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The New England Patriots used free agency a year ago to jump-start a foundation built around ascending quarterback Drake Maye and veteran head coach Mike Vrabel. They proved to be talented (and fortunate) enough to advance to the Super Bowl in their first year together. A few struggling teams from last season appear to be in a good spot to potentially follow that path to success in 2026. A handful of teams strategically spent in free agency, adding players who can raise their floor and ceiling for next season. Those teams will now have to be smart with their selections in the upcoming draft as they seek to cobble a good enough roster to quickly turn their fortunes around after underwhelming seasons in 2025. So, let’s take a closer look at five teams with the best chances to go from being left out of the playoffs last year to reaching the tournament in 2026. [2026 NFL Free Agency: Where All 32 NFL Teams Stand After the First Wave] 5. New York Giants New York secured the biggest name in the head coaching cycle by hiring Super Bowl champion John Harbaugh to a $100 million deal to run their team. Harbaugh already had key pieces in place to build around in second-year quarterback Jaxson Dart, receiver Malik Nabers, running backs Cam Skattebo and Tyrone Tracy Jr., along with standout left tackle Andrew Thomas. Grabbing Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love at No. 5 in this year’s draft would add an explosive touchdown maker to this offense. The Giants improved that young roster with key additions in free agency from Harbaugh’s time in Baltimore in tight end Isaiah Likely and fullback Patrick Ricard, which signals a shift to more big-boy football and two tight end sets in New York. The Giants also brought in two playmaking receivers with similar skill sets in Darnell Mooney and Calvin Austin III, a run-and-chase linebacker in Tremaine Edmunds and a cornerback looking to reset his career in Greg Newsome. Harbaugh also added former Ravens punter Jordan Stout and former Miami Dolphins All-Pro kicker Jason Sanders to upgrade special teams. But overall, it will be up to Harbaugh to work his magic and develop the Giants into a championship organization again after New York won a combined seven games the last two years. Harbaugh is up to the task. 4. Baltimore Ravens The team that fired Harbaugh is also looking to rebound. The Ravens lured defensive guru Jesse Minter away from the Los Angeles Chargers to infuse the organization with new energy. Yes, the Ravens created some bad vibes around the league by backing out of a blockbuster trade for Las Vegas Raiders edge rusher Maxx Crosby. But Baltimore quickly grabbed a reasonable alternative in signing top free agent pass rusher Trey Hendrickson and holding onto the team’s two first-round picks. The Ravens lost 11 players to other teams in the opening days of free agency, as general manager Eric DeCosta looks to replenish his roster by adding some pieces on cost-effective deals in the second wave of free agency. However, the Ravens improved the offensive line with the additions of interior offensive linemen John Simpson and Jovaughn Gwyn. Joining Hendrickson on the defensive side of the ball in free agency is playmaking safety Jaylinn Hawkins. And for a team that focuses on drafting and developing players, the Ravens have 11 selections in this year’s draft, giving Minter the ability to add young prospects who can help the Ravens for the upcoming season on both sides of the ball. The Ravens also must get a new deal done for two-time NFL MVP Lamar Jackson. Continuing to build around the 29-year-old franchise quarterback remains the top priority for DeCosta and Minter as Baltimore chases another Lombardi trophy. The Ravens made the playoffs in six of the last eight seasons and should return to their winning ways this year. [2026 NFL Offseason: The Biggest Need For Every AFC Team After Early Free Agency] 3. Dallas Cowboys Brian Shottenheimer was better than expected in his first year as head coach. The Cowboys’ trade with the Pittsburgh Steelers for receiver George Pickens proved a successful transaction; they held onto the dynamic receiver by applying the franchise tag to the Georgia product, allowing more time to negotiate a long-term deal. Running back Javonte Williams returned in free agency. Led by quarterback Dak Prescott, the Cowboys had one of the top offenses in the league last year, averaging 28 points a game. The task for owner Jerry Jones this offseason was to improve a leaky defense, so the Cowboys can compete for a postseason berth. Dallas started that process by moving on from defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus and replacing him with Philadelphia Eagles defensive passing game coordinator Chris Parker. Dallas brought in another pass rusher by trading with the Green Bay Packers for Rashan Gary. The Cowboys also added two versatile players to the defensive backfield from the NFC West in Arizona Cardinals free agent safety Jalen Thompson and former Los Angeles Rams slot defender Cobie Durant. And Dallas brought some juice to the defensive line with the addition of defensive tackle ex-Los Angeles Charger Otito Ogbonnia, along with the additions of linebacker Tyrus Wheat and safety P.J. Locke. And with the trade of Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers last year, the Cowboys have two first-round picks and eight total in this year’s draft, including four in the top 112. That should be enough to add a handful of contributors to a team that should compete for a playoff spot in the NFC East. [2026 NFL Offseason: The Biggest Need for Every NFC Team After Early Free Agency] 2. Kansas City Chiefs The headliner for the Chiefs this offseason was signing Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III to a three-year, $43 million contract in free agency. Much like the addition of Sanquan Barkley and Derrick Henry for the Philadelphia Eagles and Baltimore Ravens in free agency two years ago, Walker should serve to improve a lackluster running game and take some pressure off Patrick Mahomes as he returns from a season-ending knee injury. Yes, Kansas City must replenish talent lost in the secondary, with slot defender Trent McDuffie traded to the Rams, cornerback Jaylen Watson joining McDuffie in Los Angeles in free agency and safety Bryan Cook signing with the Cincinnati Bengals. The addition of Alohi Gilman from the Baltimore Ravens in free agency should help as the former Charger returns to the AFC West. The Chiefs also added defensive tackle Khyiris Tonga in free agency. Along with that, the Chiefs have two first-round picks in this year’s draft and nine overall. Veteran defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo has done a nice job of developing young talent in the back end defensively. Travis Kelce returns for another season, and the Chiefs executed a trade with the New York Jets for quarterback Justin Fields as insurance for Mahomes, who is expected to be ready for the start of the regular season. Head coach Andy Reid also brought back longtime offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy, who should help get the most out of Walker. Bottom line, the Chiefs are a franchise that knows what it takes to build a Super Bowl contender, and if Mahomes returns healthy, Kansas City is set up to chase another Lombardi trophy. 1. Minnesota Vikings Speaking of chasing Super Bowls, the Vikings are in a prime position in the NFC North with the addition of Kyler Murray. The Vikings have one of the most talented offenses in the league, headlined by star wide receiver Justin Jefferson. Wide receiver Jordan Addison, tight end T.J. Hockenson and running back Aaron Jones all return as well, with the last of those names agreeing to a last-minute contract restructure to keep him in Minnesota. If Minnesota receives just competent quarterback play with Murray, they should compete for an NFC North division title. Even with the up-and-down play of injury-prone quarterback J.J. McCarthy, the Vikings won nine games. Defensive coordinator Brian Flores returns, which means Minnesota should have an elite defense again this year. Murray has never played on a team with a top-10-ranked defense in his pro career. The Vikings didn’t do much in free agency because of salary cap restraints, retaining linebacker Eric Wilson and special teams standout Tavierre Thomas, along with signing former Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback James Pierre. However, the Vikings already had one of the best rosters in the NFC and won 14 games with Sam Darnold as the team’s quarterback two years ago. The addition of Murray, the No. 1 overall selection in the 2019 draft, provides someone as talented as Darnold, looking to make a similar transformation as the USC product. Along with that, the Vikings have nine selections in this year’s draft, including the No. 14 overall pick, giving them enough moves to improve an already talented roster.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

The NFL Draft is a month away, and pro days can yield the kind of ridiculous numbers that build intrigue around outside-the-box prospects you might have never heard of before. That’s the case with UTSA kicker Jaffer Murphy, a former college soccer player who turned heads at the Roadrunners’ pro day last week when he not only hit a 70-yard field goal, but then was timed at 4.50 seconds in the 40-yard dash. “I definitely wanted to stand out and do something that would impress the scouts,” the 24-year-old told me over the phone. “I was very blessed that it went the way that it did.” Murphy’s path to where he is now is unique, to say the least. He was born in Liberia in West Africa, moved to the United States in 2006 and was adopted here. He played soccer, basketball and football in high school, and was talented enough to play soccer in college at Drake and Florida Gulf Coast. He decided to give college football a try in 2024, playing at Division II Erie College, going 13-for-21 on field goals and connecting from as far out as 60 yards. That got him a spot at North Carolina as a preferred walk-on in spring 2025, but after sitting down with coach Bill Belichick, he wasn’t guaranteed a spot on their 105-man roster. So, he drove 20-plus hours to Texas to work out for coaches at UTSA and landed a roster spot there. He couldn’t win the place-kicking job, but handled kickoffs for UTSA, with 54 touchbacks in 88 kicks and two tackles on special teams. UTSA coach Jeff Traylor had lost his kicker to Oklahoma at the end of spring drills, and said while Murphy didn’t handle field goals for the Roadrunners, he was exactly what they needed on kickoffs. “We were in desperate need,” Traylor told me. “He hadn’t played football very long, but he was a wonderful, wonderful kid. All he needed was some time on task. He did a really good job for us on kickoffs. Super human, super athlete, and his best football is still in front of him.” What made a splash was his showing at UTSA pro day last week, going 12-for-13 on field goals, connecting from as long as 70 yards, and then showing off his athleticism with a 4.50 40-yard dash. Such speed from a kicking specialist is rare, of course — Georgia’s Jake Camarda ran a 4.56 at the combine in 2022 and was a fourth-round pick of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, spending two years as their punter. Murphy ran the 40 and did the vertical and broad jump with other UTSA draft prospects, and said scouts walked up to him and asked him if he would run the “L drill” or three-cone drill, which can show agility and quickness. He did them, and the same scouts asked if he would be comfortable doing positional drills as a defensive back, a position he’d never played or practiced at. “I’m a kicker, but I can also be an athlete, so I’d love to,” said Murphy, who borrowed gloves from a teammate and went through drills, acknowledging his footwork may not be the best. “I just wanted to go out and have some fun, and they reminded me I had nothing to lose.” Jacob Enns, a trainer and kicking specialist in Tampa who has worked with Murphy over the past three years, said he was making field goals from 71 yards in their second workout together, showing a natural talent for long-range kicking. “When he kicked off, the comments on his Twitter posts were ‘This kid kicks like a Madden kicker,’ because it looked just like a video game,” Enns told me. “Now, hopefully, he’ll be able to do that at the next level. … A lot of it is God-given ability, and he has that aspect of it. When we started this journey, he told me [the NFL] was his goal. He’s doing the same thing he’s done each step of the way, trusting God to open the right door. He’s going to keep working hard to earn his spot.” Murphy is working on getting his accuracy to match his strength, and he’ll need to show teams he can handle the pressure of game-on-the-line kicks in real, high-level situations. In the last game Murphy kicked a field goal, the announced attendance was 250, which came during his time at Erie College. NFL kickers come in all sizes. Daniel Carlson of the Las Vegas Raiders is 6-foot-5 and 215 pounds, while Jake Elliott of the Philadelphia Eagles is 5-9 and 167. Murphy measured at 6-1, 180 pounds at his pro day, and said he “hopefully can change the way kickers are viewed in the NFL.” He’s gifted with a strong leg, but how does athleticism help a kicker? That could be in coverage after a kickoff, in the potential for trick-play gimmickry on field goals and extra points. Murphy is unlikely to get drafted next month, but could land with an NFL team as an undrafted free agent or as a tryout player for rookie minicamp. If a strong-legged soccer player with little to no college football experience becoming an NFL kicker seems far-fetched, it shouldn’t be. Cowboys star Brandon Aubrey, now a three-time Pro Bowl selection, played soccer at Notre Dame and in the MLS before trying football with two years in the USFL before he landed in Dallas. An even closer parallel is Lions kicker Jake Bates, who played college soccer and did kickoffs only at Texas State and Arkansas, then played a year in the UFL before making the cut with Detroit. “I love their game, love what they do, and I felt like I could go and do something that’s never been done before, whether that’s kicking or being utilized out on the field as well,” Murphy told me. Traylor said the interest from scouts was strong enough that he’ll have demand from NFL teams, either during or after the draft, but he’s eager to see what he can do on a larger platform. “Great teammate, high IQ. I’m a big fan,” Traylor told me. “He’s going to get into a camp. He’s probably got about 20 opportunities right now. We’ll see how long he lasts, but he’ll get into a camp.”​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

The warning comes from about every coach, every player each March — heck, in any sport as the stakes are raised as the games carry more gravitas — don’t look too far ahead. Worry about the next practice, the next game, not what could happen down the road. Then there’s Dan Hurley. The two-time national champion UConn coach seems to be reinforcing his classic brash ways by sharing his focus for Friday’s Sweet 16 game in the NCAA Tournament against Michigan State with the prospects of an Elite Eight matchup against St. John’s. Just like any East Coast fan or gambler who filled out a bracket this season, Hurley can’t help but follow the lines in the East Regional and see what a Huskies’ win against Tom Izzo’s team could get them — a rematch in Washington with two-time reigning Big East season and tournament champions, St. John’s. Coach Rick Pitino has the tougher task between Hurley and his Big East rivals — at least on paper — in getting the Red Storm past top-seeded Duke. [MEN’S BRACKET: NCAA Tournament Bracket, Leaders & Stats] Hurley, though, has a plea — the fanbases need to rally together for one night and root for their rivals so there is a chance for a fourth game this season between the schools, this time with a spot in the Final Four at stake. “It will be a live building. It’s probably a little bit early, but obviously, I think we’ve got to support each other,” Hurley said. “It’s pretty brutal on Twitter, I think, and socials between our fan bases, but I think we have to try to come together Friday night against our opponent so we can have a bloodbath on Sunday.” Hurley noted “it stinks a little bit” that two conference teams are set to potentially play in the regional final rather than in a Final Four. St. John’s took two of three meetings this season against UConn, the second being a 20-point win in the Big East Tournament title game. The Feb. 25 blowout loss at UConn stands as St. John’s lone setback since standing at 9-5 as of Jan. 3, with the Red Storm beating Northern Iowa and Kansas in the tournament. UConn started 22-1 but closed the regular season on a 7-4 stretch, a pedestrian record for a program that won consecutive national championships in 2023 and 2024. The Huskies rebounded with wins over Furman and UCLA in first- and second-round games last weekend in Philadelphia to reach their 17th Sweet 16. (The Huskies beat Michigan State in an exhibition game in late October.) Maybe it was playing in the East Coast that stirred up questions and comments about a St. John’s-UConn showdown before it could even happen. Duke is a comfortable 6.5-point favorite to beat fifth-seeded St. John’s while the Huskies are just 1.5-point favorites to beat Michigan State, per BetMGM Sportsbook. If both Big East teams win, look out, the home of the Wizards and Capitals could look and sound a bit like Madison Square Garden in conference tourney time. “I think it speaks to the quality of what us and St. John’s are this year,” Hurley said. “I think they’re a great team. I think we’re a great team. I think it was much needed.” Winning two games in the NCAA Tournament were much needed for UConn a year after it was bounced by Florida in the second round. The Gators would win the national championship — yet there’s no repeat this season after they were bounced by Iowa. [NCAA ODDS: Latest Men’s March Madness Odds, Favorites] The Huskies are back in their proper spot among college basketball’s hierarchy. They can thank Tarris Reed Jr. and Alex Karaban for getting the Huskies back to the Sweet 16. Reed had 31 points and 27 rebounds, the kind of sensational stat line not seen in the NCAA Tournament in nearly 60 years, in the opener against Furman. Karaban scored a career-high 27 points in the second round against UCLA. Karaban is a fourth-year senior in a career spent all at UConn — a rarity in today’s instant transfer, greater riches game — and a third national title would rank him with the players of John Wooden’s UCLA heyday in the rarified air of players with three rings. “I think he can just take us wherever we need to go,” UConn guard Braylon Mullins said. “We all have the confidence with him and he’s our leader. We all look up to him. He holds the standard with this program.” The Huskies hope they’ll be closer to full strength in the Sweet 16. Silas Demary Jr., a first team All-Big East selection, returned to the lineup against UCLA and played 22 minutes after he sustained an ankle injury in the Big East Tournament. Jaylin Stewart again sat out both tournament games with a knee injury that’s sidelined him since late February. The deeper the Huskies, the better shot they have at going deep in the tournament — and maybe get that date with Pitino and St. John’s. Reporting by The Associated Press.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Skip Holtz, one of the most successful head coaches in spring football, stepped away from his post with the three-time champions Birmingham Stallions this offseason. Filling those big shoes is a familiar face, with former UFL product and Alabama quarterback AJ McCarron taking over — one of several new coaching changes for Year 3. “Everything happens for a reason,” McCarron said. “I truly believe that, and I’ve enjoyed every minute of it. … I was in this league when it first came back around in 2023, and to see it grow and how well they take care of the coaches and players … has been awesome.” The 2026 UFL season kicks off Friday night on FOX with the newly formed Louisville Kings — one of the league’s three brand-new franchises — hosting the Stallions at Kentucky’s Lyon Family Stadium (8 p.m. ET). One of the main goals of the UFL remains providing an opportunity for players to chase their dreams of playing in the NFL. Over the past two seasons, 66 players with a connection to modern-era spring football (2020 to present) have earned spots on NFL regular-season rosters or have been added to practice squads during the 2025 season. Along with that extra incentive, one thing that has remained a constant in the league is Shannon Harris, the head coach of the DC Defenders and 2025 UFL Coach of the Year. Harris led the Defenders to a UFL title in his first season after replacing Reggie Barlow just a week before the 2025 season began. The Defenders finished the season raising the championship trophy, and Harris shed the interim tag to become DC’s permanent head coach. The Defenders also have the most continuity of any team, returning offensive coordinator Fred Kaiss and defensive coordinator Blake Williams, the son of longtime NFL defensive guru Gregg Williams. “We know what it takes to win in this league, and the goal isn’t to relive last season,” said Williams. “It’s to raise the bar. This group is hungry, driven, and locked in on building something even better in 2026.” Here’s a closer look at what to know for the upcoming UFL season: Three new home markets in Year 3 Three franchises were moved to different cities, an effort by the league to drum up more fan support and create a more festive, intimate environment by playing in cozier venues to improve the fan experience. Teams in Memphis, San Antonio and Michigan relocated to Columbus, Louisville and Orlando, respectively. Six of the eight venues have also been changed. The league’s hope is the move to different markets and smaller venues will spark fan engagement. [UFL 2026: Full Regular-Season Schedules for All 8 Teams] Rick Neuheisel among six new head coaches McCarron is just one of six new UFL head coaches on the sidelines this season. Former Colorado and Washington head coach Neuheisel takes over the Dallas Renegades, who moved from Arlington. The Renegades relocated their home games from Choctaw Stadium in Arlington to Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas. Kevin Sumlin returns to coach the Houston Gamblers. The Roughnecks were rebranded to the Gamblers for 2026, reverting to their original name when Sumlin served as the team’s head coach in the legacy USFL in 2022. Anthony Becht has moved from the St. Louis Battlehawks to become the head coach of the new Orlando Storm. Ricky Proehl replaces Becht in St. Louis, while former NFL receiver and Ohio State standout Ted Ginn Jr. will serve as the head coach of the Columbus Aviators and former NFL quarterback Chris Redman is the head coach of the Kings. Familiar names on UFL rosters Luis Perez, “The Spring King,” remains the starting quarterback for the Renegades. Perez led the UFL with 2,238 passing yards last year. Offensive lineman Tremayne Anchrum Jr., a former NFL draft pick in 2020, is with the Renegades, along with returning wideout Deontay Burnett. 2025 UFL Championship Game MVP Jordan Ta’amu returns for the Defenders. DC’s veteran quarterback is joined by former Michigan Panthers safety Kai Nacua, the older brother of Los Angeles Rams receiver Puka Nacua.  Former legacy XFL rushing leader Abram Smith is back for the Defenders, along with receivers Cornell Powell and Ty Scott. Jalan McClendon returns for another season in the UFL as the starting quarterback for the Aviators. The 30-year-old took a major step in development by earning a starting job in Houston last year. McClendon helped Houston improve from 1-9 in 2024 to 5-5 last season. Ex-Michigan Panthers running back Toa Taua is also now with the Aviators. Quarterback Matt Corral and standout wide receiver Deon Cain are back for Birmingham’s high-powered offense. Former San Antonio Brahmas speedy running back Anthony McFarland Jr. joins those two in Birmingham. Hakeem Butler returns at receiver for St. Louis, along with outside linebackers Pita Taumoepenu and Travis Feeney. All-UFL defensive tackle Carlos Davis moves from Birmingham to St. Louis. All-UFL linebacker Tavante Beckett is now with the newly formed Storm. Electric receiver and returner Chris Rowland joins Beckett in Orlando. Versatile running back Kirk Merritt is back for Houston. [UFL 2026: Every Player Drafted by Position for All 8 Teams] New faces, new places Former Cleveland Browns quarterback and UCLA product Dorian Thompson-Robinson will lead Orlando’s offense. Ex-Cincinnati Bengals receiver John Ross, who held the NFL Scouting Combine record in the 40-yard dash at 4.22 seconds before Xavier Worthy broke it two years ago, is joining his former teammate McCarron in Birmingham. Newly minted Atlanta Falcons quarterback Tua Tagovailia’s younger brother, Taulia, was signed by Houston. He played at Maryland when Sumlin coached there. Former Las Vegas Raiders first-round cornerback Damon Arnette returns to Houston, and ex-Pittsburgh Steelers running back Benny Snell Jr. signed on with Louisville. One of the new kickers to watch out for this year is USC product Michael Lantz for the Storm. Brandon Aubrey, Jake Bates, Harrison Mevis and Andre Szmyt are all former UFL players who earned jobs as kickers in the NFL. [UFL 2026 Title Odds: Stallions, Defenders Top Preseason Board] New rule changes The UFL installed a handful of changes to juice up the game and encourage more scoring. Those include the addition of a 4-point kick for any successful field goal 60 yards or longer. Last season in the NFL, kickers went 12-for-22 (54%) from 60-plus yards on field goals. Punts inside the 50-yard line are also prohibited, except for after the two-minute warning in either half. The UFL banned the “tush push” short-yardage play, moved kickoffs back to the 30-yard line and changed to requiring pass catchers to just have one foot in bounds, like in college. The UFL also changed two-point conversions to the NFL’s 2-yard line, moving it up from the 5-yard line. Additionally, offenses can kick for one point from the 33-yard line or go for three points from the 8-yard line. [UFL 2026: New, Updated Home and Away Uniforms for All 8 Teams] Matchups to watch, halftime entertainment highlight Week 1 Along with the Stallions and Kings kicking things off Friday, FOX will televise the Gamblers at the Renegades from Toyota Stadium on Saturday afternoon (4 p.m. ET). The other two games this weekend — Defenders vs. Battlehawks on Saturday (noon ET) and Aviators vs. Storm on Sunday (8 p.m. ET) — will be televised on ESPN to close out Week 1. The UFL will have several headliner music acts performing at halftime for season openers in home markets, including D.J. Khalid in Orlando, Nelly in St. Louis, Ty Myers in Dallas and Russell Dickerson in Louisville.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

The 2026 NFL Draft is still a month away, but astute evaluators have already completed their scouting reports for the top players in the class. Despite the NFL scouting community’s lack of respect for running backs and their ability to carry a team to a championship, Jeremiyah Love has evaluators reconsidering their team-building philosophies heading into April. The Notre Dame star is a rare find at the position as a workhorse runner with “take it to the house” potential and receiver-like hands and ball skills. In 41 college games, Love rushed for 2,882 rushing yards and 36 rushing touchdowns and added 63 catches for 594 yards and six scores. Given his ability to seamlessly shift from workhorse to big-play specialist, he has captivated the imagination of offensive coordinators looking for an explosive RB1 to build an offense around. Moreover, the 2025 Doak Walker Award winner has coaches and scouts contemplating tossing aside the new norms and reverting to a time when blue-chip runners routinely came off the board as top-five picks. Although Love will not headline a class that matches the 2005 draft — RBs Ronnie Brown, Cedric Benson and Cadillac Williams were selected second, third and fifth, respectively — he could join Todd Gurley (10th overall, 2015 draft), Ezekiel Elliott (fourth, 2016), Christian McCaffrey (eighth, 2017), Leonard Fournette (fourth, 2017), Saquon Barkley (second, 2018) and Bijan Robinson (eighth, 2023) as one of the few running backs selected in the top 10 since 2015. Considering the hype surrounding Love and his potential to take the league by storm, here is my breakdown of his spectacular game. The Upside Love is the total package as a downhill runner, with big-play ability as both a runner and a receiver. Measuring 6-foot and 212 pounds and with quick feet and exceptional balance and body control, he can run through or around defenders to get to the second level. While his superb vision enables him to spot creases quickly at the point of attack, Love’s ridiculous cutting ability allows him to slither and slide through small cracks between the tackles. With few defenders capable of matching his explosiveness and agility, the former Missouri Class 5 100-meter sprint champion (10.76) is a make-you-miss specialist with the speed to take it the distance. As a receiver, Love’s soft hands and outstanding open field running skills routinely result in big plays on low-risk throws to the perimeter. Whether catching flares and swings from his traditional running back spot or winning one-on-one matchups on options or isolation routes, he is a difference-maker in the mold of CMC and Robinson out of the backfield. As the NFL continues to evolve into a matchup league with offensive playcallers looking for various ways to create and exploit mismatches, Love’s versatility and explosiveness make him the multifaceted offensive weapon every team wants in the huddle. The Downside Despite Love’s impressive performance and production as Notre Dame’s feature back, evaluators will question whether he is a capable workhorse back at the next level. He logged 20 or more carries in a game only three times during his career, which raises concerns about his competitive stamina as an RB1. While most teams are utilizing a committee approach in the backfield with multiple runners sharing the load, Love’s status as a potential top-five pick would lead to expectations of a significant workload. As a primary playmaker for the Irish, Love’s lack of pass protection experience could be an issue at the next level. He has not mastered the complexities of “double read” concepts (running back assigned to block one of two pass rushers) within the pocket, and he must refine his blocking technique to sustain and finish better against hard-charging linebackers. While most teams will squash the issues by featuring him extensively as a receiver out of the backfield, NFL defensive coordinators will concoct a few schemes that force him to stay in the backfield and become part of the protection unit. With that in mind, Love must continue to improve in this area to prevent opponents from neutralizing his impact through creative scheming. The Verdict Love is the highest-rated running back that I have scouted since Reggie Bush entered the 2006 draft. While I raved about the USC legend and Heisman Trophy winner for his electric playmaking skills as a runner, receiver and returner, the Notre Dame star displays the potential to develop into an unstoppable force as an RB1/WR2 in a dynamic offensive scheme. Love reminds some evaluators of Detroit Lions three-time Pro Bowl RB Jahmyr Gibbs as a big-play threat and scoring machine. I view him, however, as a Jamaal Charles-like weapon who will consistently produce 100-plus yards from scrimmage with ease. As teams look for an offensive weapon to build game plans around, the buzz over the No. 1 running back in the 2026 class will reach a crescendo on April 23.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Could you imagine what the 2026 NFL Draft would look like if all college football players were eligible to be picked? Would Arch Manning be the first quarterback taken? Would the Las Vegas Raiders dare to make Jeremiah Smith the No. 1 overall pick? Well, there’s no need for you to imagine, because we’re going to find the answers to those questions in our All-College Football Mock Draft. The premise is simple: Every player who played in college football this past season is eligible to be selected in the NFL Draft. So, stars like Smith wouldn’t have to wait another year to enter the NFL. Let’s take a look at how I think the first round would play out in our All-College Football Mock Draft. 1. Las Vegas Raiders: Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana We know the Raiders still need a quarterback in this exercise. But is there a quarterback who played in college last year you’d take over Mendoza? The answer’s no. You would still take Mendoza at No. 1 in this. It might be tempting to go with a guy like Arch Manning — could you imagine Tom Brady drafting a Manning? It’s a fascinating discussion, but Mendoza should still be the pick. 2. New York Jets: Dante Moore, QB, Oregon The Jets also need a quarterback, and the discussion here would be between Moore and Manning. If you watched the tape, Moore was the better player of the two last season. I think he would win out in the evaluation process as a result. Even this year, when Moore was making his decision whether to enter the draft or not, he was the consensus No. 2 quarterback to Mendoza. Moore’s an elite talent and can further boost his draft stock in 2026. 3. Arizona Cardinals: Arch Manning, QB, Texas The Cardinals also need a quarterback, and luckily for them, this exercise provides them with plenty of talented quarterback options. It would be hard to pass up on Manning with the third pick here, even with the struggles he had early last season. His traits are just too tantalizing at this point, and he’s a Manning. If you’re the owner of the Cardinals, aren’t you sitting there and thinking, “He adds value to our organization immediately.” I also think that as Manning gains experience, he’ll become an even better player. Arch didn’t have the best season in 2025, but he improved as the year went along and the upside is still high. 4. Tennessee Titans: Jeremiah Smith, WR, Ohio State Don’t the Titans need the best offensive player available? That’s what Smith would be at this point in the draft. The Titans get to give quarterback Cam Ward the best threat possible in this hypothetical. Even though Smith still has another year to play in college, I think he’s going to immediately be one of the best receivers in the NFL the moment he enters the league. I think he can also be one of the better receivers we’ve had this generation. 5. New York Giants: Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame The Giants can finally get their Saquon Barkley replacement. I really love this idea, though, for head coach John Harbaugh, who you know wants to establish the run game. Cam Skattebo might not be the longterm answer for the Giants at running back, especially after that gruesome ankle injury. But pairing Love with quarterback Jaxson Dart and wide receiver Malik Nabers as the centerpieces of your offense for the future is a really exciting idea. 6. Cleveland Browns: Jordan Seaton, OT, LSU The Browns have a glaring need at left tackle, but even in this exercise, there isn’t a prototypical left tackle prospect that you would put in this spot. I had the Browns taking Georgia left tackle Monroe Freeling in my most recent mock draft, which some might view as a reach. But Seaton’s play has gone a bit under the radar. He was really good as a pass blocker at Colorado the last two years before transferring to LSU this offseason. 7. Washington Commanders: Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State There are a lot of great wide receivers the Commanders could potentially pick from here. I think Tate would be the second-best wide receiver in this, so Washington takes him to pair with quarterback Jayden Daniels. Tate was overshadowed a bit because of Jeremiah Smith, but he’s a great route runner who has good length and separation ability. Every Ohio State receiver that enters the NFL produces right away, and I think Washington would take that. 8. New Orleans Saints: Makai Lemon, WR, USC I actually had the Saints taking Lemon in my most recent mock draft because the fit for him in New Orleans with quarterback Tyler Shough was too good to pass on. That’s why I think the Saints should take Lemon at No. 8 in this exercise as well. I love the idea of putting him in head coach Kellen Moore’s offense. He’s a magician in space. He had the best feel for space among all college football wide receivers this past season, especially in the interior. 9. Kansas City Chiefs: Arvell Reese, edge rusher, Ohio State I know the Chiers need a cornerback, and LSU’s Mansoor Delane or Notre Dame’s Leonard Moore would be strong picks at No. 9. But you could also get one of the best players in this year’s draft class instead. Do you think the Chiefs would pass on Reese at No. 9? Reese could be, and don’t roll your eyes at this, the Chiefs’ next Derrick Thomas with his athleticism and explosion. 10. Cincinnati Bengals: David Bailey, edge rusher, Texas Tech Just like with the Chiefs and Reese, the Bengals get a great edge rusher prospect to fall to them in this exercise. I love Bailey. He was a production monster for the Red Raiders this past season. 11. Miami Dolphins: Julian Sayin, QB, Ohio State You really think that if the Dolphins could draft anyone in college football that they wouldn’t take a quarterback? They would absolutely take a quarterback. I don’t think Malik Willis is the longterm answer in Miami. Sayin should, at least, be highly considered with this pick. He was the most accurate passer in college football this past season. He’s very smart and throws the ball down the field much better than you would anticipate, even though he’s not the biggest guy on the field. I know he didn’t play great down the stretch, but Ohio State’s offensive line was a sieve in front of him, particularly against Indiana and Miami (Fla.). 12. Dallas Cowboys: Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State The Cowboys have got to fix their pass defense. Just like in my regular mock draft, arguably the best defensive player available drops to the Cowboys at No. 12. Downs’ size might make him fall to No. 12 in this exercise and in the real draft, but I don’t think the Cowboys would pass up on him, at least they shouldn’t. They had too many problems stopping the pass last season, and Downs makes you better everywhere. This is a guy who makes you better right away. He’s the smartest defensive player that I’ve covered in my college football broadcasting career. 13. Los Angeles Rams (via Atlanta Falcons): Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State Styles has rocketed up draft boards after arguably having the best combine performance ever. He’s a great leader with tremendous intangibles. He’s also got some versatility, making the move from safety to off-ball linebacker during his time at Ohio State. He can defend the pass and he’s a great run stuffer. He fits what the Rams need as they look to make a Super Bowl push. 14. Baltimore Ravens: Dylan Stewart, edge rusher, South Carolina This is where it gets a bit interesting because I’m going to have a lot of guys who are still in college starting to come off the board. Even after signing Trey Hendrickson, the Ravens could still use some pass-rushing help. So, if I’m Baltimore, I’m saying, “Sign me up for Stewart.” He was a freshman All-American in 2024 and backed that up with a really solid campaign in 2025. I think he’s going to be one of the top picks in the 2027 draft. He’s a really good player. 15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Colin Simmons, edge rusher, Texas The Buccaneers also need an edge rusher, and this exercise provides a lot of depth at that position. Simmons has really high upside. He’s a pure pass rusher who can impact the game right away. 16. New York Jets (via Indianapolis Colts): Cam Coleman, WR, Texas The Jets got their quarterback at No. 2. Now, it’s time to give Dante Moore some help. So, why not go with Coleman? He’s an elite player. When he came out of high school, everyone was talking about how good he and Jeremiah Smith could be in college. Coleman wasn’t able to shine as much, though, because of Auburn’s struggles at quarterback. Physically, Coleman has all the tools and will be catching balls from Arch Manning this upcoming season. I think he can have a really great 2026 season and possibly be a top six or seven pick in the 2027 draft. 17. Detroit Lions: Rueben Bain Jr., edge rusher, Miami (Fla.) I think the Lions could really use another pass rusher, even if they already have Aidan Hutchinson. Putting Bain with Hutchinson would give Detroit two members on the All-Motor Team. They would wear offensive tackles out. How would opposing teams shift their protections? One of them would get a one-on-one matchup that they would win. 18. Minnesota Vikings: Leonard Moore, CB, Notre Dame Minnesota could use some help at multiple positions on its defense. Moore can solidify the outside of its defense, and I think he’s the top candidate for the Thorpe Award entering the 2026 season. 19. Carolina Panthers: Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon Bryce Young could use some help, and the Panthers have an option to help alleviate some of the pressure off their young quarterback’s shoulders in the red zone with this pick. Sadiq is a game-changing tight end in the middle of the field and would be paired with Tetairoa McMillan, who is a really good outside wide receiver. But Sadiq would really help provide some balance to Carolina’s offense with his elite blocking ability. 20. Dallas Cowboys (via Green Bay Packers): Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU Delane is my top cornerback in the 2026 draft, so this would give the Cowboys great value at a position of need. Downs and Delane would really fix that pass defense. Jerry Jones would be all for the all-college football draft. 21. Pittsburgh Steelers: Trinidad Chambliss, QB, Ole Miss Is anyone else tired of waiting around for Aaron Rodgers? I’m sure the Steelers are. Don’t you want a longterm situation at quarterback? I love Chambliss and his mentality and leadership. In the face of adversity with Lane Kiffin leaving Ole Miss right before the College Football Playoff, Chambliss played so well. He’s just scratching the surface of his potential. Remember, he transferred to Ole Miss last season after spending time at Ferris State. If he has another year like he did a year ago, his draft stock will only continue to rise. 22. Los Angeles Chargers: Vega Ioane, G, Penn State The Chargers need help on the interior of their offensive line, and Ioane was the best interior offensive lineman in college football last season. Jim Harbaugh loves players like Ioane, who is versatile, can play different positions and can even motion pre-snap. 23. Philadelphia Eagles: Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami (Fla.) The Eagles have to prepare for life after Lane Johnson at some point, right? Well, they have the opportunity to take the player who I think is the top offensive tackle in this year’s draft with this pick. If the Eagles could do this, general manager Howie Roseman would run to get the pick in. I love Mauigoa as a run blocker. I think he’ll continue to develop and get better as a pass blocker. 24. Cleveland Browns (via Jacksonville Jaguars): Malachi Toney, WR, Miami (Fla.) We had the Browns filling their left tackle need earlier in this draft. Now, I think they have to add another offensive threat for second-year quarterback Shedeur Sanders. This actually might be my favorite pick in this draft because Toney is an unreal talent. He nearly had one of the most incredible catches I’ve ever seen in Miami’s CFP win over Ole Miss. But the Hurricanes were really creative with how they used Toney as a freshman this past season. They tried to get him the football in different ways, especially when they needed to get the offense out of the mud. 25. Chicago Bears: David Stone, DT, Oklahoma Stone might be the top defensive tackle in next year’s draft. I’m not as impressed by the defensive tackles in this year’s class as I am with Stone, who has been a monster for Brent Venables’ defense. He’s only getting better. He was a big reason why the Sooners were one of the three best defenses in college football this past season. 26. Buffalo Bills: KJ Bolden, S, Georgia I actually had the Bills taking a safety with their first-round pick in my most recent mock draft, something that I think new defensive coordinator Jim Leonard might be pushing for. Bolden’s outstanding and has already played a ton of football as he enters his junior season for a program with a lot of NFL talent on defense. He’s got really high upside. 27. San Francisco 49ers: Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia This is a great example of how fit matters. I have Freeling as the top left tackle in this year’s draft, but he might be a reach to pick in the top 10, which is where I had him going in my most recent mock draft. However, Freeling being selected at No. 27 would be more appropriate and the 49ers can start to prepare for the longterm outlook of their offensive line. He can take over that left tackle spot at some point for the 49ers. 28. Houston Texans: Spener Fano, OT, Utah Fano has position versatility that the Texans could use to improve their offensive line. He can play offensive tackle or guard. More importantly, this would be a great value pick as I had Fano going in the first half of the first round in my most recent mock draft. 29. Kansas City Chiefs (via Los Angeles Rams): Ellis Robinson, CB, Georgia The Chiefs use the pick they got in the Trent McDuffie trade to replace him with another cornerback. Robinson was the No. 1 overall recruit out of high school before being named second-team All-SEC as a redshirt freshman last year. I think he’s got tremendous upside, giving Kansas City a second player with elite potential in this draft after selecting Arvell Reese. 30. Miami Dolphins (via Denver Broncos): Keldric Faulk, edge rusher, Auburn The Dolphins need help everywhere, so they have to go with the best player available with this pick. Faulk would be that player here. Faulk checks a lot of boxes. He’s got good length and athleticism and I think he might have an even better NFL career than what he showed at Auburn. 31. New England Patriots: Brandon Baker, OT, Texas It was apparent that the Patriots needed some offensive line help in the Super Bowl. Baker is a heck of a player and I remember seeing him during spring football early in his college career and I thought he would be an outstanding player for a long time. 32. Seattle Seahawks: Ahmad Hardy, RB, Missouri Kenneth Walker was vital to what the Seahawks did offensively. I really liked what Hardy did at Missouri this past season, leading the Power 4 in rushing yards with 1,650 yards. He forced 97 missed tackles as well, which also led the Power 4. Hardy’s in the same mold as Walker as a running back, which would be a good addition for the Seahawks at No. 32.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Here’s what’s happening this week Inside The Garage: Darlington Raceway (Darlington, S.C.) — Daniel Suarez didn’t bother to talk to Ross Chastain in the days following their argument last week at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. He figured it wouldn’t do any good. “It’s kind of like when you make your girlfriend mad,” Suarez said with a laugh. Truth is, Suarez (driver of the Spire No. 7 car) has had plenty of “girlfriends” in the Cup garage. He has raced for five different Cup teams. So he is used to racing against drivers who, like Chastain at Trackhouse Racing, he used to call teammates. Their little dust-up brought to light that sometimes former teammates can have issues with each other on the track. While often the focus is on how teammates race each other, the way former teammates race each other is not a topic often explored. “Honestly, tell me if I’m wrong, but I’m trying to think back, and I never had any issues with any of my teammates,” Suarez told me and other reporters during the weekend at Darlington. “The thing is that last year was very, very difficult. “You guys only know 20 percent of the stuff that actually happened. And maybe one day I will write a book and you guys will find out everything that exactly how things happen. But last year was very, very difficult, definitely one of the most difficult years I have had in my career the way that things the way that things played out.” For Suarez, who has been released from a few teams, it would be normal to have some animosity and want to beat his former team. On the INDYCAR side, much is made of Andretti Global driver Will Power and whether he wants to beat the Team Penske drivers more than others. Power has insisted he isn’t focused on his former teammates. In NASCAR, drivers appear to move on relatively quickly. They can see from history that it can be for the best. Look at Joey Logano, who appeared his career might be over when he got released by Joe Gibbs Racing but then won three championships driving for Team Penske in the No. 22 car. “In the back of your mind you want to beat them, there’s no doubt, but I don’t know if I did much differently,” Logano told me. “I know I had drama with them, but I don’t think it was because of that. It was just circumstances. “You’re still just trying to prove your own career at that point. And you’re trying to prove that you belong and that you’re trying to extend your career into the next chapter.” For the last 20 years, Denny Hamlin has seen drivers come and go from JGR. “Truthfully, my relationship with my teammates always got better when we were no longer teammates,” Hamlin, driver of the No. 11 car, said in a pre-practice news conference. “That’s just factual. “We always were closer after their time was up. … It’s different for everyone, but certainly you can’t stop human nature.” One of those was Kyle Busch, who couldn’t agree to terms to remain at Hendrick Motorsports and JGR during his career. “All the Gibbs guys I’ve always gotten along well with, so none of those guys, especially Martin [Truex Jr.] for sure, but even Denny [Hamlin] we’ve always been fine,” Busch, driver of the RCR No. 8 car, told me. “Once you have issues with guys, then you kind of race in a little bit differently, like Christopher [Bell] ran over me a couple times at COTA so that didn’t go over well for a while. “When I left Hendrick, I would say you ran those guys hard because you were disappointed in not being there anymore. But you’re also running those guys hard just because of how good they are. You’re racing Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson. We had plenty of battles where we were racing for wins, but it was always cordial.” Busch replaced Tyler Reddick, who surprised RCR by leaving for 23XI Racing. He initially signed with 23XI during the 2022 season — to not start at 23XI until 2024. RCR eventually released him to go to 23XI starting in 2023 when it was able to land Busch. “Me and Austin [Dillon] always raced each other pretty hard but fair, you know, and so nothing really has changed there,” Reddick, who has already won four races this season in the No. 45 car of team owner Michael Jordan, told me and other reporters about his former RCR teammate. “Kyle has always been respectful, too. “That was one thing about Kyle that was cool. As I was trying to make my name here from the very early days, I always raced him with respect. So he always gave me that respect right back.” Reddick indicated any beefs between ex-teammates fly more under the radar than they did between Chastain and Suarez. Brad Keselowski, who has raced at Team Penske and then for his own team at RFK Racing, said it all depends on how the relationship ended. “It’s more about how you leave than anything else,” Keselowski told me. “Some departures are easier than others. I could understand that there’s always going to be some animosity amongst teams and drivers when that happens. … Ultimately, I want to beat everybody. I don’t want to beat one car, whether it be a former teammate or not.” Keselowski and other drivers said they don’t think about it much when they are racing other drivers or if they are behind two former teammates battling for a spot. “I just assume everybody’s going to run into everybody all the time, being honest,” Keselowski said. “When you’re thinking about those things, you’re not thinking about doing your job at the highest level possible — whether that’s hitting a certain spot on the racetrack or getting the right slide in the car and all those types of pieces. So I try not to let other pieces of information enter my brain.” Like other sports, there is a dynamic of the former teammates knowing each other’s tendencies better, so they know how to potentially take advantage of their weaknesses. Michael McDowell said his former Front Row Motorsports teammates, such as Todd Gilliland, know him well. “I shared every secret of my entire life with [Gilliland],” McDowell told me and other reporters. “I thought I was staying there forever. I wish I wouldn’t have told them. “I’m being serious. I’d never planned on leaving. And so I was an open book. Everything that I’ve learned and done and approach he knows.” One specific NASCAR driver does have reason to be angry with a couple teams. Zane Smith was on loan from Trackhouse to Spire in 2024 and struggled early. He was released from Trackhouse without ever competing in a race for them. “I was definitely in an interesting spot because I was like half-pregnant with two teams,” Smith told me and other reporters. He said he has put it behind him. “I don’t care who you are. I feel like whether you’re let go from a team or whatnot, you’re going prove to them that they were wrong no matter what the situation is,” Smith said. “I think you’re seeing some of that. “Who knows how that relationship ended? You never know with any of these teams how it ended. And from the outside, there’s a lot probably people just don’t know, for both sides.” That’s what Suarez indicated in what he was saying. And he indicated he isn’t focused on his former teammates. “I’m not even thinking about any of the Trackhouse cars or any of the competitors,” Suarez said. “It’s me versus me. And I always say that I’m trying to be the best version of myself. “And it just happens that I’ve been racing, especially with the 1 [of Chastain] quite a bit, because we’ve been kind of racing together.” In The News -A couple of teams made their Indy 500 one-off entries official: Helio Castroneves will return with Meyer Shank Racing and Takuma Sato will be in a fourth car for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing. That gives the Indy 500 32 confirmed entries (including the Andretti Global additional entry that is expected to go to Colton Herta). Chevrolet still has two engine packages unaccounted for that would have been used if Prema had made the grid for the 2026 season. Whether Prema could run a car in May is still to be determined. -A hearing is set for Thursday in Joe Gibbs Racing’s request to extend a temporary restraining order into a preliminary injunction against Spire Motorsports Chief Motorsports Officer Chris Gabehart. The injunction keeps Gabehart from performing similar duties to what he did as competition director at JGR. There also has been expedited discovery into Gabehart’s role and whether he shared any JGR technical info with Spire. Gabehart had taken photos of various JGR setup information and other company information. -NASCAR suspended three Big Machine Racing crew members — crew chief Patrick Donahue, car chief Dillon Bassett and engineer Morgan Olsen — for four races for ballast coming out of the Patrick Staropoli car late in the race at Las Vegas. Social Spotlight There’s no better way to start a race. Sweet Ride The best throwback scheme idea for Darlington: They Said It “I was willing to give up everything to have a shot at winning this race because I’ve wanted to win here for so, so long, so bad.” —Tyler Reddick on winning at Darlington on Sunday. In Inside The Garage, Bob Pockrass takes us behind the scenes of the motorsports world the way only he can.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

The NFL never sleeps, not even in March amid free agency’s doldrums and still a month away from the draft. Last week, the Denver Broncos traded a first-round pick (and more) to the Miami Dolphins for receiver Jaylen Waddle. The Kansas City Chiefs traded with the New York Jets for QB Justin Fields. And the Dallas Cowboys, usually one of the NFL’s loudest teams, have been suspiciously quiet. We also saw current and former NFL players fall hard to a group of all-star flag football players. That’s what we saw at the surface level. This is “Sound Smart,” where I try to spin forward, dive deeper and think outside the box. If I do my job, you’ll have a better understanding of what’s happening this NFL offseason. 1. IF THERE’S ONE THING YOU SHOULD KNOW With the Jaylen Waddle trade, the Broncos got outstanding (hidden) value. But what do the Dolphins know that we don’t? For the Broncos, this is the perfect trade. There aren’t many offenses that fit Waddle better than what Sean Payton runs. The Broncos have been seeking a Waddle-type receiver — the kind of set-it-and-forget-it outside burner who will consistently beat man coverage downfield. (And that’s hardly the only thing he does well.) Denver receivers Troy Franklin and Marvin Mims Jr. haven’t gotten it done in that role, not even alongside the most underrated possession receiver in the NFL: Courtland Sutton. I’d be curious to see what becomes of the tight end position — whether the Broncos find a way to address that role in the draft or whether one of their veterans can step up. I could see them drafting a mid-round tight end (assuming Oregon star Kenyon Sadiq isn’t within striking distance in Round 1) and a mid-round running back to see if they can find a rookie upgrade. But the Denver offense is getting increasingly more dangerous, and it was already dang good last season. For Miami, the move makes a little bit of sense, in a cold and calculated way. For a team that’s clearly eyeing a rebuild, the Dolphins apparently didn’t feel they could take on the risks of holding onto Waddle, 27, for a year too long — with the worry that, by the time the team is competitive, he’s not an elite threat anymore. But I don’t think this is as perfect for Miami as it is for Denver. And that’s because Waddle is a proven entity, which the Dolphins will not be getting at 31st overall or at 94th overall (in the third round). To complicate matters more, the 2026 draft is lacking in star power. And while we’ve said that in years past, it’s truer than ever. That 31st overall pick is going to get the Dolphins a second-round prospect, given the weakness of this draft class. So on paper, Miami got the value they probably wanted, but when we see those players, I’m dubious that the Dolphins will be pleased with the results. The other issue is that this is clearly not what’s best for Miami’s new quarterback, Malik Willis. He’s set to turn 27 before the 2026 season, and while the team’s offensive line isn’t a disaster, the QB has no one of relevance to throw to outside of RB De’Von Achane. I’m more than a little confused about why the Dolphins signed Willis. They could have added a budget option like Geno Smith. They could’ve just hung in there with Tua Tagovailoa for one more year. There were options that wouldn’t have had them investing in Wills for three years and $67.5 million. Maybe the Dolphins have big plans: drafting USC receiver Makai Lemon at No. 11 overall and signing a cheap(ish) but reliable veteran such as Stefon Diggs, Deebo Samuel or Keenan Allen. But right now, the Willis signing — a two-year deal — seems to be on a different timeline than the rest of their moves. What do they have up their sleeves? Is this situation as rough as it looks? Or do they know something we don’t? 2. MONDAY MORNING CONTROVERSY The Team USA flag football team made it clear that NFL athletes might not make the Olympic national team. It seemed like a foregone conclusion that Saquon Barkley, Jayden Daniels and other elite NFL athletes would represent the U.S. in flag football at the 2028 L.A. Olympics. But after what we saw on Saturday at the Fanatics “Flag Football Classic,” I’m not so sure that there will be many NFL players on Team USA. At the Fanatics event, the pro flag football players went undefeated against two teams made up of current and former NFL players. The aggregate score: 106-44. The flag players put on a show. But … there are some important pieces of context. Receivers DeAndre Hopkins and Odell Beckham Jr. were out there. Tom Brady was out there. So was newly-elected Hall of Fame linebacker Luke Kuechly. Some of those veteran or retired NFL players were misfits stylistically for flag football, a game best suited to agile, smaller, explosive players. (That was why Barkley, a power-based back, wasn’t all that useful either.) The pro flag players no doubt wanted to prove their value against the NFL stars, who no doubt wanted to win but also wanted to make sure they didn’t get hurt. And finally, the NFL players were new to these rules and could train to improve their skills. Would they? I don’t know. But they are such incredible athletes that there’s no doubt they could drill away at some of the key differences in the two games. Now that we’ve acknowledged all that, these games showed that it’s a real risk to pick an NFL pro over a flag pro, particularly on defense. The bottom line is that the pro flag players dominated the likes of Daniels, Jalen Hurts and Joe Burrow. There was such a clear advantage for the flag players, masters of their own game (which was far less transferable than anyone in the NFL community anticipated). It would be humbling for NFL players to get an invite to Olympic Trials for flag football, particularly if they genuinely weren’t sure if they could beat out the flag football pros. But that might be what gets the best on-field product for the Olympics — a tryout that mixes players from both games to create the most impressive and dominant unit. But that begs the question: Would any NFL players show up to a tryout? It’s going to be a complicated selection process. 3. WHAT EVERYONE ELSE IS AFRAID TO SAY Justin Fields is back! He’s a Chief — and what a fascinating match between team and quarterback. But first, let’s go back to the QB’s days in Pittsburgh. In 10 games in 2024, including six starts, Fields showed serious promise, playing within the system and without recklessness. His immense tools were on display, but there weren’t many situations where he tried to do too much. In other words, it was a great situation for him. The Jets were the opposite. It was just a brutally obvious place for Fields to regress, with the organization dragging him down — perhaps further than where he was in Chicago. Field’s trip to New York was yet another reminder that young quarterbacks should not — under any circumstances — choose to go to the Jets, particularly not if their development is at a fragile stage. But Fields will get another shot in Kansas City. Patrick Mahomes might be the ultimate competitor, but even he might not be able to get back on the field for Week 1 after his ACL tear in December. This is a legitimately good opportunity for Fields. As bad as the Chiefs’ offense was in 2025, they’re clearly invested in improving it in 2026, with former Seahawks RB Kenneth Walker joining the team as a free agent. There has always been a disparity between Field’s top-end skill and Fields’ consistency in playing the QB position. If anyone can help him bridge that gap, it’s Andy Reid and his staff. If Fields can get back on track in 2026, we are seeing teams give quarterbacks a second chance to start, particularly when they prove themselves as professionals and QB2s. Fields just landed in an ideal spot to — again — rehabilitate his game film. And with a few games to start at the beginning of the season, Fields can keep his dreams alive as a potential starter. 4. WHAT I’M HEARING 5. OFFSEASON ODDITY Has anyone heard from the Cowboys in a while? It’s been an offseason custom for Dallas and owner Jerry Jones to make major headlines in one way or another. But this offseason hasn’t been like that. And that’s despite them having the most highly-coveted pending free agent, All-Pro receiver George Pickens, whom the team tagged to retain. That should have led to ongoing contract talks, but it’s been mostly quiet. The Cowboys traded a 2027 fourth-rounder for Packers defensive end Rashan Gary (rather than make a much larger trade for someone like Maxx Crosby) to hold down the edge. Dallas also signed defensive players in safety Jalen Thompson, DT Otito Ogbonnia, and cornerback Cobie Durant. Gary and Thompson are likely starters and Durant and Ogbonnia are solid contributors. None of those players is likely to transform the defense to the level that the team needs. To the Cowboys’ credit, they haven’t done anything careless. But of course, there’s still time. Dallas has two first-round picks and four picks inside the top 112 picks for 2026. The Cowboys have serious firepower to add more talent in the draft, hopefully more on defense. And of course, there are talented — albeit aging — defensive players on the free agency market. But it’s surprising that Thompson and Gary are the Cowboys’ biggest splashes. We already knew draft night would be huge for the Cowboys. Knowing them, it’ll probably be fireworks. 6. WHAT IF … Malik Willis had signed with basically anyone other than the Dolphins. It’s unclear what other teams were in the hunt for Willis. (Maybe it was really just Miami.) But we have yet to see the Dolphins work to set up Willis for success. In fact, their fire sale could end up doing the opposite. Given what I just wrote about Fields, I worry about a similar outcome for Willis. It’s a deeply comparable situation, with Aaron Glenn (a defensive-minded coach) leaving the Lions to take over the Jets — much like Jeff Hafley (a defensive-minded coach) leaving the Packers to take over the Dolphins. When Hafley signed Willis, I thought the Dolphins might have a plan to honor the QB’s development. But that developmental trajectory is now looking murky. Which is why I’m wondering… What if he’d signed with the Arizona Cardinals? What if he’d signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers? In either place, he’d have an offensive-minded head coach with at least two pass-catchers who have a track record of outstanding production. The Steelers’ offensive line is substantially better than the Cardinals’. (And I suspect new Steelers boss Mike McCarthy will be a substantially better coach than new Cardinals boss Mike LaFleur in 2026.) But in my mind, both cities would have been a better place for Willis to sign and develop at a healthier pace and trajectory than he currently projects in Miami. Willis had only 28 high-difficulty dropbacks during his time at Green Bay, when you take out the quick game and the screen passes. He reversed a downward developmental trend that started in Tennessee. But he’s not forever safe from regression. I don’t trust Miami to protect Willis’ development — not with the Dolphins trading Waddle. Here’s hoping that Willis knew what he was doing when he picked the Dolphins. Here’s hoping the Dolphins knew what they were doing when they picked Willis.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Jaxon Smith-Njigba won Offensive Player of the Year and a Super Bowl title in 2025. Now, weeks into the 2026 offseason, the Seattle Seahawks’ star is adding a new accolade to his name: highest-paid wide receiver in NFL history. Smith-Njigba has agreed to a four-year, $168.6 million extension with the Seahawks that includes $120 million in guaranteed money, ESPN reported Monday. The contract will pay Smith-Njigba $42.15 million per year, which is nearly $2 million more per year than what Cincinnati Bengals star Ja’Marr Chase is making ($40.25 million). Chase signed a four-year, $161 million extension last offseason to become the highest-paid wide receiver in NFL history. The deal for Smith-Njigba came a few days after the team announced that they would be picking up the fifth-year option on his rookie contract. With that move, Smith-Njigba was set to be under contract through the end of the 2027 season. However, he became extension eligible earlier in March, and with other star receivers (like Puka Nacua of the Los Angeles Rams) due for new contracts, Monday’s extension allowed the Seahawks to set the market rather than react to it. Cornerback Devon Witherspoon, whom the Seahawks took alongside Smith-Njigba in the first round of the 2023 draft, also had his fifth-year option picked up by Seattle recently. Witherspoon can sign an extension this offseason as well. Seattle also extended offensive tackle Charles Cross, its 2022 first-round pick, to a four-year, $104.4 million extension in January as it looks to maintain its core pieces. Smith-Njigba and Witherspoon were both key to the Seahawks’ Super Bowl run this past season. Smith-Njigba had 119 receptions for a league-best 1,793 yards in the regular season, adding 10 touchdowns. His postseason wasn’t as dominant, but Smith-Njigba had 153 receiving yards in the Seahawks’ NFC Championship Game win over the Los Angeles Rams. As for Witherspoon, he had 72 total tackles and an interception this past regular season. On top of that, Witherspoon graded out as Pro Football Focus’ top cornerback for the 2025 season. He allowed opposing receivers to get just 409 receiving yards on 59 targets (8.09 yards per target), per PFF, and he could become one of the game’s highest-paid corners this offseason. The extension for Smith-Njigba followed the departures of a handful of players from the Seahawks’ Super Bowl-winning squad earlier this month. Running back Kenneth Walker III signed a multi-year deal to join the Kansas City Chiefs. Edge rusher Boye Mafe departed Seattle to sign a three-year, $60 million pact with the Cincinnati Bengals. Cornerback Riq Woolen joined the Philadelphia Eagles on a one-year deal. Seattle was able to keep Rashid Shaheed, though, further stabilizing their wide receiver group as quarterback Sam Darnold looks to have another strong year in 2026. Shaheed re-signed with the Seahawks on a three-year, $51 million deal.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

PORTLAND, Ore. — At Adidas’ North American Headquarters last week, Fernando Mendoza held a cleat in his hands that, uncharacteristically, didn’t have the three diagonal stripes the brand is known for. Not yet. That’s because this shoe is a prototype, still in the design process. Those distinctive stripes will be the finishing touch. But first, the Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback and presumptive No. 1 overall draft pick had a few suggestions. This cleat, after all, is special because of its potential for customization. Adidas uses 3-D printing to empower its innovation lab technicians to make a boutique shoe, in this case one specially made for Mendoza. The innovation lab takes up an entire floor and features a small basketball court, a 40-yard dash track, a batting cage and other spaces for athlete-cleat testing. Mendoza was here for Adidas’ first-ever Rookie Pro Day, a promotional event to announce the brand’s 2026 signing class. The class also includes a number of other top NFL prospects: defensive linemen Arvell Reese and Rueben Bain Jr., safety Caleb Downs, receivers Carnell Tate, Jordyn Tyson, Denzel Boston, Makai Lemon and KC Concepcion, and tight end Kenyon Sadiq. At the event, Mendoza sat with seven members of the Adidas innovation team, including Marc Makowski, SVP of creative direction and innovation. “Could you put extra traction on the cleat here?” Mendoza said, pointing to the inside heel of the right cleat. He demonstrated how he pushes off that back foot during his throwing motion, with that heel often sitting at an angle, akin to a receiver breaking out of a cut. One technician asked: “Would that be weird if you only had the extra traction on the back foot?” “No, I think that would be good,” Mendoza replied. The innovation team pulled out a 3-D rendering of Mendoza’s foot. One technician explained that because the QB’s midfoot is a little more advanced than the average person’s, the team could use the surface area for the additional points of grip that Mendoza wants. The group also discussed his toe box — and his bunions. And they discussed different plates they could put in for protection and support. “This is awesome,” Mendoza said. “This is the perfect solution.” For a quarterback who spent the better part of his interviews, including at the NFL Combine, discussing the importance of the “fine details” of the game, this was his sort of meeting. “He’s the perfect face for you,” one Adidas employee said. “Innovation, analytical, scientific.” It’s hard to argue, particularly if Mendoza can live up to the expectations — not only to be the first-overall pick by the Las Vegas Raiders, but also to be a franchise quarterback for years to come. After Mendoza left, the seven innovation lab technicians huddled to discuss how they will accommodate the QB’s requests. One of them asked: “Should we consider a silver-and-black color scheme?” Yup. In 2024, Adidas went through a similar process with Washington Huskies receiver Rome Odunze, who was the Bears’ first-round pick that year. As a result, the company is now known for locking in wideouts, including the top five prospects this year, according to Rob Rang’s big board. Adidas worked with Odunze to develop a shoe that helped him with separation, not just to increase his acceleration out of his cuts but also to improve his deceleration into his cuts. That fueled faster change of direction and, in turn, helped with separation. In the cleat that Adidas designed with Odunze — the “Adizero One Horizon” — the brand reported a 3% improvement in an athlete’s ability to decelerate and a 2% improvement in acceleration. It might not sound like much, but in a league defined as a game of inches, those marginal gains can be huge for a receiver. That’s what made Mendoza’s conversation so compelling. It’s possible that he and Adidas will create a unique cleat that one day will appeal to quarterbacks in the way that the Adizero One Horizon will with receivers when it comes out this fall. “I do think customization is something that has a potential future,” Aaron Seabron, VP/GM of Adidas’ U.S. Sports and Creation Center, told me at the Pro Day. “Because if you think about it, right, the ads on your phone and my phone are different. So I think customization is certainly prevalent in all of our lives, and I think eventually, does that make its way into the product? In time — probably, yeah.” To be clear, Adidas isn’t pivoting away from its receiver emphasis. The wideout position is important to the company, and Seabron echoed a statement that multiple Adidas executives mentioned, which was that they were excited to have signed Ohio State receiver Jeremiah Smith last August and that they hope to retain him when he joins the pro ranks next year. Smith was arguably the best receiver prospect in college football in 2025 despite not being draft-eligible. “We strive to be the fastest brand in football, and we do that by fusing speed and culture,” Seabron told me. “If I can think of one position that is truly a speed and culture position, it’s wide receiver, right? They’re normally the ones that make the biggest plays, the biggest catches, and they’re normally some of the biggest personalities on the field. I think our athlete signings reflect who we’re trying to be as a category.” At the Pro Day, most members of Adidas’ 2026 signing class had their feet and gates measured. They ran through drills and wore sensors to help the innovation lab’s 70 cameras measure their every move. To help with the precision, Adidas has 20 “force plates” embedded into the 40-yard dash track. These force plates are planks in the floor that measure the force and angle at which the players are striking their feet. It’s all designed to deliver a special shoe for Adidas athletes. “They put a lot of detail into [the cleats],” Denzel Boston, who had 20 touchdown catches for Washington the past two seasons, told me. “They discuss what goes into the making of the cleats, when it comes to all the different tests that they do. Not only that, but also the way they design cleats, whether it’s to tell a story or it’s a collaboration through another brand to tell their story. They’re very detail-oriented in both those spaces.” Most of the athletes wanted to undergo extensive testing before they pick a shoe to wear during their rookie NFL seasons. And of course, the color scheme could change on April 23, when they hear their names called on draft day. But while they focus on footwear, the athletes spoke highly of Adidas’ overall presentation at the Pro Day. “I haven’t seen anything like that before,” Arvell Reese, Ohio State’s All-American linebacker, told me. “It was a surprise seeing all the tech. “It’s next level.”​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports