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Deadspin | Giants shut down Reds as tempers rise in late innings  Apr 16, 2026; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; San Francisco Giants pitcher Landen Roupp (65) throws against the Cincinnati Reds in the first inning at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-Imagn Images   Landen Roupp carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning, Jung Hoo Lee had three hits with an RBI and the San Francisco Giants snapped a four-game losing streak with a 3-0 victory over the host Cincinnati Reds on Thursday afternoon.    Roupp (3-1) allowed just a line-drive single to left to P.J. Higgins leading off the bottom of the sixth. It was the only hit of the game for the Reds. Roupp walked two, hit two batters and struck out six.    San Francisco left-hander Erik Miller struck out the side in the ninth to pick up his first career save after Ryan Walker and Keaton Winn each pitched a shutout inning.    Cincinnati starter Chase Burns held the Giants to two hits and a walk over six shutout innings with four strikeouts. He left after throwing 87 pitches, 54 for strikes.    San Francisco took a 3-0 lead in the seventh inning with three unearned runs against reliever Brock Burke (1-1).   Luis Arraez reached base on a fielding error by shortstop Elly De La Cruz to open the inning and scored on a two-out double by Matt Chapman that one-hopped the fence in left-center.  Lee followed with a bloop single to left-center to drive in Chapman and make it 2-0. After Heliot Ramos walked, Casey Schmitt drove in Lee with a single.    Reds reliever Connor Phillips was ejected with two outs in the eighth inning by third-base umpire Quinn Wolcott after hitting Willy Adames in the left thigh with a pitch. Phillips had just missed hitting Adames one pitch earlier.  Roupp had drilled Cincinnati outfielder Spencer Steer with a pitch in the second inning. Steer had words with Giants pitcher JT Brubaker during Wednesday’s game.    The benches emptied at the end of the game after Miller struck out Sal Stewart and the duo exchanged words while pointing fingers. No punches were thrown.    –Field Level Media    #Deadspin #Giants #shut #Reds #tempers #rise #late #innings

Deadspin | Giants shut down Reds as tempers rise in late innings
Deadspin | Giants shut down Reds as tempers rise in late innings  Apr 16, 2026; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; San Francisco Giants pitcher Landen Roupp (65) throws against the Cincinnati Reds in the first inning at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-Imagn Images   Landen Roupp carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning, Jung Hoo Lee had three hits with an RBI and the San Francisco Giants snapped a four-game losing streak with a 3-0 victory over the host Cincinnati Reds on Thursday afternoon.    Roupp (3-1) allowed just a line-drive single to left to P.J. Higgins leading off the bottom of the sixth. It was the only hit of the game for the Reds. Roupp walked two, hit two batters and struck out six.    San Francisco left-hander Erik Miller struck out the side in the ninth to pick up his first career save after Ryan Walker and Keaton Winn each pitched a shutout inning.    Cincinnati starter Chase Burns held the Giants to two hits and a walk over six shutout innings with four strikeouts. He left after throwing 87 pitches, 54 for strikes.    San Francisco took a 3-0 lead in the seventh inning with three unearned runs against reliever Brock Burke (1-1).   Luis Arraez reached base on a fielding error by shortstop Elly De La Cruz to open the inning and scored on a two-out double by Matt Chapman that one-hopped the fence in left-center.  Lee followed with a bloop single to left-center to drive in Chapman and make it 2-0. After Heliot Ramos walked, Casey Schmitt drove in Lee with a single.    Reds reliever Connor Phillips was ejected with two outs in the eighth inning by third-base umpire Quinn Wolcott after hitting Willy Adames in the left thigh with a pitch. Phillips had just missed hitting Adames one pitch earlier.  Roupp had drilled Cincinnati outfielder Spencer Steer with a pitch in the second inning. Steer had words with Giants pitcher JT Brubaker during Wednesday’s game.    The benches emptied at the end of the game after Miller struck out Sal Stewart and the duo exchanged words while pointing fingers. No punches were thrown.    –Field Level Media    #Deadspin #Giants #shut #Reds #tempers #rise #late #inningsApr 16, 2026; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; San Francisco Giants pitcher Landen Roupp (65) throws against the Cincinnati Reds in the first inning at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-Imagn Images

Landen Roupp carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning, Jung Hoo Lee had three hits with an RBI and the San Francisco Giants snapped a four-game losing streak with a 3-0 victory over the host Cincinnati Reds on Thursday afternoon.

Roupp (3-1) allowed just a line-drive single to left to P.J. Higgins leading off the bottom of the sixth. It was the only hit of the game for the Reds. Roupp walked two, hit two batters and struck out six.

San Francisco left-hander Erik Miller struck out the side in the ninth to pick up his first career save after Ryan Walker and Keaton Winn each pitched a shutout inning.

Cincinnati starter Chase Burns held the Giants to two hits and a walk over six shutout innings with four strikeouts. He left after throwing 87 pitches, 54 for strikes.


San Francisco took a 3-0 lead in the seventh inning with three unearned runs against reliever Brock Burke (1-1).

Luis Arraez reached base on a fielding error by shortstop Elly De La Cruz to open the inning and scored on a two-out double by Matt Chapman that one-hopped the fence in left-center.

Lee followed with a bloop single to left-center to drive in Chapman and make it 2-0. After Heliot Ramos walked, Casey Schmitt drove in Lee with a single.

Reds reliever Connor Phillips was ejected with two outs in the eighth inning by third-base umpire Quinn Wolcott after hitting Willy Adames in the left thigh with a pitch. Phillips had just missed hitting Adames one pitch earlier.

Roupp had drilled Cincinnati outfielder Spencer Steer with a pitch in the second inning. Steer had words with Giants pitcher JT Brubaker during Wednesday’s game.

The benches emptied at the end of the game after Miller struck out Sal Stewart and the duo exchanged words while pointing fingers. No punches were thrown.


–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Giants #shut #Reds #tempers #rise #late #innings

Apr 16, 2026; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; San Francisco Giants pitcher Landen Roupp (65) throws against the Cincinnati Reds in the first inning at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-Imagn Images

Landen Roupp carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning, Jung Hoo Lee had three hits with an RBI and the San Francisco Giants snapped a four-game losing streak with a 3-0 victory over the host Cincinnati Reds on Thursday afternoon.

Roupp (3-1) allowed just a line-drive single to left to P.J. Higgins leading off the bottom of the sixth. It was the only hit of the game for the Reds. Roupp walked two, hit two batters and struck out six.

San Francisco left-hander Erik Miller struck out the side in the ninth to pick up his first career save after Ryan Walker and Keaton Winn each pitched a shutout inning.

Cincinnati starter Chase Burns held the Giants to two hits and a walk over six shutout innings with four strikeouts. He left after throwing 87 pitches, 54 for strikes.

San Francisco took a 3-0 lead in the seventh inning with three unearned runs against reliever Brock Burke (1-1).

Luis Arraez reached base on a fielding error by shortstop Elly De La Cruz to open the inning and scored on a two-out double by Matt Chapman that one-hopped the fence in left-center.

Lee followed with a bloop single to left-center to drive in Chapman and make it 2-0. After Heliot Ramos walked, Casey Schmitt drove in Lee with a single.

Reds reliever Connor Phillips was ejected with two outs in the eighth inning by third-base umpire Quinn Wolcott after hitting Willy Adames in the left thigh with a pitch. Phillips had just missed hitting Adames one pitch earlier.

Roupp had drilled Cincinnati outfielder Spencer Steer with a pitch in the second inning. Steer had words with Giants pitcher JT Brubaker during Wednesday’s game.

The benches emptied at the end of the game after Miller struck out Sal Stewart and the duo exchanged words while pointing fingers. No punches were thrown.

–Field Level Media

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#Deadspin #Giants #shut #Reds #tempers #rise #late #innings

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6 NFL draft prospects we are desperately overthinking <div id="zephr-anchor"><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">As much as it kills me to say this, given that there’s less than a week to the start of the 2026 NFL draft, and there are about 200 guys I’d like to watch in that time (ha!), the draft should really start a couple of weeks before it does. Were things to begin, say, in mid-April, think of the noise we wouldn’t have time to hear, because there wouldn’t be as much time to overthink the prospects at or near the top of the board.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">But things are as they are, and we must wait until Thursday, April 23 at 8:00 p.m. ET for the draft to begin. So, we get several more days of analysts, evaluators, and anonymous scouts (my personal favorite) going out of their way to over-analyze top prospects to the point where you think there’s more of a limited future for these players than what the tape actually shows.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">So, in the interest of public service, let’s dispel the myths we’re going to hear more and more… that will make less and less sense as time goes along.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p><h2 class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup"><strong>Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana: He’s too RPO-dependent! </strong></h2></p></div><div class="duet--article--block-placement jgpyd51 jgpyd50 duet--article--article-body-component"><div style="position:relative"><div class="_1nfb3k4j"><div class=""><div style="background-image:none" class="duet--media--content-warning _1i91r6b0"><div class="duet--article--image-gallery-image _1eezmj00" style="aspect-ratio:1.499905" id="c2IyOmltYWdlOjExMTA2MzU="><a class="_1eezmj01" href="https://platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/imagn-28368373.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0,0,100,100" data-pswp-height="5259" data-pswp-width="7888" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer"><img alt="Feb 28, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza (QB11) poses with former Seattle Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck during the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images" data-chromatic="ignore" loading="lazy" decoding="async" data-nimg="fill" class="w91vxg0" style="position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent;background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat;background-image:url("data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' %3E%3Cfilter id='b' color-interpolation-filters='sRGB'%3E%3CfeGaussianBlur stdDeviation='20'/%3E%3CfeColorMatrix values='1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 100 -1' result='s'/%3E%3CfeFlood x='0' y='0' width='100%25' height='100%25'/%3E%3CfeComposite operator='out' in='s'/%3E%3CfeComposite in2='SourceGraphic'/%3E%3CfeGaussianBlur stdDeviation='20'/%3E%3C/filter%3E%3Cimage width='100%25' height='100%25' x='0' y='0' preserveAspectRatio='none' style='filter: url(%23b);' href='data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mN8+R8AAtcB6oaHtZcAAAAASUVORK5CYII='/%3E%3C/svg%3E")" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 100vw, (max-width: 1023px) 50vw, 700px" srcset="https://platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/imagn-28368373.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=256 256w, https://platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/imagn-28368373.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=376 376w, https://platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/imagn-28368373.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=384 384w, https://platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/imagn-28368373.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=415 415w, https://platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/imagn-28368373.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=480 480w, https://platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/imagn-28368373.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=540 540w, https://platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/imagn-28368373.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=640 640w, https://platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/imagn-28368373.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=750 750w, https://platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/imagn-28368373.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=828 828w, https://platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/imagn-28368373.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=1080 1080w, https://platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/imagn-28368373.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=1200 1200w, https://platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/imagn-28368373.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=1440 1440w, https://platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/imagn-28368373.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=1920 1920w, https://platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/imagn-28368373.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=2048 2048w, https://platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/imagn-28368373.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=2400 2400w" src="https://platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/imagn-28368373.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=2400"/></a></div></div></div><p><figcaption class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup ls9zuh2 rzoxl5a">Feb 28, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza (QB11) poses with former Seattle Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck during the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images</figcaption> <cite class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup ls9zuh2 rzoxl55">Kirby Lee-Imagn Images</cite></p></div></div></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">Let’s be fair to the naysayers here. Last season, Mendoza did lead the entire NCAA in RPO dropbacks with 103, and with the benefit or those run/pass options, he completed 77 of 97 passes for 687 yards, seven touchdowns, one interception, and a passer rating of 115.9. But without RPOs, Mendoza completed 196 of 282 passes for 2,849 yards, an NCAA-high 34 touchdowns, five interceptions, and a passer rating of 134.3.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">The common assumption when it comes to heavy-RPO quarterbacks is that they need this particular schematic constraint because they’re limited in their field-reading overall. Thus, the relatively simple option to read a defender, and decide to hand off or throw to a quick read based on defensive action. <a href="https://x.com/RossTuckerPod/status/2043644651547316462">ESPN’s Dan Orlovsky is among those who have forwarded this theory in Mendoza’s case</a>, and as much I respect Dan and his process, I’m not seeing it. One of the first things that popped out about Mendoza when I watched his tape was his ability to see the entire field, read the coverage, and throw with anticipation when required.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">For one thing, you don’t do as well against disguised coverage as Mendoza did last season without a great deal of mental wherewithal, because there are NFL starting quarterbacks who still struggle with safety switches and whatnot.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">Is Mendoza a perfect quarterback prospect? No, because nobody is. But the RPO-dependent narrative has spiraled out of control, and it needs to stop.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p><h2 class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup"><strong>Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State: He’s not a No. 1 receiver! </strong></h2></p></div><div class="duet--article--block-placement jgpyd51 jgpyd50 duet--article--article-body-component"><div style="position:relative"><div class="_1nfb3k4j"><div class=""><div style="background-image:none" class="duet--media--content-warning _1i91r6b0"><div class="duet--article--image-gallery-image _1eezmj00" style="aspect-ratio:1.5" id="c2IyOmltYWdlOjExMDkwNTk="><a class="_1eezmj01" href="https://platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/imagn-27913835.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0,0,100,100" data-pswp-height="3000" data-pswp-width="4500" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer"><img alt="Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Carnell Tate (17) runs after a catch during the Cotton Bowl at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas for the College Football Playoff quarterfinal game against the Miami Hurricanes on Dec. 31, 2025. Ohio State lost 24-14." data-chromatic="ignore" loading="lazy" decoding="async" data-nimg="fill" class="w91vxg0" style="position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent;background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat;background-image:url("data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' %3E%3Cfilter id='b' color-interpolation-filters='sRGB'%3E%3CfeGaussianBlur stdDeviation='20'/%3E%3CfeColorMatrix values='1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 100 -1' result='s'/%3E%3CfeFlood x='0' y='0' width='100%25' height='100%25'/%3E%3CfeComposite operator='out' in='s'/%3E%3CfeComposite in2='SourceGraphic'/%3E%3CfeGaussianBlur stdDeviation='20'/%3E%3C/filter%3E%3Cimage width='100%25' height='100%25' x='0' y='0' preserveAspectRatio='none' style='filter: url(%23b);' href='data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mN8+R8AAtcB6oaHtZcAAAAASUVORK5CYII='/%3E%3C/svg%3E")" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 100vw, (max-width: 1023px) 50vw, 700px" srcset="https://platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/imagn-27913835.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=256 256w, https://platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/imagn-27913835.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=376 376w, https://platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/imagn-27913835.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=384 384w, https://platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/imagn-27913835.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=415 415w, https://platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/imagn-27913835.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=480 480w, https://platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/imagn-27913835.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=540 540w, https://platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/imagn-27913835.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=640 640w, https://platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/imagn-27913835.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=750 750w, https://platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/imagn-27913835.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=828 828w, https://platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/imagn-27913835.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=1080 1080w, https://platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/imagn-27913835.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=1200 1200w, https://platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/imagn-27913835.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=1440 1440w, https://platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/imagn-27913835.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=1920 1920w, https://platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/imagn-27913835.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=2048 2048w, https://platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/imagn-27913835.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=2400 2400w" src="https://platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/imagn-27913835.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=2400"/></a></div></div></div><p><figcaption class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup ls9zuh2 rzoxl5a">Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Carnell Tate (17) runs after a catch during the Cotton Bowl at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas for the College Football Playoff quarterfinal game against the Miami Hurricanes on Dec. 31, 2025. Ohio State lost 24-14.</figcaption> <cite class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup ls9zuh2 rzoxl55">Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images</cite></p></div></div></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">At 6’ 2¼” and 192 pounds at the combine, and with a wealth of explosive plays and contested catches on his tape, Carnell Tate certainly<em> looks </em>like a No. 1 receiver to me, but perhaps my definition has been warped by the vagaries of modern NFL offensive design. The days of the stationary X-iso receiver are just about gone — even if you have a Justin Jefferson or Ja’Marr Chase, you want to give them the most possible advantages with condensed formations, pre-snap motion, and 3×1/2c2 receiver sets. Add in the increased use of 12 and 13 personnel throughout the league, where at least one tight end is a primary target, and things can get pretty blurry for defenses. Which is why you don’t often see any team’s best receiver in the same spot even two snaps in a row.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">The point is, Carnell Tate doesn’t need to be a 6’3”, 220-pound iso ball-winner to be a team’s No. 1 receiver; he just needs the right system in which to become that. Of his 51 catches on 66 targets for 875 yards and nine touchdowns in the 2025 season, 21 targets were contested, and he brought in 12 of those throws. That is one of the most apparent attributes on his tape.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">And on passes of 20 or more air yards, Tate caught 11 on 17 targets for 453 yards and six touchdowns.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">Personally, I think the main reason Tate is being undersold as a true alpha dog at the next level is that he did his thing with Jeremiah Smith on the field most of the time, and Jeremiah Smith may well be one of those “annual generational” players when he becomes part of his own draft class. Let’s not have comparison become the thief of joy here.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p><h2 class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup"><strong>KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M: He’s just a gadget guy!</strong></h2></p></div><div class="duet--article--block-placement jgpyd51 jgpyd50 duet--article--article-body-component"><div style="position:relative"><div class="_1nfb3k4j"><div class=""><div style="background-image:none" class="duet--media--content-warning _1i91r6b0"><div class="duet--article--image-gallery-image _1eezmj00" style="aspect-ratio:1.5" id="c2IyOmltYWdlOjExMTA2MzY="><a class="_1eezmj01" href="https://platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/gettyimages-2248360351.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0,0,100,100" data-pswp-height="3054" data-pswp-width="4581" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer"><img alt="AUSTIN, TX - NOVEMBER 28: Wide receiver KC Concepcion #7 of the Texas A&M Aggies scores a touchdown in front of linebacker Liona Lefau #18 of the Texas Longhorns during the SEC football game between Texas Longhorns and Texas A&M Aggies on November 28, 2025, at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, TX. (Photo by David Buono/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)" data-chromatic="ignore" loading="lazy" decoding="async" data-nimg="fill" class="w91vxg0" style="position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent;background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat;background-image:url("data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' %3E%3Cfilter id='b' color-interpolation-filters='sRGB'%3E%3CfeGaussianBlur stdDeviation='20'/%3E%3CfeColorMatrix values='1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 100 -1' result='s'/%3E%3CfeFlood x='0' y='0' width='100%25' height='100%25'/%3E%3CfeComposite operator='out' in='s'/%3E%3CfeComposite in2='SourceGraphic'/%3E%3CfeGaussianBlur stdDeviation='20'/%3E%3C/filter%3E%3Cimage width='100%25' height='100%25' x='0' y='0' preserveAspectRatio='none' style='filter: url(%23b);' href='data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mN8+R8AAtcB6oaHtZcAAAAASUVORK5CYII='/%3E%3C/svg%3E")" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 100vw, (max-width: 1023px) 50vw, 700px" srcset="https://platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/gettyimages-2248360351.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=256 256w, https://platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/gettyimages-2248360351.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=376 376w, https://platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/gettyimages-2248360351.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=384 384w, https://platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/gettyimages-2248360351.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=415 415w, https://platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/gettyimages-2248360351.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=480 480w, https://platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/gettyimages-2248360351.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=540 540w, https://platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/gettyimages-2248360351.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=640 640w, https://platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/gettyimages-2248360351.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=750 750w, https://platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/gettyimages-2248360351.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=828 828w, https://platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/gettyimages-2248360351.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=1080 1080w, https://platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/gettyimages-2248360351.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=1200 1200w, https://platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/gettyimages-2248360351.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=1440 1440w, https://platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/gettyimages-2248360351.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=1920 1920w, https://platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/gettyimages-2248360351.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=2048 2048w, https://platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/gettyimages-2248360351.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=2400 2400w" src="https://platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/gettyimages-2248360351.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=2400"/></a></div></div></div><p><figcaption class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup ls9zuh2 rzoxl5a">AUSTIN, TX – NOVEMBER 28: Wide receiver KC Concepcion #7 of the Texas A&M Aggies scores a touchdown in front of linebacker Liona Lefau #18 of the Texas Longhorns during the SEC football game between Texas Longhorns and Texas A&M Aggies on November 28, 2025, at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, TX. (Photo by David Buono/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)</figcaption> <cite class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup ls9zuh2 rzoxl55">Icon Sportswire via Getty Images</cite></p></div></div></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">In today’s NFL, where players are asked to do more things at more positions than ever before, you’d think that versatility would be a strong point. But when Texas A&M receiver KC Concepcion won the 2025 Paul Hornung Award, given annually to the most versatile player in major college football, it seemed to bake in the notion that Concepcion is more of a trick-shot artist than a pure receiver capable of maintaining the force of an entire passing game.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">“He’s almost like a gadget guy, the way they play him,” <a href="https://www.golongtd.com/p/part-1-wr-whos-the-next-star-wideout">one NFL scout told veteran writer Bob McGinn</a>. “It’s going to be a while before he’s anything. Looks like a track guy. You can tell he can run when things are free. They scheme him up for his production. Doesn’t catch the ball well. Lot of drops around a lot of bodies. Doesn’t have catch radius. They do this slip-screen stuff with him and he has no run after the catch.”</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">Okay, so the hands need help. Concepcion had seven drops last season, but I saw as much or more focus issues (gotta catch the ball before you look to turn and run, dude) than the idea that he dries up and blows away with defender around him. Last season, the 6’0”, 196-pound Concepcion caught 61 passes on 101 targets for 919 yards and nine touchdowns, and while he did have a lot of screen and hitch targets, his average depth of target was 12.3 yards, and he also put up a ton of big plays on longer-developing routes. You don’t catch eight passes of 20 or more air yards on 21 targets for 240 yards and two touchdowns if all you’re doing is gimmicky YAC stuff.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">Moreover, Concepcion has added to his route palette, and he knows how to get open just about everywhere on the field. So, just because he’s a jack of all trades doesn’t mean that he’s a master of none.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p><h2 class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup"><strong>Eli Stowers, TE, Vanderbilt: He doesn’t block! </strong></h2></p></div><div class="duet--article--block-placement jgpyd51 jgpyd50 duet--article--article-body-component"><div style="position:relative"><div class="_1nfb3k4j"><div class=""><div style="background-image:none" class="duet--media--content-warning _1i91r6b0"><div class="duet--article--image-gallery-image _1eezmj00" style="aspect-ratio:1.499862" id="c2IyOmltYWdlOjExMDkxMDY="><a class="_1eezmj01" href="https://platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/imagn-27540597.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0,0,100,100" data-pswp-height="3633" data-pswp-width="5449" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer"><img alt="Nov 8, 2025; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Vanderbilt Commodores tight end Eli Stowers (9) makes a catch against the Auburn Tigers during the second half at FirstBank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images" data-chromatic="ignore" loading="lazy" decoding="async" data-nimg="fill" class="w91vxg0" style="position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent;background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat;background-image:url("data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' %3E%3Cfilter id='b' color-interpolation-filters='sRGB'%3E%3CfeGaussianBlur stdDeviation='20'/%3E%3CfeColorMatrix values='1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 100 -1' result='s'/%3E%3CfeFlood x='0' y='0' width='100%25' height='100%25'/%3E%3CfeComposite operator='out' in='s'/%3E%3CfeComposite in2='SourceGraphic'/%3E%3CfeGaussianBlur stdDeviation='20'/%3E%3C/filter%3E%3Cimage width='100%25' height='100%25' x='0' y='0' preserveAspectRatio='none' style='filter: url(%23b);' href='data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mN8+R8AAtcB6oaHtZcAAAAASUVORK5CYII='/%3E%3C/svg%3E")" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 100vw, (max-width: 1023px) 50vw, 700px" srcset="https://platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/imagn-27540597.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=256 256w, https://platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/imagn-27540597.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=376 376w, https://platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/imagn-27540597.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=384 384w, https://platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/imagn-27540597.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=415 415w, https://platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/imagn-27540597.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=480 480w, https://platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/imagn-27540597.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=540 540w, https://platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/imagn-27540597.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=640 640w, https://platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/imagn-27540597.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=750 750w, https://platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/imagn-27540597.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=828 828w, https://platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/imagn-27540597.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=1080 1080w, https://platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/imagn-27540597.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=1200 1200w, https://platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/imagn-27540597.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=1440 1440w, https://platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/imagn-27540597.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=1920 1920w, https://platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/imagn-27540597.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=2048 2048w, https://platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/imagn-27540597.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=2400 2400w" src="https://platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/imagn-27540597.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=2400"/></a></div></div></div><p><figcaption class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup ls9zuh2 rzoxl5a">Nov 8, 2025; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Vanderbilt Commodores tight end Eli Stowers (9) makes a catch against the Auburn Tigers during the second half at FirstBank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images</figcaption> <cite class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup ls9zuh2 rzoxl55">Steve Roberts-Imagn Images</cite></p></div></div></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">The aforementioned rise of 12 and 13 personnel (two and three tight ends on the field) also means that not all of your tight ends have to be created out of the same mold. <a href="https://athlonsports.com/nfl/sean-mcvay-puka-nacua-13-personnel-all-22-analysis">Sean McVay didn’t win over and over with his hilarious 13 personnel uptick last season</a> because he had three big blockers on the field, per se — it also worked because he had different kinds of tight ends for different purposes. Do you want good blockers on the edge of the formation? Sure. But does it also help to have tight ends who are just great pass-catchers?</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">It certainly does. Go figure.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">So, when we discuss Vanderbilt’s Eli Stowers, does it matter that he’s not a great blocker yet? I mean, you’d want a bit more than what was shown in the 2025 season, but if you’re crossing him off your list because he’s not Peak Gronk as a tough guy, maybe you’re missing the point.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">Last season, Stowers caught 62 passes on 85 targets for 769 yards and four touchdowns, and if anything, I think that his NFL team will be able to make more of his vertical juice than the Commodores did. It’s also important to mention that Stowers is a converted quarterback, who only started playing tight end with New Mexico State in 2023 after he suffered a throwing shoulder injury early on in his time with Texas A&M. This is a player where you have to look at the developmental curve and what can be done, as opposed to what’s still in the incubator.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p><h2 class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup"><strong>Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama: He’s an out-of-shape bust! </strong></h2></p></div><div class="duet--article--block-placement jgpyd51 jgpyd50 duet--article--article-body-component"><div style="position:relative"><div class="_1nfb3k4j"><div class=""><div style="background-image:none" class="duet--media--content-warning _1i91r6b0"><div class="duet--article--image-gallery-image _1eezmj00" style="aspect-ratio:1.500578" id="c2IyOmltYWdlOjExMTA2Mzc="><a class="_1eezmj01" href="https://platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/gettyimages-2254404890.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0,0,100,100" data-pswp-height="2597" data-pswp-width="3897" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer"><img alt="PASADENA, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 01: Kadyn Proctor #74 of the Alabama Crimson Tide in action against the Indiana Hoosiers in the College Football Playoff Quarterfinal at Rose Bowl Stadium on January 01, 2026 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images)" data-chromatic="ignore" loading="lazy" decoding="async" data-nimg="fill" class="w91vxg0" style="position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent;background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat;background-image:url("data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' %3E%3Cfilter id='b' color-interpolation-filters='sRGB'%3E%3CfeGaussianBlur stdDeviation='20'/%3E%3CfeColorMatrix values='1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 100 -1' result='s'/%3E%3CfeFlood x='0' y='0' width='100%25' height='100%25'/%3E%3CfeComposite operator='out' in='s'/%3E%3CfeComposite in2='SourceGraphic'/%3E%3CfeGaussianBlur stdDeviation='20'/%3E%3C/filter%3E%3Cimage width='100%25' height='100%25' x='0' y='0' preserveAspectRatio='none' style='filter: url(%23b);' href='data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mN8+R8AAtcB6oaHtZcAAAAASUVORK5CYII='/%3E%3C/svg%3E")" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 100vw, (max-width: 1023px) 50vw, 700px" srcset="https://platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/gettyimages-2254404890.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=256 256w, https://platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/gettyimages-2254404890.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=376 376w, https://platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/gettyimages-2254404890.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=384 384w, https://platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/gettyimages-2254404890.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=415 415w, https://platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/gettyimages-2254404890.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=480 480w, https://platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/gettyimages-2254404890.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=540 540w, https://platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/gettyimages-2254404890.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=640 640w, https://platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/gettyimages-2254404890.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=750 750w, https://platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/gettyimages-2254404890.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=828 828w, https://platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/gettyimages-2254404890.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=1080 1080w, https://platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/gettyimages-2254404890.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=1200 1200w, https://platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/gettyimages-2254404890.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=1440 1440w, https://platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/gettyimages-2254404890.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=1920 1920w, https://platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/gettyimages-2254404890.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=2048 2048w, https://platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/gettyimages-2254404890.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=2400 2400w" src="https://platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/gettyimages-2254404890.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=2400"/></a></div></div></div><p><figcaption class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup ls9zuh2 rzoxl5a">PASADENA, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 01: Kadyn Proctor #74 of the Alabama Crimson Tide in action against the Indiana Hoosiers in the College Football Playoff Quarterfinal at Rose Bowl Stadium on January 01, 2026 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images)</figcaption> <cite class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup ls9zuh2 rzoxl55">Getty Images</cite></p></div></div></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">When Alabama’s Kadyn Proctor showed up at the scouting combine standing 6’ 6 ⅝” and weighing 352 pounds, you could hear the entire Draft Industrial Complex (and a lot of NFL teams) breathing a rather large sigh of relief. Because Proctor’s weight has been an issue in the past. It’s one reason why, in 2023, Proctor looked like a whale out of water as the Crimson Tide’s left tackle. That’s when he allowed 12 sacks and 36 total pressures in 408 pass-blocking snaps, and if you told me at that point that he was a future first-round pick, I would asked you for some of what you were smoking.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">That has seemed to stick with Proctor to a point, even though his blocking and conditioning have improved exponentially over the last two seasons. In 2025, he gave up two sacks and 21 pressures in 611 pass-blocking snaps (by far his career high), and he was much more forceful and agile overall.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">Jeremiah and Brooks know what they’re talking about, and they both talk to NFL teams, so this is still a thing. I’m not as worried about the weight fluctuation because it’s been overplayed to a degree overall, <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/1104054/nfl-combine-2026-offensive-draft-prospects-cole-payton-north-dakota-state-emmett-johnson-nebraska-brenen-thompson-mississippi-state-chris-brazzell-tennessee-zavion-thomas-lsu-kadyn-proctor-alabama">and given the fact that Proctor had multiple plays last season in which he exceeded 16 miler per hour on the move</a>, he’s clearly done some work. It will be on his NFL team to make sure the work is consistently done.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p><h2 class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup"><strong>Caleb Downs, DB, Ohio State: He’s not fast enough!</strong></h2></p></div><div class="duet--article--block-placement jgpyd51 jgpyd50 duet--article--article-body-component"><div style="position:relative"><div class="_1nfb3k4j"><div class=""><div style="background-image:none" class="duet--media--content-warning _1i91r6b0"><div class="duet--article--image-gallery-image _1eezmj00" style="aspect-ratio:1.49978" id="c2IyOmltYWdlOjExMTA2Mzk="><a class="_1eezmj01" href="https://platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/imagn-27653680.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0,0,100,100" data-pswp-height="2269" data-pswp-width="3403" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer"><img alt="Ohio State Buckeyes defensive back Caleb Downs (2) celebrates after sacking Rutgers Scarlet Knights quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis (16) in the second half of the NCAA football game at Ohio Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025 in Columbus, Ohio." data-chromatic="ignore" loading="lazy" decoding="async" data-nimg="fill" class="w91vxg0" style="position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent;background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat;background-image:url("data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' %3E%3Cfilter id='b' color-interpolation-filters='sRGB'%3E%3CfeGaussianBlur stdDeviation='20'/%3E%3CfeColorMatrix values='1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 100 -1' result='s'/%3E%3CfeFlood x='0' y='0' width='100%25' height='100%25'/%3E%3CfeComposite operator='out' in='s'/%3E%3CfeComposite in2='SourceGraphic'/%3E%3CfeGaussianBlur stdDeviation='20'/%3E%3C/filter%3E%3Cimage width='100%25' height='100%25' x='0' y='0' preserveAspectRatio='none' style='filter: url(%23b);' href='data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mN8+R8AAtcB6oaHtZcAAAAASUVORK5CYII='/%3E%3C/svg%3E")" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 100vw, (max-width: 1023px) 50vw, 700px" srcset="https://platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/imagn-27653680.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=256 256w, https://platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/imagn-27653680.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=376 376w, https://platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/imagn-27653680.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=384 384w, https://platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/imagn-27653680.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=415 415w, https://platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/imagn-27653680.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=480 480w, https://platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/imagn-27653680.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=540 540w, https://platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/imagn-27653680.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=640 640w, https://platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/imagn-27653680.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=750 750w, https://platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/imagn-27653680.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=828 828w, https://platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/imagn-27653680.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=1080 1080w, https://platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/imagn-27653680.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=1200 1200w, https://platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/imagn-27653680.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=1440 1440w, https://platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/imagn-27653680.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=1920 1920w, https://platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/imagn-27653680.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=2048 2048w, https://platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/imagn-27653680.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=2400 2400w" src="https://platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/imagn-27653680.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=2400"/></a></div></div></div><p><figcaption class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup ls9zuh2 rzoxl5a">Ohio State Buckeyes defensive back Caleb Downs (2) celebrates after sacking Rutgers Scarlet Knights quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis (16) in the second half of the NCAA football game at Ohio Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025 in Columbus, Ohio.</figcaption> <cite class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup ls9zuh2 rzoxl55">Samantha Madar/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images</cite></p></div></div></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">Caleb Downs is one of the best defensive prospects in this class — one of the best overall — but it may be that he has the curse of making everything look too easy. I can think of no other reason why Downs’ on-field speed would be the issue it has become.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">Karim Kassam, vice president of product at the data company Teamworks, <a href="https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/48446759/nfl-draft-combine-artificial-intelligence-caleb-downs-arvell-reese-david-bailey">recently told ESPN’s Kevin Seifert</a> that based on his company’s AI modeling and evaluation, Downs’ play speed is a problem.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">“They might see that his [particular obstacle] is going to be his athleticism, that he’s not going to be able to run with receivers the way that some other safeties can,” Kassam said. “… Based on the numbers, you might not see him as someone that can flex outside and cover even a premier tight end, or be a center-field-safety type that’s going to cover a lot of ground. That might not be his thing. He’s going to be more of a box-slot type of safety.”</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">Well, there’s that… and then, there’s the tape. Last season, Downs played 54% of his snaps in the deep third as either a single-high or two-deep safety, and overall, he allowed 25 catches on 38 targets for 168 yards, 92 yards after the catch, no touchdowns, two interceptions, one pass breakup, and an opponent passer rating of 53.4.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">My NFL comparison all along for Downs has been Xavier McKinney, who came out of Alabama in the 2020 draft <a href="https://www.mockdraftable.com/player/xavier-mckinney">after running a 4.63-second 40-yard dash</a> (Downs didn’t run at his combine or pro day), but became an amazing top-down defender at multiple positions because his anticipation skills were and are so great. No, Downs isn’t a “unicorn” like Kyle Hamilton or Nick Emmanwori, but if you fast-forwarded to a future in which Downs became the next Brian Branch or Derwin James, I wouldn’t blink an eye. Whichever NFL team that drafted him would probably be pretty happy with that outcome.</p></div></div> #NFL #draft #prospects #desperately #overthinking

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Shubhankar Sharma wins inaugural edition of Boulders Classic <div id="content-body-70873897" itemprop="articleBody"><p>Shubhankar Sharma fired a five-under 67 to secure his seventh DP World PGTI title at the inaugural Boulders Classic on Friday.</p><p>Having started his final round with a seven-shot cushion at 20-under, he closed with a five-under 67, featuring six birdies and a lone bogey, to take home the trophy and Rs. 15 lakh in prize money.</p><p>The 29-year-old was in commanding form all week, finishing at a record 25-under 263, a dominant eight shots clear of the field. His total also set a new benchmark for the lowest aggregate score in PGTI history.</p><p>The victory ended a long wait for Shubhankar. It is his first win on the tour since the McLeod Russel Tour Championship in Kolkata in December 2017. It is also his first professional title worldwide in over eight years, his last coming at the Maybank Championship in February 2018.</p><p>His 25-under total surpassed the previous record of 24-under 264, jointly held by Anirban Lahiri (2010), Rashid Khan (2019), Akshay Sharma (2020), and Manu Gandas (2022).</p><p>Rashid Khan, Angad Cheema, and local lad Mohd. Azhar finished tied for second at 17-under 271, eight strokes adrift of Sharma. Khalin Joshi, who triumphed in Visakhapatnam last week, finished tied 12th (10-under 278) with Saptak Talwar, the current PGTI Order of Merit leader.</p><div class="fact-box"><h5 class="main-title"> The results: </h5><p> 1. Shubhankar Sharma (25-under 263) </p><p> 2. Mohd. Azhar, Rashid Khan, Angad Cheema (17-under 271) </p><p> 5. Ajeetesh Sandhu (16-under 272) </p><p> 6. Ravi Kumar, Tanapat Pichaikool, Vishesh Sharma (13-under 255) </p><p> 9. Manu Gandas, Divyanshu Bajaj, Anshul Kabthiyal (11-under 277) </p><p> 12. Khalin H. Joshi, Saptak Talwar (10-under 278) </p><p> 14. Abhinav Lohan, Om Prakash Chouhan (9-under 279) </p></div><p class="publish-time" id="end-of-article">Published on Apr 17, 2026</p></div> #Shubhankar #Sharma #wins #inaugural #edition #Boulders #Classic

Deadspin | Padres’ sale to Chelsea owner on deck for record .9 billion  A general view of Petco Park during the fifth inning between the San Diego Padres and the Los Angeles Dodgers at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-Imagn Images   A contentious two-year process to sell the San Diego Padres could cross the finish line with Chelsea owner Jose E. Feliciano reportedly placing a winning bid to purchase the team for a record .9 billion.  According to multiple reports, the framework of the agreement has been agreed to and the transaction only needs the approval of 75 percent of MLB owners to formally finalize the deal.  If approved, the sale price would shatter the previous record for an MLB franchise established when Steve Cohen purchased the New York Mets for .42 billion in 2020.  Feliciano, the founder of Clearlake Capital and part owner of Chelsea FC, and his wife Kwanza Jones were in the pool of bidders engaged by the Seidler Family to buy the team.  Longtime owner Peter Seidler died in 2023 and family was split on control of the team. John Seidler, currently chairman of the Padres, said in November the franchise would be sold. Forbes’ valuation of the Padres entering the 2026 season was .1 billion.   Feliciano and Clearlake Capital own more than 60 percent of Chelsea. The ownership group also includes Mark Walter, Todd Boehly and Hansjorg Wyss.  Also in the running to purchase the MLB club were Joe Lacob, owner of the NBA’s Golden State Warriors, the WNBA’s Valkyries and the Chase Center in San Francisco; Dan Friedkin, principal owner of three European soccer clubs; and Tom Gores, who is the owner of Platinum Equities and the NBA’s Detroit Pistons.  The Wall Street Journal reported sources confirming the sale agreement have been told the Padres would like to fully finalize the sale by June.  –Field Level Media   #Deadspin #Padres #sale #Chelsea #owner #deck #record #billionA general view of Petco Park during the fifth inning between the San Diego Padres and the Los Angeles Dodgers at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-Imagn Images

A contentious two-year process to sell the San Diego Padres could cross the finish line with Chelsea owner Jose E. Feliciano reportedly placing a winning bid to purchase the team for a record $3.9 billion.

According to multiple reports, the framework of the agreement has been agreed to and the transaction only needs the approval of 75 percent of MLB owners to formally finalize the deal.

If approved, the sale price would shatter the previous record for an MLB franchise established when Steve Cohen purchased the New York Mets for $2.42 billion in 2020.

Feliciano, the founder of Clearlake Capital and part owner of Chelsea FC, and his wife Kwanza Jones were in the pool of bidders engaged by the Seidler Family to buy the team.


Longtime owner Peter Seidler died in 2023 and family was split on control of the team. John Seidler, currently chairman of the Padres, said in November the franchise would be sold. Forbes’ valuation of the Padres entering the 2026 season was $3.1 billion.

Feliciano and Clearlake Capital own more than 60 percent of Chelsea. The ownership group also includes Mark Walter, Todd Boehly and Hansjorg Wyss.

Also in the running to purchase the MLB club were Joe Lacob, owner of the NBA’s Golden State Warriors, the WNBA’s Valkyries and the Chase Center in San Francisco; Dan Friedkin, principal owner of three European soccer clubs; and Tom Gores, who is the owner of Platinum Equities and the NBA’s Detroit Pistons.

The Wall Street Journal reported sources confirming the sale agreement have been told the Padres would like to fully finalize the sale by June.

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Padres #sale #Chelsea #owner #deck #record #billion">Deadspin | Padres’ sale to Chelsea owner on deck for record .9 billion  A general view of Petco Park during the fifth inning between the San Diego Padres and the Los Angeles Dodgers at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-Imagn Images   A contentious two-year process to sell the San Diego Padres could cross the finish line with Chelsea owner Jose E. Feliciano reportedly placing a winning bid to purchase the team for a record .9 billion.  According to multiple reports, the framework of the agreement has been agreed to and the transaction only needs the approval of 75 percent of MLB owners to formally finalize the deal.  If approved, the sale price would shatter the previous record for an MLB franchise established when Steve Cohen purchased the New York Mets for .42 billion in 2020.  Feliciano, the founder of Clearlake Capital and part owner of Chelsea FC, and his wife Kwanza Jones were in the pool of bidders engaged by the Seidler Family to buy the team.  Longtime owner Peter Seidler died in 2023 and family was split on control of the team. John Seidler, currently chairman of the Padres, said in November the franchise would be sold. Forbes’ valuation of the Padres entering the 2026 season was .1 billion.   Feliciano and Clearlake Capital own more than 60 percent of Chelsea. The ownership group also includes Mark Walter, Todd Boehly and Hansjorg Wyss.  Also in the running to purchase the MLB club were Joe Lacob, owner of the NBA’s Golden State Warriors, the WNBA’s Valkyries and the Chase Center in San Francisco; Dan Friedkin, principal owner of three European soccer clubs; and Tom Gores, who is the owner of Platinum Equities and the NBA’s Detroit Pistons.  The Wall Street Journal reported sources confirming the sale agreement have been told the Padres would like to fully finalize the sale by June.  –Field Level Media   #Deadspin #Padres #sale #Chelsea #owner #deck #record #billion

Deadspin | Dynamo sign Mattheo Dimareli, 16, as homegrown player  Mar 18, 2023; Houston, Texas, USA; General view of balls on the field at Shell Energy Stadium before the match between the Houston Dynamo FC and the Austin FC. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images   The Dynamo signed 16-year-old Houston native Mattheo Dimareli as a homegrown player on Friday.  The Dynamo Academy product signed an MLS Next Pro contract through June 2027 and will join the first team on an MLS contract in July 2027. The forward’s deal is guaranteed through 2027-28 with options in each of the following three seasons through 2030-31.  Dimareli has played in 48 games for Dynamo 2 over the past three seasons, recording seven goals and six assists.   “Mattheo is a promising young attacker who has made an impact in our organization and at the international level with U.S. and Mexico,” Dynamo president of soccer Pat Onstad said. “Our goal is, and will always be, to provide unique, high-level opportunities to the young players in our Club, and Mattheo has made the most of those opportunities, advancing through our pathway system and leaving a strong mark with the first team during training sessions and this year’s preseason.”  Internationally, Dimareli is eligible to represent the U.S., Mexico, Greece or Albania. He has represented the U.S. and Mexico at the U-15, U-16 and U-17 levels.  –Field Level Media    #Deadspin #Dynamo #sign #Mattheo #Dimareli #homegrown #playerMar 18, 2023; Houston, Texas, USA; General view of balls on the field at Shell Energy Stadium before the match between the Houston Dynamo FC and the Austin FC. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images

The Dynamo signed 16-year-old Houston native Mattheo Dimareli as a homegrown player on Friday.

The Dynamo Academy product signed an MLS Next Pro contract through June 2027 and will join the first team on an MLS contract in July 2027. The forward’s deal is guaranteed through 2027-28 with options in each of the following three seasons through 2030-31.


Dimareli has played in 48 games for Dynamo 2 over the past three seasons, recording seven goals and six assists.

“Mattheo is a promising young attacker who has made an impact in our organization and at the international level with U.S. and Mexico,” Dynamo president of soccer Pat Onstad said. “Our goal is, and will always be, to provide unique, high-level opportunities to the young players in our Club, and Mattheo has made the most of those opportunities, advancing through our pathway system and leaving a strong mark with the first team during training sessions and this year’s preseason.”

Internationally, Dimareli is eligible to represent the U.S., Mexico, Greece or Albania. He has represented the U.S. and Mexico at the U-15, U-16 and U-17 levels.


–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Dynamo #sign #Mattheo #Dimareli #homegrown #player">Deadspin | Dynamo sign Mattheo Dimareli, 16, as homegrown player  Mar 18, 2023; Houston, Texas, USA; General view of balls on the field at Shell Energy Stadium before the match between the Houston Dynamo FC and the Austin FC. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images   The Dynamo signed 16-year-old Houston native Mattheo Dimareli as a homegrown player on Friday.  The Dynamo Academy product signed an MLS Next Pro contract through June 2027 and will join the first team on an MLS contract in July 2027. The forward’s deal is guaranteed through 2027-28 with options in each of the following three seasons through 2030-31.  Dimareli has played in 48 games for Dynamo 2 over the past three seasons, recording seven goals and six assists.   “Mattheo is a promising young attacker who has made an impact in our organization and at the international level with U.S. and Mexico,” Dynamo president of soccer Pat Onstad said. “Our goal is, and will always be, to provide unique, high-level opportunities to the young players in our Club, and Mattheo has made the most of those opportunities, advancing through our pathway system and leaving a strong mark with the first team during training sessions and this year’s preseason.”  Internationally, Dimareli is eligible to represent the U.S., Mexico, Greece or Albania. He has represented the U.S. and Mexico at the U-15, U-16 and U-17 levels.  –Field Level Media    #Deadspin #Dynamo #sign #Mattheo #Dimareli #homegrown #player

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