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With the 2026 NFL Draft less than a month away, Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson has entered the chat as the most polarizing prospect in the class. After Simpson’s impressive throwing exhibitions at the NFL Scouting Combine and Alabama Pro Day created a buzz in scouting circles, evaluators could not wait to dig into the tape to determine whether the consensus QB2 of the class is worthy of a first-round pick. Simpson, who passed for 3,567 yards with 28 touchdowns and five interceptions in 2025, is a mechanical marvel with flawless footwork and throwing mechanics that stand out on his tape. As the son of a college football coach with an extensive offensive background, Simpson operates like a clinician from the pocket, working through his reads at warp speed before routinely delivering darts to open receivers. The combination of his high-IQ and refined mechanics resulted in a sizzling nine-game run in 2025 — a 66.8% completion rate with 21 touchdowns and one interception during that span — that had scouts buzzing about his prospects as a QB1. Directing a pro-style offense created by former NFL offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb, Simpson showcased his managerial skills and big-play potential with his surgical dismantling of four ranked opponents — Georgia, Vanderbilt, Missouri and Tennessee. That scintillating stretch piqued the interest of evaluators intent on finding a potential QB1 in the 2026 or 2027 classes. Few expected Simpson, with another year of college eligibility and only 15 starts on his résumé, to enter this year’s draft. But the flashes from his spectacular run have stirred debate between old-school evaluators and new-age scouts on the importance of traits, experience, production and projection for quarterback prospects. After studying Simpson’s 2025 season, here are my thoughts on the most polarizing player in the draft. This Upside If you were coaching a young quarterback on how to play the position and needed to show him a demonstration reel, Simpson’s highlight tape would suffice. The 6-foot-1, 211-pounder is a talented technician with footwork and mechanics that coaches rave about when teaching young players new skills. He complements his polished mechanics with a high football IQ, enabling him to quickly work through his reads until he finds an open receiver or the weak spot in coverage. Simpson’s quickness in processing and game-day urgency separate him from most young quarterbacks who are hesitant and uncertain in the pocket. He has mastered the art of playing quickly without hurrying or rushing through the process when making post-snap reads. As a result, Simpson consistently plays on time, trusting his awareness and diagnostic skills to make anticipatory throws against various coverage. He displays a keen understanding of his scheme and which routes should be available against the defensive coverage or pressure. Moreover, he maintains a big-picture focus, enabling him to play in attack mode and exploit the defense’s vulnerabilities at all times. Additionally, Simpson’s exceptional intangibles enable him to carve up coverage with surgical precision despite lacking elite arm talent. His arm strength grades out at a “plus” level, but it would not rank as a superpower on par with the likes of Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen or Joe Burrow. While it has been proven that a strong arm is not required to succeed in the NFL, Simpson must win with superior timing, anticipation and ball placement rather than throwing fastballs past defenders. Coaches intrigued by Simpson will certainly want to incorporate the rhythm throws and play-action concepts that accentuate his game. He consistently nails the strike zone on “catch, rock and throw” concepts with in-breaking routes attached to the progression, and he’s just as effective on comebacks and deep outs thrown outside the numbers. With Simpson also capable of layering throws over intermediate defenders after executing play-action fakes, offensive coordinators can open up the playbook with the Alabama product under center. In addition, Simpson’s athleticism, movement skills and effectiveness as a mobile playmaker shine on bootlegs and naked passes. He is a credible dual-threat with the potential to pick up first downs on nifty scrambles or pinpoint tosses to the boundary. The Downside Despite the impressive résumé and highlight reel Simpson has compiled as a one-year starter, there are some concerns about his ability to thrive as a pro due to his inexperience (15 career starts), size and arm talent. The recent failures of Anthony Richardson (13 college starts), Dwayne Haskins (14), and Mitchell Trubisky (13), combined with the inability of Trey Lance (17) to crack an NFL starting lineup, makes Simpson a high-risk prospect due to his limited reps. Additionally, skeptics will point to his late-season struggles, particularly against Auburn and Georgia (in the SEC Championship Game), as potential concerns about his ability to adapt to defensive adjustments. Defensive coordinators successfully copied pressure patterns and coverage tricks that disrupted his rhythm in the initial Oklahoma matchup, as evidenced by Simpson completing just 58.5% of his passes in his final five games with six touchdowns and three interceptions. With Simpson’s injuries also impacting his play, concerns over his size and durability are also major factors in his evaluation. As a slender quarterback, his late-season decline will lead to questions about his ability to withstand the pounding and wear-and-tear as a pro. [2026 NFL Draft Confidential: Unfiltered Scouting Takes On Top 5 QBs] Factor in his lack of elite arm talent, and there are plenty of red flags for evaluators to consider when breaking down Simpson. The naysayers will point to his underthrown vertical passes and his soft tosses between the numbers as potential concerns, especially since NFL defensive coordinators design game plans that force quarterbacks to make tight-window throws. If Simpson is unable to punish opponents for their aggressive tactics, the offense will face a condensed field, making it harder to operate over a 17-game season. The Verdict Simpson is the ultimate high-risk, high-reward prospect at the position. He dazzles as a pocket passer, with pristine mechanics and a high IQ that will endear him to quarterback gurus across the league. Offensive coordinators employing intricate schemes that rely on touch, timing and precision will fall in love with Simpson due to his ability to execute advanced concepts at the collegiate level. His strongest supporters within the league will see the Alabama star as a Brock Purdy-like playmaker. They’ll argue that Simpson could excel in an offense featuring a smorgasbord of creative concepts designed to exploit defensive vulnerabilities through clever scheming and misdirection, including play-action and bootleg passes. While his lack of experience will require a detailed developmental plan that might include a “redshirt” year to adapt and adjust to the pro game, Simpson’s skills could translate into him becoming a successful starter down the road. Due to the time needed for him to develop, and the risks associated with his inexperience and size, I would grade him as a second-round prospect (future starter), knowing that he faces long odds of becoming a franchise-caliber player.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

The only constant in life is change, and in the NFL, that can mean a million different things. One of those changes could be a team’s appearance, and we’ve already seen multiple teams announce new jerseys for next season. Here are the teams that have released a new uniform and/or rebranded their entire look for the 2026 NFL season: Atlanta Falcons The Falcons have a new look. Atlanta announced on Apr. 2 that it’s rolling out a new base uniform. The home look features a black helmet with a red uniform and white numbers and pants, whereas the road appearance features a black helmet with a white uniform, red numbers and the option for either black or white pants. The Falcons will still break out the throwback red helmets on occasion. “While the uniforms are the most visible elements of our brand, it’s just one piece of where our brand shows up,” Falcons Chief Marketing Officer Shannon Joyner said in an interview with the team’s website. “Our brand shows up in a variety of spaces from uniforms, to what you see in terms of buildings and the stadium, all the different fan gear, all the different places where our brand shows up — through that lens, and through thoughtful research, analysis and consideration, our brand is in a really strong spot, and we have had a lot of positive growth of our brand since we switched to our current design set with the bird logo in the early 2000s, so we wanted to continue to invest in that.” Tennessee Titans On Mar. 12, Tennessee revealed a new look that pays homage to its Houston Oilers’ roots. The Titans’ home look features a blue jersey and white pants, while the road look features a white jersey and the option for either light blue or white pants. Meanwhile, “TITANS” is stitched across the chest for the home jersey, while “TENNESSEE” is stitched across the chest for the road jersey. “We wanted to come up with something that took the best parts of all of that and bring it together in a way that makes sense,” Titans President and Chief Executive Officer Burke Nihill said in an interview with the team’s website. “I feel like we’re building on the legacy of what got us here, and we’re doing it in a way that is going to set the course of this organization for decades to come in a pretty special way.”​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

MGM GRAND GARDEN ARENA (LAS VEGAS) — As the national anthem reached its conclusion on Wednesday evening, moments before Oklahoma and Colorado tipped off to begin the second annual College Basketball Crown, a call-and-response chant of “Boomer! …. Sooner!” rang out across the building for all to hear. Scores of fans proudly sporting crimson and cream dominated the crowd as this year’s tournament began, eager to support head coach Porter Moser and a squad that arrived in Sin City having won eight of its last 11 games. On the strength of that run, along with strong roster retention ahead of the transfer portal opening next week, Oklahoma entered as the overwhelming favorite to win the event — though the Sooners didn’t play that way for most of the evening. A double-clutch 3-pointer from redshirt freshman forward Kuol Atak (16 points) leveled the score with 9:12 remaining, eliciting an eruption from the Oklahoma faithful. Another 3-pointer from senior guard Nijel Pack (20 points) on the following possession finally nudged the Sooners in front. Slowly but surely, the most accomplished team in the field awoke in time to survive, 90-86, in overtime. Oklahoma will now face Baylor in the semifinals on Saturday. Here are my takeaways from Day 1 of the College Basketball Crown. 1. Oklahoma defense clamps down when it matters When Oklahoma head coach Porter Moser was running rampant at Loyola Chicago, guiding the Ramblers to the Final Four in 2018 and the Sweet 16 in 2021, his program was revered for its miserly defense. Two of Moser’s last four teams before taking over the Sooners finished among the top 17 nationally in adjusted defensive efficiency, according to KenPom, including a second-place finish in his final year. The leap in competition from the Missouri Valley Conference to the Big 12 — and now the SEC — has been accompanied by a slight regression in Moser’s defensive potency. His first three teams at Oklahoma all ranked among the top 48 nationally, but last year’s group sunk to 60th and this year’s squad entered Wednesday night having plummeted to 108th overall. It looked that way when the Sooners allowed Colorado to shoot nearly 54% from the field in the opening half. But with the second half came a renewed focus and intensity on the defensive end, one that challenged the Buffaloes on seemingly every shot and conceded almost nothing around the rim. Moser’s group, which trailed by as many as 10, clawed back by limiting Colorado to just 24% shooting after the break, including a dreary 2-for-10 from beyond the arc. Twice, the Sooners forced strings of at least seven consecutive missed shots. “The last 10 games, we’ve really relied on each other playing more protect-the-paint defense,” Moser said during the postgame news conference in response to my question about the second-half improvement. “I thought we really protected the paint. They put so much pressure on you because they go downhill very hard, and then they can draw fouls. They got us in the bonus fast. For us to play that physical, still, through that foul [trouble], I thought was a credit to those guys playing together defensively.” [COLLEGE BASKETBALL: Expert Predictions and Analysis for Crown] 2. Colorado battles attrition with early transfer departures Even though the transfer portal doesn’t officially open until April 7, one day after the national championship game in Indianapolis, the Buffaloes were dealt a trio of early blows from players announcing their intention to leave. That saddled head coach Tad Boyle and his staff with the challenge of reshuffling rotations and playing time ahead of the College Basketball Crown. The Buffaloes arrived in Las Vegas without the services of leading scorer Isaiah Johnson (16.9 points per game), third-leading scorer Sebastian Rancik (12.3 points per game) and fourth-leading scorer Bangot Dak (11.5 points per game). All three players made their transfer decisions public within a four-day span the week before this event began. “We’ve had a few weeks now to prepare for this,” Boyle told me after the game. “We started, obviously, when we found out that those three guys weren’t playing. I knew it would give guys opportunities that hadn’t maybe been in the rotation up to this point.” Without most of its top-end firepower, Colorado leaned heavily on guard Barrington Hargress (14.2 points per game), the only other double-figure scorer still on the roster. Hargress scored a team-high 31 points on Wednesday against the Sooners, including 13 in the first half on an array of impressive shots: a transition 3-pointer from the top of the key, a difficult baseline turnaround and a crossover-turned stepback on the left wing. But after a sizzling first half that saw the Buffaloes shoot 53.6% from the floor, both Hargress and his teammates cooled significantly after the break. Colorado went more than five minutes without a field goal from the 17:47 mark to the 12:19 mark of the second half, during which time their slim advantage dwindled and, ultimately, disappeared for good. Boyle’s team bowed out after missing 24 of their final 30 field goal attempts. 3. Flashes from Baylor stars underscore looming draft decisions When the Big 12 released its preseason basketball poll in mid-October, the Bears were picked seventh in the 16-team league. There were reasons to be optimistic about what Baylor could do during the 2025-26 campaign after head coach Scott Drew signed a recruiting class that finished 25th nationally and added seven players via the transfer portal, two of whom were ranked among the top 40 by 247Sports. But five months later, when the regular season mercifully ended, the Bears had sunk to 14th in the conference standings with just six Big 12 wins. It was a shocking outcome for a team that includes multiple future pros in guards Cameron Carr (19.2 points per game) and Tounde Yessoufou (17.8 points per game). Both project as late first-round picks in the 2026 NBA Draft. Their presence at the College Basketball Crown made Baylor one of the more intriguing teams in Las Vegas, where NBA personnel got an extra chance to watch them before draft decisions are eventually made. What those evaluators saw against Minnesota on Wednesday night were two players whose physical and athletic profiles remain wildly enticing, even if consistency eludes them at times. Carr, who scored 15 points and grabbed nine rebounds, soared for an alley-oop dunk in which his 7-foot-1 wingspan seemed to scrape the ceiling and exhibited dynamic body control for two acrobatic layups. Yessoufou, who scored 19 points and snagged seven rebounds, flashed versatility by operating out of the high post against the Gophers’ zone and showed his open-floor ability with back-to-back buckets on fast breaks early in the second half. “As a coach, you want to start the season together and you want to finish the season together,” Baylor head coach Scott Drew told me after the game. “I think it just speaks to their character, wanting to play for Baylor, wanting to have a chance to win a championship. That speaks volumes to them. I know everybody is entitled to their own decisions and every situation is different, but I know we’re excited that they’re playing.” 4. Obi Agbim breaks out of shooting slump for the Bears There’s no question that Baylor guard Obi Agbim, a transfer from Wyoming, is a 3-point specialist. Last season, 80 of his 184 made field goals originated beyond the arc during his lone campaign with the Cowboys. And this year, his first with the Bears, he splashed 72 of his 112 field goals from 3-point range entering the College Basketball Crown. However, Agbim arrived in Las Vegas on a cold streak from downtown: He’d only made six of his last 27 attempts (22.2%) across Baylor’s last four games, two of which were losses. That changed immediately in the Bears’ opening-round blowout of Minnesota on Wednesday night when Agbim exploded for 17 points, his highest point total since scoring 19 against Colorado on Feb. 4. Agbim buried five of eight shots from beyond the arc to tie his season high for most 3s in a single game. He made more perimeter jumpers by himself than Minnesota did as a team. “Just slowing down a little bit,” Agbim told me after the game when asked what contributed to his strong shooting performance. “Playing with a pace that I’ve always played with. In the games before this, I was kind of rushing my shot a little bit. So just slowing down, taking my time when I shoot the ball. I feel like that affected my jumper really well today.” 4½. What’s next? Here are a few storylines to watch as we move toward Thursday’s action: Stanford vs. West Virginia — Had Stanford not lost to Pittsburgh in its opening game at the ACC Tournament, the Cardinal might have been in position to reach the Big Dance given their uptick over the final month. Led by head coach Kyle Smith, the Cardinal won six of their last eight regular season games, including four in a row to end the year. The Mountaineers, meanwhile, finished 18-14 overall and 9-9 in the Big 12 under new head coach Ross Hodge, who previously guided North Texas to consecutive NIT appearances the last two seasons. Rutgers vs. Creighton — This week marks the end of an era for Creighton head coach Greg McDermott, who is retiring after 16 seasons with the program. He guided the Bluejays to incredible heights during that span with 365 victories and 10 NCAA Tournament appearances, headlined by three trips to the Sweet 16. Now, McDermott will face a Rutgers team that bounced back from a lengthy losing streak in the middle of the season to win five of its previous nine games before traveling to Las Vegas.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

PHOENIX — Rule changes were at the forefront of the NFL owners meeting this week, with the most notable approved proposal being a one-year rule that allows officials “to correct clear and obvious mistakes” as the league’s referees face a potential lockout. It’s clear the NFL anticipates having to use replacement referees — and because it was a largely damaging decision last time, with the replacement refs struggling enormously in 2012 (see: the Fail Mary), the league is doing what it can to help preserve the product in the event of a work stoppage. But there were other newsworthy items that came from coaches, execs and owners about their respective teams during the week. What potential moves might come next in the NFL this offseason? Who should we keep an eye on as we’re five months away from the start of the regular season? Let’s dive into those items as we share our four takeaways from our time in Arizona. 1. Teams only created more burning questions around some of the league’s top wide receivers Henry McKenna: At any given time of year, the quarterbacks are typically the most polarizing players, a lightning rod for discussion. But it was the receivers who — for better and for worse — generated the most buzz at the NFL owners meeting. Puka Nacua: If you look at the NFL’s receiving yards leaders, you’ll see Nacua up there at No. 2 behind Seattle Seahawks star Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who received an extension for four years worth $168.6 million. Nacua is eligible for a new contract, and could demand as much as Smith-Njigba. But that ignores the ways their careers have diverged off the field, with Smith-Njigba acting as a leader in the locker room and a no-nonsense professional. Nacua, meanwhile, has struggled to conduct himself with the same professionalism. This offseason, after several incidents, the Rams receiver has checked himself into rehab, his attorney confirmed. Prior to the news that Nacua was in rehab, Rams general manager Les Snead was asked how Nacua’s off-field issues could impact a future contract. “The impact is continuing to evolve,” Snead said at the owners meeting. “Not only as a person but as a football player. And you need to be on your P’s and Q’s in both categories to earn that type of contract. Right now we’re focused on the human being, and then we’ll get to that stuff.” George Pickens: Pickens proved he is capable of being a WR1 in the times when CeeDee Lamb was hurt — and so that probably makes Pickens the best WR2 in the NFL. That should increase the Dallas Cowboys’ urgency to get a deal done, rather than force him to play on the franchise tag. And yet Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said on Tuesday that he has not been in touch recently with Pickens’ agent, who — by the way — has a history of encouraging his franchise-tagged players to hold out. “The franchise tag is an integral part of all teams and certainly an integral part of our strategy over the next two or three years as we look at how to keep the best players,” Jones said. To Jones’ credit, the Cowboys are getting Pickens on a discount on the tag (one-year, $28 million). So you can see why he’d like to have the wide receiver play on those terms. It’s just unrealistic to expect that to go smoothly — and without Pickens putting up a fight. Given the way everything fell apart with Micah Parsons and Jones last offseason, you’d think the Cowboys wouldn’t want to make the same mistake twice — overcomplicating their relationship with one of their best players. But maybe that contract dispute won’t inform this one. A.J. Brown: The Philadelphia Eagles appeared to spend the meetings working to create leverage in the trade, which now seems extremely likely. Both general manager Howie Roseman and coach Nick Sirianni told reporters that “A.J. is an Eagle.” And while that’s factually accurate, it still left us without an answer about whether he’ll be an Eagle in September for Week 1. But if you listen to what New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel had to say about Brown, you’ll hear a coach who is deeply interested in taking on Brown, for all his pros (outstanding play) and cons (outspokenly critical, at times). Do I think Brown will be a Patriot? Yes. But we likely won’t know for sure until after June 1, when the receiver’s contract becomes easier to trade from a salary cap standpoint. 2. Rams’ GM Les Snead offers remedy to avoid another Maxx Crosby trade debacle Eric D. Williams: Las Vegas Raiders edge rusher Maxx Crosby’s rescinded trade by the Baltimore Ravens due to a failed physical over his surgically repaired left knee serves as a cautionary tale for the rest of the league. The Ravens traded two first-round picks for Crosby, including the 14th overall selection in the upcoming draft. It marked the first time Baltimore relinquished a first-round pick for a player via trade in franchise history, so the Ravens were certainly excited to acquire Crosby. However, less than 24 hours before the trade could become official at the start of the new league year, the Ravens informed the Raiders they were backing out after Crosby failed his physical in Baltimore. A long-time NFL medical staff member familiar with the process of team physicals told me the issue could have been avoided had the two sides agreed to have Crosby evaluated by a Ravens team doctor before the announcement of the trade. Count Rams general manager Les Snead as someone who believes a more uniform, collaborative process needs to be installed by the NFL. “There’s a conundrum there, where a lot of times these things get announced, or maybe even reported before the league year,” Snead told reporters at the NFL annual meeting this week. “And then people can go and do physicals. But here’s what I would say: I think we as clubs need to be more proactive. “We can wait on the governing body, per se. But I think you should get into really sharing the information before you bring someone in, if you can, or you’re going to have that issue. The trade gets announced or reported. A week later, he shows up for a physical [and he fails]. … You should be able to put your medical people on with their medical people and make that a sensible thing.” While Crosby says he’s staying with the Raiders for this season, that doesn’t mean other teams are not interested. Dallas was one of the teams interested in Crosby before the trade, and Cowboys owner Jerry Jones indicated he hasn’t shut the door on the possibility of seeking the talented pass rusher’s services. “I don’t anticipate — standing here right now — revisiting that situation,” Jones told reporters at the NFL owners meeting. “I don’t anticipate it. Is it possible? Yes.” 3. Cowboys HC Brian Schottenheimer has a plan to upgrade Dallas’ miserable defense Williams: With Dak Prescott leading the offense, the Cowboys averaged 28 points a game, good for seventh in the NFL this past season. However, the defense let the Cowboys down all season, giving up a league-high 30 points per game. Specifically, Dallas struggled in the back end defensively, allowing a league-high 252 passing yards per contest, the second-most passing touchdowns in the league (35) and totaling just six interceptions on the year. But Schottenheimer believes he’s created an opportunity to improve the defense by moving on from Matt Eberflus and replacing him with former Philadelphia Eagles defensive passing game coordinator Christian Parker as his new defensive coordinator. Schottenheimer said he would like to see more pre-snap disguise and multiplicity from his defense, like Parker’s protégé Vic Fangio. That could also mean the Cowboys using more defensive groupings with six defensive backs. The Cowboys signed former Arizona Cardinals safety Jalen Thompson, former Denver Broncos safety P.J. Locke and ex-Los Angeles Rams cornerback Cobie Durant in free agency, adding versatility and playmaking ability to the secondary. The Rams used six defensive backs on a league-high 347 defensive plays last season, while the Cardinals used six defensive backs in 176 defensive plays. The Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks used six defensive backs on 167 defensive snaps in 2025. The Cowboys? They used six defensive backs on just four plays last year. “The disguise element to me is exciting,” Schottenheimer said when I asked for a couple of characteristics he wants to see from his defense. “It’s one of the things I fell in love with – maybe not fell in love with because it sucks going against Vic Fangio’s style of schemes – but just the confusion that they give you at the start of the snap, because they’re all sitting back there at the quarter shell. “When I listen to these guys talk, because it’s still a little bit of a foreign language when I listen to Christian Parker, [passing game coordinator] Derrick Ansley and [inside linebackers coach] Scott Symons talk about some of the coverage variations we can get to, what I love about it is the ability to take away the side of the field, a player and different ways to take away the leverage of a slot receiver. Christian is a great coach at every level, but I think he’s a Superstar when it comes to the secondary.” 4. There is no more compelling experiment than Kyler Murray and Kevin O’Connell McKenna: Every offseason, there’s a rearranging of personnel — a change of scenery — that has the potential to be special. Or to fail fabulously. The Vikings’ signing of Murray might be the transaction with the greatest boom-bust potential. Murray has enjoyed legitimately elite quarterback play, but he has never sustained it. And O’Connell has a track record of doing just that, with Kirk Cousins and Sam Darnold putting together seasons that completely rearranged what we thought we knew about them. In this sense, Murray should be the next guy in line. It would be oversimplistic to call Murray a reclamation project. But it’s fair to say he has yet to realize his full potential. The problem with this narrative is that O’Connell hit his first snag in QB development with J.J. McCarthy, a former first-round pick who was probably the league’s worst starter in 2025. Even after two seasons in the NFL, we have no idea what McCarthy can offer. O’Connell’s reputation is on the line with Murray. Murray’s career is on the line with O’Connell. And to make it even more compelling, Murray’s outstanding mobility makes him unlike the pocket passers who have preceded him in O’Connell’s system. “I don’t think he’s gotten enough credit for, you know, playing in-rhythm,” O’Connell told reporters at the owners meeting in Phoenix. “We all recognize some of the highlight reel ability that he has, and Kyler Murray has always had that level of talent. But I think sometimes what we don’t recognize is … him play with really, really good technique and fundamentals either in the dropback game.” Let’s see it.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Alexi Lalas isn’t hitting the panic button on the United States men’s national team’s chances of making it out of Group D at the 2026 World Cup, but he is concerned about manager Mauricio Pochettino’s process following its 0-2 showing during its latest stage of friendlies. Following the USA’s 2-0 loss to Portugal on Tuesday, Lalas questioned why Pochettino has continued to mess around with the squad’s formation with the World Cup just over two months away. “We’re not fooling anybody. We’re not sneaking up on anybody with the way we’re playing,” Lalas said on the latest episode of “State of the Union.” “If Pochettino honestly believes playing four is better for this team and is the primary way we’re going to play, even though we’re going to come out as three, that’s fine. That’s OK. I want some consistency. From the outside, I want some consistency.” Prior to the losses to Belgium and Portugal over the last week, the United States had largely deployed a 3-4-2-1 formation in its recent matches. However, it appeared to use a 4-2-3-1 formation as it was outscored, 7-2, in the last two friendlies, showing signs of weakness on the defensive end. But that wasn’t the only notable change Pochettino made during one of the friendlies. He gave Matt Turner his first start in net in nearly a year during Saturday’s friendly against Belgium. Turner allowed five goals in that match, leading some to wonder why he was even out there in the first place, considering how well Matt Freese has played as of late. For Lalas, Pochettino’s constant tinkering during important friendlies sent a reminder of a bad World Cup memory, and he is worried that Pochettino might be walking down the same path. “I remember back in ‘98 when we changed to the 3-6-1, and everyone kind of looked around under Steve Sampson — and he might believe that’s the way we should’ve gone, and it’s oftentimes associated to a game or a moment when things go great like and it’s like, ‘Ah, this is great. This is how we should’ve been playing all the time,'” Lalas said. “That’s very, very dangerous to do, especially as you get closer to the World Cup. This window, I went back to scratching my head more when it came to Mauricio Pochettino because of the experimentation.” FOX Sports soccer studio host Rob Stone not only shared the same concerns as Lalas, but he also wondered if Pochettino’s squad might put itself in a hole if what he does works in the United States’ friendlies against Senegal and Germany. “It’s a sign to me of borderline panic. What’s working is not working. My best-laid plans are not happening right now, and I need to figure something out because clearly things aren’t happening,” Stone said. “I don’t know where the US is going to get any confidence before they take on Paraguay. Like, two real good quality tests in May and June. If something works in one of those two games, all of a sudden, we’re putting chips over there like, ‘Here we go. This is now what we’ve got to do.’ That worries me.” Still, Lalas is bullish about the United States advancing out of its group. Türkiye, which beat the United States in a friendly last year, completed its impressive run to qualify for the World Cup and join the United States in Group D on Tuesday, but Lalas thinks the overall talent in the group should allow the Americans to advance to the knockout stage. “Not for me. I’m not happy about this window, and I would’ve liked to have been more confident coming out of this window. I would put this group against any other group in the past in terms of not just coming out, but winning the group. I do think this team, despite the problems we’re talking about right now, will rise to the occasion. I’m not in a worse place after this window. Of course, I’m disappointed and concerned. But I don’t think [the USA] has regressed.”​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta) — The booming drum beat from Portugal fans was a helpful reminder to anyone who might have been unaware: The World Cup is a mere two months away. That means it’s nervy times for players who are uneasy about making the 26-person roster, even if they don’t show it. The U.S. men’s national team wrapped its last camp on Tuesday night in Atlanta with an unimpressive 2-0 defeat to Portugal in front of an announced crowd of 72,297 people, many of whom were wearing Cristiano Ronaldo jerseys (even though he did not make the trip). The result came a few days after a humbling 5-2 loss to Belgium. USA manager Mauricio Pochettino will announce his final 26-man roster on May 26 in New York City, and now the only thing players who may be on the bubble can do is wait. And wait. And after Tuesday’s loss, players didn’t have much time to chat after the match. Many were rushing out the stadium to catch international flights back home to rejoin their respective clubs. When a few of them were asked if they found any clarity about their place within Pochettino’s World Cup plans during this past week, they seemed exhausted. “I just try to block it out,” a fairly calm Sebastian Berhalter said off to the side of a crowded mixed zone following the Portugal loss. The 24-year-old midfielder played in both games during this window and is hoping to make his first World Cup roster. “Just focus on myself,” added defender Auston Trusty, who has only made five appearances for the national team and started on the back line vs. Portugal. “I can only control what I can control.” The ‘Painful’ Process of Picking a Roster The U.S. players are all in the thick of their respective club seasons (17 of the players are based in Europe), and this was a fully packed week in Atlanta. It wasn’t just about training and games because it also included other responsibilities, like pre-tournament marketing opportunities and photo shoots. It can undoubtedly be taxing mentally to be part of those things when you don’t even know if you’re going to be on a World Cup squad. “Not too concerned with that, not too focused on that,” said goalkeeper Matt Freese, who made some quality saves against Portugal. Pochettino said the starting goalkeeper job is still open for competition, while Freese added that he has no inkling of whether it will be him or Matt Turner, who gave up five goals against Belgium. Pochettino said during his post-game press conference Tuesday night that he is still in the process of reviewing the player pool with his staff. “They know it’s going to be a competition,” Pochettino said. “They know that we are going to see [them play with their clubs] every single week, every single game, and we are going to assess one year and a half or more [of being with the team], and we are going to make the decision of 26 players being on the roster. “I think those who will be here will be happy, [and those] not on the roster will be sad.” Back in January, Pochettino said that for his team, the World Cup would begin in March. (The tournament’s actual start date is June 11, with the U.S. opening group play on June 12 vs. Paraguay in Los Angeles). That comment insinuated that he had narrowed the group down somewhat, and he probably has. But following the Portugal match, he was asked how many players in his mind are still in contention. Are there 30 guys vying for 26 spots? Maybe 35? “Yes, yes,” Pochettino said, laughing. “Maybe a few more. It’s going to be painful in that process. Emotional. It’s going to be really difficult to pick 26 from 75 players.” To Get (or Not To Get) The Call Last Friday, Pochettino described his style that he’ll only call the players who make the team and not reach out to those who don’t. It’s a different approach to four years ago when former coach Gregg Berhalter called players who were going to Qatar and those who weren’t. “I haven’t heard anything about that,” Trusty said when asked about Pochettino’s approach, sounding a bit surprised. “That’s new information to me. I don’t have an opinion on that, really. Obviously, if you don’t get the call, I mean, it’s not a good situation regardless.” Some players would like to know either way. “I would, personally,” said midfielder Cristian Roldan, who was part of the 2022 World Cup squad but didn’t play. “I think that I have so much respect for Pochettino and the coaching staff. And look, they didn’t have to bring me in back in September, and they gave me the opportunity, and I’m extremely thankful for that opportunity. And I think that respect goes a long way. “So if I didn’t make the squad, I would love to hear from Pochettino the reason why or just having that man-to-man conversation that is difficult at times. But it definitely plays a part in your entire career, and it could impact the way you look at things.” Throughout this past week, players spoke of how competitive and intense training sessions had been, as everyone knows no roster spot is guaranteed. Now, Pochettino has seen all he can from a national team perspective and will spend these next few weeks putting the puzzle pieces together. “I think this camp is very positive,” Pochettino concluded. “It was the end of our cycle in preparation for the World Cup. The next roster is going to be the roster that is going to be involved [in the tournament]. “I am more positive than I was before because, seeing the team compete, we are not far away. It’s only details we need to improve. When we match the opponent in the areas that we need to match, we are going to have a possibility to beat them.”​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Buckle up, college basketball fans. The second edition of the College Basketball Crown is set to get underway this week in Las Vegas. Eight power-conference programs will take the court in the single-elimination tournament, which tips off with first-round games on Wednesday, followed by the semifinals on Saturday and the championship game on Sunday. The tournament will be played at MGM Grand Garden Arena and T-Mobile Arena with a $500,000 NIL prize pool. The complete bracket features Oklahoma, Colorado, Baylor, Minnesota, Stanford, West Virginia, Rutgers and Creighton. From freshman superstars to a Big East head coach looking to close out his career on a high note, there’s no shortage of intriguing storylines as the tournament gets set to tip off. Before the first game gets underway, our experts have filled out their brackets and made their predictions for how the 2026 College Basketball Crown will unfold. Here’s a look at our experts’ picks. Allison Williams, FOX Sports sideline reporter Opening Round: Oklahoma over Colorado, Baylor over Minnesota, West Virginia over Stanford, Creighton over Rutgers Semifinals: Oklahoma over Baylor, Creighton over Stanford Championship: Creighton over Oklahoma Why Creighton will win the championship: Oklahoma has a really connected group of five players who have started every game together this year. The Sooners were playing their best basketball at the end of the season. But I believe Creighton will win this tournament. Head coach Greg McDermott announced that he will retire after the season ends. I think you’ll see a motivated Creighton team that wants to send their head coach out a champion after 16 years with the Bluejays. Michael Cohen, FOX Sports college football and basketball writer Opening Round: Oklahoma over Colorado, Baylor over Minnesota, Stanford over West Virginia, Creighton over Rutgers Semifinals: Oklahoma over Baylor, Creighton over Stanford Championship: Oklahoma over Creighton Why Oklahoma will win the championship: Despite a lengthy losing streak in the middle of the season, Oklahoma still had a strong case to be included in this year’s NCAA Tournament given its résumé. The Sooners scored victories against five teams that qualified for the Big Dance, including Sweet 16 participant Texas. They also have one of the most potent offenses in the country (16th nationally in efficiency, per KenPom), which should translate well to a postseason tournament where points flowed freely last season. Oklahoma will arrive in Las Vegas as the best team in the field and will exit Sin City that way, too. [COLLEGE BASKETBALL CROWN: Schedule, Bracket, Teams] Casey Jacobsen, college basketball studio and game analyst Opening Round: Oklahoma over Colorado, Baylor over Minnesota, Stanford over West Virginia, Creighton over Rutgers Semifinals: Oklahoma over Baylor, Stanford over Creighton Championship: Oklahoma over Stanford Why Oklahoma will win the championship: The Sooners have won six of their last seven games and were the last team left out of this year’s NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament field. That means this team will be motivated. The inaugural College Basketball Crown Tournament was won by Nebraska, a team that was led by two seniors – Brice Williams and Juwan Gray – that wanted to finish their careers on a high note. I feel the same way about Nijel Pack and Tae Davis.  While my heart wanted to take my alma mater, Stanford, my head tells me that Oklahoma is the clear team to beat. Rob Stone, FOX Sports studio host Opening Round: Oklahoma over Colorado, Baylor over Minnesota, Stanford over West Virginia, Creighton over Rutgers Semifinals: Oklahoma over Baylor, Stanford over Creighton Championship: Stanford over Oklahoma Why Stanford will win the championship: The Cardinal have a game-changer at guard in Ebuka Okorie. They notched five wins over NCAA Tournament teams this year and are a program on the rise. Like Nebraska last year at The Crown, the Cardinal will use this tournament to propel them toward big things next season. LaPhonso Ellis, FOX Sports college basketball analyst Opening Round: Oklahoma over Colorado, Baylor over Minnesota, West Virginia over Stanford, Creighton over Rutgers Semifinals: Oklahoma over Baylor, West Virginia over Creighton Championship: Oklahoma over West Virginia Why Oklahoma will win the championship: Oklahoma is the hottest team in this tournament, winning six of its last seven games due to much-improved defensive play. The Sooners’ defense, combined with its efficient offense and explosive backcourt duo of Nijel Pack and Xzayvier Brown, is why the Sooners will be the 2026 College Basketball Crown champions. Nick Bahe, FOX Sports college basketball analyst Opening Round: Oklahoma over Colorado, Baylor over Minnesota, West Virginia over Stanford, Creighton over Rutgers Semifinals: Oklahoma over Baylor, Creighton over West Virginia Championship: Creighton over Oklahoma Why Creighton will win the championship: Creighton gets its 3-point shooters rolling and wins a fast-paced, high-scoring game over the Oklahoma Sooners. In doing so, the Bluejays deliver the proper sendoff for Greg McDermott’s final game as head coach, winning the College Basketball Crown. [COLLEGE BASKETBALL CROWN: Top 10 Players] Tim Brando, FOX Sports play-by-play announcer Opening Round: Oklahoma over Colorado, Baylor over Minnesota, West Virginia over Stanford, Creighton over Rutgers Semifinals: Oklahoma over Baylor, Creighton over West Virginia Championship: Oklahoma over Creighton Why Oklahoma will win the championship: There was never any doubt that the Sooners were coming to this event. They were the last team left out of the NCAA Tournament by the selection committee. This team has an edge to them when it comes to winning it all in Las Vegas. They have all the players they had throughout the year and played great down the stretch. Mike Hill, FOX Sports studio host Opening Round: Oklahoma over Colorado, Baylor over Minnesota, Stanford over West Virginia, Creighton over Rutgers Semifinals: Oklahoma over Baylor, Creighton over Stanford Championship: Oklahoma over Creighton Why Oklahoma will win the championship: There was never any doubt that the Sooners were coming to this event. They were the last team left out of the NCAA Tournament by the selection committee. This team has an edge to them when it comes to winning it all in Las Vegas. They have all the players they had throughout the year and played great down the stretch.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Dodger Stadium (Los Angeles) — Before Teoscar Hernandez ran out to patrol left field in the ninth inning last Friday night, he lingered in the dugout a while longer than usual. The game was almost over, but the show was about to begin. In the eighth inning against the Diamondbacks, Kyle Tucker roped a go-ahead single to put the concert in motion, setting the scene for the debut of the team’s other major offseason expenditure. Hernández wanted a front-row seat to take in the spectacle as closer Edwin Diaz jogged in from Dodger Stadium’s home bullpen for the first time. “Everyone was waiting for that moment,” Hernández said. “I wanted to watch everything — him coming out of the bullpen, getting all the way to the mound.” Díaz took his first step onto the newly-dubbed Uniqlo Field, patted his glove a couple times, then watched the Dodger Stadium fade into darkness as the bass in the sound system began to thump. In the left-field pavilion, trumpeter Tatiana Tate began to play “Narco,” the walk-out song that Díaz and musician Timmy Trumpet made famous in Queens. The live rendition in Los Angeles was a surprise touch that Díaz wasn’t expecting, but it added to the pageantry of the occasion. “It was bumping out there,” Tucker said. Everybody, Hernández said, was surprised this actually became a reality. No one thought the three-time All-Star closer would leave New York. But after a year in which the Dodgers’ unreliable bullpen was nearly their undoing, the back-to-back champs stayed persistent. And when they offered a few million dollars more than the Mets, giving Díaz three years and $69 million — the largest annual salary ever for a reliever — it was enough to entice the two-time National League Trevor Hoffman Reliever of the Year to leave the place he had called home for the last seven years. In Los Angeles, Díaz felt he had the best chance to win his first championship. He had only heard great things about the organization from his brother, Alexis, who made nine appearances for the Dodgers in 2025, and fellow Puerto Rico native Kiké Hernández, a fan favorite who now holds the Dodgers’ franchise record for most postseason games played. But even Dave Roberts didn’t think there was a chance of landing Díaz entering the winter. The Dodgers manager grew more optimistic while on vacation in early December, when the front office reached out to him about joining in on a call with Díaz. “We talked for probably, I’d say, 45 minutes on a Zoom,” Roberts recalled. “Afterwards, I told my wife, I go, ‘We’re gonna get him.’ I felt really good about it.’” Why was Roberts convinced? “It was just kind of selling ourselves and talking about how well we value him and the culture and the team and ownership,” Roberts said. “If you really want to win a championship, this is the place to be. Obviously talked to his wife and convinced her that moving West was a good decision. Yeah, and I also think that his brother being here last year was a big help. Having him here as a call-up from the minors, and us treating him like a superstar, I think that kind of helped the decision and comfort going forward.” Fast-forward three months, and everything the Dodgers envisioned was playing out as planned. On Friday afternoon, the Dodgers received their 2025 World Series rings. Díaz watched some of the ceremony from the dugout before retreating to the clubhouse to prepare for the game that night. If he wanted any extra motivation before his first performance for his new team, that was as good as any. “My goal for this year is being in that moment next year,” Díaz said. “I want to help this team to win. I know if this team stays healthy, we can do it again.” Hours later, the two players the Dodgers brought in to try to lift their chances of hoisting a World Series trophy for a third straight season — a feat that hasn’t been accomplished in more than a quarter-century — played their roles to perfection. Tucker, sandwiched between Shohei Ohtani and Mookie Betts at the top of one of the most decorated lineups ever constructed, reached base twice and knocked in the winning run. Díaz surrendered a walk and nothing more, striking out two batters in a scoreless ninth to secure his 254th save and first as a Dodger. One night later, Diaz entered again with a one-run lead again and promptly retired all three batters he faced to finish a sweep of the Diamondbacks. Stability in the late innings was a luxury these Dodgers weren’t accustomed to last year, when they ranked 21st in bullpen ERA, blew the ninth-most saves in the sport, saw the first year of Tanner Scott’s four-year, $72 million deal go up in flames and were forced to use starters in relief to carry them through October. Now, in a scary reality for the rest of the league as the Dodgers embrace their status as baseball villains, the back end of the Dodgers’ bullpen looks daunting. Not only does Díaz give the Dodgers the shutdown closer they lacked, but Scott also appears to be finding his form again in a lower-leverage role. Roberts intimated this winter that Scott never felt right physically last season and believed the left-hander’s 2025 season, during which he went 1-4 with a 4.74 ERA, was an “outlier year.” At one point six months ago, at his lowest point after one of his 10 blown saves, Scott lamented that baseball hated him. By trying to be too perfect, he thought he got away from his strengths. He was missing his spots consistently. There were mechanical issues involved, too. The struggles became mentally exhausting. “I threw too many balls in the zone and paid for it a lot,” Scott said. “It was terrible.” But a new year brings a fresh slate. It’s a short sample, but Scott has retired seven of the eight batters he has faced in 2026, including three by strikeout, in three scoreless appearances. “There’s a physical component which certainly feels better,” Roberts told me in a scrum. “There’s a mental component where it’s a new year.” Scott’s fastball, which yielded nine home runs last season, is getting the swing-and-miss that wasn’t there a year ago when the pitch too often found the middle of the plate. His slider is coming in a tick harder, and though he told me that he hasn’t changed the grip on the pitch, he has done a lot of work with Dodgers pitching coaches Mark Prior and Connor McGuiness and bullpen coach Josh Bard to get the slider in a place where he trusts it. “Just going back to what I did in ‘23 and ‘24 and seeing the success I had and what I was doing with it,” Scott told me. “I kind of got away from what I was doing really good the previous two years. Baseball’s a grind. You’ve got to put in the time, and it’s paying off. But we’ve got to keep going.” Added Roberts: “The slider’s just a better pitch this year than it ever was last year.” Scott is careful not to get too far ahead of himself, especially given how last year went, but he’ll take the small wins. Everything, Scott said, feels good right now. It’s evident both in his presence on the mound and in the  “funky swings,” as Roberts described them, that he’s generating. “I think even with Tanner, who’s as good as anyone at washing the slate clean, you’ve still got to have success,” Roberts said. “When you’re not having success, it’s like, ‘Here we go again’ kind of mindset. So for him to get off to a good start, it’s important.” This time, the weight of finishing games has been lifted. The Dodgers have not had a single closer record more than 25 saves since Kenley Jansen departed after the 2021 season. The primary ninth-inning option has been a revolving door since then, from Craig Kimbrel in 2022 to Evan Phillips in 2023 and 2024 to Scott last season. With Diaz now cemented as the team’s shutdown closer, the Dodgers’ manager can deploy Scott, Alex Vesia and his other high-leverage options in more advantageous lanes as he sees fit in the innings prior. “It’s huge,” Roberts said. “I don’t think that there’s one way to manage a pen, but when you have a guy like Edwin Díaz as your closer, I do think it frees up other guys, myself included, not having to worry about matchups for the ninth. I think that’s freeing for me and allows for kind of getting the matchups we need in the prior innings.” Bullpen success can be volatile, but at least in the early going, the Dodgers’ most glaring weakness from last year’s team now looks like one of their many strengths — and that’s before the expected returns later this year of relievers Phillips, Brock Stewart and Brusdar Graterol. The top four hitters in the Dodgers’ lineup — Ohtani, Tucker, Betts and Freddie Freeman — are batting a combined .192 through five games, yet the Dodgers are 4-1 behind an elite rotation and a fortified bullpen that has started the year 2-0 with a 1.83 ERA and a new closer who has converted each of his first two save opportunities. Dîaz allowed his first run of the season in his third appearance Tuesday night, but Roberts attributed the result to the rainy conditions and a water-soaked mound. Díaz still rebounded to comfortably finish off the Dodgers’ win against the Guardians. The fact he’s there at all is still an almost unbelievable reality for those around him. “I just know I gotta keep doing my job,” Díaz said, “and hear the trumpets here in Dodger Stadium.” 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

This is not a good time for NFL teams in need of a franchise quarterback. The 2026 draft class is thin. Scouts are mostly unimpressed. And some are already counting the days until the 2027 draft when a half-dozen QBs could end up with first-round grades. For teams that need help now, though, the cupboard isn’t completely bare. There are good quarterbacks in this class if teams look hard enough. You can expect that a number of clubs will, given that at least a handful of them are still searching for a long-term answer at QB. The 2026 prospects just might need a little extra time, patience and care. “There are 3-4 guys in this class that I think will have good NFL careers,” one scout told me. “Do I think any of them will be great? No. They’re not ‘can’t-miss’ (prospects). But there’s talent there if you know what to do with it.” So, who are the quarterbacks who could be “good”? I talked to seven scouts to get their insights on the five best in the class — what they like about them, what they need to work on and where they might end up. 5. Drew Allar, Penn State Expectations were high for Allar heading into the 2025 season, but he struggled early and then broke his left ankle in mid-October. It made for a disappointing end to a weird college career that never really rose to the heights many anticipated for a guy with such obvious physical tools. He was good as a junior (3,327 yards, 24 touchdowns, 8 interceptions in 16 games), but regressed as a senior (1,100 yards, 8 touchdowns, 3 interceptions in six games). The injury only complicated his outlook. He finished with 26 starts in college. Draft range: Round 3-4. “If a quarterback with his size is still sitting there when Day 3 starts, someone is going to jump up (to trade for him),” one scout told me. Height/weight: 6-foot-5, 228 pounds Scout takes: “My overall evaluation is that he’s good, but probably should have been better. He’s got great size and I love his arm (strength). His mobility is good. His accuracy is good, but inconsistent. There’s obviously a lot to work with there, but he was up and down his entire college career. … He was regressing as a senior before the injury. That’s a big red flag, especially after his interceptions jumped (as a junior) when they opened the playbook for him. But a guy that big who can throw like that? A lot of teams are going to want a piece of that. … If his career was a straight line, he might be a first-rounder based on talent and potential. But he was so all over the place. And it was easy to forget about him after the injury.” Pro comp: Josh Allen, Joe Flacco. “Same general scouting report as those guys (coming out of college): Big body, big arm, but an erratic arm,” one scout told me. “If he figures it out, he’s got Pro Bowl upside. If he doesn’t, he’s Drew Lock.” Biggest strength: Size. Every scout I spoke with raved about his size and strength, and great size can really matter for an NFL quarterback. “If you get a guy that big who can really play, you are set for a very long time,” one scout told me. Biggest question mark: Accuracy, or lack of it. He completed just 59.9% of his passes in his breakout sophomore year. That jumped to 66.5% as a junior, but so did his interceptions (from 2 to 8). Then, as a senior, his completion percentage dipped to 64.8%, and he was picked off three times in his six games. “It was all over the place,” one scout told me. “That’s worrisome since the sample size was big.” Best fit: Los Angeles Rams. “They’re so loaded they can afford to take a shot on him on Day 2,” one scout told me. “He’d be a steal for Sean McVay. There’s so much talent, but it has to be coached right. Watch McVay turn him into a Pro Bowler in 3-4 years.” 4. Carson Beck, Miami He was aiming to declare for the 2025 draft, but after a down season and the need for surgery on a torn UCL in his right elbow, he decided to transfer to Miami and give it one more year. He was outstanding for the Hurricanes, completing 72.4% of his passes for 3,813 yards, 30 touchdowns and 12 interceptions, and leading them on an improbable run to the CFP final. He started three full years between Georgia and Miami, throwing for 11,239 yards, 82 touchdowns and 30 interceptions. He started a whopping 43 games in college. Draft range: Rounds 3-4. “He’s a Day 3 guy,” one scout told me, “but the lack of quarterbacks gives him a shot to go Day 2.” Height/weight: 6-5, 233 Scout takes: “He’s got the look of a classic, big, strong, pocket passer. When he sets and throws, the ball just jumps out of his hand. That was even better before his elbow surgery. It didn’t have the same jump last season, and maybe it doesn’t come back. But that’s still his gift. … He can be rattled. I don’t know if it’s mental or a physical thing, but he’s susceptible to pressure. He doesn’t move well and when things are off schedule he’s not the same. … Last year was a big step up for him mentally. He looked like he was in more command of his offense and made better decisions. But the physical part took a dip. His throws weren’t the same. … He gets a lot of passes batted at the line of scrimmage for a guy his size. It’s not all his fault, but it’s still weird.” Pro comp: Mac Jones, Kenny Pickett. Neither are a perfect comparison. Pickett had more mobility and Jones wasn’t pressured as much at Alabama. But they are big, pocket passers who can wilt when the pass rush comes. “The upside to guys like that is they can play like Eli Manning,” one scout told me, “but they can’t process nearly as well as him.” Biggest strength: Arm strength and pocket presence. As the scouts said, his arm isn’t what it used to be, but he can still fire the ball a long way and throw it hard. That’s especially true when he’s comfortable in the pocket. Biggest question mark: Play under pressure. When the pass rush throws him off schedule, things can go wrong fast. “His decision-making when he’s rushed isn’t always good,” one scout told me, “and the zip in his fastball can disappear, too.” Best fit: Detroit Lions, San Francisco 49ers. “He looks a little like Jared Goff, even though he doesn’t have his talent,” one scout told me. “But that Lions offense is the kind that he needs, with a strong running game and good line.” Another scout added: “Look what Kyle Shanahan did for Mac Jones. (Beck) is the same type of player. And (Shanahan) doesn’t need his quarterbacks to run.” 3. Garrett Nussmeier, LSU Considered by many to be one of the top quarterbacks heading into the 2025 season, his prospects were dimmed by an injury-marred season. He had an abdominal/core muscle injury that left him with “a stabbing pain in my ab every time I went to go throw,” he said at the NFL Scouting Combine. He still threw for 1,927 yards and 12 touchdowns with five interceptions in nine starts. But that was way off his 2024 season — 4,052 yards, 25 touchdowns, 12 interceptions. He made 23 starts in college. Draft range: Rounds 3-4 Height/Weight: 6-2, 203 Scout takes: “It’s a shame about the injury because I really thought he was the No. 1 guy in the class going into the season. He’s got such a strong arm. He’s generally pretty accurate. But the injury took it all away. He never looked like himself. … He’s a gunslinger, with all the good and bad that comes with that. When he’s on and healthy, he can make some incredible plays. But guys who play like that also make some really big mistakes. … If that injury was as bad as he says, it shows a heck of a lot of toughness to play through it.” Pro comp: Baker Mayfield. Two scouts mentioned the No. 1 overall pick of the 2018 draft. “Baker was much better in all areas,” one scout told me. “But the style of play was the same.” Another scout added: “You have to go way back, but you know who I really think of when I see him? Tony Romo. There’s a lot of talent there. You just have to reign him in.” Biggest strength: His arm. He might not have the strongest arm in the draft, but one scout told me he “can deliver big throws from a bunch of different arm angles.” Another scout added: “He thinks he can make every throw, because he probably can.” Biggest question mark: Questionable decision-making, at times. It’s the boom-or-bust reality of a “gunslinger.” As one scout told me, “He likes to take risks. That’s fine. But it doesn’t always work out. You have to live with that with guys like him.” Best fit: Pittsburgh Steelers. “He looks like (Mike) McCarthy’s kind of quarterback,” one scout told me. “He’s not on the same level as (Aaron) Rodgers or (Dak) Prescott, but the style and ability to play on the move is the same.” The Steelers, of course, need a franchise quarterback to groom for when (or if) the 42-year-old Rodgers retires. Also, Garrett’s father, Doug, was McCarthy’s quarterbacks coach in Dallas for three seasons. 2. Ty Simpson, Alabama He bucked the transfer trend of this era and stayed at Alabama for four years, waiting his turn to play. His patience finally paid off when he earned the starting job last season and was very good on a CFP team, completing 64.5% of his passes for 3,567 yards, 28 touchdowns and just five interceptions. He also carried ‘Bama through a tough schedule, before fading down the stretch. He also made just 15 career starts in college. Draft range: Low first round or second round Height/weight: 6-1, 211 Scout takes: “Boy, does he need another year (in college). I like everything about him, but he’s not ready. He’s got to go to a team that has a starter and can take the time to work with him. If they do, he’s got the tools to be good. But he doesn’t have the experience to play right now. … He’s really smart and has a good arm, but he seems to think it’s better than it is. He thinks he can make every throw, but he can’t. … He’s tough and doesn’t like to give up on a play. But he’ll run himself into trouble trying to figure it out. That’s inexperience. … He’s a good mover, but not really a runner. He can scramble out of trouble, but doesn’t always know what to do once he does. He ends up holding the ball too long.” Pro comp: Brock Purdy. “He’s a better prospect (than Purdy),” one scout told me, “but the point is that he’s got the tools, and if the right guy develops him, he’ll be good.” Biggest strength: His accuracy. Scouts told me he didn’t seem to make a lot of mistakes with his decisions and ball placement, and that’s not easy against SEC defenses. Scouts also pointed to his four-week stretch against Georgia, Vanderbilt, Missouri and Tennessee, all ranked in the top 16 at the time. Simpson averaged 267 passing yards and threw nine touchdowns and just one interception in that stretch, while Alabama went 4-0. “That was a big-boy stretch,” one scout told me, “and he was big-time.” Biggest question mark: He’s inexperienced. “You just can’t find many successful NFL quarterbacks who only had 15 college starts,” one scout told me. “It’s a huge risk.” Best fit: Arizona Cardinals. Several scouts noted Simpson would be a good system fit for the Rams, which would make him the same for new Cardinals coach Mike LaFleur, the former Rams offensive coordinator. They wouldn’t take him at No. 3 overall, though, so they’d have to consider trading back into the first round, probably into the low 20s, or hope that he falls to them at No. 34. One sleeper possibility: The Steelers at No. 21, since Mike McCarthy knows QBs and Aaron Rodgers can’t play forever. 1. Fernando Mendoza, Indiana The reigning Heisman Trophy winner and national champion, he’s coming off a storybook season. In his one season with the Hoosiers, after transferring from Cal, he threw for 3,535 yards and completed 72% of his passes in 16 games, throwing 41 touchdowns and just six interceptions. He ran for 276 yards and seven touchdowns, too. He’s the clear cream of this crop. Draft range: Presumptive No. 1 overall pick (Las Vegas Raiders) Height/weight: 6-5, 236 Scout takes: “He’s the best quarterback in this class by far, but it’s not a good class. He would’ve been third (among QBs) last year and probably fifth or sixth (in 2024). … He’s a great kid and a strong leader. He comes off a little goofy, and I don’t know how well that’ll play (in the NFL), but his teammates seem to want to follow him. … He is so smart and so accurate. He can really thread the needle. If you give him time in the pocket, he can pick apart a defense. But that’s the key. You’ve got to give him time. He can’t move. … He needs to be behind a strong offensive line. He’s not going to create off schedule. I’m not sure Vegas is the best place for him.” Pro comp: The three names that came up the most were Jared Goff, Kirk Cousins and Matt Ryan — smart, pocket passers with limited mobility. “Goff had a better arm,” one scout told me. “Mendoza is more accurate than Goff was (in college), though. And he’s a much better prospect than Cousins was, but the style is similar.” Biggest strength: His accuracy and intelligence. Scouts raved about how he placed his throws in perfect spots, showing a remarkable ability to read defenses and his receivers’ intentions. It made up for what many told me was “average” arm strength. “If you look at his film,” one scout told me, “you’re not going to find many mistakes.” Another scout attributed that to “perfect” mechanics. Biggest question mark: His ability to move in the pocket and create off-schedule plays. His completion percentage dipped last season to 53.2% outside the pocket. He has trouble escaping pressure and doesn’t show the same arm strength when he’s not set. “That’s a real problem going to a bad team,” one scout told me. “He needs things perfect, and they won’t be.” Best fit: It’s a moot point because the Raiders will pick him No. 1 overall, even though one scout told me, “that might be the worst fit for him.” Another scout added: “Too bad he won’t drop to the middle of the first round. I’d love to see what a guy like (Vikings coach Kevin) O’Connell could do with him.”​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

The offseason and spring training are behind us, but there’s plenty of MLB news left to cover. Here are the noteworthy transactions, injuries and more from the 2026 season. Apr. 4 Juan Soto diagnosed with a right calf strain The Mets shared that Soto has been diagnosed with a right calf strain after undergoing an MRI on Saturday. He exited Friday night’s road game vs. the Giants in the first inning with calf tightness. Soto singled in the top of the first and appeared to slow up while going from first to third on Bo Bichette’s run-scoring single. Soto was forced out at home plate when Brett Baty grounded into a 1-2-3 double play. Tyrone Taylor replaced Soto in left field. “Right now,  it’s a minor strain,” Soto said at Oracle Park on Saturday. “We’re going to be going day-by-day, see how it feels. No decisions have been made yet. We’re going to see how I wake up the next couple of days and go from there.” Mookie Betts leaves Dodgers game early Betts exited the Dodgers’ game vs. the Nationals in the bottom of the first inning with lower back pain, the team shared. In his only plate appearance before exiting, Betts drew a walk before scoring from first base on Freddie Freeman’s two-run double in the top of the first. Shortstop Miguel Rojas replaced Betts in the bottom of the first. Justin Verlander to injured list The Tigers announced that they placed the veteran starting pitcher on the 15-day injured list due to left hip inflammation. In the one start he has made this season, Verlander, who’s in his second stint with the Tigers (he pitched in Detroit from 2005-17), surrendered five runs and eight baserunners (six hits and two walks) across 3 2/3 innings. Right-hander Keider Montero was recalled from Triple A to take Verlander’s roster spot. Apr. 3 Brewers sign prospect Cooper Pratt to eight-year, $50M deal Milwaukee finalized an eight-year, $50.75 million contract with Pratt on Friday, adding the prized 21-year-old shortstop prospect to the 40-man roster and optioning him to Triple-A Nashville. The deal with Pratt includes club options that could keep him with the Brewers through the 2035 season. “Cooper has all the tools to be a special player,” Brewers president of baseball operations Matt Arnold said, “and we are thrilled that he will be in a Brewers uniform for years to come. This commitment continues to show our organization’s passion — led by ownership — to consistently produce a winning team season after season.” Pratt is among the top prospects in a Brewers farm system that ranks among the best in MLB. He was rated by MLB Pipeline as the No. 60 overall prospect and fourth among those in the Milwaukee organization — 18-year-old infielder Jesus Made, who is at Double-A Biloxi, is the top Brewers prospect and ranked the third-best in all of baseball. Carlos Rodón hopeful injury is minor Yankees left-hander Rodón thinks his tight right hamstring is only a minor setback in his return from elbow surgery last October. Rodón felt the tightness after throwing 50 pitches of batting practice Sunday at the team’s complex in Tampa, Florida. Rodón got hurt while running and New York called off a planned minor league injury rehabilitation outing at Double-A Somerset. “Just a little bump in the road,” the 33-year-old left-hander said before the Yankees’ home opener against Miami on Friday. Rodón hopes to throw about 50 pitches Saturday in a controlled environment, such as batting practice. “It’s just a matter of when he can run and cover and field his position and things like that,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “So he’s able to keep his arm going through this. It’s minor enough that that’s the case.” Rodón is recovering from surgery on Oct. 15 to remove loose bodies in his left elbow and shave a bone spur. Additionally, Boone said shortstop Anthony Volpe started taking at-bats off pitching and could start a rehab assignment in mid-April. Volpe had arthroscopic surgery on Oct. 14 to repair the labrum in his left shoulder. Johan Oviedo added to injured list The Boston Red Sox have placed the right-hander on the 15-day injured list due to a right elbow strain, the team announced. In the one appearance that Oviedo has made this season, he surrendered two home runs, four earned runs and six hits over 3 ⅔ innings pitched. Boston acquired Oviedo from the Pittsburgh Pirates in the offseason. Apr. 2 Pirates calling up top SS prospect The Pirates announced they’re calling up esteemed shortstop prospect Konnor Griffin. Griffin, whom Pittsburgh selected with the ninth overall pick in 2024, is listed as MLB Pipeline’s No. 1 overall prospect. He began the 2026 season in Triple A, going 7-for-16 in five games. Last season, Griffin totaled a combined 21 home runs, 94 RBIs and 65 stolen bases across three levels of minor-league ball (A, A+ and Double A), while posting a .333/.415/.527 slash line. Apr. 1 Luis Gil will join Yankees soon Gil, who did not make the Yankees’ starting rotation out of spring training, is in line to join the team in mid-April after he makes a start for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, manager Aaron Boone revealed. Boone said Gil recently threw in Florida at the team’s spring training complex, and is headed north to join New York’s top affiliate. “He’ll throw his bullpen with Triple-A, make his next start,” Boone said, “and then be in line for the next one with us.” New York decided to use a four-man rotation to open the season. Gil, the 2024 American League Rookie of the Year, ended up as the odd man out after going 2-1 with a 4.66 ERA in six spring training starts. Last year, Gil went 4-1 with a 3.32 ERA across 11 starts in an injury-filled season. He started last year on the injured list because of a high-grade lat strain, and did not make his season debut until Aug. 3. Nick Lodolo making rehab start for Reds Lodolo is expected to throw 60 to 65 pitches during a rehab assignment on April 2. The left-hander, who’s on the injured list due to a blister on his left index finger, will make his rehab start for Single-A Daytona against Jupiter in a Florida State League game. If Lodolo has a successful outing, he could join the Reds’ rotation during next week’s series at Miami. Lodolo was 9-8 with a 3.33 ERA and 156 strikeouts last season. Left-hander Caleb Ferguson (right oblique strain) threw from 90 feet on flat ground before Wednesday’s game against the Pirates. He’s expected to accompany the team on their upcoming seven-game road trip to Texas and Miami. Red Sox catcher Carlos Narváez scratched Narváez was scratched from Boston’s finale with the Astros on April 1 for an undisclosed reason. Narváez was removed from the lineup about 2.5 hours before first pitch and replaced behind the plate by Connor Wong. “I just made a change,” manager Alex Cora told reporters. “I talked to Carlos a little bit, and we move on from there. It’s one of those that I felt like we needed to make the change in the lineup, and I think it’s for the best.” When pressed if Narváez’s removal from the lineup was for a disciplinary reason, Cora didn’t directly answer the question. “Let’s keep it between me and Carlos,” Cora said. “And he understands. This is something that happens on every club. It just happens to be early in the season, and I think it’s the right thing to do.” The 27-year-old Narváez is hitting .444 in three games this season. He is in his second season in Boston after beginning his career with the Yankees. Mar. 31 Guardians right fielder Chase DeLauter exits after injury DeLauter left Tuesday’s game in the first inning after fouling a pitch from Dodgers starter Shohei Ohtani off his back foot. After a trainer came out to check on him, the rookie took a few practice swings and returned to the batter’s box. He tried to run out a grounder to third, but was thrown out and then hobbled to the tunnel. He was diagnosed with a left foot contusion. X-rays were negative. DeLauter was replaced by CJ Kayfus in the bottom of the first. DeLauter was the American League rookie of the week after hitting four home runs in his first three games. He’s just the second player to accomplish the feat, joining Trevor Story of the Rockies in 2019. Umpire loses track of count in Red Sox-Astros Plate umpire Mark Wegner acknowledged he lost track of the count during Cam Smith’s nine-pitch walk on Tuesday night in the fifth inning of the Astros’ eventual 9-2 win over the Red Sox. In fact, Smith should have been out on strikes after the third pitch. Smith swung at and missed two cutters from Red Sox starter Brayan Bello to begin the plate appearance. After the second pitch, Joey Loperfido stole second base and Christian Walker scored on the play thanks to a throwing error by catcher Wong. After about 40 seconds, Smith swung and missed at a sweeper. That should have been strike three but Wegner, a crew chief working his 29th MLB season, flashed 1-2 for the count. Six pitches later, Smith worked a walk. “I just watched the video,” Wegner told a pool reporter after the game. “I didn’t know what happened until I came in here and, apparently, I somehow didn’t count the second swinging one because I said the count was 1-2. It was actually strike three. Had anybody caught it, we can always go and call replay and check the count. I’ve never done that before. I’m not happy about it. Just made a mistake.” Wegner said no one on the field raised an issue in the moment. Bello said Wegner gave the count as 1-1 after his second pitch, and he didn’t question it at the time. The Associated Press contributed to this report.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports