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404 Not Found | SB Nation WrestleMania weekend has come and gone, and frankly, I don’t know how you weren’t leaping out of your seat to watch a former punter who already appears on every sports related TV show overshadow the WWE championship match between Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton – a pair of men who’s history dates back two decades. WWE, everybody! Just when you think they can’t mess up the easiest of layups, they turn around and launch a full-court shot into the other net. I fully expected Jason Kelce and/or Bert Kreischer to get involved in the match somehow as Terry Funk turned over in his grave. Bad booking aside, let’s have fun and combine the worlds of professional wrestling and the NFL – because they aren’t very different at the end of the day. Sure, the squared circle and the gridiron lack similarities, but what helps make the NFL our pastime? The drama. What do we love more than anything at this time of year? The storylines off the field. Who wants to be on a new team? Who is angry at their team owner? What players are beefing with one another? It’s the same as pro wrestling. Even in season, drama drives the NFL. We spent all of 2025 wondering if A.J. Brown would get traded and monitoring his social media to see what he said next. At the end of the season, Todd Bowles cut a scathing promo on his own team. Sam Darnold completed the ultimate underdog storyline of cast-off to world champion – everything is professional wrestling. So, with that in mind, ahead of the biggest weekend on the wrestling calendar (unless All In 2026 tops it, which it very well could), today we’re comparing quarterbacks to wrestlers. Ring the bell. Patrick Mahomes: Kenny Omega When Mahomes became the Kansas City Chiefs’ starter in 2018, he immediately revolutionized the position with 50 touchdown passes in an MVP season. much like Omega took the pro wrestling scene by storm in the mid 2010s in New Japan Pro Wrestling, and eventually helped start All Elite Wrestling. Five Super Bowl appearances and three championships later, he is unquestionably one of the five best quarterbacks the game has ever seen. And coming off the back of yet another superb pay-per-view main event match against MJF at AEW Dynasty, Omega continues to cement his own legacy as one of the best to ever step foot in a squared circle. Justin Herbert: Sami Zayn You couldn’t find anyone who would say a bad word about Sami Zayn for the first decade that he was in WWE. His NXT run was tremendous, and his inclusion in the Bloodline saga earned universal praise. That said, over the last 18 months, Zayn’s “underdog” character has grown incredibly stale and some of us (points at self) have never been huge Sami Zayn guys. Herbert came out of the gates with unmatched speed, throwing 69 touchdowns in his first two seasons and topping 5,000 yards in Year Two. That said, he is 0-3 in the postseason and has yet to perform well in a playoff game, causing many to wonder if all the praise is really warranted. Kirk Cousins: Dolph Ziggler The real life Nic Nemeth was far more outspoken and flashy than Cousins during his WWE run, but this focuses more on career arc. Ziggler was never seen as a WrestleMania main venter, but he was an incredibly steady hand in the mid-card that could win the United States or Intercontinental Championship on any given night. Bo Nix: Charlie Haas Haas was one half of the world’s greatest tag team with Shelton Benjamin, who formed an alliance with Kurt Angle. Of the three, he’s the one who is least remembered. If the Broncos are Team Angle, the defense is Kurt Angle, Courtland Sutton and Jaylen Waddle are Benjamin, and Nix is Haas. Aaron Rodgers: CM Punk Cranky guy in his 40’s who has had multiple teased returns over the years? Now, Punk is straightedge and Rodgers notably does whatever hallucinogen lets him talk to banana trees, but go back and watch Punk’s press conference after All Out in 2022. “I’m hurt, I’m old, I’m f—king tired, and I work with f—king children.” He and Rodgers are two pissed off peas in a pod – which may be why I enjoy both of them so much. Lamar Jackson: Rob Van Dam It’s fitting that RVD’s theme music starts out with a voice shouting, “One of a kind.” His combination of high-flying moves and martial arts is still a combination that has been unmatched and is impossible to replicate. We haven’t seen another RVD, and we likely won’t see another Lamar Jackson in terms of his ability to run the ball while also tossing 40 touchdowns in a season. Joe Burrow: Cody Rhodes Fashionable faces of the franchise. Neither afraid to speak their minds and be honest when they clearly don’t think things are working (go watch any podcast Rhodes has done in the last week where he clearly hates the McAfee stuff). Both were also big underdogs. Burrow left Ohio State and bet on himself at LSU, which is what Rhodes did when he left WWE in 2016 and went on an incredible run on the Indies, which lead to him being one of the founding fathers of AEW. Now, both are at the very top of their respective professions. Shedeur Sanders: Curtis Axel His dad was Mr. Perfect, and he… well, he wasn’t good. Need I say more? I’m sure there will be plenty of “against all odds” compilations this year, though. Josh Allen: Mick Foley Much like Mrs. Foley’s baby boy, Josh Allen takes a lickin’ and keeps on tickin’. Both guys are incredibly easy to root for and will die trying to win. It took Foley a long time to win his first world championship, and the crowd was in a state of pure euphoria when he defeated The Rock in January, 1999. When Allen finally does win a Super Bowl for the city of Buffalo, it will be instantly emotional and a massive weight off the back of one of the game’s top stars, as well as the city he represents. Drake Maye: Randy Orton Think Evolution era Randy Orton, who was the youngest wrestler to ever win the World Heavyweight Championship at age 24. It was evident right away that Orton was talented and going to be great for a long time, which is how he has carved out a 24-year career that sees him challenging to win his 15th world title this weekend. Maye is only entering his third season, and was an MVP finalist and took his team to the Super Bowl in just his second season – the best is yet to come. It is also perfect that Orton lost in the main event of Night One like Maye lost in the Super Bowl. Geno Smith: Bobby Lashley Lashley was once thought to be the next big thing in WWE. He won the WWECW Championship early on in his first run with the company, but never turned into that main event star. An MMA run accompanied by a terrific run in TNA, though, brought him back to WWE where he won multiple world championships. Smith resurrected his career in Seattle, but now is hoping to do so again with the Jets. If he has anything close to a run like Lashley is back to having with The Hurt Syndicate, that would be a big win for him and New York. *Obligatory “WE HURT PEOPLE” chant here. Malik Willis: Kofi Kingston (Pre-New Day) Kofi Kingston was a good mid-card wrestler in the early portion of his career. He won the Intercontinental Championship, Tag Team Championships, and United States Championship to solidify himself as a mainstay on Raw and Smackdown, but was never a world championship threat. Right now, that’s where Malik Willis is hovering, and the Dolphins haven’t exactly set him up for success after trading Jaylen Waddle to the Broncos. Trevor Lawrence: Lex Luger Luger was WWF’s hopeful next Hulk Hogan, which was a label that was insurmountable, much like the lofty expectations placed on Lawrence before he played an NFL snap. That doesn’t mean he hasn’t been good, though. He led the Jaguars to a playoff win in 2021 after surviving the Urban Meyer debacle. And in 2025 in his first season under Liam Coen, Lawrence put up over 4,000 passing yards and 29 touchdowns, leading the Jaguars to 13 wins and a playoff berth. Should he continue to stack seasons like that, Jacksonville can become one of the marquee teams in the AFC. Cam Ward: Trick Williams There is clearly something there with Cam Ward. Some of the throws he made in 2025 despite having the worst offense in football around him was astounding. With Trick Williams, there is star potential. He is good in the ring, has a great look, and an even better entrance that gets the crowd exited to see him. He defeated Sami Zayn for the United States championship to a massive pop. He has a bright future in WWE, as does Ward with the Titans. C.J. Stroud: Sammy Guevara Guevara started his AEW career with a bang, appearing in the first match in AEW Dynamite history against Cody Rhodes and was part of the top heel group in the company alongside Chris Jericho. However, despite multiple TNT title wins, fans soured on the high-flyer hard during his heel run alongside real-life wife Tay Melo. He has largely been relegated to Ring of Honor over the last two years. For Stroud, he needs to recapture that magic he found as a rookie if the Texans want to make it past the divisional round, and if he wants to be considered the long-term answer in Houston. Daniel Jones: Baron Corbin The real-life Tom Pestock seems like a lovely guy – the WWE character Baron Corbin was a steaming bowl of feces. Yet, WWE constantly shoved him down the throats of fans. That may sound mean to Daniel Jones, but he’s somehow been a starter in the NFL every year since 2019 while posting a record of 32-49-1. He had a good first half of 2025, but that’s not enough to say he’s now all of a sudden a good quarterback. And yet, the Colts still gave him the GDP of the city of Indianapolis. Matthew Stafford: Jon Moxley Moxley fka Dean Ambrose left WWE in 2019 after being part of one of the most important groups in wrestling history, The Shield. After suffering through bad creative, he bet on himself and joined AEW as one of its first major signings, and he has never looked back, becoming the ace of All Elite Wrestling in a run that has featured multiple world title reigns, an IWGP world championship reign, and several other notable accolades. Stafford was a good quarterback with the Detroit Lions, but was never going to reach the heights he did had he stayed in Detroit. A Super Bowl ring and MVP later, his time in Los Angeles will be remembered far more than his time with Detroit. Sam Darnold: Drew McIntyre Out of time, so say goodbyeWhat is yours, now is mineAnd I dream broken dreamsI make them come true Why WWE took away that awesome theme song, no one will ever know. McIntyre was tabbed as a prodigy when he debuted in WWE in the late 2000s. He never made it to the main event scene, and was relegated to a comedy act in 3MB alongside Jinder Mahal and Heath Slater. He left WWE and went on a career resurging independent run that saw him return to WWE much bulkier and looking like the main event star he was once promised to be, which has resulted in multiple world title reigns. Sam Darnold was once written off after failed stints with the New York Jets and Carolina Panthers, and just completed his own resurrection with a Super Bowl win. Brock Purdy: Diamond Dallas Page DDP was once a manager in WCW. Yet slowly but surely, he became a star in the ring, which culminated in him becoming one of the stars top performers. He won the WCW championship three times and was a fan-favorite up until WCW folding in 2001. We all know Purdy’s story by this point, going from the final pick of the draft to starting in the Super Bowl. Jacoby Brissett: 1999 Jeff Jarrett In 1999, Jeff Jarrett demanded 0,000 from the WWE to lose the Intercontinental Championship before leaving for WCW. Jeff Jarrett largely over-valued himself, much like Jacoby Brissett is right now by wanting more money from the Arizona Cardinals. Jordan Love: Batista Batista was grown under the tutelage of Triple H in Evolution before breaking out as a star of his own. Love was drafted while Aaron Rodgers was still at the peak of his powers. However, since taking over as the starter, he has proven to be one of the game’s top quarterbacks, putting Green Bay in the postseason in each of his first three seasons at the helm. He even beat his mentor in 2025 the same way Batista defeated Triple H for the World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMani 21. Caleb Williams: Penta Penta is so exciting to watch. His in-ring speed, and mix of lucha style and technical prowess makes him as unique a wrestler as there is. His flamboyant entrance with a sassy strut has also gotten him even more over with the crowd. Williams has become one of the most clutch performers in front of our eyes, painted nails, matcha, and all. He is as fun on the field as Penta is in the ring. Jared Goff: Claudio Castagnolli The former Cesaro in WWE needed a change of scenery, and he has been terrific since joining AEW. With runs as a trios champions, CMLL World Champion, and Ring of Honor world champion, the Swiss Superman has been one of the mainstays of AEW TV. Kyler Murray: Johnny Gargano Gargano was one of the biggest stars in the Black and Gold era of NXT, but has yet to find a real spot for himself since being called up to the main roster. Murray was terrific at Oklahoma, but never reached the expectations placed upon him in Arizona. Perhaps a new home in Minnesota can lead to sustained success. Dak Prescott: Seth Rollins There are times where Dak Prescott looks like a top five quarterback in football, but injuries have become a concern with him, as they have with Rollins as their respective careers progress. All eyes are always on both, as well, as Rollins has been one of the faces of WWE for over a decade, and Prescott leads America’s team. Jayden Daniels: Je’Von Evans Jalen Hurts: The Miz Accomplished, but boring and always leaves you wanting more. Credit to The Mix, he came from the very bottom and has put together a career in WWE that has spanned more than 20 years. But, no one is putting a Miz match in their top 10. Hurts has become very polarizing because while he helped the Eagles win a Super Bowl, his struggles in 2025 have many wondering and debating where his place is in the quarterback hierarchy. Jaxson Dart: Nick Wayne Wayne has been heralded as the future of pro wrestling. At just 20 years old, he is the current Ring of Honor World Television Champion and was part of one of AEW’s top stories, coming up under Christian Cage before betraying him in July of 2025. His presence and swagger is similar to that of Dart, who himself came into the NFL under Russell Wilson on the New York Giants depth chart. Baker Mayfield: LA Knight Baker Mayfield is one of the best trash talkers in the NFL, and his wrestling counterpart is one of the best on the mic in all of wrestling. Bryce Young: Cedric Alexander Many believed that Cedric Alexander could have broken out into a nice mid-card star in WWE. Unfortunately, that never happened on a consistent basis. Some say it’s a size issue, which is the biggest limiting factor for Young. Tyler Shough: Ricky Saints Saints is a bit older than most in NXT, much like Shough was older for a college player. However, the talent is very evident and the future is bright for both Shough and Saints. Tua Tagovailoa: Jey Uso Yeah, Jey Uso is a big no from me. He’s bad in the ring, awful on the mic, and whomever green lit “Yeet” should be charged with crimes against humanity. Tagovailoa isn’t good either, but Dolphins fans still spent years trying to convince themselves he was. #Nation

404 Not Found | SB Nation

WrestleMania weekend has come and gone, and frankly, I don’t know how you weren’t leaping out of your seat to watch a former punter who already appears on every sports related TV show overshadow the WWE championship match between Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton – a pair of men who’s history dates back two decades. WWE, everybody! Just when you think they can’t mess up the easiest of layups, they turn around and launch a full-court shot into the other net. I fully expected Jason Kelce and/or Bert Kreischer to get involved in the match somehow as Terry Funk turned over in his grave.

Bad booking aside, let’s have fun and combine the worlds of professional wrestling and the NFL – because they aren’t very different at the end of the day. Sure, the squared circle and the gridiron lack similarities, but what helps make the NFL our pastime? The drama.

What do we love more than anything at this time of year? The storylines off the field. Who wants to be on a new team? Who is angry at their team owner? What players are beefing with one another? It’s the same as pro wrestling. Even in season, drama drives the NFL. We spent all of 2025 wondering if A.J. Brown would get traded and monitoring his social media to see what he said next. At the end of the season, Todd Bowles cut a scathing promo on his own team. Sam Darnold completed the ultimate underdog storyline of cast-off to world champion – everything is professional wrestling.

So, with that in mind, ahead of the biggest weekend on the wrestling calendar (unless All In 2026 tops it, which it very well could), today we’re comparing quarterbacks to wrestlers. Ring the bell.

Patrick Mahomes: Kenny Omega

404 Not Found | SB Nation WrestleMania weekend has come and gone, and frankly, I don’t know how you weren’t leaping out of your seat to watch a former punter who already appears on every sports related TV show overshadow the WWE championship match between Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton – a pair of men who’s history dates back two decades. WWE, everybody! Just when you think they can’t mess up the easiest of layups, they turn around and launch a full-court shot into the other net. I fully expected Jason Kelce and/or Bert Kreischer to get involved in the match somehow as Terry Funk turned over in his grave. Bad booking aside, let’s have fun and combine the worlds of professional wrestling and the NFL – because they aren’t very different at the end of the day. Sure, the squared circle and the gridiron lack similarities, but what helps make the NFL our pastime? The drama. What do we love more than anything at this time of year? The storylines off the field. Who wants to be on a new team? Who is angry at their team owner? What players are beefing with one another? It’s the same as pro wrestling. Even in season, drama drives the NFL. We spent all of 2025 wondering if A.J. Brown would get traded and monitoring his social media to see what he said next. At the end of the season, Todd Bowles cut a scathing promo on his own team. Sam Darnold completed the ultimate underdog storyline of cast-off to world champion – everything is professional wrestling. So, with that in mind, ahead of the biggest weekend on the wrestling calendar (unless All In 2026 tops it, which it very well could), today we’re comparing quarterbacks to wrestlers. Ring the bell. Patrick Mahomes: Kenny Omega When Mahomes became the Kansas City Chiefs’ starter in 2018, he immediately revolutionized the position with 50 touchdown passes in an MVP season. much like Omega took the pro wrestling scene by storm in the mid 2010s in New Japan Pro Wrestling, and eventually helped start All Elite Wrestling. Five Super Bowl appearances and three championships later, he is unquestionably one of the five best quarterbacks the game has ever seen. And coming off the back of yet another superb pay-per-view main event match against MJF at AEW Dynasty, Omega continues to cement his own legacy as one of the best to ever step foot in a squared circle. Justin Herbert: Sami Zayn You couldn’t find anyone who would say a bad word about Sami Zayn for the first decade that he was in WWE. His NXT run was tremendous, and his inclusion in the Bloodline saga earned universal praise. That said, over the last 18 months, Zayn’s “underdog” character has grown incredibly stale and some of us (points at self) have never been huge Sami Zayn guys. Herbert came out of the gates with unmatched speed, throwing 69 touchdowns in his first two seasons and topping 5,000 yards in Year Two. That said, he is 0-3 in the postseason and has yet to perform well in a playoff game, causing many to wonder if all the praise is really warranted. Kirk Cousins: Dolph Ziggler The real life Nic Nemeth was far more outspoken and flashy than Cousins during his WWE run, but this focuses more on career arc. Ziggler was never seen as a WrestleMania main venter, but he was an incredibly steady hand in the mid-card that could win the United States or Intercontinental Championship on any given night. Bo Nix: Charlie Haas Haas was one half of the world’s greatest tag team with Shelton Benjamin, who formed an alliance with Kurt Angle. Of the three, he’s the one who is least remembered. If the Broncos are Team Angle, the defense is Kurt Angle, Courtland Sutton and Jaylen Waddle are Benjamin, and Nix is Haas. Aaron Rodgers: CM Punk Cranky guy in his 40’s who has had multiple teased returns over the years? Now, Punk is straightedge and Rodgers notably does whatever hallucinogen lets him talk to banana trees, but go back and watch Punk’s press conference after All Out in 2022. “I’m hurt, I’m old, I’m f—king tired, and I work with f—king children.” He and Rodgers are two pissed off peas in a pod – which may be why I enjoy both of them so much. Lamar Jackson: Rob Van Dam It’s fitting that RVD’s theme music starts out with a voice shouting, “One of a kind.” His combination of high-flying moves and martial arts is still a combination that has been unmatched and is impossible to replicate. We haven’t seen another RVD, and we likely won’t see another Lamar Jackson in terms of his ability to run the ball while also tossing 40 touchdowns in a season. Joe Burrow: Cody Rhodes Fashionable faces of the franchise. Neither afraid to speak their minds and be honest when they clearly don’t think things are working (go watch any podcast Rhodes has done in the last week where he clearly hates the McAfee stuff). Both were also big underdogs. Burrow left Ohio State and bet on himself at LSU, which is what Rhodes did when he left WWE in 2016 and went on an incredible run on the Indies, which lead to him being one of the founding fathers of AEW. Now, both are at the very top of their respective professions. Shedeur Sanders: Curtis Axel His dad was Mr. Perfect, and he… well, he wasn’t good. Need I say more? I’m sure there will be plenty of “against all odds” compilations this year, though. Josh Allen: Mick Foley Much like Mrs. Foley’s baby boy, Josh Allen takes a lickin’ and keeps on tickin’. Both guys are incredibly easy to root for and will die trying to win. It took Foley a long time to win his first world championship, and the crowd was in a state of pure euphoria when he defeated The Rock in January, 1999. When Allen finally does win a Super Bowl for the city of Buffalo, it will be instantly emotional and a massive weight off the back of one of the game’s top stars, as well as the city he represents. Drake Maye: Randy Orton Think Evolution era Randy Orton, who was the youngest wrestler to ever win the World Heavyweight Championship at age 24. It was evident right away that Orton was talented and going to be great for a long time, which is how he has carved out a 24-year career that sees him challenging to win his 15th world title this weekend. Maye is only entering his third season, and was an MVP finalist and took his team to the Super Bowl in just his second season – the best is yet to come. It is also perfect that Orton lost in the main event of Night One like Maye lost in the Super Bowl. Geno Smith: Bobby Lashley Lashley was once thought to be the next big thing in WWE. He won the WWECW Championship early on in his first run with the company, but never turned into that main event star. An MMA run accompanied by a terrific run in TNA, though, brought him back to WWE where he won multiple world championships. Smith resurrected his career in Seattle, but now is hoping to do so again with the Jets. If he has anything close to a run like Lashley is back to having with The Hurt Syndicate, that would be a big win for him and New York. *Obligatory “WE HURT PEOPLE” chant here. Malik Willis: Kofi Kingston (Pre-New Day) Kofi Kingston was a good mid-card wrestler in the early portion of his career. He won the Intercontinental Championship, Tag Team Championships, and United States Championship to solidify himself as a mainstay on Raw and Smackdown, but was never a world championship threat. Right now, that’s where Malik Willis is hovering, and the Dolphins haven’t exactly set him up for success after trading Jaylen Waddle to the Broncos. Trevor Lawrence: Lex Luger Luger was WWF’s hopeful next Hulk Hogan, which was a label that was insurmountable, much like the lofty expectations placed on Lawrence before he played an NFL snap. That doesn’t mean he hasn’t been good, though. He led the Jaguars to a playoff win in 2021 after surviving the Urban Meyer debacle. And in 2025 in his first season under Liam Coen, Lawrence put up over 4,000 passing yards and 29 touchdowns, leading the Jaguars to 13 wins and a playoff berth. Should he continue to stack seasons like that, Jacksonville can become one of the marquee teams in the AFC. Cam Ward: Trick Williams There is clearly something there with Cam Ward. Some of the throws he made in 2025 despite having the worst offense in football around him was astounding. With Trick Williams, there is star potential. He is good in the ring, has a great look, and an even better entrance that gets the crowd exited to see him. He defeated Sami Zayn for the United States championship to a massive pop. He has a bright future in WWE, as does Ward with the Titans. C.J. Stroud: Sammy Guevara Guevara started his AEW career with a bang, appearing in the first match in AEW Dynamite history against Cody Rhodes and was part of the top heel group in the company alongside Chris Jericho. However, despite multiple TNT title wins, fans soured on the high-flyer hard during his heel run alongside real-life wife Tay Melo. He has largely been relegated to Ring of Honor over the last two years. For Stroud, he needs to recapture that magic he found as a rookie if the Texans want to make it past the divisional round, and if he wants to be considered the long-term answer in Houston. Daniel Jones: Baron Corbin The real-life Tom Pestock seems like a lovely guy – the WWE character Baron Corbin was a steaming bowl of feces. Yet, WWE constantly shoved him down the throats of fans. That may sound mean to Daniel Jones, but he’s somehow been a starter in the NFL every year since 2019 while posting a record of 32-49-1. He had a good first half of 2025, but that’s not enough to say he’s now all of a sudden a good quarterback. And yet, the Colts still gave him the GDP of the city of Indianapolis. Matthew Stafford: Jon Moxley Moxley fka Dean Ambrose left WWE in 2019 after being part of one of the most important groups in wrestling history, The Shield. After suffering through bad creative, he bet on himself and joined AEW as one of its first major signings, and he has never looked back, becoming the ace of All Elite Wrestling in a run that has featured multiple world title reigns, an IWGP world championship reign, and several other notable accolades. Stafford was a good quarterback with the Detroit Lions, but was never going to reach the heights he did had he stayed in Detroit. A Super Bowl ring and MVP later, his time in Los Angeles will be remembered far more than his time with Detroit. Sam Darnold: Drew McIntyre Out of time, so say goodbyeWhat is yours, now is mineAnd I dream broken dreamsI make them come true Why WWE took away that awesome theme song, no one will ever know. McIntyre was tabbed as a prodigy when he debuted in WWE in the late 2000s. He never made it to the main event scene, and was relegated to a comedy act in 3MB alongside Jinder Mahal and Heath Slater. He left WWE and went on a career resurging independent run that saw him return to WWE much bulkier and looking like the main event star he was once promised to be, which has resulted in multiple world title reigns. Sam Darnold was once written off after failed stints with the New York Jets and Carolina Panthers, and just completed his own resurrection with a Super Bowl win. Brock Purdy: Diamond Dallas Page DDP was once a manager in WCW. Yet slowly but surely, he became a star in the ring, which culminated in him becoming one of the stars top performers. He won the WCW championship three times and was a fan-favorite up until WCW folding in 2001. We all know Purdy’s story by this point, going from the final pick of the draft to starting in the Super Bowl. Jacoby Brissett: 1999 Jeff Jarrett In 1999, Jeff Jarrett demanded 0,000 from the WWE to lose the Intercontinental Championship before leaving for WCW. Jeff Jarrett largely over-valued himself, much like Jacoby Brissett is right now by wanting more money from the Arizona Cardinals. Jordan Love: Batista Batista was grown under the tutelage of Triple H in Evolution before breaking out as a star of his own. Love was drafted while Aaron Rodgers was still at the peak of his powers. However, since taking over as the starter, he has proven to be one of the game’s top quarterbacks, putting Green Bay in the postseason in each of his first three seasons at the helm. He even beat his mentor in 2025 the same way Batista defeated Triple H for the World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMani 21. Caleb Williams: Penta Penta is so exciting to watch. His in-ring speed, and mix of lucha style and technical prowess makes him as unique a wrestler as there is. His flamboyant entrance with a sassy strut has also gotten him even more over with the crowd. Williams has become one of the most clutch performers in front of our eyes, painted nails, matcha, and all. He is as fun on the field as Penta is in the ring. Jared Goff: Claudio Castagnolli The former Cesaro in WWE needed a change of scenery, and he has been terrific since joining AEW. With runs as a trios champions, CMLL World Champion, and Ring of Honor world champion, the Swiss Superman has been one of the mainstays of AEW TV. Kyler Murray: Johnny Gargano Gargano was one of the biggest stars in the Black and Gold era of NXT, but has yet to find a real spot for himself since being called up to the main roster. Murray was terrific at Oklahoma, but never reached the expectations placed upon him in Arizona. Perhaps a new home in Minnesota can lead to sustained success. Dak Prescott: Seth Rollins There are times where Dak Prescott looks like a top five quarterback in football, but injuries have become a concern with him, as they have with Rollins as their respective careers progress. All eyes are always on both, as well, as Rollins has been one of the faces of WWE for over a decade, and Prescott leads America’s team. Jayden Daniels: Je’Von Evans Jalen Hurts: The Miz Accomplished, but boring and always leaves you wanting more. Credit to The Mix, he came from the very bottom and has put together a career in WWE that has spanned more than 20 years. But, no one is putting a Miz match in their top 10. Hurts has become very polarizing because while he helped the Eagles win a Super Bowl, his struggles in 2025 have many wondering and debating where his place is in the quarterback hierarchy. Jaxson Dart: Nick Wayne Wayne has been heralded as the future of pro wrestling. At just 20 years old, he is the current Ring of Honor World Television Champion and was part of one of AEW’s top stories, coming up under Christian Cage before betraying him in July of 2025. His presence and swagger is similar to that of Dart, who himself came into the NFL under Russell Wilson on the New York Giants depth chart. Baker Mayfield: LA Knight Baker Mayfield is one of the best trash talkers in the NFL, and his wrestling counterpart is one of the best on the mic in all of wrestling. Bryce Young: Cedric Alexander Many believed that Cedric Alexander could have broken out into a nice mid-card star in WWE. Unfortunately, that never happened on a consistent basis. Some say it’s a size issue, which is the biggest limiting factor for Young. Tyler Shough: Ricky Saints Saints is a bit older than most in NXT, much like Shough was older for a college player. However, the talent is very evident and the future is bright for both Shough and Saints. Tua Tagovailoa: Jey Uso Yeah, Jey Uso is a big no from me. He’s bad in the ring, awful on the mic, and whomever green lit “Yeet” should be charged with crimes against humanity. Tagovailoa isn’t good either, but Dolphins fans still spent years trying to convince themselves he was. #Nation

When Mahomes became the Kansas City Chiefs’ starter in 2018, he immediately revolutionized the position with 50 touchdown passes in an MVP season. much like Omega took the pro wrestling scene by storm in the mid 2010s in New Japan Pro Wrestling, and eventually helped start All Elite Wrestling. Five Super Bowl appearances and three championships later, he is unquestionably one of the five best quarterbacks the game has ever seen. And coming off the back of yet another superb pay-per-view main event match against MJF at AEW Dynasty, Omega continues to cement his own legacy as one of the best to ever step foot in a squared circle.

Justin Herbert: Sami Zayn

You couldn’t find anyone who would say a bad word about Sami Zayn for the first decade that he was in WWE. His NXT run was tremendous, and his inclusion in the Bloodline saga earned universal praise. That said, over the last 18 months, Zayn’s “underdog” character has grown incredibly stale and some of us (points at self) have never been huge Sami Zayn guys. Herbert came out of the gates with unmatched speed, throwing 69 touchdowns in his first two seasons and topping 5,000 yards in Year Two. That said, he is 0-3 in the postseason and has yet to perform well in a playoff game, causing many to wonder if all the praise is really warranted.

Kirk Cousins: Dolph Ziggler

The real life Nic Nemeth was far more outspoken and flashy than Cousins during his WWE run, but this focuses more on career arc. Ziggler was never seen as a WrestleMania main venter, but he was an incredibly steady hand in the mid-card that could win the United States or Intercontinental Championship on any given night.

Bo Nix: Charlie Haas

Haas was one half of the world’s greatest tag team with Shelton Benjamin, who formed an alliance with Kurt Angle. Of the three, he’s the one who is least remembered. If the Broncos are Team Angle, the defense is Kurt Angle, Courtland Sutton and Jaylen Waddle are Benjamin, and Nix is Haas.

Aaron Rodgers: CM Punk

Cranky guy in his 40’s who has had multiple teased returns over the years? Now, Punk is straightedge and Rodgers notably does whatever hallucinogen lets him talk to banana trees, but go back and watch Punk’s press conference after All Out in 2022. “I’m hurt, I’m old, I’m f—king tired, and I work with f—king children.” He and Rodgers are two pissed off peas in a pod – which may be why I enjoy both of them so much.

Lamar Jackson: Rob Van Dam

It’s fitting that RVD’s theme music starts out with a voice shouting, “One of a kind.” His combination of high-flying moves and martial arts is still a combination that has been unmatched and is impossible to replicate. We haven’t seen another RVD, and we likely won’t see another Lamar Jackson in terms of his ability to run the ball while also tossing 40 touchdowns in a season.

Joe Burrow: Cody Rhodes

Fashionable faces of the franchise. Neither afraid to speak their minds and be honest when they clearly don’t think things are working (go watch any podcast Rhodes has done in the last week where he clearly hates the McAfee stuff). Both were also big underdogs. Burrow left Ohio State and bet on himself at LSU, which is what Rhodes did when he left WWE in 2016 and went on an incredible run on the Indies, which lead to him being one of the founding fathers of AEW. Now, both are at the very top of their respective professions.

Shedeur Sanders: Curtis Axel

His dad was Mr. Perfect, and he… well, he wasn’t good. Need I say more? I’m sure there will be plenty of “against all odds” compilations this year, though.

Josh Allen: Mick Foley

Much like Mrs. Foley’s baby boy, Josh Allen takes a lickin’ and keeps on tickin’. Both guys are incredibly easy to root for and will die trying to win. It took Foley a long time to win his first world championship, and the crowd was in a state of pure euphoria when he defeated The Rock in January, 1999. When Allen finally does win a Super Bowl for the city of Buffalo, it will be instantly emotional and a massive weight off the back of one of the game’s top stars, as well as the city he represents.

Drake Maye: Randy Orton

Think Evolution era Randy Orton, who was the youngest wrestler to ever win the World Heavyweight Championship at age 24. It was evident right away that Orton was talented and going to be great for a long time, which is how he has carved out a 24-year career that sees him challenging to win his 15th world title this weekend. Maye is only entering his third season, and was an MVP finalist and took his team to the Super Bowl in just his second season – the best is yet to come. It is also perfect that Orton lost in the main event of Night One like Maye lost in the Super Bowl.

Geno Smith: Bobby Lashley

Lashley was once thought to be the next big thing in WWE. He won the WWECW Championship early on in his first run with the company, but never turned into that main event star. An MMA run accompanied by a terrific run in TNA, though, brought him back to WWE where he won multiple world championships. Smith resurrected his career in Seattle, but now is hoping to do so again with the Jets. If he has anything close to a run like Lashley is back to having with The Hurt Syndicate, that would be a big win for him and New York. *Obligatory “WE HURT PEOPLE” chant here.

Malik Willis: Kofi Kingston (Pre-New Day)

Kofi Kingston was a good mid-card wrestler in the early portion of his career. He won the Intercontinental Championship, Tag Team Championships, and United States Championship to solidify himself as a mainstay on Raw and Smackdown, but was never a world championship threat. Right now, that’s where Malik Willis is hovering, and the Dolphins haven’t exactly set him up for success after trading Jaylen Waddle to the Broncos.

Trevor Lawrence: Lex Luger

Luger was WWF’s hopeful next Hulk Hogan, which was a label that was insurmountable, much like the lofty expectations placed on Lawrence before he played an NFL snap. That doesn’t mean he hasn’t been good, though. He led the Jaguars to a playoff win in 2021 after surviving the Urban Meyer debacle. And in 2025 in his first season under Liam Coen, Lawrence put up over 4,000 passing yards and 29 touchdowns, leading the Jaguars to 13 wins and a playoff berth. Should he continue to stack seasons like that, Jacksonville can become one of the marquee teams in the AFC.

Cam Ward: Trick Williams

There is clearly something there with Cam Ward. Some of the throws he made in 2025 despite having the worst offense in football around him was astounding. With Trick Williams, there is star potential. He is good in the ring, has a great look, and an even better entrance that gets the crowd exited to see him. He defeated Sami Zayn for the United States championship to a massive pop. He has a bright future in WWE, as does Ward with the Titans.

C.J. Stroud: Sammy Guevara

Guevara started his AEW career with a bang, appearing in the first match in AEW Dynamite history against Cody Rhodes and was part of the top heel group in the company alongside Chris Jericho. However, despite multiple TNT title wins, fans soured on the high-flyer hard during his heel run alongside real-life wife Tay Melo. He has largely been relegated to Ring of Honor over the last two years. For Stroud, he needs to recapture that magic he found as a rookie if the Texans want to make it past the divisional round, and if he wants to be considered the long-term answer in Houston.

Daniel Jones: Baron Corbin

The real-life Tom Pestock seems like a lovely guy – the WWE character Baron Corbin was a steaming bowl of feces. Yet, WWE constantly shoved him down the throats of fans. That may sound mean to Daniel Jones, but he’s somehow been a starter in the NFL every year since 2019 while posting a record of 32-49-1. He had a good first half of 2025, but that’s not enough to say he’s now all of a sudden a good quarterback. And yet, the Colts still gave him the GDP of the city of Indianapolis.

Matthew Stafford: Jon Moxley

Moxley fka Dean Ambrose left WWE in 2019 after being part of one of the most important groups in wrestling history, The Shield. After suffering through bad creative, he bet on himself and joined AEW as one of its first major signings, and he has never looked back, becoming the ace of All Elite Wrestling in a run that has featured multiple world title reigns, an IWGP world championship reign, and several other notable accolades. Stafford was a good quarterback with the Detroit Lions, but was never going to reach the heights he did had he stayed in Detroit. A Super Bowl ring and MVP later, his time in Los Angeles will be remembered far more than his time with Detroit.

Sam Darnold: Drew McIntyre

Out of time, so say goodbye
What is yours, now is mine
And I dream broken dreams
I make them come true

Why WWE took away that awesome theme song, no one will ever know.

McIntyre was tabbed as a prodigy when he debuted in WWE in the late 2000s. He never made it to the main event scene, and was relegated to a comedy act in 3MB alongside Jinder Mahal and Heath Slater. He left WWE and went on a career resurging independent run that saw him return to WWE much bulkier and looking like the main event star he was once promised to be, which has resulted in multiple world title reigns. Sam Darnold was once written off after failed stints with the New York Jets and Carolina Panthers, and just completed his own resurrection with a Super Bowl win.

Brock Purdy: Diamond Dallas Page

DDP was once a manager in WCW. Yet slowly but surely, he became a star in the ring, which culminated in him becoming one of the stars top performers. He won the WCW championship three times and was a fan-favorite up until WCW folding in 2001. We all know Purdy’s story by this point, going from the final pick of the draft to starting in the Super Bowl.

Jacoby Brissett: 1999 Jeff Jarrett

In 1999, Jeff Jarrett demanded $300,000 from the WWE to lose the Intercontinental Championship before leaving for WCW. Jeff Jarrett largely over-valued himself, much like Jacoby Brissett is right now by wanting more money from the Arizona Cardinals.

Jordan Love: Batista

Batista was grown under the tutelage of Triple H in Evolution before breaking out as a star of his own. Love was drafted while Aaron Rodgers was still at the peak of his powers. However, since taking over as the starter, he has proven to be one of the game’s top quarterbacks, putting Green Bay in the postseason in each of his first three seasons at the helm. He even beat his mentor in 2025 the same way Batista defeated Triple H for the World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMani 21.

Caleb Williams: Penta

Penta is so exciting to watch. His in-ring speed, and mix of lucha style and technical prowess makes him as unique a wrestler as there is. His flamboyant entrance with a sassy strut has also gotten him even more over with the crowd. Williams has become one of the most clutch performers in front of our eyes, painted nails, matcha, and all. He is as fun on the field as Penta is in the ring.

Jared Goff: Claudio Castagnolli

The former Cesaro in WWE needed a change of scenery, and he has been terrific since joining AEW. With runs as a trios champions, CMLL World Champion, and Ring of Honor world champion, the Swiss Superman has been one of the mainstays of AEW TV.

Kyler Murray: Johnny Gargano

Gargano was one of the biggest stars in the Black and Gold era of NXT, but has yet to find a real spot for himself since being called up to the main roster. Murray was terrific at Oklahoma, but never reached the expectations placed upon him in Arizona. Perhaps a new home in Minnesota can lead to sustained success.

Dak Prescott: Seth Rollins

There are times where Dak Prescott looks like a top five quarterback in football, but injuries have become a concern with him, as they have with Rollins as their respective careers progress. All eyes are always on both, as well, as Rollins has been one of the faces of WWE for over a decade, and Prescott leads America’s team.

Jayden Daniels: Je’Von Evans

Jalen Hurts: The Miz

Accomplished, but boring and always leaves you wanting more. Credit to The Mix, he came from the very bottom and has put together a career in WWE that has spanned more than 20 years. But, no one is putting a Miz match in their top 10. Hurts has become very polarizing because while he helped the Eagles win a Super Bowl, his struggles in 2025 have many wondering and debating where his place is in the quarterback hierarchy.

Jaxson Dart: Nick Wayne

Wayne has been heralded as the future of pro wrestling. At just 20 years old, he is the current Ring of Honor World Television Champion and was part of one of AEW’s top stories, coming up under Christian Cage before betraying him in July of 2025. His presence and swagger is similar to that of Dart, who himself came into the NFL under Russell Wilson on the New York Giants depth chart.

Baker Mayfield: LA Knight

Baker Mayfield is one of the best trash talkers in the NFL, and his wrestling counterpart is one of the best on the mic in all of wrestling.

Bryce Young: Cedric Alexander

Many believed that Cedric Alexander could have broken out into a nice mid-card star in WWE. Unfortunately, that never happened on a consistent basis. Some say it’s a size issue, which is the biggest limiting factor for Young.

Tyler Shough: Ricky Saints

Saints is a bit older than most in NXT, much like Shough was older for a college player. However, the talent is very evident and the future is bright for both Shough and Saints.

Tua Tagovailoa: Jey Uso

Yeah, Jey Uso is a big no from me. He’s bad in the ring, awful on the mic, and whomever green lit “Yeet” should be charged with crimes against humanity. Tagovailoa isn’t good either, but Dolphins fans still spent years trying to convince themselves he was.

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WrestleMania weekend has come and gone, and frankly, I don’t know how you weren’t leaping out of your seat to watch a former punter who already appears on every sports related TV show overshadow the WWE championship match between Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton – a pair of men who’s history dates back two decades. WWE, everybody! Just when you think they can’t mess up the easiest of layups, they turn around and launch a full-court shot into the other net. I fully expected Jason Kelce and/or Bert Kreischer to get involved in the match somehow as Terry Funk turned over in his grave.

Bad booking aside, let’s have fun and combine the worlds of professional wrestling and the NFL – because they aren’t very different at the end of the day. Sure, the squared circle and the gridiron lack similarities, but what helps make the NFL our pastime? The drama.

What do we love more than anything at this time of year? The storylines off the field. Who wants to be on a new team? Who is angry at their team owner? What players are beefing with one another? It’s the same as pro wrestling. Even in season, drama drives the NFL. We spent all of 2025 wondering if A.J. Brown would get traded and monitoring his social media to see what he said next. At the end of the season, Todd Bowles cut a scathing promo on his own team. Sam Darnold completed the ultimate underdog storyline of cast-off to world champion – everything is professional wrestling.

So, with that in mind, ahead of the biggest weekend on the wrestling calendar (unless All In 2026 tops it, which it very well could), today we’re comparing quarterbacks to wrestlers. Ring the bell.

Patrick Mahomes: Kenny Omega

When Mahomes became the Kansas City Chiefs’ starter in 2018, he immediately revolutionized the position with 50 touchdown passes in an MVP season. much like Omega took the pro wrestling scene by storm in the mid 2010s in New Japan Pro Wrestling, and eventually helped start All Elite Wrestling. Five Super Bowl appearances and three championships later, he is unquestionably one of the five best quarterbacks the game has ever seen. And coming off the back of yet another superb pay-per-view main event match against MJF at AEW Dynasty, Omega continues to cement his own legacy as one of the best to ever step foot in a squared circle.

Justin Herbert: Sami Zayn

You couldn’t find anyone who would say a bad word about Sami Zayn for the first decade that he was in WWE. His NXT run was tremendous, and his inclusion in the Bloodline saga earned universal praise. That said, over the last 18 months, Zayn’s “underdog” character has grown incredibly stale and some of us (points at self) have never been huge Sami Zayn guys. Herbert came out of the gates with unmatched speed, throwing 69 touchdowns in his first two seasons and topping 5,000 yards in Year Two. That said, he is 0-3 in the postseason and has yet to perform well in a playoff game, causing many to wonder if all the praise is really warranted.

Kirk Cousins: Dolph Ziggler

The real life Nic Nemeth was far more outspoken and flashy than Cousins during his WWE run, but this focuses more on career arc. Ziggler was never seen as a WrestleMania main venter, but he was an incredibly steady hand in the mid-card that could win the United States or Intercontinental Championship on any given night.

Bo Nix: Charlie Haas

Haas was one half of the world’s greatest tag team with Shelton Benjamin, who formed an alliance with Kurt Angle. Of the three, he’s the one who is least remembered. If the Broncos are Team Angle, the defense is Kurt Angle, Courtland Sutton and Jaylen Waddle are Benjamin, and Nix is Haas.

Aaron Rodgers: CM Punk

Cranky guy in his 40’s who has had multiple teased returns over the years? Now, Punk is straightedge and Rodgers notably does whatever hallucinogen lets him talk to banana trees, but go back and watch Punk’s press conference after All Out in 2022. “I’m hurt, I’m old, I’m f—king tired, and I work with f—king children.” He and Rodgers are two pissed off peas in a pod – which may be why I enjoy both of them so much.

Lamar Jackson: Rob Van Dam

It’s fitting that RVD’s theme music starts out with a voice shouting, “One of a kind.” His combination of high-flying moves and martial arts is still a combination that has been unmatched and is impossible to replicate. We haven’t seen another RVD, and we likely won’t see another Lamar Jackson in terms of his ability to run the ball while also tossing 40 touchdowns in a season.

Joe Burrow: Cody Rhodes

Fashionable faces of the franchise. Neither afraid to speak their minds and be honest when they clearly don’t think things are working (go watch any podcast Rhodes has done in the last week where he clearly hates the McAfee stuff). Both were also big underdogs. Burrow left Ohio State and bet on himself at LSU, which is what Rhodes did when he left WWE in 2016 and went on an incredible run on the Indies, which lead to him being one of the founding fathers of AEW. Now, both are at the very top of their respective professions.

Shedeur Sanders: Curtis Axel

His dad was Mr. Perfect, and he… well, he wasn’t good. Need I say more? I’m sure there will be plenty of “against all odds” compilations this year, though.

Josh Allen: Mick Foley

Much like Mrs. Foley’s baby boy, Josh Allen takes a lickin’ and keeps on tickin’. Both guys are incredibly easy to root for and will die trying to win. It took Foley a long time to win his first world championship, and the crowd was in a state of pure euphoria when he defeated The Rock in January, 1999. When Allen finally does win a Super Bowl for the city of Buffalo, it will be instantly emotional and a massive weight off the back of one of the game’s top stars, as well as the city he represents.

Drake Maye: Randy Orton

Think Evolution era Randy Orton, who was the youngest wrestler to ever win the World Heavyweight Championship at age 24. It was evident right away that Orton was talented and going to be great for a long time, which is how he has carved out a 24-year career that sees him challenging to win his 15th world title this weekend. Maye is only entering his third season, and was an MVP finalist and took his team to the Super Bowl in just his second season – the best is yet to come. It is also perfect that Orton lost in the main event of Night One like Maye lost in the Super Bowl.

Geno Smith: Bobby Lashley

Lashley was once thought to be the next big thing in WWE. He won the WWECW Championship early on in his first run with the company, but never turned into that main event star. An MMA run accompanied by a terrific run in TNA, though, brought him back to WWE where he won multiple world championships. Smith resurrected his career in Seattle, but now is hoping to do so again with the Jets. If he has anything close to a run like Lashley is back to having with The Hurt Syndicate, that would be a big win for him and New York. *Obligatory “WE HURT PEOPLE” chant here.

Malik Willis: Kofi Kingston (Pre-New Day)

Kofi Kingston was a good mid-card wrestler in the early portion of his career. He won the Intercontinental Championship, Tag Team Championships, and United States Championship to solidify himself as a mainstay on Raw and Smackdown, but was never a world championship threat. Right now, that’s where Malik Willis is hovering, and the Dolphins haven’t exactly set him up for success after trading Jaylen Waddle to the Broncos.

Trevor Lawrence: Lex Luger

Luger was WWF’s hopeful next Hulk Hogan, which was a label that was insurmountable, much like the lofty expectations placed on Lawrence before he played an NFL snap. That doesn’t mean he hasn’t been good, though. He led the Jaguars to a playoff win in 2021 after surviving the Urban Meyer debacle. And in 2025 in his first season under Liam Coen, Lawrence put up over 4,000 passing yards and 29 touchdowns, leading the Jaguars to 13 wins and a playoff berth. Should he continue to stack seasons like that, Jacksonville can become one of the marquee teams in the AFC.

Cam Ward: Trick Williams

There is clearly something there with Cam Ward. Some of the throws he made in 2025 despite having the worst offense in football around him was astounding. With Trick Williams, there is star potential. He is good in the ring, has a great look, and an even better entrance that gets the crowd exited to see him. He defeated Sami Zayn for the United States championship to a massive pop. He has a bright future in WWE, as does Ward with the Titans.

C.J. Stroud: Sammy Guevara

Guevara started his AEW career with a bang, appearing in the first match in AEW Dynamite history against Cody Rhodes and was part of the top heel group in the company alongside Chris Jericho. However, despite multiple TNT title wins, fans soured on the high-flyer hard during his heel run alongside real-life wife Tay Melo. He has largely been relegated to Ring of Honor over the last two years. For Stroud, he needs to recapture that magic he found as a rookie if the Texans want to make it past the divisional round, and if he wants to be considered the long-term answer in Houston.

Daniel Jones: Baron Corbin

The real-life Tom Pestock seems like a lovely guy – the WWE character Baron Corbin was a steaming bowl of feces. Yet, WWE constantly shoved him down the throats of fans. That may sound mean to Daniel Jones, but he’s somehow been a starter in the NFL every year since 2019 while posting a record of 32-49-1. He had a good first half of 2025, but that’s not enough to say he’s now all of a sudden a good quarterback. And yet, the Colts still gave him the GDP of the city of Indianapolis.

Matthew Stafford: Jon Moxley

Moxley fka Dean Ambrose left WWE in 2019 after being part of one of the most important groups in wrestling history, The Shield. After suffering through bad creative, he bet on himself and joined AEW as one of its first major signings, and he has never looked back, becoming the ace of All Elite Wrestling in a run that has featured multiple world title reigns, an IWGP world championship reign, and several other notable accolades. Stafford was a good quarterback with the Detroit Lions, but was never going to reach the heights he did had he stayed in Detroit. A Super Bowl ring and MVP later, his time in Los Angeles will be remembered far more than his time with Detroit.

Sam Darnold: Drew McIntyre

Out of time, so say goodbye
What is yours, now is mine
And I dream broken dreams
I make them come true

Why WWE took away that awesome theme song, no one will ever know.

McIntyre was tabbed as a prodigy when he debuted in WWE in the late 2000s. He never made it to the main event scene, and was relegated to a comedy act in 3MB alongside Jinder Mahal and Heath Slater. He left WWE and went on a career resurging independent run that saw him return to WWE much bulkier and looking like the main event star he was once promised to be, which has resulted in multiple world title reigns. Sam Darnold was once written off after failed stints with the New York Jets and Carolina Panthers, and just completed his own resurrection with a Super Bowl win.

Brock Purdy: Diamond Dallas Page

DDP was once a manager in WCW. Yet slowly but surely, he became a star in the ring, which culminated in him becoming one of the stars top performers. He won the WCW championship three times and was a fan-favorite up until WCW folding in 2001. We all know Purdy’s story by this point, going from the final pick of the draft to starting in the Super Bowl.

Jacoby Brissett: 1999 Jeff Jarrett

In 1999, Jeff Jarrett demanded $300,000 from the WWE to lose the Intercontinental Championship before leaving for WCW. Jeff Jarrett largely over-valued himself, much like Jacoby Brissett is right now by wanting more money from the Arizona Cardinals.

Jordan Love: Batista

Batista was grown under the tutelage of Triple H in Evolution before breaking out as a star of his own. Love was drafted while Aaron Rodgers was still at the peak of his powers. However, since taking over as the starter, he has proven to be one of the game’s top quarterbacks, putting Green Bay in the postseason in each of his first three seasons at the helm. He even beat his mentor in 2025 the same way Batista defeated Triple H for the World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMani 21.

Caleb Williams: Penta

Penta is so exciting to watch. His in-ring speed, and mix of lucha style and technical prowess makes him as unique a wrestler as there is. His flamboyant entrance with a sassy strut has also gotten him even more over with the crowd. Williams has become one of the most clutch performers in front of our eyes, painted nails, matcha, and all. He is as fun on the field as Penta is in the ring.

Jared Goff: Claudio Castagnolli

The former Cesaro in WWE needed a change of scenery, and he has been terrific since joining AEW. With runs as a trios champions, CMLL World Champion, and Ring of Honor world champion, the Swiss Superman has been one of the mainstays of AEW TV.

Kyler Murray: Johnny Gargano

Gargano was one of the biggest stars in the Black and Gold era of NXT, but has yet to find a real spot for himself since being called up to the main roster. Murray was terrific at Oklahoma, but never reached the expectations placed upon him in Arizona. Perhaps a new home in Minnesota can lead to sustained success.

Dak Prescott: Seth Rollins

There are times where Dak Prescott looks like a top five quarterback in football, but injuries have become a concern with him, as they have with Rollins as their respective careers progress. All eyes are always on both, as well, as Rollins has been one of the faces of WWE for over a decade, and Prescott leads America’s team.

Jayden Daniels: Je’Von Evans

Jalen Hurts: The Miz

Accomplished, but boring and always leaves you wanting more. Credit to The Mix, he came from the very bottom and has put together a career in WWE that has spanned more than 20 years. But, no one is putting a Miz match in their top 10. Hurts has become very polarizing because while he helped the Eagles win a Super Bowl, his struggles in 2025 have many wondering and debating where his place is in the quarterback hierarchy.

Jaxson Dart: Nick Wayne

Wayne has been heralded as the future of pro wrestling. At just 20 years old, he is the current Ring of Honor World Television Champion and was part of one of AEW’s top stories, coming up under Christian Cage before betraying him in July of 2025. His presence and swagger is similar to that of Dart, who himself came into the NFL under Russell Wilson on the New York Giants depth chart.

Baker Mayfield: LA Knight

Baker Mayfield is one of the best trash talkers in the NFL, and his wrestling counterpart is one of the best on the mic in all of wrestling.

Bryce Young: Cedric Alexander

Many believed that Cedric Alexander could have broken out into a nice mid-card star in WWE. Unfortunately, that never happened on a consistent basis. Some say it’s a size issue, which is the biggest limiting factor for Young.

Tyler Shough: Ricky Saints

Saints is a bit older than most in NXT, much like Shough was older for a college player. However, the talent is very evident and the future is bright for both Shough and Saints.

Tua Tagovailoa: Jey Uso

Yeah, Jey Uso is a big no from me. He’s bad in the ring, awful on the mic, and whomever green lit “Yeet” should be charged with crimes against humanity. Tagovailoa isn’t good either, but Dolphins fans still spent years trying to convince themselves he was.

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Who is Krish Bhagat who is making his IPL debut for Mumbai Indians against Gujarat Titans? <div id="content-body-70884957" itemprop="articleBody"><p>Punjab all-rounder Krish Bhagat will make his debut in the Indian Premier League during the IPL 2026 encounter between Mumbai Indians against Gujarat Titans at Ahmedabad.</p><p>The 21-year-old was signed as a replacement for injured Mumbai all-rounder Atharva Ankolekar a few days ago and will make his maiden bow for MI against the Titans.</p><p><b>RELATED | <a href="https://sportstar.thehindu.com/cricket/ipl/gt-vs-mi-live-score-ipl-2026-gujarat-titans-mumbai-indians-live-updates-april-20/article70884285.ece" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">GT vs MI Live Score</a></b></p><p>Krish has been part of Mumbai Indians trials for the past 2 years, having played for the Reliance Team in the DY Patil T20 cup in 2026 and has been a support bowler with the team since pre-season this year.</p><p>He has played just seven First-Class games for his State, picking up seven wickets in eight innings and has also contributed 145 runs at 18.12, with a highest score of 39 not out.</p><p>In List-A cricket, he has scalped nine wickets in nine matches at an average of 29.55 and economy rate of 6.11.</p><p class="publish-time" id="end-of-article">Published on Apr 20, 2026</p></div> #Krish #Bhagat #making #IPL #debut #Mumbai #Indians #Gujarat #Titans

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IPL 2026 has been a double whammy for Venkatesh Iyer. So strong is the Royal Challengers Bengaluru squad that he has featured in just one of six games.

And in that match, because of the Impact Player rule, the all-rounder could only showcase one of his two skills.

But the 31-year-old, who played leading roles in Kolkata Knight Riders’ title dash in 2024 and the runner-up finish in 2021, remains upbeat.

“I am not used to sitting out, but as someone who places the team above everything else, it’s my duty to adhere to the environment,” Venkatesh, who was signed for Rs. 7 crore, told reporters on Wednesday. “RCB is the defending champion. To tinker with a winning combination is not always the smartest move.

“Sitting in the wings doesn’t mean that I am not part of the plan. I got one opportunity and I was extremely delighted that I scored (29 n.o., from 15 balls versus Rajasthan Royals). Right now, I am backing the boys 100 per cent to do the job.”

Interestingly, from the 2023 season when the Impact Player rule was introduced, Venkatesh has bowled all of six balls in 41 outings.

“Impact Player [rule] never stopped a Hardik [Pandya] or a [Andre] Russell or a [Sunil] Narine from bowling four overs,” Venkatesh opined. “It’s not stopping Nitish Reddy either. It actually pushes you to be the best all-rounder version that you can be.

“But it does curtail the opportunity for the one- and two-over bowlers. If I am the captain, I need to figure out how to use my five [specialist] bowlers and how to give my sixth [part-time] bowler a go. But here, your sixth bowler is also a specialist bowler. So there is cushion for strategising.”

Venkatesh, though, is not giving up on his bowling.

“I know that I won’t be bowling four overs [in white-ball cricket]. So I try to identify someone who has played a lot of red-ball cricket.

“I had Mitchell Starc [at KKR in 2024]. This year, I have Josh Hazlewood. I make it a point to have conversations because I want to win Madhya Pradesh the Ranji Trophy once again. And I know that I can do it with a ball in hand.”

Published on Apr 22, 2026

#IPL #Venkatesh #Iyer #limited #chances #RCB #Sitting #wings #doesnt #part #plan">IPL 2026: Venkatesh Iyer on limited chances at RCB — Sitting in the wings doesn’t mean I am not part of the plan IPL 2026 has been a double whammy for Venkatesh Iyer. So strong is the Royal Challengers Bengaluru squad that he has featured in just one of six games.And in that match, because of the Impact Player rule, the all-rounder could only showcase one of his two skills.But the 31-year-old, who played leading roles in Kolkata Knight Riders’ title dash in 2024 and the runner-up finish in 2021, remains upbeat.“I am not used to sitting out, but as someone who places the team above everything else, it’s my duty to adhere to the environment,” Venkatesh, who was signed for Rs. 7 crore, told reporters on Wednesday. “RCB is the defending champion. To tinker with a winning combination is not always the smartest move.“Sitting in the wings doesn’t mean that I am not part of the plan. I got one opportunity and I was extremely delighted that I scored (29 n.o., from 15 balls versus Rajasthan Royals). Right now, I am backing the boys 100 per cent to do the job.”Interestingly, from the 2023 season when the Impact Player rule was introduced, Venkatesh has bowled all of six balls in 41 outings.“Impact Player [rule] never stopped a Hardik [Pandya] or a [Andre] Russell or a [Sunil] Narine from bowling four overs,” Venkatesh opined. “It’s not stopping Nitish Reddy either. It actually pushes you to be the best all-rounder version that you can be.“But it does curtail the opportunity for the one- and two-over bowlers. If I am the captain, I need to figure out how to use my five [specialist] bowlers and how to give my sixth [part-time] bowler a go. But here, your sixth bowler is also a specialist bowler. So there is cushion for strategising.”Venkatesh, though, is not giving up on his bowling.“I know that I won’t be bowling four overs [in white-ball cricket]. So I try to identify someone who has played a lot of red-ball cricket.“I had Mitchell Starc [at KKR in 2024]. This year, I have Josh Hazlewood. I make it a point to have conversations because I want to win Madhya Pradesh the Ranji Trophy once again. And I know that I can do it with a ball in hand.”Published on Apr 22, 2026 #IPL #Venkatesh #Iyer #limited #chances #RCB #Sitting #wings #doesnt #part #plan

Deadspin | NHL roundup: Lightning rally, beat Canadiens in OT to even series Apr 21, 2026; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman J.J. Moser (90) and defenseman Darren Raddysh (43) react after beating the Montreal Canadiens in overtime during game two of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Benchmark International Arena. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images J.J. Moser scored 12:48 into overtime, giving the host Tampa Bay Lightning a 3-2 comeback victory over the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday and evening their first-round Eastern Conference playoff series at one win each. Tampa Bay fully controlled the game in the extra period and was rewarded when Moser found the net. He gained the puck off a faceoff win in the offensive zone, worked his way to a shooting position at the top of the right circle and wired a top-corner shot for his first career playoff tally. Montreal, which won Game 1 in overtime, was outshot 9-0 in overtime of Game 2. The series shifts to Montreal for Game 3 on Friday. Tampa Bay’s Brandon Hagel collected a goal and an assist. Nikita Kucherov tallied once, Anthony Cirelli collected two assists and goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy made 25 saves for Tampa Bay, which snapped a collection of playoff swoons. Avalanche 2, Kings 1 (OT) Nicolas Roy scored at 7:44 of overtime to lift Colorado to a win against Los Angeles in Denver, giving the Avalanche a 2-0 lead in a Western Conference first-round playoff series. Gabriel Landeskog scored the tying goal late in regulation and Scott Wedgewood made 24 saves for the Avalanche. During the regular season, Wedgewood led the NHL in goals-against average (2.02) and save percentage (.921). Anton Forsberg made 34 saves for the Kings in his second career postseason start, both in the current series. He has allowed two goals or fewer in eight of his past nine starts. Bruins 4, Sabres 2 Visiting Boston scored three second-period goals and held off a late Buffalo rally to even the teams’ Eastern Conference quarterfinal playoff series at one victory apiece. Viktor Arvidsson scored in the last two periods, giving the Bruins 1-0 and 4-0 leads. Morgan Geekie and Pavel Zacha also lit the lamp for Boston, which heads home for Game 3 of the best-of-seven series on Thursday. Jeremy Swayman made 34 saves. Bowen Byram and Peyton Krebs scored as Buffalo climbed within 4-2 in the closing minutes. Sabres goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen allowed four goals on 19 shots before Alex Lyon entered in relief following Arvidsson’s second marker, which came just 16 seconds into the third period. Mammoth 3, Golden Knights 2 Logan Cooley scored the go-ahead goal on a rebound with six minutes remaining to give Utah its first playoff win in franchise history over Vegas in Game 2 of their best-of-seven Western Conference first-round series in Las Vegas. Cooley buried a rebound of a Dylan Guenther shot, evening the best-of-seven series at one victory apiece. Guenther had a goal and an assist, Kailer Yamamoto had two assists and MacKenzie Weegar also scored. Karel Vejmelka made 19 saves, including a close-in shot by Mark Stone from the left side of the net with five seconds left to seal the win. Stone and Ivan Barbashev each scored a goal and Jack Eichel had two assists for Vegas, which lost for the first time in regulation in 10 games (8-1-1) under coach John Tortorella. Carter Hart finished with 27 saves. Game 3 is Friday in Salt Lake City. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #NHL #roundup #Lightning #rally #beat #Canadiens #seriesApr 21, 2026; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman J.J. Moser (90) and defenseman Darren Raddysh (43) react after beating the Montreal Canadiens in overtime during game two of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Benchmark International Arena. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

J.J. Moser scored 12:48 into overtime, giving the host Tampa Bay Lightning a 3-2 comeback victory over the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday and evening their first-round Eastern Conference playoff series at one win each.

Tampa Bay fully controlled the game in the extra period and was rewarded when Moser found the net. He gained the puck off a faceoff win in the offensive zone, worked his way to a shooting position at the top of the right circle and wired a top-corner shot for his first career playoff tally.

Montreal, which won Game 1 in overtime, was outshot 9-0 in overtime of Game 2. The series shifts to Montreal for Game 3 on Friday.

Tampa Bay’s Brandon Hagel collected a goal and an assist. Nikita Kucherov tallied once, Anthony Cirelli collected two assists and goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy made 25 saves for Tampa Bay, which snapped a collection of playoff swoons.

Avalanche 2, Kings 1 (OT)

Nicolas Roy scored at 7:44 of overtime to lift Colorado to a win against Los Angeles in Denver, giving the Avalanche a 2-0 lead in a Western Conference first-round playoff series.

Gabriel Landeskog scored the tying goal late in regulation and Scott Wedgewood made 24 saves for the Avalanche. During the regular season, Wedgewood led the NHL in goals-against average (2.02) and save percentage (.921).

Anton Forsberg made 34 saves for the Kings in his second career postseason start, both in the current series. He has allowed two goals or fewer in eight of his past nine starts.


Bruins 4, Sabres 2

Visiting Boston scored three second-period goals and held off a late Buffalo rally to even the teams’ Eastern Conference quarterfinal playoff series at one victory apiece.

Viktor Arvidsson scored in the last two periods, giving the Bruins 1-0 and 4-0 leads. Morgan Geekie and Pavel Zacha also lit the lamp for Boston, which heads home for Game 3 of the best-of-seven series on Thursday. Jeremy Swayman made 34 saves.

Bowen Byram and Peyton Krebs scored as Buffalo climbed within 4-2 in the closing minutes. Sabres goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen allowed four goals on 19 shots before Alex Lyon entered in relief following Arvidsson’s second marker, which came just 16 seconds into the third period.

Mammoth 3, Golden Knights 2

Logan Cooley scored the go-ahead goal on a rebound with six minutes remaining to give Utah its first playoff win in franchise history over Vegas in Game 2 of their best-of-seven Western Conference first-round series in Las Vegas.

Cooley buried a rebound of a Dylan Guenther shot, evening the best-of-seven series at one victory apiece. Guenther had a goal and an assist, Kailer Yamamoto had two assists and MacKenzie Weegar also scored. Karel Vejmelka made 19 saves, including a close-in shot by Mark Stone from the left side of the net with five seconds left to seal the win.

Stone and Ivan Barbashev each scored a goal and Jack Eichel had two assists for Vegas, which lost for the first time in regulation in 10 games (8-1-1) under coach John Tortorella. Carter Hart finished with 27 saves. Game 3 is Friday in Salt Lake City.

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #NHL #roundup #Lightning #rally #beat #Canadiens #series">Deadspin | NHL roundup: Lightning rally, beat Canadiens in OT to even series Apr 21, 2026; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman J.J. Moser (90) and defenseman Darren Raddysh (43) react after beating the Montreal Canadiens in overtime during game two of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Benchmark International Arena. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images J.J. Moser scored 12:48 into overtime, giving the host Tampa Bay Lightning a 3-2 comeback victory over the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday and evening their first-round Eastern Conference playoff series at one win each. Tampa Bay fully controlled the game in the extra period and was rewarded when Moser found the net. He gained the puck off a faceoff win in the offensive zone, worked his way to a shooting position at the top of the right circle and wired a top-corner shot for his first career playoff tally. Montreal, which won Game 1 in overtime, was outshot 9-0 in overtime of Game 2. The series shifts to Montreal for Game 3 on Friday. Tampa Bay’s Brandon Hagel collected a goal and an assist. Nikita Kucherov tallied once, Anthony Cirelli collected two assists and goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy made 25 saves for Tampa Bay, which snapped a collection of playoff swoons. Avalanche 2, Kings 1 (OT) Nicolas Roy scored at 7:44 of overtime to lift Colorado to a win against Los Angeles in Denver, giving the Avalanche a 2-0 lead in a Western Conference first-round playoff series. Gabriel Landeskog scored the tying goal late in regulation and Scott Wedgewood made 24 saves for the Avalanche. During the regular season, Wedgewood led the NHL in goals-against average (2.02) and save percentage (.921). Anton Forsberg made 34 saves for the Kings in his second career postseason start, both in the current series. He has allowed two goals or fewer in eight of his past nine starts. Bruins 4, Sabres 2 Visiting Boston scored three second-period goals and held off a late Buffalo rally to even the teams’ Eastern Conference quarterfinal playoff series at one victory apiece. Viktor Arvidsson scored in the last two periods, giving the Bruins 1-0 and 4-0 leads. Morgan Geekie and Pavel Zacha also lit the lamp for Boston, which heads home for Game 3 of the best-of-seven series on Thursday. Jeremy Swayman made 34 saves. Bowen Byram and Peyton Krebs scored as Buffalo climbed within 4-2 in the closing minutes. Sabres goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen allowed four goals on 19 shots before Alex Lyon entered in relief following Arvidsson’s second marker, which came just 16 seconds into the third period. Mammoth 3, Golden Knights 2 Logan Cooley scored the go-ahead goal on a rebound with six minutes remaining to give Utah its first playoff win in franchise history over Vegas in Game 2 of their best-of-seven Western Conference first-round series in Las Vegas. Cooley buried a rebound of a Dylan Guenther shot, evening the best-of-seven series at one victory apiece. Guenther had a goal and an assist, Kailer Yamamoto had two assists and MacKenzie Weegar also scored. Karel Vejmelka made 19 saves, including a close-in shot by Mark Stone from the left side of the net with five seconds left to seal the win. Stone and Ivan Barbashev each scored a goal and Jack Eichel had two assists for Vegas, which lost for the first time in regulation in 10 games (8-1-1) under coach John Tortorella. Carter Hart finished with 27 saves. Game 3 is Friday in Salt Lake City. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #NHL #roundup #Lightning #rally #beat #Canadiens #series

We are just over 24 hours until the 2026 NFL Draft, where we expect Fernando Mendoza to be the first player selected.

But he will not be the only player selected.

There are 257 draft slots in this year’s NFL Draft, starting with the Las Vegas Raiders at No. 1 and finishing with the Denver Broncos at No. 257. Whether it is the Broncos or another team making that pick remains to be seen, but the simple fact is this: there are lots of players who are going to be drafted over the next few days.

Let’s dive into seven of them, including one who might not be a “sleeper” in the minds of the sleeper police, but might be my favorite player to watch in this class outside of Caleb Downs.

Cole Wisniewski, S, Texas Tech

Several defenders from Texas Tech are expected to come off the board early in the 2026 NFL Draft. Pass rusher David Bailey might be drafted second by the New York Jets, linebacker Jacob Rodriguez could sneak into the first round, and defensive tackle Lee Hunter and pass rusher Romello Height are expected to be Day 2 picks.

Safety Cole Wisniewski, however, might slide late into Day 3. But there is a lot to like about his game. Wisniewski racked up 78 total tackles for the Red Raiders last season, along with six pass breakups and a sack.

He did this after missing the entire 2024 season due to a foot injury.

While Wisniewski is more of a deep safety, you could draw a comparison to Caleb Downs in terms of his versatility. Wisniewski is on the bigger size, weighing in at 220 pounds, which allowed Texas Tech to drop him down into the box in certain situations, even when he might be playing in a traditional single-high role during the same possession.

Take this play against UCF, where he slides down into the box, feels the run play perfectly, and makes a tackle for a short gain:

Texas Tech has several defenders that should be drafted this week.

Expected Draft Round: Rounds 6-7

Lewis Bond, WR, Boston College

Lewis Bond did almost everything a wide receiver can do to earn an invitation to the NFL Scouting Combine. He caught 88 passes for 993 yards and a touchdown in 2024, with those 88 receptions setting a new team record. He leaves Chestnut Hill having set a new career reception mark with 213, and also checks in at fifth in the school’s record book with 2,385 career receiving yards. He was also a second-team All-ACC selection, and garnered praise for his performance at the Senior Bowl.

Yet when it came time for Combine invitations, he was left on the outside looking in.

Watching Bond on film, you see a player with great feel for the position, great awarness for his nearest threat in the secondary, and the ability to play both outside and in the slot. If you needed just one play to sum up what he can bring to an NFL offense it is this reception against Syracuse, where he beats the man coverage defender, makes a tough adjustment to an off-target throw, and finishes the play with an explosive gain in the passing game:

Expected Draft Round: Rounds 6-7

Tanner Koziol, TE, Houston

While measurements vary, tight end Tanner Koziol checks in with a wingspan around 83 inches based on his measurements at the Combine.

And the tight end puts every bit of that wingspan to use on plays like this one:

Koziol’s ability to play above-the-rim stands out, and his ability to win in contested catch situations will serve him well at the next level. There is some “big wide receiver” to his game, along with good feel for finding soft spots in zone coverage. Add in some ability as a blocker — and a whole lot of willingness — and you have a nice find on the third day of the draft.

Expected Draft Round: Rounds 5-6

Bentley was mired on the depth chart at Utah for the two previous seasons, catching just three passes over two years with the Utes. But he got a chance to see more playing time this past season and caught 48 passes for 620 yards and six touchdowns for Utah this past season.

Those numbers saw him finish second on the team in both receptions and receiving yards, and he tied for the team lead in touchdown catches. The 6’4, 253-pound tight end also posted a 4.62-second 40-yard dash at the Combine.

But what might help him the most is what he can do as an in-line blocker. Bentley is every bit the complete tight end, with an ability to execute blocks on both gap and zone designs from an in-line or a wing alignment. For many tight ends coming out of college, picking up the blocking part of the job is the toughest part of the transition, but Bentley looks ready to step in right away in that area.

Expected Draft Round: Rounds 5-6

Rueben Bain Jr. and Akheem Mesidor generated the most buzz on the defensive side of the ball as Miami stormed to an appearance in the title game, but if you watched the Hurricanes defense this year you probably saw something in addition to those pass rushers.

That would be slot corner Keionte Scott, who was a force in his own right for the Miami defense. Scott racked up 67 tackles, including 13 for a loss, last season while adding five sacks and a pair of interceptions.

Watch him on this play against Texas A&M dip under the blocker, and chop down the receiver for a loss on a quick screen:

Those four sacks punctuate his effectiveness as a blitzer, and the best example of that trait might be his 11-yard sack against Louisville, when he knifes into the backfield with a well-timed blitz to put the Cardinals into a third-and-long situation.

Scott did not run the 40-yard dash at the Combine, saving that for his Pro Day. The unofficial time of 4.25 seconds certainly turned heads, but even the more conservative time of 4.37 seconds that was reported is an eye-popping number.

Scott might not be a “sleeper” in the minds of some, as he could be drafted on Day 2. But he might be one of my favorite players in this entire class to watch, so I’m putting him here.

Expected Draft Rounds: Rounds 2-3

Wesley Williams, EDGE, Duke

The production might not be there.

Wesley Williams recorded just a pair of sacks in 2025, a year after recording 7.5 sacks and 13.5 tackles for a loss. But when you watch him on film, you see a pass rusher with a plan, a tool kit to work with, and the ability to tie it all together.

Take this play against Virginia, where he is working against the left tackle:

Williams uses his hands to perfection, swatting away the blocking attempt before dipping around the edge, putting a shot on the quarterback just as he releases a throw.

Pressure is production, and Williams can generate pressure on the opposing passer. He can win with power, speed, and technique off the edge. He also posted the ninth-best vertical among defensive ends at the Combine, checking in at 35.5 inches. That speaks to his power and explosiveness off the edge.

Williams might be available late into Day 3, but some team is going to take advantage of that fact when they turn in a card with his name on it.

Expected Draft Round: Rounds 6-7

Eli Heidenreich, Football Player, Navy

You knew this name was going to make an appearance.

I’ve listed Navy’s Eli Heidenreich as a “football player” because his skillset is so unique. Coming out of Navy’s option-heavy offense, Heidenreich lined up at various spots for the Midshipmen as one of their “Snipe” players, best described as a hybrid slot back/running back/wide receiver. You might see him aligned in the offensive backfield on first down, in the wing on second, and then in the slot on third.

During the 2025 season, Heidenreich tallied 1,440 yards from scrimmage, including 499 rushing yards (on just 77 carries, for 6.9 yards per attempt) while catching 51 passes for 941 yards and six touchdowns.

And not all of those receptions were bubble screens or checkdowns. Not by a long shot:

Heidenreich’s incredible Combine — where he posted numbers similar to Christian McCaffrey — has many dreaming that he could become that kind of player at the next level. That kind of comparison is lofty, and seems a long way off.

But what Heidenreich could be is still very valuable to an NFL team, and that is an offensive weapon who can create mismatches all over the field thanks to his athleticism and versatility.

That is certainly worth a pick on Day 3.

Expected Draft Round: Rounds 6-7

#NFL #Drafts #biggest #sleepers #turn #steals">NFL Draft’s 7 biggest sleepers in 2026 who could turn into steals We are just over 24 hours until the 2026 NFL Draft, where we expect Fernando Mendoza to be the first player selected.But he will not be the only player selected.There are 257 draft slots in this year’s NFL Draft, starting with the Las Vegas Raiders at No. 1 and finishing with the Denver Broncos at No. 257. Whether it is the Broncos or another team making that pick remains to be seen, but the simple fact is this: there are lots of players who are going to be drafted over the next few days.Let’s dive into seven of them, including one who might not be a “sleeper” in the minds of the sleeper police, but might be my favorite player to watch in this class outside of Caleb Downs.Cole Wisniewski, S, Texas TechSeveral defenders from Texas Tech are expected to come off the board early in the 2026 NFL Draft. Pass rusher David Bailey might be drafted second by the New York Jets, linebacker Jacob Rodriguez could sneak into the first round, and defensive tackle Lee Hunter and pass rusher Romello Height are expected to be Day 2 picks.Safety Cole Wisniewski, however, might slide late into Day 3. But there is a lot to like about his game. Wisniewski racked up 78 total tackles for the Red Raiders last season, along with six pass breakups and a sack.He did this after missing the entire 2024 season due to a foot injury.While Wisniewski is more of a deep safety, you could draw a comparison to Caleb Downs in terms of his versatility. Wisniewski is on the bigger size, weighing in at 220 pounds, which allowed Texas Tech to drop him down into the box in certain situations, even when he might be playing in a traditional single-high role during the same possession.Take this play against UCF, where he slides down into the box, feels the run play perfectly, and makes a tackle for a short gain:Texas Tech has several defenders that should be drafted this week.Expected Draft Round: Rounds 6-7Lewis Bond, WR, Boston CollegeLewis Bond did almost everything a wide receiver can do to earn an invitation to the NFL Scouting Combine. He caught 88 passes for 993 yards and a touchdown in 2024, with those 88 receptions setting a new team record. He leaves Chestnut Hill having set a new career reception mark with 213, and also checks in at fifth in the school’s record book with 2,385 career receiving yards. He was also a second-team All-ACC selection, and garnered praise for his performance at the Senior Bowl.Yet when it came time for Combine invitations, he was left on the outside looking in.Watching Bond on film, you see a player with great feel for the position, great awarness for his nearest threat in the secondary, and the ability to play both outside and in the slot. If you needed just one play to sum up what he can bring to an NFL offense it is this reception against Syracuse, where he beats the man coverage defender, makes a tough adjustment to an off-target throw, and finishes the play with an explosive gain in the passing game:Expected Draft Round: Rounds 6-7Tanner Koziol, TE, HoustonWhile measurements vary, tight end Tanner Koziol checks in with a wingspan around 83 inches based on his measurements at the Combine.And the tight end puts every bit of that wingspan to use on plays like this one:Koziol’s ability to play above-the-rim stands out, and his ability to win in contested catch situations will serve him well at the next level. There is some “big wide receiver” to his game, along with good feel for finding soft spots in zone coverage. Add in some ability as a blocker — and a whole lot of willingness — and you have a nice find on the third day of the draft.Expected Draft Round: Rounds 5-6Bentley was mired on the depth chart at Utah for the two previous seasons, catching just three passes over two years with the Utes. But he got a chance to see more playing time this past season and caught 48 passes for 620 yards and six touchdowns for Utah this past season.Those numbers saw him finish second on the team in both receptions and receiving yards, and he tied for the team lead in touchdown catches. The 6’4, 253-pound tight end also posted a 4.62-second 40-yard dash at the Combine.But what might help him the most is what he can do as an in-line blocker. Bentley is every bit the complete tight end, with an ability to execute blocks on both gap and zone designs from an in-line or a wing alignment. For many tight ends coming out of college, picking up the blocking part of the job is the toughest part of the transition, but Bentley looks ready to step in right away in that area.Expected Draft Round: Rounds 5-6Rueben Bain Jr. and Akheem Mesidor generated the most buzz on the defensive side of the ball as Miami stormed to an appearance in the title game, but if you watched the Hurricanes defense this year you probably saw something in addition to those pass rushers.That would be slot corner Keionte Scott, who was a force in his own right for the Miami defense. Scott racked up 67 tackles, including 13 for a loss, last season while adding five sacks and a pair of interceptions.Watch him on this play against Texas A&M dip under the blocker, and chop down the receiver for a loss on a quick screen:Those four sacks punctuate his effectiveness as a blitzer, and the best example of that trait might be his 11-yard sack against Louisville, when he knifes into the backfield with a well-timed blitz to put the Cardinals into a third-and-long situation.Scott did not run the 40-yard dash at the Combine, saving that for his Pro Day. The unofficial time of 4.25 seconds certainly turned heads, but even the more conservative time of 4.37 seconds that was reported is an eye-popping number.Scott might not be a “sleeper” in the minds of some, as he could be drafted on Day 2. But he might be one of my favorite players in this entire class to watch, so I’m putting him here.Expected Draft Rounds: Rounds 2-3Wesley Williams, EDGE, DukeThe production might not be there.Wesley Williams recorded just a pair of sacks in 2025, a year after recording 7.5 sacks and 13.5 tackles for a loss. But when you watch him on film, you see a pass rusher with a plan, a tool kit to work with, and the ability to tie it all together.Take this play against Virginia, where he is working against the left tackle:Williams uses his hands to perfection, swatting away the blocking attempt before dipping around the edge, putting a shot on the quarterback just as he releases a throw.Pressure is production, and Williams can generate pressure on the opposing passer. He can win with power, speed, and technique off the edge. He also posted the ninth-best vertical among defensive ends at the Combine, checking in at 35.5 inches. That speaks to his power and explosiveness off the edge.Williams might be available late into Day 3, but some team is going to take advantage of that fact when they turn in a card with his name on it.Expected Draft Round: Rounds 6-7Eli Heidenreich, Football Player, NavyYou knew this name was going to make an appearance.I’ve listed Navy’s Eli Heidenreich as a “football player” because his skillset is so unique. Coming out of Navy’s option-heavy offense, Heidenreich lined up at various spots for the Midshipmen as one of their “Snipe” players, best described as a hybrid slot back/running back/wide receiver. You might see him aligned in the offensive backfield on first down, in the wing on second, and then in the slot on third.During the 2025 season, Heidenreich tallied 1,440 yards from scrimmage, including 499 rushing yards (on just 77 carries, for 6.9 yards per attempt) while catching 51 passes for 941 yards and six touchdowns.And not all of those receptions were bubble screens or checkdowns. Not by a long shot:Heidenreich’s incredible Combine — where he posted numbers similar to Christian McCaffrey — has many dreaming that he could become that kind of player at the next level. That kind of comparison is lofty, and seems a long way off.But what Heidenreich could be is still very valuable to an NFL team, and that is an offensive weapon who can create mismatches all over the field thanks to his athleticism and versatility.That is certainly worth a pick on Day 3.Expected Draft Round: Rounds 6-7 #NFL #Drafts #biggest #sleepers #turn #steals

expect Fernando Mendoza to be the first player selected.

But he will not be the only player selected.

There are 257 draft slots in this year’s NFL Draft, starting with the Las Vegas Raiders at No. 1 and finishing with the Denver Broncos at No. 257. Whether it is the Broncos or another team making that pick remains to be seen, but the simple fact is this: there are lots of players who are going to be drafted over the next few days.

Let’s dive into seven of them, including one who might not be a “sleeper” in the minds of the sleeper police, but might be my favorite player to watch in this class outside of Caleb Downs.

Cole Wisniewski, S, Texas Tech

Several defenders from Texas Tech are expected to come off the board early in the 2026 NFL Draft. Pass rusher David Bailey might be drafted second by the New York Jets, linebacker Jacob Rodriguez could sneak into the first round, and defensive tackle Lee Hunter and pass rusher Romello Height are expected to be Day 2 picks.

Safety Cole Wisniewski, however, might slide late into Day 3. But there is a lot to like about his game. Wisniewski racked up 78 total tackles for the Red Raiders last season, along with six pass breakups and a sack.

He did this after missing the entire 2024 season due to a foot injury.

While Wisniewski is more of a deep safety, you could draw a comparison to Caleb Downs in terms of his versatility. Wisniewski is on the bigger size, weighing in at 220 pounds, which allowed Texas Tech to drop him down into the box in certain situations, even when he might be playing in a traditional single-high role during the same possession.

Take this play against UCF, where he slides down into the box, feels the run play perfectly, and makes a tackle for a short gain:

Texas Tech has several defenders that should be drafted this week.

Expected Draft Round: Rounds 6-7

Lewis Bond, WR, Boston College

Lewis Bond did almost everything a wide receiver can do to earn an invitation to the NFL Scouting Combine. He caught 88 passes for 993 yards and a touchdown in 2024, with those 88 receptions setting a new team record. He leaves Chestnut Hill having set a new career reception mark with 213, and also checks in at fifth in the school’s record book with 2,385 career receiving yards. He was also a second-team All-ACC selection, and garnered praise for his performance at the Senior Bowl.

Yet when it came time for Combine invitations, he was left on the outside looking in.

Watching Bond on film, you see a player with great feel for the position, great awarness for his nearest threat in the secondary, and the ability to play both outside and in the slot. If you needed just one play to sum up what he can bring to an NFL offense it is this reception against Syracuse, where he beats the man coverage defender, makes a tough adjustment to an off-target throw, and finishes the play with an explosive gain in the passing game:

Expected Draft Round: Rounds 6-7

Tanner Koziol, TE, Houston

While measurements vary, tight end Tanner Koziol checks in with a wingspan around 83 inches based on his measurements at the Combine.

And the tight end puts every bit of that wingspan to use on plays like this one:

Koziol’s ability to play above-the-rim stands out, and his ability to win in contested catch situations will serve him well at the next level. There is some “big wide receiver” to his game, along with good feel for finding soft spots in zone coverage. Add in some ability as a blocker — and a whole lot of willingness — and you have a nice find on the third day of the draft.

Expected Draft Round: Rounds 5-6

Bentley was mired on the depth chart at Utah for the two previous seasons, catching just three passes over two years with the Utes. But he got a chance to see more playing time this past season and caught 48 passes for 620 yards and six touchdowns for Utah this past season.

Those numbers saw him finish second on the team in both receptions and receiving yards, and he tied for the team lead in touchdown catches. The 6’4, 253-pound tight end also posted a 4.62-second 40-yard dash at the Combine.

But what might help him the most is what he can do as an in-line blocker. Bentley is every bit the complete tight end, with an ability to execute blocks on both gap and zone designs from an in-line or a wing alignment. For many tight ends coming out of college, picking up the blocking part of the job is the toughest part of the transition, but Bentley looks ready to step in right away in that area.

Expected Draft Round: Rounds 5-6

Rueben Bain Jr. and Akheem Mesidor generated the most buzz on the defensive side of the ball as Miami stormed to an appearance in the title game, but if you watched the Hurricanes defense this year you probably saw something in addition to those pass rushers.

That would be slot corner Keionte Scott, who was a force in his own right for the Miami defense. Scott racked up 67 tackles, including 13 for a loss, last season while adding five sacks and a pair of interceptions.

Watch him on this play against Texas A&M dip under the blocker, and chop down the receiver for a loss on a quick screen:

Those four sacks punctuate his effectiveness as a blitzer, and the best example of that trait might be his 11-yard sack against Louisville, when he knifes into the backfield with a well-timed blitz to put the Cardinals into a third-and-long situation.

Scott did not run the 40-yard dash at the Combine, saving that for his Pro Day. The unofficial time of 4.25 seconds certainly turned heads, but even the more conservative time of 4.37 seconds that was reported is an eye-popping number.

Scott might not be a “sleeper” in the minds of some, as he could be drafted on Day 2. But he might be one of my favorite players in this entire class to watch, so I’m putting him here.

Expected Draft Rounds: Rounds 2-3

Wesley Williams, EDGE, Duke

The production might not be there.

Wesley Williams recorded just a pair of sacks in 2025, a year after recording 7.5 sacks and 13.5 tackles for a loss. But when you watch him on film, you see a pass rusher with a plan, a tool kit to work with, and the ability to tie it all together.

Take this play against Virginia, where he is working against the left tackle:

Williams uses his hands to perfection, swatting away the blocking attempt before dipping around the edge, putting a shot on the quarterback just as he releases a throw.

Pressure is production, and Williams can generate pressure on the opposing passer. He can win with power, speed, and technique off the edge. He also posted the ninth-best vertical among defensive ends at the Combine, checking in at 35.5 inches. That speaks to his power and explosiveness off the edge.

Williams might be available late into Day 3, but some team is going to take advantage of that fact when they turn in a card with his name on it.

Expected Draft Round: Rounds 6-7

Eli Heidenreich, Football Player, Navy

You knew this name was going to make an appearance.

I’ve listed Navy’s Eli Heidenreich as a “football player” because his skillset is so unique. Coming out of Navy’s option-heavy offense, Heidenreich lined up at various spots for the Midshipmen as one of their “Snipe” players, best described as a hybrid slot back/running back/wide receiver. You might see him aligned in the offensive backfield on first down, in the wing on second, and then in the slot on third.

During the 2025 season, Heidenreich tallied 1,440 yards from scrimmage, including 499 rushing yards (on just 77 carries, for 6.9 yards per attempt) while catching 51 passes for 941 yards and six touchdowns.

And not all of those receptions were bubble screens or checkdowns. Not by a long shot:

Heidenreich’s incredible Combine — where he posted numbers similar to Christian McCaffrey — has many dreaming that he could become that kind of player at the next level. That kind of comparison is lofty, and seems a long way off.

But what Heidenreich could be is still very valuable to an NFL team, and that is an offensive weapon who can create mismatches all over the field thanks to his athleticism and versatility.

That is certainly worth a pick on Day 3.

Expected Draft Round: Rounds 6-7

#NFL #Drafts #biggest #sleepers #turn #steals">NFL Draft’s 7 biggest sleepers in 2026 who could turn into steals

We are just over 24 hours until the 2026 NFL Draft, where we expect Fernando Mendoza to be the first player selected.

But he will not be the only player selected.

There are 257 draft slots in this year’s NFL Draft, starting with the Las Vegas Raiders at No. 1 and finishing with the Denver Broncos at No. 257. Whether it is the Broncos or another team making that pick remains to be seen, but the simple fact is this: there are lots of players who are going to be drafted over the next few days.

Let’s dive into seven of them, including one who might not be a “sleeper” in the minds of the sleeper police, but might be my favorite player to watch in this class outside of Caleb Downs.

Cole Wisniewski, S, Texas Tech

Several defenders from Texas Tech are expected to come off the board early in the 2026 NFL Draft. Pass rusher David Bailey might be drafted second by the New York Jets, linebacker Jacob Rodriguez could sneak into the first round, and defensive tackle Lee Hunter and pass rusher Romello Height are expected to be Day 2 picks.

Safety Cole Wisniewski, however, might slide late into Day 3. But there is a lot to like about his game. Wisniewski racked up 78 total tackles for the Red Raiders last season, along with six pass breakups and a sack.

He did this after missing the entire 2024 season due to a foot injury.

While Wisniewski is more of a deep safety, you could draw a comparison to Caleb Downs in terms of his versatility. Wisniewski is on the bigger size, weighing in at 220 pounds, which allowed Texas Tech to drop him down into the box in certain situations, even when he might be playing in a traditional single-high role during the same possession.

Take this play against UCF, where he slides down into the box, feels the run play perfectly, and makes a tackle for a short gain:

Texas Tech has several defenders that should be drafted this week.

Expected Draft Round: Rounds 6-7

Lewis Bond, WR, Boston College

Lewis Bond did almost everything a wide receiver can do to earn an invitation to the NFL Scouting Combine. He caught 88 passes for 993 yards and a touchdown in 2024, with those 88 receptions setting a new team record. He leaves Chestnut Hill having set a new career reception mark with 213, and also checks in at fifth in the school’s record book with 2,385 career receiving yards. He was also a second-team All-ACC selection, and garnered praise for his performance at the Senior Bowl.

Yet when it came time for Combine invitations, he was left on the outside looking in.

Watching Bond on film, you see a player with great feel for the position, great awarness for his nearest threat in the secondary, and the ability to play both outside and in the slot. If you needed just one play to sum up what he can bring to an NFL offense it is this reception against Syracuse, where he beats the man coverage defender, makes a tough adjustment to an off-target throw, and finishes the play with an explosive gain in the passing game:

Expected Draft Round: Rounds 6-7

Tanner Koziol, TE, Houston

While measurements vary, tight end Tanner Koziol checks in with a wingspan around 83 inches based on his measurements at the Combine.

And the tight end puts every bit of that wingspan to use on plays like this one:

Koziol’s ability to play above-the-rim stands out, and his ability to win in contested catch situations will serve him well at the next level. There is some “big wide receiver” to his game, along with good feel for finding soft spots in zone coverage. Add in some ability as a blocker — and a whole lot of willingness — and you have a nice find on the third day of the draft.

Expected Draft Round: Rounds 5-6

Bentley was mired on the depth chart at Utah for the two previous seasons, catching just three passes over two years with the Utes. But he got a chance to see more playing time this past season and caught 48 passes for 620 yards and six touchdowns for Utah this past season.

Those numbers saw him finish second on the team in both receptions and receiving yards, and he tied for the team lead in touchdown catches. The 6’4, 253-pound tight end also posted a 4.62-second 40-yard dash at the Combine.

But what might help him the most is what he can do as an in-line blocker. Bentley is every bit the complete tight end, with an ability to execute blocks on both gap and zone designs from an in-line or a wing alignment. For many tight ends coming out of college, picking up the blocking part of the job is the toughest part of the transition, but Bentley looks ready to step in right away in that area.

Expected Draft Round: Rounds 5-6

Rueben Bain Jr. and Akheem Mesidor generated the most buzz on the defensive side of the ball as Miami stormed to an appearance in the title game, but if you watched the Hurricanes defense this year you probably saw something in addition to those pass rushers.

That would be slot corner Keionte Scott, who was a force in his own right for the Miami defense. Scott racked up 67 tackles, including 13 for a loss, last season while adding five sacks and a pair of interceptions.

Watch him on this play against Texas A&M dip under the blocker, and chop down the receiver for a loss on a quick screen:

Those four sacks punctuate his effectiveness as a blitzer, and the best example of that trait might be his 11-yard sack against Louisville, when he knifes into the backfield with a well-timed blitz to put the Cardinals into a third-and-long situation.

Scott did not run the 40-yard dash at the Combine, saving that for his Pro Day. The unofficial time of 4.25 seconds certainly turned heads, but even the more conservative time of 4.37 seconds that was reported is an eye-popping number.

Scott might not be a “sleeper” in the minds of some, as he could be drafted on Day 2. But he might be one of my favorite players in this entire class to watch, so I’m putting him here.

Expected Draft Rounds: Rounds 2-3

Wesley Williams, EDGE, Duke

The production might not be there.

Wesley Williams recorded just a pair of sacks in 2025, a year after recording 7.5 sacks and 13.5 tackles for a loss. But when you watch him on film, you see a pass rusher with a plan, a tool kit to work with, and the ability to tie it all together.

Take this play against Virginia, where he is working against the left tackle:

Williams uses his hands to perfection, swatting away the blocking attempt before dipping around the edge, putting a shot on the quarterback just as he releases a throw.

Pressure is production, and Williams can generate pressure on the opposing passer. He can win with power, speed, and technique off the edge. He also posted the ninth-best vertical among defensive ends at the Combine, checking in at 35.5 inches. That speaks to his power and explosiveness off the edge.

Williams might be available late into Day 3, but some team is going to take advantage of that fact when they turn in a card with his name on it.

Expected Draft Round: Rounds 6-7

Eli Heidenreich, Football Player, Navy

You knew this name was going to make an appearance.

I’ve listed Navy’s Eli Heidenreich as a “football player” because his skillset is so unique. Coming out of Navy’s option-heavy offense, Heidenreich lined up at various spots for the Midshipmen as one of their “Snipe” players, best described as a hybrid slot back/running back/wide receiver. You might see him aligned in the offensive backfield on first down, in the wing on second, and then in the slot on third.

During the 2025 season, Heidenreich tallied 1,440 yards from scrimmage, including 499 rushing yards (on just 77 carries, for 6.9 yards per attempt) while catching 51 passes for 941 yards and six touchdowns.

And not all of those receptions were bubble screens or checkdowns. Not by a long shot:

Heidenreich’s incredible Combine — where he posted numbers similar to Christian McCaffrey — has many dreaming that he could become that kind of player at the next level. That kind of comparison is lofty, and seems a long way off.

But what Heidenreich could be is still very valuable to an NFL team, and that is an offensive weapon who can create mismatches all over the field thanks to his athleticism and versatility.

That is certainly worth a pick on Day 3.

Expected Draft Round: Rounds 6-7

#NFL #Drafts #biggest #sleepers #turn #steals

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