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Deadspin | Anthony Edwards, Wolves escape 19-point hole, level set vs. Nuggets Apr 20, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves forward Julius Randle (30) finishes off a basket in the first half against the Denver Nuggets during game two of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images Anthony Edwards posted 30 points and 10 rebounds, Donte DiVincenzo hit a clutch 3-pointer with 1:05 left, and the visiting Minnesota Timberwolves rallied from a 19-point deficit to beat the Denver Nuggets 119-114 in Game 2 to level their playoff series on Monday. Julius Randle had 24 points and nine rebounds and hit two free throws with 18.8 seconds left to help Minnesota even the Western Conference quarterfinal matchup. Game 3 of the best-of-seven series is Thursday night in Minneapolis. DiVincenzo finished with 16 points, Jaden McDaniels had 14 points, Bones Hyland contributed 13 and Naz Reid 11 for the Timberwolves. Jamal Murray had 30 points for the second straight game and Nikola Jokic added 24 points, 15 rebounds and eight assists, but both struggled in the fourth quarter, combining to shoot 2-for-12. Christian Braun and Tim Hardaway Jr. had 16 points apiece and Cameron Johnson scored 13 for Denver, which lost for the first time since March 18. The Nuggets won their last 12 regular-season game and their postseason opener. Bruce Brown hit two 3-pointers to give the Nuggets a five-point lead early in the fourth. Randle’s two free throws cut it to 105-104 in the middle of the period, but Braun answered with a running dunk to force a Timberwolves timeout. Minnesota scored the next three buckets to go ahead 110-107 with 4:06 left. Braun split a pair of free throws before Minnesota’s Rudy Gobert had a putback slam. Gordon hit a 3-pointer to slice Denver’s deficit to one, but DiVincenzo answered from deep. Jokic made a driving dunk to bring the Nuggets within two, and Edwards traveled with 30.6 seconds remaining. Braun went 1-for-2 from the line to cut it to 115-114 with 19.1 seconds left. Randle hit two free throws, Murray missed a jumper and DiVincenzo sealed it with a dunk. Denver led 44-25 early in the second quarter, but the Timberwolves went on a long surge to lead 64-56. The Nuggets scored the final eight points of the half, the last on Murray’s 51-foot heave at the horn, to tie it at intermission. Jokic went 4-for-7 from the field in the third quarter while hitting all seven of his free-throw attempts, with his 16 points giving the Nuggets a 93-90 lead heading into the fourth. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Anthony #Edwards #Wolves #escape #19point #hole #level #set #Nuggets

Deadspin | Anthony Edwards, Wolves escape 19-point hole, level set vs. Nuggets
Deadspin | Anthony Edwards, Wolves escape 19-point hole, level set vs. Nuggets Apr 20, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves forward Julius Randle (30) finishes off a basket in the first half against the Denver Nuggets during game two of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images Anthony Edwards posted 30 points and 10 rebounds, Donte DiVincenzo hit a clutch 3-pointer with 1:05 left, and the visiting Minnesota Timberwolves rallied from a 19-point deficit to beat the Denver Nuggets 119-114 in Game 2 to level their playoff series on Monday. Julius Randle had 24 points and nine rebounds and hit two free throws with 18.8 seconds left to help Minnesota even the Western Conference quarterfinal matchup. Game 3 of the best-of-seven series is Thursday night in Minneapolis. DiVincenzo finished with 16 points, Jaden McDaniels had 14 points, Bones Hyland contributed 13 and Naz Reid 11 for the Timberwolves. Jamal Murray had 30 points for the second straight game and Nikola Jokic added 24 points, 15 rebounds and eight assists, but both struggled in the fourth quarter, combining to shoot 2-for-12. Christian Braun and Tim Hardaway Jr. had 16 points apiece and Cameron Johnson scored 13 for Denver, which lost for the first time since March 18. The Nuggets won their last 12 regular-season game and their postseason opener. Bruce Brown hit two 3-pointers to give the Nuggets a five-point lead early in the fourth. Randle’s two free throws cut it to 105-104 in the middle of the period, but Braun answered with a running dunk to force a Timberwolves timeout. Minnesota scored the next three buckets to go ahead 110-107 with 4:06 left. Braun split a pair of free throws before Minnesota’s Rudy Gobert had a putback slam. Gordon hit a 3-pointer to slice Denver’s deficit to one, but DiVincenzo answered from deep. Jokic made a driving dunk to bring the Nuggets within two, and Edwards traveled with 30.6 seconds remaining. Braun went 1-for-2 from the line to cut it to 115-114 with 19.1 seconds left. Randle hit two free throws, Murray missed a jumper and DiVincenzo sealed it with a dunk. Denver led 44-25 early in the second quarter, but the Timberwolves went on a long surge to lead 64-56. The Nuggets scored the final eight points of the half, the last on Murray’s 51-foot heave at the horn, to tie it at intermission. Jokic went 4-for-7 from the field in the third quarter while hitting all seven of his free-throw attempts, with his 16 points giving the Nuggets a 93-90 lead heading into the fourth. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Anthony #Edwards #Wolves #escape #19point #hole #level #set #NuggetsApr 20, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves forward Julius Randle (30) finishes off a basket in the first half against the Denver Nuggets during game two of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

Anthony Edwards posted 30 points and 10 rebounds, Donte DiVincenzo hit a clutch 3-pointer with 1:05 left, and the visiting Minnesota Timberwolves rallied from a 19-point deficit to beat the Denver Nuggets 119-114 in Game 2 to level their playoff series on Monday.

Julius Randle had 24 points and nine rebounds and hit two free throws with 18.8 seconds left to help Minnesota even the Western Conference quarterfinal matchup.

Game 3 of the best-of-seven series is Thursday night in Minneapolis.

DiVincenzo finished with 16 points, Jaden McDaniels had 14 points, Bones Hyland contributed 13 and Naz Reid 11 for the Timberwolves.

Jamal Murray had 30 points for the second straight game and Nikola Jokic added 24 points, 15 rebounds and eight assists, but both struggled in the fourth quarter, combining to shoot 2-for-12.


Christian Braun and Tim Hardaway Jr. had 16 points apiece and Cameron Johnson scored 13 for Denver, which lost for the first time since March 18. The Nuggets won their last 12 regular-season game and their postseason opener.

Bruce Brown hit two 3-pointers to give the Nuggets a five-point lead early in the fourth. Randle’s two free throws cut it to 105-104 in the middle of the period, but Braun answered with a running dunk to force a Timberwolves timeout. Minnesota scored the next three buckets to go ahead 110-107 with 4:06 left.

Braun split a pair of free throws before Minnesota’s Rudy Gobert had a putback slam. Gordon hit a 3-pointer to slice Denver’s deficit to one, but DiVincenzo answered from deep. Jokic made a driving dunk to bring the Nuggets within two, and Edwards traveled with 30.6 seconds remaining.

Braun went 1-for-2 from the line to cut it to 115-114 with 19.1 seconds left. Randle hit two free throws, Murray missed a jumper and DiVincenzo sealed it with a dunk.

Denver led 44-25 early in the second quarter, but the Timberwolves went on a long surge to lead 64-56. The Nuggets scored the final eight points of the half, the last on Murray’s 51-foot heave at the horn, to tie it at intermission.

Jokic went 4-for-7 from the field in the third quarter while hitting all seven of his free-throw attempts, with his 16 points giving the Nuggets a 93-90 lead heading into the fourth.


–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Anthony #Edwards #Wolves #escape #19point #hole #level #set #Nuggets

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Apr 20, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves forward Julius Randle (30) finishes off a basket in the first half against the Denver Nuggets during game two of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

Anthony Edwards posted 30 points and 10 rebounds, Donte DiVincenzo hit a clutch 3-pointer with 1:05 left, and the visiting Minnesota Timberwolves rallied from a 19-point deficit to beat the Denver Nuggets 119-114 in Game 2 to level their playoff series on Monday.

Julius Randle had 24 points and nine rebounds and hit two free throws with 18.8 seconds left to help Minnesota even the Western Conference quarterfinal matchup.

Game 3 of the best-of-seven series is Thursday night in Minneapolis.

DiVincenzo finished with 16 points, Jaden McDaniels had 14 points, Bones Hyland contributed 13 and Naz Reid 11 for the Timberwolves.

Jamal Murray had 30 points for the second straight game and Nikola Jokic added 24 points, 15 rebounds and eight assists, but both struggled in the fourth quarter, combining to shoot 2-for-12.

Christian Braun and Tim Hardaway Jr. had 16 points apiece and Cameron Johnson scored 13 for Denver, which lost for the first time since March 18. The Nuggets won their last 12 regular-season game and their postseason opener.

Bruce Brown hit two 3-pointers to give the Nuggets a five-point lead early in the fourth. Randle’s two free throws cut it to 105-104 in the middle of the period, but Braun answered with a running dunk to force a Timberwolves timeout. Minnesota scored the next three buckets to go ahead 110-107 with 4:06 left.

Braun split a pair of free throws before Minnesota’s Rudy Gobert had a putback slam. Gordon hit a 3-pointer to slice Denver’s deficit to one, but DiVincenzo answered from deep. Jokic made a driving dunk to bring the Nuggets within two, and Edwards traveled with 30.6 seconds remaining.

Braun went 1-for-2 from the line to cut it to 115-114 with 19.1 seconds left. Randle hit two free throws, Murray missed a jumper and DiVincenzo sealed it with a dunk.

Denver led 44-25 early in the second quarter, but the Timberwolves went on a long surge to lead 64-56. The Nuggets scored the final eight points of the half, the last on Murray’s 51-foot heave at the horn, to tie it at intermission.

Jokic went 4-for-7 from the field in the third quarter while hitting all seven of his free-throw attempts, with his 16 points giving the Nuggets a 93-90 lead heading into the fourth.

–Field Level Media

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NFL Draft’s 4 biggest boom or bust prospects in 2026 <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">There are myriad factors to balance when making a high pick in the NFL Draft. It’s not simply about just selecting a guy who proved it in college football, but also identifying the rough parts to someone’s game that can be ironed out. Conversely, you can’t go too far down the “we can fix him” rabbit hole, or you get a player destined to be a bust. <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/1111419/nfl-mock-draft-2026-after-dexter-lawrence-giants-bengals-trade">Read our latest mock draft here</a>.</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 leads to a fascinating draft dichotomy. Play it too safe with a pick, select someone with a low ceiling, and you get Mac Jones. Go too risky, bank <em>everything</em> on upside, and you get a Top 10 receiver like John Ross, who ends up doing nothing in his NFL career. Still, some of the biggest stars in NFL history came out of being boom/bust prospects. Today we isolate the biggest boom/bust players projected as 1st-round picks from the 2026 draft class, their ceilings, and perhaps more importantly, their floors.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p><h4 class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup">Ty Simpson, QB — Alabama</h4></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">When the dust settles, it’s difficult to imagine that Simpson won’t go in the first round simply because there aren’t many quality quarterbacks in this class. He’s also one of the biggest boom/bust prospects in this class, simply because we don’t have a great deal of information to pull from. Not only does he not have a lot of starts under his belt, but a concerning injury history that could indicate fragility.</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">There are some really good parts to Simpson’s game. He shows good timing and anticipation on throws, processes plays quickly, and makes good decisions pre-snap. The downside is that he has limited arm strength to get the ball over linebackers, and he doesn’t have ideal NFL size for the position, meaning he can’t simply ignore defenders by seeing over them — and instead will need to adjust.</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">These traits combine to mean that Simpson’s upside <em>could</em> be someone like Bryce Young, and the floor is that his size and questionable arm, paired with injuries, means he’s on the level of Tua Tagovailoa. The irony of them all being from Alabama is purely coincidental.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p><h4 class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup">Kenyon Sadiq, TE — Oregon</h4></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">There is no doubt that Sadiq is going to be the first tight end off the board in 2026 due to his incredible physical traits and solid red zone production in 2025 for the Ducks. That doesn’t mean he’s a safe prospect.</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">Sadiq is essentially a one-trick pony, but it’s a hell of a trick. An incredible receiver, he can run the entire route tree and has breakaway speed to easily elude linebackers, and a handful of defensive backs as well — where his strength can become a difference maker.</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 problem: Size. At 6’3” he’s a smaller-than-average tight end, with a lot of defensive backs getting bigger in the NFL — putting him on parity at a position that traditionally leans on size mismatches. Sadiq is also a non-factor as a blocker, limiting him very specifically to a receiver role. Being a receiver-only is okay, as this was largely what led to Colston Loveland being a top pick in 2025 — but he had an extra three inches of height.</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">There’s a precedent for a receiving tight end of Sadiq’s size and skillset: Vernon Davis. There is a similar top-end ability here to become a serious difference maker in the NFL and a primary threat. However, if any of this falls apart, his floor is Dalton Kindaid — who is a perfectly fine receiving tighr end, but not worthy of a Top 15 pick.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p><h4 class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup">Chris Brazzell, WR — Tennessee</h4></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">Right now Brazzell sits in the high third tier of receivers who could easily sneak into the back-end of the first round, and his story is one of the simplest stories in NFL bust history.</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">Brazzell is 6’4” and runs a 4.37 in the 40. That’s enough to get teams salivating, and it really hasn’t worked well before. Sprinkle in the fact that his experience comes from the Vols’ veer-and-shoot offense, which hasn’t translated well to the NFL and there’s a recipe for bust here.</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">Still, you just don’t find receivers with that size and speed very often. D.K. Metcalf had shades of the athletic freak without a well-rounded skillset, and that’s the kind of prospect he could be without a direct analog. The downsides are well pronounced with Ted Ginn Jr, Troy Williamson, and Darrius Heyward-Bey all being examples of guys who didn’t meet the hype.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p><h4 class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup">David Bailey, EDGE — Texas Tech</h4></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">This might be one of the highest-ranked boom-0r-bust prospects from the 2026 class who will likely go in the Top 5 of the draft. The appeal of David Bailey is really simple: He’s a ridiculously athletic edge rusher who is explosive, fluid, has pass rush moves, and really has everything you want from an edge rusher.</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 high-end comps here are clear and there’s hype that Bailey could be the next Micah Parsons. There’s one massive problem with that comparison, though: Bailey doesn’t show the toughness on film that Parsons did at Penn State. He’s weaker against the run at this point in his career than Parsons was, and Micah wasn’t a great run stopper to begin with.</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">This means there’s a real bust risk for Bailey in terms of being a three-down edge. If he amounts to nothing more than a third-down pass rush specialist, he’ll be like K’Lavon Chaisson — which isn’t terrible, but unquestionably not worth a Top 10 pick.</p></div></div> #NFL #Drafts #biggest #boom #bust #prospects

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IPL 2026: A familiar middle-order collapse hurts Gujarat Titans yet again <div id="content-body-70888485" itemprop="articleBody"><p>The familiar script played out yet again in this edition of the IPL as Gujarat Titans’ brittle middle-order caved in without a fight against the Mumbai Indians.</p><p>On a day when Shubman Gill and Jos Buttler failed to fire, none of the remaining Titans batters showed the resilience required in a demanding chase. The collective failure prompted batting coach Matthew Hayden to label it a “horrible day” for his side.</p><p>The most worrying aspect wasn’t just the defeat, but the manner of it. The Titans couldn’t even bat out their 20 overs, as their innings rapidly unravelled.</p><p>The result also dealt a blow to their Net Run Rate and reignited concerns over an under-performing middle-order comprising Washington Sundar, Glenn Phillips, Rahul Tewatia and Shahrukh Khan.</p><p>Only Washington managed to score at a brisk rate, while Phillips and Tewatia struggled to get going and their strike rates were well below the demands of modern T20 cricket. “The middle order was undoubtedly exposed,” Hayden admitted, pointing to the early damage in the PowerPlay.</p><p>“The thing about the PowerPlays is that you can’t win from there, especially in a run chase, but you can definitely lose it. And we lost it in the PowerPlay,” Hayden said.</p><p>The early dismissals of Sai Sudharsan, Buttler and Gill left the middle order with too much to do — a scenario Hayden believes the side must avoid. He stressed that players like Tewatia and Shahrukh are built for impact, not accumulation, and sending them in too early only adds pressure.</p><p>So far, Shahrukh has scored 35 runs, while Tewatia has chipped in with just 49 runs. “We are putting a lot of pressure on the middle-order. When you look at how the middle-order operates, it’s vastly different from how the top three handle those preparations. They are batting for impact,” Hayden said.</p><p class="publish-time" id="end-of-article">Published on Apr 21, 2026</p></div> #IPL #familiar #middleorder #collapse #hurts #Gujarat #Titans

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Deadspin | Cowboys, Giants open ’26 season on Sunday Night Football Jan 4, 2026; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart (6) greets Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) on the field after the game at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images John Harbaugh gets a shot at a statement in his first regular-season game as head coach of the New York Giants. The NFC East rival Dallas Cowboys and Giants are set to square off in Week 1 in primetime on Sept. 13, the eighth time in 15 seasons they open the regular season in a head-to-head matchup. The “Sunday Night Football” game will be played at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., where the Giants defeated the Cowboys for the first time since 2020 last season. The NFL is releasing the full 2026 schedule on Thursday. Giants-Cowboys is among marquee games confirmed ahead of the release date. Dallas dominated the series with the Giants in recent years by sweeping both regular-season matchups four consecutive years before New York took a game (34-17) from the Cowboys last season. The Cowboys earned a split with a 40-37 overtime win which was sent to OT by Brandon Aubrey’s 64-yard field goal. Harbaugh was hired as head coach of the Giants after being fired by the Ravens. The Giants’ last win at Dallas was in 2016. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Cowboys #Giants #open #season #Sunday #Night #FootballJan 4, 2026; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart (6) greets Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) on the field after the game at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

John Harbaugh gets a shot at a statement in his first regular-season game as head coach of the New York Giants.

The NFC East rival Dallas Cowboys and Giants are set to square off in Week 1 in primetime on Sept. 13, the eighth time in 15 seasons they open the regular season in a head-to-head matchup.

The “Sunday Night Football” game will be played at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., where the Giants defeated the Cowboys for the first time since 2020 last season.


The NFL is releasing the full 2026 schedule on Thursday. Giants-Cowboys is among marquee games confirmed ahead of the release date.

Dallas dominated the series with the Giants in recent years by sweeping both regular-season matchups four consecutive years before New York took a game (34-17) from the Cowboys last season. The Cowboys earned a split with a 40-37 overtime win which was sent to OT by Brandon Aubrey’s 64-yard field goal.

Harbaugh was hired as head coach of the Giants after being fired by the Ravens.

The Giants’ last win at Dallas was in 2016.


–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Cowboys #Giants #open #season #Sunday #Night #Football">Deadspin | Cowboys, Giants open ’26 season on Sunday Night Football Jan 4, 2026; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart (6) greets Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) on the field after the game at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images John Harbaugh gets a shot at a statement in his first regular-season game as head coach of the New York Giants. The NFC East rival Dallas Cowboys and Giants are set to square off in Week 1 in primetime on Sept. 13, the eighth time in 15 seasons they open the regular season in a head-to-head matchup. The “Sunday Night Football” game will be played at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., where the Giants defeated the Cowboys for the first time since 2020 last season. The NFL is releasing the full 2026 schedule on Thursday. Giants-Cowboys is among marquee games confirmed ahead of the release date. Dallas dominated the series with the Giants in recent years by sweeping both regular-season matchups four consecutive years before New York took a game (34-17) from the Cowboys last season. The Cowboys earned a split with a 40-37 overtime win which was sent to OT by Brandon Aubrey’s 64-yard field goal. Harbaugh was hired as head coach of the Giants after being fired by the Ravens. The Giants’ last win at Dallas was in 2016. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Cowboys #Giants #open #season #Sunday #Night #Football

There’s going to be a lot of talk about June 1st over the next few weeks, with it being the next biggest date on the NFL calendar. This is date to circle when it comes to teams being able to fix their salary cap, as it allows for players to be cut or traded with their dead money being spread between the 2026 and 2027 seasons, rather than eating the full cost up front.

This is what we’ve all been waiting on when it comes to A.J. Brown, and why the Eagles trading Brown prior to June 1 was never going to happen. If Philadelphia dealt Brown before June 1 his cap figure would have gone from $23.4M to $44.M — hitting the cap for an additional $20M this season. By waiting until June 1 his figure drops to a manageable $16.4M this year and $16.2M next year, representing an immediate $7M in savings.

It goes without saying that Brown is likely to be traded after June 1, but there are handful of other big names to watch when it comes to cuts or trades that will likely occur as soon as the month ticks over.

A.J. Brown, WR — Philadelphia Eagles

The worst-kept secret in the NFL, yes the Eagles are going to trade Brown after June 1 and every sign points to him heading to the New England Patriots. It’s an unceremonious end to a union that brought Philly a win in Super Bowl LIX, and more a case of two sides that found success, but outgrew each other.

Brown wants more opportunities in the passing game. The Eagles want selflessness from their offensive players. It’s an oil/water mix, and with Philly drafting Makai Lemon it really put the clear coat over the writing that was on the wall.

Trade/Cut: Trade. There is still so much value in Brown as a do-everything receiver in his prime that will cement himself as the No. 1 on whatever team makes the deal for him.

Brandon Aiyuk, WR — San Francisco 49ers

Unquestionably one of the most dramatic falls in recent years, Brandon Aiyuk went from being a 1,342 yard receiver in 2023, widely regarded as one of the best prime offensive players in the NFL — and now he’s so far in the basement that it would be stunning if anyone called the Niners for a trade.

Injury, attitude, it’s been a perfect storm of bad breaks for Aiyuk. Some factors were out of his control, some were entirely in his hands, but the result is the same. The 49ers don’t need any cap help, but it’s time to cut bait and move on, because the roster right now is worse keeping Aiyuk and allowing him to be a distraction, rather than just accepting the sunk cost.

Trade/Cut: Cut. The four-year, $120M extension signed in 2024 has aged like milk, with no team being willing to take on that kind of money for a receiver that hasn’t proved anything in two years. Aiyuk’s best shot is to sign a one-year “prove it” deal, and hope to make his mark before hitting free agency again.

Cole Kmet, TE — Chicago Bears

Tight end is in a weird spot in the NFL right now, where it’s both become a devalued position and the missing piece to the puzzle. Look no further than the 2026 NFL Draft that saw an alarming number of tight ends go earlier than expected out of team desperation for upgrades at the position.

Enter the Bears, who have an overabundance at the position. At this point it’s safe to assume that Ben Johnson doesn’t see Kmet fitting in his offense longterm after taking Colston Loveland with his top pick in 2025 as a pass-catching TE, and then making a shocker in 2026 by taking Sam Roush in the third round. That’s left Kmet on the outside looking in.

Kmet is a jack-of-all-trades TE who is a decent catcher and blocker, but the Johnson offense asks for more speciality at every position. That could make the Bears TE an interesting candidate at the June 1 deadline to free up cap space for the Bears, more importantly a roster spot, while getting something for a player who would otherwise run out his contract.

Trade/Cut: Trade. Kmet is prime to be a guy the Bears deal away for a day three selection in 2027, giving them a little cap flexibility in the process. Keep an eye on a team like the Chiefs, Falcons, or Panthers to be potential biters — all of whom were expected to add to their TE rooms in the draft, but didn’t.

Anthony Richardson, QB — Indianapolis Colts

We didn’t see a Richardson trade around the NFL Draft, and the team started offseason workouts with the QB in the building — but it feels incredibly likely that the Colts make a deal. Indianapolis declined the fifth-year option on Richardson, effectively accepting that he was a bust in their eyes, but we know beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Despite being drafted back in 2023, Richardson is still only 23-years-old — younger than Ty Simpson, who was drafted this year. The athletic upside is there, the arm strength is there, it’s just all the connective tissue where he’s failed. If you’re a team desperate for a quarterback to add to the room, or a contender wanting to pull off the patented “rebuild and let him walk for the compensatory,” then Richardson is a guy you could look at.

Trade/Cut: Trade. Either the Colts deal Richardson to get some draft capital, or they hold onto him for the year. It doesn’t make a lot of sense to cut him at this point instead of letting his contract run out. That said, someone out there is going to look at Sam Darnold, Baker Mayfield, Daniel Jones (the list goes on) and think “we can be the ones to unlock him.”

#NFL #players #move #June">4 NFL players who could be on the move after June 1 There’s going to be a lot of talk about June 1st over the next few weeks, with it being the next biggest date on the NFL calendar. This is date to circle when it comes to teams being able to fix their salary cap, as it allows for players to be cut or traded with their dead money being spread between the 2026 and 2027 seasons, rather than eating the full cost up front.This is what we’ve all been waiting on when it comes to A.J. Brown, and why the Eagles trading Brown prior to June 1 was never going to happen. If Philadelphia dealt Brown before June 1 his cap figure would have gone from .4M to .M — hitting the cap for an additional M this season. By waiting until June 1 his figure drops to a manageable .4M this year and .2M next year, representing an immediate M in savings.It goes without saying that Brown is likely to be traded after June 1, but there are handful of other big names to watch when it comes to cuts or trades that will likely occur as soon as the month ticks over.A.J. Brown, WR — Philadelphia EaglesThe worst-kept secret in the NFL, yes the Eagles are going to trade Brown after June 1 and every sign points to him heading to the New England Patriots. It’s an unceremonious end to a union that brought Philly a win in Super Bowl LIX, and more a case of two sides that found success, but outgrew each other.Brown wants more opportunities in the passing game. The Eagles want selflessness from their offensive players. It’s an oil/water mix, and with Philly drafting Makai Lemon it really put the clear coat over the writing that was on the wall.Trade/Cut: Trade. There is still so much value in Brown as a do-everything receiver in his prime that will cement himself as the No. 1 on whatever team makes the deal for him.Brandon Aiyuk, WR — San Francisco 49ersUnquestionably one of the most dramatic falls in recent years, Brandon Aiyuk went from being a 1,342 yard receiver in 2023, widely regarded as one of the best prime offensive players in the NFL — and now he’s so far in the basement that it would be stunning if anyone called the Niners for a trade.Injury, attitude, it’s been a perfect storm of bad breaks for Aiyuk. Some factors were out of his control, some were entirely in his hands, but the result is the same. The 49ers don’t need any cap help, but it’s time to cut bait and move on, because the roster right now is worse keeping Aiyuk and allowing him to be a distraction, rather than just accepting the sunk cost.Trade/Cut: Cut. The four-year, 0M extension signed in 2024 has aged like milk, with no team being willing to take on that kind of money for a receiver that hasn’t proved anything in two years. Aiyuk’s best shot is to sign a one-year “prove it” deal, and hope to make his mark before hitting free agency again.Cole Kmet, TE — Chicago BearsTight end is in a weird spot in the NFL right now, where it’s both become a devalued position and the missing piece to the puzzle. Look no further than the 2026 NFL Draft that saw an alarming number of tight ends go earlier than expected out of team desperation for upgrades at the position.Enter the Bears, who have an overabundance at the position. At this point it’s safe to assume that Ben Johnson doesn’t see Kmet fitting in his offense longterm after taking Colston Loveland with his top pick in 2025 as a pass-catching TE, and then making a shocker in 2026 by taking Sam Roush in the third round. That’s left Kmet on the outside looking in.Kmet is a jack-of-all-trades TE who is a decent catcher and blocker, but the Johnson offense asks for more speciality at every position. That could make the Bears TE an interesting candidate at the June 1 deadline to free up cap space for the Bears, more importantly a roster spot, while getting something for a player who would otherwise run out his contract.Trade/Cut: Trade. Kmet is prime to be a guy the Bears deal away for a day three selection in 2027, giving them a little cap flexibility in the process. Keep an eye on a team like the Chiefs, Falcons, or Panthers to be potential biters — all of whom were expected to add to their TE rooms in the draft, but didn’t.Anthony Richardson, QB — Indianapolis ColtsWe didn’t see a Richardson trade around the NFL Draft, and the team started offseason workouts with the QB in the building — but it feels incredibly likely that the Colts make a deal. Indianapolis declined the fifth-year option on Richardson, effectively accepting that he was a bust in their eyes, but we know beauty is in the eye of the beholder.Despite being drafted back in 2023, Richardson is still only 23-years-old — younger than Ty Simpson, who was drafted this year. The athletic upside is there, the arm strength is there, it’s just all the connective tissue where he’s failed. If you’re a team desperate for a quarterback to add to the room, or a contender wanting to pull off the patented “rebuild and let him walk for the compensatory,” then Richardson is a guy you could look at.Trade/Cut: Trade. Either the Colts deal Richardson to get some draft capital, or they hold onto him for the year. It doesn’t make a lot of sense to cut him at this point instead of letting his contract run out. That said, someone out there is going to look at Sam Darnold, Baker Mayfield, Daniel Jones (the list goes on) and think “we can be the ones to unlock him.” #NFL #players #move #June

why the Eagles trading Brown prior to June 1 was never going to happen. If Philadelphia dealt Brown before June 1 his cap figure would have gone from $23.4M to $44.M — hitting the cap for an additional $20M this season. By waiting until June 1 his figure drops to a manageable $16.4M this year and $16.2M next year, representing an immediate $7M in savings.

It goes without saying that Brown is likely to be traded after June 1, but there are handful of other big names to watch when it comes to cuts or trades that will likely occur as soon as the month ticks over.

A.J. Brown, WR — Philadelphia Eagles

The worst-kept secret in the NFL, yes the Eagles are going to trade Brown after June 1 and every sign points to him heading to the New England Patriots. It’s an unceremonious end to a union that brought Philly a win in Super Bowl LIX, and more a case of two sides that found success, but outgrew each other.

Brown wants more opportunities in the passing game. The Eagles want selflessness from their offensive players. It’s an oil/water mix, and with Philly drafting Makai Lemon it really put the clear coat over the writing that was on the wall.

Trade/Cut: Trade. There is still so much value in Brown as a do-everything receiver in his prime that will cement himself as the No. 1 on whatever team makes the deal for him.

Brandon Aiyuk, WR — San Francisco 49ers

Unquestionably one of the most dramatic falls in recent years, Brandon Aiyuk went from being a 1,342 yard receiver in 2023, widely regarded as one of the best prime offensive players in the NFL — and now he’s so far in the basement that it would be stunning if anyone called the Niners for a trade.

Injury, attitude, it’s been a perfect storm of bad breaks for Aiyuk. Some factors were out of his control, some were entirely in his hands, but the result is the same. The 49ers don’t need any cap help, but it’s time to cut bait and move on, because the roster right now is worse keeping Aiyuk and allowing him to be a distraction, rather than just accepting the sunk cost.

Trade/Cut: Cut. The four-year, $120M extension signed in 2024 has aged like milk, with no team being willing to take on that kind of money for a receiver that hasn’t proved anything in two years. Aiyuk’s best shot is to sign a one-year “prove it” deal, and hope to make his mark before hitting free agency again.

Cole Kmet, TE — Chicago Bears

Tight end is in a weird spot in the NFL right now, where it’s both become a devalued position and the missing piece to the puzzle. Look no further than the 2026 NFL Draft that saw an alarming number of tight ends go earlier than expected out of team desperation for upgrades at the position.

Enter the Bears, who have an overabundance at the position. At this point it’s safe to assume that Ben Johnson doesn’t see Kmet fitting in his offense longterm after taking Colston Loveland with his top pick in 2025 as a pass-catching TE, and then making a shocker in 2026 by taking Sam Roush in the third round. That’s left Kmet on the outside looking in.

Kmet is a jack-of-all-trades TE who is a decent catcher and blocker, but the Johnson offense asks for more speciality at every position. That could make the Bears TE an interesting candidate at the June 1 deadline to free up cap space for the Bears, more importantly a roster spot, while getting something for a player who would otherwise run out his contract.

Trade/Cut: Trade. Kmet is prime to be a guy the Bears deal away for a day three selection in 2027, giving them a little cap flexibility in the process. Keep an eye on a team like the Chiefs, Falcons, or Panthers to be potential biters — all of whom were expected to add to their TE rooms in the draft, but didn’t.

Anthony Richardson, QB — Indianapolis Colts

We didn’t see a Richardson trade around the NFL Draft, and the team started offseason workouts with the QB in the building — but it feels incredibly likely that the Colts make a deal. Indianapolis declined the fifth-year option on Richardson, effectively accepting that he was a bust in their eyes, but we know beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Despite being drafted back in 2023, Richardson is still only 23-years-old — younger than Ty Simpson, who was drafted this year. The athletic upside is there, the arm strength is there, it’s just all the connective tissue where he’s failed. If you’re a team desperate for a quarterback to add to the room, or a contender wanting to pull off the patented “rebuild and let him walk for the compensatory,” then Richardson is a guy you could look at.

Trade/Cut: Trade. Either the Colts deal Richardson to get some draft capital, or they hold onto him for the year. It doesn’t make a lot of sense to cut him at this point instead of letting his contract run out. That said, someone out there is going to look at Sam Darnold, Baker Mayfield, Daniel Jones (the list goes on) and think “we can be the ones to unlock him.”

#NFL #players #move #June">4 NFL players who could be on the move after June 1

There’s going to be a lot of talk about June 1st over the next few weeks, with it being the next biggest date on the NFL calendar. This is date to circle when it comes to teams being able to fix their salary cap, as it allows for players to be cut or traded with their dead money being spread between the 2026 and 2027 seasons, rather than eating the full cost up front.

This is what we’ve all been waiting on when it comes to A.J. Brown, and why the Eagles trading Brown prior to June 1 was never going to happen. If Philadelphia dealt Brown before June 1 his cap figure would have gone from $23.4M to $44.M — hitting the cap for an additional $20M this season. By waiting until June 1 his figure drops to a manageable $16.4M this year and $16.2M next year, representing an immediate $7M in savings.

It goes without saying that Brown is likely to be traded after June 1, but there are handful of other big names to watch when it comes to cuts or trades that will likely occur as soon as the month ticks over.

A.J. Brown, WR — Philadelphia Eagles

The worst-kept secret in the NFL, yes the Eagles are going to trade Brown after June 1 and every sign points to him heading to the New England Patriots. It’s an unceremonious end to a union that brought Philly a win in Super Bowl LIX, and more a case of two sides that found success, but outgrew each other.

Brown wants more opportunities in the passing game. The Eagles want selflessness from their offensive players. It’s an oil/water mix, and with Philly drafting Makai Lemon it really put the clear coat over the writing that was on the wall.

Trade/Cut: Trade. There is still so much value in Brown as a do-everything receiver in his prime that will cement himself as the No. 1 on whatever team makes the deal for him.

Brandon Aiyuk, WR — San Francisco 49ers

Unquestionably one of the most dramatic falls in recent years, Brandon Aiyuk went from being a 1,342 yard receiver in 2023, widely regarded as one of the best prime offensive players in the NFL — and now he’s so far in the basement that it would be stunning if anyone called the Niners for a trade.

Injury, attitude, it’s been a perfect storm of bad breaks for Aiyuk. Some factors were out of his control, some were entirely in his hands, but the result is the same. The 49ers don’t need any cap help, but it’s time to cut bait and move on, because the roster right now is worse keeping Aiyuk and allowing him to be a distraction, rather than just accepting the sunk cost.

Trade/Cut: Cut. The four-year, $120M extension signed in 2024 has aged like milk, with no team being willing to take on that kind of money for a receiver that hasn’t proved anything in two years. Aiyuk’s best shot is to sign a one-year “prove it” deal, and hope to make his mark before hitting free agency again.

Cole Kmet, TE — Chicago Bears

Tight end is in a weird spot in the NFL right now, where it’s both become a devalued position and the missing piece to the puzzle. Look no further than the 2026 NFL Draft that saw an alarming number of tight ends go earlier than expected out of team desperation for upgrades at the position.

Enter the Bears, who have an overabundance at the position. At this point it’s safe to assume that Ben Johnson doesn’t see Kmet fitting in his offense longterm after taking Colston Loveland with his top pick in 2025 as a pass-catching TE, and then making a shocker in 2026 by taking Sam Roush in the third round. That’s left Kmet on the outside looking in.

Kmet is a jack-of-all-trades TE who is a decent catcher and blocker, but the Johnson offense asks for more speciality at every position. That could make the Bears TE an interesting candidate at the June 1 deadline to free up cap space for the Bears, more importantly a roster spot, while getting something for a player who would otherwise run out his contract.

Trade/Cut: Trade. Kmet is prime to be a guy the Bears deal away for a day three selection in 2027, giving them a little cap flexibility in the process. Keep an eye on a team like the Chiefs, Falcons, or Panthers to be potential biters — all of whom were expected to add to their TE rooms in the draft, but didn’t.

Anthony Richardson, QB — Indianapolis Colts

We didn’t see a Richardson trade around the NFL Draft, and the team started offseason workouts with the QB in the building — but it feels incredibly likely that the Colts make a deal. Indianapolis declined the fifth-year option on Richardson, effectively accepting that he was a bust in their eyes, but we know beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Despite being drafted back in 2023, Richardson is still only 23-years-old — younger than Ty Simpson, who was drafted this year. The athletic upside is there, the arm strength is there, it’s just all the connective tissue where he’s failed. If you’re a team desperate for a quarterback to add to the room, or a contender wanting to pull off the patented “rebuild and let him walk for the compensatory,” then Richardson is a guy you could look at.

Trade/Cut: Trade. Either the Colts deal Richardson to get some draft capital, or they hold onto him for the year. It doesn’t make a lot of sense to cut him at this point instead of letting his contract run out. That said, someone out there is going to look at Sam Darnold, Baker Mayfield, Daniel Jones (the list goes on) and think “we can be the ones to unlock him.”

#NFL #players #move #June

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