Category: Football

Liz LozaApr 17, 2026, 07:10 AM ET

CloseLiz Loza is a writer for fantasy football, women’s basketball and betting at ESPN. Liz also appears on “Fantasy Football Now” and contributes to the Fantasy Focus Football podcast.Open Extended Reactions

Talent is often considered subjective. In the NFL, however, stopwatches and statistics help to verify a prospect’s skill and potential impact at the next level. This year’s group of rookies presents plenty of upside from which pro teams and fantasy managers could benefit.

Below are 10 players who could be selected in the first round of this year’s NFL draft and should be on your

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Matt MillerApr 17, 2026, 06:30 AM ET

CloseMatt Miller is an NFL draft analyst for ESPN, providing in-depth scouting on the nation’s top pro prospects. A Missouri native, Matt joined ESPN in 2021 and also contributes to SportsCenter, NFL Live and ESPN Radio. Prior to joining ESPN, Matt spent 11 years as a senior draft analyst at Bleacher Report.Open Extended Reactions

This is the heart of mock draft season, with the 2026 NFL draft set to begin April 23 in Pittsburgh. My own final set of projections drops Wednesday. But did you know NFL teams conduct their own mocks in preparation, assigning

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Matt Miller

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Matt Miller

NFL draft analystMatt Miller is an NFL draft analyst for ESPN, providing in-depth scouting on the nation’s top pro prospects. A Missouri native, Matt joined ESPN in 2021 and also contributes to SportsCenter, NFL Live and ESPN Radio. Prior to joining ESPN, Matt spent 11 years as a senior draft analyst at Bleacher Report., 

Jordan Reid

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Jordan Reid

NFL draft analystJordan Reid is an NFL draft analyst for ESPN, providing in-depth scouting on the nation’s top pro prospects. Jordan joined ESPN in 2021 and also contributes to SportsCenter and ESPN Radio. He played quarterback at North Carolina Central University and then

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Courtney CroninApr 17, 2026, 06:00 AM ET

CloseCourtney Cronin joined ESPN in 2017, originally covering the Minnesota Vikings before switching to the Chicago Bears in 2022. Courtney is a frequent panelist on Around the Horn and host of Best Week Ever and GameNight on ESPN Radio. She also co-hosts The Chicago Bears Podcast on ESPN 1000. She previously worked at the San Jose Mercury News as a multimedia sports journalist.Open Extended Reactions

The NFL’s stadium committee has scheduled a meeting with Chicago Bears brass during the week of April 27 to hear the latest developments regarding the team’s two proposed

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Josh WeinfussApr 16, 2026, 07:09 PM ET

CloseJosh Weinfuss is a staff writer who covers the Arizona Cardinals and the NFL at ESPN. Josh has covered the Cardinals since 2012, joining ESPN in 2013. He is a member of the Pro Football Writers of America and a graduate of Indiana University.Open Extended Reactions

TEMPE, Ariz. — Ambiguity isn’t just for the NFL draft at this time of year.

With the chatter about the Arizona Cardinals potentially picking a quarterback in next week’s draft growing louder by the day, neither general manager Monti Ossenfort nor coach Mike LaFleur would declare Thursday who their starting

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Jamison HensleyApr 16, 2026, 09:11 PM ET

CloseJamison Hensley is a reporter covering the Baltimore Ravens for ESPN. Jamison joined ESPN in 2011, covering the AFC North before focusing exclusively on the Ravens beginning in 2013. Jamison won the National Sports Media Association Maryland Sportswriter of the Year award in 2018, and he authored a book titled: Flying High: Stories of the Baltimore Ravens. He was the Ravens beat writer for the Baltimore Sun from 2000-2011.Open Extended Reactions

COLUMBIA, Md. — The Baltimore Ravens drew over 6,000 season-ticket holders to a local concert venue on Thursday night to unveil the

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Michael Rothstein

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Michael Rothstein

ESPN Staff WriterMichael Rothstein, based in Atlanta, is a reporter on ESPN’s investigative and enterprise team. You can follow him via Twitter @MikeRothstein. and 

Nate Taylor

Apr 16, 2026, 04:35 PM ET

A Texas court on Wednesday issued a default judgment of more than $2.8 million against Theodore Knox, the co-defendant in one of the lawsuits against Kansas City Chiefs receiver Rashee Rice stemming from a 2024 street racing crash in Dallas.

Judge Kim Bailey Phipps ruled that Knox, one of Rice’s teammates at Southern Methodist University, was “grossly negligent” after he and Rice lost control of their cars

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Kris RhimApr 16, 2026, 03:29 PM ET

CloseKris Rhim is a reporter for NFL Nation at ESPN. Kris covers the Los Angeles Chargers, including coach Jim Harbaugh’s franchise-altering first season (https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/41068072/los-angeles-chargers-2024-preview-jim-harbaugh-culture). In Kris’ free time, he lives his NBA dreams at men’s leagues across Los Angeles.Open Extended Reactions

LOS ANGELES — Chargers general manager Joe Hortiz shut down trade rumors Thursday surrounding wide receiver Quentin Johnston, making it clear that the former first round pick isn’t available.

“There’s a lot of rumors out there on Twitter,” Hortiz said. “And I can tell you this, I have made zero calls

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Michael RothsteinApr 16, 2026, 01:27 PM ET

CloseMichael Rothstein, based in Atlanta, is a reporter on ESPN’s investigative and enterprise team. You can follow him via Twitter @MikeRothstein.Open Extended Reactions

A former Alabama football player faces charges of wire fraud and identity theft after he allegedly used wigs and fake driver’s licenses to impersonate NFL players for the purpose of securing nearly $20 million in loans, according to federal court records.

Prosecutors allege that Luther Davis pretended to be three different NFL players from May 2023 until October 2024 to secure loans from multiple lending agencies.

The players whose identities were allegedly used are

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. — In his annual news conference before the NFL draft next week, Kansas City Chiefs general manager Brett Veach made a bold prediction.

“It should be an entertaining night,” Veach said Thursday. “There’ll probably be a lot of trades.”

Throughout this offseason, Veach has shared that this year’s draft class is different from most years. Most analysts believe only one quarterback, Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza, will be selected in the first 10 picks. Veach also said that some of the top prospects — such as Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles, Notre Dame

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