and No. 3, respectively. The organization is rich in backstops, and Molina has returned to work with the catchers and develop those top prospects into everyday players in MLB. As of now, the Cardinals likely won’t make any changes to their roster, but if Crooks keeps the pressure on, he may just force the hand of Chaim Bloom and Oliver Marmol to decide on who will be doing the catching in St. Louis.

Quarterback Anthony Richardson has been with the Indianapolis Colts since he was drafted in 2023. Now, the team faces a tough decision on what to do with its former first-round draft pick. The journey Richardson was drafted fourth overall in the draft, which shows Indianapolis saw potential in Richardson. During his three-year collegiate career at Florida from 2020-2022, he threw for 3,105 yards and 24 touchdowns. Since entering the NFL, Richardson has not had an easy career. In his debut season, he only played in four games, throwing for 577 yards and three touchdowns. Richardson then suffered a shoulder injury, which took him out for the rest of the season. Once recovered, his second year proved to be much more successful. He threw for over 1,800 yards and completed eight touchdowns. He missed time during the season due to various injuries. In 2025, he once again sat out most of the season injured, suffering an orbital bone fracture. Even once recovered, Richardson was benched, and Daniel Jones was chosen as the starter over him. Going into this offseason, one of the biggest questions is what the Colts are going to do with Richardson. After signing Jones to a two-year $88 million contract , it seems clear what direction the Colts are going when it comes to quarterback. However, that does not necessarily mean the Colts will get rid of him. The decision When Richardson originally signed, the deal was a four-year , $39 million guaranteed contract. That means that this is Richardson’s last season with the team already. The Colts have already made moves in free agency, but nothing has been done with Richardson, unlike what most people expected. There have been rumors of trades to another team, including the Green Bay Packers and Los Angeles Rams, but nothing has come to fruition. According to Adam Schefter, the market has not been what the Colts expected. At this time, they have not decided to make a deal for Richardson yet. At this point, the Colts should keep him. Most of the teams that Richardson is rumored to be traded to would be treating Richardson as a backup. This is how the Colts plan to use him anyway. With only one year left on the contract, the Colts could keep Richardson for this season as a backup and then decide to trade him after his contract expires. Richardson is a better option than Riley Leonard if he is able to stay healthy. It is clear that what is being offered for Richardson is not good enough for the Colts, or they likely would have traded him already. It is fair that there may be hesitation from other teams. Richardson has been injury-riddled and has not produced what was expected. He has not played a full season without missing time due to injury. Richardson still has time to grow and develop; he is young and early in his career. While he may not be the starter in Indianapolis, he will have time to learn. For Richardson’s sake, a trade might be in his best interest. A change of scenery and coach might be what jump-starts his career. However, as of now, the Colts should keep Richardson as a backup; he is still a good option, and there are no good offers.

The Boston Red Sox have officially played the first four games of their season. Unfortunately, they are sitting at the bottom of the AL East with a record of 1–3. On the plus side, there are 158 more games to play this campaign. My Hottest Take: Do not count this team out yet Yes, the Red Sox are sitting at 1–3. Yes, there has been little offense. Yes, the offseason acquisitions have not been hitting or pitching the way people had hoped. But there are 158 more games. These are their first four games together as a team. It is the first time some have stepped into a Red Sox uniform; sure, they have been major leaguers, but people say all the time how much pressure being on one of the biggest teams in the league can be. Sure, Sonny Gray and Ranger Suarez only pitched four innings each and they were banged around, but there were also some moments in their outings that showed what they could be. Gray struck out five and walked one, and Suarez struck out three and walked one. Caleb Durbin has gone 0–12 in the first four games of the season. Willson Contreras has one hit and four walks. But that means nothing, as this is not the National Football League with just 17 games; there are 162, and the Red Sox started the same way last year and ended up going to the playoffs. You Should Know: We're Only Four Games Into The Season Four games. The games have been hard to watch, not going to lie. Losing two back-to-back close games sucks, and then getting smacked around by the Astros is no fun. It has not been that the team is playing bad baseball—there have only been two errors—but the bats have been silent. Once the bats start going, this team is going to be scary. The top three batters have the chance to hit at least 20 home runs each, Wilyer Abreu is hot as can be, and there are things that can go right for this team. They are playing with what seems like no confidence and a sped-up game, rather than really digging in and watching the pitches. Before You Go: Just because they are down, don’t count them out Skids happen. This team won 89 games last season with a similar start. Granted, they did go 24–9 when Garrett Crochet was on the mound and had a 10-game winning streak going into the All-Star Game, but they still won 89 games. The team needs to gain their confidence, which is what they will do as soon as they get back to what they did in game one of the season. It’s hard to come into Houston with Yordan Alvarez, who seems to murder the Red Sox every time, as well as striking out 13 times. The team will really just have to wipe these last three games off and focus on what is coming. The Red Sox can win games. The Red Sox have power hitters. They just have to find their footing, which will come. Obviously, it is hard to believe when this is all fans have to base their thoughts on, but that is why baseball is 162 games and not like any other sport that has a shorter season. They will figure out their game, and when they do, be ready for the Red Sox.

The Lions saw their offensive line go from a strength to a weakness this past season, and it played a big role in their failure to reach the playoffs. They have made some improvements by bringing in Cade Mays to hold down the center position, but there is still a hole in this offensive line. Offensive Tackle: The Lions suffered a blow when longtime stalwart Taylor Decker asked for his release after debating retirement. It is believed the Lions asked Decker to take a pay cut, and he refused, prompting him to ask to be released from the team. He was set to make $21 million next year playing for the Lions. Now, with that cap freed up, the team went out and signed Larry Borom from the Miami Dolphins to a one-year, $5 million deal. However, that should not be all the Lions do, as if Borom starts for them at tackle next year, they are likely to run into problems again. Fortunately, they have a number of options to handle it. Kadyn Proctor He was a guy who was high up on draft boards towards the beginning of the season, but some struggles throughout the year have sent him skidding a bit. Most of those concerns stem from his reliance on his size and physical gifts rather than his technique. There were times when he should stand up too tall and allow rushers to bend around him. He is still young at 20 and has a high ceiling to help him grow into a great tackle. Monroe Freeling Freeling is a guy who has shot up draft boards due to his freakish size (6-7, 315 pounds) and athleticism (4.93-second 40-yard dash). However, he is extremely raw with just 18 starts under his belt. Borom could start at the beginning of the year until Freeling is ready to go. Frank Haley could really help get the most out of Freeling and could get him on track quicker than people would expect. Spencer Fano Fano has a lot of versatility, having played both left and right tackle during his time at Utah. Yet, some scouts and evaluators think he might slide inside to guard due to his 32 and ⅛-inch wingspan. That would work out for the Lions as they can use help at the guard positions. Picking Fano will give them options up and down the offensive line, and they will go with whatever player is performing the best. Taylor Decker Now looking into someone who is not going to be a rookie, and it’s an old friend. When Decker was released by the Lions, it seemed he would be picked up quickly, but that hasn't happened. He is still a free agent, and while he has declined over the past couple of years, he still knows the system and is familiar with the team. If they could bring him back on a deal worth less than $8 million, then they should do it. Conclusion The Lions have a number of options to address their tackle problem; it really doesn't matter which one they choose. They just need to make the decision to improve the position.

The Titans have made plenty of moves this offseason, as they are slowly building their roster back into a playoff contender. With a few spots needing work, GM Mike Borgonzi made it clear that the right guard and center positions are ones the Titans still want to fill. Now the Titans can obviously use the draft if they please to fill these spots as I think it would be in their best interest to develop that talent. The Titans control nine picks in this year’s draft, they can very easily utilize these picks in a trade for some offensive line help as well. The Titans still have options at their disposal, and these players could help fill those positions. Graham Glasgow and Brady Christensen Glaskow and Christensen would be excellent pickups for the Titans as they would serve as perennial depth moving forward. Glasgow is going into his 11th season, he served the previous Lions, and doesnt seem likee they will be bringing him back. Glasgow has done a good job of staying on the field appearing in 14+ games in eight of his ten years played. He has a snap count of 80% or more in nine of those seasons and on average is only committing around four penalties per season. This ranges from holding, false starts, and declined penalties. A one year deal on a decent contract around five million would be a solid addition to the team. Christensen on the other hand would be a guy the Titans would have to take a chance on. Christensen has shown promie, playing almost three full seasons of his five year career. However with two season ending injuries to his name, his fate could be the same in Tennessee. Christensen will becoming off a season-ending achilles injury in 2026, not to mention the season-ending bicep injury he suffered in the 2023. However, Christensen has let up just 13 penalties his whole career, and plays at a snap count of roughly 60-70%. A player like that is all the Titans would need to solidify their depth upfront. Both Glasgow and Christensen play a mix of guard, tackle, and center. Having the ability to play in multiple positions, unlocks potential and availability. The Titans at this point would take anyone who could reshape that o-line. The NFL Draft could also be a spot where the Titans lean on some rookies to fill these spots. Caleb Lomu out of Utah University or Logan Jones out of Iowa University could be good additions. Two players who had seasons at their schools and could see that success translate to the NFL. Whatever route the Titans decide to take, anything that can improve this o-line will be a plus, as it can’t get any worse than what the Titans put out on the field last season.

The Pittsburgh Steelers have plenty of draft capital as the team prepares for the selection process coming up this month. While there is a sense of urgency for the team to capitalize on its early-round selections, there’s plenty of opportunity to strike gold in the later rounds. Here are four players who should be available around day three or so that could make an impact for the Steelers that could exceed their perceived value. Bud Clark, Safety, TCU Clark is the epitome of the age-old split in prospect evaluation philosophy. The ‘advanced stats nerds’ will balk at his lack of eye-popping combine scores and his tendency to overextend when trying to make plays. Conversely, the ‘that boy nice’ crowd will turn on the tape and see that Clark is, in fact, nice. The TCU product posted 15 interceptions during his time as a Horned Frog, including a pick-six to set the tone in the Fiesta Bowl against Michigan. His explosive movement, ball-tracking and desire to make big plays make him a true ballhawk free safety. Pittsburgh's specialty last year was forcing turnovers, and a player like Clark will quickly find a role in such an environment. Bryce Boettcher, LB, Oregon An incredibly deep linebacker class will inevitably push some talented prospects down the board, and Boettcher is my favorite to outperform his draft slot. A baseball star who walked on to the football team at Oregon and forced his way into the starting lineup, Boettcher brought physical and mental toughness to the middle of the defense for the Ducks. A tackling machine who has the athleticism and drive to develop into a starting-caliber player, he also has good ball skills after spending time as a safety early on in college. Eli Heidenreich, RB/WR, Navy Military academy prospects are always tricky to evaluate, given the uniqueness of their situation, but the potential of Heidenreich is tantalizing for any offensive coordinator. A Swiss Army knife for the Midshipmen, Heidenreich simply lined up wherever it was easiest to get him the football. A high-volume target in college, Heidenreich posted gaudy stat lines when teams failed to adjust to his versatility. Scouts love his sure hands and downhill running style, but he’ll have to prove that he has the athleticism to make it at the next level. Pittsburgh would do well to bring him back home (Heidenreich played for Mt. Lebanon in high school) and see if they can find a way to utilize his unique talents. Caden Curry, EDGE, Ohio State I talked about Curry a few weeks ago in my most recent mock draft , but the disparity between his draft buzz and his college production continue to point to how undervalued he is. To reiterate: Curry had eleven sacks in 2025 to go along with 40 solo tackles. Curry benefited from being the tertiary threat on an Ohio State front that also featured elite prospects Sonny Styles and Arvell Reese, but he certainly proved to be a weapon in his own right throughout the season. He might not be on the same level as Styles, Reese and safety Caleb Downs, but to find a player with this kind of production against elite competition this late in the draft is a steal. Pittsburgh, like the Buckeyes, has plenty of big-name talent. If given the chance, Curry could find a way to make opponents pay the price for discounting him once again.

With the NFL Draft a little less than a month away, the Dallas Cowboys have a couple of defensive needs they should address before draft night. One of the most obvious is the inside linebacker room. The group currently consists of DeMarvion Overshown, who has shown flashes of being a standout but is coming off two ACL injuries in his NFL career; Shemar James, last year’s fifth-round pick who made an impact but was inconsistent, partly due to his 6'1", 225-pound frame; and Justin Barron, a UDFA who spent most of last season on the practice squad but is viewed highly by the coaching staff. Last Friday, in a since-deleted tweet, Nick Harris reported that the Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair and Miami Dolphins linebacker Jordyn Brooks were potential trade options after Dallas shifted interest away from Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Patrick Queen. The report sparked mixed reactions across social media. In this piece, we’ll break down three reasons why the Cowboys should pursue Brooks. He’s Still in His Prime This wouldn’t be a move for a linebacker at the tail end of his career. Jordyn Brooks is 28 years old and will turn 29 in October, placing him squarely in his prime. He’s coming off a career year where he earned his first Pro Bowl/All-Pro recognition and led the league with 183 combined tackles, along with 3.5 sacks, 61 stops, and a forced fumble. That level of production shows he can be an immediate difference-maker for Dallas. His Play Style Brooks is a true sideline-to-sideline linebacker and an elite run stopper who consistently makes his presence felt. He brings leadership, physicality, and improved coverage ability, checking every box for what defensive coordinator Christian Parker needs in an inside linebacker. His ability to diagnose plays quickly and finish tackles would add stability and toughness to the middle of the Cowboys’ defense. Contract Fit Jordyn Brooks signed a three-year deal worth around $26–30 million with the Miami Dolphins, averaging roughly $9–10 million per year. His contract is structured with manageable cap hits and flexibility, making it realistic for the Dallas Cowboys to absorb without major financial strain. Compared to top-tier linebackers, Brooks comes at a mid-tier price for high-level production. Dallas could restructure or spread cap hits if needed, but as it stands, his deal aligns well with their cap situation while still leaving room to address other needs in the draft. Short-term gain for Dallas, long-term value for Miami This is what we want to see: The Dallas Cowboys acquire linebacker Jordyn Brooks, adding a reliable, high-tackle defender to strengthen their front seven right away. The Miami Dolphins get a 2026 fourth-round pick and a 2027 fifthth-round pick, giving them future draft assets to build depth and develop younger talent.

The Cleveland Cavaliers have been dealing with injuries to star players for most of this season, but for the first time in the James Harden era, all four All-Stars on the team are finally healthy. Cleveland beat the Miami Heat on Friday 149-128, and that performance is just a glimpse of what this team could be if they stay fully healthy. Dominant Offense The Cavs have a collection of talent on their team that blends perfectly on the offensive side of the ball. James Harden is an elite pick-and-roll operator and playmaker, Donovan Mitchell is one of the best scorers in the league, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen are efficient rolling to the rim, and there’s elite spot up shooters in Sam Merrill, Max Strus, and Jaylon Tyson to play off of those stars. It’s a very small sample size, but in the 48 minutes in which Harden, Mitchell, Mobley, and Allen all share the floor together, the team is posting an offensive rating of 134.7 . That means that the Cavaliers are scoring 134.7 points per 100 possessions with all of their stars healthy, which is 18.8 points above league-average. The offense is still very good without one of those bigs on the floor, but the level they can get to with everybody playing is higher than any other team in the NBA. Elite Defense Defense is where the impact of having Allen and Mobley on the floor together is felt the most. With just Mobley and no Allen on the floor, the team’s defensive rating is 129.4, which is 13.5 points worse than league average. If they have Allen in with no Mobley, that number goes up to 131.6. The Cavs defense is heavily reliant on having both of those rim protectors on the floor together because of their lack of elite perimeter defenders. When they do have their lineup with Mitchell, Harden, Mobley, and Allen out there together, their defensive rating is an elite 97.0 , which is 18.8 points better than the league average. The margin for error on defense is so much wider with both big men on the floor together. That extra layer of rim protection is the difference between the Cavaliers defense being elite or being bad. End of Season Outlook At full strength, the Cavaliers are still one of the best teams in the NBA, we just haven’t seen them stay healthy since the James Harden trade. The rest of this regular season is going to be pivotal for Kenny Atkinson to find his playoff rotation, and for all of these guys to build up their chemistry together. The numbers are incredible, but a 48-minute sample size isn’t enough time together to go compete for a championship. As things stand right now, the Cavs seem to be locked in to the fourth seed in the east, which would match them up with the Raptors, Hawks, or 76ers in the first round. The Pistons have a comfortable 4.5 game lead over Boston for the one seed despite losing their superstar Cade Cunningham for a few weeks, so that’s who would be waiting for Cleveland in the second round. The Celtics are the team that Cleveland struggles with the most in the east, so being able to avoid them until the conference finals is ideal for this team to have its deepest playoff run since 2018. There’s no more lingering injuries between the core four, and Max Strus has been incredible since his return from injury. I know that it’s a very small sample size, but the Cavaliers at full strength would be a nightmare for just about any team to have to deal with in the playoffs.

We’re well past the main waves of NFL free agency and just over a month away from the NFL draft. Since my last mock draft, the Seahawks have solidified the wide receiver room by re-signing Rashid Shaheed and Jake Bobo, but have new roster holes left by the departures of Tariq Woolen and Kenneth Walker. Same as last time, the Pro Football Focus mock draft simulator was used for this exercise. 1.32: Emmanuel Pregnon, Left Guard, Oregon With the running back room in flux, the best thing Seattle can do is make sure their backs have the best offensive line possible in front of them. Pregnon is a mauler in the run game who posted an 85.8 run block grade in his final season at Oregon, and he should be a good fit for Seattle’s zone-based rushing scheme. Pregnon will also provide an upgrade over Anthony Bradford in pass protection, as he allowed just five pressures over 471 pass blocking reps, and his worst season in pass protection (2024) resulted in a 3% pressure rate. Pregnon would slide right in as a solid starter at right guard and give Seattle five offensive linemen they have supreme confidence in. 2.64: Dani Dennis-Sutton, Edge, Penn State Once again, I’m using this spot to grab a defensive lineman that can contribute immediately as a rotational end and take over for Demarcus Lawrence in the future. Dennis-Sutton was a three-year starter for the Penn State defense. He was a consistently good pass rusher, posting win rates of 15.9%, 14.4%, and 15.8% while accumulating 22 sacks . His missed tackle rate of 19.4% leaves a lot to be desired, but his grades as a run defender never dipped below 71.6 as a starter, further showcasing his floor as a player. Dennis-Sutton may not even be there at 64, given his outrageous athletic testing , but he’s a player Seattle should sprint the card in for if he’s available. 3.96: Malik Muhammad, Cornerback, Texas Retaining Josh Jobe gives Seattle the flexibility to play the value game at corner, and in this scenario, they get awesome value with Malik Muhammad dropping. Muhammad was a three-year player for Texas, accumulating 1,190 snaps in coverage and posting solid grades ranging from 69.8 to 79.9. Standing six feet tall and just 182 pounds, he’s a slender corner, but a fantastic athlete . This is a worthwhile gamble on a plus athlete with experience late in day two. 6.212: J’Mari Taylor, Running Back, Virginia With their final pick, Seattle adds another potential contributor to their RB room. Taylor excelled in his lone FBS season at Virginia, rushing for 1,064 yards and 14 touchdowns while chipping in 43 catches and 251 yards receiving. He forced 55 missed tackles and broke off 11 runs of 15 yards or more, showcasing his dynamic skillset. Taylor is a fifth-year senior, as he spent his first four seasons at FCS North Carolina Central, but he’s only handled 577 carries over his five years and should have a lot of tread left on the tires. The reason Taylor is still here at pick 212 will likely be his brutal athletic testing , but running back has been a position where athletic testing doesn’t have strong correlation with pro production. As long as Taylor can provide some hard running and chip in as a receiver, he’s worth this pick.

We’re officially in the "dead zone" of the offseason, as the hubbub of free agency starts to die down, and the only unanswered 49ers question of the offseason so far, is, for the 89th week in a row, Trent Williams’ contract. Sigh. Let’s delve into some Ninerland topics, before I get too depressed: My Hottest Take: Most 49ers draft options are still open It’d be tempting to think the 49ers are narrowing down their potential picks for the NFL Draft at the end of this month. That’d be particularly true if you’ve seen how the oft-criticised wide receiver room has been bolstered in the last two weeks. Mike Evans’ addition speaks for itself, but it was the one-year, cheap deal afforded to veteran Christian Kirk, seemingly to play the slot role, that looks like it may have closed the door on a receiver in round one. That said, I do think there’s still an opening there. The 49ers most glaring hole is undoubtedly at EDGE, with no defined pass rushers behind nominal starters Nick Bosa and Mykel Williams, but they could also look to offensive tackle (yeah right…) and possibly even the defensive backfield. Receiver, however, could also intrigue them – I think it will entirely depend on the options available to them. In truth, the 49ers would likely be best served adding a veteran edge rusher, possibly Joey Bosa, to shore up their depth there, and fixing Trent Williams’ contract situation. That would leave them much more open to be able to select the "best player available" in the opening round, possibly even someone like Texas A&M weapon KC Concepcion. With a month to go, though, just be wary of anyone telling you it’s absolutely ‘locked in’ who the 49ers will or won’t select in the draft. Unless you somehow have John Lynch’s number, or something. Realistically, I think any position outside of quarterback, linebacker, and hopefully running back, could still be a possibility. For example, who’s complaining if the 49ers somehow get to land Kenyon Sadiq at pick 27? I personally think it’ll be an EDGE, in the Akheem Mesidor/Cashius Howell range. But there’s long enough left before the annual festivities that I’m not gonna bet my house on it just yet. Maybe in a few columns time. You Should Know: Linebacker battles are going to be brutal One reason, besides value, I don’t see a pick at linebacker in the first round is the sheer amount of players who will be vying for three starting spots. From Fred Warner to Garrett Wallow via Tatum Bethune and Dre Greenlaw, there is a pretty healthy number of NFL-experienced linebackers, as well as two recent mid-round draft choices, vying for spots on the team. I’m a sicko who loves preseason football, so watching those battles unfold will be good fun. A blend of size, speed, and coverage ability would be very useful to the 49ers, and while I expect it will be Warner, Greenlaw and one other to open the season, I hope the likes of Nick Martin and Dee Winters make a solid impression, as it’ll be their team very soon–possibly even next year. Before You Go: An official announcement of a draft crush, at a position the team ignores Okay, so I think I’ve probably said it on here before, but just to put it across again, I’d love to see the team acquire a ballhawking safety. The last one I can remember starting games for the 49ers was Jimmie Ward in 2022, before he departed for Houston in free agency. It’s scary to think he was a draft pick from over a decade ago, too; I feel very old. Nonetheless, since then, the 49ers have trotted out a variety of "big-hitting" (read: dumb) safeties at the position, largely cycling through a number of also-rans or players who didn’t quite hit their potential, a la Talanoa Hufanga and current incumbents Ji’Ayir Brown and Malik Mustapha. I have some hope for Mustapha as a difference-making hitter on the back end, but he needs to be paired with an intelligent coverage safety who can read opposing offenses and make some explosive plays in coverage. It’d also improve the team’s turnover differential, which is currently terrible and has been for a few seasons. Marques Sigle has potential, but seemed to fall foul of the coaching staff later in the 2025 season, so perhaps we’ll look further afield in the upcoming draft. If that is the case, I’d like the 49ers to take a look at Dillon Thieneman. The Oregon safety checks all the boxes of the type of player I’m looking for, and he’s had great production over his college career to boot. Unfortunately, I suspect I’ll have to hope he falls to the second round, as the current 49ers brass seems allergic to valuing the safety spot–all the more odd considering our general manager’s football background! Still, all that, and more, in the coming weeks. See you soon.

With a new CBA ratified, the race to complete the WNBA’s intense offseason is on. The league has to complete two expansion drafts, the 2026 college draft, and preseason training, all within the next 43 days, before the start of the season on May 8th. First order of business: the expansion draft. Both the Portland Fire and the Toronto Tempo are entering the league for this season, and they are currently running without any players. The expansion draft will take place on April 3rd. It will be a snake draft, with each team selecting players until they each gain 12 players on their roster. A coin flip took place on March 27, and the Tempo won. They chose to pick sixth in the WNBA entry draft, so Portland will select first in the expansion draft. With the excitement surrounding the entry draft and the understanding that no team will look the same afterward, it is time to make predictions about which players each team will protect. Each of the 13 established WNBA teams will select five players to protect ahead of the expansion draft. The lists need to be submitted by Sunday, March 29. That’s not a lot of time to get those in. Here are some predictions surrounding the protected player lists for each team. Atlanta Dream Protected Players: With Britney Griner, Jordin Canada, and Brionna Jones ineligible for the expansion draft, Atlanta can protect even more players than other teams. The Dream has a solid veteran team, with a great rookie in Te-Hina Paopao. Chicago Sky Protected Players: Angel Reese is the face of the Sky, and although she is signed through the 2027 season, they’ll want to make sure they can keep her around until then. The Sky could do a few things, but this seems the most likely. Chicago can keep young players while also keeping a veteran presence on the court. Connecticut Sun Protected Players: The Connecticut Sun didn’t come in last place in the 2025 WNBA season, but they didn’t have a good record. Coming in 11th place, the Sun will want to shake up their roster, while also keeping a strong hold on their strong rookies. Marina Mabrey adds a valuable veteran presence, and after her crazy performance in Unrivaled Philly, this proved even more how valuable she is as a player. Rivers, Edwards, Lacan and Morrow are all younger players whom the Sun can properly develop into key players for the team. Dallas Wings Protected Players: There is no reason why the Wings would give up their first overall pick from the 2025 Entry Draft. Paige Bueckers was the star for Dallas, and although they came in last place, they have the first overall pick again, and the Wings are shaping up to have a lethal team heading into 2026. With strong draft picks, Dallas is trying to build a young team. The other four players that would fill the Wings’ protected player list fit that bill. Golden State Valkyries Protected Players: The Valkyries had an incredible run for their first season in the league. They became the first expansion team to make the playoffs in their inaugural season . They’ll look to run it back for the 2026 season. They had great rookies in Leite and Chen and excellent veteran players in Burton, Thornton and Fagbenle. They’ll want to lock these players down before they potentially lose some of these key members of the team. Indiana Fever Protected Players: Arguably, the face of the league, there is no chance the Fever will let go of Caitlin Clark. She missed a majority of the 2025 season due to groin injuries and a bone bruise. With Clark back to full health, Indiana will be itching to get her back on the court for the 2026 season. The team will try to build around Clark and those who play well with her. Players like Hull and Boston will be at the top of their priority list to keep around. Cunningham and Mitchell are likely on that list, too. Las Vegas Aces Protected Players: The 2025 champions will need to keep A’ja Wilson in their midst and will likely give her a huge contract once free agency begins. Securing their top player on their roster should be their number one priority. Building a team behind her is the second priority. Keeping these players will keep the four other starters, alongside Wilson. Jewel Loyd is ineligible for the draft, allowing for an additional slot to go to another player on the team. In this case, Kierstan Bell. Los Angeles Sparks Protected Players: The Sparks is another team made up of incredible players, and locking down Plum and Hamby should be their priority. After that, it comes down to the younger players. Both Brink and Jackson were instrumental in the Sparks’ success last season, with an extra nod to Burrell. Minnesota Lynx Protected Players: The Lynx feels self-explanatory. They won’t want to break up the duo of Williams and Heideman, while keeping the great players of Collier, McBride and Smith. New York Liberty Protected Players: The Liberty made the playoffs in 2025, but they didn’t go nearly as far as they hoped. After falling to the Phoenix Mercury in the first round, New York did not get a chance to repeat their 2024 Championship. Since Breanna Stewart and Jonquel Jones are ineligible for the expansion draft, that leaves two big names off the table, and two extra slots for the Liberty to protect players. They had a great core team in 2024 and will likely try to run it back. Cloud and Meeseeman were great additions to New York in 2025. They’ll be hunting for another title, and they’ll want to secure these players to do so. Phoenix Mercury Protected Players: The Phoenix Mercury had a chance at the chip, but fell to the Las Vegas Aces in the finals. With another close chance at the trophy. The Mercury will want to keep their roster as close to the same as possible. Strong veterans in Sabally, Whitcomb and Thomas will provide valuable veteran experience, while Mack and Akoa Makani will be great young players to train up and develop. Seattle Storm Protected Players: The Storm were the only team that didn’t lose a player in the 2025 WNBA expansion draft. With two teams partaking in one this season, the likelihood of this happening again is slim to none. The Storm have to lock down Dominique Malonga. She was the second overall draft pick in the last entry draft, and when the Storm finally played her, she demonstrated why. She has the making to be a starter for Seattle this season, and they’ll want to keep her around. Although she didn’t play a whole lot in the WNBA this season, Mackenzie Holmes is another rookie the Seattle will want to keep around. Magbegor, Wheeler and Williams are all strong veterans that the team will want to keep around. Seattle also had a great playoff run, but they were also eliminated in the first round. With another high draft pick and strong players already on the team, the Storm will be aiming for another chance at the WNBA Championship. Washington Mystics Protected Players: The Mystics have a great, young team. Citron, Iriafen and Amoore were all selected in the 2025 Draft, and they will continue to develop into the 2026 season. To maintain a strong team, Washington will need to have some veteran players to stay balanced. Austin and Sheldon are great considerations for a protected player slot. These are all projections, and nothing is set in stone, but one thing is for certain: WNBA fans are about to experience a major shift in their teams’ rosters.

With a month left until the NFL draft, which will be hosted April 22-25 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, there are various options for the Indianapolis Colts to consider. The NFL draft is quickly approaching, which means teams have to make decisions. There are some teams that have easier decisions than others, but nothing is decided yet. The Indianapolis Colts have multiple positions they will be looking for going into the draft. There is no consensus on who the Colts will draft first or even what position they will target first. They were able to acquire defensive players during free agency, like safety Jonathan Owens and Cam Taylor-Britt, but still have gaps that need to be filled. The Colts are without a first-round pick, having traded a 2026 and 2027 first-round pick along with wide receiver Adonai Mitchell for Sauce Gardner from the New York Jets. With the 47th overall pick, the Colts have been exploring multiple possibilities. During free agency, the Colts lost multiple starters, including linebacker Zaire Franklin , edge rusher Kwity Paye , defensive end Samson Ebukam and safety Nick Cross . With these losses, the Colts must look for defensive players. In addition, on the offensive side of things, they lost tackle Braden Smith , wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. and offensive lineman Danny Pinter . For Indianapolis, this means there are multiple directions for the club to go in when it comes to the draft. There are many spots that need to be filled and prospects that are being looked at. The Colts have seven picks in total, so there are multiple chances to get the positions needed. With the Colts losing so many defensive players, that needs to be a focus for them. There were some solid players picked up in free agency, but there are still disparities between the talent they lost and what they gained. Multiple options have been thrown out regarding the Colts' pick. Given the losses on defense, a young, defensive prospect should be the goal. Some of the names thrown out have been defensive end Zion Young from Missouri, linebacker Jacob Rodriguez from Texas Tech and linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. from Texas. Other draft mock-ups have included wide receivers for the Colts' first pick, which is another place the team is lacking. With the loss of Pittman Jr., the Colts need to add weapons for Daniel Jones. Resigning Pierce was key, but it cost a lot of money, so investing in a rookie will be essential. For the Colts, their focus should be on drafting defense first and then offensive weapons. The offense is returning its main producers in Taylor and Pierce. The defense was the biggest area of concern, and it lost five starters who were contributors on defense. Indianapolis ended ranked No.21 out of all teams according to Pro Football Focus . The first pick should be a player who can perform in passing defense. If available, Young, who ranked 19th in pass rush win rate, is a perfect fit for what the Colts need. Hill Jr. is another strong prospect, being only a junior and performing every season. Without a first-round pick, the Colts will be more limited in options, but they have a clear direction they should go. Once a defensive player is secured, the Colts can worry about offense, but with seven picks, most should focus on defense, and offense should be secondary.

Make that five wins in a row now for the Charlotte Hornets, who remain one of the best teams in the NBA in 2026. Charlotte faced off against the New York Knicks on Thursday night in a crucial game for the Hornets, as the Eastern Conference standings are tighter than ever among seeds 6-10. The Hornets and Knicks were trading baskets back and forth in the first half, that was until Charlotte went on a late second-quarter run, capped off by a Coby White fading mid-range jumper to give the Hornets a 10-point lead at the half. The Hornets kept their lead comfortable for almost all of the second half, especially heading into the fourth quarter. The Knicks kept the game slightly competitive, around a 10-14-point deficit, but Charlotte ended the quarter on a 7-0 run, creating a comfortable 18-point lead. The Knicks brought the game back to just a nine-point deficit, but it was too little too late for New York, as Miles Bridges capped off the game with an explosive right-hand dunk to send the Knicks off. This is a huge win during a vital stretch of games for Charlotte. The Hornets are entering the final two games of a seven-game homestand, and they are 5-0 in this stretch, with wins over the Heat, Magic, and now the Knicks. Where Charlotte Stands in the Eastern Conference The Hornets are rising, recently moving from the 10th to the ninth seed. As of Thursday night, the No. 5 seed and the No. 10 seed are separated by just two games, meaning Charlotte is only two games down from fifth in the conference. The Hornets have two games left for this homestand, and the next game is one of the most important of the season, facing off against the Philadelphia 76ers, who are one game above the Hornets in the standings, and two seeds ahead, sitting at seventh in the conference coming off a win against the tanking Utah Jazz. If Charlotte can keep things rolling and get some help from the other teams in the 5-10 mix, then the play-in might end up in the rear-view mirror for the Hornets. Who Charlotte Should Want to Play Most in the First Round Obviously, the Hornets still have to handle business, but if Charlotte makes the playoffs, there are certainly some matchups that would be preferable to others. The Hornets getting up to fifth in the conference would likely mean a first-round matchup with the Cavs, which isn’t the most enticing. Cleveland has had Charlotte’s number this season, as the Hornets are 0-3 against Cleveland on the season. Two of the three losses were by double digits as well. If the Hornets want to have a chance at a first-round upset, there are two matchups that would be enticing. The first would be one that just took place, against the Knicks. The Hornets are just 1-2 against the Knicks so far, but both losses were before 2026, before Charlotte made their big turnaround. Charlotte gave New York problems with their pace, elite three-point shooting, and dominant display of offensive rebounding in Thursday night's matchup The second matchup that could cause chaos would be against the Pistons, which might sound crazy to say, since they’re the No. 1 seed, but there’s a path for Charlotte. Pistons superstar Cade Cunningham is currently out due to a collapsed lung injury. If the Pistons don’t have Cunningham or just have a clearly diminished version of him, then Charlotte can absolutely make things difficult for the Pistons. With nine games to go, Charlotte has to keep this momentum going and at least secure the seventh or eighth seed so that, even if they lose that game, they have another shot against the winner of the No. 9 versus No. 10 matchup.

With the Chicago Bulls falling to the Philadelphia 76ers 157–137 the other night, my mind has drifted toward what the Bulls can add this offseason to help take a step in the right direction. Entering the offseason, the Bulls will be near the bottom of the salary cap at around $92 million. They have their franchise pillars in place with Matas Buzelis and Josh Giddey . Now the question becomes: how can they use that cap space to improve this squad? The Bulls are currently tied with the Milwaukee Bucks for ninth in the lottery , giving them just a 3.8% chance at landing the No. 1 pick. My Hottest Take: Getting a top-3 pick does not guarantee the team gets better If the lottery balls bounce the Bulls’ way and they land a top-three pick, I believe the team should draft the best available player. My personal top choice would be AJ Dybantsa , followed by Cameron Boozer and Darryn Peterson . But the bigger point here is that adding another high-level prospect could create a shift in development. Buzelis is just starting to get comfortable being more aggressive, averaging around 20 points per game over the past month. I’d like to see the team continue building within these roles, and adding a top-three pick might disrupt that growth more than help it in the short term. If the Bulls draft where they are slotted, odds are is they will find the type of 3-and-D player to pair along side the franchise cornerstones. What you need to know: The Bulls are bringing a lot of people back Along with their two core players, the Bulls are expected to bring back Patrick Williams , Isaac Okoro , Tre Jones , Rob Dillingham , Leonard Miller , and first-round pick Noah Essengue . They could also receive an additional first-round pick if the Portland Trail Blazers make the playoffs, likely in the 15–18 range. With potentially two first-round picks, those players should begin to fill gaps in both the starting lineup and bench rotation. I expect the Bulls to remain relatively quiet in free agency, considering they already have nine returning players and could be adding two more rookies. With Billy Donovan potentially stepping down, hiring a new head coach will be a major decision, one that could help jumpstart this rebuild. The 2026–27 season should focus on evaluating which players fit long-term and which ones don’t. Dillingham and Miller have both earned more playing time and have shown flashes of real potential. Before you go: Tough times build great teams! As unfortunate as it is, this is part of the process. To improve in the NBA, you need to draft high-caliber talent and to do that, you often have to endure losing seasons. This team may need to lose more games next year, but that doesn’t mean development isn’t happening. Buzelis and Giddey continuing to grow together is critical to the success of this rebuild. The team still needs to see a fully healthy Essengue and what he can contribute. Dillingham is very young and needs more reps, which he should get next season. Jalen Smith has also shown flashes of growth. This is the front office’s opportunity to truly reset the direction of the franchise but they need to make the right moves.

Today’s Hottest Take: The Clippers are building a late season identity The Clippers opened the season with inconsistency in every area and struggled to score in half court settings and failed to defend with any real urgency, however since January they have played with a rhythm that has made them look almost like a completely different roster. Their ball movement has improved, their defense has tightened up and their younger players have started to take on real responsibility, which has given them a strong chance to stay in the play in race. This new surge has arrived at a perfect time because the middle of the Western Conference is crowded and one winning stretch can change the standings dramatically. The Clippers have leaned heavily on improved guard play and strong shooting from their wings. Darius Garland has controlled games by slowing the offense down when needed and creating easy looks for teammates while Benedict Mathurin has become their most aggressive scorer by driving at the rim with confidence and spacing the floor at important moments. Kawhi Leonard has missed time but when he has played he has given them an anchor on both ends that settles the team whenever the game becomes unstable. These contributions have allowed the Clippers to stay competitive in close games, which is something they struggled with early in the season. Their bench has also changed the direction of their season because several players have stepped into larger roles and handled them with maturity. Kobe Sanders has played steady minutes and has given the Clippers a young player who can guard multiple positions while also making simple and helpful plays on offense. Yanic Konan Niederhauser has become one of the most important pieces on the roster because when he enters the game he protects the rim at a high level and rebounds with energy that lifts the rest of the unit. His presence has allowed the Clippers to survive stretches when the offense slows down because his defense keeps the game within reach. Niederhauser has averaged strong block numbers since the trade deadline while also grabbing rebounds with efficiency. The Clippers have been one of the better defensive teams during this stretch and his impact is a major reason why. His ability to track drivers and contest shots without fouling has allowed the team to close defensive possessions, which has helped them get out in transition and score before defenses get set. His improvement has also made their front court rotation more balanced because Brook Lopez can space the floor on offense while YKN gives them physical presence around the basket. While the Clippers have gained momentum, they still have areas that need improvement if they want to keep this pace. Their offense sometimes becomes stagnant when the ball stops moving and their defense can slip when they allow opposing guards easy penetration. However the progress they have made since the start of the new year shows that they are capable of correcting mistakes quickly and that they are playing with a belief that was missing earlier in the season. What You Need to Know: The Clippers are capable of beating contenders So far in 2026, the Clippers have been able to beat teams like the Knicks, Lakers and Nuggets and while they have lost to the Spurs twice, both of those games were highly competitive and could have ended very differently. These matchups have shown that when the Clippers execute their defensive game plan and play with patience on offense they can stay on the floor with teams that have championship expectations. Their ball movement has created high quality shots and their interior defense has kept opponents from controlling the paint, which is important when facing experienced teams that understand how to slow the game down. These performances prove that the Clippers do not fold against top competition and instead rise to the level of the moment, which gives them confidence as they try to secure a play-in spot. Before You Go: The Clippers have the tools to complete the push If the Clippers continue to get strong guard play from Garland, reliable scoring from Mathurin, solid defense from their wings and meaningful minutes from young players (sans YKN, who's been ruled out for the rest of the season), they will have the structure needed to secure a play-in position. Their schedule contains several winnable games and their chemistry is improving at the right time. The team finally looks connected and focused, which gives them a real chance to reach the postseason. The Clippers are no longer the struggling group that began the year with frustration and uncertainty. They are now a team with purpose, momentum and growing confidence. If they maintain this level, the play-in tournament is within reach and once they get there they will be a difficult opponent for any team that has to face them.

After their recent showdown with the Boston Celtics , it seems that the Oklahoma City Thunder still has a lot of hiccups to figure out heading to the playoffs. This tough loss to Boston is a wake-up call for the team, considering their 12-game winning streak has been snapped. It was quite a disappointing game for sure. By now, fans were disappointed that OKC lost to Boston in what could have been a winnable game. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander dropped his usual 30-point game, but none of the team stepped up to match his energy. Compared to the previous games, this was much of a letdown. In a game where OKC played healthy for the first time, it felt really hard to watch the team chuck up shots and miss them by a mile. The fact that Luguentz Dort was the second-best scorer in the game says a lot about how everyone else struggled aside from SGA. By now, this is a very concerning problem to look out for. Jalen Williams was very hard to watch as he bricked shots en route to clearing minutes restrictions. Both Ajay Mitchell and Jared McCain–who were on fire heading into this game–were quite silenced. Not even first-time All-Star Chet Holmgren has been able to make his presence felt, finishing with a meager 10 points on 3-of-7 shooting from the field. This is a hilarious and alarming problem for the Thunder, who now have nine games left to play while also being two games ahead in the Western Conference standings. By now, you’d expect OKC to have almost everything figured out, and yet we’re seeing very rough issues at this point. Overreliance on Shai is a Big Negative SGA easily had one of his best nights in the NBA in this loss. He finished with 33 points on 10-12 shooting, including 3-of-4 from deep. However, it was definitely wasted with the loss, considering that he’s the only player to breach more than 20 points (Dort had 14). So far, the offense looked bleak for OKC, and it’s because they were relying too much on Shai. For starters, Shai had the ball pretty much for the fourth quarter with the Thunder down by as many as 10 points. Of course, Boston’s coverage would adjust to double-team him, and it definitely opened up good looks for the rest of the team, but it was definitely an off-night in terms of shooting. The fact that they’re running the same play as they did in 2024 is shocking. After all, this is a play where Shai would drive into the paint and kick out to open shooters on the wings or cutters heading into the rim. However, that didn’t happen as other OKC players were struggling to put up buckets, even finishing with 12-37 on threes for 32.4%. Not long ago, many fans were quick to say that the Thunder are getting hotter than ever. But with their 12-game winning streak snapped, they’re finally back to square one. This overreliance on SGA definitely needs to be fixed, and it should be gone before they begin their playoff chase. A Chance to Iron Out Wrinkles Now at 57-16, it’s safe to say that OKC isn’t a perfect team . Now more than ever, we are seeing them become more vulnerable than ever as the rest of the league catches up. Still, this doesn’t mean Oklahoma City doesn’t have the best winning chance out there for the league title. J-Dub, Mitchell, and McCain need to get back to consistency. Chet also has to become the second scoring option he’s meant to be. The Thunder bench needs to find its groove once more. If all those are addressed soon, we may still find a bigger, badder, and better OKC team than what was seen against Boston.

Pick 22: Penn State OG, Olaivavega Ioane The biggest hole the Chargers had entering free agency was, without a shadow of a doubt, the interior offensive line. Fast forward to today, and the Bolts still have two giant holes at the Guard positions. Enter Vega Ioane. One of the best pass protectors in the nation last year, Vega is a dream pick among all Bolts fans come April 23rd. Ioane has a reputation of being a “mauler”, and while he is dominant when he gets his hands on defenders, that reputation usually carries the notion that said mauler struggles in space or is a poor athlete. Vega Ioane isn’t going to wow people with his mobility, but it is far from a liability. Vega isn’t the traditional Mike McDaniel guard, but the notion that he can’t adapt and that his athleticism wouldn’t play is an overreaction. Plus, the reality is there will be a Chargers team after Mike McDaniel, and having a dominant force like Vega adding to the already elite tackle duo of Slater and Alt for the foreseeable future is a much-needed step towards keeping Justin Herbert intact and building a strong run game foundation. Pick 55: Oklahoma EDGE, R Mason Thomas R Mason Thomas is a part of this absolutely stacked edge rusher class, and because of that, he has been mocked anywhere from 20 all the way to the end of the 2nd round. The edge rusher class has about 12 players worth a 1st or 2nd rounder. Naturally, Thomas could find himself sliding as a result of the most minute of issues, scheme fit, medicals, physical frame, and naturally, all 3 of those things have surrounded his name as possible red flags. But one thing cannot be denied about R Mason Thomas: he can certainly rush the passer. It’s because of that that if he’s available come the Chargers' round 2 pick, it would be a perfect landing spot for both Thomas and the Bolts. The path for Thomas to be a Day 1 impact player is as a situational pass rusher. What the Chargers need at this time is a 3rd pass rusher to deploy on 3rd and pass and serve as a rotational piece for Khalil Mack and Tuli Tuipolotu. Sounds like a win-win as Thomas can enter into a low-pressure situation where he can focus on doing what he’s already NFL-ready to do, get to the QB, while developing physically and technically under the tutelage of the future Hall of Famer Khalil Mack, setting him up for a strong NFL career. Pick 86: USC WR, Ja’Kobi Lane If you want a detailed breakdown on my affinity for this USC product, do yourself a favor and click here for a breakdown of Lane (among other possible Day 2 and 3 players you should love!) that I put together weeks ago after the combine! After the Chargers missed out on Alec Pierce, they are still in need of a true contested catch X/Z receiver who can stretch the field and win with physicality. While they aren’t in a position to spend high draft capital on a skill player as a result of their frugal spending this offseason, a 3rd round pick for someone who can add an element to the wide receiver room that is currently not present can most certainly be justified.

It is officially time for baseball. The Boston Red Sox finished their spring training Tuesday with a loss against the Minnesota Twins. Now they look to the start of the 2026 season in Ohio against the Cincinnati Reds on Thursday. My Hottest Take: Connelly Early Deserves the Nod Just two weeks ago, it seemed like all roads pointed to Johan Oviedo for the final rotation position. Well, it was his until Connelly Early decided to show up. Early beat out both Oviedo and Payton Tolle; Tolle was optioned to Triple-A Worcester, and Oviedo starts the beginning of the season coming out of the bullpen. Early showed off in his five games, four of which were starts. He posted a 1.59 ERA, striking out 16 and allowing just three runs, yielding a 0.94 WHIP. Oviedo had a very good spring as well, but his 4.91 ERA and eight walks overshadowed the other metrics. Early will pitch the last game against the Reds, after Garrett Crochet and Sonny Gray. It will be interesting to see if they will keep Early as the third-day starter, or if they will switch around the order when Brayan Bello and Ranger Suarez get fully up to speed after spending some time with their countries for the World Baseball Classic. It would make sense for the team to keep him as the third-day starter, as you could bookend with Suarez and Bello, or even Gray with Crochet starting. What You Need To Know: Here is a look at the full Opening Day roster The projected 26-man roster, unless anything changes or there is an injury, looks like this: Rotation (5): Garrett Crochet, Sonny Gray, Connelly Early, Ranger Suarez, Brayan Bello Bullpen (8): Johan Oviedo, Aroldis Chapman, Ryan Watson, Jovani Moran, Danny Coulombe, Greg Weissert, Justin Slaten, Garrett Whitlock Catchers (2): Carlos Narvaez, Connor Wong Infielders (6): Willson Contreras (1B), Trevor Story (SS), Marcelo Mayer (2B), Caleb Durbin (3B), Isiah Kiner-Falefa (UTL), Andruw Monasterio (UTL) Outfielders/Designated Hitters (5): Roman Anthony, Wilyer Abreu, Ceddanne Rafaela, Jarren Duran, Masataka Yoshida Five contributors will start the year on the injured list and have some time in the minors before coming up to join the roster. Those five are Kutter Crawford, Tanner Houck, Patrick Sandoval, Triston Casas, and Romy Gonzalez. Sandoval and Crawford are more likely to join the team around May 1, while Gonzalez and Casas are looking like June 1, if not later. Houck is coming off Tommy John surgery in August 2025, aiming for the late season if the Red Sox make a playoff push. Before You Go: This is going to be a fun season On paper, this is probably one of the best-looking Red Sox teams since the 2018 World Series-winning roster. While there is still a question about power when it comes to hitting, the hitting that fans saw in the World Baseball Classic may be exactly what the team needs. Obviously, if the team could have kept Alex Bregman or even gotten Bo Bichette or Pete Alonso, people would not be worrying about the power. Nevertheless, this team is going to be fun, and it will be an interesting season.

The Titans continue to pop up in the news for several free agents. They helped bolster their defense again this week by signing former Cleveland Brown linebacker Mohamoud Diabate. Just when you think the Titans might be done, they are linked to multiple free agents. Some of these might be interesting additions, but I do think it would improve the Titans moving forward. Dendre Hopkins Hopkins played for the Titans from 2023 to 2024, totaling over 1600 yards during his time with the Titans. Hopkins is coming off the lowest usage rate of his career and the worst season of his career. With just 330 yards and 22 receptions, it's safe to say Hopkins was disappointing for the Ravens this year. However, I think he could be an excellent fit for the Titans again. He would be a reliable wideout for Cam Ward, and would mainly be used as a redzone threat, as 1-on-1, he is still one of the best receivers in the NFL. Hopkins may also get some solid usage downfield if guys like Wandale Robinson or Calvin Ridley are covered by the top corners on other teams. Hopkins would sign a one-year deal for about three to four million as he would look to help build Tennessee back to a contender. Taylor Decker Decker spent the last 10 seasons with the Detroit Lions, but it doesn't seem like the Lions will bring him back, unless he accepts a team-friendly deal. Decker has been an extremely solid left tackle and a Pro Bowler in 2024. Decker would provide a crazy boost to any offensive line, and considering how bad their o-line has been the last few years, any depth would be helpful for this team. In all 10 seasons, Decker hasn’t had a snap count lower than 95% in his career. Although Decker and his snap count have gone down, he could still easily start on the Titans or get plenty of reps on their o-line. It would be another one-year contract, with Decker getting around ten million per year. Decker will most likely go to a contender, but the Titans could easily get a steal with Decker on the o-line. Stefon Diggs This may be the most likely deal as Diggs was released by the Patriots at the beginning of free agency. Diggs has a huge share of off-the-field issues leading to his release, but he is still one of the most consistent receivers in the NFL. Diggs has had 1000 yards receiving in seven of his last eight seasons, with the one season he missed the mark being a season-ending injury that ended his season after 8 games. Diggs would be an excellent addition at the right price, as he could be a safety valve for Ward. Diggs helped significantly in Drake Maye's development this past year and can do the same in Tennessee. Most teams may not extend an offer to Diggs, but at this point, the Titans have nothing to lose. A one-year deal worth around 12 million should be enough to get Diggs in Tennessee unless a contender is willing to take another chance on him.

The Cleveland Cavaliers already made a major shake up to their core at this year’s trade deadline by sending Darius Garland to the Clippers for James Harden, and if Cleveland ends up with another disappointing playoff exit in the first or second round this year, we could see an even bigger change in the offseason. The Milwaukee Bucks Are Interested in Evan Mobley There have been trade rumors about Giannis Antetokounmpo constantly over the past year, but there should be a definitive conclusion to that saga this offseason. Giannis is entering the final year of his contract, and if he doesn’t want to sign an extension with Milwaukee, then the Bucks have to trade him to kick start a rebuild. The Cavaliers do not have many draft picks available to trade, but the Bucks need players that can help them be competitive without Giannis right away. Milwaukee does not control their own first round pick until 2030, so tanking and building through the draft is not an option for them. ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne is reporting that the Bucks are targeting young stars like Evan Mobley or Philadelphia’s VJ Edgecombe in exchange for their aging superstar. Cleveland would likely have to throw in Max Strus with Mobley to make the salary work, and then add in whatever draft capital they can to make a deal happen. Would Giannis Fit in Cleveland? Giannis has been a top-five player in the NBA for a long time, and while he’s heading towards the end of his prime, he’s still averaging 27.6 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 5.4 assists this year. The fit with James Harden would be great, as Harden is one of the best players in the league at operating in the pick and roll, and Giannis is unstoppable going towards the rim. Harden has also been great as a catch and shoot player in Cleveland when playing off the ball with Donovan Mitchell. These three superstars are all ball dominant, but I believe that great players can always make it work. Jarrett Allen would be a bit of an awkward fit next to Antetokounmpo because of both of them being poor three point shooters. Giannis has always been at his best with a stretch big like Brook Lopez or Bobby Portis who can catch and shoot off of the double teams that Giannis draws on his drives to the rim. Overall, the fit is not perfect, but having that much talent in a starting lineup alongside the elite spot up shooting that the Cavs bench can provide would certainly make them a much better team in the short term. Should Cleveland Make This Deal? If the Cavaliers can’t at least get to the Eastern Conference Finals this year, changes will absolutely have to be made. James Harden isn’t getting any younger and Donovan Mitchell is extension eligible in the offseason. Making a move for an all time great like Giannis should be a no brainer if it’s possible for them in the offseason. Evan Mobley is a very promising young all-star, but I don’t think he will ever reach the peak that Giannis is at right now. The only potential downside to a Giannis trade is his injury history over the past few years. He’s only played in 36 games this season, and if the Cavaliers were to mortgage their future to trade for him, any injuries to their stars would be devastating. It would not be a risk free move for the Cavaliers, but any time you have a chance to add an all time great player, you should take it. The Eastern Conference will be even more competitive next season with the return of Tyrese Haliburton for the Pacers. I believe a Mobley for Giannis trade would put the Cavs back at the top of the East, and potentially make them the favorites to win it all next year. Trading the future to maximize the next few years with Harden and Mitchell is risky, but if it gives Cleveland a better chance to win a championship, it’s absolutely worth it.

Matas Buzelis is finally starting to look like a player who could become the next superstar of the Chicago Bulls. Over his last five games , he is averaging more than 25 points per game to go along with 7.4 rebounds. What stands out even more is his aggressiveness, he’s attempting around 20 field goals per game during this stretch. That level of confidence is something fans have been waiting to see. The big question, though, is whether this is a true sign of development or just late-season production from a young player on a team navigating lottery positioning. It’s a fair debate, but one worth diving deeper into. My Hottest Take: Matas is beginning to arrive I tend to lean optimistic when it comes to player development, but this recent stretch from Buzelis is hard to ignore. It’s not just the numbers, it’s the context behind them. Over these five games, he’s matched up against elite talent like Luka Dončić and Kawhi Leonard . Dončić gave Buzelis a tough defensive test, putting up 50 points. But the very next night, Buzelis responded with a strong effort against Leonard. While Kawhi still finished with 28 points, he had to work for it, shooting just 8-for-22 from the field. That matters. For a 21-year-old to be tasked with guarding some of the best players in the world on a nightly basis, and not completely fold is a positive sign. before having to guard Luka and Kawhi his breakout moment against Golden State. Buzelis exploded for a career-high 41 points on 16-of-28 shooting, leading the Bulls to an overtime comeback win. It wasn’t just a hot shooting night, it was controlled, confident offense. He followed that performance with scoring outputs of 22, 18, 29, and 22 points, showing consistency rather than a one-game spike. What stands out most is how he’s using his size and length. He’s beginning to recognize mismatches and attack them with purpose. That’s the kind of growth that signals something real. What you need to know: He showed similar growth last season This isn’t the first time we’ve seen Buzelis trend upward late in the season. During his rookie year, he also showed flashes down the stretch . In the final 20 games, he averaged 13 points per game after limited playing time early on, finishing the season at 8.6 points per game overall. The difference this year is opportunity and what he’s doing with it. With more consistent minutes due to roster construction, Buzelis is now averaging 16.2 points per game on the season, with that number jumping significantly during this recent stretch. Perhaps even more encouraging is his efficiency. Despite the increased volume, he’s still shooting 36% from three identical to last season. That’s a key indicator of real development. Often, when young players take on a larger offensive role, their efficiency dips. That hasn’t happened here. Instead, Buzelis is maintaining his shooting percentages while increasing his usage a strong sign that he’s adjusting well to the demands of a bigger role. Before you go: What makes Buzelis different? At 6-foot-8, Buzelis possesses the size and versatility that teams covet in today’s NBA. He impacts both ends of the floor and continues to expand his skill set. One of the most unique stats tied to his game this season is that he’s one of only two players to record 100 made three-pointers and 100 blocks. The other player? Victor Wembanyama , a name already associated with generational talent. That kind of company matters. When you look at the greatest players in NBA history the ones constantly debated in top-five or top-ten conversations, they often share one key trait: size. Players 6-foot-6 and above have historically been able to withstand the physical demands of an 82-game season and still elevate their game in the playoffs. Buzelis fits that mold. What’s even more exciting is how he’s beginning to understand the rhythm of the game. In a recent matchup against Toronto, he didn’t score in the first quarter. But by the start of the fourth, he had 19 points and was actively trying to bring the Bulls back into the game. That ability to adjust, stay engaged, and impact winning even after a slow start, is something you can’t teach. There’s still plenty of room for growth, and that’s what makes this even more intriguing. Historically, a player’s third season is when we often see a significant leap. If this current stretch is any indication, Buzelis may be setting the foundation for exactly that. The tools are there. The confidence is growing. And for the Chicago Bulls, that could mean they’re finally watching the early stages of something special.

As I watched Wilyer Abreu hit a solo home run in the final of the World Baseball Classic, it got me thinking about how much the Boston Red Sox showed up in the tournament. 16 Red Sox players had the honor of representing their country during the World Baseball Classic: Roman Anthony and Garrett Whitlock for the United States Abreu, Willson Contreras, and Ranger Suárez for Venezuela Brayan Bello for the Dominican Republic Greg Weissert and Mickey Gasper for Italy Masataka Yoshida for Japan Jovani Moran and Eduardo Rivera for Puerto Rico Jarren Duran for Mexico Ceddanne Rafaela for the Netherlands Nate Eaton and Jack Anderson for Great Britain Tsung-Che Cheng for Chinese Taipei My Hottest Take: Who Said The Red Sox Needed A Big Bat? The Red Sox players came to play . The World Baseball Classic is basically their spring training for a week before rejoining their clubs, depending on how well their teams did. It did not take long before the Boston Red Sox started to show their power. The first night, Anthony and Duran showed off their bats, with Anthony hitting a three-run homer and Duran hitting two homers on top of starting a rally to nail Anthony at the plate. Anthony has gone 6-for-19, with one home run, six RBIs, and four walks; the key play came with the homer against Mexico. Abreu has been a huge asset for Venezuela, hitting a three-run homer to put Venezuela over Japan and a solo home run in the final against the United States. Yoshida took off for Japan, which made his claim for a spot on the main roster even more of a situation for the logjammed outfield. Yoshida went 6-for-16 with a .444 on-base percentage, two home runs, one double, and six RBIs in five games. The Red Sox hitters showed up to play, and they did not disappoint. What You Need To Know: Even The Pitchers Are On Fire The batters showed up to bat and the pitchers showed up to pitch. In Brayan Bello’s lone start for the Dominican Republic, he tossed five innings while only allowing one hit with seven strikeouts and no walks. Greg Weissert got one of his saves against the United States in Italy’s upset win. Garrett Whitlock looked like the ace of the bullpen, shutting down the other team, getting Team USA’s only save, and getting the hold protecting small leads when coming in. The entire group who made their way to the World Baseball Classic has been collectively tearing up international play. Let’s see what is going to follow suit leading into the season, as all players now will be heading back for the final week of spring training. Before You Go: Let’s Hope It Translates to the Regular Season While the ball has been flying off their bats during the World Baseball Classic, fans are hoping the ball flies off their bats the same way as the team gears up for Opening Day. If the players are able to keep up this level of hitting and pitching, the Boston Red Sox are going to be one scary team.

With Lu Dort struggling to make strong contributions on the floor, it does seem that Oklahoma City is leaning toward reducing his minutes and changing their rotation. If you’re watching the Thunder in the past few weeks, then you may have noticed a drop in his playing minutes so far. In the last three games, Dort’s minutes have seen a sharp drop from being a full-time defender to being a second defender. He logged 29 and 30 minutes against Boston and Denver, respectively, but was sitting out the closing minutes of the game. Then we’ve seen him play reduced minutes in wins against Minnesota and Orlando, which says a lot about how his value may be depreciating at this point. We all know Dort’s a great defender. He even got All-Defense honors last year. However, one can easily spot that he’s now shooting 37.4% from the field , which is a career low, even compared to his rookie season. His 8.5 points per game this season is also the lowest he’s averaged since his first year in the NBA. Two of the lowest minutes outputs of his career have come in the last 72 hours, so that’s something to keep an eye out for. On top of that, we’ve seen more minutes go to notable backups in Ajay Mitchell, who’s been superb in his return from injury . Jared McCain is also booming with the Thunder and is showing an increased level of play. Isaiah Joe is also earning some huge minutes with his shooting and defense. Let’s not forget Cason Wallace, whose league-leading steals continue to play a huge role in the Thunder’s success. At this point, Dort’s status with the team is raising some questions, and definitely will ignite some talks heading into the playoffs and the offseason. Dort’s Defense is Becoming a Liability OKC’s defense is its strength . No doubt, Dort has played a huge role in shaping that identity over the years. Alex Caruso’s upbringing definitely took it up to speed, but Dort was the founding enforcer and OG defender for Oklahoma City. However, the past few games have shown that Dort’s defense is starting to slip by, even not being able to shut down offensive players like he used to. With the Thunder bench showing strong depth and defensive identity, Dort is starting to become a liability with the way he plays defense. Let’s be frank, some are accusing him of being the next Draymond Green, saying that every dynasty needs an enforcer to begin with. The fact that he’s -24 in the Thunder’s recent five-point win against Orlando says a lot. He’s not even generating steals or blocks, and heck, he didn’t shut down Paolo Banchero, as he didn’t have the Jalen Suggs or Desmond Bane assignment. It’s often disappointing that Dort doesn’t hit the mark for a defensive shutdown once more, but he’s increasingly becoming a liability for OKC in their recent games. Hopes for Reconsideration The Thunder won’t win the 2025 NBA Finals without Lu Dort, and that’s a fact. However, it does get to a point where it’s definitely tiring to see Dort chuck up a lot of shots and miss those. But we have seen him come up with those rainbow threes like it is a shotgun to the chest. At this point, it’s safe to say that OKC is willing to give him a chance. Just like Josh Giddey’s case back in 2023-24, the Thunder didn’t move him at the Trade Deadline. It’s only right that OKC fans are divided on what to do with Lu Dort’s future, considering that the team is now locked in for a playoff campaign. But when Dort hits his strides right, he can get hot, drill timely threes that become such a prayer for many fans. If you don’t remember, Dort single-handedly delivered Game 5 for OKC in that Denver series. This may be the streakiest of all Dort’s seasons . However, it’s worth noting that his defensive productivity–and by result, his offense–has gone down as well. However, no one can knock out clutch threes in playoff games. The playoff chase will be the final stage for Dort to prove his worth. By now, it’s a general opinion for many that Dort should be gone. But he’s been a core piece of the team, and it’s only fitting to see him get a shot to prove his worth to this OKC squad in the long run. With just a few more games left in the season, he’s got to slowly improve and turn up the engines.

The St. Louis Cardinals optioned starting pitcher Richard Fitts to the Triple-A Memphis Redbirds on Wednesday. This move settles the Cardinals' internal discussion of a six-man rotation that the team was considering for the upcoming season. While this is not going to be the end of Fitts in a Cardinals uniform this season, spot starts and injuries happen. The Cardinals' rotation this season looks to begin with Matthew Liberatore on Opening Day, with Dustin May and Michael McGreevy to follow, with Kyle Leahy and Andre Pallante beating out Fitts for the final two spots in the rotation. Fitts was acquired by St. Louis over the winter when the team sent their rotation headliner, Sonny Gray, to the Boston Red Sox. Fitts had a 5.00 ERA in Boston last season in only 10 starts, but struck out 40 hitters in 45 innings pitched. Pallante has had a strong spring after an abysmal campaign last season, which put him in the position to lose the spot in the first place. Pallante is not going to be a strikeout artist for the Cardinals, but his biggest kryptonite last season was the long ball, giving up 1.2 per nine innings. He has cut that in half this spring, which puts him back on par with his 2024 season when he finished with a 3.78 ERA and 1.7 WAR. The Cardinals' right-hander will likely be one of the first guys to get the hook for Fitts if things begin to go south. Leahy, on the other hand, has not had a strong spring. The 6.39 ERA and 2.1 HR/9 in the Grapefruit League may not be the line fans expected for the 28-year-old right-hander, but he showed out last season at the end of the year when he got his opportunities, and that likely has some factor into the Cardinals' decision. The Cardinals will look to lean on Liberatore, May, and McGreevy at the front of their rotation as the team looks to correct course and move toward the future. Liberatore faced some fatigue issues down the stretch of the season last year, but after a tumultuous start to his career flipping between starter and reliever, he has found his home and will start the season opener at Busch Stadium for the first time. The injury-riddled right-hander May will also be in the Cardinals' rotation. The biggest offseason acquisition to the major league roster will be looking to right the ship, and as the Cardinals had no injuries to their pitching staff last season, he might have picked the right place. McGreevy has shown that he can pitch effectively at the major league level, and after joining the staff down the stretch of last season, he is going to be one of the most interesting pitchers the Cardinals have on the roster this season. Overall, the Cardinals' rotation is set, but 162 games is a marathon, and Fitts will likely play a part in the Cardinals' staff during the summer.

Jordi Fernández Focused on Internal Evaluations As the season comes to a close with the team out of the playoff race and preparing for the upcoming off-season, Brooklyn Nets head coach Jordi Fernández is showing that it’s not about winning or losing anymore for this team but more so, it’s about evaluating players and seeing if they fit into the system and culture. "This means more minutes for the young players, experimenting with different lineups, and being willing to make mistakes if it helps the players learn. The analytics would come up with a number. Usually, it’s 500 possessions for lineups, so you never get to that. With players, I think it is what it is right now. [We'll] watch them as much as we can and the sample size that we have, it is what it is [...] If we could choose, we’d do it differently, but right now we have this opportunity in front of us. These guys will play, We’ll have these different lineups to see what we have with particular players, but also groups of players, and I think it’s been very good. You saw two comebacks taking leads. Unfortunately, we couldn’t finish winning the games, but I think it tells you the identity of the group of going out there and competing." Fernandez said prior to Monday's 114-95 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers. With rookie Egor Demin and backup center Day'Ron Sharpe out for the rest of the season, Fernandez and the coaching staff will get a long look at who could be on the roster next year. Chaney Johnson had 17 points and nine rebounds and Ben Saraf, who had 15 points and four assists as a rookie in his past game on Monday vs Portland Trailblazers, will earn and get more playing time to prove themselves before the season ends, according to Coach Fernandez. As Fernandez said on Monday, it seems that the Nets are now focusing heavily on evaluating the back end of the roster. The Nets are in this position and it was as expected. The Nets wasn’t really looking for a big push or improvement but more so a idea and basis to build a new franchise, having already eliminated themselves from the playoffs and having 18 games left in the season to look into further talent. Fernández’s approach may be part of the larger team approach, as the Nets are no longer focused on quick wins but on laying the groundwork for the team. The players are also being evaluated based on their consistency, decision-making, and how well they play in the team’s set system, not just how well they’re scoring. Long-Term Roster Clarity The Nets have the fourth-best odds of receiving the number one overall pick, which is another aspect that is being considered. This is not just about the people who are playing well right now. It is about determining: The Brooklyn front office needs some clarity before the offseason, and these last games are like an audition, helping them decide what they are going to do with contracts, trades, etc. Massive Cap Space in 2026-27 The future is where things get really interesting with Brooklyn. Keith Smith from Sportac is reporting that Brooklyn is expected to have a lot of cap space available to them in the 2026-27 season. Having cap flexibility allows the Nets options:To pursue top-level free agents,to assume contracts in trades in exchange for other assets and to change their roster quickly if an opportunity arises. Keith Smith said the following of the Brooklyn pending space: “The Nets are very likely to have significant cap space for a second straight summer. Some of this could go toward retaining their own free agents again (Day’Ron Sharpe and Ziaire Williams both have pending team options), but Brooklyn will have lots of room to again act as a clearing house for unwanted salaries for tax and apron teams. Just send some draft picks or young talent with those undesirable deals. The Nets also don’t have control over their own pick for the 2027 draft.. That could signal a team that is ready to spend to move the roster forward. Look for a measured approach to spending, as opposed to an all-in one” The Nets' financial flexibility is great and this is the result of smart roster construction going into the off-season and avoiding long-term deals that restrict flexibility. They instead riding into the off-season with rookie contracts, one-year prove it deals and two-year deals off of two-way contracts. Final Takeaway We know the Nets are thinking long-term. They’re assessing talent, building young players, securing a favorable draft lottery spot.They’ll have cap space and a better idea of their roster and a great lottery pick. Last season, the Nets used up almost all of their cap space after many salary dumps. In return, they received two first-round picks, the Hawks' 2025 unprotected pick (which turned into Drake Powell), and the Nuggets' 2032 pick, as well as three second-round picks and players Michael Porter Jr., Terance Mann, Ochai Agbaji, Josh Minott, Heywood Highsmith, Kobe Bufkin, and Hunter Tyson. (The last three were later released.) In addition to the $6.3 million in team options for Sharpe and Williams, the Nets also have a $2.5 million team option on Minott. Ochai Agbaji and Jalen Wilson are restricted free agents. Additionally, Brooklyn will likely have seven players, or half the team, on rookie contracts. That allows teams to rebuild in an instant in today’s NBA, even with restrictive contracts and that prevent flexibility. With 18 games left, the focus is on internal things, such as who stays, who gets better, and who fits. But in the background, there is something bigger at play, a financial reset that could define the next era for this franchise. If the evaluations are correct and the cap space is used correctly, Brooklyn will not be in this spot for very long. Who has the potential to grow with the number one overall pick or top-five pick that could be coming? Who has the right culture that Fernández is trying to create? Who could potentially leave as better players coming into the system?

NFL free agency opened on March 11 at 4 p.m. This marks the beginning of the new season and a time when teams have to make decisions. The Indianapolis Colts had multiple major players becoming available for free agency going into the new season. This included quarterback Daniel Jones and wide receivers Alec Pierce and Michael Pitmann Jr., among many others. It was clear the Colts were going to have to sacrifice some key players. There were too many impact players that were available for all to be re-signed. Priorities needed to be set in terms of positions being re-signed and who was getting what. The Colts made it clear their intentions were to extend Daniel Jones while exploring other options for what to do with Anthony Richardson. Jones did get an extension, signing an $88 million contract for two years. This came after the Colts placed a franchise tag on Jones on March 3. The process itself took longer than expected, and Jones himself said it was ‘interesting’ . Now, the Colts hope that Jones recovers well from his Achilles injury and performs at an elite level. Jones is going into his eighth season after being drafted in 2019. While Richardson has not been traded yet, it is predicted that he will be, with multiple teams in talks to be a potential landing spot, including Green Bay and Detroit . It would not have made sense or been financially responsible to keep both, but Richardson is younger and has a lot of room to grow. Jones is still recovering from an Achilles injury but expects to be back for the start of the season. Only signing a two-year contract was smart since there is a chance Jones does not come back in the same shape. Either way, the Colts had to take a gamble, and they have hope that Jones will come back at an elite level. Given how well Aaron Rodgers came back after his Achilles injury, it has potential. Another major signing was Pierce, who agreed to a four-year, $116 million contract. Pierce was one of the top receivers on the team this past season, recording 1,003 yards on offense. He is going into his fifth season with the Colts after being drafted 53rd overall in 2022. This deal came around March 11, before it had been announced that Pittman was traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers. While Pierce was a major contributor, his contract was higher than expected. There was no way for both Pittman and Pierce to stay, but Pierce is going to have to step up. Pittman is a loss that will be felt if Pierce is not able to become a bigger contributor. The Colts signed receiver Nick Westbrook-Ikhine from the Miami Dolphins, who is going into his seventh season . Westbrook-Ikhine will not be able to replace Pittman, putting more pressure on Pierce, which is expected, given the huge contract. The Colts had to depart with some of their veteran defensive players, including Kwity Paye, Nick Cross, Zaire Franklin, Braden Smith and Neville Gallimore. In exchange, they were able to acquire experienced players from other teams to fill some of these spots. Arden Key, a defensive end from Tennessee, signed a two-year deal. He is going into his ninth season in the NFL and has recorded 192 total tackles in his career. Other signings include Jonathan Owens, safety from the Chicago Bears, who is entering his sixth season in the NFL. There were two defensive tackles gained in Derrick Nnadi and Jerry Tillery, as well as cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt and safety Juanyeh Thomas. Nnadi and Tillery add depth to the defensive line that was needed. Thomas only played in seven games last season with Dallas and is entering his fourth season. The Colts traded key contributors on defense and acquired players who were not equal in terms of impact. Owens is a good player, but does not put up the same numbers as Cross. Thomas leaves a lot of questions, given that he is coming off an injury. Many of the defensive players signed are veterans with experience, but they have worse statistics compared to those they are replacing. The Colts made moves and were able to find what they needed, but it came at a cost. In terms of grades, I would give them a ‘C’ because they did what was needed, but not in the most efficient ways. Some of the moves made were questionable, and there was little that excited me. A lot of their losses outweighed what they gained. The success of the team is reliant on individual performances to a degree that leaves me nervous.

We're just over a week into NFL free agency, and the Seahawks have already gone through a decent bit of roster churn. Seattle said goodbye to multiple big-time starters and has opted against spending big money on outside free agents, so let’s dive into some takeaways about the transactions so far. Rashid Shaheed's return is a surprise, but a welcome one Entering his first free agency on the back of a fantastic playoff run, Rashid Shaheed felt destined for a big payday that would have priced him out of a return to Seattle, much like Kenneth Walker and Tariq Woolen. Shaheed definitely received that payday in the form of a three-year, 51 million deal from Seattle. 17 million per year is a bit tough to swallow for the 18-266-0 receiving line that Shaheed posted in Seattle. But you have to factor in his limited time with the playbook and his excellent work as a return man. Looking under the hood, Shaheed’s deal has an  out  after the first year, giving Seattle flexibility if he can’t find his footing in the offense. Overall, this deal is a lot more palatable than it looks at first glance, and it allows Seattle to focus on addressing a bigger area of needs in the draft while maintaining continuity in the receiver room. Seattle believes in Ty Okada Ty Okada emerged as a reliable depth option in his second season with Seattle, playing 758 total snaps after just 33 as a rookie. He was a reliable tackler with a  10.8%  missed tackle rate and was fine in coverage, allowing 23 catches on 35 targets. With Nick Emmanwori seemingly the main slot corner for Seattle moving forward, Okada will slot in next to Julian Love full-time at free safety. Coby Bryant’s  three-year , $40 million  deal with the Chicago Bears is affordable enough that Seattle could have matched, but the way Mike Macdonald  talks  about Okada makes it easy to see why he’s being given this opportunity. The running back room feels like a gamble Seattle seems confident that Zach Charbonnet will return fairly early in the 2026 season, or at least their management of the position this offseason suggests. John Schneider spoke about the situation recently, and while it’s nice to hear that Charbonnet is attacking his rehab, not having a genuine fallback option at this point is scary. The backfield will likely be split between George Holani and free agent signing Emanuel Wilson. Wilson has functioned as Josh Jacobs' main backup in Green Bay for the last two seasons, handling a combined 232 carries for  1,007 yards. That mark of just over 4.3 yards per carry is solid, and he’s likely to be a fine player for Seattle, just nothing special. Holani is the wildcard. Seattle has  faith  in him, but he has just 30 total carries in two years and feels like nothing more than a guy who can take a couple of carries when the starter is gassed. Seattle spending a day two selection on a running back feels inevitable, even in this weaker class, because Charbonnet is on the final year of his rookie deal, and Wilson only signed a one-year contract. It’s a big gamble, but one from a franchise that has an eye for the position, so John Schneider gets the benefit of the doubt right now.

The New York Giants are pivoting their focus to the upcoming NFL draft after a successful free agency. They bolstered multiple positions, including signing tight end Isaiah Likely and linebacker Tremaine Edmunds to their secondary, among many other moves. They’re seemingly not done, but most of their moves are poised to be smaller depth pieces. For now, the team is considering its options with the number five pick in the NFL draft, opening the door to a potential generation-defining pick or trade. There had been some back-and-forth between whether the Giants go offense or defense, but there seems to be a growing consensus that Sonny Styles is the man New York gets. The Hot Take: Sonny Styles Could Be The Next Harry Carson One of the reasons the 1980s Giants were so successful was the emergence of the “Big Blue wrecking crew,” which was their dominant linebacker corps. Consisting of Lawrence Taylor, Gary Reasons, Carl Banks, Harry Carson, and others, they led the team to two Super Bowls and numerous playoff appearances. Granted, it was a much different kind of football, but Styles’ freak athleticism might have his ceiling pegged at that level. All the aforementioned linebackers were between six-foot-two and six-foot-four, with Sonny Styles ranking at six-foot-five, and even slightly heavier at 244 pounds. That’s not even counting the fact that he ran a blazing 4.46 40-yard dash and has a nearly 12-foot broad jump, alongside a 44-inch vertical leap. The athletic abilities alone make Styles a serious choice at the number five spot. What sets Styles and Carson apart is the former’s blitzing ability and coverage play. Styles recorded six sacks in his 2024 junior year as part of the CFP Championship-winning Ohio State Buckeyes, while Carson’s season-total high was four sacks in 1981. Styles also  has  a strong ability to be used in different coverage slots and run plays. While he is a little slow out of pursuit and there are questions about his urgency on the field, there’s potential here. Fast speed and freakish athleticism with a broad size and reach built the 1980s Giants near-dynasty. If they want to return to a defensive glory, especially with Charlie Bullen manning the linebacker corps, Styles cannot afford to be lost. What You Need To Know: Styles To New York Isn’t A Given While it is tantalizing for the Giants to get someone like Styles in their secondary and 3-4 alignment, there are still two roadblocks that prevent it from becoming a reality. First, the Tennessee Titans are in need of serious players for their ever-lasting rebuild, especially on defense. Their linebacker corps is depleted, consisting of Cedric Gray, Cody Barton, James Williams Sr., and Cam Riley, among others. They did get Cor’Dale Flott for their secondary, but they’re primarily looking at bolstering their linebacker depth. It might be wise for the Giants to trade up by using their two extra fourth-round picks. Second, the Giants really like Notre Dame running back Jeremyiah Love. Even if Styles fell to number five, the front office has dropped hints that they want to pair Cam Skattebo with someone as he recovers from ankle surgery. It doesn’t help those who want Styles that Love visited the Giants'  facility  recently. Before You Go: Six Weeks Can Make A Difference The NFL Draft is set to take place in late April, and it’s currently mid-March. There is still a lot of time between now and then for things to happen. Reports can come out about character issues, injuries, concerns about play, and so on. There’s also the potential for picks to suddenly surge in their stock value, while others drop like Aaron Rodgers’ 2005 slide and Shedeur Sanders’ historical collapse into Day three. We still don’t know everything the front offices might know heading into crunch time to finalize the wish list in the draft. There are also pressing needs at Wide Receiver and the cornerback position for the Giants. There is always time for a surprise, and there’s always time for second opinions. Just hope that it’s not another Eli Apple situation.

It was a crazy first week for the Titans in free agency. They signed over a dozen free agents, new and returning, and they don’t seem to be done yet. That wasn’t even the biggest news of the week, however, as the Titans rebranded their uniforms and changed their logo for the first time since they basically moved to Nashville. The uniforms the Titans will wear will be among the best in the league next season. They kept the red, white and blue colors but chose powder blue instead. They channeled their inner Houston Oilers with these jerseys, and they could not look any better. From the helmet to the jersey to the pants, everything about these uniforms is great, and I think Titans fans are going to love it. However, it was the logo that had many people and fans disappointed. This new logo is a similar remake of their old logo with the shield and the 'T' in the middle, but with this logo, it loses the flames in the background and just becomes more of a shield-type look. It just seems like a major downgrade from what they had, and it seems like they could have gotten much more creative with the logo, or just changed up the colors of the old logo. It just seems like a downgrade from what they could have created. Overall, I could give the jerseys an 'A' and the logo a 'C'. The Titans could have another free agent suiting up in these new uniforms, as the Titans have been linked to free agent wide receiver Jauan Jennings. Jennings had another solid year in 2025, although his receiving numbers went down, he still put up 655 yards and a career high of nine touchdowns. With the Titans still having 79 million in cap space, which is crazy to think about, they already have themselves a stacked wide receiver room with Wandale Robinson, Calvin Ridley, Elic Ayomanor and you could include Chimere Dike in there as well. Adding a red zone threat like Jennings would give Cam Ward so many options moving forward. I think this would really solidify the Titans' offense as an above-average offense going forward this season. They will be competing in a juggernaut of a division with the Jags, Texans and Colts. They have a defensive-minded coach at the helm in Robert Salah, who is looking to reinvent this defense. The Titans may shock a lot of people this year. I can’t say they will be a playoff team, but I can say with confidence that this team is going to be much improved and will play spoiler throughout the year against several teams. The Titans aren’t done yet, and if they set themselves up correctly, this team could make a playoff run in the next year or two.

Mock Draft conducted on PFSN's Mock Draft Machine , using their own players’ list. No mock trades were made. 21. Spencer Fano, T, Utah As we discussed a few weeks ago, starting left tackle Broderick Jones is likely to miss the entire season recovering from surgery. Fano is regarded by many as the top tackle in the class, with long arms and a powerful base. He should acclimate to Pittsburgh nicely, giving the Steelers more security on the exterior of the O-line. 53. Antonio Williams, WR, Clemson After pairing the 6’4 Michael Pittman with the 6’4 DK Metcalf, the Steelers have plenty of size in the receiver room. Replacing the smaller frame of Calvin Austin III is Williams, the 5’11 route technician with elite twitch. Despite a poor season for Clemson’s offense, Williams still found ways to rack up yards. Pittsburgh will expect him to continue his production in the slot. Creative playcallers will also look to utilize his chops as a passing threat. 76. Oscar Delp, TE, Georgia Tight end isn’t exactly the biggest need in Pittsburgh, but Delp is the Steelers’ kind of player. The stats don’t pop off the page, but Delp did the dirty work for Georgia as a reliable blocker in pass protection and in the run game. His acceleration, sure hands and ball security make him the ideal safety blanket tight end. If Pittsburgh chooses to break in a new QB this year, Delp will increase his quality of life significantly. 85. Malik Muhammad, CB, Texas A smooth operator with a white-hot competitive streak, Muhammad joins a Steelers secondary that won’t need him to be too much too early. Being in an NFL weight room and learning from Jalen Ramsey could help him realize his sky-high potential. 99. Harold Perkins Jr, LB, LSU NFL scouts haven’t figured out how Perkins projects at the next level; LSU’s defense moved him around quite a bit. If the Steelers can utilize him properly, Perkins brings superstar potential to the middle of Pittsburgh’s defense — he was a nightmare for opposing defenses in college. 121. Beau Stephens, OG, Iowa 6’5, 315lbs on the inside of the offensive line is always a good thing. Stephens has a great feel for the finer points of blocking and could see real opportunities in Pittsburgh. 135. Zakee Wheatley, S, Penn State A former Jaquan Brisker understudy, Wheatley is a long safety who moves very well. Like Williams, Wheatley remained productive despite his team’s overall struggles, and he has the potential to see significant playing time rotating with Brisker and DeShon Elliott. 161. Malachi Fields, WR, Notre Dame A holdover from my last mock draft. I still like Fields’ size and speed, especially in a unit that appears to value those traits. 216. Drew Allar, QB, Penn State Drew Allar is going to get somebody in trouble as they take him way too early, but he’s still around late on day three in this mock draft. A gorgeous deep ball passer who needs some work when it comes to processing on routine throws, Allar’s potential is too enticing to pass up this late in the draft, and I still believe that he can shine under the right circumstances. 224. Caden Curry, EDGE, Ohio State Caden Curry had 40 solo tackles and 11 sacks in one season as a starter for Ohio State. He is available in the seventh round. He has no known character concerns. I’m sold. 230. Desmond Reid, RB/PR, Pitt Undersized yet explosive, Reid was must-see TV when he was on the field for the Pitt Panthers. Pittsburgh takes a flier on a versatile prospect, and Reid gets to keep his apartment. 237. Eric Gentry, LB, USC Gentry’s 6’7 frame and solid tackling ability make him a fascinating prospect, especially as a space eater in the middle of a zone.

The Dallas Cowboys were relatively active in Week 1 of free agency more so than in recent years. They made key additions, including trading with the Green Bay Packers for Rashan Gary, and signing safety Jalen Thompson (Cardinals), quarterback Sam Howell (Eagles), and cornerback Cobie Durant (Rams), among others. However, there are still clear needs on the defensive side of the ball, including adding two linebackers, another edge rusher, and more cornerback depth. This upcoming draft presents a valuable opportunity to address those gaps, and the Cowboys could continue to build out the roster through additional trades and free agency moves before the NFL Draft. https://x.com/rjochoa/status/2032544004756115680?s=20 Round 1, Pick 12th — S Dillon Thieneman (Oregon) “DB Chess Piece” br/> Size: 6’0” | 207 lbs Thieneman is one of the most versatile defensive backs in this class. He can line up at deep safety, drop into the box, or cover tight ends and slot receivers. With his instincts and physicality, he fits perfectly into a multiple-look defense. Fit in Christian Parker’s Defense: br/>In Christian Parker’s scheme, Thieneman would be deployed all over the field as a movable piece disguising coverages pre-snap and giving Dallas flexibility in both zone and man looks. He adds range on the back end while also being a reliable run defender. https://x.com/MattBowen41/status/2024303777067552877?s=20 Round 1, Pick 20th — LB Jacob Rodriguez (Texas Tech) “Future Green Dot Gangsta” br/> Size: 6’1” | 230 lbs A former quarterback at Virginia Tech before transitioning to linebacker, Rodriguez brings high-level football IQ and leadership to the position. He’s instinctive, flies downhill, and shows natural communication skills traits you want in a defensive signal-caller. Fit in Christian Parker’s Defense: br/>Rodriguez projects as a future “green dot” linebacker calling plays and aligning the defense. His background as a QB helps him diagnose offenses quickly, making him ideal for a scheme that relies on pre-snap adjustments and disciplined zone coverage. https://x.com/BengalsBrews/status/2015194347755487617?s=20 Round 3, Pick 92nd (via 49ers) — CB Malik Muhammad (Texas) “Press Coverage Enforcer” br/> Size: 6’0” | 190 lbs Muhammad is a physical corner who thrives in press-man coverage. He’s aggressive at the line, disrupts timing, and competes at a high level against top receivers. Fit in Christian Parker’s Defense: br/>He gives Dallas much-needed depth at corner while fitting the mold of a physical, press-capable defender. Parker can trust him to challenge receivers early in routes, allowing more flexibility with blitz packages and safety rotations. https://x.com/NFL_DF/status/2019435783455928455?s=20

All information as of March 12, 8:30 PM EST. T’Vondre Sweat , DT – via trade with Titans for Jermaine Johnson , DE The first move that was made this offseason was a trade with the Titans for T’Vondre Sweat, and I really like this move. Sweat is young (only 24), and Johnson is aging (27) and hasn’t been healthy in a couple of seasons. Even when Johnson was healthy, his numbers were not enough for me to support him staying. Now, Sweat only played in 12 games in the 2025 season, but I think the potential is there for him to become a force and really develop. I think the Jets easily won this trade. My Grade: A- Minkah Fitzpatrick , S – via trade with Dolphins for 2026 7th-round pick This trade is easily a win for the Jets. They receive a great defensive player for a seventh-round pick, unless the Dolphins find Mr. Irrelevant with that pick, then I think they will be fine. After this trade, the Jets signed Minkah to a 3-year, $40 million contract, and I think Minkah’s veteran status will be a great addition to the defense. I think he will surprise a lot of people in the 2026 season. My Grade: A Joseph Ossai , DE – 3-year, $36 million Free Agent Signing This was an interesting signing. I think Ossai is a diamond in the rough. In his 14 games last season, nine of which he started, he forced two fumbles, gained five sacks, and had nine tackles for loss. I feel like he will show up and show out on the Jets, and that sack number will be double digits. He played on one of the worst defenses in the league with the Bengals. I think with this change of scenery, he will shine bright. My Grade: B+ Kingsley Enagbare , DE – 1-year $10 million Free Agent Signing I don’t really know what to make of Kingsley. He only started three games last year and didn’t really do much, but with this team, it can’t get much worse than it already is, so might as well try everything. Not much more to say on this signing, he’s average. My Grade: C+ Demario Davis , LB – 2-year $22 million Free Agent Signing I think every Jets fan is happy that Davis is back with the Jets. This is his first time back with the team since 2017, after his stint in New Orleans, and I think even at his age, he can still go. Davis had a career-high combo tackles last season with 143, six tackles for losses, and two forced fumbles. Davis will bring good energy to the locker room, and another veteran is always good to have, especially with the younger talent on the team. My Grade: B David Onyemata , DT – 1-year $10.5 million Free Agent Signing Another veteran signing by the Jets. I think the main plan is to have him be a mentor to Sweat, which will be good for him and help him grow as a player. Onyemata hasn’t done anything particularly great in the past couple of years, so I do question this signing a bit, but if the goal was to work with Sweat like I think it is, then I can get on board. My Grade: B- Andrew Beck , FB – 1-year $1.5 million Re-signing Personally, I don’t see the point in fullbacks, so I am against this signing in that regard, but Beck is mainly just for depth at this point, so no point in looking into it too much. Beck played in every game last season and started two, where he scored two touchdowns, which, honestly, is two more than I would have guessed. My Grade: D- Dane Belton , S – 1-year $6 million Free Agent Signing So, this signing, I really like. Taking a look at Belton’s stats, in the 17 games he played, nine of which he started, he had one interception, three forced fumbles, and 120 combo tackles, three of which were for losses. Belton will be 26, so he is still in the young part of his career, and I think the Jets will re-sign him after this season. Overall, I think Belton will add a lot more power to this defense if he is a starter. My Grade: B+ Geno Smith , QB – via trade with the Raiders for 2026 6th-round pick (also gained a 7th- round pick) Well, I’m sure this is the move you have been waiting for. I really don’t think this was the best move at all, especially when options like Kyler Murray were out there. No matter who the Jets got, it was going to be bad, but I have one hypothesis as to what is happening. Think about it, the 2027 draft will most likely be headlined by the next Manning prodigy, Arch. Geno did a great job last year of giving the Raiders the first overall pick, so maybe the Jets were inspired by this and decided to give Geno both a reunion and a benefit to them, which would be the first overall pick. Will Geno be the hero the Jets need and lead them to the promised land of a franchise quarterback? My Grade: C Nahshon Wright , DB – 1-year $5.5 million Free Agent Signing This is another signing I like. Wright seems like he has a lot to bring, even for someone who is in the middle of his career. Last season, he had 80 combined tackles, with two forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, five interceptions, and 11 pass deflections. This past season was a breakout for Wright, who was second overall among cornerbacks in interceptions. Looking at the fact that the whole Jets defense had zero interceptions in 17 games last season, Wright will be a great addition. Honestly, I think he could be a great leader for the cornerback room next season. My Grade: A- Cade York , K – 1-year (no other details) Free Agent Signing The Jets have brought York to New York. After losing one of their best players in Nick Folk, the Jets had to go kicker shopping and find a new main man. York has been consistent in his career in extra points, only missing three times, but in field goals, he is iffy, but maybe he’ll come back strong and show off. My Grade: C+ Max Mitchell , OT – 1-year (no other details) Re-signing Realistically, not much to say here. Mitchell resigns. I have nothing of note to say about him or what he can do. His signing was for depth, so I don’t anticipate him playing much anyway. My Grade: C- Dylan Parham , G – 2-year $20 million Free Agent Signing Well, another signing like Mitchell, where I can’t really say anything. I hope he does his job and does it well. He is getting paid a lot of money, so if he sucks, it will definitely make a lot of fans upset. My Grade: C Mykal Walker , LB – 1-year (no other details) Free Agent Signing Well, Walker hasn’t done much in the last three seasons, but if he comes in as he played in 2022, then I think this works well. It seems he hasn’t been able to stay healthy, minus the 2024 season, but he did nothing notable with the Commanders. This is kind of like the last couple of signings. I hope they show up and show out, but I can’t make many other comments because there isn’t much to go off. My Grade: C Overall, Glenn and the Jets are clearly focused on building a defense that turns the ball over a lot and trying to find their answers to problems at other positions. The goal is to be better than 3-14, but is a tank season worth it for the franchise quarterback in the 2027 draft?

The New York Giants have made several critical moves on the free agency market, including pivotal upgrades at tight end and securing their right tackle. As the signing window for free agency begins on Wednesday, New York has reportedly agreed to several players joining the team within the last 48 hours. That includes Baltimore Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely and re-signing right tackle Jermaine Eleumunor on the offensive line, along with bringing back Micah McFadden and snagging Greg Newsome II from the Jacksonville Jaguars. The team also made some moves on special teams, including plucking Baltimore punter Jordan Stout and Pro Bowl fullback Patrick Ricard. The John Harbaugh roster is officially being constructed before fans’ very eyes, and it’s starting off strong. The Hot Take: The Offensive Line Wins With Likely And Eluemunor The largest question for the Giants heading into free agency was whether the team would keep pivotal points of their offensive line or look for potential upgrades. They have answered that question by locking in Eleuemunor for the next few seasons and a pivotal run-blocker in Likely for 2026. Following his strong 2025 campaign, Pro Football Focus ranked Eluemunor as the third-best tackle in this year’s free agency class for his high pass-blocking grade. The 31-year-old ranked 16th in pass blocking grade between 2024 and 2025, and is even seventh in pressure-rate allowed at 4.3%. That’s important against players like Maxx Crosby and Myles Garrett, depending on where they line up. There were concerns about Eluemunor’s run-blocking, ranking middle of the pack or slightly below average in run scenarios. This is where Isaiah Likely comes into play, who graded out 13th of 52 tight ends in run blocking. That’s also not considering that he graded eighth for receiving and was the fourth-ranked tight end on the board, at the ripe age of 26. Jaxson Dart needed a new target to throw to and protection at the line, and he got both on the first day of free agency. Cam Skattebo is also projected to thrive with Eluemunor returning and Likely being able to push on the line. Whether or not it fits into the return of a West Coast offense is to be seen. What You Need To Know: The Secondary Are Also Big Winners The Giants’ largest improvements weren’t just on the line, but the secondary also got some notable upgrades, even with the departure of Cor’Dale Flott and Bobby Okereke. First, New York signed former pro-bowler Tremaine Edmunds to a three-year, $36 million deal on Monday, continuing to beef up their linebacker core. The former first-round pick had Pro Bowl seasons in 2019 and 2020 with the Buffalo Bills, with 3.5 sacks, 12 passes deflected, one interception, and a safety in those two years. He’s had nine interceptions in the last three years, alongside two forced fumbles and 24 passes deflected, arguably better and more impactful despite no Pro Bowl selections. With Charlie Bullen back at the helm as the linebackers coach, if his short tenure as the defensive coordinator is any indication, Edmunds should thrive alongside Brian Burns and Abdul Carter. The Giants then signed Greg Newsome II from Jacksonville to replenish the loss of Flott. Newsome II didn’t have a good year, allowing a 109 passer rating with five touchdowns in 2025, but he has four interceptions in his career and is still young. Before You Go: What Happens With Kayvon Thibodeaux? With all these upgrades, Thibodeaux is still the odd man out on the defense, especially with the signing of Edmunds. Arguably, he’s the most prime trade candidate for the team going into the offseason, and could net a few picks with the right suitor. Thibodeaux is at the end of his rookie contract and is due for a payday, something teams shy away from. Some writers had argued that a trade was unlikely given the current market , but the sudden collapse of a Crosby deal from Las Vegas to Baltimore suddenly made him an open suitor. The team is reportedly looking for a second or third-round pick to make a move, which is something a few teams can afford. They did think he was a “pretty damn good football player despite his declining production.” There’s just no room for him, unless Bullen plans to use his as a substitute later in games in 2026.

The Cleveland Cavaliers were red hot immediately after the trade deadline, but after today’s embarrassing 130-120 loss to the Dallas Mavericks, they are just 6-6 in their last 12 games. While I don’t think anybody needs to panic just yet, there have been some clear cracks showing over the past few weeks. Star Guard Struggles Donovan Mitchell and James Harden are the Cavaliers best players, but they’ve both missed some time recently and had some struggles when they have played. Mitchell is a career 36.6% three point shooter, but over this recent stretch that percentage has dropped below 30% . For a player that takes over nine threes a game, that number is problematic. Some of that could be attributed to the time he missed with injury, but he’s gone into late season shooting slumps before so it’s still concerning. James Harden’s averages have been pretty consistent since he got to Cleveland, but he’s had some very concerning performances like he had today against the Dallas Mavericks. Harden finished the game against Dallas on Sunday with six turnovers and just four made shots. These two are the Cavs most reliable offensive threats, so if they aren’t at the top of their games when the post season rolls around, it could result in an early playoff exit. Evan Mobley’s Free Throw Shooting Mobley’s offensive struggles have been an issue for the entire season, and remain the biggest concern for the Cavaliers future outlook. The most startling drop off this year has been in his free throw shooting. Mobley was a 73% free throw shooter last year, and that number has dropped all the way down to 62% this year. The Cavaliers were viewed as a major contender this season based on Mobley’s trajectory. Many expected another leap from him this season but the team has gotten a step back instead. Constant Injuries This has been a storyline for the whole season in Cleveland. The Cavaliers have used 33 different starting lineups on the year, as all of their stars have missed some time. Jarrett Allen’s absence has been felt since he went out with a knee injury. Cleveland’s defense is heavily reliant on its bigs due to the lack of great perimeter defenders, so when one of those bigs isn’t available the team struggles to get stops and rebounds. Allen should not miss much more time, but the fact that the core four has barely had time playing together makes you wonder about the chemistry they’ll have going into the playoffs. Final Thoughts It’s hard to win games with key players constantly in and out of the lineup with minor injuries. There has been some good for the Cavs recently too. Max Strus played in his first game of the season Sunday and looked absolutely incredible. Strus had 24 points and eight rebounds off the bench for the Cavs, so any concerns about him being rusty in his return were put to bed quickly. As things stand currently, the Cavaliers are the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference, which would match them up with the red hot Orlando Magic in the first round. While Evan Mobley’s struggles have been a season-long issue, I wouldn’t expect Mitchell to stay in a shooting slump much longer, and none of the injuries the team is dealing with right now are expected to be long term. While there’s real concerns showing for the Cavaliers right now, there’s still plenty of time to get things right. I don’t think it’s time to press the panic button just yet.

The first week of free agency is in the books, and in a major surprise, the 49ers actually gave us something to talk about. So let’s do that! My Hottest Take: I can admit when I’m wrong (kinda) So, a week ago, I wrote the 49ers would have a quiet free agency, doing very little of what they needed to. They proved me wrong. I must admit, a few hours into the opening days of the league year, I was feeling pretty good about my opinion, albeit not so good about my team. Maxx Crosby went elsewhere (well, he didn’t, but you know), other blue-chip players signed with desperate teams (Tyler Linderbaum on the Raiders is a horrible thought), and the 49ers stood pat, or so it seemed. The biggest headline of the early hours of free agency was the news that the team might cut or trade Trent Williams. You don’t need to hear me rant on that again. Then, suddenly, something happened, and the 49ers picked up Mike Evans. Then they actually brought in a little offensive line depth. Then they traded for a genuine, three-down, multi-faceted defensive tackle. It was like someone had written down my thoughts and started to work on them, although there was still no sign of an upgrade at center, tackle, or guard. Still, I’m being difficult. I don’t think anyone can reasonably claim to be unhappy with the 49ers' first week dealings. Evans is a classic X receiver, a future Hall of Famer, and, health-permitting, can be both an explosive presence on the field and a great presence off it, mentoring the next generation of 49ers playmakers. Ricky Pearsall, Jordan Watkins and Jacob Cowing ought to benefit greatly from the veteran wideout’s presence. Osa Odighizuwa is a pressure-pressing defensive tackle with sound ability against the run, and even as an individual, is probably better than the trio of players the 49ers rotated there last year. Vederian Lowe is a tackle with potential, and Brett Toth adds guard and center flexibility, and both add veteran offensive line help, involving players who have actually played offensive line in the NFL. Given how bare the cupboard is behind the four starters (yep, there’s a hole there too), I’m not unhappy with those. The good news continued – ascending linebacker Garrett Wallow returned, while special teams veteran Luke Gifford also came back on a multi-year deal, and we’d already kept Eddy Piniero and Jon Weeks. All good stuff. Nate Hobbs, similar to the two offensive line signings, is someone with actual league experience who can play multiple corner positions. That’s likely to become a huge boon, given the dumpster fire behind starters Deommodore Lenoir and Renardo Green (and the team’s out on Green, it seems). Jake Tonges returned, we swapped out punters, and so far, that seems to be it. Oh, we had a player due to make serious money decide to retire, too, but I doubt we’ll miss Bryce Huff’s four sacks and generally useless production. So, all good? In a fashion, yes. It was certainly busy, and it seems to have shown the right level of urgency, considering the holes the team has to fill. It was a pleasing first week, although there’s still work to do, particularly at EDGE, along the offensive line, safety, and getting Trent Williams back in the building. That said, given my pessimism in last week’s column, I can’t be unhappy. Good work, front office. There is, however, one thing that worried me a little. You Should Know: A 49ers nostalgia tour is a risk You’ll notice the one move I didn’t mention was Dre Greenlaw’s return to the team. He’s back on a one-year deal; the Broncos cut bait just a year into a big contract he signed to get away from us last year. And I’ve not mentioned it. Truthfully, I don’t know how to feel. I love Greenlaw – he’s been the reason for some of my favourite 49ers memories, and without him getting injured, we likely win the Super Bowl two years ago. However, there’s a reason the Broncos cut him and made him available to us, and it’s the same reason his original swansong with the Niners didn’t go to plan – injuries. He had a variety of niggles last year, and only appeared in eight games. The last thing the 49ers need is another oft-injured linebacker, particularly as the depth behind Greenlaw (likely Nick Martin and Dee Winters) hasn’t pulled up many trees. He’s not the only risk; Mike Evans’ reducing snaps over the last few years make our flagship acquisition a risk of its own, too. But Greenlaw will be the headline return, and it has me slightly worried. Nostalgia, as they say, ain’t what it used to be. I loved Greenlaw. I  really  hope he can be the same or similar guy and produce at a similar level while bringing in the next generation. But I’m not sure I’d bet on it, and certainly not to the level that the 49ers have, where he seems to be pencilled in as a starter. I guess we’ll see. At least the team didn’t bring back Deebo Samuel (as of press time, anyway), because that would probably be one nostalgia tour too far. Before You Go: Could Jennings still return? I already wrote off the idea of Jauan Jennings returning to the 49ers. That was a while ago, though, when most projections had him making $20-30m a year on his new contract. At this point, a week into free agency, it’s clear he’s not getting that, and in all honesty, I don’t know why he or his agent ever thought that he would – outside of a purple patch in 2024, he’s rarely put up numbers above that of a #3 or #2 receiver. His market seems to reflect that, too, with no signing apparently imminent. That brings the question: could Jennings actually return to the 49ers? The big contract has gone – likely spent on Evans – but the longer he goes without a contract, the more I think there might be a number the 49ers get down to. Jennings, for all his limitations, is a tigerish run blocker, a useful third-down playmaker, and, moreover, with Evans in play, would have the opportunity to play his best role out of the slot, forming a trio with Evans and Ricky Pearsall as pass-catchers. Maybe it happens. Then again – check my free agent target list from last week. Not a one, so far. But with the Niners still needing some help at various spots, maybe I’ve still got time to turn things round. Either way, there’s bound to be something to talk about next week. I’ll see you then.

In order for the 2026 WNBA season to start on time, the WNBA players and the WNBPA needed to agree on a new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) by March 10th. Unfortunately, that date has passed. However, the two sides are still working hard to try to get a CBA done so that they can play in the 2026 season. For the past three days, both the WNBA players and the WNBPA have been meeting late through the night, often until the early morning hours. WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert has spoken to the media , ensuring that the two sides are coming close to an agreement. There is a lot of preparation that needs to be done for the 2026 season. This season is supposed to be the first for the Toronto Tempo and the Portland Fire, the two latest expansion teams for the WNBA, bringing the total number of teams to 15. To make sure the teams are fair, the league will need to have an expansion draft to send already established players in the WNBA to the incoming franchises. On top of that, a large number of the players will also be hitting free agency, with 123 players potentially going to a new team. Since the new CBA will increase the salary for the players, there’s a good reason for them to hold out to try to get more money. Regardless, they may or may not still be on the same team, depending on how aggressive these franchises go for certain players while they are not signed to their current team. Some notable players reaching free agency are A’ja Wilson, Breanna Stewart and Skylar Diggins. If there wasn't already enough of a time crunch, there will need to be a 2026 entry draft to welcome any incoming collegiate players to the league. There are a bunch of strong prospects , including Azzi Fudd, Lauren Betts and Flau’jae Johnson. The WNBA Entry Draft is slated to occur on Monday, April 13, just one month out. In order for the draft to occur, the league needs to hold the expansion drafts first. Free agency can go on up until the season begins, but with two months to go, the deadline draws nearer. The WNBA players are trying to get better working conditions for themselves, including better pay, retirement benefits, and housing. The biggest point of contention has been the players’ salaries, but they are working diligently to come to a conclusion. The 2026 season marks the 30th for the WNBA. With such a historic moment in history for the league, both the players and the league committee are sure to want to do whatever they can to ensure this season will start on time. Engelbert spoke to the media, stating that they are urgently trying to come to a decision on the new CBA by Monday, March 16th. Both sides want a season; let’s hope they can give the fans and the players what they want, too.

With the Charlotte Hornets making such a drastic turnaround in 2026, it raises questions as to why Charles Lee isn’t getting as much love as he should when it comes to Coach of the Year. Whether he wins the award or not is one thing, but Lee at least deserves to be a finalist. Charlotte's Turnaround The Hornets from October 21 to December 31 were 11-22 on the season, the 24th-best record in the NBA. Since January 1, 2026, the Hornets are 23-11, the third-best record in the NBA over that span. Charles Lee has instilled a winning culture in Charlotte after coming over from Boston after their 2024 championship season, which was one of two championship staffs Lee was part of. (He was also part of the Milwaukee Bucks’ 2021 championship staff.) Lee, knowing what it takes to win, just needed the right pieces, and while it won’t get much consideration in his coach of the year argument, drafting Kon Knueppel was the first step toward the leap the Hornets eventually made. For any NBA fan that’s living under a rock, Kon Knueppel is leading the NBA in threes made this season and is the odds-on favorite for Rookie of the Year, even over his former Duke roommate Cooper Flagg. The Hornets are currently 34-33 on the season, which isn’t a phenomenal record but is extremely impressive for a team that started 4-14 and was over 10 games under .500 at the end of 2025. The Hornets have improved everywhere, but their defense has been the most shocking development; they have the No. 6 defensive rating since January first. Charles Lee’s Case Lee’s case isn’t based on the overall record of the Hornets but the coach of the year award isnt always just given to the coach on the best No. 1 seed in the league, a coaches case can be made relative to preseason expectations, which is where Charles Lee’s case comes in. the Hornets were projected to win under 30 games this season, they’ve already won 34 games and still have 15 left in a row. Coaches have won the award while winning fewer than 50 games, the latest example being Tom Thibodeau, who won it with the Knicks, who won 41 games. Another recent example is Mike Brown, who won the award with 48 wins with the Sacramento Kings. If Charlotte reaches the 40-43 win mark, not only will they have a ton of momentum going into the playoffs, but Coach Lee will have a real case. Jason Kidd’s Endorsement It’s not just Hornets fans who have this take; Dallas Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd was asked about Charles Lee and how well he’s done with this Hornets group, and Kidd said, “he’s under the radar. I think he should be the coach of the year for what he’s done so far with this young team.” Ultimately, will Charles Lee win the award? Probably not; it’s probably going to be Detroit’s J.B. Bickerstaff or San Antonio’s Mitch Johnson. That being said, Charles Lee being a finalist would be much deserved.

The Chicago Bulls pulled out a 130–124 overtime win over the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday night. Matas Buzelis posted a career-high 41 points, while Josh Giddey recorded a massive triple-double with 21 points, 13 rebounds, and 17 assists. But it was how the game was won that makes me feel okay about the Bulls picking up a victory in this situation which sounds insane to say considering the team’s current position. The Bulls need to learn how to win games. Development isn’t just about stats or minutes played, it’s about experiencing high-pressure situations and learning how to close games out. Tuesday night provided exactly that kind of experience for this young core. Matas Buzelis stepping up as the leading scorer while Josh Giddey orchestrated the offense showcased a brand of balanced basketball that fans can actually get excited about. With Giddey controlling the tempo and Buzelis attacking as the primary scorer, the Bulls looked like a team beginning to find an identity. At the same time, the team still appears to be hovering around the ninth or 10th position in the lottery standings, meaning they are still very much in the developmental stage of this rebuild. The Bulls also had not won a game during the entire month of February, so grinding out a tough overtime victory like this is a welcome change of pace for a team that has struggled to close games this season. My Hottest Take: Matas needs to take the reins! For the Bulls to truly take the next step, their young star needs to take the next step as well. Buzelis has already shown improvement in his scoring (8.6 to 15.8 PPG) from his rookie season into year two, which is an encouraging sign. Since the roster shifted after the trade deadline, his role has expanded and he has increasingly become the team’s primary offensive option. But Bulls fans want to see even more aggression in his game. That means attacking the basket with confidence, demanding the ball in key moments, and developing the ability to dominate stretches of games. The great players in this league don’t just score, they control the game’s pace and momentum. That development will likely start against teams that are also fighting in the lottery standings. And while the Warriors were missing key players, this was still the type of game where young players can play loose and test themselves. Buzelis responded in a big way. What you need to know: Josh Giddey is proving to be a pillar Josh Giddey continues to prove he can be a foundational piece for this Bulls team. His triple-double performance against Golden State demonstrated exactly what makes him valuable, his ability to bring balance to the offense. With 21 points, 13 rebounds, and 17 assists, Giddey controlled the pace of the game and consistently created opportunities for teammates. Giddey’s all-around play has been a defining trait of his career. Throughout his time in Chicago he has consistently filled the stat sheet and even joined the short list of Bulls players with multiple triple-double seasons in franchise history. Beyond the box score, his ability to run the offense allows players like Buzelis to operate more naturally as scorers. That dynamic could be key to the future of this roster. Health has unfortunately been a challenge this season, as Giddey has only appeared in 43 games so far. But if Tuesday night is a glimpse into what the future could look like when he and Buzelis are both rolling, then the long-term possibilities for this team become much more interesting. Especially once the Bulls eventually find another star to place alongside them. Before you go: There's beauty in the struggle Buzelis and Giddey are a good starting point. But if the Bulls truly want to reach the next level, they still need another star ideally someone capable of being a top-five or top-10 caliber player in the league who can directly impact wins and losses. Unless the Bulls get incredibly lucky in the lottery , the odds of landing that franchise-altering player through the draft are slim. However, the NBA is constantly shifting. Every year a star becomes unhappy with their situation and begins looking for a new opportunity. If the Bulls continue developing their young core and positioning themselves with assets and flexibility, they could be in position when that opportunity presents itself. The key will be whether the front office is ready to make that move when the moment arrives.