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With preseason right around the corner, the Titans announced their joint practice schedule with their preseason opponents, the 49ers, Seahawks and Bears. They will have practices with the 49ers on August 11, the Seahawks on August 21, and the Bears on August 27. The Titans play three NFC playoff teams from last year on their preseason schedule, and I think it's the perfect tune-up for the season. All three of these teams are very well coached: Kyle Shanahan, Ben Johnson and Mike Macdonald are all arguably Top-10 coaches in this league. I think for Titans coach Robert Saleh, it will be good to see what he can pick up from these coaches, including his former head coach, Shanahan. From a talent perspective as well, the Titans are going to play the best of the best in the NFC. I think it's great prep for a Titans team playing in a division with two playoff teams from last season, and what could have been three if it wasn’t for the Colts ' late-season collapse. Although the Titans are much improved, they are still young and need the extra reps. One of those young guys who is transitioning into a veteran role is Peter Skoronski. Skoronski is entering the fourth and final year of his contract with the Titans. Looking at the direction the Titans are headed in, giving Skoronski an extension should be automatic. For starters, since they drafted him in 2023, he has been the only consistent lineman the Titans have had. The pieces they have brought in on their o-line have come and gone, or have not been as good, which causes this o-line to struggle. Skoronski has played in 48 of the possible 51 games in his career, not to mention over 1,000 snaps played in two of his three seasons. Skoronski has just nine penalties in his career and combined with his 3,000 career snaps, he commits one penalty every 250 snaps. Not only is that tops on the Titans, but Top-10 in the NFL as well. Skoronski can also show his value at the right guard position, having been switched on the o-line a few times. His run blocking is elite, and his pass protection is getting much better. A contract extension for Skoronski could be around 22-25 million per year. If he decides to exercise his fifth-year option with the Titans, that would be 20.49 million, and if he continues to play above his potential, he can easily get an eight-figure contract. A 4-year, 100 million contract would make sense for both parties, but could be more with the rising cap. Skoronski is a lot like Taylor Lewan; a solid Pro Bowl-caliber lineman, he has pledged his loyalty to the Titans and wants to be in Tennessee. The rebuild starts with a solid foundation, and a guy like Skoronski — if the Titans don’t make an offer to him at the end of this season, or next season, there is no doubt someone will overpay for his talents in free agency.

Injuries have plagued an already disastrous season for the Boston Red Sox. Losing the ace of the pitching staff and then the top prospect, hoping to be a big help for the season back-to-back, has not been what the Red Sox expected. My Hottest Take: The Injuries Are Just Plain Confusing It seems to be the most confusing of all the injuries that the Red Sox have dealt with all season. Garrett Crochet went down with shoulder inflammation, and Roman Anthony went down with a wrist injury, which seemed to be from an awkward check swing. Crochet was added to the 15-day injured list on April 29 with the assumption that it would be it, but was then added to the 60-day injured list on June 5. Now the team won’t see him back until after the All-Star Break. Anthony went down on the awkward check swing on May 4, getting placed on the 10-day injured list with what was labeled as a right wrist sprain. When trying to swing as he was set to get back in the lineup, he experienced discomfort, which led to more tests. You Should Know: They are luckily making progress Crochet’s injury turned into a low-grade lat strain, a lot different than just some shoulder inflammation. He was placed on the 60-day injured list as a precaution, which worked in their favor when he was feeling discomfort as he began his first rehabilitation program. There were at some points rumors going around that the lat strain in his shoulder was much worse than people thought, but luckily, both the team and Crochet have shut down those rumors. On June 16, he began throwing plyo balls, hoping for a throwing program by the end of the week. Anthony’s injury has all of his doctors baffled. What was originally diagnosed as a right wrist sprain actually turned out to be a partial tear of his ring finger carpometacarpal ligament. What made the doctors baffled was the fact that it was completely isolated to his ring finger, which connects the wrist to all the bases of the fingers and hand. This has been the most confusing, as there has never been an actual set diagnosis until now, because the team and Anthony himself were just as confused as the fans. The MRI Anthony just had on the six-week anniversary of the injury showed healing, which means he will start swinging when he can do so without discomfort. He unfortunately has not been cleared to swing yet. Before You Go: July Seems to Be the Month of Returns The current report is that both Anthony and Crochet should be back sometime in July. While the team would be wise not to rush either of them back due to the fact that the Red Sox are so far out of the divisional race, it would be good for the team to get two of its top players back. While Anthony is not the right-handed power the team needs, his power should help. Crochet would slot right back in and hopefully help keep the team in at least the wild-card race.

The Boston Red Sox have done something they have not been able to accomplish since back in April, when the team had its star players. The Red Sox won their home series from June 12-14 against the Texas Rangers. Yes, that is a correct statement. The last time the Red Sox came away with a series win was in April against the Milwaukee Brewers. My Hottest Take: This feels lowkey like the “Curse of the Bambino” Yes, the “Curse of the Bambino” was more about the drought of championships won by the Red Sox, but it still gives that idea of the heartbreak and near-misses that have plagued the 2026 Red Sox. This whole season feels like just one long “Curse of the Bambino.” For those who do not know what the “Curse of the Bambino” is, it is what followed the Red Sox for 86 years after selling Babe Ruth to the New York Yankees. While the Red Sox may be cursed for selling Rafael Devers, Devers is not doing much better for the San Francisco Giants. So, why are the Red Sox so inconsistent at home? You Should Know: The Red Sox Won the Series 2-1 The Red Sox came into the Rangers series 1-8-1 in series at Fenway Park. They kicked off the series big, scoring 10 runs in the opener before Ceddanne Rafaela put the nail in the coffin during game two with a two-run single, before Jarren Duran came up with a monster two-run homer to win the game 6-3 against the Rangers. However, game three had ex-Red Sox Nathan Eovaldi pitching for the Rangers, and he showed up in Boston. This improved the Red Sox to 2-8-1 in home series, which sounds just as bad as it looks. The Red Sox need to start bringing back the idea that small ball and walks help win ball games because, right now, everyone is just going for homers, and it is costing this team in the long run. Before You Go: Maybe Fenway is cursed? The Red Sox do not play the way they play at Fenway on the road. While as of this article they are now 19-20 on the road after a horrific loss to the Colorado Rockies, the 2026 Red Sox are just 12-25 at home at Fenway Park. 12-25. Let that sink in for a moment. They are 2-9-1 in home series at Fenway Park this season. The team has not had a series sweep at home since last season. Why would Fenway be cursed? The latest evidence in the possibility that Fenway is cursed is that the Red Sox went from being swept at home by the Toronto Blue Jays to winning the series against the Seattle Mariners in Seattle. It just does not make any sense. Now do not get this wrong, the pitching has been on fire for the Red Sox this season. This inconsistency is mostly on the offense, and that is in part the fault of the ownership and its not being willing to spend the money on players that could help the team. If the ownership were willing to splurge even on just one free agent or a good trade, there would be a chance for this team to make a comeback, but until then, this team is looking like the teams from 1918–2004, but for the whole season and not just championship runs.

The Boston Red Sox are the streakiest team in the league. One day, they will score ten runs, and then the next, they barely make it on base. It is the most confusing season of recent years, and that includes the 2020 COVID-shortened season. My Hottest Take: The Team Has Power, But They Have No Discipline The Red Sox as a team have struck out 604 times this season. They have only walked 209 times. That is a pretty bad walk ratio, especially against some of the pitchers in the league. The Red Sox are currently 145-for-601 with runners in scoring position. Let that sink in. That is 456 possible runs that could have helped the team win half of the games that they have lost. The team has left 499 runners on base, and nine times out of ten, it's due to a strikeout. They are also one of the worst teams in the league when it comes to using the ABS, which is supposed to help them, but they just use it willy-nilly, not strategically. This team, on paper, has the power to hit home runs even without a right-handed hitter to help produce that power, but they are just not getting the offense they need to prove that. You Should Know: Shaking Up the Lineup Once Again May Help the Struggling Offense It might be time to once again shake up the lineup. While the lineup has been shaken up all year due to injuries and people slumping and not being able to stay where they were placed, the Red Sox have seen probably close to 30 different lineups this season. Here is a lineup that may help get the offense going. While Carlos Narvaez and Connor Wong do have power as well, Mickey Gasper has come to the big leagues and proved that he is a stronger offensive catcher, as well as a good defensive catcher. The only reason that he may currently not be the main catcher is that he is still getting used to all of the pitchers. Yoshida does not have the power that this team needs in a leadoff hitter; even if Gasper is not the leadoff hitter, put Jarren Duran back up there and let someone drive him in instead of him focusing on driving people in. Before You Go: Not All of the Offense is Bad Some of the offense has been consistent all season, or if they were in a slump, they figured out or fixed what was going wrong. Willson Contreras is one of those examples; he currently leads the team in home runs and is second when it comes to hits. He has been producing all season and is one of the players that the team has acquired who has been as advertised. The offense will start figuring itself out; this team has power and can hit the baseball. The team just needs to do it more consistently, and the season could turn around.

One thing the Colts fans have on the rest of the league is the best mascot. For the second year in a row, Blue has been named the NFL Mascot of the Year. This award is voted on by all mascots in the league during the NFL Mascot Summit, a yearly meeting where mascots meet to swap ideas, and awards are given out to recognize success in the league. There are multiple awards to be earned, including the Anchor in the Community honor, which was taken home by the Rams. This year, the summit was hosted in Indianapolis, and there were 18 mascots in attendance. There are a total of 28 mascots in the league, and the Green Bay Packers, Los Angeles Chargers, New York Giants and New York Jets are the only teams in the league that do not have official mascots. There is no particular reason; they just chose not to officially name one. Blue was named the Colts' official mascot in September of 2006, when he went skydiving for his debut performance. The Colts went on to win Super Bowl XLI that year, 29-17 against the Bears. From then on, Blue continued to amaze crowds and became one of the premier mascots in the league. With his latest recognition, Blue now has five total NFL Mascot of the Year titles since the award was created in 2016. It recognizes the work the mascots do around the community and the important roles they play in their respective programs. Blue was inducted into the Mascot Hall of Fame in 2020 and has continued to cement his legacy as one of the best. A good mascot can be a pillar in the community and gives an easier way for teams to show up throughout the year. Having a mascot going to events and representing the organization allows fans to further connect with the team. Having a mascot as good as Blue electrifies the crowd during games and gives people a reason to show up, even if the game may not meet expectations. Blue is a constant presence on social media and can be found on Instagram, TikTok, X and Facebook. While the off-season may seem long, fans can still look to Blue for entertainment.

It was obvious the Titans needed to change their roster after last season’s 3-14 record. The Titans practically brought in half a roster's worth of new players. With all these players come possible new starters, which means these position groups could find themselves in a training camp battle to see who starts in September. Linebacker The Linebacker position for the Titans is completely up in the air for the most part, as they have plenty of good pieces. With Cedric Gray having a breakout year, I don’t think there is any second-guessing that he will be a starter; however, the rest of the spots could be filled by anyone. Cody Barton was the starter last year, but the Titans did draft Anthony Hill Jr. with their second-round pick in the 2026 draft. Not to mention veteran Mohamoud Diabate, whom the Titans acquired from the Browns this offseason, could easily get a spot as well. Then you also have rookie strong-side linebacker Mani Powell out of Purdue, who is the projected starter at that position as well. Coach Saleh will have to make some tough decisions with this unit moving forward. Offensive Line The Titans should have some of their offensive line starters set with JC Latham, Peter Skoronski, and Austin Schlottman. However, their right guard and center positions are currently occupied by Trey Hill and Cordel Volson. The Titans drafted Pat Coogan in the 7th round of the 2026 draft, and Coogan can play virtually anywhere on the o-line. Not to mention that Dan Moore Jr., who started last year, could also fill one of those spots as well. The Titans have had a messy time trying to revamp their o-line; Skoronski seems like the only logical draft pick that has done well in a Titans uniform. Latham is inconsistent, and Schlottman is an average lineman. There should be a ton of different combinations from this o-line this season, till one combo gets it right. Running Back This may seem like an odd one, but I think the Titans could have an interesting running back battle this season. Tony Pollard is the obvious starter, but the backup position and third-string position could be anyone's spot. Tyjae Spears is a solid third-down back, but still has something to prove after missing time last season. The Titans then brought in running backs Nic Singleton and Michael Carter. Singleton was drafted in the 5th round of the 2026 draft. Singleton is a bigger running back who is solid on the ground and decent in the pass game. Carter is a veteran running back who had a solid season with the Arizona Cardinals last year, both running the ball and being a solid third-down back. The Titans could use all of these backs at some point this season if they really wanted to, just to give teams different looks and players they aren’t prepared for. The Titans' running back room could have some solid depth headed into the season, and their run game could be a tough one to stop.

As the 2026 WNBA season is now underway, there are plenty of exciting storylines and players to discuss. One of the brightest and biggest stars just entering the league for the first time is Olivia Miles. Miles was drafted second overall by the Minnesota Lynx. She played the majority of her collegiate career at Notre Dame but then finished out her last year at Texas Christian University. She averaged 15.6 points per game (PPG) and 6.4 rebounds per game (RPG) throughout her collegiate career. Since joining the Lynx, Miles was a starter from the beginning. In her debut game, she played 34 minutes and recorded 21 points. The young guard showed up and showed out in her first game, and she hasn’t stopped since. Miles is averaging 31 minutes per game so far this season, which is impressive for a rookie to be playing in well over half of a game. Her lowest minutes total was recorded on May 21, when she only played 23 minutes, but she still put up 14 points within the minutes limit. The game prior, on May 17, is where Miles recorded her most minutes thus far, with 35. Ironically enough, she put up the least amount of points in this game, with only 13. On June 4, Miles played 28 minutes and recorded 28 points, making her a point per minute player in this game. She also had recorded eight three-pointers on 11 shots, earning her a 72.7% 3 point field goal percentage (3P%). This was an extra special feat, as Miles broke Caitlin Clark’s rookie record for 3-pointers. That’s a strong testament alone to Miles’ incredible talent. In the Lynx’s last game on June 13, Miles broke her points record, recording 29 points in 34 games. The WNBA season is just over a month in, and Miles is already setting and breaking records every other game it seems. The Lynx is full of strong talent, including Courtney Williams and Kayla McBride. They are currently missing Napheesa Collier from their lineup, as she had to undergo ankle surgery back in March. The plan is for her to return to the court sometime in June, pending her healing and recovery process is smooth. Collier is an absolute beast on the court and the Lynx will be even more dominant when they get her back. Collier plays forward and Miles is a guard, so adding Collier to the starting five with Miles will be a lethal combination on the court. Miles came onto the Lynx with a determined mindset of winning. The numbers and the standings speak for themselves with Minnesota sitting just below the Las Vegas Aces in the standings in second place. Both teams have the same number of wins and losses, 10 wins, three losses. Miles has already gone head-to-head against the reigning champions on June 13, where the Aces ended the Lynx’s eight game winning streak. However, it was a close matchup, with the Aces winning by three points. Miles is proving herself with each game and finding her confidence on the WNBA court. Her consistent strong performance and go ahead attitude makes her a great teammate and player. Miles’ performance each game, with the consistent points production and minutes played will undoubtedly earn her rookie of the year.

The Indianapolis Colts held mandatory minicamp June 9-11. The only difference between these workouts and last week's OTAs is that these are mandatory. No major decisions will be made but coaches get another look at players and rookies and newcomers have time to adjust to the playing style. For the Colts, these workouts are important for multiple reasons. There are a lot of new players on the Colts that need to get comfortable with each other on the field. The Colts made eight draft selections and traded for experienced players. In addition the team added 12 undrafted free agents that have the chance to earn a spot. Major players returning from injury Another reason there are so many eyes on this camp is because the Colts have injuries. Not a huge amount, but they are impact players the team needs for the season. This includes quarterback Daniel Jones, wide receiver Alec Pierce and defensive tackle DeForest Buckner. Cornerback Sauce Gardner participated in OTAs last week and has spoken with the media and expressed his desire to step into a bigger role. Jones is recovering from an achilles tear and fans should be hopeful that he will be ready for the season. He has been participating in 7-on-7 drills during minicamp. Head Coach Shane Steichen expects for him to be ready sometime during training camp, which will start next month but he does not want to rush him. This is a smart move on Steichen’s part because there is no reason to rush back, especially during the off season. If Jones and Pierce are ready by Week 1, there is no reason for Colts fans to worry. Pierce, who just signed a new contract for $114 million, underwent ankle surgery in March. While Pierce did not go out with an injury, he said he has been experiencing pain since 2024 and it was only getting worse. While no recovery timeline has been set, he can be expected to be out for several more weeks, possibly past the preseason. Buckner is a key returner for the Colts, but is coming off a scary injury. After suffering a neck injury, he even contemplated his future in the league before ultimately deciding to come back. Getting him back on the active roster would be huge for the defense, but no one wants to rush this process. A neck injury can be life altering and nothing to be taken lightly. Rookie talent Despite these injuries, there is still a lot for Colts fans to look forward to. The Colts have a lot of options at safety and it will be a battle for the starting positions. Third-round selection A.J. Haulcy has proven to be a strong candidate for the top spot. According to ESPN’s Stephen Holder, Haulcy could be a strong choice to replace Nick Cross at safety. CJ Allen, No. 53 overall pick in the draft from Georgia, is proving to be a promising rookie. Defensive Coordinator Lou Anarumo is impressed with Allen and Haulcy after the minicamps and is encouraged about what they could do during the season. The Colts have a battle for the third wide receiving spot on the depth chart. With Pierce and Josh Downs as the first two options, a third option adds depth to an offense that will need it if it wants to go into the postseason. Currently, Ashton Dulin is the leader for this spot but this could change after training camp. For fans, it is hard to be hopeful about the Colts when so much of the future rides on injury recovery. However, with the progress being made this early in the offseason, the Colts can start the season strong like they did last year. Training camp will give the younger players a chance to further develop and find their roles in the scheme. It also gives the players still recovering more time to heal and ease their way back into it. Overall, there are a lot of things to look forward to following minicamps and going into training camp.

The Titans OTA’s are in full swing as they look to fill out their offense for the 26-27 season. With the Titans bringing in a bunch of new players on offense, it may take time for them to adjust to a new offense. For starters, Carnell Tate continues to shine in offense vs defense drills. Most people expected the Titans to take a defensive player, but Tate so far is showing why he was the highest drafted receiver in the 2026 draft. Tate caught a 50-yard touchdown pass from QB Cam Ward and has tormented the Titans' secondary early during these drills. Tate has been picking up some early pointers from both Wan’Dale Robinson and Calvin Ridley, and I think these three could be a solid trio going into the season. On the defensive side of the ball, Alontae Taylor and John Franklin-Myers have been solid during the drills as well. Taylor leads defensive backs in passes defended and Franklin-Myers has been tops in disrupting plays and timed drills. Ward has struggled a bit since coming back, but it will take him a while to adjust since separating his shoulder back in January. It seems Ward is overthrowing his receivers and playing extremely conservatively, and that could have to do with him compensating for his shoulder. On the flip side, second-string QB Mitch Trubisky looked great and has been adapting well to his new offense and helping develop Ward. From a depth-chart perspective, this is how the Titans' current depth chart shapes out. QB: Cam Ward, Mitch Trubisky RB: Tony Pollard, Tyjae Spears, Nic Singleton WR1: Carnell Tate, Elic Ayomanor WR2: Wan’Dale Robinson, Chimere Dike WR3: Calvin Ridley, Bryce Oliver TE: Gunnar Helm, Daniel Bellinger From the looks of it right now, this is how most Titans fans and experts expected this lineup to shape out. For the wide receiver position, Tate, Robinson and Ridley would be the starting receivers, with the three players behind them being their backups. It's great to see Helm as the TE1, as the second-year tight end is developing nicely, considering Daniel Bellinger could easily slide into that spot with the experience he brings in from the Giants and knowing Brian Daboll’s playbook. The Titans offense will turn some heads this year; the o-line is improved, and the Titans got better at both wide receiver and tight end. With a new coaching staff taking over, and the season just a few months away, it's exciting to see what the Titans will accomplish moving forward.

One of the problems the Boston Red Sox had coming into the season was that they had too many starting pitchers. Well, with injuries, they lost two starters, on top of having a starter that has completely lost his groove. Fans could probably guess who that is. My Hottest Take: It Should Have Happened Sooner When one of the starting pitchers has a 16.88 earned run average (ERA) in the first inning, there is a problem. Yes, that is a correct stat. Red Sox starting pitcher Brayan Bello has the unfortunate title of the worst ERA in the league when he is coming out as a starter. He has a 10.35 ERA when he starts the game. But for whatever reason, he just seems like he is unable to throw in the first inning. Once he gets past the first, he can be lights out, which is the confusing part. It makes sense why they waited as long as they did; however, the demotion should have happened at least two to three starts ago. No starter wants to get demoted from the majors to the minor league team. But as soon as Bello was showing he did not have the control he used to have, there had to be something going on internally or externally. Bello has just not seemed like the starter he was last year, at least when he came in during the first inning. You Should Know: Sox Did Not Have An Opener to Continue the Bullpen Relief If the Red Sox had a designated opener in the bullpen, none of this would have happened. Bello could have continued fixing whatever was going on by coming in during the second inning and then have gotten back to trusting his pitches once again. Since the Sox do not have a designated starter, and would rather not be starting the game already down one or two to nothing, they needed to keep trying to give Bello the ball in the first. Unfortunately, he is posting a 16.88 ERA in the first inning. In his seven starts as a traditional starter, not the June 4 start, he has a 9.68 ERA, ten homers, 18 walks and a 0.370 batting average against. In the 4 games that he came in behind an opener, he has a 0.71 ERA, zero homers, three walks and a 0.215 batting average against. This just doesn’t make sense. How do you go from an almost 10 ERA to under a 1 ERA? Before You Go: Breslow wants Bello to “fall in love with baseball again.” The way it seems, the demotion is more to get Bello to land back on his feet. Something is not clicking in his head, whether that is the pressure he is putting on himself or whatever it may be. Bello is not the same Bello of last year. Bello getting frustrated with the media after his second start getting rocked by the Baltimore Orioles definitely did not help the decision to send him down to the Worcester Red Sox. Obviously, this puts the Red Sox in a bit of a bind as they currently only have four starters. The three starting pitchers that are on the injured list will not return to the team until July at the earliest, unless Patrick Sandoval shows that he can build up quickly to a starter workload, which he started on June 5. It will be interesting to see how long Bello will stay down in Worcester. Will he be there for the rest of the season, or once Garrett Crochet, Sandoval or even Kutter Crawford gets back, will they send down Payton Tolle to bring Bello back up? If the Red Sox were smart about it, they should keep Bello in Worcester until he is completely in love with baseball again, or at least proves that he can once again start a baseball game.

The NFL recently released its power rankings based on ESPN’s FPI. FPI stands for Football Power Index, and it is a measure of strength meant to be the best indicator of a team’s performance for the season. It is composed of offensive, defensive and special teams efficiency predictions, and those predictions determine overall rankings. The rankings, most recently updated on June 2, have the Colts in the bottom half of the 32 teams, listed as No.20. These rankings mean nothing but as a fan, not what most were hoping for. The Colts have not made the playoffs since the 2020 season where they lost to the Buffalo Bills in the Wild Card game. The city and fans are desperate for a change and thought they had it last year when the team got off to a hot start, going 8-2 before losing the remaining seven games. The Colts ultimately fell short of the playoffs again and lost multiple players to injury. Most notably, quarterback Daniel Jones went out with an Achilles tear. There were other injuries to the team, including cornerback Sauce Gardner, who the team had traded for earlier in the season. With major players being out, the Colts signed quarterback Phillip Rivers to the team to play out the rest of the season. This did not aid in the Colts effort to make the playoffs, and instead they ended the season 8-9, so the ranking makes sense. The Colts were not one of the top teams in the league or even in their conference toward the end of the season. They ended the season with a string of losses that gave fans little hope for a postseason run. Now, the fans are again on the edge of their seats, awaiting a possibly good season. For supporters, this seems like an endless cycle. Every year, the Colts are supposed to get better, and every year, they plateau. It is easy to place blame on the injuries, especially when those injuries occur at the arguably most important position on the field, but it's deeper than that. Even with Jones at full strength this year, there is no guarantee that he will be one of the top quarterbacks in the league. Jones has been injured before, suffering a non-contact ACL tear while with the Giants. Coming off a major injury like an Achilles tear can be unsure and there is no way to predict how he recovers or if he stays healthy the whole season. The Colts are lacking the depth needed to be a strong contender. They appear to have the talent, but there are a lot of questions within their roster. Jonathan Taylor is a game-changer, but what would the Colts do if he got hurt? If Alec Pierce gets injured, are they confident in their secondary options to carry the team? There is a lot to be worried about when it comes to the Colts, so it is hard to disagree with a ranking in the 20s. Even with the work and money put in, there are a lot of unknowns. It is hard to justify a higher ranking without knowing what the offense will look like at the start of the season.

A new season is on the horizon as the Titans have gone back to practice, and training camp is on the horizon. The Titans have assembled themselves a solid roster from free agency and the NFL draft. However, they still have some spots to fill, and these three free agents could be good fits heading into training camp 1. James Daniels -OG The Titans still have some work to do to shore up the offensive line; the Titans will have some decent talent this year as they look to give Cam Ward as much time as possible to operate the offense. Having a solid o-line starts with depth; the Titans did draft Pat Coogan in 2026, but bringing in guard James Daniels would be some extra help. The Dolphins released Daniels in February, and he has been looking for a team since. A former second-round pick, Daniels brings in eight years of NFL experience with the Bears, Steelers, and Dolphins. Daniels is coming off a season-ending injury with the Dolphins last season, in which he played just one game. Bringing in a vet with sure experience to help these younger players on the o-line doesn’t hurt; Daniels has been a decent player in his career and limits penalties. The Titans could definitely give him a shot with a PTO contract. 2. Kenny Moore-CB Kenny Moore was one of the best corners in the league during his prime years in Indy, but ultimately the Colts saw his production weaken and they released him in 2025. After nine years with the team, Moore is looking for a new home and a solid landing spot for him would be Tennessee. The Titans beefed up their secondary this offseason, signing guys like Cordale Flott and Alontae Taylor. However, Moore could be a good veteran depth piece that the Titans utilize. Moore averages around three to four interceptions per season, and not to mention 40+ tackles as well. Moore is only 30 years old and still has some solid years left in his career, moving to the other side of the AFC with the Titans. Moore would be a key piece to any team, and combining that with Robert Saleh’s defensive scheme, Moore could be a diamond in the rough for the Titans. 3. Kyle Van Noy-LB Kyle Van Noy. has had a great 12-year career with the Lions, Patriots, Dolphins, Chargers and Ravens. A one-time Pro Bowler and two-time Super Bowl champ, Van Noy is still a free agent with just a few months before the season begins. Van Noy is still a valuable piece at the linebacker position, as he can make an impact with his pass rush or back in pass protection. In his age-35 season with the Ravens, Van Noy recorded two sacks, to go along with nine QB hits. Van Noy also had four pass deflections and recorded one interception in 15 games with the Ravens. With the Titans developing some solid linebackers in Cedric Gray and Cody Barton and drafting Anthony Hill out of Texas, Van Noy would be a good player to coach up these young players, but also give them a boost off the bench. Van Noy may not want to go to a rebuilding team, but the Titans could use his presence at the linebacker position going into the 2026 season.

The Indianapolis Colts kicked off its OTAs this week, the first day being Tuesday, May 26. OTA stands for organized team activities and are optional spring training where tackling and contact is prohibited. The Colts players and coaches can attend and these sessions are useful to go over plays and run conditioning drills. The Colts were one of eleven NFL teams who started OTAs this week. These practices serve as a first-look into the new additions and give teams an idea of the depth chart. For the Colts, these practices are especially vital given the amount of new people on the team. With rookies and free agents combined, the Colts brought in over 20 players who now have to be integrated into the system. In addition, the Colts have multiple players coming back from injury, including quarterback Daniel Jones. Jones was taken out of last season with a torn achilles and had surgery in December. The Colts, expecting him to make a full recovery, signed Jones to a two-year, $88 million contract during the off season. A torn achilles is a serious injury and can take up to a year or even two to fully recover from. However, Jones has expressed multiple times that he intends to be ready for the start of the season. Things are looking promising for Colts fans as Jones was already back to running sprints during Wednesday’s OTAs. This is the first the public has seen Jones run since he ruptured the tendon. Jones participated in positional drills but did not compete in team sets. When asked on Wednesday if Jones thinks he will truly be ready for the start of the season, he confirmed his previous statements and again said he “absolutely” believes he will be ready. What does this mean for Anthony Richardson? As the 2023 No.4 overall pick, there were high hopes for Richardson. Since his career in the NFL began, he has been plagued by injuries and never truly stepped into the role people expected him to play. Since then, Richardson has taken a backseat to Jones and with this uncertainty, he requested a trade in February. However, nothing came of this request and according to Adam Schefter, “The market for Anthony Richardson was soft…” because the Colts would have traded him if they had the option. Since then, he has not rescinded his request but has shown up to OTAs. On Wednesday he told the media he has an obligation to the team regardless of his status off the field. When asked about a trade, Richardson says he is just focused on the present and not concerned about that at the moment. He wanted to come to practice for the opportunity to work instead of just waiting for a trade. It is possible teams are waiting till after Aug.1 because any team to trade for him before that would have to pay over $5 million as opposed to after Aug.1 when his roster bonus will be paid and the amount he’s owed will drop to over $1 million, according to Stephen Holder. Currently Richardson and Riley Leonard will battle it out for the back-up spot. With no trade in the foreseeable future, it will be interesting to see how and if Richardson is integrated into this offense.

One of the best things the Titans did this offseason was rebuild their lackluster defense from last season. A defense that finished in the bottom five in every category needed to make a lot of changes. After bringing in over 10 new players, most starters and some veterans like Amani Hooker, were more than pleased with how the defense is shaping up. Hooker is one of the longest tenured Titans, as he was drafted by the team in 2019. Hooker has been a part of some elite defenses, but now has also seen his fair share of rebuilds. Hooker has been excited about the new players the Titans have brought and says fans should be as well. "I would just say the whole building feels different, the new guys that we have from different teams that came over here, they love ball, and that is contagious," Hooker said. "When someone comes over that loves ball, it makes everyone else want to rise to that challenge and play for the guys next to you, and that's the feeling we have right now." The Titans are going to surprise many people this year on the defensive end, not only with the players they have acquired, but also with the new coaches and the new approach they will have on the field. On the other side of the ball, it seems that drafting Carnell Tate may unlock the skill set that QB Cam Ward hasn’t used yet in the NFL. One key aspect of Ward’s game that he has worked on since college is using his legs to extend the play in front of him. As the year progressed, Ward was excellent at extending plays and getting out of the pocket, which ultimately led to an uptick in the Titans' offensive production. Tate doesn’t need much to get open; his quick first step working off his defender will give Tate more options for Ward. Standing at 6’3, and with a 40+ inch vertical, Tate could also be the red zone threat that Ward was missing last year. With the new additions that the Titans have made with Wandal’e Robinson and bringing back Calvin Ridley, this opens up a lot of opportunities for Tate. Tate will seemingly have a mismatch on him at all times, having the third-best corner on the team, on him at all times. This will give him the option to run different routes and generate plays made specifically for him. The duo of Tate and Ward will be underrated this season, as they are both talented players looking to stay the course and put the Titans back as playoff contenders. For now, we will see what this duo has in store for us with the season right around the corner.

If there is anyone who can hit leadoff for the Boston Red Sox, it is Jarren Duran. He was not hitting leadoff to start the season under Alex Cora, but since Chad Tracy took over, he has re-established himself as the go-to leadoff hitter on the team. Granted, Roman Anthony has been dealing with an injury and was the leadoff hitter before the injury, but there is no way you can throw Anthony back into the leadoff spot. You Should Know: Duran is the go-to leadoff hitter No shade to Roman Anthony — he has the power to hit homers and swing the bat — but that is why he should be in the cleanup spot or even as a number two hitter. Anthony as a leadoff hitter has had 233 plate appearances, with 55 hits, eight doubles, two triples, six homers and 20 RBIs. Most fans would prefer Anthony to be the third person up in the inning, as even if, say, Duran gets on but the next person gets out, Anthony has the chance to do some damage. Duran, however, since making his way to the leadoff position, is the person to lead off. He has the speed, power and hustle. Duran, since coming to the Red Sox in 2021, has been the leadoff hitter in 368 games, resulting in 1,657 plate appearances. He has registered 406 hits, 106 doubles, 29 triples, 42 homers and 168 RBIs. He has posted a .245 batting average, a .323 on-base percentage, a .419 slugging percentage and a .742 on-base plus slugging. He has consistently been the firestarter for the Red Sox when he has led off the game, whether that be from him turning singles into doubles or blasting homers to lead off the game. Before You Go: He seems to get more power from the leadoff spot Duran has had decent hitting from other positions; however, he just seems to get on fire when it comes to the leadoff position. When Duran is not hitting leadoff, he has played in 190 games, registering 683 plate appearances, 148 hits, 43 doubles, six triples, 15 homers and 84 RBIs. He has posted a .244 batting average, a .321 on-base percentage, a .409 slugging percentage and a .730 on-base plus slugging. Duran’s slugging is almost .010 points higher when he leads off than when he is batting anywhere else in the lineup. It has been exciting to watch the difference in the hitting and on-base percentage of Duran as he went from going back and forth to being the steady leadoff hitter. Duran has continuously shown that when in the leadoff spot, he is a weapon. Fans can understand why Cora put Anthony as the leadoff hitter — it was expected that he would come out firing — but as soon as Anthony started struggling, Cora should have immediately made the switch. This season alone, Duran has seen a huge turnaround from when he was hitting at a different spot in the lineup. It will be interesting to see where Tracy puts Anthony when he gets back from the wrist injury, but the leadoff spot belongs to Duran.

The 2026 WNBA season is now in full swing. Each team has played at least five games and there are plenty of storylines to highlight throughout the past week. Indiana Fever Are on a Tear Even though the Indiana Fever aren’t on top of the leaderboard at the moment, they are close behind. The Atlanta Dream are currently in first place with four wins and one loss. The Fever are hot on their heels with four wins and two losses. The Fever have a healthy Caitlin Clark this season and she is a force to be reckoned with. She didn’t get to play many games last season, and she is back with a vengeance. Clark is currently averaging 23.8 points per game, the third highest of any player in the WNBA thus far this season. She also leads not just her team, but the entire league in assists, averaging nine per game. Clark has already been strong to start the season, there’s no telling how else she’ll rock the season. Azzi Fudd is Finding Her Footing First overall draft pick, Azzi Fudd, has played in five of the Wings’ seven games to start this season. She has been coming in off the bench, and now in Dallas’ last game against the New York Liberty, Fudd has made a huge impact. At the half, the Liberty had a one point lead over Dallas. In the second half, the Wings came back to take a commanding 91-76 win. A large part of it was contributed to Fudd. She had 24 points, the most of her WNBA career thus far. She also recorded two rebounds and three assists and had a plus-22 rating. Her presence on the court was palpable in the 32 minutes she played. This was also a career-high minutes total for her. Even though she only has five games under her belt thus far, Fudd is proving to be a valuable asset to the Wings. Fudd Isn’t the Only Rookie with a Strong Start Of course it’s easy to talk about the first overall draft pick in such high regards, but she is not the only player having a strong start to their first WNBA season. Second overall pick, Olivia Miles, has been dominating the court for the Lynx. The rookie guard has played in all of the Lynx’s games thus far and has even been a starting player for the team. In the Lynx’s last game, Miles put up 14 points in 33 minutes on the court. She is averaging 15 points per game and 30 minutes. Miles also has double digit points in her last five games, which is the first time a Lynx rookie has achieved this stat since Seimone Augustus back in 2006. 20 years later, and Miles is dominating the court like Augustus. The Lynx are currently missing some of their star players, notably Napheesa Collier. When Collier is healthy and will be dominating the court at center with Miles at guard, Minnesota will be a lethal team.

The Red Sox pitching staff has been the half of the team that has figured out what was going on. They are sitting 8th in the league in ERA, 12th in opponent batting average, and 10th in WHIP. My Hottest Take: Payton Tolle and Connelly Early have been the most consistent pitchers The most consistent pitchers on the staff have been Payton Tolle and Connelly Early. Early was one of the best pitchers in the rotation before Garrett Crochet, Sonny Gray and Ranger Suarez figured things out. Payton Tolle has been lights out for the most part since coming up from the Worcester Red Sox after Crochet went to the 15-day injured list. Tolle is currently sitting at a 2-2 record, with a 2.05 ERA in 30.2 innings pitched in his five starts. He has only gone fewer than five innings in one start, that coming against the Toronto Blue Jays; his other loss came when he had a 1.99 ERA against the Tampa Bay Rays. Early is sitting at a 3-2 record, with a 3.21 ERA in 47.2 innings pitched in his nine starts. Early has gone at least five innings in six of his nine starts. His best ERA in a game was his first start of the season, where he put up a 1.69 ERA in 5.1 innings pitched. You Should Know: Sonny Gray and Ranger Suarez are what was advertised Gray and Suarez are now the pitchers the team expected to see when they signed them during this past offseason. Both pitchers, after their brief injured list stints, have been pretty much lights out for the team. The only unfortunate side is that they cannot get any run support to help them continue pounding the strike zone. Gray is the only Red Sox starter with one loss in his starts. In Gray’s three starts in May, he has a record of 3-0, with a 1.06 ERA in 17 innings pitched. His season record is 5-1 in eight starts, with a 2.93 ERA in 40 innings pitched with 30 strikeouts. Suarez is showing off what he used to be. In Suarez’s three starts in May, he has a record of 0-0 but is currently sitting at a 0.66 ERA with 14 strikeouts in 13.2 innings pitched. Once Garrett Crochet gets healthy once again, it might be time to send Brayan Bello to the bullpen or even to Worcester to figure things out. The rotation is solid unless Bello starts on his own. Before You Go: The pitching staff has been lights out; the offense needs to catch up While the pitching has been lights out in terms of earned runs and other things, the offense needs to catch up. The starting pitching has been keeping the Red Sox in games. The offense has scored three or fewer runs in its last ten games. If the team does not score first, they also will not win a game, as they cannot hit in scoring position either. Before the series with the Philadelphia Phillies, the Red Sox were 81-for-331 with runners in scoring position; that translates to a .244 average with runners in scoring position. If the offense can start hitting with runners in scoring position, while also managing to get runs on the board before the 7th inning and not relying solely on Willson Contreras or the starting pitcher to go 5 or more innings, this team is going to be scary.

The Titans' schedule was released this week, and their first game of the year is for sure an underrated one. The Titans host the New York Jets, the team that fired current Titans head coach Robert Saleh less than two years ago. This will be Saleh’s first game as a head coach since his firing, and ironically enough, it comes against his former team. It’s an obvious revenge game for the franchise he led not too long ago. According to ESPN’s Rich Cimini, that matchup may not have caught Saleh off guard in the slightest. Besides the fact that Saleh is coaching against his old team, multiple players are also lining up against their old teammates. Former Titans players T’Vondre Sweat and Jarvis Brownlee will be in Jets uniforms, and Brownlee has already addressed his plans to have a big game against the team that traded him. The Titans have players such as Jermaine Johnson, John Franklin-Myers, and Solomon Thomas, just to name a few, going up against their old team. This may be two rebuilding teams, but the game itself may be an awesome watch during a hectic Week 1. On the flip side, the city of Nashville got some great news as it will be hosting the Super Bowl in 2030. The Titans' new stadium will be done in the next few years, and now, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell says Nashville is a "Super Bowl-ready city.” "The one thing that was missing is the stage," Goodell said. "And I think now you're building a great stage." We have a process, but I have every expectation that we're going to see that type of thing in the future." Besides the Super Bowl coming in 2030, they now have the opportunity to host both the College Football Playoff and the NCAA Final Four. The new Titans’ stadium will be fully enclosed, going away from the outdoor scene as they look to bring in more money for the city. Nashville has become a solid tourist destination over the years, but it has never really hosted any major sporting events. With teams building new stadiums, it seems quite a few are going for the enclosed look as they want to draw more than just football to their city. Overall, this is not only a good thing for the Titans, but good overall for the city of Nashville. It is too early to tell how this will change the landscape of things for both team and city, but if you are a resident or Titans fan, you have to be excited for the future and publicity coming your way.

The start of the 2026 WNBA season is just around the corner. The first preseason games will be played on Saturday, April 25, with the New York Liberty hosting the Indiana Fever to kick off the slate of five games. The Los Angeles Sparks will also host the Nigeria National Team in an exciting matchup to grow the game. The day will conclude with three more matchups: the Chicago Sky vs. Phoenix Mercury, Minnesota Lynx vs. Washington Mystics and Seattle Storm vs. Golden State Valkyries. All 15 teams have announced their training camp rosters, with new faces and old players taking to the court to prepare for the 30th WNBA season. The excitement is palpable, and with two new teams shaking up the league and the new CBA causing major contract chaos, there have been many shakeups to the rosters. Even with the expansion of the league, there is one prominent name missing from the roster of any team: Natasha Cloud. There has been some speculation on social media surrounding why her name was not on any of the training camp rosters. In a now-deleted post, Cloud took to the social media platform Threads to share her thoughts. In the post, she stated, “I’ve given my heart to every team and community I’ve been part of, never fully knowing if the impact I hoped for was truly felt. In this moment, though, receiving so much love, support, and advocacy means everything. It’s a powerful reminder that the impact I’ve wanted to make beyond the court is real — and aligned with what I believe God has called me to do through this game. I’m okay. Just taking things in; even if they weren’t what I expected, & trusting I’ll be alright.” Cloud has been a player in the WNBA since the 2015 season, when she was drafted 15th overall by the Washington Mystics. She played there for eight seasons and helped Washington win the championship in 2019. She signed with the Phoenix Mercury in the 2024 season and played one season with the team. She was then traded to the Connecticut Sun in the 2025 offseason, but never actually played there. Instead, the New York Liberty traded two draft picks for the guard. Cloud averaged 10.1 points a game last season and 3.7 rebounds and 5-1 assists. While her stats might not be the best, she quickly solidified herself as a fan favorite amongst the Liberty crowd. The team even made “Cloud 9” T-shirts with her name and number on them, and at every home game, you would see at least one person wearing one. Cloud should be entering her 11th season in the league. Instead, she is still waiting for her contract. There are plenty of options available to Cloud outside of the WNBA, such as a European league, but with the expansion to two more teams and her track record, this shouldn’t have to be her only outlet. Here’s hoping Cloud gets the contract she deserves soon.

The 30th WNBA season has officially kicked off, and the league is in full swing. Games began on May 8th with the Connecticut Sun taking on the New York Liberty, the Washington Mystics facing the Toronto Tempo and the Golden State Valkyries squaring up against the Seattle Storm. Each team, since then, has played at least two games, and there have already been several achievements reached to kick off the 2026 season. Tempo and Fire Each Recorded Their First Wins The WNBA had two new expansion teams join the league to kick off 2026. The Toronto Tempo and the Portland Fire bring the league up to 15 teams. The WNBA held an expansion draft ahead of the 2026 season to get these two teams into competing shape. The Tempo played their first game on opening day and fell to the Mystics, 68 to 65. It was a close battle, but in the end, the Mystics got the better of them. The Tempo dusted themselves off and got ready to take the court once more, hosting the Seattle Storm. Although the Storm were leading by the time halftime rolled around, the Tempo took the win 86 to 73. The Portland Fire hosted their first game on Saturday, May 9th. Despite being an expansion team and new to the league, the Chicago Sky didn’t hold back and beat the Fire 98 to 83. On Tuesday, May 12th, the Fire stayed at home and hosted the New York Liberty. The two teams went back and forth for a while in a high-offensive and highly defensive game. With seconds remaining, the game was primed to head to overtime, as both teams were tied with 96 points. Bridget Carleton took a shot with two minutes remaining, but missed. Sarah Ashlee Barker picked up the rebound and scored a buzzer-beater basket to earn the Fire their first win. Dominique Malonga Becomes Youngest Player to Reach 200 Rebounds Dominique Malonga is in her second season with the Seattle Storm and is already off to the races to show the Storm what she is capable of. In the Storm’s season opener on May 8th against the Golden State Valkyries, Malonga recorded eight rebounds, the most of anyone on the team. With this performance, she now becomes the youngest player in WNBA history to reach 200 rebounds. This record was previously held by Maria Stepanova. She was selected in the 1998 WNBA Draft by the Phoenix Mercury and recorded this record on August 20th, 1999, in a matter of 52 games. Malonga broke the record in nine fewer games, with 43 played. She just beat Stepanova as well, as Malonga was five days younger than Stepanova when she broke the record. Malonga has been great for the Storm ever since Seattle selected her with the second overall pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft. This was only Malonga’s first game of the 2026 season, and she is already breaking records. It will be exciting to see what else she can accomplish as the season goes on. Angel Reese Finding Success in Atlanta Malonga was not the only player to break a record in her first game of the season. Angel Reese recorded her 50th double-double in the Atlanta Dream’s season opener. It only took her 65 games to reach this milestone and become the new fastest player to do so, breaking Tina Charles’ record, which she set in 75 games. Reese achieved the milestone in ten fewer games than Charles. After the WNBA signed the new CBA, Reese was traded to the Dream from the Chicago Sky. In exchange, the Sky received a 2027 first-round draft pick and a 2028 first-round draft pick. Many people were skeptical as to whether or not Reese would make an impact right away with the Dream; she proved those people wrong real quick, helping the Dream beat the Minnesota Lynx 91-90 in their season opener.

Pick Number 1- Keaton Wagler Keaton Wagler checks a lot of boxes for the Clippers. The 6-foot-6 guard from Illinois shot 40 percent from three last season and has built a reputation as one of the most polished perimeter scorers in the class. His shooting alone would immediately help a Clippers offense that can become cramped when defenses load up on Garland and Kawhi Leonard. Wagler’s biggest strength is flexibility. He can play on or off the ball, punish defenses that leave him open and create enough offense to keep second units productive. That matters for a Clippers team trying to compete now while also developing younger talent. His high basketball IQ makes him able to do whatever the Clippers would need him to do. He is also a great leader with plenty of intangibles that teams love. His biggest problem will be adjusting to the physicality of the NBA. For someone like him, who struggled a bit at the rim in college due to a lack of verticality and length, transitioning to NBA defenders will be a struggle. The pace of the game might also get to him a little, as he isn’t used to playing like this. He also will never be a great defender, as he is limited by the size of his frame and overall athletic ability. If he were to develop his defensive skills, he would likely lose some of his shooting capability. Overall, Wagler is a solid prospect who will bring much-needed shooting and ball-handling to the Clippers. While he may not have an insane ceiling like some other candidates on this list, he will surely end up being a solid rotation player wherever he goes. Pick Number 2- Aday Mara The Clippers created a major hole when they moved Ivica Zubac at the 2026 trade deadline. Since then, their lack of size has been impossible to ignore. That is why Aday Mara deserves real consideration. The 7-foot-3 center from Michigan brings rare physical tools with a 9-foot-9 standing reach and the type of defensive presence the Clippers currently lack. He can alter shots at the rim, rebound in traffic, and give Los Angeles an actual interior anchor. What makes Mara especially interesting is that he is not limited to traditional center responsibilities. He has shown flashes as a perimeter shooter, which could make him far more versatile than most players his size. A center who can protect the rim while stretching defenses would completely change how the Clippers build lineups around Garland. We have also seen him be a great passing hub at center, so while the offense may not run through him, having that option at center is always valuable. He will be a great drop coverage defender, and just his size alone will make him a viable option. His biggest problem is also one of his biggest weaknesses. When a player is that tall and bulky, they run into two issues: health concerns and lack of versatility. A player that tall and hefty is able to be injured by themselves and other players on the court. Foot and leg injuries are very common for bigs his size. His other problem is his lack of footspeed. Opposing players might not want to drive into the paint at him, but if they catch him at the perimeter, they can pretty easily drive by or create space against him. Granted, this is something a lot of centers have to deal with in the NBA, so it isn't that big of a concern. Mara will be a solid shot blocker and rebounder in the league. The question is, do the Clippers really want to draft another big man when they already have the promising Yanic Konan Niederhäuser. Pick Number 3- Darius Acuff Jr. If the Clippers want pure offensive upside, Darius Acuff Jr. may be the answer. The Arkansas guard is widely viewed as one of the most gifted scorers in this draft class. He creates his own shot at all three levels, thrives in isolation situations and has the confidence of a player who expects to take over games. That kind of shot creation is difficult to find. Pairing Acuff with Garland would give the Clippers two guards capable of breaking down defenses whenever possessions stall. That becomes especially valuable once Leonard eventually slows down or retires. He is a 6’2 point guard with a solid frame and quick movements. He is an accurate passer, whether it is for a lob or a cross-court pass. He is also a smart shooter, knowing when to score and when to pass. His three-level efficient scoring has zero question marks around it in this draft. His main weakness is something almost every small guard deals with. While he isn’t a John Stockton in the athletic department, the lack of explosiveness and pure physical force around the rim might be an issue in his first couple of years in the NBA. The size and switchability of NBA bigs might throw him for a loop, with some big men now being able to guard at a high level on the perimeter. He will also need to try more on defense as his height will make him an obvious target. Thankfully, he has a sturdy frame, so as long as he puts effort into defense, it won't be easy to knock him around. Overall, Acuff is the most obvious choice for the Clippers. His sheer potential on offense is enough to warrant drafting him over players that might be a bit more complete and NBA-ready. The best news is that the 4 top draft picks in this class are pretty much set in stone, so the Clippers shouldn’t have a problem getting him in the draft.

2026 seems to be another year where the Boston Red Sox cannot catch a break when it comes to injuries. Whether on the pitching or offensive side of the ball, the Red Sox always seem to get injured over the smallest things. My Hottest Take: Baseball Injuries Are Common Injuries happen all the time in baseball. Mike Trout, especially, is known to have injuries all the time. Chris Sale, in 2022, fractured his wrist riding his own personal bicycle, a non-baseball injury. Pitchers seem to go down daily, from elbow injuries to leg injuries from stepping off the mound wrong. That being said, while it seems to be so common in baseball in general, the Red Sox just seem to be an injury magnet. What You Should Know: There Are Currently 12 Injured Players Here is the current look at all the injured players: This is not the first time the Red Sox have had multiple key players on the injured list at the same time. This has seemed to be the pattern since the 2024 season, where the team has had eight or more injuries at one time. Every time it seemed that the team would get healthy, someone else would get smacked with the injury bug. Luckily, a few of the players on the injury list will be coming back sooner rather than later. Sonny Gray should be activated on May 6 for his start against the Detroit Tigers. Ranger Suarez and Roman Anthony have not been sent to the injured list and are considered day-to-day. Justin Slaten is currently on a rehab assignment, with his next outing planned for May 7. Before You Go: Luckily, Most of These Injuries Seem to Be Only 15-Day Stints Three of the current 12 players are on the 60-Day Injured List. Tanner Houck, who had surgery back in August, will most likely be out all of 2026, as he just started a gradual throwing program the second week of Spring Training. Patrick Sandoval was looking to be able to come back, but suffered tightness in his left biceps, shutting him down from his rehab assignment. Tristan Casas is a more injury-prone player than Trout. Kutter Crawford, Romy Gonzalez and Johan Oviedo are all scheduled to return sometime in June, which would be a welcome addition to the bench and bullpen. Once all these players return, it will be interesting to see how the new interim manager, Chad Tracy, will bring back the players, but also to see who gets sent down and who stays in the big leagues. OF/DH Roman Anthony - Right wrist sprain. RHP Sonny Gray - Right hamstring strain. RHP Justin Slaten - Right oblique strain. LHP Garrett Crochet - Left shoulder inflammation. LHP Danny Coulombe - Cervical spasms. LHP Ranger Suarez - Right hamstring tightness. LHP Patrick Sandoval - Left biceps discomfort. 1B Triston Casas - Ruptured left patellar tendon/left abdominal strain. RHP Kutter Crawford - Right flexor irritation. INF/OF Romy Gonzalez - Left shoulder surgery. RHP Johan Oviedo - Right flexor strain. RHP Tanner Houck - Torn ulnar collateral ligament, right elbow/right flexor pronator strain

Before Brayan Bello’s last two appearances, he had a 9.00 earned run average (ERA) in 21 innings pitched. He was not in the zone and was getting knocked around like he was a position player throwing meatballs over the strike zone. My Hottest Take: Not Starting is Working Bello has seemed like a different person in his latest two appearances. Bello has come in the last two games he’s pitched in behind an opener, and he is pitching like his vintage self. In his last two appearances, he has a 1-0 record with a 1.35 ERA, with just eight hits, two earned runs, 12 strikeouts and two walks. In his first six starts of the season, Bello went 1-4 with a 9.12 ERA, while walking 15 and striking out 17 in 25 ⅔ innings. There was no control, and he was falling behind batters quickly; it was like he was allergic to the strike zone. It would have been easier to decide what to do with him if the team were doing better and they could easily sit him; however, even with him not finding the strike zone, he is needed for the rotation as the rotation keeps getting slammed with injuries. You Should Know: It May Just Be A Coincidence There is a chance that this is just a coincidence and actually has nothing to do with the fact that he is not starting and just coming in during the second inning instead of the first. Whatever it may be, it was good to see Bello looking like his old self. While it may be a coincidence, the Red Sox will take it. It was looking like there may have been a chance that Bello was going to be sent down to the minors if Bello or the pitching coaches could not figure out how to lengthen or figure out what was going on with him. Bello coming back to himself could not have come at a better time, either, as Garrett Crochet is still on the 15-day injured list until at least the middle of May. Ranger Suárez has also gone down but will be back for the end of the series with the Philadelphia Phillies. Before You Go: While Bello Has Returned, Boston Does Not Have a Designated Opener The Red Sox have a closer in Aroldis Chapman. The Red Sox do not have an opener. Both times, they have used Jovani Moran. Moran has let up runs in each of his starts before Bello came in and effectively shut down the lineup. This is a positive, but on the other hand, the Red Sox need to once again tinker around with the bullpen to see if there would be someone who could come out as a designated opener, rather than Moran, who is also a larger relief-type of pitcher. This could be a good spot for someone like Kutter Crawford or even Patrick Sandoval to get in the lineup until they are also ready to do full starts or more innings. It will be interesting to see to whom Chad Tracy decides to give a chance as an opener, or if they will try to let Bello attempt a start again.

Round 4 Pick 131: Genesis Smith, Arizona Safety Grade: B Genesis Smith is the epitome of a center fielder, possibly the best pure “ball hawk” in the draft. He is extremely rangy and plays to every inch of his 6’2 frame. Smith is immediately NFL-ready when it comes to his ability to disrupt passing lanes, cover ground and make plays on the ball in the air. Where Smith struggles greatly is in the tackling department, giving Bolts fans flashbacks of JT Woods, another late-round safety that flashed all of these skills but was such an inconsistent tackler he found himself unplayable at the NFL level. Smith missed 34 tackles in the 2025 campaign, a staggering number that needs to be ironed out before he can see the field for Chris O’Leary’s unit. Round 5 Pick 145: Nick Barrett, South Carolina DT Grade: C+ Adding to the list of run-stuffing interior defensive linemen in the Bolts' stable, Barrett is far from a sexy pick that will make noise come training camp or will excite the masses. He has the tools to contribute as a purely rotational run stopper, but in a room with Teair Tart, Dalvin Tomlinson, Jamaree Caldwell and Justin Eboigbe, he’s nothing more than a depth piece for now (as expected for a 5th-rounder), but does not exactly show the long-term ability to develop as a pass rusher. This pick would have been much better used on a player who has a pass-rushing foundation that could be molded into an NFL contributor, similarly to Eboigbe in 2025. Round 6 Pick 202: Logan Taylor, Boston College OG Grade: B- Logan Taylor is listed as a guard, but has high-level experience at every offensive line position but center. A Mike McDaniel-style lineman, very athletic, strong in space, and who fits the wide zone run scheme well. Taylor’s durability and versatility are exactly what can carve him a role and a pretty wide open Charger’s offensive line room. Don’t be surprised if he finds himself in the Jamaree Salyer role, slotting in almost everywhere if the Chargers find themselves scrambling with their offensive line combinations, similarly to last season. Round 6 Pick 206: Alex Harkey, Oregon OG Grade: A- Alex Harkey could find himself having a better NFL career than his collegiate career. A Right Tackle during his time with the Oregon Ducks in 2025, he was, in all likelihood, the weakest link of one of the best offensive line units in all of college football. He was announced as a guard when drafted by the Chargers and projects to compete there with the Bolts due to his shorter arm length. There’s plenty to enjoy when watching Alex Harkey; he is mean and a bully when he gets his hands on someone, and he relishes the opportunity to bury smaller defenders when he finds himself in space. He moves extremely well and possesses an active mentality, always looking for work when there’s nothing directly in front of him. I found myself enjoying watching Harkey’s tape once I came to terms with the fact that he is not an NFL tackle, and I could see the full-blown transition to guard being a catalyst for a possible steal in the Bolts' final pick of the 2026 NFL Draft.

On Wednesday, the NFL released the full list of international games, a day before the league-wide release of full schedules. The Colts are set to play the Commanders at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, England, on Oct. 4. This Week 4 matchup overseas means the Colts and Commanders will both be playing consecutive international games, as the Commanders played overseas in Spain last year against the Miami Dolphins. There will be nine international games played in total this season, more than ever before. In March, the league announced the expansion of its Global Markets Program, adding Italy as a market. This represents an additional effort to continue growing the NFL internationally, a goal it has been pursuing since 2022, when it launched the GMP. Even before then, the NFL has been hosting international games since 2007, when the New York Giants played the Dolphins in London. For the Colts, this marks the third time in four seasons that they will play overseas. According to NFL Football Operations, teams are guaranteed to play at least once internationally in eight years. Some teams participate in these matchups more than others, notably the Jacksonville Jaguars, who have played 14 games in London since 2013. Teams can opt out of NFL games to some extent, but the decision is mostly made by the league. The Green Bay Packers did not play their first international game until 2022, when they played in London. The reason was that they did not want to lose a home game off the schedule. When it comes to international games, there should be more rules regarding the schedule. All teams should have to play an even number of international games; it should not be the same teams constantly participating. The Colts play internationally often, and while this is growing their fan base, it also results in lost home games and takes a toll on players. While the travel and schedule changes that come with international play are not detrimental, they can take a toll on players. With the first-ever game in Australia happening this year, adjusting to schedules and having to practice constantly is something that should be taken into account more than ever. With this game being earlier in the season, Daniel Jones may not be playing yet. While he is recovering well from his Achilles' tear and has begun to throw, according to reports, there is no guarantee that he will be ready to go by Week 1. If he is not, traveling is not good for any injury and could impact him. Ideally, all of the Colts players will be fully healthy and ready for Week 4, but there is no way to say for certain. With an international game, the Colts will hope the team is in top shape before traveling overseas. The growth of the NFL internationally is great for the league and fanbases overall, but it could grow more if more teams were to play internationally instead of the same franchises repeatedly.

To round out the NFL Draft, the Titans made three selections between the sixth and seventh rounds. These late-round picks could provide depth, if not a boost, on the offensive or defensive end as the Titans get later into their season. Round 6, Pick 184, Jackie Marshall, Baylor Marshall brings more depth to the Titans' defensive line after spending the last three years at Baylor. Coming in at 6’2’ and 235 pounds, Marshall is undersized at the defensive line position, but his ability to get off the line quickly is what makes him so difficult to defend. In his career, Marshall had 95 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, five sacks and two forced fumbles. Marshall knows how to make an immediate impact and could do this off the bench for the Titans. Marshall has the opportunity to learn from some of the league's best, like Jeffery Simmons, and help turn this Titans defense around with an excellent coaching staff as well. Learning from Robert Salah and Gus Bradley will allow Marshall to develop and be a possible x-factor for the Titans going forward. Round 6, Pick 194, Pat Coogan, C, Indiana Coogan comes from Indiana and Notre Dame, where he played for two of the best college football coaches, Curt Cignetti and Marcus Freeman. Coogan played 46 games in his college career, including 32 in the last two seasons after playing in back-to-back national title games. Coogan brings in some decent size at 6’4" and 295 pounds. Coogan is a well-disciplined center as well, committing just four penalties in the last two seasons combined. Coogan could get some solid reps for the Titans if their o-line struggles. The Titans' o-line ranked in the bottom 10 for most of the season, and was in the bottom five in penalties. Whether he starts or comes in as a sub, Coogan has a great opportunity to change that for the Titans, and arguably become a starter in the foreseeable future. Round 7, Pick 225, Jaren Kanak, TE, Oklahoma Kanak is an interesting selection as the Titans' only seventh-round pick. Kanak was a senior who just played his first year at tight end. Kanak was a linebacker the first three years of his career at Oklahoma before making the switch. Kanak went for 44 receptions and over 500 yards in his first season at tight end and brought home All‑SEC Third Team honors. He ran a 4.5 40-yard dash and a 36-inch vertical jump as well. Now, did the Titans need another tight end? No. However, having the extra depth and development is important, as at any moment someone can go down, and Kanak would have to fill that spot. Gunner Helm and Daniel Bellinger would be the starting tight ends, but Kanak could be used on some trick plays or in the run blocking scheme. Regardless, Kanak bet on himself when he switched positions and is now in the NFL. Kanak could be a Swiss Army Knife for the Titans, and it is exciting to see what they have in store for him.

Though the official schedules have not been released by the NFL yet, teams know what opponents they will be facing, just not when. For the Indianapolis Colts, their schedule should aid in ending with a better record than the 8-9 they finished with last year. The Colts know who they will be playing this year and where the games will take place. That piece of the schedule was finalized in January. The home opponents will be the Texans, Jaguars, Titans, Ravens, Bengals, Dolphins, Cowboys and the Giants. The away opponents will be AFC South rivals along with the Browns, Steelers, Chiefs, Vikings and Eagles. According to Warren Sharp from Sharp Football Analysis, the Colts have the ninth-easiest schedule, with a projected 8.5 win total. This is similar to last year’s ranking, where the Colts were said to have the eighth-easiest schedule, according to ESPN. Based on this information, the Colts are set up to have a comparable season. However, the goal is to be better. With another easier schedule, the Colts need to take advantage and win more games than last year. Though the Colts finished middle of the pack, they started off the season 8-2 before losing the remaining games in the season. This was largely due to injuries to key players like quarterback Daniel Jones and cornerback Sauce Gardner, whom the Colts traded two first-round draft picks for. Going into the season, the Colts made key moves in the offseason, including resigning Jones and wide receiver Alec Pierce. They also lost a lot of players, including over five defensive starters and wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. There were a lot of holes that needed to be filled. In the draft, the Colts did well, drafting mainly defensive players along with a receiver and running back. There are still some positions that are lacking depth, particularly in the receivers and edges. Jonathan Taylor is a great option, but there is still a lack of depth in that as well. However, the starting core of the Colts is a strong, experienced group, adding talented players in necessary spots. Recently, the team lost cornerback and nine-year veteran Kenny Moore II, who requested a trade in April. With another easy schedule and the team recovering fully from injury, the Colts are set up to have a better season than last year. Jones is more comfortable with the team and his receivers, and if he can get back to how he was playing last season, it is possible for the Colts to make a postseason run. Though the AFC South has improved as a division, the Colts can beat any team in the group. All AFC opponents on the schedule are winnable games. The Eagles will always be a tough opponent, but the team has the talent to win all of the games on the schedule. With Ballard being so late in his career, he needs the Colts to have a better season. The Colts have not been to the playoffs since 2021 and need to make a move, whether that be in postseason play or with a change in the front office.

The Titans did a great job with both of their first-round selections in the 2026 NFL Draft. Drafting both Carnell Tate and Keldric Faulk. As they look to develop both of those players, the same can be said about the players drafted in rounds two and five. Round 2, Pick 60: Anthony Hill Jr., LB, Texas Hill Jr. went under the radar at this year’s draft, dropping to pick number 60 late in the second round. Hill had less of an impact in 2025 than in 2024, but his overall numbers over two years at Texas are still impressive. Hill Jr. totaled 95 tackles, to go along with 12 sacks, three interceptions, and two forced fumbles. Hill Jr. is a three-down linebacker who could be a solid depth piece or starting at middle linebacker on most teams, providing great pass coverage and solid run support. The Titans are weak at the linebacker position, and a player like Hill Jr. is the best thing they could ask for. They will pair him with Cody Barton, former Browns linebacker Mohamoud Diabate and breakout star Cedric Gray from last season. This is a win now, and start now move for the Titans as they look to fill the gap at the middle linebacker position, one of their biggest struggles from last year. With Hill getting immediate NFL action, the Titans may have found themselves a starting linebacker for the next four years. Round 5, Pick 142: Fernando Carmona, OG, Arkansas Carmona had a solid college career with two full seasons at San Jose State and Arkansas. He played in 49 games over the last two seasons, including all 25 games at Arkansas. He was an All-Mountain West selection at San Jose and paved the way for the Arkansas offense this year. Arkansas averaged 460 yards per game with Carmona as one of their more important guards, which was top-10 nationally, and had six 500-yard games. Carmona played an impressive 700+ snaps in 2025 and only committed six penalties all year. Carmona may not be a starter, but he will serve as a solid depth piece under one of the better left tackles in football, Peter Skoronski. Round 5, Pick 165: Nicholas Singleton, RB, Penn State Singleton had a solid college career at Penn State and is looking to translate that to the NFL with the Titans. Although Singleton had a career low in rushing yards this year, he did have 13 rushing touchdowns, the most in his career. Singleton’s college career isn’t defined by a single season, as he rushed for 1,000 yards multiple times, ending with almost 3,500 for his career. He added 54 scrimmage touchdowns and nearly 1,000 yards receiving as well. The Titans now have four quality backs on their roster: Tony Pollard, Tyjae Spears, Singleton and Michael Carter. I can’t see the Titans moving on from Pollard, but I could see them trading Spears, in part due to his injury history over the last two years. This would make Singleton RB2 and give him the chance to develop not only as the third-down back, but as a rusher in the NFL as well. Singleton can be a solid back in this league when used the right way. The Titans are giving him that opportunity, but how they use him will be a mystery. Titans fans should look forward to seeing Singleton on the field, as it is a name they should get familiar with, real soon.

Round 1 Pick 22: Akheem Mesidor, Miami EDGE Grade: B Ahkeem Mesidor was a polarizing prospect in this years NFL Draft cycle, not for his on field production, which was beyond stellar in his 2025 Campaign for the National Championship Runner Up Miami Hurricanes, but moreso for the fact that he is currently 25 and that he has a slightly worrisome past with injuries including recurring injuries to both feet, including a season ender in 2023 and a shoulder surgery earlier in his career. With that being said, it was clear that the Chargers' medical team gave the green light on his future durability, given that they still invested their 1st round pick in the extremely productive edge rusher (5th in the nation in Pass Rush Win Rate). The lone hang-up on the Mesidor pick for me stems from the depth of the 2026 Edge Rusher class. Can Mesidor be so much better than Zion Young, R Mason Thomas and so on that you forget he’ll be signing his 2nd NFL contract at 30? I believe there’s a multitude of guys who went later in the draft that could fit the Bolts EDGE room in 2025 and beyond, who are not already 25 and/or did not face a multitude of injuries throughout their college career. This draft pick sends the message to the fan base that they valued a guy who screams “pro-ready,” as it is hard to get more pro-ready than Mesidor, who exhibits a strong arsenal of moves that he’s developed over his time in college, and will look to give them instant production playing alongside Tuli Tuipolotu and Khalil Mack. At the end of the day, people will forget about the age if Mesidor can fill the Odafe Oweh-sized hole in 2025, and the likely Khalil Mack-sized hole in 2026 and beyond, a tall task, but one that his production at Miami makes me hopeful he can live up to. Round 2 Pick 63: Jake Slaughter, Florida C/G Grade: B- Jake Slaughter, who earned the title of General Manager Joe Hortiz’s “blue star prospect”, meaning he was Hortiz’s favorite prospect he scouted. Hortiz was not only able to get his blue star prospect, but also get some extra draft capital in a trade back in the process. Slaughter is expected to push for the starting left guard spot even though he has never taken a single snap at the guard position in college. Slaughter is a Mike McDaniel offensive lineman through and through, with a 9.97 out of a possible 10 RAS (relative athletic score), and looks to be the long-term solution to the center position after Tyler Biadasz. Assistant General Manager Chad Alexander talked glowingly about Slaughter and his ability to be a technician on the field as well as his intelligence, which also gave the Chargers reason to believe in Slaughter’s ability to make the transition to guard and hopefully mirror the early career of current Eagles center Cam Jurgens, going from a strong starting caliber guard in the early going to fill a current hole, and then eventually succeeding a veteran center to take over for the future. I loved the Chargers addressing the interior offensive line; the main reason the grade is as low as it is stems more from who they passed over. Emmanuel Pregnon was among the Chargers’ fans' most popular mock drafts in the second round, and was there for the taking. Pregnon was also a Mike McDaniel fit, and is also a natural guard, unlike Slaughter. While Slaughter had a handful of reps at guard at the Senior Bowl, he struggled mightily, something that cannot be said about Pregnon, who, on the surface, checked all of the boxes for something that would mirror the philosophy of the Bolts' 1st Round pick, Win Now. Round 4 Pick 105: Brenen Thompson, Mississippi State WR Grade: B+ In Mike McDaniel’s offense, there’s one thing you can never have too much of. Speed. Enter Brenen Thompson. Thompson ran a blazing 4.26 40 at the combine, and had Mike McDaniel so fired up he told the Draft War Room he would take his shirt off if they were able to find a way to get their hands on him. Thompson is a track star-level burner who is very limited as a wide receiver. He’s only 5’9 and 165 lbs, and is not as much of a RAC threat as someone of his speed may insinuate. The reality is, in any other situation, I’d tell you he’s a Madden franchise superstar and probably nothing much more. But he’s in THIS situation with Mike McDaniel and Justin Herbert. Thompson’s average length of touchdown catch was 38.9 yards, and he feasts on crossers and post routes. He is a true deep threat and a take the top off of the defense kind of guy, and in Mike McDaniel’s offense, I expect to see Thompson have a very important role that does not just show up in the box score, but opens up a whole new layer in the intermediate game as defenses must respect Thompson’s ability to stretch the field, think what Herbert and Tyron Johnson had, but on steroids! Round 4 Pick 117: Travis Burke, Memphis OT Grade: A- Travis Burke is an example of the Bolts taking an extra step to bolster offensive line depth, a common theme that continued in the later rounds. Burke is a monster of a man, beating out Joe Alt as the tallest Charger on the roster now, standing at 6’9. Burke is also an imposing force in the run game; if he can get his hands on defenders, he typically mauls them. Where he struggles is with pass protection, and “struggles” is frankly putting it mildly, but in the 4th round, there aren’t exactly any complete products playing the offensive line position. Burke has also displayed the ability to play both the left and right sides, providing immediate value as a swing tackle. I have this as my highest graded pick up of this first batch of picks because I believe Burke is entirely capable of developing into a starter in this league, and is already an NFL-ready player in the run game. I love seeing the Chargers putting resources into avoiding the catastrophe we saw in the case of a Rashawn Slater/Joe Alt injury, especially with Slater missing 2 of 4 seasons with major injuries, and coming off of a possibly career-altering ruptured Patellar Tendon last year.

The Titans had themselves an interesting NFL Draft, making some solid but surprising picks in the first round. The Titans decided to go with offense with the 4th overall pick, selecting Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate. Most people expected the Titans to go with a defensive pick and really ensure a solid defense for the upcoming season. They had 3 different Ohio State defensive players on the board: Arvell Reese, Sonny Styles, and Caleb Downs. However, they opted for Tate and have now given themselves a solid receiving core. Tate will join Calvin Ridley, newly signed Wandale Robinson, Elic Ayomanor and Chimere Dike in what could easily be an above-average receiving corps in Tennessee next year. Tate won’t be WR1 in Tennessee, but it will give him an excellent chance to develop behind some good vets. Robinson is coming off a career season with the Giants as he hit 1,000 yards in year four. Ridley has hit the 1,000-yard mark in three of his seven seasons, and in two of those seasons were cut early due to injury and violating league policies. I think any of these three wideouts can take over a game at any time, including Tate, who could be the WR1 in Tennessee very soon. For now, the Titans will look to solidify their receiving core this year and turn the Titans back into a playoff contender. The Titans weren’t finished in the first round as they traded with the Bills to obtain the 31st overall pick and selected Auburn defensive end Keldric Faulk. Faulk had an excellent career at Auburn, totaling over 100 combined tackles, and nearly 20 tackles for loss and 10 sacks. Faulk is disruptive coming off the line due to his quickness and sheer size to block running and passing lanes. His sheer size at 6-foot-6 and 285 pounds, with verified elite strength, made him the anchor of Auburn’s defense. This was a sneaky pick by the Titans, and it could pay off as they will have Faulk develop with some of the league's best. With Jeffery Simmons and John Frankin-Myers as a veteran presence, Faulk has the chance to develop into a Pro Bowler after a few seasons. Although Faulk could make an immediate impact, this is more of a development pick for the Titans. Simmons won’t last forever, and Franklin-Myers may only be in Tennessee for three years. They want to see Faulk become that next big playmaker, and the development under these vets and coach Robert Salah could make Faulk a real force in the future. Tennessee had a solid outcome with both of its first-round picks; the sky is the limit for both Tate and Faulk, and Titans fans should be excited to see these two take the field next season.

The NFL draft has come and gone, and teams are now ready to get to work with their new squads. For the Indianapolis Colts, this includes eight new players that they picked up in the draft and 10 free agents. Going into the draft, the Colts were in need of defensive players. They lost multiple defensive starters in free agency and needed to reload on that end. With the additional losses of wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. and offensive tackle Brandon Smith, there were multiple holes that needed to be filled. There was a big lack of depth on the defense, so their primary needs were linebacker and defensive end. The Colts had previously traded linebacker Zaire Franklin to the Green Bay Packers and were lacking a leader in that position. Receivers and depth on the offensive line were also a focus, needing to provide more options than just Alec Pierce. With their first pick and the 47th overall, the Colts picked linebacker CJ Allen from Georgia. This was a direct need the Colts had, so Allen may be expected to start right away. Allen was a finalist for the Butkus Award, an annual honor recognizing the best linebackers across all levels of football. Allen should be able to make an impact immediately, and the Colts will need it. In the third round, the Colts selected A.J. Haulcy, a safety from LSU. After losing safety Nick Cross to the Commanders, the Colts required help in the secondary and did seek out help in free agency, adding safeties Joanathan Owens and Juanyeh Thomas to the roster. However, any depth is a positive thing and will add to a defense that was already lacking, even before all of the trades. With their fourth round picks, the Colts selected guard Jalen Farmer from Kentucky 113th overall and linebacker Bryce Boettcher from Oregon 135th overall. Farmer was a strong player during his career, allowing the fifth-lowest pass pressure in the FBS. Boettcher adds depth to a position that was lacking in it and can work alongside Allen to improve a defense that was not at its best last year, ranking 23rd overall, according to Fox Sports. The next two picks were both defensive ends. George Gumbs Jr. from Florida, who was picked 156th overall in the fifth round, and Caden Curry from Ohio State, who was the 214th overall pick in the sixth round. While the Colts did need defensive players, the passing defense was a problem last year, and the Colts need an edge. Curry only played one season as a starter at Ohio State, so he might take more time to develop and not make an immediate impact. In the last round of the draft, the Colts finally decided to address their offensive needs, picking running back Seth McGowan from Kentucky and wide receiver Deion Burks from Oklahoma. While Jonathan Taylor is an amazing first option, McGowan can provide depth at the position and learn from Taylor as he grows. Burks is on the smaller size, which caused him to fall in the draft, but he was impressive at the combine. He will provide another option for Daniel Jones at quarterback and has great speed. Overall, the Colts did well at the draft, filling most needs they had and adding depth at positions that were lacking it. However, there are still some gaps in the team, and the defense could be stronger. They brought in strong rookies, but they will not replace the experience they lost on that end. The offense is looking better, but could still use more depth at running back and the offensive line. To me, the Colts get a ‘B’ for this draft. They did well, but did not do as well as they could have, especially if they had a first-round pick.

Pittsburgh drafted ten new players to the organization last week, while also hosting an incredibly successful NFL draft. I don’t believe in assigning grades to draft selections before I’ve seen them play an NFL snap, but I am excited about this year’s draft class. Here’s why you should be just as hyped as I am: Max Iheanachor, OT, Arizona State A tremendous athlete with silky footwork, Iheanachor showed out against top-level competition throughout his final collegiate season. Relatively new to football, Iheanachor has improved at an alarming rate throughout his college career. As it stands now, he has the frame and footwork to contribute in Pittsburgh from day one, but his trajectory puts him on course to be so much more. Germie Bernard, WR, Alabama A smooth operator who hauled in everything first-round pick Ty Simpson threw his way while the two were at Alabama, Germie Bernard is the newest weapon in Pittsburgh’s revamped arsenal. Bernard has a solid frame for a slot receiver, and his fluid movement and versatility stand out on tape. The Steelers’ offense could give him an opportunity for a high volume of targets in the middle of the field, especially given how deep his route tree is. Drew Allar, QB, Penn State The Penn State product has as high a ceiling as any quarterback in this rookie class. Allar has all the measurables to succeed, and his deep ball will make him popular with DK Metcalf and Michael Pittman. New head coach Mike McCarthy has proven his ability to develop young quarterbacks into stars. If he can work his magic again, Pittsburgh will have scored a starting-caliber quarterback who can ignite the offense for nothing more than a third-round pick. Daylen Everette, CB, Georgia Everette logged a lot of miles during his career at Georgia, but he played his best football when the lights were brightest. A long, agile corner with blazing top-end speed, Everette shines in press coverage, blowing up plays before they develop in front of him. Fluid movement and good vision will translate to the next level, where he can develop in a loaded Pittsburgh secondary. Gennings Dunker, OG, Iowa A versatile, athletic, and powerful lineman from an OL factory like Iowa will always be a solid pick, especially after losing Isaac Seumalo to the Cardinals. A vicious blocker who’s hard for rushers to escape from, Dunker’s athleticism was on display throughout the predraft process, with excellent showings at the Senior Bowl and at the combine. If you haven’t seen him chuck hay bales, that should be plenty to get you fired up about Pittsburgh’s new interior protector. Kaden Wetjen, WR, Iowa In the age of the new NFL kickoff rules, teams are making return specialists important again. On day three of the draft, they found a sparkplug of a returner in Wetjen. Another Iowa product, Wetjen combines blazing speed, elite vision and sharp lateral movement. A back-to-back Jet Award winner (best returner in CFB), he terrorized any team willing to kick him the ball, and he’ll look to add to his highlight reel in Pittsburgh. Riley Nowakowski, TE, Indiana Nowakowski projects as a fullback with the Steelers, and you have to see the fit if you watch his 2025 tape with Indiana. Coaches love his fundamentals and his enthusiasm for run blocking, and he’s developed into a solid pass-catcher over the last two years. Nowakowski was quietly one of the most important pieces on the 2025 championship team while at Indiana, and his new Steelers teammates will appreciate his willingness to do the dirty work on offense. Gabe Rubio, DE, Notre Dame Rubio is a big, mean, run-stopper from Notre Dame who’s great at clogging up gaps. A team like Pittsburgh, which wants to control the ground game, will value Rubio’s 6 '5, 320lb frame mucking up the middle of the line and making life miserable for opposing running backs. Rubio’s injury history held him back from a true breakout season, which means that he could still hit another level as a pro. Robert Spears-Jennings, S, Oklahoma Spears-Jennings logged a 4.32 40-yard dash at the combine and hits like a bus, making him an intriguing mix of speed and power. The Oklahoma Sooner will look to make an immediate impact on special teams with the potential to make a real push for playing time in the secondary. Eli Heidenreich, RB, Navy I was fired up to see Heidenreich join the Steelers, especially after all the predraft research into his career at Navy. The Pittsburgh native brings a lot of juice to the field as a true offensive weapon who can line up pretty much anywhere. However, the Steelers choose to get him the ball; he’s a tough runner with great top-end speed, and he proves tough to tackle despite his smaller frame.

The Cavaliers took a commanding 2-0 at home to open up their first round series against the Toronto Raptors, but after a 22-point loss in Game 3 and an embarrassing effort in Game 4, their season now comes down to the final three games of this series. Shooting Woes Sunday’s game against Toronto is one of the worst shooting games I’ve ever watched. The Cavs shot 37% from the field and 25% from three, and Toronto shot an even worse 32% from the field and 13% from three. This was a game that the Cavaliers should’ve been able to run away with, but none of their overwhelming offensive talent could get anything going. Donovan Mitchell had what is probably the worst playoff performance of his entire career, as he shot 6-for-24 from the field. Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley had 11 points combined and Sam Merrill was the only role player that could get a three to fall. This team is far too talented to lose a game where the other team only hits a quarter of their shots, but the same struggles with playoff physicality that have haunted them for the past few years appear to still be a major problem. Sloppy Turnovers Another key factor in these losses has been the insane volume of turnovers. The Cavs had 20 turnovers in Game 3 and 17 in Game 4. The main culprit here has unfortunately been James Harden. He had eight turnovers to just four assists in game three, and seven more turnovers in game four. This was what many feared would happen after the Darius Garland trade. Harden was brought here to help the team get over the hump in the playoffs, but in just four games we’ve already had a pair of brutal performances that have contributed to losses. Donovan Mitchell had his share of bad turnovers in game four as well. Early in the game he threw a no-look pass that hit the corner of the backboard, and with 47 seconds left up by one, he had an eight second violation to give Toronto the ball back. These two guards just simply can’t play as badly as they did in Toronto if they want to have any chance of winning this series. Home Court Advantage Before this series started, I picked the Cavaliers to win in six games, and I still feel confident in that prediction, but that does not mean these last two games on the road haven’t been incredibly concerning. A team that has championship aspirations just can not make the mistakes that this team has. Two of the final three games in this series will be in Cleveland, and the home team has won all four games so far. The team that wins game five of a 2-2 series goes on to win the series 82% of the time, so it’s safe to say that Game 5 on Wednesday is a must win for this Cavaliers squad. If they are going to get back on track, the sloppy turnovers have to stop. The Raptors offense has struggled mightily in the half court throughout this series, but the points off turnovers have given them easy opportunities over the past two games. If James Harden can keep things clean offensively, and if Donovan Mitchell can get back to scoring efficiently, then the Cavs should win the next two games easily. If they can’t clean it up and Toronto is able to pull off the upset, then it’s going to be a very long offseason. All of the pressure will be on the Cavaliers in the rest of this series, and it might just be their last chance to figure out these playoff woes.

Today’s Hottest Take: The Clippers can be contenders next year It may not seem likely at first, but the Clippers are not far off. A few strong moves and better health could change a lot. Teams in the West shift quickly, and a small improvement can move a team up several spots. A big part of this depends on Kawhi Leonard. When he is healthy, he is still one of the most effective players in the league. He controls the pace, scores efficiently, and plays strong defense. If he can stay on the court, the Clippers have a chance in any series. They also need more consistency from the rest of the roster. Too many games this season depended on one player carrying the offense. That is not a reliable way to win. They need multiple players who can step up on any night. If they fix that, they become much harder to defend. Players like Nicholas Batum and Derrick Jones Jr. are big question marks on this team because they are past their primes. If they are able to hold onto what makes them great then this Clippers team will have plenty of great role players. What you need to know: The young core is here to last Even with the roster changes, the Clippers have younger players who can grow into bigger roles. That is important for a team without many future assets. Development has to be a focus. Players like Darius Garland give them a starting point. He can handle the ball, create offense, and take pressure off the veterans. Having a guard like that makes the offense more stable and easier to run. They also have Bennidict Mathurin who they traded Zubac for. He needs to take some big steps into his development so he can become a starter next year. Rookies Yanic Konan Niederhauser and Kobe Sanders showed great flashes of becoming real players for this team. Along with young players like Jordan Miller and Kobe Brown, the Clippers have a solid young core The goal is to have a mix of experience and youth. Veterans help win now, while younger players keep the team competitive long term. If the Clippers manage that balance, they will not have to start over in a few years. Before you go: These roster pieces could make the Clippers deadly The Clippers still need depth. They should look for players who can defend multiple positions and knock down open shots. Those types of players make it easier for stars to do their job. Free agents like Gary Payton II or Zaire Williams could help them They could also look at adding another playmaker. Someone who can run the offense when the starters are off the floor would help keep the team steady. Right now, that is an area that can improve. Even somebody like D’Angelo Russell could help them out There is also the option of making a trade. If the right deal is available, they could move role players to bring in someone who fits better. The key is not making a move just to make one. It has to clearly improve the team. Even with the questions, the Clippers are not out of the picture. With the right decisions this off season, they can stay competitive and give themselves a real chance next year.

The Boston Red Sox started this season with an outfield logjam. The problem still persists as of today. Jarren Duran has been the victim of several benchings, and not without good reason. My Hottest Take: Masataka Yoshida Will Get More PT Than Jarren Duran Duran is not going anywhere anytime soon, unless the situation really gets desperate. While fans are split 50/50 on if they want him around or if they want him gone, he is a good player. While his numbers haven’t been those of his All-Star campaign, Duran can play good baseball. Yoshida has been one of the best hitters of the season, which makes him a better trade candidate than Duran. If the team trades Yoshida, that opens the DH spot for Duran completely, gets him the playing time he needs, and gets him his confidence again. It is not like Duran does not know how to play baseball; he is just not being patient in the box, and his chase rate has been the highest of his career. What You Should Know: Duran’s Confidence Is Not There Duran is missing his swagger; it's unsure if it's from chasing outside the zone or just something going on personally. The world knows about his mental health struggles. The All-Star campaign he had two years ago seems to be an anomaly, which does not make sense. "Chasing pitches, early on he was taking walks and now he’s chasing, we've got to make sure we swing at the right ones," said Alex Cora (prior to being fired), per MLB.com's Ian Browne. All fans can see how uncomfortable he seems to be in the batter's box, which is leading to benching, including against right-handed pitchers that he typically crushes. Duran’s chase rate has continued to climb this season after starting off being very patient and seeming to be comfortable during his at-bats. Earlier in the month, Yoshida had 20 fewer plate appearances than Duran and was hitting .324 with a .889 on-base percentage. Duran was hitting .164 with a .487 on-base percentage, along with a 34.5% chase rate and 40.2% whiff rate. For reference, in 2024, when he was an All-Star, he ended the season with a 24.8% whiff rate and 28.1% chase rate. Even last year, his whiff rate was 29.3%; he is swinging and missing more than 11% more this season than he has the last two seasons, which means he is not seeing the baseball well enough. Before You Go: Duran Can Still Turn This Around It’s hard to turn things around when someone else is having the at-bats that are needed to turn things around; however, there are things Duran can be doing off the field to get his mind back in the game. Duran has great baseball IQ and can easily be working on his swing in the batting cages. Granted, it’s not a live pitcher, but it may help get the confidence back up. Even going back through all the videos and then comparing them to last season could help figure out if this slump is a mechanical issue or just in Duran’s head. Needless to say, Duran will be a Boston Red Sox for the foreseeable future, unless he really plummets further down.

Along with the NBA Playoffs in full swing, the NBA's award season has seen the Rookie of the Year race be a two-horse race since the beginning of 2026. Ultimately, Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg won the award, finishing with 12 more first-place votes than Charlotte Hornets guard Kon Knueppel. Cooper Flagg’s Huge Numbers Swing the Voters It’s a weird result. Knueppel was the clear favorite with roughly 10 games to go in the regular season, but a few high-scoring games from Flagg, even in losses, really swung the voters at the end of the season. The way the swing in favor of Flagg came together just felt sudden, like it was the “Rookie of the Last Few Weeks Award” instead of Rookie of the Year. Flagg had three games this season with over 40 points, and one of those games, he dropped 51, which is incredible from a player of his age, but even with the high-scoring outputs, Flagg only averaged 2.5 more points than Knueppel; it wasn’t to the point where Flagg’s stats were so overwhelmingly better that it should matter, especially with the history that Knueppel made this year. Kon Knueppel’s Case for ROTY Knueppel did something that no one’s ever done in the NBA, led the NBA in threes made as a rookie. Knueppel not only made the most threes in the league this year, but did it at a 43% clip, which is absurdly efficient. Not only was Knueppel the first ever to do something in the league, but he was arguably the biggest factor in the turnaround that the Hornets made this year. Kon Knueppel wasn’t drafted into a good situation. The Hornets won 19 games last year and finished this year with 44 wins and a play-in spot in the Eastern Conference. Knueppel didn’t just hit threes, though; he scored on all three levels of the floor and finished the season as one of the most efficient rookies of all time. The Hornets had the best offense in the NBA since January, and Knueppel's off-ball movement, efficiency, and consistency were a huge part of that. The Problem With The ROTY Award The criteria for the award is all over the place, if you value stats than yes Flagg has the award, but if you value efficiency, impact on winning, and making history, its Kon Knueppel. Another problem is that this isn’t the “who you think will be better in five years award.” The award should take the whole season into account. The other problem with this year is that Knueppel was more available than Cooper Flagg was, and still lost. Knueppel missed only one game all season and remained as sharp and consistent as he was in the regular season. The last issue is when the ballots are handed out, they’re handed out during the NBA Play-In Tournament, which definitely can sway voters’ opinions even though the awards are supposed to be based on the regular season. Final Thoughts Cooper Flagg is awesome, and will be for the foreseeable future, but for this season as a whole, Kon Knueppel’s impact shouldn’t be ignored, and over time, his impact will become more prominent and will gain more attention around the league.

The 91st annual NFL draft is officially underway in Pittsburgh, and the Indianapolis Colts are still on the clock. Originally, the Colts were slotted to pick 47th, but traded with Pittsburgh to move back five spots. With the 53rd overall pick, the Colts selected linebacker CJ Allen from the University of Georgia in the second round and A.J. Haulcy 78th overall in the third round. Even with this selection, the Colts will have five more selections to make, pending they do not trade any picks. There are still four rounds remaining in the draft, the rest to be held Saturday, April 25, at 12 p.m. Going into the draft, it was clear the Colts needed defensive players. While the Colts made 11 additions during free agency, several key contributors were lost. The defense took the biggest impact, losing multiple starters. The offense returned key talent, including quarterback Daniel Jones and wide receiver Alec Pierce. However, it did lose wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. to the Steelers. The Colts have multiple gaps they need to fill with their draft picks, both on the offensive and defensive ends. The defensive needs are more pressing as most of the impactful players ended up being traded, including defensive end Kwity Paye, safety Nick Cross and linebacker Zaire Franklin. A receiver will also be necessary to replace Pittman and give Jones more options. If the Colts want to create a dynamic offense, they will need to have multiple threats available. Pierce is an elite athlete, and Jonathan Taylor is capable of scoring in any situation. However, the more options there are on the field, the less attention there will be on those other stars. With seven picks, the Colts have the chance to fill most of the positions they need, to some degree. Whether or not these rookies will be game-ready in their first years will be up to them and the organization. Allen played three years for UGA, where he recorded 205 total tackles and was an Associated Press All-American. His combined ratings were average, with most of the reports saying that he is not a flashy player, but is a solid force on defense with the potential to be a leader. It is a position the Colts desperately needed and a solid choice to fill it. Allen would have experienced high-level competition playing at a powerhouse SEC school, which should be able to transition well to the next level. Haulcy once again fulfills a missing piece in the roster. A safety, Haulcy adds depth to a unit that desperately needs it. Haulcy played four years, ending his career at LSU, where he recorded 89 total tackles in one season. He totaled 346 in his collegiate career and was first-team All-SEC in his final year. He finished with good combine results, even ranking No.1 in total score amongst wide receivers according to Next Gen Stats. The Colts have had a strong start to the draft and are showing they know what needs to be fixed. With two defensive picks, they are starting to repair the holes that players lost in free agency. There is still a lot of time till the season starts, but the Colts are making the correct decisions and building the strong team they planned to.

The Chargers Trade Out of the 1st Round: The Los Angeles Chargers have only 5 draft picks in this upcoming NFL Draft, opening the door for conversation around whether the Bolts stay pat at 22 or move back to acquire more draft capital on Days 2 and 3. Likely trade partners, as things stand, could be the Pittsburgh Steelers, a team that has 4 picks on Day 2 but is maybe too late in the 2nd round. The Miami Dolphins have a late first-rounder in Pick 30, as well as plenty of Day 2 capital with Picks 43, 75, 87 and 90, which could be very enticing to a team looking to recoup some of their lost draft capital depth. As well as teams like the New York Jets, who hold picks 33 and 44. While some impactful players could be present at Pick 22, the Chargers can definitely field calls and send Bolts fans to bed early on Draft Night by getting out of the 1st round entirely The Chargers' 1st Selection ISN’T a Guard: The Chargers are easily in a position to address the lack of starting-caliber offensive linemen in this draft with the likes of Chase Bistontis, someone they had in for a visit in the pre-draft process, Emmanuel Pregnon out of Oregon, or the crown jewel of the class, Vega Ioane out of Penn State. With all of that said, the Bolts have clearly inferred that they do not hold a premium on the guard position, something consistent with Mike McDaniel and his offenses historically do not rely heavily on a strong interior, but more so an athletic interior, as the focus is on getting the ball out quickly, and getting the edge in the run game. If the Bolts are aligning with McDaniel and his philosophies, I could see the Bolts deciding to move forward with a later Day 2 selection at guard to contest with Kayode Awosika, Ben Cleveland, Cole Strange and Trevor Penning (Yikes!). With visits like K.C Concepcion, Caleb Banks and Zion Young, I could see the Chargers forgoing the guard position until later, regardless of a trade down or not. The Chargers Go Defense Heavy The Chargers' offense has plenty of areas for improvement, with the aforementioned interior offensive line the main culprit, but there is also a desire for more explosive playmakers across the board. Despite all of that, there’s reason to believe the Chargers desire more depth on the defensive side of the ball. In the Chargers' Top 30 visits, the majority of players were on the defensive side of the ball. After plenty of draft capital invested into the offensive side of the ball with Omarion Hampton, Tre Harris and Ke’Andre Lambert Smith in 2025, as well as Joe Alt and Ladd McConkey in 2024, I believe the Chargers front office is willing to set up Chris O’Leary and his unit with a higher pedigree prospect to work with. Jesse Minter was well known for getting the best out of guys like Tarheeb Still and Cam Hart, two 5th rounders, and while thus far it is working for Hortiz and the Chargers, Minter isn’t there, and this is far from a sustainable model. While the Chargers should 100% address the guard position, I believe it is entirely plausible to see an edge rusher or defensive lineman off the board first.

Titans fans have waited in anticipation for the NFL Draft, as it will essentially solidify their roster heading into next season. The Titans have the 4th overall pick, which puts them in a great spot, as the big-name players will be off the board early. It gives the Titans more than enough time to decide whether to go on defense or offense with this pick. If they decide to go offense, it will most likely be Jeremiyah Love or Carnell Tate, both ranked as the top running back and arguably the top wide receiver in the draft. Love produced nearly 1,400 and 20 touchdowns last year, nearly leading Notre Dame to the College Football Playoff at just 20 years old. Tate had just under 900 yards and nine touchdowns to lead Ohio State as their dynamic playmaker. If it’s not an offensive weapon that the Titans take, it could be an offensive anchor to ensure solid depth at the offensive line position. Francis Mauigoa is the odds-on favorite to be the first lineman drafted, and some analysts even have him going in the top three. The University of Miami has both Mauigoa and Rueben Bain Jr., most likely getting drafted in the top 10. The Titans have their work cut out for them if they draft on defense, as the first round is loaded with defensive talent. If Bain Jr isn't available at the four spot, there is a trio of Ohio State players that Tennessee could get, and they would all be immediate starters on the defensive end. If they decide to go the linebacker route, Arvell Reese and Sonny Styles would both be legit options. Reese, 6' 4", 243 lbs, is a linebacker who recorded 34 tackles and 6.5 sacks this past season. Reese proved to be a pivotal part of Ohio State’s run defense, as he is an elite presence when attacking the ball and finding the seams in any offensive line. Reese ran a 4.46 40-yard dash and draws draft comparisons with the likes of Micah Parsons and Lavar Arrington. Styles is listed at 6'5", 244 lbs, and had 46 tackles last season, to go along with a forced fumble and interception. Styles also ran a 4.46 40-yard dash, and his 10 Relative Athletic Score is one of the highest ever recorded since the metric started in 1987. The sky is the limit for Styles; he draws comparisons to Fred Warner and Anthony Barr for his elite pass defense and ability to stop the run. Caleb Downs is also an elite corner projected in the top-10, who has drawn an NFL Comparison to Ed Reed and Derwin James. Downs will be a great talent in this league. The Titans may not be the most likely suitors, considering the offseason they had at the corner position. However, there is nothing wrong with depth and development moving forward. The Titans have plenty of options coming up for draft night, but who they choose will be a mystery. Titans fans have a lot to look forward to, as no matter what, this pick will ultimately improve their team.

After finishing a career year, OKC sharpshooter Isaiah Joe now has to carry the same pace in his game as the Thunder head into the playoff hunt once more. It’s been a promising campaign for Zai, who has yet to be nominated for the Three-Point Shootout despite being the best guy Oklahoma City has to offer. It is worth remembering that Joe has been quite an elite shooter for OKC over the past few years. He’s been marked as a steal by the Thunder from the Philadelphia 76ers after the latter waived him, and the Thunder went on to turn him into a secret weapon from deep. Much like the next Sixer player to join OKC, Jared McCain, Joe has been incredible for the team and has become a spark off the bench. But with OKC locking up homecourt advantage once more, would this be a chance for Joe also to redeem himself in the playoffs? For those who didn’t know, Isaiah Joe has been a great performer in the regular season, but he’s been a disappointing player in the postseason. Joe finished this season with averages of 11.1 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 1.3 assists in 71 games played. But perhaps the best of this is his sudden jump to a 42.3% shooting from deep. While it’s not much of a big jump, one can say that he’s putting up career-highs, especially in points and three-point shooting. It has earned him bigger minutes in the rotation as well. With a massively injured Thunder squad for most of the season, Joe has been able to step up and make big headways in his game. In fact, he dropped a total of 11 games with at least 20+ points this season. Now that’s an impressive mark, especially for someone who’s been drilling a lot of threes lately. But can he carry it into the playoffs? A Challenging Situation for Joe Ranked 10th overall in three-point percentage this season across the NBA, Joe surely has had a promising season so far. Sure, the Thunder will be looking to its big three of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, and Chet Holmgren to lead the way. But it has been their supporting cast that has been half the story of their games this season. In fact, we have seen OKC’s depth shine when it mattered most, and that says a lot about the expectations from their bench in the coming games. That includes Joe, who has moved up and down in the rotation off the bench. Of course, Ajay Mitchell would be a priority considering how well he’s stepped up. Then it would be between Joe, Cason Wallace, Jaylin Williams, Aaron Wiggins, and even McCain. This means that Isaiah Joe has to wiggle his way through by coming up with big games for OKC. It doesn’t have to be MVP-esque like SGA does, but he just has to drill the shots the Thunder needs from him. If you have watched the Thunder’s massive comeback win in Game 4 of the NBA Finals, the champs needed a whole lot of threes in that game, as they managed to knock down only three of their 17 attempts. If Joe was firing on all cylinders, it would have definitely given them a much more comfortable win than the one they came up with. OKC relies on spot-up shooters to make their shots. The paint is their ground, sure. We all know how they can charge inside and find their way into the basket. But when they need to kick out, they need to have options–and reliable shooters to convert. Joe, of all people, is asked much more of this for his ability to make the three. Can Joe Rise to the Moment? There’s no telling whether a player gets to step up and make the best of his game or not. However, one can say that Joe is going to have to grind and put up the best of his performances if he wants to be relevant for the Thunder. We’ve seen Mark Daigneault limit his minutes when the shots didn’t fall, so it’s up to Joe to show his worth and prove that he can shine on the big stage.

Jordan Walker is off to one of the best starts that a hitter could ever dream of. Through the first 18 games of the season, Walker slashed .319/.373/.710, while also leading all of Major League Baseball in home runs. With his double late in the St. Louis Cardinals rubber match with the Cleveland Guardians on Wednesday, he also carried an 11-game hit streak over to the Cardinals' second road trip of the year. The once No. 4 prospect in baseball from 2023 is now flashing on the big league stage why he was so highly touted. Walker enters Thursday, top five in average exit velocity, and third in total barrels this season, and he has found the swing that once got him to the majors at the age of 20 just three seasons ago. After he showed some mild success at the major league level, the Cardinals wanted him to go back to the minors and adjust his swing to lift the ball more, and when he returned to the majors, he struggled. Walker struggled for the next two seasons, hitting .201 in 2024 and .215 last season. He would spend parts of both seasons in the minors, still attempting to iron out his swing. After hitting 16 home runs during his rookie campaign, he would hit just 11 over the next two seasons, and his ground ball percentage did not improve to what the Cardinals wanted. So this winter, he went back to the basics, went to Driveline during the offseason, and got to work. The result is a completely different hitter. Instead of spending the bulk of his time at the bottom of the St. Louis lineup, he has vaulted himself squarely into the heart of the order and is producing in a big way for the Cardinals. Harold Reynolds of MLB Network spoke about Walker during MLB Tonight and compared his swing to that of when Walker was 17 years old. Noting that trying to force himself to lift the ball had removed him from his natural swing, and as Reynolds put it, “I think he went back to what he was doing at 17 years old.” The MLB season is certainly a marathon and not a sprint, but Walker has gotten off to a strong start. While his numbers might not keep up with the 81 home runs that he is currently on pace for, Walker has made the necessary adjustments to his swing and reverted to what got him drafted in the first round by the Cardinals in the first place. With a regained confidence at the plate and his improved defense in right field, the Cardinals may have had a late bloomer in Walker, and time was what he needed to get feeling right at the plate and to get comfortable instead of the constant shuttle back and forth between Triple-A Memphis and St. Louis. The Cardinals have started better than many expected, and part of that is thanks to the breakout from their former top prospect.

It has been 24 games of the 2026–2027 season, and the Boston Red Sox have already been dealing with injuries to their pitching staff. It is a very scary sight, especially since it was a similar sight last season with all the injuries that started to pile up. My Hottest Take: Injuries Should Not Be as Much of a Factor as Last Year Last year, it felt like left, right, and center the Red Sox pitchers were going down with injuries. The biggest and most glaring injury of last year that is being felt this year as well is the injury to Tanner Houck, who has a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow as well as a right flexor pronator strain. This injury is keeping him out of the 2026 campaign more likely than not. The other injuries are still serious, but there is enough depth on the farm for those who are injured this season, like Justin Slaten, Johan Oviedo, Kutter Crawford, and Patrick Sandoval. What You Should Know: Only One Injury Is Serious Well, all injuries are serious. But so far, only one injury has landed that pitcher on the 60-day injured list, and that injury is to Johan Oviedo, who suffered that injury after just one start with the Red Sox. Oviedo was coming off of Tommy John surgery. After his outing, he met with the doctor who performed the surgery, and the doctor found a right flexor strain and shut him down from throwing for six weeks. This is the reason why he was placed on the 60-Day injured list, which also opened up his roster spot, allowing Jack Anderson to be selected to the 40-man roster. The other injury that hurts is the one to Justin Slaten. He was placed on the 15-day injured list with a right oblique strain. He should be back by the end of April, which would be helpful given the way the Red Sox have seemed to turn the 2–8 start around. His injury was not considered to be serious, which means he can get back to throwing soon and see how things work out. Sandoval is rehabbing a UCL repair in his left arm, which is his throwing arm. Crawford is rehabbing a wrist tear that happened in a non-baseball incident. Before You Go: Patrick Sandoval and Kutter Crawford Should Be Coming Soon Once these two get up to the majors, the bullpen will have more help than before. Sandoval started for the Worcester Red Sox last Tuesday against the Nashville Sounds. His expected return is May; when in May and where on the roster he will fit in is yet to be seen, but if the rotation continues to stumble, he might be able to find himself starting. Crawford had started his rehab assignment, but after a rough start on April 11, he was shut down due to elbow soreness. Crawford suffered from a right wrist subsheath tear and was placed on the 15-day IL on March 25. It will be an interesting take to see how the Red Sox play around with the roster once all these pitchers are healthy once again; the only one that is going to need a roster spot, luckily, is Oviedo, since he was sent to the 60-day injured list.

I’ve gone over a lot of prospects that I’d love to see join the Steelers when the 2026 NFL Draft kicks off on Thursday. Now that we’ve spent time poring over the players (i.e., reading Dane Brugler’s The Beast ), here's my pipe dream of a draft class, with the obvious acknowledgement that most of these guys might go much earlier (or later) than I would like. If you’d like more in-depth scouting reports on these guys, I’ve written about most of them in earlier articles, so feel free to take a look there. For more exhaustive analysis, please refer to the aforementioned Beast, which should frankly be regarded as gospel. 21. Jordan Tyson, WR, Arizona State Tyson has fallen several draft boards due to injury concerns, with Ohio State’s Carnell Tate eclipsing him as the media’s consensus WR1. That bodes well for his chances of coming to Pittsburgh, which is fine by me. He appears to be fully recovered from the hamstring issues that sidelined him in his final college season, which means he will be on the field for week one barring unforeseen setbacks. Tyson’s superstar potential would immediately put the Steelers in the discussion for the best WR trio in the league, and whoever steps into the starting quarterback role next season will have an embarrassment of riches around him. It would also be a full-circle moment for Pittsburgh legend Hines Ward, who has taken Tyson under his wing during the ASU product’s journey to the league. 53. Emmanuel Pregnon, G, Oregon An older prospect who brings a wealth of experience and a whole lot of mass to an OL room, Pregnon is viewed as a very safe selection in most circles. His steady power kept Dante Moore clean as Oregon made a run in the CFP last season, and scouts love his run-blocking ability. Pregnon will look to make an immediate impact on the interior for Pittsburgh. 76. Will Lee III, CB, Texas A&M Will Lee’s tape is a joy to watch. A fluid athlete who makes plays all over the field, he has the technique to stick with any route-runner (Aggies fans referred to Lee as “The Blanket”), as well as the aggression to lay him out. He plays his best football in big-time moments and brings consistency to the secondary that Pittsburgh sorely needs after an injury-riddled 2025. 85. Domonique Orange, DT, Iowa State “Big Citrus”, as Iowa State teammates called him, is a devastating run-stopper who mows down blockers with ease. While Orange is still developing as a pass-rusher, he can be a key role player in Pittsburgh from the jump, with the opportunity to play his way into a starting spot. 99. Bud Clark, S, TCU As I mentioned in my previous article, don’t let the stats watch the film for you. Bud Clark is awesome. The sixth-year senior is a home-run hitter in the secondary, and his playmaking ability can bring plenty of juice to a defense. Clark’s ballhawking tendencies will fit right in with a turnover-hungry Steelers defense. 121. Harold Perkins Jr, LB, LSU I’m not sure how Perkins will be utilized at the next level. Honestly, I’m not sure anyone is. But for a talent like him, you figure it out. Perkins is a game wrecker no matter where he lines up, but he would benefit greatly from some consistency and an opportunity to fully develop into one position. 135. LT Overton, EDGE, Alabama Overton likely won’t be a day one starter in the league, but with TJ Watt and Alex Highsmith lining up on both sides of the line, Pittsburgh won’t need him to be too much too early. A big recruit for Alabama coming out of high school, Overton has shown that he has the potential to be a star if a team is willing to work with him. Given the Steelers’ depth at the position, the gamble here is a worthwhile one. 161. Malachi Fields, WR, Notre Dame I’ve been high on Fields joining the Steelers for a while, and not much has happened to sway me from that stance. Fields brings size, combined with ball skills and great burst off the line. Even if Pittsburgh takes a receiver early, I think the Notre Dame standout can make a difference early for the Steelers. 216. Drew Allar, QB, Penn State Cannon arms with accuracy issues are my kryptonite. I am all in on Drew Allar making it in the NFL. I accept my impending debut on Freezing Cold Takes with class and grace. 224. Caden Curry, EDGE, Ohio State I think this is my third consecutive week writing about Curry joining the Steelers. I still don’t understand how a player with so much high-level production is projected to go this late in the draft. 230. Pat Coogan, C, Notre Dame The veteran center was a glue guy for consecutive national championship appearances. His high-level processing and locker room presence add some depth to the offensive line. 237. Eli Heidenreich, RB/WR, Navy Local kid who put up some truly gaudy stat lines as a versatile weapon for Navy. The potential is absolutely worth a seventh-rounder.

The Chicago Bulls finally made a move. Ownership pulled the trigger last week, parting ways with Artūras Karnišovas and Marc Eversley. It’s a decision that signals a pivotal turning point for the franchise. Whoever steps in next as President of Basketball Operations will shape the Bulls’ direction for years to come.That’s what makes this moment so significant. This is a franchise that once set the standard for greatness in the 1990s. Today, it feels far removed from that identity. And yet, the foundation for success is still here. As of 2025, the Bulls remain one of the most valuable teams in the NBA. They play in the third-largest market in the country and, according to the 2026 attendance report, lead the league in attendance. Chicago loves basketball. That’s why this stretch has been so frustrating. The loyalty of this fanbase has been met with mediocrity and at times, indifference. There’s a lot of work ahead, but this next decision will define everything that follows. My Hottest Take: Let the Next President Lead If the Bulls want real change, it has to start with trust. During last week’s press conference, Michael Reinsdorf made it clear that he wants Billy Donovan to remain part of the future. In fact, he suggested that any candidate unwilling to keep Donovan wouldn’t be the right fit. Of course, Donovan left the team anyway ... but Reinsdorf wanting to keep him on is THE problem. Not because Donovan isn’t respected, he is. A Hall of Fame coach at the college level, he led Florida to back-to-back national titles in 2006 and 2007. In the NBA, he’s had success, including a trip to the Western Conference Finals with Oklahoma City. But he hasn’t advanced past the first round of the playoffs in years. This isn’t about assigning blame. The NBA is driven by star power, and the Bulls simply haven’t had enough of it. But by trying to tie the hands of a new front office before they even walk in the door, it defeats the purpose of making a change in the first place. If ownership is serious about a reset, they need to allow the next President to evaluate everything. The roster, staff, and direction without restriction. You can’t demand innovation while enforcing limitations. What You Need to Know: Business as Usual? For Bulls fans, this all feels familiar. The previous regime of Gar Forman and John Paxson frustrated the fanbase, but the last six years under Karnišovas and Eversley have arguably been worse. Communication was minimal. Direction was unclear. And the results never matched the expectations. That’s why Reinsdorf’s comments raised concern. When ownership emphasizes retaining the current structure over empowering new leadership, it signals more of the same. And that’s exactly what this franchise cannot afford right now. The Bulls are not a small-market team. They are not limited in resources. They have the market, the brand, and one of the most loyal fanbases in the league. What they lack is a clear, committed vision. The solution isn’t complicated: hire the right person and then get out of the way. Let them build. Let them evaluate. Let them take this team from where it is now to where it should be. Before You Go: The Turnaround Starts Here There is real opportunity here. The Bulls are heading into an offseason with financial flexibility. With potentially over $60 million coming off the books. They also got an additional first round pick with the Portland Trail Blazers winning in the play-in tournament. More importantly, they have young pieces to build around. Matas Buzelis and Josh Giddey are both on team-friendly deals and represent a foundation worth developing. With the right leadership, this roster can be reshaped into something far more competitive. This is a fresh canvas. A new front office. A chance at a new direction. Now, a new voice on the sidelines. But none of it matters unless ownership is willing to fully commit to the process. Because for the Chicago Bulls, the turnaround doesn’t start with the next hire. It starts with trust.

The Toronto Raptors jumped over the Atlanta Hawks on the last day of the regular season, which means they will be the Cleveland Cavaliers first round match up in this year’s playoffs. The Cavs are 3-0 against the Raptors all time in the playoffs, but all of those matchups occurred with a prime LeBron James on the team. The Raptors have had the Cavs' number this season, and I’m sure they’re ready to avenge those previous playoff losses. Regular Season Results Cleveland played Toronto three times in the regular season, and the Raptors won all three games by double digits. Toronto does match up very well with the Cavs, but all three of these games took place within the first month of the season when Cleveland was dealing with the Darius Garland injury. The Cavs are a much different roster heading into the playoffs than they were at the beginning of the year, but the problems that Toronto presents for them will be the same. Toronto’s Advantage on the Wing The Raptors are led by three wings in scoring, and the Cavaliers just don’t have very many big perimeter defenders to match up with those guys. Brandon Ingram averaged 22.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 3.7 assists in the three matchups with Cleveland this year. Scottie Barnes put up 20 points, 10 rebounds, and six assists in those same games, and RJ Barrett added in 16 points per game as well. Dean Wade and Jaylon Tyson are really the only two guys on the roster that match up with the size of these guys, so their perimeter defense will be very important in this series. Scottie Barnes and RJ Barrett are both inefficient three point shooters, so keeping those guys out of the paint and limiting transition opportunities is the top priority defensively for Cleveland. The Cavaliers' Advantages Cleveland is more talented than Toronto at every other spot on the floor. Immanuel Quickley is a good guard for the Raptors, but he’s nowhere near the level of James Harden and Donovan Mitchell. Toronto just doesn’t have the guards to slow down either of Cleveland’s superstars. James Harden only played against the Raptors once this year, but he put up 31 points and 10 rebounds in that game. Harden should be able to control the game in this series, and if he does, the Cavaliers offense should roll. At center, Toronto will start Jakob Poeltl, and they’ll bring Sandro Mamukelashvili off the bench as a stretch big. Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley have both been playing at a very high level to end the regular season, and if they’re able to maintain that going into the postseason, then Cleveland should be just fine in this series. Series Prediction I believe that the Cavaliers will win this series in six games. Toronto’s wings will give Cleveland some problems in transition, but in their half court offense they won’t be able to score as easily with Mobley and Allen protecting the rim. As long as Cleveland limits their turnovers and doesn’t go too cold from three, they will win this series. It certainly won’t be a walk in the park for the Cavs, but they are the better team in this matchup, and I fully expect them to be in the second round against the Detroit Pistons in a few weeks.

On Monday, April 13, the WNBA hosted its annual entry draft. Women's basketball players from all over the world declared for the draft in hopes of being selected for the prestigious league. For 45 players, that dream came true. Despite UCLA winning the NCAA championship, no player from the team went first off the board. Instead, the honor of the first overall pick went to the Dallas Wings, who selected University of Connecticut’s Azzi Fudd. For the second draft in a row, a player from UCONN went first overall. Last year, it was the Wings who selected Paige Bueckers. Now, the two teammates are back together and will work towards putting the Wings in a better position for the 2026 season. The Minnesota Lynx were up next, selecting Olivia Miles from TCU, and the Seattle Storm went third and picked Awa Fam Thiam. It wasn’t until the Washington Mystics’ fourth pick of the draft that a player from UCLA was off the board, selecting Lauren Betts. After UCLA won the championship, it put them on the map. Betts was not the only player from UCLA to be drafted in the first round. In fact, UCLA set a new record with five players being drafted in the first round. Betts’ teammates Gabriela Jaquez and Kiki Rice were off the board fifth and sixth, respectively. Jaquez was selected by the Chicago Sky, while the new expansion team, the Toronto Tempo, selected Rice. Betts will have a familiar face with her, as Angela Dugalic joins her on the Mystics after she was selected by Washington, ninth overall. Finally, the Connecticut Sun selected Gianna Kneepkens with the 15th overall pick, the final one in the first round. Surprisingly enough, the first round draft excitement isn’t done just yet. With the eighth overall pick, the Golden State Valkyries selected LSU’s Flau’jae Johnson. With the first pick in the second round, 16th overall, the Storm selected Marta Suarez. While it seemed like everything was fine and dandy, the two teams shocked everyone when the Valkyries traded the rights to Johnson in exchange for Suarez. After the draft, Valkyries General Manager Ohemaa Nyanin set the record straight and confirmed that the trade was already set in motion before the draft even began. Regardless of the decision, both teams came out on top and got what they needed. This was not a bad trade by any means for either team, with both getting strong players to help grow their new rosters. Each team is getting a major shake-up, thanks to the huge free agency market, due to the new CBA that was signed last month. The new CBA will guarantee every player is making more money, hence why most aren’t signed to contracts at this moment. This incoming draft class is a deep, strong class that will help aid their new team as they get ready for the 2026 season. Even though the draft was just on April 13, training camp is already set to begin on April 19, with the first preseason games happening on Friday, April 24. The WNBA is in crunch time to get the 2026 season ready for tip-off, and it will be here before we know it.

The Indianapolis Colts have made numerous moves this offseason, not all of which have been popular. With the NFL draft coming up April 21-23 in Pittsburgh, there is a lot of pressure on the front office to deliver with its picks. So far in the offseason, the Colts have lost nine players to free agency and trades and could lose more. This includes over four defensive starters and wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. and offensive tackle Braden Smith. This means there are a lot of gaps the Colts are looking to fill. The Colts made moves in free agency, signing some defensive players like safety Jonathan Owens and re-signing Alec Pierce and Daniel Jones. Losing Pittman Jr. on the offensive end means that the Colts need to look to draft or sign another receiver. Jones is going to need options, and as good as Pierce is, he is only one person and cannot be everywhere on the field. With seven picks in the draft, it is safe to assume one of them will be a wide receiver. There are a lot of options available, so it does not need to be the first pick. The more pressing matter is the defense. The defensive players lost in the offseason were huge contributors and leaders on that end of the field. Nick Cross and Zaire Franklin were the two top performers on the defense, both ranking No.1 and No.2 in tackles . The players signed are players that have already been in the NFL, and while impressive, their career performances and level of contribution do not nearly match. There is a chance these players have their best years, but the Colts should not rely on that for defense. Recently, it was announced that the Colts and cornerback Kenny Moore II mutually agreed to seek a trade. Moore is another contributor from the defense that the Colts will be losing. Moore spent nine years with the Colts and earned Pro Bowl honors in 2021. His contract was set to expire after this season, but no money was guaranteed. This decision is surprising. The Colts need veteran leadership on the defensive end, and Moore would have been that. He was still producing on the field and putting up good numbers, and the Colts had the money to pay him. Another move that may alarm fans was the Colts' signing of free agent safety Nasir Adderley . It was announced by Adam Schefter that Adderley would be coming out of retirement and playing for the Colts. Adderley played four years for the Los Angeles Chargers from 2019 to 2022. He developed into a strong player and played in fifty games, recording over 232 total tackles. While Adderley has all of the potential in the world, it seems like an unnecessary risk. He has not played in the NFL for years, and it could take time to adapt again or decide he does not want to play again. The Colts have taken a lot of risks and are now in a high-risk, high-reward situation. Jones is still recovering from a torn Achilles, and it is unknown what his status may be at the start of the season, despite his intentions to be ready for Week 1 . The front office is relying on rookies to be able to contribute immediately and fill larger roles on the team. It is set up to be an exciting season. There are already many new players to look out for, even before the draft is completed, and it is a new group of talent to watch. However, with the decisions the Colts have made so far, there is a lot of room for things to go wrong, too.

Finally securing the overall No. 1 seed in the NBA, the Thunder now look forward to their hard-earned homecourt advantage in the playoffs. It’s not been easy for them, as they had a 16-game cushion over the second seed last season. This time, however, they needed 80 games to lock up the best record in the league. But now that it’s all said and done, OKC now focuses on the bigger task at hand. Sure, fans can now expect to see Shai Gilgeous-Alexander , Jalen Williams, Chet Holmgren , and the rest of the key players to skip the final games left to play. We may even see Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault figure out the best lineup he can find for the playoffs. But is the homecourt advantage really that important for the Thunder’s chances of winning it all once more ? While many people may downplay the importance of having your fans around in most games, OKC thrives at home better than any other team in the league. For instance, the Thunder holds the best home record this season at 34-6, and so does last year’s tally. On top of that, the 2025 NBA Playoffs showed just how dominant the Thunder can be. Paycom Center, formerly the Chesapeake Energy Arena, lived up to its moniker of “Loud City.” Each game was alive and roaring, just showing how hard it is to earn a win on Oklahoma City’s home ground. If you are not impressed, they finished that playoff run with an 11-2 record at home . Those two losses were somewhat by luck, with the Thunder making some avoidable mistakes. They never even lost back-to-back games in that whole stretch. Throughout that campaign, fans have stressed just how well the team played at home. Some even claimed that the whole outcome would have been different if OKC hadn’t clinched the overall No. 1 seed. A Historically Strong Team at Home The Thunder’s exploits at home continue to be a promising note for many experts this season. After setting one of the historically great defenses last season, OKC still stands out with the highest point differential at home this season, with a total of 514 points . If you’re still skeptical about their impressive dominance at home, Oklahoma City is the only team in the league this season that has won by a margin of double digits. They’re dominating each game by a difference of 12.54 points at home. Sure, they were definitely dealing with a lot of injuries this season, being the second-most-injured team in the league. However, they still managed to instill the same level of dominance at this point. In comparison, the historic 2024-25 Thunder put up a 15.19 point differential per game at home. OKC has been competitive since 2010, and they’ve managed to stay as one of the most dominant teams at home. In fact, they boast a 53-22 record at home in the playoffs, which is third overall in the league since the 2009-10 season. At this point, it is safe to say that Loud City isn’t a myth. It’s an earbusting reality. With the way OKC is playing right now towards the end of the season, it does seem that they can carry the same pace heading into the playoffs. The Thunder will still have to wait to see who their first-round opponent will be. Whether it plays to their strengths or not, homecourt advantage is something that they should maximize moving forward. Will the Thunder Make the Most of their Homecourt Advantage? As the first seed, the Thunder will also enjoy the advantage of not having to face heavyweight opponents right away. This means they can avoid either Denver or San Antonio until the Western Conference Finals, making it the only bigger hurdle they’ll face. The odds still highly favor the Thunder to come up with a majestic finish this season. They’ve already clinched the season’s best record. Half the journey is complete. However, the job’s not done, and there’s a whole new road waiting for Oklahoma City. Every team now starts at zero. The only difference, however, is that OKC has homecourt advantage as deep as they can go in the playoffs.

A rematch of the most heated game of the NBA season , the Charlotte Hornets play their final home game of the year tonight, and have unfinished business with the Detroit Pistons. Detroit has the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference locked up, while the Hornets are still fighting for a chance at sixth place in the East. Both Teams Are Fully Healthy As of right now, the Hornets and Pistons come into this game at full strength, for Charlotte, Coby White returns after missing the Hornets road game against the Boston Celtics, which is huge for Charlotte, White gives Charlotte a scoring spark off the bench, and most importantly keeps the offense flowing when LaMelo Ball is on the bench, which was noticeably a struggle in the recent loss to the Celtics where it felt like Ball was keeping Charlotte afloat by himself at times. As for Detroit, star PG Cade Cunningham is back from his collapsed lung injury and is playing his second game since returning tonight. Normally in a game like tonight, where the Pistons aren’t playing for anything, there’d be a better chance of Cade not playing, but since he’s missed just around a month of basketball, its smart for Detroit to play him and continue to get his legs back under him as the NBA Playoffs are right around the corner. Keys to Victory: Win the Rebounding Battle While the margin wasn’t too large last game, Charlotte did lose the battle of the boards, and lost in the offensive rebounds battle as well. Moussa Diabate has to keep Pistons C Jalen Duren off the glass, make life hard for him, and do it while not getting into an all-out brawl like they did last time. Ryan Kalkbrenner has been a bright spot for Charlotte this season, but he can struggle to rebound at times. He has to clean the glass well tonight when he’s on the court. In the last matchup against Detroit, Kalkbrenner finished with just four rebounds, and that’s with extra minutes since Diabate was ejected from the game. Keys to Victory: Balanced Offensive Attack In Charlotte’s last game against Detroit and in their last game against the Celtics, the Hornets offense was top-heavy. LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller, and Kon Knueppel did their jobs for the most part, but the supporting cast didn’t, and that has to change for Charlotte to get a statement win tonight. In the February 9 loss against Detroit, Ball, Miller, and Knueppel combined for 64 points; the rest of the roster combined for 40. That can’t happen tonight if Charlotte wants to get out of the ninth seed. Obviously Charlotte lives off the three-point shot, they have to get contributions from long range from everyone, and if the Hornets can get back to that 20 three-pointers made mark, they’ll give themselves a real chance against a tough Detroit team. Keys to Victory: Charlotte Has to Win Out Charlotte currently sits at the ninth seed, meaning they’ll play a home game in the Play-In but have to win twice to secure the eighth seed. The Hornets need to at least reach the 8th seed so they have two chances to win one game to secure a playoff spot, rather than having to win two games to get in. The Orlando Magic are the team to watch for Charlotte. They play the Bulls tonight, which they’ll win because the Bulls are tanking, but then Orlando plays the Boston Celtics on the road, and the Celtics are going to play all their guys because they’re still playing for seeding. The Hornets own the tiebreaker against Orlando, so that’s the team for Charlotte fans to root against the most in this last stretch of the season, while also just needing the Hornets to win out against the Pistons and Knicks.

The St. Louis Cardinals have gotten off to a solid start, considering this season was set with no expectations and was positioned to be the start of a rebuild. While the roster overhaul played out in the winter, the ones that remain have put on a show, some with their spot in the Cardinals’ plans for the future on the line. Jordan Walker has gotten off to a hot start, hitting .295 with five home runs on the fresh campaign, but while Walker and the Cardinals' offense have gotten off to a great start, their bullpen has reared its ugly head. At the trade deadline last season, the Cardinals moved on from pieces of their bullpen that were headed to free agency at the trade deadline, and did little to mask the holes in the offseason. Ryne Stanek and George Soriano were the only additions to the Cardinals' bullpen this winter, and so far, Stanek has struggled in his six appearances with a 6.35 ERA, and Soriano holds a 3.00 ERA while leaving 71.4% of runners on base. Three returning pieces to the Cardinals bullpen have been excellent thus far, with Riley O’Brien, who is seemingly turning into the de facto closer in St. Louis, and Jo Jo Romero both holding a 0.00 ERA in six appearances each. Gordon Graceffo joins the successful portion of the returning cast with a 1.93 ERA, but is walking the most hitters on the team. Matt Svanson, Matthew Pushard, Chris Roycroft, and Justin Bruihl round out the rest of the Cardinals' relief appearances this season, and none of them have jumped out as being a guy who can get outs when the team needs it. Roycroft has already been reassigned to Memphis with Pushard on the injured list. Svanson, who was thought to compete for the closing job based on last season's performance, has been abysmal to start the year. With five appearances, he boasts a 15.00 ERA. If Svanson can stabilize and take back control on the mound, he would likely see more time out of the Cardinals' bullpen, as nobody else has stepped up in the middle of the game for the Redbirds. There is a potential option on the horizon: Hunter Dobbins, who is returning from a torn ACL , could create two routes the Cardinals can take. The first is to place Dobbins in the bullpen and use him in the middle innings to get to the back end of the bullpen. The other is to move Kyle Leahy, whose first two starts have not gone as envisioned for St. Louis, back into the bullpen where he thrived last season. Either route could be an option depending on the state of the Cardinals' bullpen upon Dobbins’ return. One thing is certain in St. Louis: if the Cardinals' bullpen does not improve, the welcome surprise of an electric offense could be a waste. The Cardinals have scored five or more runs in seven games this season, and while the bullpen did not allow a run against the New York Mets, they have lost multiple games due to their bullpen not being able to hold a lead or keep the game close enough for the Cardiac Cards to climb back in it.