SUNRISE, Fla. — The Florida Panthers failed to capitalize on home-ice advantage, falling 5-1 to the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 3 of their first-round series on April 26.

Florida got star defenseman Aaron Ekblad back from a 20-game suspension, with captain Aleksander Barkov returning after leaving Game 2 with an injury with 10 minutes to go.

Even with star winger Brandon Hagel serving a one-game suspension, Tampa Bay’s high-end talent came to play to help it avoid a three-game hole. Jake Guentzel scored two points and Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 33 of 34 shots to make it a 2-1 series lead for Florida.

Matthew Tkachuk gave the Panthers the early lead 2:43 into the game. He picked up a feed from Sam Bennett and tucked it home on his backhand for his third goal of the postseason.

Brayden Point tied the game up for Tampa Bay with 2:45 to go in the first period. He deflected Guentzel’s shot past Sergei Bobrovsky after Guentzel blew past Sam net and fired a shot through traffic to give Tampa its first goal since the 13:04 mark of the second period of Game 1.

The floodgates opened for Tampa. Nick Paul gave the Lightning the 2-1 lead with a quick snap shot on a 2-on-1 with 6:43 to go in the second period. Guentzel scored his second point of the game by batting in a feed from Nikita Kucherov 21 seconds into the third period.

Luke Glendening extended the Lightning’s lead to 4-1 with 6:41 to go with a quick goal off the rush. Anthony Cirelli scored an empty-net goal with five minutes to go to continue pile things on. Matthew Tkachuk hit Jake Guentzel away from the play during the empty-net goal and was issued a five-minute penalty for doing so.

Here are three takeaways from Florida’s Game 3 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning:

Tampa defense much cleaner in front of Andrei Vasilevskiy

In Game 1, the Panthers’ clear advantage was their ability to get to the front of the net, tip pucks in and set up screens in front of Andrei Vasilevskiy to generate offense. That was not happening for them in Game 3.

Tampa Bay looked much more like its own championship-caliber form in Game 3. It held Florida’s attack to the perimeter and it set up a lot of easy saves for Vasilevskiy. After an uncharacteristic six goals against start to the series, he looks more like himself after allowing just two goals in Games 2 and 3.

Multiple missed assignments dug Florida into hole

The Panthers made a few uncharacteristic mistakes that caused them to fall behind in Game 3.

A poorly timed line change allowed Paul to break in on his 2-on-1 rush to score the goal that gave Tampa the lead. The Panthers were late getting back into their own zone again when Yanni Gourde was breaking the puck in and Glendening was left wide open for his goal that made it 4-1.

Panthers continue to stay strong against Lighting power play

One of the lone bright spots from Florida’s lopsided loss to Tampa Bay was that its penalty kill was once again spotless. And it was leaned on pretty heavily.

Florida went 5-for-6 on the penalty kill, with Cirelli’s empty-net goal being the only power play goal the Panthers have allowed in the past two games. It’s been a similar story all series — the Panthers have been aggressive at eating up passing lanes and holding Tampa Bay’s power play to the perimeter.

It is an area that the Panthers have continued to excel at all series.

LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Clippers entered Game 4 riding high and seeking a commanding 3-1 lead in the first round of the 2025 NBA playoffs, but the Denver Nuggets managed to regroup to tie the series at two.

Nikola Jokic led a second-half Denver surge, which saw the Nuggets build a 22-point lead in the third quarter of play. But the Clippers roared back and even briefly held a lead in the fourth quarter. The Nuggets avoided overtime when Aaron Gordon tipped in the game-winner at the buzzer.

Jokic finished with 36 points, 21 rebounds and eight assists.

Nuggets vs. Clippers highlights

Final: Nuggets 101, Clippers 99

Watch Aaron Gordon’s game-winner

Clippers vs. Nuggets third quarter update

After three quarters of play, the Nuggets lead the Clippers 85-65.

Denver built its largest lead of the game against L.A., leading by as many as 20 points, during the quarter. The Clippers have not led all game.

Nikola Jokic has produced a double-double with 31 points and 16 rebounds through the first three quarters. He also has seven assists and shot 3-of-4 from long range.

Clippers vs. Nuggets halftime score

The Nuggets lead the Clippers 50-48 at halftime. Nicolas Batum hit a 3-pointer for the Clippers that tied the game at 31 with 8:34 left in the second quarter. The shot also forced the Nuggets to take a timeout.

While Batum’s three-pointer brought along a cheer from the fans inside the Intuit Dome, a pair of personal fouls called on Kawhi Leonard led to some vocal displeasure by the fans.

Clipper fans shared their frustration with the officials. Leonard also appeared animated with the referees after the call.

Prior to the second person foul called on Leonard, teammate James Harden performed a behind-the-back pass to Derrick Jones Jr., who quickly moved the ball to Leonard for the 3-pointer with 5:56 left in the quarter. Aaron Gordon made a pair of free throws after the second call on Leonard.

Things got chippy in the final seconds of the quarter between the Clippers and Nuggets. Christian Braun and James Harden exchanged words before a brief scuffle began. Braun called for a personal foul.

Officials are reviewing everything that took place, which caused a delay in the action. Harden, Kris Dunn, Powell, Aaron Gordon, Jokic, Braun. Referees said there were no closed fists in the scuffle. No ejections.

The Clippers didn’t have a single player score double-digit points in the first half. Jokic had a game-high 15 points and eight rebounds.

Clippers vs. Nuggets first quarter score

Nikola Jokic just hit a  27-foot three-point shot at the buzzer before the end of the first quarter and was seen going back to the locker room shortly after. He returned to the bench shortly before the start of the second quarter.

Nuggets lead Clippers 27-22 at the end of the first quarter.

Ben Simmons helped close the gap for the Clippers and briefly made it a two-point game with 40 seconds left in the opening quarter at 24-22. Clippers coach Tyronn Lue thought highly of Simmons’ effort in Game 3.

Denver was unable to do anything down the other end after the dunk and was called for a 24-second shot clock violation. Clippers’ defense continued to cause problems for the Nuggets, who were called for a second 24-second shot clock violation on a following possession.

Norman Powell and Ivica Zubac each scored a team-high five points for the Clippers. Aaron Gordon led the Nuggets with a game-high seven points in the first quarter.

L.A. Clippers starting lineup for Game 4 vs. Nuggets

Norman Powell
Kawhi Leonard
Ivica Zubac
Kris Dunn
James Harden

Denver Nuggets starting lineup for Game 4 vs. Clippers

Michael Porter Jr.
Aaron Gordon
Nikola Jokić
Christian Braun
Jamal Murray

Michael Porter Jr. injury update

Michael Porter Jr. came out of the Denver Nuggets’ locker room with the team.

He is participating in the layup line. He doesn’t have a hoodie on like his teammates, but he does have his game jersey on.

There’s some sort of tape over his left shoulder as well. He was listed in the starting lineup for Game 4.

Russell Westbrook injury update

Denver Nuggets guard Russell Westbrook has been ruled out for Game 4, according to ESPN.

Westbrook was a limited participant for Thursday’s game after being injured during pregame warmups.

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

What time is Clippers vs. Nuggets Saturday?

Game 4 of the Los Angeles Clippers vs. Denver Nuggets in the NBA first-round playoff series is at 6 p.m. ET April 26 at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California.

How to watch Clippers vs. Nuggets NBA playoff game: TV, stream

Time: 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT
Location: Intuit Dome (Inglewood, Calif.)
TV: TNT
Stream: Max, Sling TV

Watch Nuggets vs. Clippers Game 4 with Sling TV

Clippers vs. Nuggets schedule

Clippers lead the series 2-1

Game 1: Nuggets 112, Clippers 110
Game 2: Clippers 105, Nuggets 102
Game 3: Clippers 117, Nuggets 83
Game 4: Nuggets at Clippers | Saturday, April 26, 6 p.m. ET | TNT
Game 5: Clippers at Nuggets | Tuesday, April 29, 10 p.m. ET | TNT
Game 6: Nuggets at Clippers | Thursday, May 1, TBD | TBD*
Game 7: Clippers at Nuggets | Saturday, May 3, TBD | TBD*

The biggest name of the 2025 NFL draft is off the board – finally. 

The Cleveland Browns selected former Colorado and Jackson State quarterback Shedeur Sanders with the sixth pick of the fifth round (144th overall) on the third day of the 2025 NFL draft. Five quarterbacks were picked ahead of Sanders, who was a popular first-round pick in mock drafts and was thought to go no later than the second. 

The excruciating wait for the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year mercifully over, it’s time to consult the winners and losers of arguably the most dramatic draft slide in recent memory. 

WINNERS

Shedeur Sanders

The young man’s NFL dream has come true, regardless of the craziness over the past 48 hours. It’s an accomplishment for all 257 prospects who had their names called during the draft. And it’s worth celebrating even for Sanders, who displayed legitimate enthusiasm as he watched Day 3 of the draft with his family in Texas. 

Kevin Stefanski and Tommy Rees

Should Sanders work out as a professional quarterback, the Browns head coach (Stefanski) and offensive coordinator (Rees) will receive due credit. Sanders is not a finished product, but he’s in the right place to be developed by a coach such as Stefanski, who’s won games with all types of signal-callers and has proven he can do so with a pure pocket-passer such as Sanders. 

Deion Sanders

He’s no LaVar Ball, but the son he’s coached his entire life made it to the NFL. Living up to the legacy of a Hall of Fame father is not easy. Again, the last three days have obviously soured the occasion, but it’s hopefully still a proud moment for “Coach Prime.” 

Jerry Jeudy and David Njoku 

With all of the competition in the quarterback room, perhaps the cream will rise to the top? If so, the wideout and tight end combo could be in for productive campaigns in the near future.

Andrew Berry

The Browns general manager didn’t have to burn a top pick on a quarterback who evidently didn’t have a grade worthy of the slot. He even took another quarterback, Dillon Gabriel, before Sanders (in the third round at No. 92 overall). Berry first addressed the defense by adding defensive tackle Mason Graham (fifth overall) and linebacker Carson Schwesinger (33rd overall) before taking running back Quinshon Judkins (second round), tight end Harold Fannin Jr. (third round) and running back Dylan Sampson (fourth round). 

LOSERS 

Deion Sanders

“Prime” thought he could dictate a landing spot for his son and boasted that he’d be a top-five pick. Instead, all 32 teams disagreed. It’s a humbling moment for him and his Buffaloes program. 

Kenny Pickett and Joe Flacco 

Not only is Shedeur Sanders going to be competition in the suddenly crowded quarterback room, but he’ll command plenty of attention, too. These QBs may be fine with it, but the selection of Sanders means they should also maybe have a real estate agent on speed dial. 

Deshaun Watson 

If Watson does decide to hang around the team during his Achilles injury rehab – which wasn’t happening, apparently, when he re-injured the affected Achilles – there will be even more cameras around. 

The Browns’ offensive line 

Not a particularly strong unit a year ago, all of the attention will be on them to keep Sanders (or whoever else the Browns play at quarterback) clean. 

Shedeur Sanders

Self-explanatory. His name is forever attached to the slide he experienced this week. It’s up to him now to make it a regrettable one for the other 31 NFL teams.  

QB Jaxson Dart/New York Giants

He was taken 25th overall by the Giants and, therefore, runs the risk of being compared to Sanders for the rest of his life. And the Giants are in prime position to be a punchline, pending the results of Sanders’ (and Dart’s) career. 

QB Tyler Shough/New Orleans Saints

He was taken 40th overall by the Saints and, therefore, runs the risk of being compared to Sanders for the rest of his life. And the Saints are in prime position to be a punchline, pending the results of Sanders’ (and Shough’s) career. 

QB Jalen Milroe/Seattle Seahawks

He was taken 92nd overall by the Seahawks and, therefore, runs the risk of being compared to Sanders for the rest of his life. And the Seahawks are in prime position to be a punchline, pending the results of Sanders’ (and Milroe’s) career. 

QB Dillon Gabriel 

Not even the most notable rookie quarterback on his new team now. He’ll be the guy the Browns took before Sanders, which stands to only hurt his reputation if Sanders pans out and he doesn’t. Of course, Gabriel could go on to have a solid NFL career, most likely as a backup. 

Mel Kiper Jr. 

The workers/acts at the Sanders family draft party 

Unknown if they’re sticking around for Shilo Sanders, Shedeur’s brother, to be picked. In all seriousness, it looked like a subdued gathering at the Sanders residence on Friday and Saturday. But for the musicians who performed on Thursday, the mood was likely underwhelming. 

The Shedeur Sanders prank callers

These fellas are capital L Losers. All signs point to them nefariously obtaining a number – if NFL teams were the only ones with access to the information, that’s a serious breach that should be investigated by league security – for Sanders, after which they duped him into thinking New Orleans Saints general manager Mickey Loomis was calling him to inform him they were taking him Friday. We sadly live in a society that celebrates meanness. Karma, do your thing. 

The 2025 NFL draft ended Saturday, and the highlight of the weekend was Shedeur Sanders’ dramatic dropoff from potential first-round pick to the fifth round, when the Cleveland Browns took him 144th overall.

That’s when the tension building on the ESPN set in Green Bay, Wisconsin, finally combusted. For days, Mel Kiper Jr. — the longtime ESPN draft analyst — couldn’t hide his ‘disgust’ (his words) with the NFL for allowing his top-ranked quarterback in the 2025 class to slip into Day 3 of the draft. And he didn’t hold back after the Browns made their pick.

“This is not about, ‘Can you play the position?’ This is about, ‘Do we want you to play the position for us?’” fellow analyst Louis Riddick said.

“Why wouldn’t they?” Kiper interjected sharply.

“That’s a whole (different) discussion that we’ve had in many different ways for weeks and months now,” Riddick replied.

“Is he not one of the toughest quarterbacks you’ve ever seen?” Kiper asked.

“Mel … this isn’t about quarterback traits and quarterback characteristics, personal football (characteristics)” Riddick said. “That’s not about this. This is personal.”

“Has he had an off-the-field issue? No, he has not,” Kiper said.

Kiper and Riddick went back and forth (inaudibly, mostly) until Riddick countered with “Mel, the draft has spoken.”

Host Rece Davis tried to take control of the situation by offering his stance on the reasons for Sanders’ fall. Then Kiper did his patented move by referencing quarterbacks who had successful NFL careers after not being high draft picks.

“Boomer Esiason was not happy when he was a second-round pick,” Kiper said. “Tom Brady was not happy. They dropped. How’d they turn out?’

More talking over each other ensued until Kiper broke through with some sharp words for NFL front offices.

‘My point is, Rece, the NFL has been clueless for 50 years when it comes to evaluating quarterbacks,’ Kiper said. ‘Clueless. They have no idea what they’re doing in terms of evaluating quarterbacks. That’s proof. There’s proof of that. They can say, ‘We know exactly what we’re talking about with quarterbacks.’ They don’t.”

‘Nobody’s batting a thousand here, Mel,’ Davis replied.

Kiper put together a coherent enough take about why teams should not have been turned off about the pre-draft hype surrounding Sanders.

“College kids now get paid,” Kiper said. “They’re professionals. They’re getting paid. They’re in commercials. They’re out there. You gotta deal with that. If you’re in the NFL, you have to deal with that. He’s saying whatever he’s saying behind closed doors. What’s he saying? ‘I wanna be the guy. I should be this. I should be that.’ Deion’s saying he’s the best player in the draft, the best quarterback, second-best (prospect) to Travis Hunter. Who isn’t? What quarterback out there didn’t think they should have been a high first-round pick?”

‘Again, nobody’s criticizing what happened,’ Davis said. ‘We’re saying he has to deal with the reality.’

Finally, Davis put a bow on the conversation and the analysts attempted to return to discussing the seven prospects that came off the board during the chaos.

The 2025 NFL draft is complete, but the work isn’t over for teams.

As things wrapped up in Green Bay, Wisconsin, on Saturday, all 32 franchises turned their attention to compiling their class of undrafted free agents. Loading up on players who will push for playing time and create competition throughout the spring and summer is an essential step for all decision-makers. And with the likes of Carolina Panthers wide receiver Jalen Coker and Minnesota Vikings linebacker Ivan Pace Jr. making immediate impacts in recent years, there’s potential for teams to strike gold if they know where to look.

With that in mind, here are our top 10 undrafted free agents, followed by their ranking on our pre-draft big board.

2025 NFL draft best undrafted free agents

1. Jared Ivey, DE, Mississippi (102)

With 32 1/2 tackles for loss and 17 1/2 sacks in the last year, Ivey has an established track record of creating havoc. His approach can be hit-or-miss, but his imposing 6-6, 274-pound build could make him a problem for offensive tackles who can’t handle his length.

2. Logan Brown, OT, Kansas (112)

His dismissal from Wisconsin after an unspecified ‘internal incident’ could have taken a toll on his stock. But for any team comfortable with what they find on the former five-star recruit, the 6-6, 311-pounder offers intriguing upside as a pass protector once he refines his technique.

3. Seth McLaughlin, C, Ohio State (139)

The transfer from Alabama stepped into a critical role on the Buckeyes’ front and helped lead the way for Ohio State’s national title push. He could be exploited by rangier and more athletic interior rushers, but it never hurts to have a stout and savvy center pushing others for time.

4. Cobee Bryant, CB, Kansas (143)

With his embrace of trash talk and a physical approach to every stage of coverage, Bryant embodies the ultra-competitive nature of his namesake. That approach leaves him susceptible to being burned – or flagged – but it’s worth seeing if a coaching staff can help him find the right balance and tap into his playmaking potential.

5. Isaiah Bond, WR, Texas (154)

An April arrest on an outstanding sexual assault allegation might have taken Bond off teams’ boards. Close scrutiny is required, but Bond has rare separation speed, even though he fell well short of his vow to beat the 40-yard dash record set by Xavier Worthy last year.

6. Zy Alexander, CB, LSU (169)

The 6-1, 187-pounder is built for press coverage. He won’t be a fit for every scheme, but Alexander’s physicality and ball skills should earn him an extensive look from teams that can properly leverage his abilities.

7. Tommi Hill, CB, Nebraska (175)

Hill tried to play through a nagging foot injury last season but eventually had to shut things down. The 6-0, 213-pounder might only be a fit for teams that run a heavy dose of zone coverage, but he can close in on the ball in a hurry when any quarterback tests him.

8. Xavier Restrepo, WR, Miami (Fla.) (185)

The ultra-productive slot receiver sparks a significant debate about timed speed vs. play speed after he notched a 4.83 40-yard dash at his pro day, which he chalked up to a tight hamstring. He might be limited to underneath work, but he still has shown he can be a significant asset to a quarterback as a safety valve.

9. Nazir Stackhouse, DT, Georgia (187)

In a class replete with run-stuffing defensive tackles, Stackhouse might have been overlooked. The 6-4, 327-pound ball carrier might not chase down quarterbacks or ball carriers with any frequency, but he can help set the tone at the line of scrimmage.

10. Joshua Gray, C, Oregon State (190)

A touted leader, Gray has extensive experience at both left tackle and left guard. But his best fit likely entails a move to center, as his subpar length and strength won’t be as problematic there.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Humility.

Warren Moon brought it up when I asked about the biggest challenge facing Cam Ward against the pressures of major expectations as the No. 1 pick in the draft.

The Hall of Fame quarterback didn’t start with physical skills, work ethic or playbook study – all of which are obviously important – but instead went straight to the character trait in assessing what the Tennessee Titans rookie needs to project.

“The biggest thing is being himself, being who he has been his whole journey, which is, he seems pretty humble, which I think you need to be as a quarterback,” Moon told USA TODAY Sports, shortly after presenting Ward with a suddenly “unretired” No. 1 jersey during a ceremony on Friday afternoon at the team’s headquarters.

“We’re seeing right now another quarterback who if he showed a little bit more of that perception, he might have been drafted yesterday.”

Moon didn’t mention Shedeur Sanders by name, but it was a handy reference – Sanders’ slide to Day 3 has been the biggest story of the draft, dwarfing Ward’s rags-to-riches ascent to the top spot – while making a point about Tennessee’s Great New Hope.

“I think he shows that,” Moon added of Ward’s humility. “He shows work ethic and when he gets out on the field and in the classroom, I think he’ll earn the respect of his teammates. And once that comes, that’s when you start forming that great bond that adds up to success. It’s a process for a young quarterback.”

Ward, 22, has certainly made distinct impressions for down-to-earth leadership, as he navigated through three colleges in five seasons, finishing up with a banner 2024 season at the University of Miami. But on the humility meter, there was one thing he said about Moon – amid glowing praise, mind you – that gave me pause.

A few weeks ago, Ward called Moon and asked if he could wear the No. 1 jersey that the franchise effectively retired nearly 30 years ago to honor the legendary passer. Moon passed for 49,325 yards and 435 touchdowns in 17 NFL seasons. Before that, he threw for 21,228 yards and 144 TDs over six seasons in the Canadian Football League.

“Before I called him, I made sure I watched his highlights to make sure he was legit,” Ward said. “So, he was. He was legit.”

Moon legit? Ward undoubtedly has some sense of humor.

I think. Ward was a zero-star recruit coming out of high school but rose to the top of the draft. Moon was the 1978 Rose Bowl MVP for the University of Washington who was forced to play in Canada because NFL teams wouldn’t allow him to compete as a quarterback.

Two men, two generations, two journeys with unique adversities.

When I asked Ward if Moon’s football journey resonated with him, he said: “A little bit I would say. I also think it was a different time, too. The game’s progressed many years. There’s a lot of plays I’ve seen, he’s doing five-step drops…and they’re running the quick game. That’s not what we’re doing nowadays.”

Ward didn’t mention anything about any inspiration from Moon’s journey – which led to him becoming the first Black quarterback inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame — or his resilience in the face of NFL rejection.

Memo to Cam: Watch the riveting three-part documentary on Amazon Prime, Evolution of The Black Quarterback, hosted by Michael Vick. The treatment of Moon’s saga is among the best segments of the entire series, so pivotal to the big picture theme.

No, Ward wasn’t rejected by the NFL. But you’d think he could relate to Moon, different generation or not, given the rejection from several major colleges that snubbed him coming out of Columbia High School in West Columbia, Texas.

Besides, Calvin Ward has told his son about Moon’s significance with the Houston Oilers. The Wards lived about an hour’s drive south of Houston, and Calvin remembers how Moon, the rare Black NFL quarterback in the 1980s, was hailed as a hero in the Black community in south Texas.

“I told him how important Warren Moon was as a Black quarterback,” Calvin Ward told USA TODAY Sports. “Quite honestly, he should’ve been in the NFL way before.”

Cam asked his father if he could connect him with Moon, as he sought permission to wear the No. 1 jersey that Moon wore for the Oilers. Calvin got ahold of the number, texted Moon and arranged the call.

Know that Moon is practicing what he preaches about humility. No, it is hardly automatic that a legendary player will relinquish a retired number.

Ask Abdul Carter. The former Penn State edge rusher, drafted third overall by the New York Giants on Thursday night, thought it would be a good idea to make the request to Lawrence Taylor to wear No. 56.

Think again.

According to the New York Post, Taylor’s responded as follows: “Get another number — I don’t care if it’s double zeroes — and then make it famous.”

Shedeur Sanders’ dramatic NFL draft slide seems deeper than pure football

Moon, on the other hand, told Ward he would give the request some thought. It marked the third time that Moon was approached to relinquish the number. Of course, he twice rejected the requests. This time, after discussing the matter with Titans owner Amy Adams Strunk, he made a final decision about a day before the Titans made their selection of Ward official. Moon said Ward’s request was different because he was a quarterback and had roots on the outskirts of Houston.

“It wasn’t easy,” Moon said of his decision. “When you think about your legacy and the things you established when you were playing, you want to make sure those things continue. As I looked at it, it was a Houston Oilers jersey that I played in. He’s playing in a Tennessee Titans jersey, even though we’re all part of the same organization.”

The franchise moved from Houston in 1997 and was renamed the Titans in 1999.

“Nobody has ever worn that number for the Tennessee Titans,” Moon added. “So, he has a chance to create a great legacy for that number. When I started thinking about it, it was two different uniforms, two different cities, two different fan bases, made it easier for me to do.”

That it is Ward who is the franchise’s new No. 1 matters, too. Moon watched the quarterback in college, particularly during his two seasons at Washington State, when he gave Moon’s UW alma mater fits. And all that Moon has heard about Ward’s character and the influence of his family, makes him proud of the rookie.

Moon said, “I just have a lot of respect for him.”

Which represents yet another layer of humility.

Follow Jarrett Bell on social media: @JarrettBell

There’s no fighting in the war room. There is plenty of clapping, however.

Shedeur Sanders’ 2025 NFL Draft slide came to an end on Saturday, when he was selected in the fifth round (144th pick overall) by the Cleveland Browns. While Cleveland should have plenty of cause for celebration for picking a talent of Sanders’ caliber, it didn’t seem as though those making the picking were too enthused.

As the saying goes, pictures are worth a thousand words, so videos are worth a lot more. That much is apparent with the reaction of the Browns war room after drafting Sanders on Saturday, which had something of a subdued response after the pick was made.

According to Browns brass, though, that video of the celebration was clearly out of context.

‘I think we’re probably just tired from the weekend,’ general manager Andrew Berry said with a laugh.

‘Those clips – it’s not timed up to exactly the right time, so don’t read too much into that,’ head coach Kevin Stefanski added.

So, there ends the mystery. Nothing to see here.

Sanders should have plenty of reason to celebrate, even if that celebration is a little late. The former Colorado Buffaloes quarterback endured a lengthy wait to make it to Cleveland, while some predicted the passer would be a first-round pick of the Browns this year.

The rookie will have plenty of quarterbacks to compete with to ascend to a starting job; Sanders joins veterans Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett, along with 2025 third-round pick Dillon Gabriel, in Cleveland’s QB room. There’s no clear-cut starter on the roster.

Now, Shedeur will look to give the Browns brass and Cleveland’s fanbase something to cheer for in the near future.

The monumental ‘Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves’ event unfolded at the iconic Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and the long-awaited clash between Chris Eubank Jr. and Conor Benn lived up to the hype.

Eubank Jr. (35 wins, 3 losses, and 25 KOs) faced Benn (23 wins, 1 loss, and 14 KOs) in the ring after a unique delay of two and a half years, caused by Benn’s failed drug tests. However, he was later cleared and even moved up two weight classes to compete against Eubank Jr. In the end, Eubank Jr. won the fight by unanimous decision, with all three judges scoring it 116-112, marking Benn’s first career loss.

Here is all the action from the Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves event in London.

Eubank Jr. vs. Benn highlights:

Chris Eubank Jr. vs. Conor Benn: Final result

Chris Eubank Jr. wins via unanimous decision

After 12 thrilling rounds, Chris Eubank Jr. defeated Conor Benn and won via unanimous decision (116-112, 116-112, 116-112).

Round 12: Eubank Jr. and Benn leave it all

Eubank Jr. and Benn are both stumbling on their feet, with Eubank Jr. dominating the action as Benn tries to hold on. The situation is tense, and both boxers are struggling to maintain their balance in the final seconds of the match.

Round 11: Both sides show that it is personal

Eubank Jr. and Benn show that this fight is personal, with both sides giving it their all in Round 11. After a tough Round 10, Eubank Jr. bounces back and smothers Benn, who continues to miss significant punches. Both fighters throw all the punches they have until the final second.

Round 10: Eubank Jr. feels it

Eubank Jr. takes a hard right uppercut to the head, causing him to lose his balance, but he continues to swing. Benn’s fatigue is evident as he struggles to gain the upper hand, yet he is landing significant shots on Eubank Jr. In response, Eubank Jr. unleashes a flurry of punches.

Round 9: Eubank Jr. attempts to wear Benn down

Eubank Jr. is throwing everything he has at Benn in an attempt to capitalize on his fatigue, but it doesn’t seem to make a difference. Benn refuses to succumb to the pressure. A headbutt from Benn caused Eubank Jr. to suffer a cut on his left eye that is causing blood to obstruct his vision, but he doesn’t let up.

Round 8: Benn makes adjustment

Benn is trying to make adjustments, but it looks like fatigue is starting to set in. Both Eubank Jr. and Benn exchange punches as neither fighter refuses to go down as the bell rings.

Round 7: Back and forth round

Just as it looked like Eubank Jr. landed a powerful right hand that seemed to rattle Benn, Benn returned the favor. Eubank Jr. added another combination, with his experience shining through.

Round 6: Benn has big moments

Although the pace slowed in Round 6, Benn continued to deliver powerful right shots, causing Eubank Jr. to miss several punches. Benn landed the harder strikes and forced Eubank Jr. against the ropes, prompting the referee to separate the boxers. They both continued to throw heavy body shots throughout the round.

Round 5: Eubank Jr. is all energy

Eubank Jr. maintains momentum from a strong Round 4 and is trying to control the fight, but Benn doesn’t relent. Benn increases his bodywork in this round, yet many of his shots miss Eubank Jr. entirely.

Round 4: Eubank Jr. comes out with volume

Eubank Jr. starts aggressively, landing several body shots, but they don’t seem to faze Benn. He manages to connect with one of his signature uppercuts as well. Both boxers are putting in considerable effort during this round, giving their all until the bell rings.

Round 3: Benn rocks Eubank Jr.

Benn is landing damaging shots on Eubank Jr., which causes him to stumble. Benn seems to have Eubank Jr. right where he wants him and maintains the momentum that has shifted in his favor.

Round 2: Eubank Jr. commands the ring

Eubank Jr. doesn’t seem to need to move much, as Benn is doing most of the work. However, the jabs that Benn lands are powerful. In the first two rounds, Benn demonstrated his ruthlessness, with heated words exchanged after the bell rang.

Round 1: Both boxers come out swinging

Chris Eubank Jr. maintained his composure, while Conor Benn appeared flustered in the first round. Benn attempted to close the distance and landed a powerful left hook that caught Eubank off guard, motivating Benn to continue his aggressive approach.

Eubank Jr. vs. Benn enter the ring of the main event

Conor Benn made his entrance into the ring amidst a loud and vibrant atmosphere, walking out to the song ‘Ready or Not,’ which had also accompanied his father over three decades ago. Likewise, Eubank Jr., joined by Eubank Sr., walked out to the same track that his father had chosen for his own ring entrance, setting the scene for a thrilling showdown.

Eubank Jr. vs. Benn: Time, PPV, streaming for London fight

The highly anticipated bout between Chris Eubank Jr. and Conor Benn will take place on Saturday, April 26 and can be purchased on DAZN PPV.

Date: Saturday, April 26
Location: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium (London)
Main card start time: 12 p.m. ET
Main event ring walks: 5 p.m. (approximate)
Main card stream: DAZN PPV

Catch Eubank Jr. vs. Benn with DAZN

Anthony Yarde vs. Lyndon Arthur result

In Round 1, both Anthony Yarde and Lyndon Arthur opened with powerful jabs. They continued to land significant hits on each other in the following rounds. Each boxer gave it their all, attempting to wear down their opponent early in the bout.

Yarde and Arthur both delivered powerful punches in Rounds 3 and 4 of a closely contested fight, with neither fighter backing down. Yarde landed two solid headshots on Arthur, but they didn’t appear to slow Arthur down, as he came out strong in Round 7.

After pressure from both sides for 12 rounds, Anthony Yarde defeated Lyndon Arthur by unanimous decision (115-113, 116-112, 116-112).

Anthony Yarde vs. Lyndon Arthur last fight of undercard

In the fourth fight of the undercard, Anthony Yarde steps into the ring to face Lyndon Arthur in a trilogy bout. Arthur previously upset Yarde by split decision in their first fight in 2020, but Yarde rebounded by defeating Arthur with a fourth-round knockout in their second meeting in 2021.

Liam Smith vs. Aaron McKenna result

Liam Smith, who is 11 years older than Aaron McKenna, started the match strong with successful punches, including a body uppercut. However, McKenna responded with quick jabs in the first couple of rounds. Although McKenna’s inexperience showed at times with missed shots, he quickly recovered and delivered damaging right hooks in Round 3.

McKenna kept landing hooks from left to right, which seemed to take a toll on Smith. Although Smith managed to land a few strong uppercuts, he quickly went into defensive mode in the later rounds as McKenna took control of the fight.

In Round 12, McKenna aggressively pursued Smith, who stumbled but quickly got back up, refusing to let the fight end. McKenna ultimately secured the vacant WBA International belt with a unanimous decision (119-108, 117-109, 118-108).

Liam Smith and Aaron McKenna enter the ring

The third fight of the undercard features Liam Smith and Aaron McKenna in a middleweight bout.

Viddal Riley vs. Cheavon Clarke result

Viddal Riley and Cheavon Clarke throw numerous jabs early in the first rounds. Clarke lands a strong right hook and follows it up with several jabs in Round 3 but Riley gets a second wind in Round 5 nailing Clarke with some strong hits.

Clarke landed a strong right hook on Riley, who visibly shook it off before the end of Round 8. Clarke maintained the momentum in Round 9, throwing a series of jabs at Riley. In response, Riley delivered a combination of punches. In Round 11, Riley caught Clarke with a powerful right hook, but the bell halted the action before further exchanges could occur.

After 12 thrilling rounds, a new champion has been crowned as Riley won by unanimous decision (116-112, 117-111, 115-113).

Viddal Riley and Cheavon Clarke continue the action

For the second bout of the day, Viddal Riley and Cheavon Clarke enter the ring for a cruiserweight division fight.

Chris Billam-Smith vs. Brandon Glanton result

Brandon Glanton started aggressively, attacking Chris Billam-Smith in the first few rounds. However, Billam-Smith responded with crucial body shots against Glanton and was even warned by the referee for a low blow at one point. Both boxers exchanged strong punches throughout Rounds 3 and 4, during which Billam-Smith experienced some stumbles.

Despite the stumbles, Billam-Smith brought Glanton to his knees in the seventh round. Ultimately, Billam-Smith won by unanimous decision (116-113, 116-112, 116-112).

Chris Billam-Smith vs. Brandon Glanton fight begins the action

Former world champion Chris Billam-Smith and Brandon Glanton will kick off the undercard with a cruiserweight matchup.

Benn vs. Eubank Jr. main card start times

Main card start time: 12 p.m. ET
Main event ring walks: 5 p.m. (approximate)

Eubank Jr. missed 160 pound weight limit

Chris Eubank Jr. weighed 160.2 pounds on his first attempt and 160.5 pounds on his second attempt, a surprising miss of the middleweight limit according to Ring Magazine. As a result, Eubank Jr. was fined $500,000 before the fight.

Conor Benn, who usually fights in a lower weight class, weighed in at 156.4 pounds, a significant move up two weight classes for this fight. The bout is expected to proceed as planned.

Benn vs. Eubank Jr. card

Main card

Middleweight: Chris Eubank Jr. vs Conor Benn
Light heavyweight: Anthony Yarde vs Lyndon Arthur
Middleweight: Liam Smith vs Aaron McKenna
Cruiserweight: Viddal Riley vs Cheavon Clarke
Cruiserweight: Chris Billam-Smith vs Brandon Glanton

Eubank Jr. vs. Benn odds

All odds are for moneyline bets as of Saturday, according to BetMGM.

Main card

Middleweight: Chris Eubank Jr. (-172) vs Conor Benn (+134)
Light heavyweight: Anthony Yarde (-800) vs Lyndon Arthur (+450)
Middleweight: Liam Smith (+110) vs Aaron McKenna (-150)
Cruiserweight: Viddal Riley (-190) vs Cheavon Clarke (+138)
Cruiserweight: Chris Billam-Smith (-118) vs Brandon Glanton (-110)

Eubank Jr. vs. Benn predictions

DAZN: Joe Calzaghe picks Eubank Jr.

Staff writes: In an interview with Talksport, Calzaghe said: ‘Talent-wise I think they’re on the same sort of level, but size, normally size wins fights, so I sort of edge with Eubank as he’s the bigger guy naturally.’

The Standard: Tyson Furry picks Eubank Jr.

Staff writes: Furry said: ‘It’s a weight category thing. If it’s 10.5 stone it’s going to be Conor Benn. If it’s at middleweight then probably Chris Eubank Jr.’

Sports Illustrated: Amir Khan picks Eubank Jr.

Staff writes: Khan said: ‘I was saying Connor was going to win a couple of weeks ago. I thought that he was more of the aggressor. But then looking at the size difference and realizing he’s going up a weight. Not up one, but maybe two weights. These weights are made for a purpose and even though I went up and fought Canelo, I know the difference. But then again, Chris Eubank is no Canelo. But I still feel that Eubank has a lot more weight, more power, more strength and the height and the size over Conor Benn. I’ve got him winning that fight now.’

Eubank Jr. vs. Benn live stream

Coverage of the Conor Benn vs. Chris Eubank Jr. fight will be shown in its entirety by DAZN PPV.

Eubank Jr. vs. Benn price

The Eubank Jr. vs. Benn fight offered by DAZN will cost $24.99 for viewers in the United State

Tampa Bay Lightning star Brandon Hagel received a five-minute major for interference during Game 2 for his late hit on Florida Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov.

He was handed a one-game suspension by the NHL’s Department of Player Safety.

Panthers star Matthew Tkachuk received a five-minute major for interference for a late hit on Tampa Bay star Jake Guentzel on Saturday during Game 3 of the first-round series.

Can he expect similar treatment from the league’s disciplinarians?

‘I passed the puck and I felt like a long time after, I got hit,’ Guentzel told the NHL on TNT studio crew after the game. ‘I’m sure the league is going to take a look at it. We all know the history of the past couple games.’

Here is a look at the two interference major penalties, including the league’s suspension video, and a comparison of the two:

Brandon Hagel hit on Aleksander Barkov

Matthew Tkachuk hit on Jake Guentzel

Should Matthew Tkachuk be suspended?

No

The NHL video makes clear that Barkov never had control of the puck before Hagel hit him and was ineligible to be checked. Guentzel had just passed the puck. Tkachuk’s hit was late and he should have refrained, but the two incidents aren’t really comparable. Same with the force. Hagel’s hit appears to be a lot harder. Barkov left Game 2 and didn’t return, though he was able to play in Game 3. Guentzel was able to do a television interview not long after the Tkachuk hit.

Possibly

Guentzel’s face did hit the ice. If the NHL is looking to prevent late hits that could cause an injury, you need to keep sending a message. Penalizing one and not the other sends a mixed message and could seem unfair.

Best guess

No suspension, but the league might choose to fine Tkachuk.

What Lightning coach Jon Cooper said

He didn’t address it directly, but when asked about the hit by reporters, he repeated a comment made earlier this week by Panthers coach Paul Maurice.

‘The only players we hit are the ones with pucks,’ he said and shrugged.

The 2025 NFL Draft has officially come to a close. The New England Patriots concluded the festivities by making Memphis defensive Kobee Minor the 257th and final selection of the draft, which produced plenty of drama and intrigue.

The most notable storyline was Shedeur Sanders’ slide, which lasted until the middle of Day 3. The Colorado quarterback was once considered a potential first-round selection, but he ended up remaining on the board until the Cleveland Browns traded up to take him with the 144th pick.

The Browns had already taken Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel in Round 3, so the battle between the two rookie quarterbacks will be an intriguing storyline to follow ahead of the 2025 NFL season.

Several other star college quarterbacks heard their names called on the draft’s final day as well. Notre Dame’s Riley Leonard went to the Indianapolis Colts, Ohio State’s Will Howard landed with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Texas’ Quinn Ewers lasted until Round 7, where he was selected by the Miami Dolphins.

Plenty of other recognizable players came off the board, especially at receiver. Stanford’s Elic Ayomanor, Utah State’s Jalen Royals and Oregon’s Tez Johnson all heard their names called while top running backs Cam Skattebo and Bhayshul Tuten heard their names called early in Round 4.

USA TODAY Sports tracked each Day 3 pick and analyzed the most notable of the day’s 155 selections. Below are the results of the draft’s final day, from the fourth round through Mr. Irrelevant in the seventh round.

2025 NFL Draft tracker: Day 3 picks

Round 4

103. Tennessee Titans: Chimere Dike, WR, Florida

104. Jacksonville Jaguars: Bhayshul Tuten, RB, Virginia Tech

Tuten ran a 4.32 40 at the 2025 NFL Combine, reflective of his game-breaking speed. He had fumbling issues at Virginia Tech, but his explosiveness out of the backfield and as a pass-catcher should make him a quality weapon in Liam Coen’s Jacksonville offense.

105. New York Giants: Cam Skattebo, RB, Arizona State

Skattebo enjoyed a breakout season for the Sun Devils, leading them to a Big 12 title and racking up 1,711 yards and 21 touchdowns on 293 carries. He’s well-built at just under 5-10, 219 pounds and is hard to tackle thanks to his combination of contact balance and power.

106. New England Patriots: Craig Woodson, S, California

107. Jacksonville Jaguars: Jack Kiser, LB, Norte Dame

Kiser spent six seasons at Notre Dame and played in a school-record 70 games. He generated 90 tackles as part of a strong Fighting Irish defense in 2024 while serving as a team captain and key leader for the national runner-up.

108. Las Vegas Raiders: Dont’e Thornton Jr., WR, Tennessee

109. Buffalo Bills: Deone Walker, DT, Kentucky

Walker is a 6-7, 331-pound defensive tackle prospect who once got first-round buzz. He wasn’t overly productive in his final season at Kentucky, but pairing the massive Wildcat with the smaller and quicker Ed Oliver could give the Bills a quality defensive tackle pairing.

110. New York Jets: Arian Smith, WR, Georgia

Smith has great athletic potential and ran a 4.36-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine. However, he recorded 10 drops during his final college season, so he will have to improve upon that at the NFL level.

112. New Orleans Saints: Danny Stutsman, LB, Oklahoma

113. San Francisco 49ers: CJ West, DT, Indiana

114. Carolina Panthers (from Cowboys): Trevor Etienne, RB, Georgia

Etienne, the brother of Jaguars running back Travis Etienne, has three-down versatility and good vision. He tested well at the NFL combine and could become a productive NFL running back if he’s able to stay healthy at the professional level. Etienne looks like a nice complement to Chuba Hubbard and provides insurance as 2024 second-round pick Jonathon Brooks recovers from a second ACL tear in a 13-month span.

115. Arizona Cardinals: Cody Simon, LB, Ohio State

116. Houston Texans (from Dolphins): Woody Marks, RB, USC

117. Los Angeles Rams (from Colts): Jarquez Hunter, RB, Auburn

Hunter is a physical, downhill runner who averaged 6.3 yards per carry during his time at Auburn. Between him, Kyren Williams and Blake Corum, the Rams have what should be a tough-to-tackle trio in their backfield.

118. Atlanta Falcons: Billy Bowman Jr, S, Oklahoma

119. Cincinnati Bengals: Barrett Carter, LB, Clemson

120. Tennessee Titans (from Seahawks): Gunnar Helm, TE, Texas

Helm emerged as a vertical threat down the seam in his final season at Texas. He became a favorite target of Quinn Ewers, logging a team-best 60 receptions, and has good hands, making him a viable receiving threat at the next level. Cam Ward should enjoy throwing to him during their respective rookie seasons.

121. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: David Walker, edge, Central Arkansas

Walker is undersized for the edge at 6-1, 231 pounds, but was highly productive playing in the FCS. He had 10.5 sacks during his final season and Todd Bowles should be able to figure out how to best use his explosiveness in a rotational setting. Walker starred at the Senior Bowl, helping instill confidence he can hold up against higher-end prospects.

122. Carolina Panthers (from Broncos): Lathan Ransom, S, Ohio State

123. Pittsburgh Steelers: Jack Sawyer, edge, Ohio State

Sawyer produced a career-high nine sacks during his final season with the Buckeyes and established himself as an strong, hard-working edge rusher. He will add depth to an already good Steelers pass rush and profiles as a great rotational player behind T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith.

124. Green Bay Packers: Barryn Sorrell, edge, Texas

125. Los Angeles Chargers: Kyle Kennard, edge, South Carolina

126. Cleveland Browns: Dylan Sampson, RB, Tennessee

Sampson led the SEC in carries (258), rushing yards (1,491) and rushing touchdowns (22) last season. He and second-round pick Quinshon Judkins will create a dynamic one-two punch in Cleveland.

127. Indianapolis Colts (from Rams): Jalen Travis, OT, Iowa State

128. Washington Commanders (from Texans): Jaylin Lane, WR, Virginia Tech

129. Baltimore Ravens: Teddye Buchanan, LB, California

130. New York Jets (from Eagles): Malachi Moore, S, Alabama

Moore played five seasons at Alabama and posted a career-high 70 tackles and eight pass defenses during his final seasons. His experience will allow him to seamlessly transition into Aaron Glenn’s defense, which relied on high-end safety play during the coach’s time in Detroit.

131. New Orleans Saints (from Commanders): Quincy Riley, CB, Louisville

132. Chicago Bears (from Bills): Ruben Hyppolite II, LB, Maryland

133. Kansas City Chiefs: Jalen Royals, WR, Utah State

Royals ran a 4.42 40 and has a well-built 6-0, 205-pound frame. His combination of solid speed, burst and great body control should allow him to consistently separate from NFL defensive backs and develop into a quality weapon for Patrick Mahomes.

134. Denver Broncos: Que Robinson, edge, Alabama

135.Las Vegas Raiders (compensatory, from Dolphins): Tonka Hemingway, DT, South Carolina

136. Tennessee Titans (compensatory, from Ravens): Elic Ayomanor, WR, Stanford

Ayomanor has great size (6-2, 206 pounds), length and was a vertical playmker in college at Stanford. He generated 293 yards in a 2023 game against Colorado while largely being guarded by Travis Hunter. Ayomanor should be another quality playmaker for the Titans to install around Cam Ward.

137. New England Patriots (compensatory, via Seahawks): Joshua Farmer, DT, Florida State

138. San Francisco 49ers (compensatory): Jordan Watkins, WR, Ole Miss

Round 5

139. Minnesota Vikings (from Browns): Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins, edge, Georgia

140. Carolina Panthers (from Giants): Cam Jackson, DT, Florida

141. Baltimore Ravens (from Titans): Carson Vinson, OT, Alabama A&M

142. Seattle Seahawks (from Vikings): Rylie Mills, DT, Notre Dame

Mills led Notre Dame with 7.5 sacks last season. An injury limited him to just one College Football Playoff game appearance, and his presence was missed. If healthy, he should be quality rotational lineman for the Seahawks.

143. Miami Dolphins (from Raiders): Jordan Phillips, DT, Maryland

144. Cleveland Browns (from Seahawks via Patriots): Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado

Sanders’ long draft day slide finally ends. The Browns traded up in the fifth round of the draft to select the Colorado quarterback, who completed 74% of his passes for 4,134 yards, 37 touchdowns and 10 interceptions last season. His arm strength is merely solid, but his accuracy and ability to navigate the pocket could make him a quality NFL quarterback.

Sanders will now compete with Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett and third-round rookie Dillon Gabriel for playing time with the Browns.

145. Philadelphia Eagles: Mac McWilliams, CB, UCF

146. New England Patriots (from Panthers): Bradyn Swinson, edge, LSU

147. San Francisco 49ers (from Saints via Commanders): Jordan James, RB, Oregon

148. Los Angeles Rams (from Bears): Ty Hamilton, DT, Ohio State

149. Dallas Cowboys: Jaydon Blue, RB, Texas

Blue had the most productive season of his career in his final season at Texas. He racked up 730 yards on 134 carries with eight rushing touchdowns. The 21-year-old blazed a 4.38-second 40-yard dash and will add a much needed pop of speed to Dallas’ backfield rotation.

150. Miami Dolphins: Jason Marshall Jr., CB, Florida

151. Indianapolis Colts: DJ Giddens, RB, Kansas State

152. Dallas Cowboys (from Cardinals): Shemar James, LB, Florida

153. Cincinnati Bengals: Jalen Rivers, OL, Miami (FL)

154. New York Giants (from Seahawks): Marcus Mbow, OL, Purdue

155. Miami Dolphins (from Broncos): Dante Trader Jr., S, Maryland

156. Kansas City Chiefs: Jeffrey Bassa, LB, Oregon

157. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Elijah Roberts, edge, SMU

158. Los Angeles Chargers: KeAndre Lambert-Smith, WR, Auburn

159. Green Bay Packers: Collin Oliver, LB, Oklahoma State

160. San Francisco 49ers (from Vikings): Marques Sigle, S, Kansas State

161. Philadelphia Eagles (from Texans): Smael Mondon Jr., LB, Georgia

Mondon plays with good physicality and downhill speed. He ran a 4.58-second 40-yard dash at the 2025 NFL Combine and had three sacks in each of his last two seasons at Georgia. The Eagles love selecting Georgia players and Mondon could develop into a solid role-player for them.

162. New York Jets (from Rams via Steelers): Francisco Mauigoa, LB, Miami (FL)

163. Carolina Panthers (from Ravens): Mitchell Evans, TE, Notre Dame

164. Pittsburgh Steelers (from Chiefs): Yahya Black, DT, Iowa

165. Los Angeles Chargers: Oronde Gadsen II, TE, Syracuse

166. Seattle Seahawks: Tory Horton, WR, Colorado State

Horton posted back-to-back 1,100-yard receiving seasons for the Rams before missing half of his final season with a knee injury. He has great size (6-2) and 4.41 speed that should allow him to become a productive part of Seattle’s receiving corps.

167. Tennessee Titans (from Chiefs): Jackson Slater, G, Sacramento State

168. Philadelphia Eagles: Drew Kendall, C, Boston College

169. Chicago Bears (from Bills, compensatory): Zah Frazier, CB, UTSA

170. Buffalo Bills (from Cowboys; compensatory): Jordan Hancock, CB, Ohio State

171. Detroit Lions (from Patriots via Cowboys; compensatory): Miles Frazier, G, LSU

172. Los Angeles Rams (from Vikings via Seahawks, compensatory): Chris Paul Jr., LB, Ole Miss

173. Buffalo Bills (compensatory): Jackson Hawes, TE, Georgia Tech

174. Arizona Cardinals (from Cowboys, compensatory): Denzel Burke, CB, Ohio State

175. Seattle Seahawks (compensatory): Robbie Ouzts, TE, Alabama

176. New York Jets (from Ravens, compensatory): Tyler Baron, edge, Miami (FL)

Round 6

177. Buffalo Bills (from Giants): Dorian Strong, CB, Virginia Tech

178. Baltimore Ravens: Bilhal Kone, CB, Western Michigan

179. Miami Dolphins (from Texans via Browns): Ollie Gordon II, RB, Oklahoma State

Gordon is a thick (6-1, 226 pounds), physical runner who will compliment the speedy De’Von Achane well in Miamis running back-friendly offense.

180. Las Vegas Raiders: JJ Pegues, DT, Ole Miss

181. Philadelphia Eagles: Kyle McCord, QB, Syracuse

McCord had a Syracuse-record 34 touchdowns in 2024 and led the FBS is passing yards with 4,779 passing yards. He has a gunslinger’s mentality and is willing to take downfield chances. He has the arm strength needed to be a quality quarterback but Philadelphia will look to develop his accuracy at the next level.

182. New England Patriots: Andres Borregales, K, Miami (FL)

Borregales is the first kicker off the board in the 2025 NFL Draft. The Miami product made 74 of 86 field goals during his four-year college career with the Hurricanes. He made all 62 of his extra point attempts last season as well.

183. Tennessee Titans: Marcus Harris, CB, California

184. New Orleans Saints (reacquired via Commanders): Devin Neal, RB, Kansas

185. Pittsburgh Steelers (from Bears via Seahawks): Will Howard, QB, Ohio State

Howard was a steady, accurate and tough quarterback during his lone season at Ohio State. He has a solid arm and functional mobility that should give him a floor as a high-end backup quarterback at the NFL level. The Steelers will look to develop Howard, perhaps behind veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers, and look to build upon the Ohio State product’s excellent performance during the team’s national championship run.

186. Baltimore Ravens: Tyler Loop, K, Arizona

187. Houston Texans: Jaylen Reed, S, Penn State

188. Tennessee Titans (from Cowboys): Kalel Mullings, RB, Michigan

189. Indianapolis Colts: Riley Leonard, QB, Notre Dame

The Colts wanted to add quarterback depth behind Anthony Richardson and Daniel Jones. Leonard ends up being their choice. He led the Fighting Irish to a national championship game appearance in his lone season with the team, showing excellent toughness and downhill running abilities that could make him a Taysom Hill-like threat at the NFL level.

Leonard doesn’t have the strongest arm and settled mostly for short passes because of that at Notre Dame. He needs to work on his downfield accuracy and consistency, but he’s still a worthwhile gamble at this point in the draft.

190. Indianapolis Colts (from Rams via Falcons): Tim Smith, DT, Alabama

191. Philadelphia Eagles: Myles Hinton, OT, Michigan

192. Seattle Seahawks (from Browns and Dolphins via Bears): Bryce Cabeldue, G, Kansas

193. Cincinnati Bengals: Tahj Brooks, RB, Texas Tech

194. Jacksonville Jaguars (from Seahawks): Jalen McLeod, LB, Auburn

195. Los Angeles Rams (from Steelers): Luke Newman, OL, Michigan State

196. Detroit Lions (from Buccaneers): Ahmed Hassanein, edge, Boise State

197. Houston Texans: Graham Mertz, QB, Florida

Mertz played six college seasons at Wisconsin at Florida and completed 73.7% of his passes across two seasons with the Gators. He enjoyed a quality 2023 season, throwing for 2,903 yards, 20 touchdowns and three interceptions but played just five games before suffering a torn ACL in October. Mertz will now look to battle for a spot behind C.J. Stroud on Houston’s quarterback depth chart, unless the Texans give him a redshirt year to heal his knee.

198. Green Bay Packers: Warren Brinson, DT, Georgia

199. Los Angeles Chargers: Branson Taylor, OT, Pittsburgh

200. Jacksonville Jaguars: Rayuan Lane III, S, Navy

201. Minnesota Vikings: Kobe King, LB, Penn State

202. Minnesota Vikings (from Rams via Texans, Steelers and Bears): Gavin Bartholomew, TE, Pitt

203. Baltimore Ravens: LaJohntay Wester, WR, Colorado

204. Dallas Cowboys (from Lions via Browns and Bills): Ajani Cornelius, G, Oregon

205. Washington Commanders: Kain Medrano, LB, UCLA

206. Buffalo Bills: Chase Lundt, OT, UConn

207. Philadelphia Eagles (from Jets and Chiefs): Cameron Williams, OT, Texas

208. Carolina Panthers: Jimmy Horn Jr., WR, Colorado

209. Philadelphia Eagles (compensatory, from Chargers): Antwaun Powell-Ryland, edge, Virginia Tech

210. Baltimore Ravens (compensatory): Aeneas Peebles, DT, Virginia Tech

211. Arizona Cardinals (compensatory, from Cowboys): Hayden Conner, G, Texas

212. Baltimore Ravens (compensatory): Robert Longerbeam, CB, Rutgers

213. Las Vegas Raiders (compensatory): Tommy Mellott, QB, Montana State

Mellott is on the smaller side for a quarterback (5-11, 200 pounds) but was undeniably productive at Montana State. He completed 67.8% of his passes for 2,783 yards, 31 touchdowns and two interceptions while running for 1,050 yards and 15 touchdowns.

Mellott is fast and slippery, so he could be turned into a versatile backfield weapon at the NFL level. He could also potentially move to receiver (like Julian Edelman) if the Raiders don’t think his arm isn’t strong enough to remain at quarterback.

214. Los Angeles Chargers (compensatory): R.J. Mickens, S, Clemson

Mickens has NFL bloodlines, as his father, Ray, played 11 NFL seasons for the Patriots, Jets, and Browns. The younger Mickens had a career-high 75 tackles and seven pass defenses in his final season at Clemson.

215. Las Vegas Raiders (compensatory): Cam Miller, QB, North Dakota State

That’s two sixth-round FCS quarterbacks for the Raiders. Miller completed 73.5% of his passes for 3,251 yards, 33 touchdowns and four interceptions while leading North Dakota State to another FCS championship. He has good mobility and could become a solid backup at the NFL level.

216. Denver Broncos (from Texans, compensatory): Jeremy Crawshaw, P, Florida

Round 7

217. Dallas Cowboys (from Titans via Patriots): Jay Toia, DT, UCLA

218. Atlanta Falcons (from Browns via Chargers): Jack Nelson, OT, Wisconsin

219. New York Giants: Thomas Fidone II, TE, Nebraska

220. New England Patriots: Marcus Bryant, OT, Missouri

221. Jacksonville Jaguars: Jonah Monheim, C, USC

222. Las Vegas Raiders: Cody Lindenberg, LB, Minnesota

223. Seattle Seahawks (from Saints via Eagles and Steelers): Damien Martinez, RB, Miami (FL)

Martinez posted back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons at Miami and has the size needed (6-0, 217 pounds) needed to be a productive back at the NFL level.

224. Houston Texans (from Dolphins via Bears) Kyonte Hamilton, DT, Rutgers

225. Arizona Cardinals (from Jets via Chiefs): Kitan Crawford, S, Nebraska

226. Pittsburgh Steelers (from Chiefs via Panthers): Carson Bruener, LB, Washington

227. San Francisco 49ers: Kurtis Rourke, QB, Indiana

Rourke doesn’t have a stand-out skill set, but he was a good-looking game manager at Indiana, completing 69.4% of his passes for 3,042 yards, 29 touchdowns and just five interceptions. He may not have a starter’s ceiling, but he could be a steady backup at the NFL level.

228. Kansas City Chiefs (from Lions via Cowboys): Brashard Smith, RB, SMU

229. Pittsburgh Steelers (from Falcons via Eagles): Donte Kent, CB, Central Michigan

230. Detroit Lions: Dan Jackson, S, Georgia

231. Miami Dolphins: Quinn Ewers, QB, Texas

The Dolphins get a backup quarterback to compete with Zach Wilson. Questions exist about Ewers’ arm strength – he threw a lot of touch passes at Texas and didn’t drive the ball into his downfield throws – but he led the Longhorns to consecutive College Football Playoff appearances while showing poise in the pocket and between-the-numbers accuracy.

232. Indianapolis Colts: Hunter Wohler, S, Wisconsin

233. Chicago Bears (from Bengals): Kyle Monangai, RB, Rutgers

234. Seattle Seahawks: Mason Richman, OT, Iowa

235. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Tez Johnson, WR, Oregon

236. Jacksonville Jaguars: LeQuint Allen, RB, Syracuse

237. Green Bay Packers (from Steelers): Micah Robinson, DB, Tulane

238. Seattle Seahawks: Ricky White III, WR, UNLV

239. Dallas Cowboys (from Packers via Titans): Phil Mafah, RB, Clemson

240. Buffalo Bills: Kaden Prather, WR, Maryland

241. Denver Broncos: Caleb Lohner, TE, Utah

242. Los Angeles Rams: Konata Mumpfield, WR, Pitt

243. Baltimore Ravens: Garrett Dellinger, G, LSU

244. Detroit Lions: Dominic Lovett, WR, Georgia

245. Washington Commanders: Jacory Croskey-Merritt, RB, Arizona

246. New York Giants (from Bills): Korie Black, CB, Oklahoma State

247. Dallas Cowboys (from Chiefs via Panthers): Tommy Akingbesote, DT, Maryland

248. New Orleans Saints (from Eagles via Commanders): Moliki Matavao, TE, UCLA

249. San Francisco 49ers (compensatory): Connor Colby, G, Iowa

250. Green Bay Packers (compensatory): John Williams, G, Cincinnati

251. New England Patriots (from Chiefs, compensatory): Julian Ashby, LS, Vanderbilt

Ashby is the first long snapper drafted since 2021. He will challenge Joe Cardona for the job in New England.

252. San Francisco 49ers (compensatory): Junior Bergen, WR, Montana

253. Miami Dolphins (compensatory): Zeek Biggers, DT, Georgia Tech

254. New Orleans Saints (compensatory): Fadil Diggs, edge, Syracuse

255. Houston Texans: Luke Lachey, TE, Iowa

Lachey is the son of Jim Lachey, who was a three-time first-team All-Pro offensive lineman with Washington. The younger Lachey had 74 catches for 893 yards and four touchdowns across five seasons at Iowa.

256. Los Angeles Chargers (compensatory): Trikweze Bridges, CB, Florida

257. New England Patriots (from Chiefs, compensatory): Kobee Minor, DB, Memphis

Sanders’ dramatic draft slide deeper than pure football?

USA TODAY Sports columnist Jarrett Bell opined Friday, regarding the free fall of Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders: ‘Given all of the negativity heaped on Sanders in the weeks leading up to the draft – including shots from anonymous sources who attacked him as arrogant and entitled – I’m having a hard time shaking the feeling that the snub went beyond football. Sure, nitpicking is allowed – and expected as part of the due diligence of talent evaluations – when it comes to breaking down prospects. But in Sanders’ case, even if his correctable flaw of holding onto the football too long can be fixed (like flaws that can be found with any given prospect), it strikes me as a culture pick, too. Or non-pick.’

Round 1 winners and losers

The draft is only 12% complete in terms of picks used. That doesn’t mean Thursday night’s wild first round didn’t dispense some immediate winners and losers … plus a pair of highly scrutinized teams that warrant a ‘TBD’ status.

First-round grades

Want report cards for Thursday night’s Round 1 proceedings? Draft expert Mike Middlehurst-Schwartz issued report cards for all 32 picks – and no one failed, but several teams will definitely need some improvement going into Day 2.

Deion Sanders weighs in on criticism of son, QB Shedeur Sanders

USA TODAY Sports columnist Jarrett Bell recently went to Boulder, Colorado, and discussed several topics with Hall of Famer and University of Colorado football coach, Deion Sanders – among them the pre-draft criticism of his son, former Buffs QB Shedeur Sanders, who wasn’t picked in Round 1.

“It’s silly to us,” Deion told USA TODAY Sports during an expansive interview. “Most of it is laughable. What I told him, too, is, ‘Son, what I’ve learned in my life is when it don’t make sense, it’s God. Because some of this stuff is so stupid it don’t make sense. That means God is closing doors and opening doors to make sure you get to where you’re supposed to go.”

50* biggest NFL draft busts of last 50 years

The asterisk because I couldn’t limit this list of names, which will take you down memory lane, to just 50. One reason? Rewind four years to the 2021 draft, supposedly chock full of quarterback talent … that mostly has yet to materialize.

NFL draft prospect rankings

NFL draft expert Mike Middlehurst-Schwartz has been evaluating and ranking players ahead of the 2025 NFL draft. Take a dive into his overall assessment plus those of the best offensive weapons:

 Top 50 big board (Feb. 25) | Top 200 big board (April 24)

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