Category: Football

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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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Turron DavenportApr 16, 2026, 12:46 PM ET

CloseTurron Davenport covers the Tennessee Titans for ESPN since 2018. Turron is a former collegiate football player at Cheyney University and is a native of Philadelphia, and he has authored/co-authored four books. You can catch Turron on ESPN Radio on his show “Talking with TD.”Open Extended Reactions

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Quarterback Cam Ward is on schedule in his rehab process after injuring his throwing shoulder in January and could take part in the Tennessee Titans‘ June minicamp.

“He’s been out there,” Titans general manager Mike Borgonzi said of the second-year quarterback during his predraft news conference

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CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The 2021 NFL draft was well into its second hour as Jaelan Phillips relaxed with his parents in Miami. Everyone remained confident that the outside linebacker from the University of Miami wouldn’t fall past the Minnesota Vikings at No. 14.

Then the Vikings traded that pick to the New York Jets and slid down to No. 23.

The mood changed.

“That’s where the stress really kicked in,” recalled Phillips’ father, Jon. You’re sitting there wondering if Jaelan’s going to be one of those guys [who falls].”

Stress is relative here.

Get ready for the 2026 NFL

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Ben SolakApr 16, 2026, 06:35 AM ET

CloseBen Solak joined ESPN in 2024 as a national NFL analyst. He previously covered the NFL at The Ringer, Bleeding Green Nation and The Draft Network.Open Extended Reactions

Have you ever clicked on an NFL draft grades piece, scrolled down to your favorite team and been stunned by the terrible grade given to your squad? Doesn’t the analyst get that all these picks will hit?!

Well, I have the solution for you — a draft grades file comprised of only A+ marks! Never again will you have to worry about your team’s likely busts or bad

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. — One of the most significant discussions in the Kansas City Chiefs‘ history occurred almost 10 years ago in their draft room — and Ryne Nutt can recount every detail.

“There was a big argument,” said Nutt, an area scout at the time and the Chiefs’ current vice president of player personnel.

The source of the debate was a defensive tackle out of Mississippi State named Chris Jones.

“[Some] people had reservations about Chris,” Nutt said.

Inside the large room that night, just before the start of the 2016 NFL draft, was team owner Clark

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Kevin SeifertApr 15, 2026, 06:44 PM ET

CloseKevin Seifert is a staff writer who covers the Minnesota Vikings and the NFL at ESPN. Kevin has covered the NFL for over 20 years, joining ESPN in 2008. He was previously a beat reporter for the Minneapolis Star Tribune and Washington Times. He is a graduate of the University of Virginia.Open Extended Reactions

The NFL has started onboarding potential replacement officials as the expiration of its collective bargaining agreement with the NFL Referees Association approaches, clubs were informed Wednesday in a memo from Perry Fewell, the league’s senior vice president of officiating.

“Several” replacements have

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Marcel Louis-JacquesApr 15, 2026, 03:22 PM ET

CloseMarcel Louis-Jacques joined ESPN in 2019 as a beat reporter covering the Buffalo Bills, before switching to the Miami Dolphins in 2021. The former Carolina Panthers beat writer for the Charlotte Observer won the APSE award for breaking news and the South Carolina Press Association award for enterprise writing in 2018.Open Extended Reactions

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Miami Dolphins running back De’Von Achane is “not available” for a trade, general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan said Wednesday, as the team looks to extend its homegrown star.

Sullivan first made the team’s stance on Achane

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John KeimApr 15, 2026, 10:00 AM ET

CloseJohn Keim covers the Washington Commanders for ESPN. He joined ESPN in 2013 after a stint with the Washington Post. He started covering the team in 1994 for the Journal Newspapers and later for the Washington Examiner. He has authored/co-authored four books. You can also listen to him on ‘The John Keim Report’, which airs on ESPN Richmond radio.Open Extended Reactions

ASHBURN, Va. — The Washington Commanders haven’t seen many glory days since last winning a Super Bowl in 1992. Whether they can match their most successful period remains to be seen —

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Mel Kiper Jr.Apr 15, 2026, 06:15 AM ET

CloseMel Kiper Jr. has served as an NFL draft analyst for ESPN since 1984. He is a regular contributor on “SportsCenter,” ESPN studio shows and ESPN Radio. He is the co-host of the First Draft podcast, and he writes regularly for ESPN+.Open Extended Reactions

I have one more set of projections for you ahead of the 2026 NFL draft, which kicks off April 23 in Pittsburgh with 32 first-round picks before continuing with Rounds 2-3 on April 24 and Rounds 4-7 on April 25. But my final mock draft for this cycle will be

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Bill Connelly

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Bill Connelly

ESPN Staff WriterBill Connelly is a writer for ESPN. He covers college football, soccer and tennis. He has been at ESPN since 2019., 

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

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