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In the three years since Shohei Ohtani struck out Mike Trout to end a riveting 2023 World Baseball Classic, winning the tournament in 2026 has consumed Mark DeRosa’s every thought. To give his team the best chance, the Team USA manager knew there had to be a shift. “You see it from every other country, their best arms show up,” DeRosa said at the winter meetings in early December. “For whatever reason, the United States, our best arms don’t show up. That being said, we’re trying to change that narrative.” DeRosa expressed his appreciation for the commitment of the pitchers who threw for Team USA over the years, but it was hardly a representation of the best the country had to offer. In 2023, the team’s four starting pitchers in the World Baseball Classic were Merrill Kelly, Lance Lynn, Nick Martinez and a 41-year-old Adam Wainwright. They were all established MLB veterans coming off respectable seasons, but they were also all over the age of 30. None of them had won a Cy Young before, and they had a combined five career All-Star appearances among them — three of which belonged to Wainwright in the early 2010s. While it was USA’s high-powered offense that ultimately cratered in the final, when Japan won 3-2, the U.S. pitching staff was more middling than overpowering throughout the tournament. USA ranked sixth among the 20 countries in the 2023 WBC in ERA (4.20), eighth in opponents’ batting average (.255), 10th in average fastball velocity (91.5 mph) and 11th in strikeouts per nine innings (8.25). This year, Team USA should obliterate those numbers with the best rotation and pitching staff it has ever assembled. Aaron Judge was the first player named to the 2026 U.S. roster as the team captain last April. Getting the three-time MVP to participate in the WBC for the first time is an obvious boost to USA’s chances as it seeks to reclaim its spot atop the international stage after winning the tournament in 2017. But an arguably bigger announcement came weeks later, when Paul Skenes announced his commitment to the club. “Skenes,” DeRosa said, “changes the game.” Nearly a year before the 2026 WBC began, Team USA already had the AL MVP and the NL Cy Young in hand. That made for an effective recruiting tool as DeRosa and general manager Michael Hill built a roster that now looks more than capable of avenging USA’s 2023 defeat. The starting rotation is such a behemoth that Matthew Boyd, a 2025 All-Star starting pitcher for the Cubs, will likely serve in a piggyback role. “When you have someone of Paul Skenes’ stature saying ‘yes’ early on for the right reasons, someone like Aaron Judge doing the same, you go, ‘Man, I want to be part of it like those guys are,” Boyd told me. “I gotta say, I would’ve been doing it regardless, but when you get guys of their stature, it does bring people in. Those guys are the top of the game. You want to play with the best, too, and that’s something that’s really the cherry on top.” Persuading offensive standouts to play has never been much of an issue for a U.S. club that included Mookie Betts, Kyle Schwarber, Mike Trout and Trea Turner in the last tournament. But getting star pitchers to commit while ramping up for a long MLB season — and assuming the potential injury risk that comes with that decision — has historically been a trickier endeavor. The presence of Skenes, the top overall pick in 2023 who was named the National League Rookie of the Year in 2024 and the NL Cy Young in 2025, changed the dynamic. “It’s just a matter of one guy doing it,” said Bobby Witt Jr., “and a domino effect.” For Skenes, who played his first two college seasons at the Air Force Academy before transferring to LSU and was a member of the 12U and collegiate USA national teams, the choice was simple. Growing up watching the WBC as a kid, he never thought he’d have the opportunity to play in one. He knew if he did, he wouldn’t pass it up. So when DeRosa called, it didn’t take any convincing. “It’s Team USA,” Skenes said. “There’s no thought needed for it.” In December, more pitching announcements came flooding in. Early that month, Boyd announced he would be joining Skenes on the USA staff. He wanted to pitch for the U.S. team in the last tournament but wasn’t healthy at the time and hoped he’d get another opportunity. When DeRosa called him, the stars aligned. “If you don’t want competition, you’re in the wrong industry,” Boyd said. “I think all of us yearn for that competition, yearn for the big stage, yearn to compete against the best and want to go show why we are at that level. You train for those opportunities. So any time you present someone with that opportunity, at least for me personally, I’m magnetised toward those sorts of things.” Boyd will be pitching in a multiple-inning capacity to stretch out his pitch count as he builds up for the 2026 season, but given the talent on the staff, it is likely that he’ll be coming out of the bullpen. Weeks after Boyd committed, Team USA also announced the additions of Twins All-Star starter Joe Ryan, two-time All-Star Clay Holmes and Mets prospect Nolan McLean — arguably the top pitching prospect in all of MLB — to the roster on Dec. 17. One day later, Tarik Skubal posted an emoji of the American flag on X, signaling his intention to join the group. Suddenly, the Americans had the reigning NL and AL Cy Young Award winners forming the best 1-2 pitching punch in the tournament and leading the best pitching staff in Team USA history. “You see Skenes and Skubal decide,” said USA reliever Gabe Speier, “everyone else wants to be part of it.” On the same day of Skubal’s announcement, Giants All-Star Logan Webb also officially joined the group. In Skubal, Skenes and Webb, the top three pitchers in the USA rotation have combined for three Cy Young Awards and six All-Star nods in the last two seasons alone. Webb had initially committed to pitch for USA in the 2023 WBC but ultimately backed out as he was finalizing a long-term extension in San Francisco. Still, he told DeRosa at the time that it was always something he wanted to do at some point, so the USA manager stayed on him over the last few years. “The ending, Shohei Ohtani vs. Mike Trout, it just excites you as a baseball fan,” Webb told me. “I was at the edge of my seat watching it, and I wanted to be a part of it. I think DeRo texted me 100 times these last three years, and I’d hear it from other people, ‘Hey, DeRo said you’re playing in this. Mookie Betts, I did his podcast, and he said, ‘You better play’ — and then he’s not playing, of course — but it was something I wanted to do.” Shortly after the 2025 season ended, Webb was on country singer ERNEST’s tour bus with Team USA bullpen coach David Ross and talk-show host Pat McAfee in Nashville when he finalized his decision. “I told Rossy, ‘Text DeRo, tell him I’ll do it,’” Webb recalled. “It was something I wanted to do, and it was a cool moment, and I was like, ‘I’m going to do it.’ I was already thinking about it, and it wasn’t that difficult a decision to be honest.” At the time, the addition of Webb might’ve seemed superfluous given the talent already in place. But with Skubal announcing that he’ll only make one start ahead of a contract year and with Ryan dealing with a lower back issue that will force him out of pool play, it could now be the difference in winning a championship. Weeks before the tournament began, a text thread had started among the players on the team. “DeRosa’s like, ‘We’re winning this thing, we gotta redeem ourselves,’” Speier told me. “There’s a bit of redemption involved, so it makes it even more high stakes.” Webb, who is slated to start USA’s opener on March 6 against Brazil, enters the tournament with contract security after signing a five-year, $90 million extension in 2023. Many others are pitching without the same long-term safety net. Skenes and McLean are still pre-arbitration, most of the relievers on the team are in their arbitration years, and Skubal, Boyd and David Bednar are among the pitchers on the roster entering their final seasons under contract. (Holmes is, too, with a player option for 2027.) But they believed the benefits of pitching in the WBC, and the opportunity to represent their country and take back the title, outweighed any potential downsides. “Obviously the risk is still there, especially for those of us that are entering free agency,” Boyd said. “But I know for me, first and foremost, the opportunity to represent your country is the highest honor in sport.” Rowan Kavner is an MLB writer for FOX Sports. He previously covered the L.A. Dodgers, LA Clippers and Dallas Cowboys. An LSU grad, Rowan was born in California, grew up in Texas, then moved back to the West Coast in 2014. Follow him on X at @RowanKavner.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Crunch time is coming. The start of this summer’s World Cup is less than 100 days away. It’s an exciting time, no doubt, but for players, these can be nervy days. Especially right now, given that the U.S. men’s national team hasn’t been together since November. A lot has happened since then, and the upcoming March training camp – which features matches against Belgium (March 28) and Portugal (March 31) in Atlanta – is of the utmost importance because it’s the last one before Mauricio Pochettino’s final 26-man roster is announced. Those who get called up in March will feel some relief, while those who don’t will feel their stress levels rise. Here’s who has improved their cases, who has work to do: Stock Up Johnny Cardoso, Midfielder, Atlético Madrid Cardoso made this list last week after scoring his first goal for the club. This week, he started and played 90 minutes in Atleti’s 3-0 loss to Barcelona. Despite the defeat, they advanced to the Copa del Rey final on 4-3 aggregate. After battling injuries, Cardoso seems to finally be getting into a rhythm at a big La Liga club. He hasn’t played for the USA since last summer and hasn’t had a statement game to prove to Pochettino why he deserves a World Cup roster spot yet. But, perhaps his recent club performances and consistency might earn him a March call up. Weston McKennie, Midfielder, Juventus McKennie is no doubt the hottest USA player right now. Whether he’s scoring goals or showing off his versatility and playing different positions for coach Luciano Spalletti, his name is constantly making headlines. And he’s likely at the top of Pochettino’s list for March camp. This week, McKennie signed a new deal at Juventus that keeps him with the Serie A club until 2030. McKennie will reportedly make $7 million per year – a well-earned deal given he’s scored eight goals so far this season. “McKennie has been a powerful tool on both the right and left wings for [manager] Luciano Spalletti, winning the hearts of the fans, and he is now reaping the rewards of his daily hard work in training,” Juventus said in a statement. Antonee ‘Jedi’ Robinson, Fullback, Fulham It’s a relief for USA fans to see Robinson in the “stock up” section here. Robinson went 90 for Fulham in a 1-0 loss to West Ham on Wednesday – it was his first Premier League appearance since Feb. 1 (he started in a FA Cup match vs. Stoke City on Feb. 15). He’d been dealing with a minor ankle issue, which was concerning because Robinson had previously missed so much time after recovering from a nagging knee injury. But playing the entire match and not having to gradually build up fitness is huge. Fulham next plays Southampton in a FA Cup match on Sunday. Josh Sargent, Striker, Toronto FC Finally, the saga is over. Sargent has left Norwich City and joined Toronto FC for a reported $22 million in fees. The striker signed a five-and-a-half year contract that will keep him with the MLS club through June 2031. While the drama surrounding Sargent’s desire to move closer to family in North America is behind him, what’s still ahead is the fact that there’s not much time left to impress Pochettino. Sargent has had his chances, but has struggled to score goals for the national team. Maybe if he can get off to a quick start in Toronto, things will be different? We’ll see. His form may have dipped in the last month after he was demoted to train with the U21 team in Norwich while waiting for this transfer. Even so, it’s a net positive that he’s back in MLS ahead of a pivotal summer. Stock Down Diego Luna, Forward, Real Salt Lake Luna is still out with a knee injury and has not played in a match for his club yet this season. After a breakthrough season in 2025, Luna seemed like a lock to make Pochettino’s World Cup roster. He still should, but his availability for March camp will be key. RSL travels to Atlanta this weekend, so we’ll get a health update then. Matt Turner, Goalkeeper, New England Revolution Turner, who was the USMNT’s starting goalkeeper at the 2022 World Cup, lost his spot to Matt Freese less than a year ago. Freese, who plays for NYCFC, started the last 12 matches of 2025 for the U.S., including every game in last summer’s Gold Cup. Turner is the ultimate competitor and wants his spot back. So much so that he joined the Revs last summer on loan from Lyon through June 2026. He’s playing more now, which is a plus, but the club is 0-2 to start the season. Pochettino will have to see much more from him in order for Turner to replace Freese. Christian Pulisic, Forward, AC Milan Pulisic is going to be the face of the United States squad at the World Cup this summer. There’s no question about that at all. But his current form is mildly concerning. The star forward has not scored a goal in nine straight matches for AC Milan. If this drought continues, it will be an unfortunate story line that Pulisic will have to address during training camp later this month.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Are South American teams going to dominate at the 2026 FIFA World Cup? Maybe not all of them, but it would not be surprising to see two of CONMEBOL’s best in the tournament’s semifinals. Here are my full power rankings with less than 100 days until the first game on June 11: You know, you love them (or at least you know them; I love them): the USA. It’s not crazy to put USA here in the top-10. In the FIFA Rankings, the U.S. is at 15th, but again, this isn’t just a World Cup; it’s a home World Cup and I think that is relative to the fact that they are going to find some magic, being the host and playing in a home World Cup, more than our friends in the north, Canada, and our friends to south, Mexico. It’s still Germany. This isn’t the greatest German team, but Germany and Germans: they find a way in big moments to be big, and I think they’re going to be big here. Morocco, everybody’s darling over the past couple of cycles. Men, women, all ages — there’s something in the water over there and I think that will continue. I often times have been much more bullish about the Brazilian team than my “State of the Union” my co-host  David Mosse, although he’s coming around a little as of late. We’re keeping an eye on Cristiano Ronaldo and a possible injury; who knows if that plays into it. We’ve talked so much about the depth that Roberto Martinez has at his disposal with this Portugal team but also the dynamic that he has to deal with in Cristiano Ronaldo. I could have put England higher, but I put them at No. 5, and they should thank me because they don’t want any pressure. I do think they will wilt and fold under pressure, so I’m going to put them in at No. 5. Still, this a very good England team and you know it pains me to say that. While this is a great Argentina team and they’re the defending champions, a repeat hasn’t been done since back in the 60s and I think it’s going to be very, very difficult to do. Everybody’s darling, Colombia. They’re a great team and I do think that the South American teams will have an advantage playing in North America and specifically playing in the U.S. as we’ve seen before in the Copa América. I just feel like they’re comfortable and maybe more so than other teams. I think South America is going to have a big World Cup. Now you’re getting to your usual suspects, your elite teams. You can interchange France and Spain, but I’m going to put France at second. That means the aforementioned Spain comes in at No. 1. This is my power rankings. If you don’t like my power rankings, get your own.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Phoenix Raceway (Avondale, Ariz.) — The venue is kind of new but it’s the same old INDYCAR question heading into the second race of the season. How are teams going to beat Alex Palou? “We need to improve and be better — but I think the whole field needs to try and do that for sure,” said Marcus Ericsson, who finished sixth in the season opener last Sunday at St. Petersburg. The INDYCAR teams made a quick turnaround and race Saturday at Phoenix Raceway, a 1-mile oval that last played host to an INDYCAR race in 2018. Why the rush? To join NASCAR in what is a mega weekend of U.S. motorsports in the desert at a track where both NASCAR and INDYCAR have rich histories. Here’s what to know going into the event, including comments from drivers from their chats today with me and other reporters, the day before practice and qualifying Friday for the 250-lap Good Ranchers 250 on Saturday (3 p.m. ET, FOX) followed by NASCAR’s Straight Talk Wireless 500 on Sunday (3:30 p.m. ET, FS1) in the Desert Double. Are fans and drivers rooting against four-time INDYCAR champion Alex Palou? Palou has won the title the last three years, including in 2025 when he won eight races, and now is 1-for-1 in 2026 after his St. Pete win. “I can feel it when there’s driver intros, and there’s some people that just come at me and be like, ‘Can you stop winning?’ But I feel like we’re past that,” Palou told me and other reporters. “There’s people that used to say that, they now are cheering for us. So it’s good.” [PHOENIX WEEKEND: INDYCAR as Support Series Makes Sense] Palou isn’t concerned about people outwardly rooting him to lose “Last year was magical and this year, that was great [at St. Pete],” Palou said. “But it’s not that we have an edge on everybody. We have an amazing team, and we execute very well. “But it’s not like we go out and it’s like, ‘Oh yeah, look, it’s easy.’” He’s not considering himself a favorite this weekend at Phoenix. “It’s going to be a struggle for the 10 car [of me],” Palou said. “We didn’t have an amazing test. We had an OK test. So we know we have to work quite a lot.” Is this a NASCAR event or an INDYCAR event? This has been the regular NASCAR spring weekend at Phoenix as part of a West Coast swing for several years. To add a little boost to this weekend, INDYCAR was added for a doubleheader Saturday with NASCAR’s O’Reilly Series and then the Cup race Sunday. INDYCAR does have a rich history at Phoenix as this is the 65th INDYCAR race at the track. It has brought up the topic on whether INDYCAR is the “support” series. INDYCAR veteran Graham Rahal noted that the INDYCAR driver motorhomes are not parked in the same area as the NASCAR driver motorhomes even though there is space in that lot. “We shouldn’t be viewed as a support series,” Rahal said. “These are two of the highest level professional series that there are in the country. Let’s just treat each other with that respect. ,.. Let’s just try to figure out a way to make it a little bit more cohesive for everybody.” [MORE MOTORSPORTS: INDYCAR, NASCAR Drivers Pick All-Time Favorites] How is Mick Schumacher doing? The rookie and former Formula 1 driver seems OK after an opening race where he didn’t even finish the first lap before getting collected in an accident. Schumacher spent the rest of the race on the pit stand trying to understand what the engineers are looking for during a race. “It was important for me to go back to pit stand and see what the engineers were talking about, what we would have done maybe differently in certain scenarios, just to kind of pretend like we did the race, to be able to analyze, take away key elements of it,” Schumacher said. Will the INDYCAR drivers cut the apron like the NASCAR drivers do? No. They cannot. The rule for all INDYCAR ovals except Indianapolis reads: “At Oval Events, Drivers must not place any of the four wheels of the Car below the solid boundary line at any time.” Prior to their test here last month, the drivers were asked by INDYCAR officials if they thought the rule should be amended. “I think there was one or two guys raising their hands, but there didn’t seem to be like a lot of interest,” said INDYCAR’s Meyer Shank driver Felix Rosenqvist. “I feel like somehow you just want to be inside the lines. But NASCAR makes it work. I don’t think it really changed anything.” [INDYCAR POWER RANKINGS: Scott McLaughlin Big Mover After St. Pete] Who has raced here before? There are five INDYCAR drivers who have raced at Phoenix previously. Scott Dixon and Josef Newgarden both have wins, while Will Power has a second, Alexander Rossi has a third and Graham Rahal has a fifth. The cars are a few hundred pounds heavier now with the aeroscreen and the hybrid. “I liked it a lot more,” Rahal said about the test and how the cars handled compared to 2018. “The last couple times we were here. there were some massive crashes [with the high] cornering speeds. … I feel like the drivers in a little more control. “Then it was like, just how crazy are you? And are you going to stay flat and you’re going to hang on?” So who’s the favorite for the INDYCAR race? The consensus is that Team Penske, which typically is strong on the short ovals, will be strong this weekend. David Malukas, who replaced Will Power at Team Penske, was fastest on the first day of testing at Phoenix last month. Rossi was fastest on the second day. “We know the Penske files will be good around here,” said McLaren driver Christian Lundgaard. “They were competitive at the test, very competitive, just as we always see them on one short ovals.” Can Tyler Reddick go 4-for-4? After three races, it’s hard to bet against Tyler Reddick, no? Then again, he set a new standard for wins to open the NASCAR Cup Series season with three in a row, so the odds of him getting to four in a row are slim. Reddick hasn’t won in any series at Phoenix. He has led only twice in 12 Cup starts and has just two finishes better than 20th in his last five starts at the track. [NASCAR POWER RANKINGS: SVG, Ryan Blaney Making Moves] Cup teams are getting into the meat of their season as far as different type of tracks as they have the 1-mile Phoenix and then the 1.5-mile Vegas over the next couple of weeks. “I’m really excited to see what we have for speed and pace over the next two weekends because we’ve worked really hard to improve things here,” Reddick said in his news conference after winning at Circuit of the Americas. “We’ve worked hard to kind of rethink how we get around Phoenix, and we’ve just kind of doubled down on the things that we’ve been improving at Vegas.” So who’s the favorite in the NASCAR race? Go back to the answer on the INDYCAR side and you’ll find the answer here. Team Penske, once again, is the favorite. Ryan Blaney won the last race here in November. Joe Gibbs Racing’s Christopher Bell won it a year ago. But the Penske drivers seem to shine here. And just like for their INDYCAR brethren, a win would be coming at the right time. Bob Pockrass covers NASCAR and INDYCAR for FOX Sports. He has spent decades covering motorsports, including over 30 Daytona 500s, with stints at ESPN, Sporting News, NASCAR Scene magazine and The (Daytona Beach) News-Journal. Follow him on Twitter @bobpockrass.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Nearly three years ago, Edwin Diaz got Teoscar Hernandez looking with an inside slider on the 10th pitch of the at-bat and raised his hands into the air as his Team Puerto Rico teammates emptied out of the dugout to celebrate in Miami. Díaz’s spotless work in the ninth preserved an upset win over the Dominican Republic to advance to the quarterfinals of the 2023 World Baseball Classic. The Puerto Rican players marked the occasion by hopping up and down in front of the mound. Moments later, the star closer was on the ground grabbing at his knee. In a freak accident amid the revelry, Díaz tore his patellar tendon, forcing him out for the entire 2023 season. Three years later, the fluke injury has not deterred him from returning to the competition, especially with his country set to host Pool A in San Juan starting March 6. “That was an easy decision,” Díaz said. “It’ll be my first time playing in front of my people in Puerto Rico, so that was an easy ‘yes’ when I knew the WBC was going to be there.” Nevertheless, the devastating injury to Díaz is among the reasons why it has been more difficult for other prominent MLB players to receive clearance to play in the tournament this year — fellow Puerto Rico standouts Francisco Lindor and Carlos Correa, for example, are among the notable standouts who weren’t able to get insured — and why many MLB managers still hold their breath when their players perform in the highly-competitive competition just weeks ahead of Opening Day. “We want our players to play well and want them to show off,” said Padres manager Craig Stammen. “The other part, it’s all in the back of our heads, we want them to stay healthy and be ready for us, not have a catastrophic injury that sometimes happens in the WBC.” The Díaz injury was the most significant one in 2023, though Jose Altuve also missed the first 43 games of the regular season that year after fracturing his thumb when he was hit by a pitch in the WBC. Altuve only played in 90 games that year, marking the only full season since 2012 in which he has played fewer than 120 games. In 2017, Miguel Cabrera injured his back during the WBC and went on to have the worst offensive season of his career to that point while playing through pain for most of it. Sometimes, especially with pitchers, it’s not clear at the moment how the wear-and-tear of throwing high-leverage innings early in the calendar might lead to issues later in the year. In 2017, Drew Smyly struck out eight batters in 4.2 innings against Venezuela in a WBC game on March 17. Two weeks later, he was diagnosed with a flexor strain. He eventually needed Tommy John surgery and did not throw a pitch that season for the Mariners. In 2023, Shohei Ohtani and Sandy Alcántara both started the year pitching in the WBC and ended it undergoing Tommy John surgery. It’s impossible to know with any certainty if the early start led to the end result, but it’s another example of why teams worry more about pitchers than position players in the event. “That’s not a WBC thing,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell clarified, “that’s an everyday thing.” Counsell noted that the WBC is a thrilling event for players who get to play deep into the tournament, and all he is worried about is that his players who are participating — there are many from the Cubs, with Alex Bregman (USA), Pete Crow-Armstrong (USA), Matthew Boyd (USA), Seiya Suzuki (Japan), Javier Assad (Mexico), Daniel Palencia (Venezuela), Miguel Amaya (Panama) and Jameson Taillon (Canada) all going — take ownership of their preparation. “Because you don’t necessarily have the whole organization structuring everything quite the way they would if you were in your team’s camp,” Counsell explained. “That’s really the onus that kind of falls on the players.” In addition to Fernando Tatis Jr., Manny Machado and Wandy Peralta playing for the Dominican Republic, Xander Bogaerts playing for the Netherlands and Ron Marinaccio playing for Italy, the Padres will also be sending Mason Miller, the star of their esteemed bullpen, to close out games for Team USA. Weeks before players left for the WBC, Stammen said Padres pitching coach Ruben Niebla was in discussion with Team USA pitching coach Andy Pettitte about Miller’s usage. Miller and the Padres’ brass were also in constant communication with each other before he left to join Team USA, making sure his build-up for the season is where he wants and needs it to be. “We’d be lying to you if we weren’t cautious about it and trying to figure out the best way to get Mason ready for that scenario,” Stammen told me. “Mason’s said a lot of good things to us about how he thinks that’ll look, but in the end it’s going to be up to him in those situations to tell Mark DeRosa and Andy Pettite, like, ‘Hey, this is how I’d like to be used, this will get me ready for my season while also helping Team USA hopefully compete for the WBC championship.” Díaz, now in his first year with the Dodgers, will be trying to create more positive moments at this tournament with Puerto Rico. The defending World Series champions will also be sending Will Smith to join Team USA, Hyeseong Kim to join Team Korea and Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto to join Team Japan. Ohtani will only be hitting, which minimizes much of the risk, but Yamamoto will be Japan’s ace fresh off winning World Series MVP honors after throwing 526 pitches in the postseason and pitching on back-to-back days in Games 6 and 7. “I just know the level of intensity that they will have, and so it’s more just making sure the work up to this point, that we’re putting them in the best positions to go take on that intense atmosphere,” said Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman. “It is impossible to tell those guys to dial it back in any way, and nor would I do that.” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts claims he’s “not too concerned” about Yamamoto because he believes the pitcher will be prepared and understands his limitations, despite the high-pressure, high-intensity, highly-competitive environment that will await. “Once we all came to the decision that he’s gonna play and participate, I’m just rooting for him to pitch well and stay healthy,” Roberts said. “So I don’t think I’m looking at it any other way.” Beyond the conversations that MLB teams and WBC managers are having about individual players, the tournament itself provides some protection. Per WBC rules, pitchers can’t throw more than 65 pitches in a game in the first round, 80 pitches in the second round or 95 pitches in the championship round (unless he needs more to complete an at-bat). In addition, pitchers who throw 30 pitches in a game will need at least one day of rest, and pitchers who throw at least 50 pitches in a game will need at least four days of rest before pitching again. Relievers also won’t be able to throw three days in a row. “Anybody will tell you anytime you take the mound, whether it’s a spring training game or WBC game, there are risks associated with that,” Giants and Great Britain pitcher Tristan Beck told me. “But I think they do as good a job as they can with pitch limits, days off. They take it pretty seriously, and that makes it comfortable on our end.” It’s a risk that everyone who is participating is willing to take in order to represent their country in an international competition that continues drawing more eyes and acclaim. Before he left Dodgers camp to join Puerto Rico again, Díaz was asked if the WBC or World Series meant more. “I haven’t had the chance to play in the World Series, but I heard people say it’s about the same,” Díaz said. “So when I have a chance to play in the World Series, I’ll tell you guys how it feels.” Rowan Kavner is an MLB writer for FOX Sports. He previously covered the L.A. Dodgers, LA Clippers and Dallas Cowboys. An LSU grad, Rowan was born in California, grew up in Texas, then moved back to the West Coast in 2014. Follow him on X at @RowanKavner.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Kenneth Walker III struck another blow for the resurgence of running backs by earning the Super Bowl MVP award after the Seattle Seahawks’ runaway win over the New England Patriots. Now, Walker will see if he can turn that success into a big payday. The Seahawks declined to use the franchise tag on the Michigan State product, allowing him to enter free agency. A second-round selection by Seattle in the 2022 draft, Walker is the headliner of a solid if not spectacular running back group set to hit free agency next week. The New York Jets opted to keep the top back from hitting the market, placing the franchise tag on Breece Hall at $14.3 million. Along with Walker, however, other backs expected to make a splash in free agency include Rico Dowdle and bruising runner Tyler Allgeier. Here, we find the best home for each of the top five free-agent rushers. 5. Rachaad White: Jacksonville Jaguars White effectively served as half of Tampa Bay’s running back tandem with Bucky Irving, averaging just over 1,000 yards from scrimmage and 50 catches a year. In four seasons with the Bucs, White scored 25 total touchdowns. A good fit for the 27-year-old back would be to reunite with his former offensive coordinator in Tampa Bay, Jacksonville head coach Liam Coen, who should understand how to maximize White’s skill set. With Travis Etienne potentially leaving in free agency, White would give Coen a productive runner familiar with his offensive scheme to pair with second-year pro Bhayshul Tuten. 4. Tyler Allgeier: Seattle Seahawks Walker has priced himself out of returning to Seattle, so former Falcon Allgeier could give the Seahawks a solid option at a reasonable price. Plus, he should fit the system of new offensive coordinator Brian Fleury, who will lean on the zone running scheme from his time with the San Francisco 49ers. Allgeier is one of the best zone running backs on the market and has a nose for the end zone, with eight rushing touchdowns last year for Atlanta. That will be important for Seattle GM John Schneider, whose best goal-line runner, Zach Charbonnet, will be returning from season-ending knee surgery. And Allgeier doesn’t turn the ball over. 3. Rico Dowdle: Washington Commanders Washington is looking to add a thumper to a running back room led by Jacory Croskey-Merritt. At 5-foot-11 and 215 pounds, Dowdle possesses the ability to run through traffic and would add a home-run hitter to the backfield. Dowdle has recorded back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons, first with the Dallas Cowboys and then with the Carolina Panthers last year. Paired with third-year quarterback Jayden Daniels in the backfield, Dowdle would have another opportunity to post big numbers. Head coach Dan Quinn wants to run the football and play good defense, and Dowdle would give Washington’s running game an added boost. 2. Travis Etienne: Kansas City Chiefs Kansas City averaged just 106.6 rushing yards per game last year, No. 25 in the NFL, so the Chiefs need to upgrade their running game from the tandem of Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt. Also, quarterback Patrick Mahomes is recovering from season-ending knee surgery, which means the Chiefs will have to lean on running the football more next season. Etienne was one of the best backs in football in 2025, totaling 1,107 rushing yards and seven touchdowns with the Jaguars. He can also catch the ball out of the backfield, with 36 receptions for 292 receiving yards and seven scores. Etienne would add a dynamic, explosive dimension to Kansas City’s offense. 1. Kenneth Walker III: Denver Broncos The Broncos need an offensive boost to compete for a Super Bowl, so why not bring in a dynamic runner who just won a Lombardi Trophy? Walker would be even more dangerous playing behind Bo Nix, one of the most athletic quarterbacks in the league and always a threat to run himself. In a division with the Los Angeles Chargers, Las Vegas Raiders and the Chiefs, adding a dynamic playmaker like Walker to one of the best defenses in the league would give the Broncos an advantage in the AFC West. I, for one, would be very interested to see how head coach Sean Payton and first-time playcaller Davis Webb use the Super Bowl MVP.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Every fan base has the same thought about their favorite team ahead of the start of NFL free agency next week, wondering how many top free agents they can sign and try to become a contender overnight. Well, we had a similar thought: Who should be the top ideal free agent signing for every team? It would certainly make for a fun offseason if every team could make an impact signing in the coming weeks. So, we tried to find the answer to that question. We should note that we have a few players who are the top ideal signing for a few teams on this list. Obviously, a player can only sign with one team, but this exercise goes to show how valuable a few pending free agents will be. So, let’s take a look at the ideal free-agent signing for all 32 teams. [2026 NFL Free Agency: The Top 100 Players Available and Potential Fits] Arizona Cardinals Eric D. Williams: QB Jimmy Garoppolo As expected, Arizona released Kyler Murray. Jacoby Brissett remains on the roster, but new head coach Mike LaFleur will want someone familiar with his offense running the show and setting an example of what he wants in terms of culture for the rest of the locker room. Garoppolo served as the backup for Matthew Stafford and is well-liked by Rams head coach Sean McVay, but signing with the Cardinals gives him a chance to start again in a division he knows from his time in the NFC West. Garoppolo has played in a Super Bowl and is 43-21 as a starter. Atlanta Falcons Greg Auman: WR Wan’Dale Robinson You’d be hard-pressed to find a team that got less from its receiver depth than the Falcons in 2025. Even with Kyle Pitts back on the franchise tag at tight end, they need a speed complement to Drake London’s size. Robinson is a high-volume receiver, with 140 targets in each of the last two seasons. Let’s say $15 million a year, and he can be a 1,000-yard receiver for not much more than Darnell Mooney was taking up. Take a receiver later in the draft as well, and with an offensive head coach in Kevin Stefanski, their pass game can take a big step forward. Baltimore Ravens Henry McKenna: DE Trey Hendrickson Baltimore should, first and foremost, focus on not losing center Tyler Linderbaum, which is why they’ve extended him a “market setting” deal, according to general manager Eric DeCosta. The Ravens, however, seem to have enough money to make one big splash on an out-of-house player. And I think Hendrickson would be as compelling as any player on Jesse Minter’s defense. The other tempting names for a big splash: edge Jaelan Phillips and linebacker Devin Lloyd. Buffalo Bills Ralph Vacchiano: Edge rusher Bradley Chubb The Bills got the No. 1 receiver they so desperately needed when they traded for DJ Moore. Now they can focus on boosting their sagging pass rush. The 28-year-old Chubb proved he was healthy and able to dominate again last season, with 8.5 sacks in Miami after missing a year with a torn ACL. He could be even better, another year removed from his injury. Plus, he might be available on a shorter deal as he hopes to reset his market. The Bills had only one player with more than 5 sacks last season (Gregory Rousseau, 7). With Joey Bosa unlikely to return, they need a bookend edge rusher, and preferably one a little younger, too. Carolina Panthers Auman: Edge rusher Leonard Floyd This is ideal, as in “ideal and reasonably within their budget.” They’re not all $20 million signings, and Carolina is barely under the cap entering free agency. Edge rusher is arguably the biggest positional need, and Floyd played well with the Rams in 2020-21 when Evero Eijro was there. Last season was a down year, but he’d gotten at least eight sacks in five straight years before that, and could bounce back as a solid value impact for an improved Panthers defense. Only two NFL teams had fewer sacks than Carolina’s 30 last year, with no Panthers player getting more than five. Chicago Bears McKenna: DT Khyiris Tonga The Patriots quietly unlocked a side to Tonga that few knew existed. And it’s something that a team like the Bears should try to build upon. Tonga is a mammoth interior disruptor who should come at a discount relative to someone who played as well as he did in 2025. And that’s what the Bears need: a value signing. They’re currently $11 million over the cap, per Spotrac. Cincinnati Bengals Ben Arthur: Edge rusher Jaelan Phillips The Bengals’ porous defense desperately needs pass rush help, and Trey Hendrickson’s time in Cincinnati is all but over, with the veteran defensive end set to hit free agency. Phillips had just five sacks last season, but registered 76 pressures, which ranked 10th among all defenders, according to Pro Football Focus. Cleveland Browns McKenna: OT Jamaree Salyer I’m not really sure how to match a free agent with the Browns, who are currently $25.7 million over the cap and are a year away from simply beginning their rebuild. But they really need help at tackle, and I think they should double dip — with a high draft pick and a decent free agency signing. Salyer served as Rashawn Slater’s replacement for the Chargers, and he was competent enough for the Browns to give him a shot. Dallas Cowboys Arthur: Edge rusher Odafe Oweh Trading Micah Parsons had a devastating impact on the Cowboys’ defense. Jadeveon Clowney and Dante Fowler are also set to hit free agency. With at least 7.5 sacks in back-to-back seasons, Oweh would give new Dallas defensive coordinator Christian Parker some juice on the edge. Money could be a concern for the Cowboys, who are not typically major players in free agency, but restructuring some contracts could give the team some financial flexibility to pursue a higher-ticket free agent like Oweh. [NFL Free Agent Matchmaker: Who Lands Kenneth Walker III, Kyler Murray, Aaron Rodgers?] Denver Broncos Auman: TE Cade Otton He’s not going to break the bank, but at maybe $8 million a year, Otton can play a ton of snaps and consistently give you 50 catches for 500 yards, younger and cheaper than Evan Engram this past year. Drops were an issue in Tampa but less so in 2025. The Broncos have a total of 12 tight end touchdowns in Sean Payton’s three years there, so plenty of room for improvement. Detroit Lions McKenna: C Cade Mays With Frank Ragnow retiring, the Lions were left scrambling to fill his shoes in 2025. Mays was a replacement center for the Panthers, and played at a starting level. After Lindenbaum, Mays might be the No. 1 center on the open market. Green Bay Packers McKenna: CB Nahshon Wright Not only do the Packers need help at cornerback, but they will also have tremendous insights on Wright, who played for the division-rival Bears. It’s great to get a good player at a position of need. It’s better when you can steal that player from a team you’ll play two times a year. Houston Texans Auman: C Connor McGovern Houston is overhauling its offensive line, and protecting C.J. Stroud is a priority, which means upgrading from Jake Andrews at center. The brass ring is Tyler Lindenbaum, but they don’t have the budget to land him. McGovern is three years older but should be closer to $15 million. He missed only two games in three years in Buffalo, earning a Pro Bowl nod in 2024. Indianapolis Colts Arthur: DE Trey Hendrickson The Colts have a big edge rusher need opposite Laiatu Latu. Indianapolis defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo was also Hendrickson’s Bengals DC from 2021-24, when he posted seasons of at least 14 sacks. At 31 years old and coming off a season-ending core muscle injury, Hendrickson may not break the bank for Indy, either. Jacksonville Jaguars Auman: DL John Franklin-Myers Jacksonville’s priority will be keeping their own free agents from a breakout 2025 season, but if the price is too high for young stars like linebacker Devin Lloyd and running back Travis Etienne, Franklin-Myers would be a big get for their defensive front, and not too expensive at like $8 million a year. He started his NFL career with the Rams when general manager James Gladstone was there, and adds to a strength in what was the NFL’s top run defense last season. Kansas City Chiefs Arthur: RB Kenneth Walker Adding a dynamic running back should be a priority for the Chiefs, who had the NFL’s 25th-ranked rushing attack last season. Both Kareem Hunt and Isiah Pacheco are entering free agency, and there’s no telling how Patrick Mahomes’ scrambling ability will be impacted coming off a torn ACL. The return of Eric Bienemy, a former running back, as offensive coordinator also bodes in favor of a Walker pursuit. Las Vegas Raiders Williams: WR Rashid Shaheed The Weber State product was a great midseason trade addition for the Seahawks, helping Seattle win the Super Bowl with explosive return ability. However, Shaheed follows former Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak to Las Vegas here, where he should get a larger role in the offense. Shaheed also played for Kubiak in New Orleans and is very familiar with the offensive scheme being installed in the desert. Los Angeles Chargers Williams: C Cade Mays The Bolts lost center Bradley Bozeman to retirement and must do a better job of protecting Justin Herbert. Signing the versatile Mays is a start. He allowed zero sacks in 12 starts for the Carolina Panthers last season. Mays also has played guard and tackle, providing some position flexibility for Chargers offensive line coach Butch Barry as Los Angeles looks to build chemistry with the five best offensive linemen who can work together to provide better pass protection for Herbert. Los Angeles Rams Williams: CB Tariq Woolen Woolen has worn out his welcome in Seattle but finds a new home with the Rams. Woolen talked trash to Sean McVay and the Rams’ sideline during the NFL championship, earning a head-scratching unsportsmanlike penalty, so things may need to be smoothed over initially. But with his speed, length and ball-hawking skills, Woolen provides an upgrade at cornerback on the perimeter and a defender familiar with covering the best receivers in the NFC West. Miami Dolphins Auman: Edge rusher Joey Bosa Bosa, 30, would address a key need for Miami at edge rusher. He has personal ties to the Dolphins, as he was born in Miami and his father, John, played three seasons with the Dolphins. He hasn’t had double-digit sacks in a season since 2021, but he led the NFL with five forced fumbles last season and would be a solid plus at a position that has shed Jaelan Phillips and Bradley Chubb in the last six months. A one-year, $12 million deal is a fraction of what he made at his peak, but it is suitable for a reset contract as part of Jeff Hafley’s new defense. Minnesota Vikings McKenna: LB Kaden Elliss Even at 31 years old, Elliss is quietly one of the most dynamic defensive players in this free agency class. He is an outstanding tackle and run defender. But his value comes with his contributions as a pass-rusher, where he is sneaky efficient — and a perfect fit for a smart mind like Vikings DC Brian Flores. The Vikings are going to need help getting sacks after they likely trade Jonathan Greenard. Maybe they draft a rookie edge and bring in Elliss to fill the void. New England Patriots McKenna: WR Alec Pierce If the Colts thought they could retain Alec Pierce without tagging him, they were foolishly mistaken. New England will be a much more enticing home, even if the offer (by the dollar) is higher in Indy. The Patriots just dropped Stefon Diggs. They’ll probably stay in on a potential A.J. Brown trade. But Pierce — who can stretch the field with his speed and his jumpball skills — is basically perfect for Drake Maye, who established himself as one of the league’s best downfield throwers. Whether the Patriots trade for Brown or not, they’ll want Pierce. New Orleans Saints McKenna: WR Jalen Nailor I don’t think the Saints are going to extend themselves financially this offseason — not when they’re already $44 million over the cap. But a guy like Nailor is compelling, given what he might be able to do with a bigger role in New Orleans. With Kellen Moore and Tyler Shough showing promise at the end of last year, Nailor might see New Orleans as a place where he can realize his potential, perhaps even on a one-year, prove-it deal. New York Giants Vacchiano: C Tyler Linderbaum It’s going to cost them, but it’s a no-brainer, and a move that many in the league expect will happen. The Giants have long needed an offensive line upgrade and new coach John Harbaugh is going to insist on it. So why not bring one of his best players along from Baltimore? The 25-year-old is exactly the anchor they need in the middle. He’s durable and been to three straight Pro Bowls and will be a huge boost to the powerful run game Harbaugh wants to build. New York Jets Vacchiano: LB Alex Anzalone It would be an unremarkable and inexpensive signing, but it could be incredibly important. Aaron Glenn wants to go down swinging, which is why he’s running the defense his way, with his calls. What better way to do that than to bring in his old defensive QB from Detroit, who already knows his schemes, calls and overall plan? They have history dating back to their days together in New Orleans. It’s a perfect fit and Anzalone could be a steadying veteran influence in the middle of a defense that is going to be completely rebuilt. Philadelphia Eagles Vacchiano: TE Isaiah Likely The Eagles may still bring back tight end Dallas Goedert, who is a free agent at age 31 and frequently injured. But Likely is younger (25), more dynamic, and at this point has a bigger upside. Ideally, Philly could find a way to use both of them, but if not, Likely is a perfect replacement and just the kind of weapon that could add a little boost to the Eagles’ sagging offense. Their needs change if they trade wide receiver A.J. Brown, but if not, Likely would be an outstanding complementary piece, who should see his production jump if he becomes a team’s No. 1 tight end. Pittsburgh Steelers Vacchiano: RB Rico Dowdle Their top need changes if quarterback Aaron Rodgers retires, but assuming they’re running it back one more time with The Ancient One, it would be nice if they got him some help. Yes, they need receivers, but a strong rushing attack would really help keep the pressure off their 42-year-old quarterback. Kenneth Gainwell, their MVP last season, is a free agent and likely headed elsewhere. Meanwhile, Dowdle had his breakout season in Dallas under new Steelers coach Mike McCarthy two years ago. He could be the top half of a strong, 1-2 punch with Jaylen Warren that could power the Steelers while McCarthy pieces together a passing attack. San Francisco 49ers Williams: Edge rusher Joey Bosa The Ohio State product considered signing with San Francisco to play with younger brother Nick Bosa last season but instead took a better deal financially to play with the Buffalo Bills. This time, the older Bosa finally gets his wish to play with his brother in the NFL, a unique opportunity for the Bosa family. Joey Bosa turns 31 years old in July and can be effective for San Francisco as a situational pass rusher. Seattle Seahawks Williams: RB Tyler Allgeier With Kenneth Walker III likely moving on to greener pastures and finding a more lucrative deal elsewhere, Allgeier provides a good fallback option for Seattle. The bruising runner out of BYU is a good fit for Seattle’s zone running scheme and should pair nicely with Zach Charbonnet once he returns from season-ending knee surgery. The Seahawks can also look to add a pass-catching back in the draft to add to the running back room. Tampa Bay Buccaneers Auman: LB Nakobe Dean Whether Lavonte David retires or not, linebacker is a priority need for the Bucs, who struggled to limit passes in the middle of the field last season. Dean has had injury concerns, but played well on their Super Bowl team in 2024, and the Eagles drafted Jihaad Campbell last year, so there’s a good chance he moves on. Tampa Bay will address linebacker in the draft as well, but this gives them a young starter whose best football should still be ahead of him. Tennessee Titans Arthur: WR Alec Pierce Pierce could be the long-term, No. 1 receiver that the Titans are coveting for Cam Ward. He has more upside than any other wideout in this year’s market by far. And with over $90 million in cap space, Tennessee is positioned to give the former second-round pick the mammoth deal he’s expected to command. Washington Commanders Vacchiano: ​​DE Trey Hendrickson They have plenty of cap space and a glaring need for an elite pass rusher on a defense that might be completely rebuilt over the next few months. Hendrickson comes with risks. He’s 31 and coming off core muscle surgery. But if he’s healthy, he’s only one year removed from back-to-back seasons of 17.5 sacks. He’s the kind of game-wrecker they haven’t had on defense in Washington in nearly a decade. And if they pair him with an edge they take with the No. 7 pick in the draft, consider their defense instantly transformed.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

We learned a lot from the NFL Combine. We saw some absolute studs shine in Indianapolis, and we also got a clearer picture of which players will be the best fits for different squads next season. And after the combine came a blockbuster trade, which saw the Chiefs send cornerback Trent McDuffie to the Rams. I’ve factored all of this into my projections for my first mock draft leading up to April. Let’s take a look. This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports. 1. Las Vegas Raiders: Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana Super Bowl Odds: +20000 (bet $10 to win $2,010 total) The Raiders need a quarterback and Mendoza is the best one in this draft. This is a no-brainer draft pick and no need to discuss the reasoning. Mendoza will be a Raider. 2. New York Jets: David Bailey, Edge Rusher, Texas TechSuper Bowl Odds: +20000 (bet $10 to win $2,010 total) I was tempted to have New York draft Arvell Reese, but the Jets need a ready pass rusher. They traded Quinnen Williams during the 2025 season and just last week, traded pass rusher Jermaine Johnson to the Titans. The Jets were 31st in pressure generated per dropback and had zero defensive interceptions. Bailey is a twitched-up pass rusher who is rarely blocked by the opposing tackle. He’s instinctive and finishes strongly to the ball. This is an immediate upgrade for the Jets. 3. Arizona Cardinals: Arvell Reese, (LB, Ohio StateSuper Bowl Odds: +30000 (bet $10 to win $3,010 total) I put the best player on the draft board into a Cardinals uniform. Reese is a physical freak who projects to rush the passer in the NFL. His on-the-field profile (not projection) is Micah Parsons. He enters this NFL Draft playing some off-the-ball linebacker and pass rusher before just keeping his hand in the dirt. Reese is a ball player. He’s fast in pursuit and plays with great instincts. He will make plays from a variety of alignments and the Cardinals can use him as it best fits their defense. 4. Tennessee Titans: Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre DameSuper Bowl Odds: +12000 (bet $10 to win $1,210 total) The range for drafting Love begins at No. 3 and ends with the Chiefs at No. 9. The Titans need to surround quarterback Cam Ward with weapons and Love fits that profile. He’s explosive, with big-play speed, and he’s a three-down running back. 5. New York Giants: Francis Mauigoa, OT, MiamiSuper Bowl Odds: +7000 (bet $10 to win $710 total) Mauigoa is the best offensive lineman in this draft and the one who’s the most ready, and the Giants will add him to the roster with the fifth pick. I do believe his best position will eventually be guard, but he can start his career at right tackle. The Giants’ offensive line will be immediately upgraded. With Dart at quarterback, Nabers back healthy, Tracy in the backfield and two bookend tackles, it’s got the makings of a much-improved group in 2026. 6. Cleveland Browns: Spencer Fano, OT, UtahSuper Bowl Odds: +16000 (bet $10 to win $1,610 total) The Browns are on pace to lose all five of their starting offensive linemen next week. They traded for the Texans’ Tytus Howard, who has played primarily right tackle but can play inside at guard if needed. Now, the Browns will draft Fano, who was the Outland Trophy winner in 2025. Fano is a supreme athlete who needs to add some strength to his game. One other name to watch here is offensive lineman Kaydn Proctor from Alabama. 7. Washington Commanders: Sonny Styles, OLB, Ohio State Super Bowl Odds: +6000 (bet $10 to win $610 total) The Commanders defense needs to improve and it will start with Sonny Styles at linebacker. He’s a three-down linebacker with a fantastic athletic profile. His comp is Fred Warner, and if he’s able to live up to that, the Commanders will hit a home run with this pick. 8. New Orleans Saints: Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio StateSuper Bowl Odds: +10000 (bet $10 to win $1,010 total) Tate will be a big help for second-year QB Tyler Shough. Carnell didn’t show top-end speed at the combine but his tape shows outstanding route-running and top-tier hands. 9. Kansas City Chiefs: Rueben Bain Jr., Edge Rusher, MiamiSuper Bowl Odds: +1400 (bet $10 to win $150 total) The Chiefs have two positions of need with this draft pick — wide receiver and pass rusher. They’d be pleased to see Bain drop to nine. Bain is a wrecking-ball pass rusher and his shorter arms do not show on film often. He’s got an elite burst off the ball and loose hips to turn the corner. He’s also able to rush inside with effectiveness. 10. Cincinnati Bengals: Caleb Downs, S, Ohio StateSuper Bowl Odds: +3000 (bet $10 to win $310 total) The Bengals are drafting a defensive player at 10 and Downs is the best one left on the board. He’s a safety with elite ball skills who’s excellent coming into the box to tackle. He can play both zone and man and will upgrade the Bengals defense immediately. 11. Miami Dolphins: Makai Lemon, WR, USCSuper Bowl Odds: +20000 (bet $10 to win $2,010 total) The Dolphins might opt for an offensive lineman, but I predict that they will draft a much-needed receiver at 11. Lemon was uber-productive at USC. He’s highly skilled and wins 50-50 balls more than not. He’s got top-end speed.  Size might be a concern, but he can overcome that with his polished route running. 12. Dallas Cowboys: Mansoor Delane, CB, LSUSuper Bowl Odds: +4000 (bet $10 to win $410 total) The top cornerback will come off the board to Dallas. Delane is the best coverage corner in this draft and the Cowboys need help in the secondary. They could opt for a pass rusher but none will be graded higher than Delane at this point of the draft. 13. Los Angeles Rams: Avieon Terrell, CB, ClemsonSuper Bowl Odds: +750 (bet $10 to win $85 total) The Rams’ need new secondary pieces to round out their defense. Terrell had a fantastic NFL Combine workout, which matched his fluid movements on tape. He primarily projects as a man-coverage corner in the league. I’m curious if the Rams take a shot at Ty Simpson here after trading pick 29 to the Chiefs. 14. Baltimore Ravens: Olaivavega Ioane, IOL, Penn StateSuper Bowl Odds: +1100 (bet $10 to win $120 total) If you look at 100 mock drafts, there will be 99 of them with Ioane as the Ravens’ draft pick. He’s the perfect fit for the Ravens to upgrade their offensive line. He’s the most ready lineman in the draft who excels as a drive blocker with his wide base and strong legs. He might struggle with elite movement but that can be worked on. 15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Kenyon Sadiq, TE, OregonSuper Bowl Odds: +3500 (bet $10 to win $360 total) The Oregon tight end fits a need for the Bucs in the right spot of the draft. Sadiq is an athletic freak whose production at Oregon was outstanding for the limited opportunities he received. He is an above-average blocker for his size and his finishing ability would make some offensive linemen jealous. 16. New York Jets: Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona StateSuper Bowl Odds: +20000 (bet $10 to win $2,010 total) With Lemon off the board, the Jets will turn to Tyson to address a glaring need with hopes that injury concerns stay away. Tyson’s big frame allows him to win contested catches, and he plays faster than he might run at his pro day in a few weeks. 17. Detroit Lions: Kadyn Proctor, OL, AlabamaSuper Bowl Odds: +1500 (bet $10 to win $160 total) Proctor is a Dan Campbell offensive lineman. He is a big boy who’s a fluid mover and a bulldozer in the run game. He can play tackle or guard for the Lions, as they look to rebuild their offensive line after retirements, releases and as old age is starting to thin out that group. 18. Minnesota Vikings: Dillon Thieneman, S, OregonSuper Bowl Odds: +6000 (bet $10 to win $610 total) Harrison Smith will retire and the Vikings will draft his replacement in Thieneman. He tested well at the combine and plays downhill fast in the run game. He’s just a quality ball player and a good addition for the Vikings. 19. Carolina Panthers: Peter Woods, DL, ClemsonSuper Bowl Odds: +12000 (bet $10 to win $1,210 total) The Panthers will continue to add to the defensive line in the draft after securing two pass rushers in the spring last year. They will add Woods to join Derrick Brown, Nic Scourton and Tershawn Wharton in forming a formidable defensive front. 20. Dallas Cowboys: Keldric Faulk, Edge Rusher, Mississippi StateSuper Bowl Odds: +4000 (bet $10 to win $410 total) The Cowboys defense was poor last season and I predict they will address corner at pick No. 12. Now they add a pass rusher at No. 20 with Faulk. He’s got room for growth at his young age, but he’s already on his way to developing his pass rush. 21. Pittsburgh Steelers: Omar Cooper Jr., WR, IndianaSuper Bowl Odds: +6000 (bet $10 to win $610 total) Pittsburgh could opt for Ty Simpson here, but they will draft a much-needed wide receiver to pair with DK Metcalf. Cooper is big, strong and will fit the culture of the Steelers. 22. Los Angeles Chargers: Caleb Banks, DT, FloridaSuper Bowl Odds: +1500 (bet $10 to win $160 total) I’m curious what the Chargers would do here if they felt an offensive lineman was the pick. I’m sure they’d love it if Proctor was still available. But with no offensive lineman, they take a defensive tackle they desperately need. Banks is a big boy and takes up a ton of space with power and strength. 23. Philadelphia Eagles: Max Iheanachor, OT, Arizona StateSuper Bowl Odds: +1400 (bet $10 to win $150 total) The Eagles will draft Lane Johnson’s replacement with this pick. Iheanachor has all the physical tools but is just raw and needs to grow. This is the perfect spot for him. 24. Arizona Cardinals: Ty Simpson, QB, AlabamaSuper Bowl Odds: +30000 (bet $10 to win $3,010 total) The Cardinals will trade back into the first round for their quarterback of the future. It’s a slim quarterback draft and after the Cardinals release Kyler Murray, they will need the next man up. Simpson showed flashes this season of being that guy and the Cardinals should be comfortable taking him at the later stages of the first round. 25. Chicago Bears: Akheem Mesidor, Edge Rusher, MiamiSuper Bowl Odds: +2500 (bet $10 to win $260 total) Mesidor has a deep pass-rush package that will help the Bears immediately. They are primed for a deep postseason run and he can help them now. 26. Buffalo Bills: Denzel Boston, WR, WashingtonSuper Bowl Odds: +1000 (bet $10 to win $110 total) The Bills will add a big physical target for Josh Allen. They will look to improve the receiver room all offseason and this is a good start. 27. San Francisco 49ers: Monroe Freeling, OT, GeorgiaSuper Bowl Odds: +1900 (bet $10 to win $200 total) This is probably too low for Freeling, but the 49ers will get an offensive lineman with huge upside in this Dawg. His testing was all-world but his film still shows some inconsistency. He gets a chance to grow into the position with the 49ers. 28. Houston Texans: Caleb Lomu, OT, UtahSuper Bowl Odds: +2000 (bet $10 to win $210 total) Out of the pair of Utah offensive tackles drafted in the first round, I think Lomu might end up the better one once he gains some strength. He’s an outstanding mover and thrives as a pass-blocker. 29. Kansas City Chiefs: KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&MSuper Bowl Odds: +1400 (bet $10 to win $150 total) The Chiefs will get another first-round pick after they traded Trent McDuffie to the Rams. They will use that selection to grab another position of need with Concepcion, whose speed will be important for the Chiefs offense. 30. Denver Broncos: Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, Safety, ToledoSuper Bowl Odds: +2000 (bet $10 to win $210 total) The Broncos could go with a linebacker here, but they will take McNeil-Warren to play safety. He’s an athletic safety who makes plays all over the field and will fit nicely into their defense. 31. New England Patriots: T.J. Parker, Edge, ClemsonSuper Bowl Odds: +1600 (bet $10 to win $170 total) The Patriots will add the best available edge rusher to partner with their fantastic interior pass rush. Parker should see a bunch of single-team rushes in a Pats uniform. 32. Seattle Seahawks: Brandon Cisse, DB, South CarolinaSuper Bowl Odds: +900 (bet $10 to win $100 total) Seattle doesn’t have an immediate need at cornerback, but depending on free agency, the Seahawks might need that replacement now.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

The NFL Scouting Combine has come and gone, which means front offices across the league are back in their war rooms reshuffling their respective draft boards. While several college stars look primed to thrive at the next level, others might face a steeper learning curve once Sundays roll around. Our panel of experts cut through the noise to identify which prospects might struggle early in the NFL, and which late-round picks could end up outperforming their draft position. Which former college standout do you think might struggle initially at the NFL level, and why? Michael Cohen: Chris Brazzell II, WR, Tennessee A former three-star prospect in the 2022 recruiting class, Brazzell spent his first two collegiate seasons at Tulane before transferring to Tennessee. He made a massive leap from his first year with the Volunteers in 2024 to his second in 2025, ultimately catching 62 passes for 1,017 yards and nine touchdowns to earn first-team All-SEC honors this past fall. But wide receivers who have played for head coach Josh Heupel at Tennessee, where the “deep-choice” offense is quite different than most NFL systems, aren’t enjoying much success at the next level. The four ex-Volunteer wideouts drafted since Heupel took over in 2021 — Velus Jones Jr., Cedric Tillman, Jalin Hyatt and Dont’e Thornton — combined to make just 36 receptions for 440 yards and two touchdowns last season. RJ Young: Davison Igbinosun, WR, Ohio State To call Igbinosun “handsy” in coverage is to liken an EF5 tornado to a stiff summer breeze off the Atlantic Ocean. In 2024, he was the most penalized corner in coverage in the Power 4 with 16 pass interference or holding calls made against him. In 2025, he was much more fundamentally sound and, at 6-foot-2, 200 pounds, a tremendous addition in run coverage for the Buckeye defense. However, at the NFL level, where a 15-yard pass interference penalty is a spot foul and where he’s not such an asset in run defense, I expect Igbinosun will have an adjustment period where he will have to truly lean into technique. He will need to improve on getting his head around, drop his hips, and run with the receiver rather than reach for him. Name a projected late-round pick you expect to exceed expectations in the NFL? Young: Zachariah Branch, WR, Georgia Branch is the best burst wide receiver available in the upcoming NFL Draft. He demonstrated elite speed, running 4.36 seconds in the 40-yard dash, and has been as explosive as a stick of dynamite with the ball in his hands. The easy comparison to make for him is Tyreek Hill. At Georgia last season, Branch was a walking first down, recording 81 catches for 811 yards and six touchdowns. He has also proven himself to be an outstanding returner. In 2023, Branch’s true freshman season, he averaged 20.5 yards per punt return. He also returned a punt and kickoff for a TD in 2023. Cohen: Bud Clark, S, TCU Certain scouts and evaluators will surely ding Clark for his age (six years in college) and lack of traditional size (6-foot-1, 188 pounds) at the safety position. However, few defensive backs in this year’s draft had a better nose for the ball than he did. Clark intercepted at least three passes in four consecutive seasons for the Horned Frogs from 2022-25, finishing his career with 15 total picks and two defensive touchdowns. He also racked up 20 pass deflections during that span and ended his time at TCU by earning back-to-back second-team All-Big 12 honors the last two years. Clark tested very well at the NFL scouting combine by running the 40-yard dash in 4.41 seconds (seventh among safeties) and a 38-inch vertical leap (fifth among safeties) to reinforce his dual value as a potential core special teams player. In Let’s Debate, our experts tackle and explain the hot-button issues fans care about.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Where will Alec Pierce, the top wide receiver in NFL free agency, land? Which team will sign Stefon Diggs, who was informed of his release by the Patriots this week after he played in his first Super Bowl? What about five-time All-Pro Tyreek Hill? Or Bucs legend Mike Evans? Here are the top 10 free-agent wide receivers and the team pairings that make the most sense: 10. Tyreek Hill: Kansas City Chiefs Hill is 32, coming off a serious knee injury and has had the worst two-year stretch of his career. But if his medicals check out, a reunion with the Chiefs makes sense. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes — recovering from a torn ACL of his own — needs more help at receiver. Andy Reid and Eric Bieniemy, who’s returning as Kansas City’s offensive coordinator after three years away, know how to use Hill, who would benefit from familiarity after a rough ending to his Dolphins tenure. 9. Mike Evans: Tampa Bay Buccaneers Evans has played his entire 12-year career with the Bucs, and it’d make sense for him to return to Tampa for a 13th. At 32 years old and coming off an eight-game season due to injuries, the veteran wideout may not get the kind of offers he feels like he deserves on the open market. And he’s long said that he wants to be a “Buc for life.” 8. Keenan Allen: New Orleans Saints Saints head coach Kellen Moore and offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier were both on the Chargers’ coaching staff in 2023, when Allen made his last Pro Bowl. And New Orleans desperately needs wide receiver help for second-year quarterback Tyler Shough. Outside of Chris Olave, who surpassed 1,100 yards receiving, the Saints didn’t have a wide receiver who finished the season on their roster reach the 300 yards mark. 7. Jauan Jennings: Tennessee Titans The Titans desperately need quality, veteran receiver reinforcements around second-year QB Cam Ward. A strong option is Jennings, who had 1,618 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns over the past two seasons with the Niners. Signing with the Titans would mark a homecoming for Jennings, a Cowan, Tenn., native who went to high school roughly 30 minutes outside of Nashville and played his college ball at Tennessee. 6. Deebo Samuel: Miami Dolphins New Dolphins offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik was an assistant in San Francisco during Samuel’s first four seasons with the Niners (2019-22), including his first-team All-Pro campaign in 2021. Jaylen Waddle was the only Miami wide receiver to surpass 400 receiving yards last season, so Samuel could get plenty of touches in the Dolphins’ offense. 5. Rashid Shaheed: Seattle Seahawks The Seahawks are reportedly prepared to let Shaheed hit free agency, but that could just be to get a proper feel for his market. Seattle gave up two middle-round picks for the Pro Bowl returner in November. It would be bad business to let him walk after just three months — especially after he delivered three special teams touchdowns en route to helping the Seahawks win their second Lombardi Trophy in franchise history. 4. Wan’Dale Robinson: Tennessee Titans In Tennessee, Robinson would reunite with new Titans offensive coordinator Brian Daboll, his Giants head coach for the first 48 games of his career. Some of Daboll’s best NFL offenses have come when he’s had a dependable slot option, a role that Robinson could fill nicely for QB Cam Ward. A former second-round pick, Robinson has had 140 targets in back-to-back seasons. 3. Stefon Diggs: New York Jets The Jets need a WR2 alongside Garrett Wilson, and staying in the AFC East would allow Diggs to play the Patriots and Bills — two of his former teams — twice a year. A four-time Pro Bowler, Diggs went over 1,000 receiving yards in his lone season in New England. 2. Romeo Doubs: San Francisco 49ers Doubs has had to share targets throughout his career in Green Bay, but he’d have an opportunity to be a primary option with the 49ers, who have Jennings, Kendrick Bourne and Skyy Moore all hitting free agency. Star tight end George Kittle (Achilles) could also miss most or all of 2026. 1. Alec Pierce: Indianapolis Colts Colts general manager Chris Ballard and coach Shane Steichen are firmly on the hot seat after last season’s collapse. So it’s not difficult to imagine Indianapolis finding a way to pay up for Pierce, a consistent, big-play threat and this year’s top free-agent receiver — even if it means giving him a deal upward of $30 million per year. Pierce broke out last season as a favorite of Daniel Jones, who was given the transition tag by the Colts while the QB and the team work on a long-term deal. The Bills’ trade for Bears receiver DJ Moore on Thursday takes one potential suitor off the board for Pierce, who has led the NFL in yards per reception in back-to-back seasons.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports