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Tim Ream gets wrapped up in a bear hug. Mark McKenzie is dapped up. Tim Weah has a special handshake. Every time U.S. men’s national team players get off the bus — whether it’s arriving at a training or for a game — they’re greeted by their biggest hype man, Harris Patel. “He’s barking, he’s hugging you, he’s dapping you up, he’s picking you up,” McKenzie told me before a recent pre-World Cup training session. “That shock to the nervous system is sometimes necessary. It shows how much he cares about this team.” “And it’s times 10 on game day,” Christian Roldan added. Patel is on staff for his second consecutive World Cup as one of the U.S. squad’s athletic trainers. The USA starts its campaign vs. Paraguay on Friday at Los Angeles Stadium (9 p.m. ET on FOX/FOX One and streaming for free on Tubi). But it would be doing Patel and the team a disservice if he was simply described as one of their physios. “He’s an energy guy,” said Weston McKennie, who sometimes likes to joke with Harris and pretend he doesn’t see him while getting off the bus. “It’s like taking a shot of espresso getting off the bus. Whenever you may feel like you don’t have the energy or the jet lag is kicking in, he’s someone that sparks energy and wakes people up. “I always think that I’m the energy guy of the group. But then he always tops me.” Patel, who U.S. Soccer did not make available for this story, has been with the team since before the 2022 World Cup. He’s also served at five Olympic Games and 10 World Championships with USA Track and Field, and he was one of a select few trainers inside the NBA Bubble during the COVID pandemic. His resume includes stints with the New York Jets and the Indianapolis Colts, as well as the Alabama and Georgia football programs. Most importantly, to his athletes, he’s their guy. “That man is an energizer bunny,” said Ream, who joked that Patel’s hugs are so strong that they give him a good back crack. “He brings such an infectious positive energy. He comes in the morning ready to go, pumping guys up, getting guys really ready to put their best foot forward and put them in a place where they feel comfortable and welcome. And he transfers that energy to each of us every single day.” Added Weah: “He’s like a dad to all of us. We call him Unc. Just the energy that he brings, the vibes daily, keeping us on track. He’s our physio, so he keeps our bodies right. He has blessed hands, and he’s the guy to go to, and we love him so much.” ‘He’s The OG’ Patel grew up about 30 miles northeast of Atlanta in Suwanee and attended the University of Georgia in the late ’90s. As a college freshman, he was part of the first athletic training and sports medicine programs there, which is where he met his mentor, Ron Courson. Courson, now Georgia’s Executive Associate Athletic Director for Health and Performance, spent decades leading the school’s sports medicine efforts after becoming Director of Sports Medicine in 1995. He has also worked at multiple Olympic Games and helped shape health and safety policies throughout the NCAA, SEC and NFL. He knew right away that Patel was special. “One thing about Harris is, he’s all in,” Courson told me by phone. “He really buys a team concept. He’s got a tremendous work ethic, and he’s going to do whatever it takes to help athletes get well. “He has an engaging personality and is really dedicated to learning more and trying to grow in the profession.” Patel was a student trainer at Georgia before getting his masters at Alabama, where he specifically helped out the softball team as a graduate assistant. After two years in Tuscaloosa, he returned to Courson’s staff in Athens. He later went to physician assistant school at Emory University and has crafted a unique business in concierge sports medicine that’s allowed him to work with a variety of prestigious organizations and famous athletes. What makes Patel so endearing, though, is the way he connects with people. He’s the type of guy who says hello in a hotel lobby and then immediately introduces you to the two colleagues he’s meeting for breakfast. He’s the one roaming the U.S. training field with water bottles in hand, shouting encouragement — “Let’s go!” — with a huge smile on his face. He also makes a point of paying it forward. Courson said Patel will return to Georgia this fall to speak with student athletic trainers about careers in Olympic sports medicine. And those relationships don’t end when athletes leave camp. Patel stays in touch with players no matter where they are in the world. When Weah and McKenzie are back with their clubs in France — at Marseille and Toulouse, respectively — Patel regularly checks in, sending texts to see how they’re doing physically and mentally. “HP, he’s the OG,” McKenzie said. “He’s someone special. When you have somebody who truly cares about you, not just from an athletic perspective but also on a personal level, it’s huge. That shows the kind of staff that we have.” ‘Always On The Cutting Edge’ So much of the focus ahead of this summer’s World Cup is about the 26 players on the USA roster. But manager Mauricio Pochettino has expressed his gratitude for staffers behind the scenes like Patel. “You can never find words or money to reward their effort,” Pochettino said during a press conference earlier this month. “I think we have a staff that for sure can compete to win the World Cup. Now we need to translate that energy and everything they provide the players to help the players win.” Aside from his warm demeanor and outgoing personality, Courson says another thing that sets Patel apart is his commitment to learning more about his own profession. For example: A couple weeks ago, he introduced Courson to a pair of innovative “core shorts” he discovered during a trip overseas. The compression style shorts help manage groin and core muscle issues, which is particularly helpful for soccer and football players who are prone to soft tissue injuries. This model had new technology that Patel was eager to try out. “I think Harris is one of those people who is always on the cutting edge,” said Courson, who visited Patel at U.S. Soccer’s new National Training Center before the team left for the World Cup. “Sometimes you get accustomed to doing things one way, and one of the unique things working with the Olympics or the World Cup and having the ability to do international travel is you get exposed to different concepts, you meet different people, and that’s how you get new ideas. “Harris is always finding new ideas and not only using them himself, but sharing them with other people. And that’s how we all get better.” While players love being around Patel, seeing him often means something has gone wrong, whether it’s a minor knock or a more serious injury. It helps that he’s one of the friendliest faces around the team. “I don’t know anybody who ever met Harris and didn’t love him,” Courson said. “Sports medicine is tough because most everybody who comes into the training room comes there because they have a problem. You have a responsibility to take care of them and help them with what they’re dealing with. “And to have somebody who is always positive, who cares about you not just as an athlete but as a person, I think that’s one of the most engaging qualities.”​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

U.S. Men’s National Team Training Base (IRVINE, Calif.) — There was no tape supporting his sore left ankle. There was no ice on it, no limp as he walked toward a microphone in front of several dozen reporters, no indication at all that Chris Richards — the United States World Cup team’s top defender — was anything other than 100 percent ahead of the Americans tournament opener up the coast at Los Angeles Stadium in Inglewood on Friday against Paraguay. OK, maybe not 100 percent. But Richards insisted on Wednesday that he’s healthy and available to start. “I’m feeling good,” the Alabama-born center back said when asked if he’s recovered from the injury he suffered playing for English Premier League club Crystal Palace last month. “Maybe it’s a little swollen, [but] I’m ready.” As if Richards was ever going to miss the World Cup opener. He was expected to anchor the USA’s back line at global soccer’s last quadrennial showpiece four years ago in Qatar, only to be felled by a torn hamstring that forced him to watch the Americans’ run to the knockout stage from his couch. His return is a godsend for a Stars and Stripes squad that has leaked preventable goals in each if its last two matches without him, conceding twice in each of their pre-World Cup games against Senegal and Germany. For the U.S. to have a long stay on home soil — the U.S. is co-hosting this summer’s event with Canada and Mexico — having the steady, hard-tackling Richards on the field will be essential. The fact is the Americans got lucky. When he had to be taken off the field on a stretcher during Palace’s 2-2 tie with Brentford on May 17, both he and U.S. fans were worried that Richards would miss a second consecutive World Cup. “I was pretty devastated,” he said. “I feared the worst.” Once he realized the ailment would only sideline him for weeks rather than months, there was only one question in his mind. “How do I get ready to play against Paraguay?” The answer involved almost around-the-clock rehab. “That’s what I’ve been doing for 24 hours [a day],” he said. “Whatever it takes to be available.” While the ankle still isn’t quite in pre-injury condition, Richards has been involved fully in training over the last three days with no restrictions or problems afterward. “And I think y’all have seen the intensity of our practices” under Argentine coach Mauricio Pochettino, he joked. “Part of playing the sport is you’re gonna have some pain at some point,” he said. “I’m totally OK with that as long as functionally I’m good.” Now that he is, Ricahrds teammates are thrilled to have him back. “He’s looked good,” forward Haji Wright said when I asked him how Richards has been training since the team becan working out here on Monday. “He hasn’t missed a beat.” “Chris is one of the most important players on the team,” added veteran fullback/winger Tim Weah. “Seeing him healthy and playing his best football is everything.” It also gives Pochettino’s squad another experienced, vocal leader in his lineup. “He’s just somebody who brings a lot of energy, whether it’s understanding when somebody needs to be able to step up or wake up, or when somebody needs an arm around their shoulders,” fellow central defender Mark McKenzie said of Richards. “He has a presence on the field.” That presence matters, former U.S. center back and National Soccer Hall of Famer Marcello Balboa told me Wednesday after watching his old squad train. “He’s an organizer,” Balboa said. “He’s good in the air, he’s good on set pieces, he’s a very physical guy, he can get into a tackle. “If you’re going to get out of the group, and you’re going to try to get deep in this tournament, the spine of the team has to be strong,” he continued. When you look at this team with Richards, when he’s healthy, he’s a guy that’ll just make that back line a little bit more solid, a little bit more secure.” After the Paraguay match, Richards will have a full week to rest and be ready for the second group stage contest, in Seattle versus Australia on June 19. He brushed aside any suggestion that playing in Friday’s curtain-raiser could jeopardize his health for the rest of the first round —and hopefully beyond. “If I’m making myself available,” said Richards, “It’s because they can trust me to play at 100 percent.”​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

The difference between the world’s best defenders and solid players is minimal. The traits that separate the elites from the pack aren’t physical, though. The world’s best defenders are going to be on display this summer at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The teams with the most stable backlines that avoid making crucial errors will be the ones that progress the furthest. So, what does it take to be one of the best? For me, there are three traits that separate impressive athletes from the best defenders in the world: awareness, positioning and mentality. Key Traits For Elite Soccer Defenders The best attacking players in the world can recognize the moments to pounce better than the rest. They see if someone is out of position, if they can time a run perfectly on someone’s back shoulder or identify where there’s even the tiniest bit of space that can be exploited. That comes down to soccer IQ, the ability to recognize a weakness in a split second. For a defender, you have to be absolutely tuned in and focused at every second. A big part of that is communication with the rest of your backline. You have to know where players on your weak side are or when runners are coming from another side of the pitch. When those things aren’t properly communicated, mistakes are going to happen and will likely be punished at the highest level. The end of the first half for the U.S. against Senegal is a great example. Antonee Robinson lost the ball further up the pitch with the Americans up, 2-0. That led to a counterattack for Senegal, which finished with a Sadio Mané goal that dampened the excitement on what otherwise was a great first half. One mistake, and you get punished by top players. A lot of players are very athletic and clearly quite good. You see those guys and think, “Hmm, I wonder what’s missing there.” Then you watch them on the pitch and see a mistake like I described above and think, “Oh, I get it now.” You see it all the time, when a defender falls asleep on the back post and an attacker runs in from their blindside to score. You wonder, “What are you doing?” You have to be alert at every moment. At the highest level, there’s simply a smaller margin for error. Being in the right position and knowing where you’re supposed to be can make up for a lot of other deficiencies. You don’t have to be the most athletic defender to succeed if you consistently find yourself in the right spots. My Favorite Defenders To Watch The first player is an easy answer for me: Virgil van Dijk. First off, I enjoy a center back who loves to be attack-minded and score a big goal on set pieces. Van Dijk has scored some massive goals in recent years at club level for Liverpool, and he’ll be a threat on corner and free kicks for the Netherlands at the World Cup. His ability to dominate in the air is a valuable skill on both ends of the pitch — and one that I can relate to and appreciate. Van Dijk is also very, very intelligent with his positioning. He’s very good tactically in terms of making sure he’s well-positioned. When he does get caught out, I think he’s more agile than people give him credit for. Hakimi has been so good at the club level and for Morocco over the majority of the past decade. He was a key player during Morocco’s run to the semifinals at the 2022 World Cup and when the country won a bronze medal at the 2024 Olympics. The Paris Saint-Germain right back is known for his attacking prowess with his impressive pace, but he’s so steady defensively. He picks the perfect moments to be aggressive but also knows when to keep it simple going forward and while defending. It’s obviously easier when you have the physical gifts that Hakimi has. He’s one of the fastest players who will be at the World Cup, but he also has impressive size for a fullback. Few defenders have had as much success at both the club and international level as Hakimi, who FOX Soccer ranked as the No. 8 player at the World Cup this summer. I’m surprised his name doesn’t come up more as an elite defender and in conversations of who some of the best in the world are.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

INDYCAR is known for having diverse drivers from countries all across the globe. So, to celebrate the 2026 FIFA World Cup — co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada — we choose the best INDYCAR driver from every country being represented in the momentous event. Obviously, not every country has had an INDYCAR driver, but we did our best when compiling this list. So here we go, by each World Cup group: GROUP A Enge competed in 17 races over three seasons with a best finish of fifth in the 2005 event at Sonoma Raceway. He also made three Formula 1 starts in his career. With 11 wins overall (eight with CART during the split and then three with INDYCAR), Fernandez is one of the most well-known racers from Mexico. When NASCAR went to Mexico City in the 2000s with what was then the Nationwide Series, Fernndez was the driver who was able to get a ride and generate excitement among the fan base. Scheckter won two INDYCAR races over a career that included 118 starts from 2002-11. His best finish was seventh in the standings in 2003 when he was driving for Chip Ganassi Racing. I couldn’t find an INDYCAR driver who was native to South Korea, but Choi competed in what is now the Indy NXT Series in 2015, 2016 and 2018. His best finish was sixth in Portland in 2018. GROUP B No drivers for Bosnia and Herzegovina or Qatar. This was a hard one. Paul Tracy or Jacques Villeneuve? And regards to James Hinchcliffe. However, the nod goes to Tracy and his 31 victories, including a seven-win season in 2003 when he captured the CART title. The only blemish is that he didn’t win an Indianapolis 500 (although he will contend that he did, it’s just not in the record book). Grosjean was born in Switzerland, although he races under France as his country. The former Formula 1 driver has six podiums in 71 career INDYCAR starts and currently drives for Dale Coyne Racing. GROUP C No drivers for Haiti or Morocco. There are plenty of Brazilian drivers who have competed in INDYCAR, but none have been as successful as Castroneves in the Indianapolis 500. That’s because no one else has been more successful in that particular race, with Castroneves tied for the record with four victories (2001, 2002, 2009, 2021). Castroneves won’t rule out another attempt for an Indy 500 win as he is a co-owner of Meyer Shank Racing. Overall, he has 31 victories and finished second in the standings twice. He’s tied for 11th all time in victories with Tracy and … Franchitti has 31 INDYCAR wins, four championships (2007, 2009, 2010 and 2011) and three Indianapolis 500 victories (2007, 2010 and 2012) for one of the most prolific careers in INDYCAR history. His 31 victories tie him for 11th all time with Tracy and Castroneves. He still works with Chip Ganassi Racing as a driver coach. GROUP D No drivers for Paraguay or Türkiye. Power ranks fourth all time with 45 career victories and has a record 71 poles. Power is a two-time series champion (2014, 2022) and won the 2018 Indianapolis 500. He plans to add to those numbers as a driver at Andretti Global. There is little doubt about this one, as Foyt is arguably the greatest driver in series history with a record 67 victories, including four wins in the Indianapolis 500 (1961, 1964 1967, 1977) and seven titles (1960-61, 1963-64, 1967, 1975, 1979). He also has the record (tied with Al Unser) for most victories in a season with 10. In 1964, he won seven consecutive races, which is a record. Group E No drivers for Curacao or Ivory Coast. There isn’t an Ecuadorian driver in INDYCAR, but Correa has competed in Indy NXT the last couple of years. He is eighth in the current standings. This was a tough choice because, obviously, Schumacher just started INDYCAR racing. Christian Danner did compete in a handful of races in the 2010s, but Schumacher is finishing on the lead lap more consistently. And the thinking is that the former F1 driver will improve his results as he gets more comfortable in his ride with Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing. GROUP F No driver for Tunisia. This is the Indy 500 group, as Sato also won the Indianapolis 500 twice (2017, 2020). He has six victories in his career and continues to seek a third Indy 500 win as he has driven for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing in recent Indy 500s. Luyendyk had seven career victories, but two of them came in the Indianapolis 500 (1990, 1997). He made 171 starts over a career that spanned 20 years. There have only been five drivers from Sweden who have competed in the Indianapolis 500 and three of them are Indy 500 winners — Brack, Marcus Ericsson and now this year’s victor, Felix Rosenqvist. Brack gets the nod here with nine career victories, including the 1998 Indy Racing League title. GROUP G No drivers for Egypt or Iran. Baugette competed in the 2010 INDYCAR season and placed seventh in the 2011 Indianapolis 500. Dixon was born in Australia and was raised in New Zealand, so we’re putting him here. He ranks second all time with 59 victories and six INDYCAR titles (2003, 2008, 2013, 2015, 2018 and 2020). He won the 2008 Indianapolis 500 from the pole. And he’s not done yet, as he continues to drive for Chip Ganassi Racing. GROUP H No drivers for Cape Verde or Saudi Arabia. Palou ranks in the top 20 in all-time career victories, as he started this year with 19. And the Chip Ganassi Racing driver already has four through the first eight races this season. He has four series titles (2021, 2023, 2024 and 2025) to go along with those victories. Also, Palou won the 2025 Indy 500. Rodríguez’s INDYCAR career makes some wonder what could have been. The Team Penske driver was killed in practice at Laguna Seca in what would have been his second career start in 1999. GROUP I No drivers for Senegal or Iraq. Bourdais ranks seventh with 37 career series victories and won four consecutive CART titles from 2004-07. Certainly some would say Simon Pagenaud should be on this list here with his 15 victories, including the 2019 Indianapolis 500 win, but Bourdais gets the nod. The 2026 INDYCAR rookie for Dale Coyne Racing and 2025 Indy NXT champion, Hauger is the first Norwegian driver in the series and is considered to have a bright future as an Andretti Global driver on loan to Coyne for this season. GROUP J No drivers for Algeria or Jordan. Fangio competed from 1995-97 in CART with his best finish being seventh in his debut at Mid-Ohio. He is the nephew of the five-time F1 champion Juan Manuel Fangio. Rindt, who was born in Germany but raised in Austria and raced under the Austrian flag, finished 24th in the 1967 Indianapolis 500. He competed in Formula 1 from 1964 until his death at Monza in 1970. GROUP K No drivers for Portugal, Democratic Republic of Congo or Uzbekistan. Montoya earned 15 victories, including two in the Indianapolis 500 (2000, 2015). He won seven of those races in the 1999 season, where he won the CART title. He potentially could have won more, but spent six seasons in Formula 1 and seven seasons in the NASCAR Cup Series. GROUP L No drivers for Croatia, Ghana or Panama. Wheldon won 16 races, including the Indianapolis 500 in 2005 and 2011. He won the title in 2005. He was killed in a crash in 2011 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The World Cup will run from June 11–July 19, 2026. Spread across three countries, the tournament will culminate with the final on July 19 at New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. All 104 tournament matches will air live across FOX and FS1 with every match streaming live and on-demand within both the FOX One and the FOX Sports apps.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

U.S. Men’s National Team Training Base (IRVINE, Calif.) — Under cloudless sky at the beginning of Tuesday’s practice session, Matt Freese and Matt Turner shuffled their feet and drove to their left and right as they took shots under the watchful eyes of the USA goalkeeper coaches, Toni Jimenez and Jack Robinson. Just three days from now, one of “The Two Matts” will have the eyes of the planet on them as the World Cup co-hosts begin what they hope will be a long and inspiring run to the business end of the biggest event in global history with the first group stage game, on Friday in Los Angeles against Paraguay. They still don’t know which one. While the expectation is that World Cup newcomer Freese will be between the posts for the Stars and Stripes to start the competition, Turner said what his teammate-turned-rival did a day earlier: that coach Mauricio Pochettino has not yet told them who’ll be his No. 1 keeper. Turner manned the nets with distinction four years ago in Qatar, keeping a clean sheet against star-studded England, one of the favorites to win it all, to help his country advance to the knockout stage. Despite that experience, the former English Premier League backstop could occupy more of a support role this time around. Not that he’s necessarily looking at it that way. “Being ready for if my number is called and just training every day, preparing for every game like I’m playing, regardless of what the coach ultimately decides here,” Turner said when I asked him how he’ll handle being the understudy if that’s his role this time around. “I think the coach will always pick the guy that’s playing the best, and you know he’s going to make the right decision for the team,” he added. “And whatever my role is going to be, I’m going to be ready to do it to the best of my ability.” It’s not much different for Freese. “You work for the opportunity, but you never know if it’s going to come,” said the Harvard graduate. “As a competitor, you always want to be on the field, always want to help the team in whatever capacity, and this doesn’t change in this moment. Whatever I’m called upon to do, I’m ready to do.” The keeper battle between them has been raging for a year, ever since Pochettino named Freese, who had just one international game under his belt at the time, as his starter for the Concacaf Gold Cup. The 27-year-old led a severely shorthanded U.S. side that was missing lineup mainstays Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, Folarin Balogun, Sergiño Dest, Antonee “Jedi” Robinson and others all the way to the final against Mexico, winning a shootout over Costa Rica (and legendary former Real Madrid No. 1 Keylor Navas) along the way. Freese has started almost every game since, with Turner mostly rooted to the bench. If being demoted was hard for the veteran, 31, to take, he hasn’t shown it publicly. By all accounts, he and Freese have a healthy professional relationship. “Both those guys have done a tremendous job,” midfielder Cristian Roldan said on Tuesday. “Matt Turner has maybe taken a step back [from the starting job] but he’s been so incredibly supportive of Matt Freese and the team and putting us first, and so credit to both of them. They’re competing at the end of day, but they want what’s best for the team.” The competition has extended beyond the national team. Turner left Europe last summer to re-join the New England Revolution — a move designed to ensure that he was playing regularly and staying sharp in the lead-up to this World Cup on home soil. Freese also competes in MLS’s Eastern Conference, for New York City FC. “Playing consistent minutes [with the Revs] this year has helped me tremendously with staying ready, unlike in the past, where I was kind of scrapping for minutes at the club level,” Turner said. Even if Freese is in goal on Friday, Turner knows things can change at any moment. After all, injuries and red cards and game-changing errors happen. “Just because one [set of 11 players] starts one game doesn’t mean the next 11 is going to be the same,” Turner said. The position isn’t as strong as it once was for the national team, when Premier League mainstays like Tim Howard and Brad Guzan were vying for the gloves, or Brad Friedel and Kasey Keller before them. At one point in the mid-2000s, four starting keepers in the Premier League were American — Howard, Friedel, Keller and Marcus Hahnemann. Ahead of this World Cup, the goalkeeper position has been called one of the team’s potential weaknesses. Chris Brady, who earned his first senior appearance in the second half of last month’s tune-up against Senegal, is the obvious third-choice keeper. On Monday, Freese said he’s unfazed by whatever questions exist. “I’m not really listening to anyone outside of the two guys [Turner and Brady] with me and the coaching staff,” he said. “It’s fair to say the US has a great goalkeeping corps historically. I was a fan of that goalkeeping corps for much of my life, and still am. It’s an honor to be on this team and be part of that group to hopefully continue that great legacy.” “I think whatever the coach ultimately decides, we owe it to each other to respect that decision,” Turner said, “and support each other all the way through the World Cup.”​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Craig Breslow, the Red Sox chief baseball officer, is having a lot of conversations about how his front office will pilot MLB’s Aug. 3 trade deadline. But it seems like those discussions are not reflecting their reality. The Red Sox (27-37) are last in the American League East, 11 ½ games behind the first-place Tampa Bay Rays, and 4 ½ games out of a Wild Card spot with six teams in front of them. They’re not a serious threat to win the World Series. They have several trade chips whose value may never be higher. Yet they’re still masquerading as potential playoff contenders. “It’s been true industry-wide,” Breslow said in New York over the weekend about how he would characterize trade talks. “There are a lot of teams that probably feel pretty similarly to us, which is to say that they have confidence in their rosters, they know they’re not playing as well as they’re capable of, and really nobody has put the postseason out of reach. So there are a bunch of teams that are in it right now that are thinking along the same lines as we are.” The Red Sox are fooling themselves if they believe buying instead of selling is the best move for their immediate and future success. Their offense has hit the fewest home runs (49) in Major League Baseball. Boston’s .376 slugging percentage and 90 wRC+ are both ranked 26th in the majors. ESPN reported this week that the Red Sox are aggressively looking to add a right-handed bat, and that they’re even willing to take on money. (That’s puzzling, considering they had an opportunity to spend more money on an impact bat in the offseason, but more on that later.) The larger point is that their offensive problems won’t be solved by simply acquiring a power hitter at the deadline. The Red Sox don’t walk much (7.8%, ranked 27th in MLB), they don’t slug (.131 ISO, 29th in MLB), they hit a ton of weak ground balls (44.1% GB rate, 5th in MLB), and they’ve scored the second-fewest runs in baseball (250) behind only the Padres. First baseman Willson Contreras is supplying all the power in the lineup, and the Red Sox could use an extra slugger, to be sure. But that’s not going to help them play better on the margins. The lineup is poorly constructed. One way to overcome that is to change their approach at the plate, emphasize small-ball, steal bases, and execute sacrifice flies and bunts. But looking at the rest of the mediocre field, and understanding that 10 of 15 AL teams are playing sub-.500 baseball, is a trap. The danger of a weak playoff race is that the Red Sox are convincing themselves that they’re one hot streak away. “We need to run our own race,” Breslow said when asked whether the weak state of the AL could drive the Red Sox to be buyers. “We need to make sure that we get our house in order. We need to play better. We need to win more games. At that point, we can figure out where we are relative to the league. But the first thing is we need to build on the progress that we’ve seen offensively over the last month. And then make sure that we’re pitching consistently well. We need to win games for any of this to happen.” The reality is, the Red Sox actually have a handful of compelling players they could be shopping in the weeks leading up to the deadline. Closer Aroldis Chapman is, by far, Boston’s most attractive trade chip. At 38 years old, Chapman has a 0.46 ERA and 33.8% strikeout rate across 20 games (13 saves) and 19 ⅔ innings. Several teams are desperate for an elite closer with proven postseason experience, who’s also a rental on a one-year deal. Chapman could net the Red Sox a top-100 prospect or multiple upper-minors prospects. It’s a no-brainer to deal him. Veteran right-hander Sonny Gray is another logical candidate to dangle in front of contenders. He’s 7-1 with a 3.20 ERA in 11 starts and 56 ⅓ innings pitched. His fastball has looked elite this season, and he’s improved on his hard-hit rate, with 37% being his lowest since 2021. Contenders always want starters at the deadline, and Gray’s postseason experience and reliable innings make him an attractive asset. The Red Sox could get a near-MLB ready arm or mid-tier prospects for Gray. Boston should also be entertaining blockbuster deals for outfielder Jarren Duran, who has started to heat up at the plate. After hitting .170 with a .481 OPS and one home run in 26 games in April, Duran hit .261 with a .879 OPS and nine home runs in 27 games in May. Rival executives might be weary of his attitude in the clubhouse after being involved in controversial off-field altercations and emotional reactions. But he’s still a fascinating player for his speed, defense and left-handed bat, with two more years of team control. Boston would likely need an overwhelming offer to move him. Right-handed reliever Garrett Whitlock and designated hitter Masataka Yoshida could also join those three players on the trade block. With so many valuable candidates, the Red Sox should be using the deadline to shore up prospects and MLB-ready players. They can accelerate their 2027 window, rather than chasing an 84-win season that might be good enough to sneak into the playoffs, because that’s how weak the AL is. But the team doesn’t show much promise beyond an early October exit. That being said, Red Sox fans are right to doubt whether Breslow can engineer the best returns for the attractive pieces he has, and how he’ll handle those hauls. We’re approaching the one-year anniversary of Breslow’s infamous Rafael Devers trade, and it sure looks like the San Francisco Giants won the deal. Of course, the Giants gave up a lot of players and are paying Devers over $31 million per year. And even though Devers has not yet panned out the way the Giants had hoped, he posted a .949 OPS in May, he still owns a .847 career OPS, and they have plenty of time to figure it out together. The Red Sox, meanwhile, botched the Devers trade the minute they let third baseman Alex Bregman sign with the Cubs over this past offseason. Devers entered 2025 having played seven seasons at third base in Boston. But the Red Sox had just signed Bregman to play third base, and Breslow and company were not up front with Devers about switching positions. So they traded him to San Francisco. Entering 2026, Bregman wanted to stay in Boston. But the Red Sox were unwilling to sign him due to disagreements over Bregman’s requests: a long-term contract with a no-trade clause and less deferred money. Then, the Red Sox traded away most of Devers’ return package, which consisted of four players. Since they were counting on Bregman to be their long-term solution at third base when they made the decision to trade Devers, and then Bregman signed with the Cubs, they were caught with their tail between their legs entering 2026 without a third baseman. So in February, they traded away one of the best return pieces from the Devers’ haul, left-hander Kyle Harrison, to Milwaukee for Caleb Durbin, Andruw Monasterio, and Anthony Seigler. Durbin, who was brought in as their primary third baseman, has an OPS+ of 55. Monasterio is also playing at replacement level, with a 0.2 WAR in 35 games. Harrison, meanwhile, has turned into an elite pitcher for the Brewers. His 2.72 ERA is ranked 12th-best among NL starters who have pitched at least 50 innings this year. So Breslow’s track record to this point should be enough for Red Sox CEO Sam Kennedy to appoint a different front-office leader ahead of another important trade deadline. But according to a recent report from the Boston Globe, the Red Sox are not considering firing Breslow. In his third season, Breslow will continue to be the man in charge amid the team’s chaotic and disappointing year. The organization has regressed since qualifying for the postseason last year. On April 25, the Red Sox fired manager Alex Cora and six of his coaches. They were 10-17 at the time, and are 17-20 since interim manager Chad Tracy took over. The Red Sox have roughly seven weeks to find consistency in the win column, but it shouldn’t take that long to reach a decision. Sell.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

College football has a commissioner, and his name is Local Judge. The system we’ve seen built around college football in the 21st century won’t break because of the money, but because we allowed a player to gamble on the sport without the penalty of banishment. This system won’t break because one judge in the next county over made one ruling, but because college football’s most powerful individuals will not come to an agreement that protects and betters the sport they claim to love. Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby was granted a temporary injunction on Monday, allowing him to play for the Red Raiders this fall, despite being declared ineligible by the NCAA for betting on college sports, including bets made on his own team while at Indiana. So, this begs the question: where do we go now if we can’t protect the integrity of competition? That is the question facing many administrators, coaches and fans after the ruling came in from Judge Ken Curry, who is from Fort Worth, Texas, and was brought to Lubbock County for this case. The temporary restraining order prevents the NCAA from being able to block Sorsby’s eligibility for what will be his final collegiate season. Sorsby acknowledged placing thousands of bets over the past four years during his time at Indiana, Cincinnati and now Texas Tech, which have totaled upwards of $90,000, a clear violation of NCAA rules. Curry also unilaterally suspended Sorsby for the first two games of Texas Tech’s 2026 season against “Ain’t Played Nobody Conference” members Abilene Christian and Oregon State. This last stipulation in Curry’s ruling brings back around a case Sorsby’s attorney, Jeffrey Kessler, cited as evidence of the NCAA’s inconsistency in enforcing its gambling bylaws: Former Indiana volleyball assistant coach Brett Agne was found to have made more than 700 bets of more than $327,000 in five months — including 27 on IU football and men’s basketball. Agne received a two-year show cause order and a 10-game suspension but, importantly, no outright ban from coaching NCAA sports. Agne no longer coaches at Indiana and was recently coaching professional volleyball for the Indy Ignite, a women’s professional indoor volleyball team that competes in Major League Volleyball (MLV). The NCAA believed Sorsby’s actions warranted permanent ineligibility from playing college football, and according to some athletic directors and coaches, there simply shouldn’t be any exception to that rule. “We’re too f—ing greedy right now,” a Big 12 assistant coach told me. “We’re out for ourselves. Yeah, it goes without saying we want their kid [Sorsby] to be OK, but what about the whole doggone sport? No one wants the rules to apply to them, and they want the screws turned to everybody else.” Georgia athletic director Josh Brooks and Nebraska athletic director Troy Dannen have each publicly said they will not schedule the Red Raiders in non-conference matchups. Big Ten athletic directors are expected to meet to discuss a league-wide mandate that effectively boycotts scheduling Texas Tech in their non-conference affairs. Kansas State athletic director Gene Taylor is also saying the quiet part out loud. “We’ve had some serious conversation about it,” Taylor told Yahoo Sports. “There is still a lot to be discussed. We aren’t scheduled to play them this year, but it’s something we have to look at from a college football perspective. This is greater than the Big 12.” It’s greater than college football, too. American sport is built on the belief that competition is fair. It’s the reason that eight members of the 1919 Black Sox team received the harshest treatment imaginable for fixing games. It’s the reason Pete Rose’s bust will never see the inside of the Baseball Hall of Fame after betting on the sport. The integrity of the sport matters more than any institution, team or player. We must believe the game is, without question, being played to win, not to cover a spread or feast on long odds for the sake of money made. On Monday, a Texas judge unknown to most college football fans issued a ruling that could prove more consequential than any controversy the sport has faced this offseason. As a local judge, though, he got to play college football commissioner for a day. What’s worse is that another judge in another county will eventually make the next decision, because leaders still cannot agree on how to govern the sport and stop the evil that is greed from continuing to pillage our otherwise thriving village that is college football. Curry is hardly the first instance of this. In the past four months alone, judges in Tennessee, Mississippi and Oklahoma have been asked to rule on college football eligibility cases. Former Tennessee quarterback Joey Aguilar sued for an extra year of eligibility, arguing his junior college seasons should not count toward his NCAA clock. A chancellor in Tennessee disagreed. Had he won his case, he was likely to make seven figures in NIL and revenue-sharing at Tennessee. A Mississippi judge reached the opposite conclusion with Ole Miss QB Trinidad Chambliss, granting the soon-to-be 24-year-old another year of eligibility. Then in April, Oklahoma linebacker Owen Heinecke secured an injunction allowing him to play the 2026 season despite already participating in the NFL Scouting Combine. Sorsby going in front of a local judge and being granted a temporary restraining order against the NCAA that allows him to play college football is the latest instance of eligibility disputes being decided in courtrooms. This offseason has shown us that college football not only lacks the kind of enforcement it wants, but the enforcement it deserves.And yes, it’s only June.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

The World Cup has always been the most efficient transfer market accelerant on the planet. Thirty-two days. Billions of eyeballs. Scouts and sporting directors with open notebooks. What unfolds this summer determines how loud the phone rings during the transfer window in August across leagues such as the English Premier League, Spanish LaLiga and Italian Serie A. I recently called out four rising World Cup players who’ll be big topics of the transfer conversation, but let’s focus on some of five established players who already have the scouts circling like vultures. Current club: Bayern Munich (German Bundesliga) Olise just completed his second season in Munich and his exceptional numbers made him the German Bundesliga’s most feared winger. The unanswered question is whether he is a long-term Bayern player or a stepping stone signing waiting for a bigger stage. Real Madrid has monitored Olise’s situation closely since Florentino Pérez’s reelection as president, even prompting a stern rebuttal from Bayern counterpart Herbert Hainer. A strong World Cup for France — and Olise has the tools to be their most dangerous attacking weapon — would turn into an official lavish bid. He’s entering the tournament in amazing form, having scored a hat trick against Northern Ireland in a World Cup tune-up on June 8. He carries himself like a Galactico and Real Madrid wants to sign the best player available, regardless of whether it’s a position of need. Current club: AC Milan (Italian Serie A) Three years of transfer windows. Three years of the same storyline: the big clubs come, Milan holds firm, Leão signs an extension, nothing changes. That cycle ends this summer, one way or another, as Leão announced he’s ready for a new chapter in his career. Inconsistency has defined his Milan career. At his best, a Serie A MVP hoisting the Scudetto. In his usual manner, he sulked and shied away when the going got tough. Inexplicably, he got sent off during Portugal’s World Cup send-off match against Chile for an on-pitch scuffle. Still, there might be a bargain to be had if Leão plays in a vertical system that suits his strengths. Current club: Unattached He’s leaving Liverpool this summer after an astounding career in which he scored 257 goals for one of England’s historic club – at age 33. The farewell tour never really felt like a farewell — it felt like a final argument. The destination is still unclear, and that’s precisely why this World Cup matters. Egypt reaching the knockout rounds gives every team a live audition before Salah commits. There’s noise about a return to continental Europe, either La Liga or Serie A (his early-career performances at Roma earned him the move to Liverpool), where the slower pace of play could suit him as he enters the twilight of his career. Current club: AC Milan (Italian Serie A) His 2025-26 Serie A season with Milan could best be described as catastrophic. Zero goals, zero assists. The first Serie A striker in history with zero goal involvements in a season despite over 10 starts. The Mexico youngster’s underlying profile remains interesting for teams seeking a bargain deal — he’s proved to be a clinical striker in the Champions League with Feyenoord and has poacher-like instincts with his movement inside the box. This past season was marred by injuries and a manager in a since-sacked Massimiliano Allegri who never really believed in him. In the right setting, the 25-year-old Giménez can be a steal. This World Cup with Mexico could be his launchpad into a much better situation. Current club: Atlético Madrid (Spanish La Liga) He left Manchester City for Atlético because he wanted to be the main man rather than Erling Haaland’s understudy. Atleti manager Diego Simeone handed him that responsibility and Álvarez delivered — 20 goals across all competitions in his debut season at the Metropolitano. Solid. Not mindblowing. Barcelona and Real Madrid are already pushing hard for him, insofar that Madrid even released a statement acknowledging a failed €150 million bid on June 9. A World Cup where he leads Argentina’s line without Lionel Messi carrying everything changes the conversation around his ceiling entirely. He’s only 26 years old and the best seasons of his career should still be ahead of him.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Losing a monumental coaching position is brutal, but former USA head coach Gregg Berhalter has a way to keep supporting the team: his son. Berhalter’s son, Sebastian Berhalter, is a midfielder for Team USA in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and the former USA coach penned a heartfelt letter to his son, which was released Tuesday. Berhalter wrote in his note to Sebastian: “The World Cup is one of the rare moments when the entire world stops and watches. It’s a beautiful stage, but it’s also a privilege, one that most people will never know. Enjoy every second of it. Take in the anthem. Take in the pressure. Take in the joy of competing alongside your teammates and representing something bigger than yourself. “Moments like this change your life forever. “But no matter what happens on the field, I hope you will always remember this: I am proud of you because of who you are, not because of what you accomplish. You’ve stayed humble through all of it. You’ve stayed grounded. You’ve stayed kind. And you’ve become an incredible young man. “You earned this. I love you.” Berhalter also said that he admires how his son has “never taken anything for granted” and expressed how the two of them “get to share an experience that very few fathers and sons ever will.” Regarding the former USA coach, Berhalter, who played for Team USA, had two stints as the club’s head coach: 2018-22 and 2023-24. His contract expired following the 2022 World Cup, which saw Team USA be eliminated in the Round of 16, with the federation opting to have interim head coaches before bringing back Berhalter in June 2023. With that said, Berhalter was let go after Team USA failed to advance past pool play in 2024 Copa América; former Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain, Tottenham Hotspur and Southampton manager Mauricio Pochettino was hired as Team USA’s new head coach in Sept. 2024. Berhalter has been the head coach of the Chicago Fire (MLS) since 2024. As for the younger Berhalter, the 25-year-old is in his fifth season with the Vancouver Whitecaps (2022-26) and his seventh season in MLS altogether; he spent his 2020 rookie campaign with the Columbus Crew, who won the MLS Cup Championship in said year, and his second season with Austin FC (2021). This season, Berhalter has registered six goals, four assists and knocked through one penalty kick. The Whitecaps sit atop the Western Conference at 10-2-2; the 2026 MLS season is currently paused due to the World Cup, with the season resuming on July 16. The World Cup march commences for Berhalter and Team USA on Friday night, as it faces Paraguay at Los Angeles Stadium in Los Angeles, CA, which can be viewed at 9 p.m. ET on FOX and streamed on the FOX One app.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

NFL evaluators have never been perfect, especially when it comes to the most important, most over-scouted position in sports. That’s how a quarterback such as Brock Purdy was once the “Mr. Irrelevant” of the 2022 draft, only to earn a $265 million contract just three years later with the San Francisco 49ers. And it’s how Tom Brady, the greatest quarterback of all time, was only the 199th pick of the 2000 draft. Still, there’s usually a reason why quarterbacks slip into Day 3 of the draft. And it takes a special combination of overlooked skill and unexpected opportunity for them to rise from that obscurity. So, who among the six quarterbacks selected on Day 3 this year have a chance to do that? Which, if any, can be the next Purdy and turn into a franchise-changing star? We posed that question to several NFL scouts and evaluators. Here’s how they ranked the candidates. Draft slot: Seventh round, 223rd overall Résumé: The Rutgers quarterback (and Minnesota transfer) was a bit of a surprise pick, even as a seventh-rounder. He did start 42 games over his four years at two schools, but his passing numbers were middling (8,604 yards, 55 TDs, 27 interceptions and just a 56.3% completion rate). He also offered little as a runner. The 6-2, 216-pounder did steadily improve and had a solid senior year (62.2%, 3,124 yards, 20 TDs, seven interceptions). He became a better downfield passer too. That was enough to get the “Greek Rifle” on the NFL’s radar. Scouts’ takes: “The improvement was there, but you have to squint to see it. … I think this was the case of an offensive coordinator (David Blough) just falling in love and seeing something he could work with. He just doesn’t do anything good enough to be a starter in this league. At best, he’s a backup. … If you go only by his senior year, I get it. He’s smart and makes a lot of good decisions. I could see him as a game-manager who eventually you can trust for a few games if your starter goes down. Eventually. … He’s definitely a developmental prospect. But his tools are good. Nothing about him is great.” Opportunity: It’s hard to see where he’d fit in Washington, where Jayden Daniels and Marcus Mariota are the established top two and the scheme is built for a more mobile and athletic quarterback. Kaliakmanis certainly could push Sam Hartman for the No. 3 job, but might need a strong summer to earn a roster spot. Purdy potential: He’s a long shot to even get on the field this season. He might need a few years of development before he’s ready to play at all. Draft slot: Seventh round, 234th overall Résumé: The starter for the past three-plus years at Texas Tech, he put up some good numbers in the Red Raiders’ spread offense. He completed 62.8% of his passes overall and 66% as a senior. He also threw only 28 interceptions to go with his 8,989 yards and 71 touchdown passes. The 6-2, 221-pounder showed his toughness, too, playing through knee, shoulder and leg injuries over the years. Scouts’ takes: “He’s smart and he processes everything really quickly. Maybe too quickly. He’s not as accurate as his numbers suggest, and he may not have a strong enough arm to get it there against NFL defenses. … He’s not athletic. He can’t run at all. He’s a pocket statue. … He’s tough as anybody, but the kid can’t stay healthy. I bet a few teams crossed him off with all the medical issues he’s had. … He (almost) never played under center in college. I need to see him do that before I can tell what he’ll be. … He’s a really good kid and was a great leader in college. He knows how to get the most out of his teammates. They’re going to love having him in the (QB) room. … I could see him work as a backup. If he ever gets in, he can probably game-manage for you. It won’t be spectacular, but he won’t (mess) things up. Guys who don’t (mess) up can play a long time in the league.” Opportunity: Since the Patriots are the defending AFC champs and have Super Bowl aspirations again, it would take a lot for them to put any part of their season in the hands of a seventh-round rookie. Even if Drake Maye and Tommy DeVito got hurt, they’d sign a veteran. So there’s just no clear path to the field for Morton. Purdy potential: He is probably more of a solid backup than a future starter. He’s even a few years away from that, though. Draft slot: Fifth round, 178th overall Résumé: He was a one-year starter at North Dakota State, where he was one of the best and most efficient quarterbacks in the FCS. He completed 71.9% of his passes for 2,719 yards, 18 touchdowns and four interceptions. And he ran for 923 yards and 13 touchdowns, too. At 6-2, 232 pounds, his 4.56 speed made him an intriguing prospect, especially because of all that untapped potential. He played running back at times during his career with the Bison, too, adding to his value for NFL teams. Scouts’ takes: “I was looking at him as maybe a tight end before last year. I was surprised by how good he was at quarterback. But I don’t know how much of that was about the (low level of) competition. … That’s the key, right? Can he do it above (the FCS)? His size and arm strength are good. He was pretty accurate on that level. But his mechanics are off and he can be a mess under pressure. He waits too long on his receivers, and his first instinct is to always run. It’ll take time to coach that out of him. … He’s a gimmick guy for now. The Eagles are pretty smart. They’ll find surprising ways to use him. But he’s got a long ways to go to be a quarterback in this league. … I just don’t know what’s there. He didn’t play enough (at QB). The (competition) level was too low. His skills are worth a flier, but it’s a flier.” Opportunity: He’s not beating out Jalen Hurts or backup Tanner McKee any time soon. Veteran Andy Dalton is there, too, and the Eagles wouldn’t dream of handing important reps to a project QB on a team with Super Bowl aspirations. He could have a chance to play in some short-yardage or goal-line situations where he could use his running ability. But his days as a pure QB might be on hold for a bit. Purdy potential: Maybe a few years down the road. But the real issue for him now might be getting enough practice time. His reps as a QB will be limited. And if he’s given a gimmick role, most of his reps might go toward that. His development as a passer might have to wait. Draft slot: Sixth round, 182nd overall Résumé: A four-year starter, first at Boise State, then at Arkansas, the 6-6, 227-pounder was one of the most productive quarterbacks in college football. The two-way threat ran for 1,379 yards and 16 touchdowns in his two seasons with the Razorbacks. He also dazzled with his speed, running a 4.36 40 at the Scouting Combine. His passing numbers were less electric, but still strong. He completed more than 60% of his passes, averaging 2,934 yards, 17 TDs and 10 interceptions over those two years. Scouts’ takes: “His size and ability to move is jaw-dropping, and so are some of the plays he made in college. But he’s almost too big for his body when he throws. His mechanics can be awkward at times. … I could see why (Browns coach Todd Monken) would want to work with him. If you can fix his mechanics and turn him into even an average passer, you’ve got something there. But that’s a pretty big ‘if.’ … He got into trouble a lot as a passer. He probably should’ve had a lot more interceptions than he had. And he had a lot. … They need to start from scratch with him as a passer. He takes too long to get the ball out. He’s not accurate. His velocity is really inconsistent. But man, can he move. They’ll keep him on the roster just for that. … He defines the word ‘freak,’ especially at quarterback. If anybody can turn him into a better passer, he’d be scary.” Opportunity: Who knows what the Browns have planned for one of the weirdest QB rooms in the league. Sheduer Sanders returns as the incumbent starter. Dillon Gabriel, who was drafted higher Sanders and started six games last year, is still there, too. And now they’re dusting off Deshaun Watson and giving him a shot to win the job. So Green has at least three hurdles to clear. But given his running ability, multiple scouts suggested he could make the roster and have a role in short-yardage and goal-line situations, at least. Purdy potential: You never know with the Browns, but Green seems to fit more as a situational weapon than anything else. Presumably the Browns will exhaust Watson, Sanders, Gabriel and maybe even another quarterback from the 2027 draft before giving Green a real shot at the job. Draft slot: Seventh round, 249th overall Résumé: As a junior at LSU, he was one of the nation’s best QBs, throwing for 4,052 yards and 29 touchdowns (albeit with 12 interceptions). But there was a major drop-off during his senior season thanks to a preseason abdominal injury and the struggles of his Tigers team. The 6-2, 203-pounder played just nine games and threw for 1,927 yards with only 12 touchdowns and five interceptions. He did complete 67.4% of his passes, though, which was the best percentage of his career. At the NFL Scouting Combine, doctors reportedly found that a cyst on his spine was the cause of his abdominal injury. Scouts’ takes: “I’m still shocked he went so late, even with the (cyst). It was pretty obvious he was hurt last season. But he showed so much the year before. … What scares teams is he’s a ‘gunslinger.’ That can work, but it’s high-risk. He’s also not the most mobile guy, which makes his style even riskier. You’ll get a lot of big plays, but a lot of big mistakes. … He’s got such a good arm. He knows it, too. He thinks he can make every throw. Most of the time he’s right. … He’s worth a shot, but you’re going to need a strong stomach. He’ll reward you, but it’s going to hurt first.” Opportunity: He certainly seems to have landed in the right place. He’ll get plenty of reps this summer while Patrick Mahomes rehabs a torn ACL, especially since Justin Fields is now the Chiefs’ backup. Nussmeier will be taught by Andy Reid, one of the NFL’s best offensive coaches. It’s not crazy to think he can emerge as Mahomes’ primary backup once he’s fully healthy. The Chiefs don’t think their dynasty is over, though, so they won’t let Nussmeier step in as a starter anytime soon. Purdy potential: He’s in the perfect place to develop and iron out his flaws. He also has a chance to get a ton of valuable practice time and preseason action as a rookie. If he can stay healthy and Reid can unlock what he showed two seasons ago, his NFL future could still be bright. It’ll just be brightest someplace else. Draft slot: Fourth round, 110th overall Résumé: A three-year starter at Clemson, who started 40 games overall. The 6-2, 207-pounder had a big junior season (3,639 yards, 36 touchdowns, six interceptions, plus 463 yards and 7 rushing TDs) capped by a big game against Texas in the College Football Playoff (336 yards, three TDs, one interception). That led some to project he’d be one of the top QBs in the 2026 class. But it all fell apart during his senior year, as the Tigers struggled and his production dropped (2,943 yards, 16 TDs, 6 interceptions). Klubnik played through a severe high ankle sprain he suffered in October, and a right wrist injury later in the season. Scouts’ takes: “The tools are all there: the arm, the athletic ability, and he’s really smart. His big flaw is that he can be pressured into bad decisions. That’s a worry for someone with as much experience as he had. … He was just starting to look like himself again when he got hurt last year. He started a little slow, but it was coming along. The injury changed everything. … I never thought he was a can’t-miss prospect. He’s not as cool under pressure as (Fernando) Mendoza. But had he stayed healthy he probably could’ve been a second-rounder. Maybe late first. … On the right team he could be good. Just keep the pressure off him and he’s got the skills to make things happen. But he has to be in a better situation than he’s in right now.” Opportunity: Of all the Day 3 picks, the 22-year-old Klubnik has the clearest path to actual playing time. The Jets signed a stop-gap starter in Geno Smith, a 35-year-old journeyman who has thrown 32 interceptions over the past two seasons. With a good summer, Klubnik could beat out Bailey Zappe and Brady Cook for the No. 2 job. And it’s not inconceivable the Jets could turn to Klubnik late in the season. It would be worth it to see what they have before diving headfirst into the QB-rich 2027 draft. Purdy potential: It’s not crazy to think he’ll play at some point this season, but the overall situation with the Jets isn’t great. They do have a decent offensive line, though, and at least a few weapons. If injuries really were the issue last season, Klubnik could even play well. He’d have to show a lot, though, to convince the Jets to not draft another quarterback in the first round next year.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports