Colorado safety Shilo Sanders did not get selected in the NFL draft this week but revealed after the draft Saturday that he has agreed to join the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as a free agent.

Sanders, the middle son of Colorado coach Deion Sanders, held his phone and monitored the final picks of the seven-round draft Saturday hoping he’d get selected, as documented by his livestream on Twitch. But after not getting drafted, he had more freedom to decide which team to join.

Shilo’s younger brother Shedeur, a quarterback, was picked in the fifth round by the Cleveland Browns the same day after previously being projected by many draft experts to be a first-round pick.

“Both of y’all, you’re resilient,” Deion Sanders told his sons Saturday.

“They tested us this draft,” Shilo said, as shown on Twitch.

“They tested the whole family,” Deion Sanders said.

“I’m thankful,” Deion Sanders later added. “Tampa’s a wonderful spot.”

Shilo Sanders led the Buffaloes in tackles in 2023 (70) and was their third-leading tackler last year (67) despite missing three games in 2024 with a broken forearm.

Even though he wasn’t projected to be a draft pick, Sanders is known as a hard hitter and ball hawk and is ripe for the NFL at age 25. He started his college career at South Carolina in 2019 before deciding to play for his father at Jackson State in 2021 and 2022 and then Colorado in 2023 and 2024.

Last year, he also rang up two pass breakups, two fumble recoveries, one sack, one forced fumble and a defensive touchdown.

“Turnovers win games,” Sanders wrote on X on April 22. “Somebody’s getting a dawg this week! Believe That.”

NFL Network analyst Brian Baldinger also praised Sanders’ potential before the draft on social media, noting he brings “56 games of experience and a lot of splash plays from the safety position” and is a “good open field tackler.”

Follow reporter Brent Schrotenboer @Schrotenboer. Email: bschrotenb@usatoday.com

The NASCAR Cup Series is back after a one-week break for Easter and it’s returning to the largest track on the schedule for the first of two visits this season.

Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama will host the Jack Link’s 500 on Sunday, April 27 as part of the NASCAR Cup Series, and it’ll headline a race weekend that also includes the Xfinity Series and ARCA Menards Series.

Denny Hamlin and Kyle Larson do not enter as the favorites to win Sunday’s Cup Series event despite splitting wins over the past four NASCAR races. Larson won most recently at the Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway. Tyler Reddick is the defending champion of this race, and Ryan Blaney has the most favorable odds as a three-time winner at Talladega.

NASCAR set a record the last time it raced here for the YellaWood 500 in October 2024 when 23 cars were involved in a late-race wreck. Nine different drivers have won the past nine NASCAR Cup Series races at Talladega. The eventual winner has started in the 10th position or worse in nine of the past 10 Cup Series races at Talladega, according to NASCAR.

Here’s all the information you need to get ready for the Jack Link’s 500 at Talladega Superspeedway:

What time does the NASCAR Cup race at Talladega start?

The Jack Link’s 500 starts at 3 p.m. ET Sunday, April 27 at Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama.

Will there be a live stream of the NASCAR Cup race at Talladega?

The Jack Link’s 500 can be live streamed on Max and the FoxSports app. Viewers can also stream the race on Fubo, which is offering a free trial to new subscribers.

Watch the Jack Link’s 500 with Fubo

How many laps is the NASCAR Cup race at Talladega?

The Jack Link’s 500 is 188 laps around the 2.66-mile oval for a total of 500 miles. The race will feature three segments (laps per stage) — Stage 1: 60 laps; Stage 2: 60 laps; Stage 3: 68 laps.

SCHEDULE: How to watch NASCAR Cup Series races in 2025

Who won the most recent NASCAR Cup races at Talladega?

Ricky Stenhouse Jr. won a wild playoff race in overtime on Oct. 6, 2024 despite not being playoff-eligible, narrowly beating Brad Keselowski and William Byron in an exciting three-wide finish. The ending was set up by a 23-car wreck that took out a large portion of the field with five laps to go.

During the 2024 Geico 500 that took place at Talladega Superspeedway one year ago, Tyler Reddick emerged from third place around the final corner of the race and passed race leader Michael McDowell for the win. It was the first time 23XI Racing team owner Michael Jordan was at the track when one of his drivers won a race.

What is the lineup for the Jack Link’s 500 at Talladega?

(Car number in parentheses)

(38) Zane Smith, Ford
(8) Kyle Busch, Chevrolet
(22) Joey Logano, Ford
(60) Ryan Preece, Ford
(3) Austin Dillon, Chevrolet
(17) Chris Buescher, Ford
(2) Austin Cindric, Ford
(21) Josh Berry, Ford
(12) Ryan Blaney, Ford
(54) Ty Gibbs, Toyota
(20) Christopher Bell, Toyota
(41) Cole Custer, Ford
(11) Denny Hamlin, Toyota
(71) Michael McDowell, Chevrolet
(34) Todd Gilliland, Ford
(24) William Byron, Chevrolet
(19) Chase Briscoe, Toyota
(48) Alex Bowman, Chevrolet
(16) AJ Allmendinger, Chevrolet
(23) Bubba Wallace, Toyota
(10) Ty Dillon, Chevrolet
(6) Brad Keselowski, Ford
(35) Riley Herbst, Toyota
(99) Daniel Suarez, Chevrolet
(5) Kyle Larson, Chevrolet
(45) Tyler Reddick, Toyota
(4) Noah Gragson, Ford
(77) Carson Hocevar, Chevrolet
(42) John H. Nemechek, Ford
(9) Chase Elliott, Chevrolet
(62) Anthony Alfredo, Chevrolet
(1) Ross Chastain, Chevrolet
(51) Cody Ware, Ford
(43) Erik Jones, Toyota
(47) Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Chevrolet
(88) Shane Van Gisbergen, Chevrolet
(7) Justin Haley, Chevrolet
(78) BJ McLeod, Chevrolet
(44) JJ Yeley, Chevrolet

INGLEWOOD, Calif. − Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon positioned himself to be the villain in the eyes of the Los Angeles Clippers’ home crowd Saturday night.

Gordon secured a 101-99 victory for the Nuggets with a putback dunk with .01 seconds left on the clock. Gordon had an opportunity to collect the rebound before the clock expired after Nikola Jokić’s 3-pointer fell short of the basket.

“Joker shot an airball and we weren’t expecting that,” Clippers coach Ty Lue said. “(Christian) Braun cut to the middle of the floor and James (Harden) and Norman (Powell) were in between trying to check with him and Gordon made a hell of a play. It is what it is.’

Gordon began running toward the tunnel as he celebrated, but was called back by teammates to stay on the court as officials reviewed the play.

The Clippers rallied from a 22-point deficit in the second half and even briefly held a one-point lead in the fourth quarter.

“It was tough, but I’m glad we fought and we didn’t lay down being down 20 in the fourth quarter,” Clippers star Kawhi Leonard said. “We kept fighting and rallied back. That’s the NBA. They made a great play.”

Powell was pivotal to the team’s comeback attempt, scoring nine points in the final period while going 3-for-3 from long range.

The matchup also featured a scuffle that led to six players receiving technical fouls after things got heated in the final seconds of the first half.

Braun and Harden exchanged words before a brief scuffle began. Braun was initially called for a personal foul. The two were seen earlier in the game getting chippy with one another.

Officials assigned techs to Harden, Powell and Kris Dunn of the Clippers after a review. Jokic, Gordon and Braun of Denver also received techs.

‘After the altercation, we went to the video review, and looking at all the angles, we felt everyone involved had an equitable role in the altercation,’ crew chief Zach Zarba said in a pool report after the game. ‘Due to that, they were all given equitable penalties.’

Gordon received consistent boos from Clippers fans throughout the second half when he touched the ball because Gordon’s hand made contact with Powell’s face.

In the moments after the scrum broke out, Gordon’s actions were shown on the Halo board at the Intuit Dome. Fans chanted, ‘Kick him out.’

The officials stated after the review that nobody would be ejected from the game, as nobody was seen on the replay throwing an intentional closed-fisted punch.

“They were aggressive, the way they were supposed to be, being down 2-1 (in the series),” Lue said of the Nuggets’ play in Game 4. “We didn’t meet that intensity until the fourth quarter. That’s just a lesson for us. We just have to stay the course and do what we have to do.”

Nuggets dealing with injuries

The Nuggets had a pair of players who were considered game-time decisions before the start of Game 4.

Michael Porter Jr. and Russell Westbrook are dealing with injuries.

Porter came out of the Nuggets’ locker room with the team and participated in the layup line. While he didn’t have a hoodie on like his teammates, he did have his game jersey on. There was a taped pad visible on his left shoulder.

Porter finished with 17 points, four rebounds and two assists in 42 minutes of play.

Nuggets guard Russell Westbrook did not play in Game 4 after he was initially a game-time decision. Westbrook was a limited participant in Game 3 on Thursday after being injured during pregame warmups. 

The former Clipper scored three points, and had a rebound and an assist in nine minutes of play. He shot 1-for-5 from the field (all attempts from the 3-point line).

Second-round opponent set

The winner of this series knows who’s next.

The Oklahoma City Thunder closed out their first-round series Saturday, sweeping the Memphis Grizzlies. The Thunder will meet the winner of the Nuggets-Clippers series in the second round.

Clippers-Nuggets next game

The Clippers will travel to play the Nuggets at Ball Arena in Denver for Game 5. The game is scheduled to air on TNT at 10 p.m. ET on April 29.

LOUISVILLE, Kentucky − Bob Baffert has won the Kentucky Derby six times, but he could do something Saturday that even he’s never accomplished: Win the race from the dreaded No. 1 post position.

Citizen Bull, last year’s 2-year old champion, will try to win from a starting gate that no Derby winner has come from since Ferdinand in 1986. The inside post is considered difficult in this particular race due to the 20-horse field and the heavy traffic that typically occurs around the first turn, meaning the No. 1 horse usually has to either go to the lead or drop way back to stay out of trouble.

‘It is what it is, you can’t worry about once you have the draw, you can’t worry about it right now, the horses have to be ready to roll,’ said Baffert. ‘It will be easy to watch.

‘He does have a lot of speed, and it looks like once you get the one hole, I don’t need to give instructions what he’s going to have to do away from he’s going to have to leave there running and but the horse wants to do that anyway.’

That almost guarantees jockey Martin Garcia will have to send Citizen Bull to the front early and hope he can set a reasonable fraction.

Otherwise, none of the other top contenders appear to be compromised by Saturday’s post position draw.

Derby favorite Journalism drew the No. 8 post, while Sovereignty should be fine coming out of the No. 18 hole given his come-from-behind running style.

Arkansas Derby winner Sandman, another closer who should be near the back early, will try to become the first ever Derby winner out of the No. 17 post.

Here is everything you need to know about the Kentucky Derby post-position.

2025 Kentucky Derby post positions

Here’s where each horse landed, in addition to the horse’s jockey and odds in parentheses:

Citizen Bull, Martin Garcia (20-1)
Neoequos, Flavien Prat (30-1)
Final Gambit, Luan Machado (30-1)
Rodriguez, Mike Smith (12-1)
American Promise, Nik Juarez (30-1)
Admire Daytona, Christophe Lemaire (30-1)
Luxor Cafe, Joao Moreira (15-1)
Journalism, Umberto Rispoli (3-1)
Burnham Square, Brian Hernandez Jr. (12-1)
Grande, John Velazquez (20-1)
Flying Mohawk, Joe Ramos (30-1)
East Avenue, Manny Franco (20-1)
Publisher, Irad Ortiz Jr. (20-1)
Tiztastic, Joel Rosario (20-1)
Render Judgement, Julien Leparoux (30-1)
Coal Battle, Juan Vargas (30-1)
Sandman, Jose Ortiz (6-1)
Sovereignty, Junior Alvarado (5-1)
Chunk of Gold, Jareth Loveberry (30-1)
Owen Almighty, Javier Castellano (30-1)

Also eligible

21. Baeza, Flavien Prat

Kentucky Derby winners, by post position

History shows horses on the inside, starting from positions one to 10, are much more likely to win the Derby than those starting on the outside.

Here are the all-time Derby winners by post position:

Post position – winners

1 – 8

2- 7

3 – 6

4 – 5

5 – 10

6 – 2

7 – 8

8 – 9

9 – 4

10 – 9

11 – 2

12 – 3

13 – 5

14 – 2

15 – 6

16 – 4

17 – 0

18 – 2

19 – 1

20 – 2

Sovereignty, a top Kentucky Derby contender, gives Bill Mott another shot at roses

Bill Mott’s lone Kentucky Derby victory came with an asterisk in 2019, but the Hall of Fame trainer didn’t hesitate when faced with a hypothetical question from a stranger. 

What do you say to someone at the airport when they ask if you’ve ever won the Kentucky Derby? 

“I say, ‘Damn right I did,’” Mott said with a laugh. 

Mott’s Country House — a 65-1 long shot — crossed the finish line second but was declared the winner of the 2019 Kentucky Derby after the disqualification of Maximum Security. 

Mott is back in the Kentucky Derby this year with one of the top contenders in Sovereignty. The Florida Derby runner-up is considered by many handicappers to be the No. 2 choice in the Run for the Roses behind likely favorite Journalism. 

Mott made his first appearance in the Kentucky Derby in 1984 with Taylor’s Special (13th) and is 1 for 13 all-time. He finished sixth last year with Resilience. Read more from Jason Frakes here. 

Lonnie Briley finally has Derby contender in Coal Battle 

Whether you call him stubborn or meticulous, 72-year-old thoroughbred trainer Lonnie Briley knows what he likes. 

Robbie Norman has owned horses for 13 years and has come to realize Briley “can break your heart” when attending a sale. 

“You might love the way a horse moves or the speed it has,” Norman said. “But Lonnie’s going to tell you what problem it has. When he does, I just draw a line through it and go to the next one. It happens all the time. There might be 100 at the sale, but there might only be three we can end up buying.” 

Briley and Norman found one they both liked at a yearling sale in Texas in 2023, and two years later, Coal Battle has them headed to the Kentucky Derby for the first time. Read more from Jason Frakes here. 

Triple Crown winner American Pharoah enjoys life in Kentucky as stallion 

Ten years since winning the Triple Crown, American Pharoah is enjoying life at Coolmore America’s Ashford Stud. 

There’s the North American breeding season from mid-February to mid-June. There was the birthday party in February that saw the 15 tickets available to the public sell out in 53 seconds. 

And don’t forget all the carrots. 

“I think our carrot bill has gone up,” said Adrian Mansergh Wallace, who works in sales for Coolmore. “Maybe we should have a carrot patch over here to grow our own.” 

Wallace said fans from all 50 states and several countries visit Ashford Stud annually, with American Pharoah the top attraction. The bay colt captivated horse racing fans in 2015 by sweeping the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes to become the first Triple Crown winner since Affirmed in 1978.  Read more from Jason Frakes here. 

Built to skip Kentucky Derby, will be replaced by Neoequos 

The prospective field for the 151st running of the Kentucky Derby changed Friday morning when owner Aron Wellman announced that Built will skip the Run for the Roses. 

Built, coming off a fifth-place finish in the Louisiana Derby on March 22 at Fair Grounds, will run instead in the Pat Day Mile on the Derby Day undercard May 3 at Churchill Downs. 

Wellman said a good showing in the Pat Day Mile could propel Built to a start in the Preakness Stakes on May 17 at Pimlico. 

“In his last couple of races as the distances have increased, it seems as though he’s regressed a little bit in terms of his form,” Wellman said. “Hasn’t been polishing off his races as effectively as we’d want to see. Needless to say, the Kentucky Derby at a mile and a quarter is a huge test of stamina. … (Built) has told us in so many ways — at least at this stage of his career — a mile and a quarter is probably a bit outside of his scope.” 

The defection of Built means Neoequos — coming off a third-place finish in the Florida Derby — will move into the field for the Kentucky Derby. Read more from Jason Frakes here. 

Bob Baffert returns to Kentucky Derby after three-year absence 

It was just like old times at Churchill Downs on Friday, with Barn 33 the hub of backside buzz and Bob Baffert the center of attention. 

“You guys planning on interviewing somebody?” Baffert joked with the assembled media as he headed to the track to watch one of his horses train on a rainy morning. 

Indeed, Baffert is back and has his sights set on a chance at Kentucky Derby history. Baffert has two hopefuls for the Run for the Roses on May 3 at Churchill Downs — Wood Memorial winner Rodriguez and 2-year-old champion Citizen Bull. 

Tied with Ben Jones with a record six Kentucky Derby victories, Baffert appeared to have No. 7 when Medina Spirit crossed the finish line first in the 2021 Run for the Roses. A week later, Baffert announced Medina Spirit had tested positive for betamethasone, ultimately leading to a disqualification, three years of suspensions and numerous lawsuits. 

Baffert and Churchill Downs made up last July, and Baffert returned to the track for the first time in November with Barnes, who won a maiden race. 

But Friday marked Baffert’s first appearance at the track since 2021 in preparation for a Kentucky Derby. Baffert said he was pleased Churchill Downs had replaced the signs on Barn 33 that celebrated his most notable victories at the track. Read more from Jason Frakes here. 

What time is the Kentucky Derby draw?

The post-position draw will start at approximately 7:25 p.m. on April 26.

Where is the Kentucky Derby draw?

The draw will take place at Churchill Downs in Louisville on the second-floor terrace.

What time is the Kentucky Oaks draw?

The Kentucky Oaks draw will start at approximately 7:15 p.m. Saturday at Churchill Downs.

How many horses race in the Kentucky Derby?

The Kentucky Derby has 20 horses lined up for the race each year.

When is the Kentucky Derby?

The Kentucky Derby is set for 6:57 p.m. ET on Saturday, May 3. The 151st Run for the Roses will be race No. 12 of the 14-race slate. Olympic gymnast Simone Biles will give the iconic “Rider’s Up” command ahead of the race.

How to watch the 2025 Kentucky Derby

The 151st edition of the Kentucky Derby will be broadcast on NBC, which has served as the home of the annual “Run for the Roses’ since 2001. NBC Sports signed a multi-year extension with Churchill Downs last year to carry the Kentucky Derby through 2032.

You can also stream the 2025 Kentucky Derby on Fubo and Peacock.

Watch the 2025 Kentucky Derby on Peacock

How to livestream the 2025 Kentucky Derby

Streaming options include the NBC Sports app (Apple Store/Google Play), NBCSports.com and Peacock.

Catch all the horse racing action from the Derby on Fubo

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So that’s what 0.1 seconds looks like.

The Denver Nuggets scraped past the Los Angeles Clippers to tie their first-round playoff series at two games apiece on a wild Aaron Gordon buzzer beating alley-oop that was as tight as you’ll ever see.

With the game tied at 99 with just more than six seconds left to play, the Nuggets inbounded the ball to center Nikola Jokić, who was guarded by Clippers center Ivica Zubac. Jokić took several dribbles and spun out to the 3-point line before he launched a high-arching shot that sailed over the rim. Gordon timed his jump perfectly to catch the errant shot before flushing it home just as time expired.

Denver’s players celebrated as the shot was ruled good, though the play immediately went to replay review. The process took several minutes, as officials examined the different angles of the play.

Replays showed that Gordon caught the ball with 0.2 seconds left and that it left his hands just before the red lights lit up behind the backboard as time expired.

The Nuggets had led by 22 points at the start of the fourth quarter, though the Clippers mounted a massive run to briefly take the lead.

Gordon finished with 14 points on 5-of-9 shooting, while Jokić recorded another monster game: 36 points, 21 rebounds and eight assists.

The Nuggets won the game, 101-99, and will host the Clippers in Game 5 of the series Tuesday.

The youngest team in the NBA, the Oklahoma City Thunder, just aced their first test.

With a 117-115 victory, the No. 1 seed Thunder swept the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday, rolling through the first round of the NBA Playoffs with relative ease.

This Thunder team is well-balanced and can win in different ways. Oklahoma City blew out Memphis in Game 1, clamped down on defense in Game 3 to erase a 29-point deficit and battled through a tighter contest in the decisive Game 4 that saw 15 lead changes.

While Most Valuable Player finalist Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was solid through the first three games, his efficiency in the closeout game shot up; after struggling from 3 in the first three games of the series — combining to go 6-of-24 — he attempted just four shots from beyond the arc and focused on his silky mid-range jumper and attacking the paint. Gilgeous-Alexander went 13-of-24 from the floor and hit 11-of-13 free throw attempts to end with 38 points.

Jalen Williams, a 24-year-old first-time All-Star, has emerged as a star. Chet Holmgren has refined his shooting motion. Alex Caruso was a solid offseason acquisition that bolstered OKC’s defense and the Thunder have all the makings of a championship team — with one exception.

Oklahoma City must show that, despite its relative inexperience, it’s poised for the grind of a deep playoff run. The Thunder were also the Western Conference No. 1 seed last season, but they dropped out of the conference semis when they couldn’t solve Luka Dončić, Kyrie Irving and the Dallas Mavericks.

This Oklahoma City team, though, has the ingredients to press deep into the postseason.

They defend extremely well — both along the perimeter with the length Gilgeous-Alexander, Williams, Caruso and Luguentz Dort, and inside with the height Holmgren and backup Isaiah Hartenstein bring.

Despite their struggles from 3 in the first round, the Thunder can ignite from beyond the arc. But they compromise defenses with their measured attacks, often forcing players into foul trouble and getting easy points on the line; the Thunder ranked sixth in the NBA in free throw attempts per game (21.3).

The Thunder posted an absurd net rating of 12.7 this season, which was 3.3 points more than the second-place Celtics.

As long as Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder stay healthy, they should remain the favorites to emerge out West.

The tougher tests begin now.

The Thunder will await the conclusion of the tight series between the No. 4 Denver Nuggets and No. 5 Los Angeles Clippers — both tough outs. Oklahoma City split its four regular season games this year against the Nuggets and swept all four against the Clippers.

If there was one sign Saturday evening that showed the Thunder could be poised to break through, it was when Gilgeous-Alexander had the ball in his hands, late, with Oklahoma City carrying a three-point lead.

Gilgeous-Alexander bled as much clock before threading his way to the top of the key. He took a step-back jumper that would give the Thunder a five-point lead and seal the series. The ball rattled through the rim.

Gilgeous-Alexander barely celebrated. He walked back to the bench and held up two fingers — a sign that what was next was the second round.

The NFL draft is finally in the books.

And with that, came one of the NFL’s draft’s most looked forward to traditions of recent years on Saturday at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin: Mr. Irrelevant.

The New England Patriots gave the title and honor to Memphis cornerback Kobee Minor with the No. 257 overall pick of the seventh round in the 2025 NFL Draft on Saturday.

In recent years, the nickname Mr. Irrelevant has garnered perhaps more attention and hype after 2022 Mr. Irrelevant Brock Purdy led the San Francisco 49ers to the Super Bowl in just his second season in 2023. It is also a nickname that adds another ‘underdog’ to the NFL sphere, a type of player that NFL fans are accustomed to falling in love with.

Here’s what you need to know about who is Mr. Irrelevant from the 2025 NFL Draft and more:

Who was Mr. Irrelevant 2025 from NFL draft?

Mr. Irrelevant 2025 is none other than Minor, who was taken by the Patriots with the final pick of the NFL draft.

Minor spent the first three years of his college career at Texas Tech before transferring to Indiana in 2023. He then transferred to Memphis in 2024, appearing in 11 games and registering 38 tackles, according to his player bio. He also had seven tackles for loss, two sacks, six passes defensed and two forced fumbles.

Noted by the Detroit Free Press, part of the USA TODAY Network, Minor will now head to Newport Beach, California for a week-long trip where he will pay a visit to Disneyland, play in a golf tournament, be the subject of a roast and be presented with the Lowsman Trophy, which is modeled after the Heisman Trophy, but features a player fumbling the ball.

Mr. Irrelevant NFL draft history

As previously reported by USA TODAY, the nickname Mr. Irrelevant was first introduced to the NFL draft by former USC receiver and NFL draftee Paul Salata when he gave it to Kelvin Kirk in the 1976 NFL Draft when the Pittsburgh Steelers took the Dayton wide receiver with the last pick of the draft.

It has now since become one of the more looked forward to parts of the NFL draft

Here’s a look at every Mr. Irrelevant since the inception of the nickname in 1976:

1976, Pick 487: Kelvin Kirk, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers, Dayton
1977, Pick 335: Jim Kelleher, RB, Minnesota Vikings, Colorado
1978, Pick 334: Lee Washburn, G, Dallas Cowboys, Montana State
1979, Pick 330: Mike Almond, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers, Northwestern State
1980, Pick 333: Tyrone McGriff, G, Pittsburgh Steelers, FAMU
1981, Pick 331: Phil Nelson, TE, Oakland Raiders, Delaware
1982, Pick 334: Tim Washington, DB, San Francisco 49ers, Fresno State
1983, Pick 335: John Tuggle, RB, New York Giants, California
1984, Pick 336: Randy Essington, QB, Los Angeles Raiders, Colorado
1985, Pick 336: Donald Chumley, DT, San Francisco 49ers, Georgia
1986, Pick 333: Mike Travis, DB, San Diego Chargers, Georgia Tech
1987, Pick 335: Norman Jefferson, DB, Green Bay Packers, LSU
1988, Pick 333: Jeff Beathard, WR, Los Angeles Rams, Southern Oregon
1989, Pick 335: Everett Ross, WR, Minnesota Vikings, Ohio State
1990, Pick 331: Demetrius Davis, TE, Los Angeles Raiders, Nevada
1991, Pick 334: Larry Wanke, QB, New York Giants, John Carroll
1992, Pick 336: Matt Elliott, C, Washington, Michigan
1993, Pick 224: Daron Alcorn, K, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Akron
1994, Pick 222: Marty Moore, LB, New England Patriots, Kentucky
1995, Pick 249: Michael Reed, DB, Carolina Panthers, Boston College
1996, Pick 254: Sam Manuel, LB, San Francisco Giants, New Mexico State
1997, Pick 240: Ronnie, McAda, QB, Green Bay Packers, Army
1998, Pick 241: Cam Quayle, TE, Baltimore Ravens, Weber State
1999, Pick 253: Jim Finn, FB, Chicago Bears, Pennsylvania
2000, Pick 254: Michael Green, DB, Chicago Bears, Northwestern State
2001, Pick 246: Tevita Ofahengaue, TE, Arizona Cardinals, BYU
2002, Pick 261: Ahmad Miller, DT, Houston Texans, UNLV
2003, Pick 262: Ryan Hoag, WR, Oakland Raiders, Gustavus Adolphus
2004, Pick 255: Andre Sommersell, LB, Oakland Raiders, Colorado State
2005, Pick 255: Andy Stokes, TE, New England Patriots, William Penn
2006, Pick 255: Kelvin McMahan, Oakland Raiders, Maine
2007, Pick 255: Ramzee Robinson, DB, Detroit Lions, Alabama
2008, Pick 252: David Vobora, OLB, St. Louis Rams, Idaho
2009, Pick 256: Ryan Succop, K, Kansas City Chiefs, South Carolina
2010, Pick 255: Tim Toone, WR, Detroit Lions, Weber State
2011, Pick 254: Cheta Ozougwu, DE, Houston Texans, Rice
2012, Pick 253: Chandler Harnish, QB, Indianapolis Colts, Northern Illinois
2013, Pick 254: Justice Cunningham, TE, Indianapolis Colts, South Carolina
2014, Pick 256: Lonnie Ballentine, S, Houston Texans, Memphis
2015, Pick 256: Gerald Christian, TE, Arizona Cardinals, Louisville
2016, Pick 253: Kalan Reed, DB, Tennessee Titans, Southern Miss
2017, Pick 253: Chad Kelly, QB, Denver Broncos, Ole Miss
2018, Pick 256: Trey Quinn, WR, Washington, SMU
2019, Pick 254: Caleb Wilson, TE, Arizona Cardinals, UCLA
2020, Pick 255: Tae Crowder, LB, New York Giants, Georgia
2021, Pick 259: Grant Stuart, LB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Houston
2022, Pick 262: Brock Purdy, QB, San Francisco 49ers, Iowa State
2023, Pick 259: Desjuan Johnson, DE, Los Angeles Rams, Toledo
2024, Pick 257: Jaylen Key, DB, New York Jets, Alabama
2025, Pick 257: Kobee Minor, DB, New England Patriots, Memphis

Ivan Barbashev chipped in a rebound at the 17:26 mark of overtime to give the Vegas Golden Knights a 4-3 victory over the Minnesota Wild in Game 4 of their Western Conference first-round series Saturday afternoon in Saint Paul, Minnesota.

Reilly Smith set up the game winner, picking up a loose puck after Jake Middleton whiffed trying to clear the puck from his own zone. Smith then fired the puck toward the net where Barbashev put in the rebound of a Nicolas Roy rebound try for the first playoff overtime winner of his career.

The series is now tied 2-2 with Game 5 set for Tuesday night in Las Vegas.

Tomas Hertl and Roy joined Barbashev with a goal and an assist. Defenseman Shea Theodore also scored for Vegas while Adin Hill made 29 saves.

Marcus Foligno scored for the third consecutive game and Marco Rossi and Jared Spurgeon also scored for Minnesota. Filip Gustavsson finished with 42 saves.

Senators stay alive with OT win

Jake Sanderson scored at 17:42 of overtime for the Ottawa Senators, who avoided elimination with a 4-3 win in Game 4 of their first-round series against the visiting Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday.

Fresh off the bench, Sanderson kept the puck in at the left point and fired a wrist shot that beat Anthony Stolarz on the far side.

Sanderson also had an assist, and Linus Ullmark made 31 saves for the Senators, who trail the series 3-1.

John Tavares, Matthew Knies and Oliver Ekman-Larsson scored for the Maple Leafs. Stolarz made 17 saves.

David Perron put Ottawa ahead 3-2 at 7:32 of the third period. Adam Gaudette collected a rebound in the left circle and fed it to Artem Zub, who sent it to Perron on the doorstep for the tap-in.

Ekman-Larsson tied it 3-3 at 14:31. William Nylander held the puck in the left circle before spotting Ekman-Larsson uncovered in the right circle, where the defenseman snapped it under Ullmark’s left arm.

Tim Stutzle scored on the power play to give the Senators a 1-0 lead at 9:03 of the first period, taking a feed from Sanderson in the right circle for a one-timer that beat Stolarz high glove side.

Pinto doubled the Senators’ advantage with a short-handed tally at 14:11. Pinto caught up to a loose puck just inside the Toronto blue line and broke in for a wrist shot on Stolarz, who thought he had it, but the puck slipped through the five-hole to make it 2-0.

Tavares cut the deficit to 2-1 at 19:05. Nylander took a pass from Chris Tanev at the point and fired it toward the net, where Tavares, on the doorstep, tipped it blocker side past Ullmark.

Knies converted on a delayed penalty to pull the Maple Leafs even at 10:12 of the second period. Mitch Marner deflected a puck out of the Toronto zone and Knies collected it for a breakaway, getting around Zub and roofing a wrist shot into the top left corner.

Ivan Barbashev chipped in a rebound at the 17:26 mark of overtime to give the Vegas Golden Knights a 4-3 victory over the Minnesota Wild in Game 4 of their Western Conference first-round series Saturday afternoon in Saint Paul, Minnesota.

Reilly Smith set up the game winner, picking up a loose puck after Jake Middleton whiffed trying to clear the puck from his own zone. Smith then fired the puck toward the net where Barbashev put in the rebound of a Nicolas Roy rebound try for the first playoff overtime winner of his career.

The series is now tied 2-2 with Game 5 set for Tuesday night in Las Vegas.

Tomas Hertl and Roy joined Barbashev with a goal and an assist. Defenseman Shea Theodore also scored for Vegas while Adin Hill made 29 saves.

Marcus Foligno scored for the third consecutive game and Marco Rossi and Jared Spurgeon also scored for Minnesota. Filip Gustavsson finished with 42 saves.

With the 257th overall pick made, the 2025 NFL Draft has come to a close.

Three days of action saw the next crop of NFL talent hit all 32 teams. There were some surprises, most notably Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders’ drop to Day 3, and plenty of trades as teams maneuvered all over the order to get their guys.

On Day 3, 155 total picks were made starting at noon ET. That’s a lot of picks to keep track of and a lot of opportunity for surprise picks, both good and bad.

We’re taking a look at both ends of the spectrum here. Some teams made great picks given their position or the prospects available; some made odd decisions given the state of their roster, draft capital or both.

Here are our choices for the eight best picks of Day 3 as well as the eight worst.

2025 NFL Draft: Best picks of Day 3

Texas OT Cameron Williams to the Philadelphia Eagles (No. 207 overall)

The Eagles found value at multiple spots in this draft class, but this one stands above the rest. Williams was viewed as a top-60 pick by many analysts thanks to his outlier movement abilities in a 6-foot-6, 316-pound frame. Philadelphia got him late in Round 6. With his tools and the Eagles’ offensive line infrastructure, Philadelphia could have a succession plan for Lane Johnson set.

Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders to the Cleveland Browns (No. 144)

Sanders’ fall was the biggest storyline of the draft but it finally ended early on in Round 5. Sanders marked the final pick in a good draft class for the Browns as a low-risk investment at quarterback. Whether he starts or not, he offers a potential path in 2025 at the most important position in sports.

South Carolina Edge Kyle Kennard to the Los Angeles Chargers (No. 125)

Kennard was the Chargers’ first pick on Day 3 and he makes for a perfect fit in the defense at a position of need. His high-motor demeanor and long frame will make for a good fit in the Chargers’ pass-rush needy defense. He could be an impact player as a rookie.

Louisville CB Quincy Riley to the New Orleans Saints (No. 135)

Riley was one of the most productive cornerbacks in the entire class. No other prospect could match his career marks of 15 interceptions and 54 passes defensed. That translates well to the NFL. He has the athleticism to at least try to stick on the outside but may end up best at slot. New Orleans had one of the older defenses in the league last year and this is a potential building block for the future.

Utah State WR Jalen Royals to the Kansas City Chiefs (No. 133)

Royals was expected to go well inside the top 100 picks thanks to his elite burst at 6-foot and 205 pounds. He’s electric after the catch with impressive body control and footwork. He needs time to develop as a route runner but there are few offenses better equipped to maximize his skill set than Kansas City’s.

Colorado State WR Tory Horton to the Seattle Seahawks (No. 166)

Horton was one of the few wideouts in the class who had proven production, outside receiver size and sub 4.5-second 40-yard dash speed. He needs time to develop as a route runner but he’s been drafted to a team with Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Cooper Kupp. Talk about good players to learn from.

Kansas RB Devin Neal to the New Orleans Saints (No. 184)

New Orleans gets another pick in this category because it found a running back who could be a primary ball-carrier as a rookie sixth-round pick. Neal combines patience, contact balance, power and strength to churn out yards at will. Alvin Kamara will appreciate him taking the pressure off in the running back room.

Texas QB Quinn Ewers to the Miami Dolphins (No. 231)

Ewers was expected to be a Day 2 or early Day 3 pick, not a quarterback still available in the final 30 selections. He has the tools to be a potential starter with development but could be a super backup for a Dolphins team that has injury concerns with its starter, Tua Tagovailoa.

2025 NFL Draft: Worst picks of Day 3

Maryland LB Ruben Hyppolite II to the Chicago Bears (No. 132)

The Bears need some depth at linebacker but this felt like the biggest reach of Day 3. Hyppolite is fast but most analysts expected him to go undrafted due to his struggles in run defense and limits in coverage. At the end of Round 4, there were plenty of more proven, fast linebackers on the board to choose from.

Michigan State OL Luke Newman to the Chicago Bears (No. 195)

Again, the Bears go with a fast prospect who needs work with a top-200 pick. Newman was expected to go undrafted due to his short arms and smaller frame. His upper-body strength and speed gives him a chance, but his ceiling is pretty low. Considering who else was on the board, this was another reach by Chicago.

Georgia RB Trevor Etienne to the Carolina Panthers (No. 114)

Etienne is intriguing as a prospect. He’s athletic enough but isn’t an electric runner like his brother Travis was. He’s got tools as a receiver and pass protector, though, which gives him upside. The reason this pick is here is that Carolina’s spent a lot of money and resources at the position already. Using a top-120 pick for what could be your third- or fourth-string running back isn’t a good move.

Tulane CB Micah Robinson to the Green Bay Packers (No. 237)

The Packers met with Robinson pre-draft and obviously liked him. Yes, this is a bottom-20 pick in the draft, making it a low-cost asset. But there were more proven options on the board if they wanted better value out of this pick.

Indiana QB Kurtis Rourke to the San Francisco 49ers (No. 227)

San Francisco signed Mac Jones in free agency and has Tanner Mordecai bouncing between the active roster and practice squad. Again, this is a late pick, but the 49ers could’ve used this on any of the tight ends on the board (potential George Kittle successors) or even a kicker given Jake Moody’s woes last season.

Alabama TE Robbie Ouzts to the Seattle Seahawks (No. 175)

Seattle had multiple good-value picks in this draft, but this was a head-scratcher. Ouzts had 21 career targets in college. He’s a committed blocker and good at it, but that’s a bit high for a player most analysts thought wouldn’t be drafted at all.

Oregon WR Tez Johnson to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (No. 235)

Johnson is the lightest player ever drafted to the NFL and that makes his future a bit murky. He may struggle to handle NFL defenders and may have to stick in the slot. But the Buccaneers already selected a slot receiver with their first pick in the class, Emeka Egbuka, and also re-signed Chris Godwin this offseason. It’s a late pick but still confusing.

Oregon RB Jordan James to the San Francisco 49ers (No. 147)

The 49ers sustained a lot of injuries to the running back room in 2024 so it’s understandable they’d want to invest more in it this offseason. James is a good player, too, with a powerful running style, pass-protection chops and great acceleration. But the opportunity cost is confounding. The 49ers have a murky future at right tackle with Colton McKivitz set to hit free agency in 2026. There were plenty of tackles on the board worth that swing, especially considering how deep a running back class this was. San Francisco could’ve addressed depth at that position later on.