Category: Football

Michael DiRoccoApr 17, 2026, 03:18 PM ET

CloseMichael DiRocco is an NFL Nation reporter at ESPN and covers the Jacksonville Jaguars. He previously covered the University of Florida for over a decade for ESPN and the Florida Times-Union. DiRocco graduated from Jacksonville University and is a multiple APSE award winner.Open Extended Reactions

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Atlanta Falcons and Jacksonville Jaguars traded 2024 second-round picks on Friday, with the Falcons sending defensive tackle Ruke Orhorhoro to the Jaguars for defensive tackle Maason Smith, sources tell ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Orhorhoro, the 35th pick two years ago,

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DJ Bien-AimeApr 17, 2026, 01:32 PM ET

CloseDJ Bien-Aime covers the Houston Texans for ESPN. He joined ESPN in July of 2022 after covering the New York Jets for the New York Daily News. He’s a former athlete who finished his college career at Louisville. You can catch DJ on ESPN Radio on his show “Talkin’ Texans.”Open Extended Reactions

HOUSTON — The Texans and All-Pro defensive end Will Anderson Jr. have agreed to a historic three-year, $150 million extension to make him the highest-paid non-quarterback, a source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Friday.

The deal includes $134 million in

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Josh WeinfussApr 17, 2026, 02:12 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. — Cardinals incumbent starter Jacoby Brissett has not been in attendance for the start of the team’s offseason program as he waits for a new deal, sources told NFL Network.

Brissett is scheduled to earn a base salary of $4.88 million in 2026 but only $1.5

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Jamison HensleyApr 17, 2026, 09:54 AM 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

OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Wide receiver Zay Flowers believes the change at head coach will change the Baltimore Ravens‘ health issues.

On an

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Elizabeth Merrill

Apr 17, 2026, 06:50 AM ETOpen Extended Reactions

CARNELL TATE PLACED his palms on the turf and crouched at the starting line of the 40-yard dash. Ordained as the next in a long line of superstar wide receivers from Ohio State, Tate drew his left arm back before surging forward with his right leg at the NFL combine in February.

His necklaces — a cross dangled from one chain and a nameplate that read “Ashley” hung from another — flopped around on his chest with each of his 19 steps.

He crossed the finish line in 4.53 seconds, slower than it took

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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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