For the women, March Madness ramps up one day after the men with their own First Four matchups.

The expanded field is fairly new to the women’s game, which started the First Four round in 2022. It was one of a handful of changes that the NCAA began making in the wake of a gender equity report showing vast disparities between the men’s and women’s basketball tournaments.

Unlike the men, who stage all four games in one place, the women play each game at a different location, picking four sites out of the top 16 national seeds.

Here is what you need to know about the women’s teams in this year’s First Four.

First Four teams for women’s March Madness

Arizona (17-15): Went into the Pac-12 tournament as the No. 7 seed and was eliminated by top-seeded USC in the conference quarterfinals.
Auburn (20-11): Finished in a sixth-place tie with Mississippi State in the SEC and was routed by LSU in the conference quarterfinals.
Columbia (23-6): Finished tied with Princeton for the top seed in the Ivy League before going on to beat the Tigers 75-58 in the conference championship game.
Holy Cross (20-12): Was the top seed in the Patriot League and went on to win the conference championship against Boston University 61-55.
Presbyterian (20-14): Finished in a tie for fourth place in the Big South, but went on to beat Radford in the conference title game.
Sacred Heart (24-9): Only lost one game in the NEC and ran away with the conference championship. The Pioneers have won 15 consecutive games.
UT Martin (16-16): Was one of three teams to finish in second place in the OVC and made it to the conference championship game before losing to top-seeded Southern Indiana.
Vanderbilt (22-9): Finished the regular season as the No. 6 seed in the SEC tournament, where they were ousted by Florida in the first round.

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When is First Four for women?

The women’s First Four will take place with two games on Wednesday, March 20 and two games on Thursday, March 21.

First Four games for women

Wednesday, March 20

Sacred Heart (24-9) vs. Presbyterian (20-14), 7 p.m. ET on ESPNU. The winner will be the No. 16 seed in Albany Regional 1 and face No. 1 South Carolina.
Vanderbilt (22-9) vs. Columbia (23-6), 9 p.m. ET on ESPNU. The winner will be the No. 12 seed in Portland Regional 3 and face No. 5 Baylor.

Thursday, March 21

Auburn (20-11) vs. Arizona (17-15), 7 p.m. on ESPN2. The winner will be the No. 11 seed in Portland Regional 3 and face No. 6 Syracuse.
Holy Cross (20-12) vs. UT Martin (16-16), 9 p.m. ET on ESPN2. The winner will be the No. 16 seed in Albany Regional 2 and face No. 1 Iowa.

Where is First Four for women?

The sites of the women’s First Four games will be: Blacksburg, Virginia; Columbia, South Carolina; Storrs, Connecticut; and Peoria, Illinois.

How to watch women’s First Four

The women’s First Four games will be broadcast on ESPNU and ESPN2.

Have any First Four teams won the women’s national championship?

No, in fact Mississippi State is the only team to ever win a first-round game after advancing out of the First Four. Last season the Bulldogs beat Creighton in the Round of 64 before losing to Notre Dame 53-48 in the second round.

USA TODAY Sports’ Steve Gardner contributed to this report.

Stanley Cup champion Chris Simon has died.

The Colorado Avalanche confirmed that Simon died Monday evening. A cause of death was not provided. He was 52.

‘Chris was a great guy, a beloved teammate and an important part of our first championship season,’ said Avalanche president Joe Sakic, who was a teammate of Simon’s during the team’s first Stanley Cup run. ‘He was a really good hockey player who could score goals, was a big presence in the dressing room and was the first person to stand up and defend his teammates. Off the ice he was an unbelievable guy and a caring father, son, brother and friend. He will be sorely missed.’

The Wawa, Ontario, native was selected in the 1990 NHL Draft by the Philadelphia Flyers but was traded to the Quebec Nordiques in 1992 in the deals that landed Eric Lindros in Philadelphia. The Nordiques relocated to Colorado in 1995 and were renamed the Avalanche. Simon won a Stanley Cup in 1996 with the Avalanche.

Simon made it to the Stanley Cup Final again in 1998 as a member of the Washington Capitals and in 2004 with the Calgary Flames.

‘The Calgary Flames are mourning the loss of our teammate and friend,’ the team said in a statement shared on X. “He was an integral part of the Flames’ magical run to Game 7 of the 2004 Stanley Cup Finals, scoring 5 goals in 16 playoff games and becoming an instant fan favorite along the way.’

In addition to the Nordiques, Avalanche, Capitals and Flames, Simon also played for the Chicago Blackhawks, New York Rangers, New York Islanders and Minnesota Wild during his 15-year career in the NHL. In 782 career games, Simon had 305 points (144 goals, 161 assists).

Simon scored a career-best 29 goals in 1999-2000 with the Capitals. He credited training the previous three years with Los Angeles-based T.R. Goodman, who had future Hall of Famers Chris Chelios, Rob Blake and many other NHL players among his clients.

‘That was the very first time I went through a workout,’ Simon told USA TODAY Sports that season. ‘Unfortunately, I haven’t been a guy that believed in working out. I’ve totally changed my attitude toward training. It took me a year to learn how to do the things properly, and last year was just awesome training. I sort of took it to another level.”

He also played alongside future Hall of Fame playmaker Adam Oates that season. Teammates spent the final game of the regular season trying to set him up for a 30th goal.

George McPhee, the Capitals’ general manager in 1999-2000, argued that Simon had the best skill level of any tough guy in the league: ‘People see him first as a tough guy and they should, but he also has a lot of ability and can play the game any way he wants.’

Simon was asked if he believed that his tough reputation gave him a little more room on the ice. ‘I hope so,’ he said, laughing. ‘I took a lot of lumps and bruises earlier in my career.’

But Simon may be best known for his on-ice antics. Simon was suspended eight times during his career for a total of 65 games, including a 30-game suspension in December 2007 for stomping on an opponent’s foot.

Colin Campbell, the NHL’s disciplinarian at the time, said he was suspending Simon for the 30 games because he was a repeat offender.

‘I think we’ve been fairly kind, if that’s the proper use of the word, in assessing a low number of games in a couple of incidents,’ Campbell said. ‘It just hasn’t been a deterrent. So what is a deterrent? I’m hoping the 30 games, which takes him into February, and the actual help he’s going to get (through) counseling (will be).’

So, you’re going to watch women’s March Madness. 

Is this your first time? If so, welcome. The women’s game is growing at a rapid rate, and we’re happy to have you here. You’ve picked a great time to join the party, given the star power of players like Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese, who are playing in their last March Madness. But don’t worry, there’s plenty of young superstars in the game too, from JuJu Watkins (Southern Cal) to Hannah Hidalgo (Notre Dame) to Madison Booker (Texas) and a whole host of others. 

Filling out men’s brackets has always been par for the course but this year, nearly every bracket competition has seen a significant uptick in people filling out women’s brackets. There’s no question the women’s tournament is going to shine this year — maybe even outshine the men’s — and we’re here to help you enjoy it. So let’s talk semantics, so you can have the best women’s tournament viewing experience possible. 

You, or your local bar, must subscribe to ESPN in some capacity

I know we’re all in our cable cord-cutting era — except for me, my Xfinity bill is absurd, and I blame Larry Scott and the Pac-12 Network — but the reality is, if you want to watch the women’s tournament, you have to have access to ESPN. And not just regular ESPN but ESPN2, ESPNU and ESPNews. A handful of games, including the championship, will be broadcast on ABC, which is part of the Disney/ESPN family. The Wide World of Sports goes all out for the women’s tourney and, knowing there’s more interest than ever this year, has done a better job than in tournaments past of spreading out tip times, so we’ll get our fill of hoops from morning to night. 

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You will want a direct line to ESPN — don’t be bootlegging this — or you’ll fall behind and X, the artist formerly known as Twitter, will inevitably spoil it for you. 

And if you decide you’re going to watch games at a sports bar — a fun but cripplingly expensive endeavor — make sure the bar shows women’s games. If they don’t, make a scene. One way to avoid this fiasco would be to select a bar that only shows women’s sports (yes, those exist, and the trolls are unhappy about it). 

Finally, please do not be dumb enough to do something like watch games at a bar known for hosting Iowa graduates and then root against Caitlin Clark. Ditto with a South Carolina bar where you want to root against the top-ranked and undefeated Gamecocks. Doing either of these things will not end well for you, personally or professionally. Don’t say I didn’t warn you. 

Second screens are your friend

I know that many people love juggling multiple screens. Personally, I’m a screen monogamist; I get stressed out trying to track multiple games at once. Maybe this makes me old, but that’s a story for another day. 

During the NCAA Tournament though, second screens become necessary. I mean, how else are you going to keep tabs on Clark while watching if FGCU can pull off the 12-5 upset over Oklahoma? (One of these days I’m going to pick an FGCU upset and be right. Ditto for UNLV.) 

If you can, I suggest a second screen that’s not your phone or personal computer, because you’re probably going to be texting your friends about your bracket going up in flames and looking things up on the internet like, how many points has Clark scored in the NCAA Tournament? Personally, I like to have my regular TV and my iPad mini handy. I’d also encourage you to consider using your work computer to stream games because let’s be real, you’re not going to actually work anyway. 

Snack wisely, and avoid empty calories

Remember, this is a marathon, not a sprint, and you’re going to need your energy. That means protein-packed snacks that can help you stay alert for a full day of games: peanut butter-filled pretzels, protein bars and trail mix are some of my favorite go-tos. I know Cheez-Its are delicious, but that’s a whole lot of empty carb calories. You might be tempted to nap after chowing down a box of those, and we have no time for sleeping.

A word to the wise: Make your grocery run the day before games start, so you’re ready. And plan your caffeine intake accordingly. You’re probably going to need a pick-me-up at 3 p.m. your time. Coffee delivery is usually available, too. 

Walk the dog before games start. Trust me. 

Every year, it’s the same thing. I tell myself I’ll take my pup for a walk between games. Teams get 20 minutes of warm up time, which means I can use that time, too, right? Wrong. Inevitably I spent those 20 minutes 1) watching another game that’s suddenly and inexplicably going down to the wire; 2) trying to learn all about a high-scoring guard I hadn’t previously heard of; or 3) frantically searching social media for injury updates. Because this is women’s college basketball, surely there will be one (or two or 17) officiating controversies, so I’ll also be searching the Internet for information and reaction on that. 

The point is, do yourself a favor, get up a little earlier, get away from your screens and get outside. You’ll appreciate it later when you’ve spent 14 straight hours glued to the couch, and so will your dog. Bonus points if your dog is wearing some sort of clothing supporting your favorite team. 

Have numbers ready for the trolls

No, not your cell number — don’t be giving that out to anyone who’s mocking women’s basketball. They definitely don’t deserve you. I’m talking stats. If history is any indication, at some point over the next three weeks, someone will clap back at your excitement with the highly unoriginal “no one watches/cares about women’s sports.” 

Now, remember that the chief emotion you should feel for these people is pity, because they clearly have very little in their lives. But first, thank them for the opportunity to educate everyone. Share the numbers from last year’s title game, which peaked at 12.6 million viewers, and mention the fact that Clark doesn’t just break scoring records, but TV records, too. Encourage them to take our Clark quiz and when they inevitably get “you might be a women’s sports hater,” nod knowingly and call out, “Predictable!” Ask them if they also think they could beat Clark in H-O-R-S-E (of course they do). 

Finally, while I can’t endorse pouring someone’s drink on top of their head, I can’t stop you from doing it, either. Just remember to tip the bartender well, cause they probably have to deal with this sexist jerk all the time. And if it’s a woman bartender, tip her double.

Who is Dalton Knecht? Well, he just might be one of the breakout players of March Madness.

Knecht (pronounced like ‘connect’) is the leading scorer for the Tennessee Volunteers – in fact, he was one of the leading scorers in men’s college basketball this season, averaging 21.1 points per game. His impressive 2023-24 campaign helped the Vols snag the Midwest Region’s No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament.

Given that he’s a fresh face to March Madness, here’s everything you need to know about the Tennessee star:

Dalton Knecht height, weight

Tennessee lists Knecht as 6-foot-6 and says he weighs 213 pounds.

IT’S BRACKET MADNESS: Enter USA TODAY’s NCAA tournament bracket contest for a chance at $1 million prize.

Dalton Knecht stats

Knecht averaged 21.1 points on 46.5% shooting from the field this season. He hit 39.7% of his 3-point attempts and shot 76.4% from the free throw line. He averaged 4.7 rebounds per game and 1.8 assists.

His 21.1 points per game is tied for 14th best in Division I.

He dropped a season (and Division I career high) 40 points in a setback against Kentucky on March 9. He has six other games of at least 30 points this season.

Dalton Knecht awards

The biggest honors on Knecht’s mantle so far: He was named the 2023-24 SEC Player of the Year and an Associated Press First Team All-American.

Where did Dalton Knecht play before Tennessee?

After graduating from Prairie View High School in Henderson, Colorado, Knecht stayed in the state and spent two years at Northeastern Junior College. He landed at Northern Colorado in 2021, and spent two seasons with the Bears. He was the leading scorer in the Big Sky Conference in 2022-23 after averaging 20.2 points per game.

After completing his degree in communications, Knecht transferred to Tennessee in the spring of 2023.

Tennessee’s first March Madness game

Knecht and the Volunteers will begin their NCAA Tournament journey Thursday against No. 15 seed Saint Peter’s. The game is roughly scheduled to tip around 9:20 p.m. ET.

The Notre Dame women’s basketball team is going dancing.

‘LIKE THAT!!! You were amazing,’ said Notre Dame coach Niele Ivy, who last led the Fighting Irish to a national championship in 2018. ‘Congrats Hannah. So proud.’

The ACC tournament accolades are just the tip of the iceberg for Hidalgo, whose stellar freshman campaign has also earned her national recognition. Here’s everything to know about the freshman standout:

Who is Hannah Hidalgo?

Hidalgo, 19, is a freshman guard for Notre Dame.

IT’S BRACKET MADNESS: Enter USA TODAY’s NCAA tournament bracket contest for a chance at $1 million prize.

Where is Hannah Hidalgo from?

Hidalgo is a New Jersey native and played basketball at Paul VI High School in Haddonfield, New Jersey under her father Orlando Hidalgo, who serves as the head coach for the girl’s basketball team. Hidalgo averaged 28.8 points, 7.3 steals, 6.4 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game during her senior season and was named the New Jersey Gatorade Player of the Year. Hidalgo participated in the 2023 McDonald’s All-American Game and was named co-MVP alongside JuJu Watkins (USC).

Hidalgo was a five-star recruit coming our of high school and ranked as the No. 5 player in ESPN’s 2023 class. She committed to Notre Dame after receiving offers from Michigan, Stanford, Duke, Ohio State and UCF.

Hannah Hidalgo’s stats

In her freshman year, Hidalgo averaged 23.3 points, 6.4 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 4.6 steals in 32 games this season, while shooting 45.3% from the field. She leads the ACC in scoring (23.3 points per game) this season and tops the nation in steals (147) and steals per game (4.59).

Hannah Hidalgo’s awards

Hidalgo was named the ACC defensive player of the year and ACC rookie of the year following her impressive freshman campaign. She becomes only the second player to win both honors in the same year, joining former Duke standout Elizbeth Williams in 2012. Hidalgo was named to the All-ACC first team, All-Defensive Team and All-Freshman Team.

Does Hannah Hidalgo play on the national team?

Hidalgo’s awards don’t stop there. She won gold with the U.S. women’s national under-17 basketball team at the 2022 FIBA U17 Women’s Basketball World Cup in Hungary, where she averaged 7.7 points, 2.9 assists and 2.6 steals per game in the national team’s 7-0 run.

She won gold again at the 2023 FIBA U19 Women’s Basketball World Cup in Spain, where she averaged 10.7 points, 5.4 assists, 3.4 rebounds per game and 3.1 steals and was named to the all-tournament team. Hidalgo was also named the 2023 USA Basketball Female Athlete of the Year at age 18, becoming only the second teenager to win the honor.

Notre Dame’s next game in NCAA Tournament

Hidalgo and the Fighting Irish are the Albany Regional 1’s No. 2 seed. Their first opponent will be Kent State (21-10), whom they will play Saturday, March 23 at Purcell Pavilion in South Bend, Indiana. The winner of that game will take on the winner of No. 7 Ole Miss vs. No. 10 Marquette.

The No. 1 seed in Notre Dame’s region is undefeated South Carolina, which they would not have to play until the regional final.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – The San Francisco Giants may not win the World Series this year, or perhaps not even make the postseason, but, oh, did they ever run away with the free-agent patience award.

Spring training started, they sat back, never panicked, and simply waited for the free-agent market to come to them.

They were never going to give Gold Glove third baseman Matt Chapman $125 million as the Toronto Blue Jays once offered, so they waited for the market to dry up, and pounced, getting him on a three-year, $80 million contract.

For the encore, they pulled out the same script for Cy Young winner Blake Snell. They would have let Snell go to the Yankees without a counter-offer when they offered him a six-year, $150 million contract last month. They weren’t going to get into a bidding war with the Houston Astros.

Instead, they watched the Yankees completely drop out of the bidding, declining to even make an offer on Sunday when asked if they wanted to make a last-ditch bid. The Astros, who exchanged proposals last week with Snell and agent Scott Boras, were offering only a two-year deal for less than $50 million, and declined Snell and agent Scott Boras’ two-year, $66 million proposal.

HOT STOVE UPDATES: MLB free agency: Ranking and tracking the top players available.

Ultimately, the Giants patiently waited and snagged him at just $62 million over two years – $110 million less of a guarantee than Aaron Nola received from the Philadelphia Phillies.

It was just less than five years ago when Gerrit Cole received a nine-year, $324 million contract from the Yankees and Stephen Strasburg got a seven-year, $245 million free-agent deal from the Washington Nationals.

Yet, the market never materialized for Snell, who originally was seeking a nine-year, $270 contract.

Even if teams were hesitant to bid on Snell considering he has pitched more than 130 innings only twice in his caree, and walked five batters per nine innings last season, it’s a steal. Who cares if Snell opts out after the season? It just means that he had a great year and believes he’ll be worth more than $30 million in next year’s open market. If he doesn’t opt out, it means he stunk.

The Giants are paying him just $15 million this season, a $17 million signing bonus on Jan. 15, 2026, and a $30 million player option in 2025.

“The Giants got an absolute gift,’ one rival executive told USA TODAY Sports.

Just like that, the Giants are a legitimate playoff contender again in the grueling NL West, with a starting rotation that could scare the daylights out of everyone.

“Obviously, we’d like to have had him right in the beginning of camp,’ said Giants starter Alex Cobb, who played with Snell in Tampa, “but the momentum that we’re going to have as a team going into Opening Day knowing that we’ve got a rotation that has the potential it has, is lifting everyone up. Hitters. The staff. Bullpen. Defense. Everyone’s just got a shot of adrenaline.’

They’ll open the season with the top two finishers in the 2023 NL Cy Young race in Snell and Logan Webb.

They’ll have the 2021 AL Cy Young winner, Robbie Ray, back sometime this summer from Tommy John surgery. They have Cobb, their 2023 All-Star, expected back in late April, recovering from hip surgery.

They have one of the top left-handed prospects in baseball in Kyle Harrison.

And they have plenty of depth with Jordan Hicks, Mason Black, Carson Whisenhunt, Landen Roupp and Kai-Wei Teng.

The Giants, along with just about everyone else in that clubhouse, was ecstatic with the news .

“The first thing that popped in my head,’ Giants outfielder Mike Yastrzemski said, “was that I’m just very glad that I do not have to face him, or don’t have to be put on the bench when he’s pitching.’

Indeed, Snell has a career 5-1 record and 1.61 ERA against the Giants. He has been dominant against the rest of the NL West, too, going 5-1 with a 1.11 ERA against Arizona, 3-2 with a 3.60 against Colorado, 2-2 with a 2.59 ERA against the Dodgers and 1-0 with a 1.80 ERA against San Diego.

“You look at our division, and there’s not too many guys that have had a ton of success,’ Yastrzemski said, “so to have somebody who has a clear track record of success is definitely helpful.’

The bar has now been raised in San Francisco.

“It obviously doesn’t guarantee anything,’ Yastrzemski said, “but it’s something that obviously we’re happy to see that the front office has been really making a push to make this team the best it can. It’s a great addition.’

Sure, the Giants are not as good as the Los Angeles Dodgers. Probably not Atlanta or the Philadelphia Phillies either. Yet, they’ll take their chances going head-to-head with the Arizona Diamondbacks and San Diego to claim at least a wild-card berth.

You don’t dish out $415 million in free agency and trade obligations, sign manager Bob Melvin away from the Padres, and don’t expect to be playing in October.

Let’s see, they signed free-agent center fielder Jung Hoo Lee for $113 million.

They signed DH Jorge Soler for $42 million and Jordan Hicks for $44 million.

They traded for Ray from the Seattle Mariners, taking on $74 million in salary.

They got Chapman for $80 million. And now Snell for $62 million.

Gone are the openers, all of the platoons, and a disgruntled clubhouse.

They’re exceeding the first luxury tax ($237 million in 2024) for the first time since 2017, and may even reach the next threshold of $257 million. They also forfeited their second and third picks in the draft, along with $1 million in international money, the first time they’ve given up multiple draft picks since 2005.

Hey, when you win three World Series in five years, and have now gone a decade without another, you get a little antsy.

“I’ll be honest with you,’ Webb said, “I was excited about our team even before we got those guys. But obviously, when you add two talents like that, the excitement goes up. The rotation, I thought it was going to be fantastic, and then you add a two-time Cy Young award winner, I think the sky’s the limit.’

Certainly, there are no guarantees with Snell. He went 13-3 with a 1.20 ERA in his last 23 starts, yielding just a .156 batting average, but also opened the season with a 1-6 record and 5.40 ERA, becoming the first pitcher to win the Cy Young while leading the league in walks since 1959. But in his career he’s averaging 11.1 strikeouts per nine innings and is yielding a .214 batting average, the second-best among lefties to only Dodgers three-time Cy Young winner Clayton Kershaw (.209).

“If you look at his track record,’ Melvin said, “there’s always a little bit of a slow start for him. But once you got deeper into the season, there were a lot of things out there for him. ERA crown. Cy Young. He was going to be a free agent. He was very motivated.

“It was truly remarkable to see.’

The Giants hope that Snell, despite missing all but one week of spring training, will still be able to open the season on time. He threw 63 pitches in four simulated innings Saturday at Shoreline Community College in Seattle after also throwing in Southern California.

Still, they’ll err on the side of caution, knowing that even though he’s been throwing on the side, it’s not the same as facing hitters in spring training.

Cobb, who missed most of spring training when he didn’t sign his free-agent contract with the Baltimore Orioles until March 20, 2018, badly struggled that year. He was 2-12 with a 6.41 ERA the first half of the season and wound up with a 5-15 record and 4.90 ERA.

“I was training like normal,’ Cobb said, “but I was definitely not extending myself to a place where I could potentially get hurt. When you have a contract, and you know you’re going to be OK if something happens physically, it’s different.

“The intensity levels were different, so throwing a bullpen once every three or four days in the offseason was not getting me to the speed where I needed to be … I just wasn’t ready and it took me took me three months probably to get rid of that negative momentum.

“Getting up to game speed is a challenge.’

The Giants will soon find out how long it will take for Snell to make the adjustment, but for now, they’ve got another Cy Young award winner in their rotation, and their price, with postseason dreams dancing in their heads.

“Obviously, adding Chappy and Snell give us a lot better chance,’ Yastrzemski said. “I don’t want to get too far ahead of myself, and talk any further, but I’m very excited about the team that we have. …

“It’s creating buzz and a lot of attention.

“I think it’s good for the game.’

Just maybe not for the rest of the NL West.

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It’s been a week since the NFL free agent market unofficially opened, and it didn’t take long for most of the prominent players on expiring contracts to signal where they’d be playing in 2024 (and, likely, beyond). Those decisions, and others that have trickled down since, have drastically reshaped the direction of next month’s draft – some clubs filling apparent needs, while new ones opened elsewhere.

Friday, a development directly impacting the first round emerged, the Vikings acquiring a second Round 1 choice from the Texans – though that could be a precursor to another move given Minnesota now has a long-term issue at quarterback following Kirk Cousins’ departure.

Moving forward, there are still a handful of significant free agents who could further shift draft strategies. And, if history is any indicator, another pre-draft trade or two – whether involving players and/or high-end picks – will further alter the landscape. But here’s the latest prognostication with the league’s signature offseason event just five weeks away:

1. Chicago Bears (from Carolina Panthers): QB Caleb Williams, USC

As if there was ever a mystery, previous QB1 Justin Fields was traded over the weekend for 10 cents on the dollar, clearing the way for GM Ryan Poles to replace him – presumably with Williams, the 2022 Heisman Trophy winner. His arm, vision, ability to make off-platform throws and otherwise vast potential make him tantalizing – Williams loosely compares himself to Aaron Rodgers, from a football perspective, rather than Patrick Mahomes. Williams is also a red-zone weapon (21 rushing TDs over the past two seasons) but typically uses his mobility to extend plays rather than break the pocket, passing for 72 TDs and more than 8,000 yards in two seasons with the Trojans. He’ll have to learn to protect the ball better and when to give up on bad plays, but Williams could soon be the linchpin of a Chicago revival … and throwing to WRs DJ Moore and Keenan Allen should provide a nice initiation. Also, bringing in a rookie quarterback resets the contractual clock at the position and allows Poles to continue loading up the rest of his roster – even after re-signing CB Jaylon Johnson and adding S Kevin Byard, RB D’Andre Swift and Allen. (And what Fields must’ve thought about all of that …)

NFL STATS CENTRAL: The latest NFL scores, schedules, odds, stats and more.

2. Washington Commanders: QB Jayden Daniels, LSU

As if there was ever a mystery, previous QB1 Sam Howell (traded to Seattle) and QB2 Jacoby Brissett (signed with New England) are gone, leaving journeyman Jake Fromm as the only passer currently on the roster – though veteran Marcus Mariota is apparently on the way. Daniels, the 2023 Heisman winner, didn’t work out at the league’s scouting combine but will draw scores of eyes at LSU’s pro day next week. He’s already saddled with the unfortunate burden of being compared to two-time NFL MVP Lamar Jackson, which includes concerns about how well (or willing) Daniels will be to protect his slender frame – and D.C. fans can easily remember Robert Griffin III’s unrecoverable breakdown near the end of his 2012 Offensive Rookie of the Year campaign. But credit Daniels, whose decision-making (40 TD passes, 4 INTs last season), accuracy, touch and processing speed all seem well ahead of Jackson and RG3 at similar points in their development. And then there’s that eye-popping ability to run (2,019 yards, 22 TDs over past two seasons) that separates Daniels among his QB peers this year. He could (should?) nicely plug into new OC Kliff Kingsbury’s offense, which got blocking upgrades in free agency – though the unit could still use a proven left tackle.

3. Minnesota Vikings [PROJECTED TRADE with New England Patriots]: QB Drake Maye, North Carolina

Plenty to unpack here, so pay attention. First, this operates from the assumption the Vikes will make one more trade in the near future in a bid to backfill the loss of Cousins beyond the short-term signing of Sam Darnold. And while such a move this far closely approximates what the 49ers did three years ago to jump into position for QB Trey Lance – and we know how that worked out – Minnesota likely wouldn’t have to pony up three first-rounders since it can now offer two this year, something San Francisco couldn’t. Currently, the Vikings’ next pick after Round 1 is in the fourth – meaning multiple mid-round picks in 2025 should be enough to consummate such a deal, and that would seem to be quite sensible for new Pats director of scouting Eliot Wolf given the numerous holes on his roster. New England currently doesn’t seem much better positioned to support a young quarterback than it did when Mac Jones was there, so why not kick the QB can down the road a bit and roll with Brissett for now?

As for Minnesota, this is partially an exercise in connecting dots, a draft tradition like no other. (For what it’s worth, it’s also an exercise in addressing a position key to the future of All-Pro WR Justin Jefferson, who’s headed into the final season of his rookie deal.) Newly hired quarterbacks coach Josh McCown – he played in the league for nearly two decades – was not only a teammate of Darnold’s with the Jets, he coached Maye at Myers Park High School in Charlotte. From there, Maye went on to stardom at UNC, where was the ACC Player of the Year in 2022. His huge arm and ability to be a bruising runner outside the pocket on his best days already evoke mentions of Josh Allen and Justin Herbert. OK, fine – he did have a nearly four-to-one TD-to-INT ratio in college and ran for 16 scores over the past two years. But like Allen, his college tape leaves something to be desired at times, particularly last season – when, admittedly, his supporting cast in Chapel Hill wasn’t as good. Still, Maye is sharp with a serious array of tools and certainly compelling enough to be in the conversation for Washington, too.

4. Arizona Cardinals: WR Marvin Harrison Jr., Ohio State

Arguably this draft’s best player, this has felt like the spot all along for Harrison – and only more so following WR Hollywood Brown’s defection to Kansas City. The 2023 Biletnikoff winner and two-time All-American with Hall of Fame bloodlines, Harrison averaged better than 1,200 receiving yards and 14 TDs over the past two seasons and might be the best product issuing from what seems like a Buckeyes receiving assembly line. The 6-3, 209-pounder combines size and speed with silky route running, the ability to separate and catch contested balls and would likely quickly emerge as Kyler Murray’s No. 1 target – something the quarterback hasn’t really had from the wideout position following the departure of DeAndre Hopkins last year.

5. Los Angeles Chargers: WR Rome Odunze, Washington

Spectacular as Harrison is, plenty of proponents for Odunze, an All-American last year and All-Pac-12 member the past two. Whether or not recently released Mike Williams re-signs with the Bolts, the trade of WR1 Keenan Allen leaves a sizable void – especially when factoring in the losses of RB Austin Ekeler and TE Gerald Everett. Aside from the fact Odunze might be the best player available in this scenario – and one who could directly support Herbert – he’s also fresh off embracing the combine grind, running a 4.45-second 40-yard dash while acing the gauntlet and looking every bit the part of a potential All-Pro down the line. The 6-3, 212-pounder has a sterling off-field reputation plus the ball skills and production (92 catches, for 1,640 yards, 13 TDs in 2023) to readily supplant Allen, who could never run like Odunze.

6. New York Giants: QB J.J. McCarthy, Michigan

Yes, QB Daniel Jones is still in the Jersey swamps, and the G-Men just signed Drew Lock to a one-year deal. No matter. Despite his relatively low usage in the passing game at Ann Arbor – where he was surrounded by a tremendous supporting cast on both sides of the ball – McCarthy’s stock seems to continue skyrocketing. Why? Demeanor, accuracy, leadership, athleticism, high ceiling, exquisite – yes – game management. And he’s a winner (27-1 record with the Wolverines). This situation would also make sense insomuch as McCarthy could redshirt behind Lock and Jones, whom the Giants can easily cut next offseason – or trade if he plays well in Year 2 of his four-year, $160 million contract. And given what Fields had to cope with in Chicago, why not take McCarthy and keep the shrink wrap on until GM Joe Schoen can get Big Blue’s supporting cast in order?

7. Tennessee Titans: OT Joe Alt, Notre Dame

The massive (6-9, 321), unanimous 2023 All-American – and son of legendary Chiefs lineman John Alt – is widely regarded as the best blocker in this draft. And given the Titans addressed the offensive skill positions in free agency (WR Calvin Ridley, RB Tony Pollard), may as well continue leveling up the line after they made LG Peter Skoronski their first-round pick in 2023. So let’s drop Alt in next to him in a bid to continue improving the protection around second-year QB Will Levis. And don’t forget, new HC Brian Callahan hired his father, legendary O-line coach Bill Callahan, to remediate a front five that surrendered 64 sacks in 2023, tied for most in the AFC.

8. Atlanta Falcons: OLB Dallas Turner, Alabama

The offense pretty much appears to be a turnkey operation now that Cousins is aboard to ignite it. Defensively? Not so much. The unit returns just one player, OLB Arnold Ebiketie, who had more than four sacks in 2023 – and he had all of six in his second season. Turner, Co-Defensive Player of the Year in the SEC last season while racking up 10 sacks, may well be this draft’s premier defensive prospect.

9. Bears: WR Malik Nabers, LSU

Luxury pick, you say? If he’s still on the board, the value seems exceptional. And while Keenan Allen was a sweet pickup – especially at the cost of a fourth-rounder – he’ll be 32 by Week 1, hasn’t played a full season since 2019 and isn’t under contract beyond this one. Daniels’ primary target the past two seasons in Baton Rouge, Nabers really blossomed during a 2023 All-American campaign, when he caught 89 balls for 1,569 yards and 14 TDs. Could be ideal to give him a lighter load – though it’s not like Chicago’s receiving corps is all that deep – and learn from Allen and DJ Moore before planning a heavier role in 2025.

10. New York Jets: TE Brock Bowers, Georgia

GM Joe Douglas found three new starters for his offensive line during free agency, notably new LT Tyron Smith. Now it’s time to find another downfield weapon for QB Aaron Rodgers, one who can make an immediate impact for a club clearly in win-now mode (and with a leadership team collectively fighting to remain employed in 2025). Despite being limited by an ankle injury for a good chunk of the 2023 season, Bowers, the only two-time Mackey Award winner ever, had 26 TD catches during his three-year college career and averaged nearly 60 grabs for 850 yards as the rare player at his position who could dominate a game offensively – sometimes as a ball carrier. He’d be quite a run-after-catch threat between the hashes with WR Garrett Wilson operating outside and RB Breece Hall holding defenders in the box.

11. Patriots [PROJECTED TRADE with Vikings]: OL Taliese Fuaga, Oregon State

Better not to force a quarterback here, which is also the presumption for their potential willingness to vacate the No. 3 spot. A right tackle for the Beavers, Fuaga is excellent in pass protection and especially nasty as a run blocker. He’ll be the first Round 1 O-lineman in Oregon State’s history and can probably play anywhere up front aside from center – and it would hardly be a shock if Wolf’s rebuild began in the trenches.

12. Denver Broncos: QB Bo Nix, Oregon

They were only too willing to eat Russell Wilson’s high-calorie contract, but Jarrett Stidham and Ben DiNucci seem like a crash diet. Nix has the accuracy – yes, some of his record 77.5% completion rate in 2023 was juiced by the Ducks’ offense – coach Sean Payton values, plus a nose for the goal line (38 rushing TDs in five college seasons). And with an FBS-record 61 starts under his belt, rookie passers don’t come much more plug-and-play than Nix would.

13. Las Vegas Raiders: CB Quinyon Mitchell, Toledo

He’s got size (6-0, 195), blazing speed (4.33 40 time) and ball skills, two of his six interceptions over the past two seasons turned into pick-sixes. Those are classic Silver and Black traits, but it’s also where the defensive need lies after Vegas invested so heavily in DT Christian Wilkins during free agency.

14. New Orleans Saints: OL Troy Fautanu, Washington

With 2022 first-round LT Trevor Penning quickly trending toward bust territory, might be time to snatch a replacement like the All-Pac-12 performer with the sweet feet. Fautanu was the Huskies’ left tackle the past two seasons but has also played guard. The Saints need to safeguard QB Derek Carr, something that didn’t happen often enough in 2023, in a division where it appears a lot more points will be needed to win in 2024.

15. Indianapolis Colts: DT Byron Murphy II, Texas

DeForest Buckner just turned 30 and is entering the final year of his contract. And though he may still be near his peak, why not bolster the havoc you can create on the inside by enlisting someone like Murphy at what has arguably become the league’s most coveted defensive position. No quicker path to the likes of C.J. Stroud and Trevor Lawrence than right up the gut.

16. Seattle Seahawks: OT JC Latham, Alabama

The All-SEC right tackle, who has experience at guard, simply helps a weak offensive line somewhere given new HC Mike Macdonald’s intent to run the ball more effectively and extensively.

17. Pittsburgh Steelers [PROJECTED TRADE with Jacksonville Jaguars]: CB Terrion Arnold, Alabama

Somehow, they had a middle-of-the road pass defense despite the presence of T.J. Watt, Cam Heyward and Alex Highsmith up front. Arnold feels like a Steel City guy – confident, productive and tough, including a willingness to tackle, even if he doesn’t possess Mitchell’s elite speed. Despite the trade for Donte Jackson, who’s got one year left on his contract, Pittsburgh still needs help at corner after saying goodbye to Patrick Peterson and others. Arnold and Joey Porter Jr. would make a nice long-term tandem.

18. Cincinnati Bengals: WR Brian Thomas Jr., LSU

The 6-3, 209-pounder put down a 4.33 40 at the combine in the wake of a season when he had 1,177 yards on 68 catches – a quarter of those receptions resulting in TDs. With Tyler Boyd unsigned and franchise-tagged Tee Higgins seeking a trade, good time to find a new Robin for Cincy’s Ja’Marr Chase, a Bayou Bengal himself.

19. Los Angeles Rams: DT Johnny Newton, Illinois

You’re never going to replace Aaron Donald with one guy. Impossible. But … the Big Ten’s reigning Defensive Player of the Year, who’s 6-2 and 304 pounds, is strong, fairly twitchy and kinda built like Donald. Newton could be the nice start of an AD by committee.

20. Jaguars [PROJECTED TRADE with Steelers]: DE Jared Verse, Florida State

You can never have too many athletic, bendy pass rushers in the NFL. That’s especially true if your best one (Josh Allen) is on the franchise tag while former No. 1 overall pick Travon Walker is still trying to live up to that label. Verse was a first-team All-American during both of his seasons with the Seminoles, registering nine sacks in each.

21. Miami Dolphins: OL Graham Barton, Duke

A left tackle for the Blue Devils, the two-time All-ACC selection is likely headed inside in the NFL due to his relatively short arms. And the Fins could use help there after losing Connor Williams, apparently, and Robert Hunt during free agency.

22. Philadelphia Eagles: CB Ennis Rakestraw Jr., Missouri

Offensive line – between the tackles – could be a consideration following C Jason Kelce’s retirement. But EVP/GM Howie Roseman knows his defense needs attention and knows starting CBs Darius Slay and James Bradberry are north of 30. Rakestraw’s physical style would resonate nicely in Philly.

23. Patriots [PROJECTED TRADE with Cleveland Browns via Houston Texans and Vikings]: OT Olumuyiwa Fashanu, Penn State

To quickly recap, this is New England’s second first-rounder as part of the Maye deal with Minnesota. (The selection also represents the final first-rounder to switch hands as part of the Browns-Texans deal involving Deshaun Watson.) And, yes, we slotted a tackle (Fuaga) to the Pats at No. 11. So? Bookending him with the Nittany Lions’ 2023 All-American – and around recently re-signed OL Mike Onwenu – would prime this offense for whenever it’s time to drop in the next franchise passer. And though Onwenu might be headed back to right tackle, per NFL Network, free agency tells you guards are just as valuable, and he’s equally reliable inside.

24. Dallas Cowboys: OL Jackson Powers-Johnson, Oregon

The 2023 Rimington Trophy winner as the country’s best college center, “JPJ” – who excels as a run and pass blocker – could replace departed C Tyler Biadasz or slide one spot to the left and allow LG Tyler Smith to kick out to the longtime post vacated by LT Tyron Smith. Also worth noting, RG Zack Martin is out of contract in 2025.

25. Green Bay Packers: OT Tyler Guyton, Oklahoma

The former tight end would bring high-end potential and flexibility to a line that’s lost LT David Bakhtiari and G Jon Runyan Jr.

26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: DE Laiatu Latu, UCLA

The Pac-12’s defensive player of the year in 2023, when he also earned the Lombardi Award and Ted Hendricks Award for being the country’s best collegiate defensive end after posting an FBS-best 1.8 tackles for loss per game, he racked up 35 TFLs, 23½ sacks, five forced fumbles and a pair of interceptions in two seasons with the Bruins. Latu would love to reunite with Bucs OLB Joe Tryon-Shoyinka, previously his teammate at the University of Washington, and could fill the breach left by departed Shaq Barrett.

27. Cardinals (from Texans): DB Cooper DeJean, Iowa

A souped-up athlete and 2023 All-American who was named the Big Ten’s top defensive back last season, DeJean can play pretty much anywhere in the secondary – convenient for a defense that needs help throughout the back end and, perhaps, a successor for S Budda Baker fairly soon. DeJean can also help as a returner on special teams.

28. Buffalo Bills: DE Chop Robinson, Penn State

His eye-popping athleticism – the 6-3, 254-pounder ran a sub-4.5 40 at the combine – doesn’t necessarily align with his production, which included 9½ sacks and 17½ TFLs in two seasons with the Nittany Lions. But he’d replenish the depth of a Buffalo defense that lost a lot in free agency and could hone his craft under the tutelage of veteran LB Von Miller.

29. Detroit Lions: WR Adonai Mitchell, Texas

How about just one more playmaker for this offense? Mitchell is plenty big (6-2, 205) and exceptionally fast (4.34 40 time), a combo that could nicely complement WRs Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams, who continues to struggle while trying to justify his first-round billing from 2022. A Georgia transfer, Mitchell found the end zone 11 times during his only season with the Longhorns.

30. Baltimore Ravens: OT Amarius Mims, Georgia

A right tackle who already knows OC Todd Monken’s playbook, Mims’ 87-inch wingspan and 6-8, 340-pound frame help him block out the sun. He could start straight away following the trade of RT Morgan Moses to the Jets.

31: San Francisco 49ers: DL Darius Robinson, Missouri

The NFC champs need to reload a defensive front that’s lost DE Chase Young, DT Arik Armstead and primary backups like Javon Kinlaw and Clelin Ferrell. Robinson, a 6-5, 285-pound All-SEC selection, has the size and athleticism to play inside or out while thriving against the run or pass – especially if given the opportunity to develop alongside proven players like Nick Bosa and Javon Hargrave.

32. Kansas City Chiefs: OT Jordan Morgan, Arizona

It would be fun to give the champs a toy like Texas WR Xavier Worthy, who set the combine record with a 4.21 40-yard dash. But there’s currently a gaping hole on QB Patrick Mahomes’ blind side. Too big a need to ignore unless LT Donovan Smith re-signs or HC Andy Reid and GM Brett Veach come up with an even better answer in the interim. Barring that, Morgan could be a good one.

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Follow USA TODAY Sports’ Nate Davis on X, formerly Twitter @ByNateDavis.