The NHL playoff bracket offers plenty of intriguing matchups.

There’s the Battle of Florida between the Tampa Bay Lightning and Florida Panthers. The always-intense Battle of Ontario (Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Ottawa Senators) returns to the playoffs for the first time since 2004. Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Kings and Edmonton Oilers meet for the fourth year in a row.

The Dallas Stars-Colorado Avalanche series features winger Mikko Rantanen, who was traded by the Avalanche to the Carolina Hurricanes earlier this season and will now face his former team after a trade to the Stars.

Here are the playoff matchups and schedule for the first round of the NHL’s Stanley Cup playoffs (all times p.m. ET, series are best of seven):

Eastern Conference

Key: M-Metropolitan; A-Atlantic; WC-wild card; x-if necessary

Streaming: Fubo and Sling carry ESPN games; Sling also carries TNT games

Washington Capitals (M1) vs. Montreal Canadiens (WC2)

Game 1: Canadiens at Capitals, Monday, April 21, 7, ESPN
Game 2: Canadiens at Capitals, Wednesday, April 23, 7, ESPN
Game 3: Capitals at Canadiens, Friday, April 25, 7, TNT, truTV, Max
Game 4: Capitals at Canadiens, Sunday, April 27, 6:30, TBS, truTV, Max
x-Game 5: Canadiens at Capitals, Wednesday, April 30, TBD
x-Game 6: Capitals at Canadiens, Friday, May 2, TBD
x-Game 7: Canadiens/at Capitals, Sunday, May 4, TBD

Carolina Hurricanes (M2) vs. New Jersey Devils (M3)

Game 1: Devils at Hurricanes, Sunday, April 20, 3, ESPN
Game 2: Devils at Hurricanes, Tuesday, April 22, 6, ESPN
Game 3: Hurricanes at Devils, Friday, April 25, 8, TBS, Max
Game 4: Hurricanes at Devils, Sunday, April 27, 3:30, TBS, truTV, Max
x-Game 5: Devils at Hurricanes, Tuesday, April 29, TBD
x-Game 6: Hurricanes at Devils, Friday, May 2, TBD
x-Game 7: Devils at Hurricanes, Sunday, May 4, TBD

Toronto Maple Leafs (A1) vs. Ottawa Senators (WC1)

Game 1: Senators at Maple Leafs, Sunday, April 20, 7, ESPN2
Game 2: Senators at Maple Leafs, Tuesday, April 22, 7:30 p.m., ESPN2
Game 3: Maple Leafs at Senators, Thursday, April 24, 7, ESPN2
Game 4: Maple Leafs at Senators, Saturday, April 26, 7, TBS, truTV, Max
x-Game 5: Senators at Maple Leafs, Tuesday, April 29, TBD
x-Game 6: Maple Leafs at Senators, Friday, May 1, TBD
x-Game 7: Senators at Maple Leafs, Saturday, May 3, TBD

Tampa Bay Lightning (A2) vs. Florida Panthers (A3)

Game 1: Panthers at Lightning, Tuesday, April 22, 8:30, ESPN
Game 2: Panthers at Lightning, Thursday, April 24, 6:30, TBS, truTV, Max
Game 3: Lightning at Panthers, Saturday, April 26, 1, TBS, truTV, Max
Game 4: Lightning at Panthers, Monday, April 28, TBD
x-Game 5: Panthers at Lightning, Wednesday, April 30, TBD
x-Game 6: Lightning at Panthers, Friday, May 2, TBD
x-Game 7: Panthers at Lightning, Sunday, May 4, TBD

Western Conference

Key: C-Central; P-Pacific; WC-wild card, x-if necessary

Streaming: Fubo and Sling carry ESPN games; Sling also carries TNT games

Winnipeg Jets (C1) vs. St. Louis Blues (WC2)

Game 1: Blues at Jets, Saturday, April 19, 6, TNT, truTV, Max
Game 2: Blues at Jets, Monday, April 21, 7:30, ESPN2
Game 3: Jets at Blues, Thursday, April 24, 9:30, ESPN2
Game 4: Jets at Blues, Sunday, April 27, 1, TBS, truTV, Max
x-Game 5: Blues at Jets, Wednesday, April 30, TBD
x-Game 6: Jets at Blues, Friday, May 2, TBD
x-Game 7: Blues at Jets, Sunday, May 4, TBD

Dallas Stars (C2) vs. Colorado Avalanche (C3)

Game 1: Avalanche at Stars, Saturday, April 19, 8:30, TNT, truTV, Max
Game 2: Avalanche at Stars, Monday, April 21, 9:30, ESPN
Game 3: Stars at Avalanche, Wednesday, April 23, 9:30, ESPN
Game 4: Stars at Avalanche, Saturday, April 26, 9:30, TBS, truTV, Max
x-Game 5: Avalanche at Stars, Monday, April 27, TBD
x-Game 6: Stars at Avalanche, Thursday, May 1, TBD
x-Game 7: Avalanche at Stars, Saturday, May 3, TBD

Vegas Golden Knights (P1) vs. Minnesota Wild (WC1)

Game 1: Wild at Golden Knights, Sunday, April 20, 10, ESPN
Game 2: Wild at Golden Knights, Tuesday, April 22, 11, ESPN
Game 3: Golden Knights at Wild, Thursday, April 24, 9, TBS, truTV, Max
Game 4: Golden Knights at Wild, Saturday, April 24, 4, TBS, truTV, Max
x-Game 5: Wild at Golden Knights, Tuesday, April 29, TBD
x-Game 6: Golden Knights at Wild, Thursday, May 1, TBD
x-Game 7: Wild at Golden Knights, Saturday, May 3, TBD

Los Angeles Kings (P2) vs. Edmonton Oilers (P3)

Game 1: Oilers at Kings, Monday, April 21, 10, ESPN2
Game 2: Oilers at Kings, Wednesday, April 23, 10 p.m. ET, TBS, Max
Game 3: Kings at Oilers, Friday, April 25, 10, TNT, truTV, Max
Game 4: Kings at Oilers, Sunday, April 27, 9:30,TBS, truTV, Max
x-Game 5: Oilers at Kings, Tuesday, April 29, TBD
x-Game 6: Kings at Oilers, Thursday, May 1, TBD
x-Game 7: Oilers at Kings, Saturday, May 3, TBD

There’s something to be said about taking the road less traveled. The back roads, the scenic route.

It strays from conventional wisdom, defies all sense of time and urgency and proves there are always multiple ways to arrive at the destination.

Ashton Jeanty’s journey was far from normal – and he decided to elaborate on that in a letter he wrote for The Players’ Tribune ahead of the 2025 NFL Draft.

The son of a military father, Jeanty didn’t have the luxury of playing football like most prospects. His family didn’t settle down in an area and dedicate all of its time to turning Jeanty into a future NFL star.

Bouncing around the world, the running back has no shortage of confidence heading into the pros, comparing his potential impact to what Saquon Barkley did for the Philadelphia Eagles.

‘Most people, they watched the Eagles win the Super Bowl a couple of months ago, they watched Saquon run through everyone in the playoffs, and they thought to themselves, ‘This is amazing,” Jeanty wrote. ‘I watched it and I thought something different. I thought, ‘That can be me.”

He wrote about the impact of getting into football after playing soccer and basketball, explaining the impact of moving to Italy just after finding his way on the field.

Jeanty had to pause his football dream, resuming it when the family moved to Texas during his sophomore year of high school. The running back didn’t start again until his senior year and led to the absence of offers from the top college programs, which he chalked up to bad timing.

Instead, the Boise State star celebrated his journey of playing many different positions against all levels of talent across the world.

‘I’ve gone from Jacksonville, to Chesapeake, to Naples, to Frisco, to Boise … all these places. I’ve played defensive end, safety, outside linebacker, special teams, slot receiver, lead running back, backup running back, backup everything. I’ve played street football, rec league football, road trip to a small town in Belgium football, 5A Texas high school football, college playoff football and no football. I’ve played with the older kids, with the military kids, with the European kids, with the zero-star kids, the five-star kids and everyone in between. I’ve played under those Friday Night Lights, and I’ve played on that Bronco Blue. My journey to the NFL, it’s definitely been different.’

The road less traveled is Jeanty’s street and he seems to prefer it that way.

Expected to be a first-round pick in next week’s NFL draft, the Heisman Trophy runner-up had one last selling point for the teams he hopes to soon play for.

‘It’s TACKLE football … you know what I’m saying?’

‘I’d draft the guy they can’t tackle.’

The 10 Savannah Bananas games will be simulcast on Friday and Saturday nights on ESPN and ESPN2. What’s more, these games will be available for live streaming on Disney+ and ESPN+, ensuring that fans can catch the action from anywhere.

‘The Savannah Bananas have mastered the art of blending baseball with entertainment, creating an experience that resonates with fans of all ages, regardless of their baseball knowledge,’ Brent Colborne, ESPN Vice President of Programming & Content Strategy said in a press release. ‘Their unique approach embodies two of ESPN’s key goals: reaching new audiences and inspiring the next generation of youth athletes. With Banana Ball showcased on ESPN and Disney linear and streaming platforms, we are confident new, avid fans will be created.’

The first Savannah Banana game will take place at Memorial Stadium, home of the Clemson Tigers, on April 26 at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN2.

Savannah Bananas schedule

Here is the Savannah Bananas schedule according to ESPN (all times Eastern):

April 26: 7 p.m. at Clemson University Memorial Stadium, South Carolina, on ESPN2
May 10: 8 p.m. at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee, on ESPN2
June 7: 7 p.m. at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina, on ESPN2
June 28: 7 p.m. at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C., on ESPN2
July 5: 7 p.m. at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts, on ESPN
July 26: 7 p.m. at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on ESPN2
Aug. 1: 7 p.m. at Camden Yards in Baltimore, Maryland, on ESPN
Aug. 2: 7 p.m. at Camden Yards in Baltimore, Maryland, on ESPN2
Aug. 9: 9 p.m. at Coors Field in Denver, Colorado on ESPN2
Aug. 15: 8 p.m. at Guaranteed Rate Field in Chicago, Illinois, on ESPN2

Savannah Bananas owner on 60 minutes

‘Banana Ball’ is not just a game, it’s an inclusive entertainment experience for everyone, regardless of their age or interest in baseball. The creator of the Savannah Bananas, Jesse Cole, often dresses in a yellow suit and recently shared with CBS’s 60 Minutes that the entire game is designed to be inclusive for all types of fans.

‘The idea is to have something entertaining for everyone, like this 6-year-old leading a crowd warm-up, to appeal to all ages, baseball fans or not,’ Cole said.

In 2015, Cole and his wife founded the Savannah Bananas as a summer collegiate baseball team. They observed that fans, including families, stayed until the end of the games due to various incentives, including all-you-can-eat food. This fueled Cole’s dream of creating a faster and more exciting version of baseball, ensuring a family-friendly and enjoyable experience for all.

(This story has been updated to change a gallery.)

Almost every team enters each year’s NFL draft with a declared intent on maintaining the long-term view and focusing on selecting the best player available. But it doesn’t take much for those plans to be skewed.

With wildly disparate salary cap outlooks from year to year, some teams can face heightened obligations when it comes to importing young, cost-controlled contributors at key spots. Positional pressures – particularly at quarterback – can also further box in a front office and coaching staff. And whether facing a rebuild or being asked to retool on the fly, decision-makers can face serious timeline crunches that some of their peers are spared.

With all that in mind, here are the 10 teams with the most at stake in this year’s NFL draft:

1. New York Giants

For all of the hyperbole that surrounds the draft every year, few teams typically enter the event with a true mandate. But in keeping coach Brian Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen for another year, co-owner John Mara made explicit that he’s ‘just about run out of patience’ and expects the current brain trust to find a quarterback of the future.

After signing Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston earlier in the offseason, Schoen contended Wednesday that picking a passer isn’t ‘mandatory.’ But the Giants certainly aren’t taking the matter lightly, with the team set to hold workouts this week with Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders, Alabama’s Jalen Milroe and Louisville’s Tyler Shough, per multiple reports. Entrusting Wilson and Winston to hold things down doesn’t seem like a realistic choice for a leadership tandem entering the year on the hot seat, so all eyes will be on Big Blue to see how the organization goes about taking yet another swing for a solution behind center.

What they need to do: Take a premier talent with their first choice and then make their move for a quarterback. While Sanders can’t be fully ruled out as a possibility at No. 3, the more sensible route would seem to be grabbing either Colorado wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter or Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter. That would then create pressure on the Giants to make sure they doesn’t get left out in the cold at quarterback, as they might need to move up from the No. 34 overall selection to get ahead of the Cleveland Browns (No. 33) and possibly the Pittsburgh Steelers (No. 21) for a signal-caller they’re truly comfortable with. Getting into the last few picks of Day 1 might suffice for Shough and Milroe, but a more sizable leap might be required to get into range for Sanders or Mississippi’s Jaxson Dart.

2. New Orleans Saints

The rebuild that the franchise has stubbornly resisted for years might finally be imminent. How New Orleans embarks on the first steps of that process, however, could define the first round, both this year and next year.

With Derek Carr’s status for the 2025 season in jeopardy amid reports of the veteran dealing with a shoulder injury, the Saints could actually be staring down a changing of the guard behind center in short order. But will a franchise that – excluding the supplemental draft – hasn’t selected a quarterback in the first two rounds since taking Archie Manning in 1971 really use the No. 9 overall selection on a passer given the suboptimal support? Rolling into next season with Spencer Rattler and Jake Haener might be a stretch for an organization that has clawed to remain competitive in recent years, so maybe a passer is in the cards at some point. But New Orleans can use help almost everywhere, so addressing the position ahead of some lean cap years might make for an odd setup. Regardless, Kellen Moore might have his first year – and his overall future – take shape much earlier than he was planning.

What they need to do: Don’t panic and force a pick at quarterback. Sanders could end up an option at No. 9, but the team should be fully sold on him if it is going to pull the trigger. New Orleans could easily end up in the top five of next year’s draft, and it shouldn’t be overly committed to a signal-caller it’s unsure of. The better option might be to take a shot at someone like Dart, Milroe or Shough in the second round, though it’s not clear which – if any – will still be around when the Saints come back on the clock at No. 40.

3. Cleveland Browns

Making their first pick in three years after the disastrous Deshaun Watson trade, Cleveland enters the draft in a state of crisis. Owner Jimmy Haslam essentially admitted defeat on the move for the former star signal-caller, calling it a ‘big swing-and-miss.’ And with Watson’s status for 2025 in doubt after he re-tore his right Achilles tendon in January, Cleveland is now counting on Joe Flacco to rediscover the form he showed with the team as the NFL’s Comeback Player of the Year in 2023 before flaming out in Indianapolis last season.

Yet even with an expected return to Kevin Stefanski’s standard scheme, this offense is a far cry from the one Flacco once thrived in.

The league’s lowest-scoring outfit (15.2 points per game) looks deficient at almost every spot. Jerry Jeudy’s Pro Bowl campaign was perhaps the lone bright spot for an otherwise unimpressive collection of skill position talent. The offensive line, meanwhile, is in a rather tenuous place. And while taking a quarterback at No. 2 looks far-fetched, things are lining up for the team to take a shot early – perhaps with the first pick of the second round, or even in a trade-up scenario to get another Day 1 pick.

What they need to do: Take Hunter at No. 2 and then try to stack some offensive hits throughout the draft. Cleveland might need to part with a decent chunk of draft capital to get itself into position for a quarterback at the end of Round 1, whether that’s Dart, Shough or even Sanders. Beyond that, however, the Browns can’t afford to get cute – and they should be especially wary of parting with any 2026 picks to rush what is looking like an extensive process of building the roster back up. An additional spark at running back would help after the team moved on from Nick Chubb, but Andrew Berry shouldn’t force anything early given that there could be several starting-caliber options on Day 3, including Miami’s Damien Martinez and Kansas’ Devin Neal.

4. San Francisco 49ers

With 11 picks, the 49ers are tied with the Baltimore Ravens for the most selections of any team in this year’s draft. And after cap casualties and free agency defections ravaged what had arguably been the league’s deepest and most talented roster, general manager John Lynch knows he needs to deliver, saying at last month’s annual league meeting, ‘more so than in recent past, there are slots we have to fill with those (picks).’

As Robert Saleh steps back into his old role as defensive coordinator, it should be priority to build out the defensive line that once led the way for one of the NFC’s formidable contenders. While Nick Bosa needs a proper running mate on the edge, the interior might be the more immediate concern given the lack of a punch after Javon Hargrave and Jordan Elliott’s releases. Cornerback also is a sore spot for a defense that will have to try to counter the Los Angeles Rams’ receiving tandem of Puka Nacua and Davante Adams, while finding a successor for Trent Williams at left tackle also has to be on Lynch’s mind.

What they need to do: Make the most of their full array of picks. In the early years of Lynch’s partnership with Kyle Shanahan, the 49ers routinely struck gold in the middle to late rounds with the likes of tight end George Kittle (fifth round, 2017), linebacker Fred Warner (third round, 2018), linebacker Dre Greenlaw (fifth round, 2019) and, of course, quarterback Brock Purdy (seventh round, 2022). And while third-round offensive guard Dominick Puni showed great promise as a rookie, the team hasn’t had quite the same success rate later on in the draft in recent years. San Francisco should be able to take advantage of a deep defensive line class to find multiple options on both the interior and edge while still finding key contributors later on.

5. Tennessee Titans

It probably goes without saying that the team holding the No. 1 pick has plenty at stake. But beyond the widely expected selection of Miami quarterback Cam Ward to start things off, this class represents a vital opportunity for the franchise to finally get properly aligned.

Within the last two-and-a-half years, an ever-shifting power dynamic has led to the firings of Jon Robinson, Mike Vrabel and Ran Carthon, leaving no sense of consistent direction within the leadership ranks. A slow but steady attrition of talent has accompanied that tug of war, which means new general manager Mike Borgonzi has plenty to tackle to set coach Brian Callahan up for success in Year 2.

‘Building the trenches, getting offensive linemen, defensive linemen, building that foundation,’ Borgonzi said before the NFL Scouting Combine when asked where the Titans need to improve, according to the team’s site. ‘And certainly, at some of the skill positions as well, receiver. Adding more depth to the tight end room. There’s a lot of holes.’

What they need to do: Borgonzi has already handled his first point by signing left tackle Dan Moore Jr. and right guard Kevin Zeitler, giving Tennessee its most promising starting offensive line in years. But Ward will still need better support from a receiving corps that offers little outside of Calvin Ridley’s uneven contributions, so finding a complementary target – maybe Missouri’s Luther Burden III or Iowa State’s Jayden Higgins – will be paramount. But the Titans’ edge rush is also in rough shape, and it might be difficult to find a starting-caliber talent unless the team allots its second-round pick (No. 35 overall) there.

6. Cincinnati Bengals

Signing star wide receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins to massive extensions quelled the most pressing concerns for Joe Burrow and many others. Now the pressure is on Cincinnati to bring on a horde of rookie starters who can restore some balance to a top-heavy roster.

Hovering over the draft, however, is the Bengals’ continued standoff with All-Pro defensive end Trey Hendrickson. The NFL’s reigning sack king has neither been handed the sizable contract he has been seeking nor had his trade request granted, leaving uncertainty about both where he and the team head from here. Getting something done before or during the draft would likely be the optimal route for both sides, as doing so would allow Cincinnati to field some returns right away. A defense devoid of difference-makers is going to need contributors at several spots, and the Bengals might be more pressed to have their rookies find their footing early given the timeline the team embraced by going all in with Chase and Higgins.

What they need to do: Hit on defense twice early while also staying mindful of offensive guard options. Regardless of what happens with Hendrickson, Cincinnati probably is due for more disruption up front after ranking just 20th in ESPN’s pass-rush win rate metric last season. The composition of this draft class could set the Bengals up to address that issue at No. 17, though one of the top safety prospects (South Carolina’s Nick Emmanwori or Georgia’s Malaki Starks) could be a wild card. But the team’s longstanding problem of providing Burrow sufficient protection on the interior hasn’t let up, and one of the Day 2 guard options – Georgia’s Tate Ratledge, Arizona’s Jonah Savaiinaea or Purdue’s Marcus Mbow – could provide stability.

7. Seattle Seahawks

In one of the more muted offseasons for player movement in recent history, the Seahawks stood out as perhaps the team that has done the most to reimagine itself despite just narrowly missing the playoffs at 10-7.

With head coach Mike Macdonald establishing a new tone by axing offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb and his downfield passing attack in favor of a ground-centric scheme under Klint Kubiak, Seattle then sent wide receiver DK Metcalf to the Pittsburgh Steelers and quarterback Geno Smith to the Las Vegas Raiders. Signing Sam Darnold and Cooper Kupp solidified the new offensive identity, but there’s plenty left unanswered after the team’s sharp pivot. With five picks inside the top 100, the Seahawks will certainly be under the microscope.

What they need to: At some point relatively early, solidify the interior offensive line. The Seahawks mulled several options in free agency but ultimately stood pat on their most pressing need. Schneider famously has resisted investing heavily at offensive guard, though he seemed to soften his stance this winter when discussing the issue. But would he go as far as using his top selection on someone like North Dakota State’s Grey Zabel, Texas’ Kelvin Banks Jr. or Alabama’s Tyler Booker? If not, he likely will need to circle back in the second and/or third rounds to find at least one starter, lest Darnold be subjected to the pressure that unraveled him at the end of last season with the Minnesota Vikings. A wide receiver who can contrast Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Kupp should also be on the wish list.

8. Carolina Panthers

After Bryce Young’s early-season benching, Carolina looked headed for another complete reset in Dave Canales’ first year as coach. But when the former No. 1 pick returned to the starting lineup, he quietly began to show the signs of development the franchise had been desperate to see. In throwing seven touchdowns and no interceptions over his final three games – two of them wins – Young provided the team with its first legitimate sense of hope in some time.

That progress was important for an organization that is now tied for the second-longest active playoff drought at seven seasons. But the upward trajectory can’t accelerate – or even hold – without substantial personnel improvements. A defense that ranked last in yards allowed per play (6) and scoring (31.4 points per game) added several solid starters, but the unit is still hurting for top-end talent after missing out on defensive tackle Milton Williams in free agency. The edge rush is of particular concern, with Jadeveon Clowney propping up a group that ranked 31st in pass rush win rate. And while Canales has expressed faith that 2024 first-round pick Xavier Legette can be a true No. 1 receiver after an injury-plagued rookie season, he’s also expressed a desire to field another playmaker for his signal-caller, who had to rely heavily on 34-year-old Adam Thielen last year.

What they need to do: Nail down the premium positions early. Finding an edge rusher who can consistently disrupt and finish plays typically necessitates an early draft pick, so it’s easy to see why general manager Dan Morgan might gravitate toward someone like Georgia’s Jalon Walker, who can create havoc for opposing quarterbacks early as he acclimates to other linebacker responsibilities. But given the importance of equipping Young with the proper support, Carolina might also be drawn to Arizona receiver Tetairoa McMillan and his track record of bailing out quarterbacks with his massive catch radius and run-after-catch ability.

9. Jacksonville Jaguars

Replicating the Rams’ process and results is easier said than done, but the Jaguars appear intent on going a new way under first-year general manager James Gladstone, who arrives from the defending NFC West champs with a distinct process. One particular point of interest: Gladstone carried over the Rams’ move to largely eschew top-30 visits with prospects, instead vetting them through other avenues.

Jacksonville isn’t hurting for high-end starters in the same way that some other teams on this list are, but the roster is rather uneven. With Trevor Lawrence’s cap hit ramping up in coming years as he gets further into his five-year, $275 million contract extension, Gladstone will have to unearth the kind of mid-to-late-round gems that held down key starting spots at low costs for the Rams in recent years. While the team can and should take a patient approach after parting with several notable figures from the previous regime, getting more building blocks in place is essential as the organization turns away from the quick-fix mentality of ousted GM Trent Baalke.

What they need to do: Build up the lines, but remain flexible. Michigan defensive tackle Mason Graham is a natural fit at No. 5 given the disruption he can create between Josh Allen-Hines and Travon Walker on the outside. But the Jaguars aren’t in a position to be pegging their picks to specific positions, so they should see how the board shakes out, particularly later on. Getting better protection on the interior and a stronger push for the running game would go a long way toward getting the offense out of neutral, and the secondary also is ripe for a revamping.

10. Las Vegas Raiders

With Pete Carroll arriving as the steady hand at coach while first-year GM John Spytek provides a fresh personnel perspective, the Raiders are hoping to fast-track a surge after having little to show from years of instability and draft whiffs. And in trading for veteran Geno Smith, the Silver and Black gave themselves the flexibility to bow out of a search for a young quarterback in an underwhelming year at the position.

But outside of record-setting rookie tight end Brock Bowers, the rest of the outlook on offense is grim. The league’s worst rushing attack requires an overhaul, while the receiver group doesn’t offer much beyond Jakobi Meyers’ steady hand. On defense, Carroll said Las Vegas needed ‘every one’ of its free agents back – and then the team proceeded to lose safety Tre’von Moehrig, cornerback Nate Hobbs and linebackers Robert Spillane and Divine Deablo. The secondary looks particularly shaky, with former fourth-round cornerbacks Jakorian Bennett and Decamerion Richardson seemingly ill-equipped to slow the rest of the AFC West.

What they need to do: Figure out how to boost their backfield without compromising the entire operation. Las Vegas has been widely linked to Boise State standout Ashton Jeanty with the No. 6 pick, and it would be understandable if Carroll and Spytek wanted to make a drastic move to electrify the ground game. But there’s only so much even the most talented ball carriers can do without the right help around them, and the Raiders might not be able to spare Jeanty from loaded boxes in the early going. With Spytek having seen the benefits of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers getting things right up front by using early picks on Tristan Wirfs, Luke Goedeke and Graham Barton, he could be interested in focusing on Missouri’s Armand Membou and looking to take a running back later – perhaps even reuniting offensive coordinator Chip Kelly with either of his former Ohio State pupils in Quinshon Judkins or TreVeyon Henderson. But cornerback probably can’t be ignored through the first three rounds, either.

At first glance, Steve Kerr and Janet Mills have little in common.

He’s an NBA coach and former player, winning nine titles over his career. She’s a lawyer who’s spent most of her adult life in politics, currently as a governor. He’s from California, she’s from Maine. He’s 59, she’s 77.

It’s where they’re similar, however, that matters: Both recognize that President Donald Trump and his flunkies are shredding our Constitution and the rule of law, and they refuse to stay quiet about it.

“Let today serve as warning to all states: Maine might be among the first to draw the ire of the Federal government in this way, but we will not be the last,” Mills said in a statement.

“As I have said previously, this is not just about who can compete on the athletic field, this is about whether a President can force compliance with his will, without regard for the rule of law that governs our nation. I believe he cannot.”

Two days earlier, Harvard had refused Trump’s mob boss-esque demands that it become Pyongyang U., prompting Kerr to wear a Harvard basketball T-shirt after Tuesday night’s game.

“I believe in academic freedom,” said Kerr, whose father was a longtime university professor and was assassinated while serving as president of the American University of Beirut.

“I think it’s crucial for all of our institutions to be able to handle their own business the way they want to and they should not be shaken down and told what to teach, what to say, by our government,” Kerr said. “That’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard but it’s kind of par for the course right now.

“So yes, this is me supporting Harvard. Way to go. Way to stand up to the bully.”

Two very different people, yet two very similar messages: Do not give in, do not stay silent.

This country is in the midst of an existential crisis because we have a president who thinks he’s a king and is surrounded by people who don’t have the guts to tell him he’s wrong. Trump and his people are ignoring court decisions, disappearing people, wrecking the economy and taking away services the American people have paid for. Any one of which would be a concern for our democracy but, taken together, is a five-alarm fire.

This should be a concern for every American, regardless of whom you voted for. Trump supporters might be happy with some of his moves — though that’s debatable, judging by the polls and town halls — but he will not be president forever. Imagine a Democrat with Trump’s authoritarian bent and you see where the problem is.

(And before you at me on Joe Biden, just … don’t. I’ll spot you Supreme Court and student loan forgiveness if you need help.)

Our system isn’t perfect. Far from it. But it’s better than the autocracy Trump is trying to usher in, and if we don’t speak out now, it’ll be too late.

We’re already seeing the negative impact of Elon Musk and DOGE taking a chainsaw to the National Institutes of Health and our national parks and Social Security staff. Unless we resist, the effects of all this destruction become baked in and it’ll be generations before we can fix it.

Which is why people like Kerr and Mills are so important.

There is a risk in speaking out, which Mills has seen firsthand. Since she first stood up to Trump, the federal government has frozen funding used to feed Maine schoolchildren and disabled adults, cut money for Maine’s Department of Corrections and briefly halted programs that allowed Maine parents to get Social Security numbers for their newborns before leaving the hospital.

But by standing firm, Mills shows other people there are fights worth having. And, as important, that these fights can be won. The Trump administration backed down on the Social Security numbers, and has been ordered to restore the food funding.

Kerr might not face the same level of risk — though when Trump says he’d like to disappear U.S. citizens, all bets are off! — but his platform is larger. He can get the attention of some people who don’t otherwise pay attention to politics and the dumpster fire that is our country right now, and his opinions can help move those who wouldn’t otherwise understand the urgency.

Trump is a bully, and as any grade-schooler can tell you, the best way to deal with a bully is to stand up to him. In doing so, Kerr and Mills are showing the rest of us how to stand up, too. The future of our country depends on it.

Follow USA TODAY Sports columnist Nancy Armour on social media @nrarmour.

News flash: NFL teams have a shaky record at best when it comes to evaluating talent.

Every year, players who end up falling to later rounds of the draft emerge as better players than the dozens — if not hundreds — selected ahead of them. In the upcoming 2025 NFL Draft, there will be several teams that get great value from players drafted on Days 2 and 3. There will also be teams regretting their choices in the earlier rounds.

There have been plenty of hidden gems in NFL drafts over the years, and some have aged better than others.

These 10 players are the top NFL draft steals of all time, taking into consideration both draft position and NFL production since making it pro.

Top 10 biggest NFL draft steals of all time

10. Brock Purdy, QB, San Francisco 49ers: Round 7, Pick 262 (2022)

Purdy earns a spot on this list as the first ‘Mr. Irrelevant’ — a title given to the last overall pick in a given year’s NFL draft — quarterback to ever start and win a playoff game. Not only did he accomplish that as a rookie, he also led his team to the Super Bowl in his second season. Purdy and the 49ers have yet to get over the hump and win a championship, but he already has earned a Pro Bowl nod and down-ballot MVP votes in his first three seasons.

9. Marques Colston, WR, New Orleans Saints: Round 7, Pick 252 (2006)

Colston is something of a wild-card pick on this list. Not only is he not in the Pro Football Hall of Fame — as just about every player ahead of him either is or will be — he was never even a Pro Bowler. But it’s impossible to tell the story of the Drew Brees-era Saints without including Colston. The prolific seventh-rounder out of Hofstra recorded six 1,000-yard seasons in his first seven years in the pros. That includes his 1,038-yard rookie season when he finished as the offensive rookie of the year runner-up to Tennessee Titans quarterback Vince Young.

8. Jason Kelce, C, Philadelphia Eagles: Round 6, Pick 191 (2011)

Did the Eagles have any idea how good of a pick they were making when they took Kelce with the 191st overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft? Probably not. But seven Pro Bowls, six first-team All-Pros and a Super Bowl championship later, it definitely became clear. Kelce is going to be a Hall of Famer someday — only three players with that many first-team All-Pro selections have not been enshrined, and one of them is Aaron Donald, another a punter and the third, Jim Tyrer. His stalwart presence as the anchor of the Eagles’ offensive line included nine straight seasons without missing a single start to end his career.

7. Joe Montana, QB, San Francisco 49ers: Round 3, Pick 82 (1979)

The only reason Montana is this low on the list is because his status as a ‘steal’ is questionable compared to the much later rounds for the other players. Nevertheless, Joe Cool was the final pick of the third round in the 1979 NFL Draft and the fourth quarterback taken that year (Jack Thompson, Phil Simms, Steve Fuller — all in the first round).

He went on to win four Super Bowls, two NFL MVP awards, earn three first-team All-Pro nods and eight Pro Bowls and, in 2000, his place in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

6. Richard Dent, DE, Chicago Bears: Round 8, Pick 203 (1983)

The Super Bowl MVP of the 1985 Bears, Dent finished his 15-year career with eight double-digit-sack seasons. That included his league-leading 17 sacks in 1985, which broke Mark Gastineau’s run of two years leading the NFL in the statistic. Dent earned a first-team All-Pro nod that year, along with his second of four Pro Bowl nominations.

He also was named to the All-Pro second-team three other times. He never won another Super Bowl with the Bears, though he did play two games for the 1994 49ers, a team that Steve Young led to a Super Bowl championship.

Dent was a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s class of 2011. There are no longer eight rounds in the NFL draft, but the 203rd overall pick would fall in the sixth round this year.

5. Terrell Davis, RB, Denver Broncos: Round 6, Pick 196 (1995)

Davis’ 1996 to 1998 run is still one of the greatest three-year stretches a running back has ever had in NFL history. After rushing for 1,117 yards in 14 games as a rookie, the 1995 sixth-round pick rushed for 1,538 yards in 1996; 1,750 in ’97; then a league-leading 2,008 yards in 1998. His touchdown production also increased by a steady rate year-over-year, with 13 in 1996, 15 in 1997 and 21 in 1998 — his 1997 and 1998 marks both led the league.

He was named the NFL MVP in 1998 and earned first-team All-Pro nods in each of those three remarkable seasons, also winning offensive player of the year awards in 1996 and 1998. Injuries derailed his career after that, as he never played more than eight games in any of the three seasons that followed before his retirement.

Davis was part of the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s class of 2017.

4. Shannon Sharpe, TE, Denver Broncos: Round 7, Pick 192 (1990)

The 1990s were a great time for the Broncos’ draft evaluators. Sharpe was the second-to-last pick in the seventh round (of 12) in the 1990 NFL Draft and the only player drafted outside of the top-two rounds that year to earn a spot in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

The Savannah State product is still considered to be one of the greatest tight ends of all time with his 815 career catches for 10,060 receiving yards and 62 touchdowns. Sharpe earned seven straight Pro Bowl nominations between 1992 and 1998 — he also earned another with the Ravens in 2001 — and he finished his 14-year career with four first-team All-Pro nods, including three in a row between 1996 and ’98.

He was a 2011 inductee to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

3. Ken Houston: DB, Houston Oilers: Round 9, Pick 214 (1967)

Houston wasn’t just a steal for the team that drafted him — though, as a ninth-round pick, he certainly was — he also (somehow) ended up being a steal for the Washington team that traded five players to acquire him. By the end of Houston’s 14-year NFL career, he had been named to 12 Pro Bowls. The only years that the star strong safety did not earn a Pro Bowl nod were his rookie season in 1967 and his final season in 1980.

Houston was also a first-team All-Pro for Washington in 1975 and 1978, and he was a second-team All-Pro in 1969 and 1979. He intercepted 49 passes — including nine returned for a touchdown — and recovered 21 fumbles in his career.

He entered the Pro Football Hall of Fame as a member of the class of 1986.

2. Bart Starr, QB, Green Bay Packers: Round 17, Pick 200 (1956)

The Packers took a chance on a young quarterback out of Alabama in the 17th round of the 1956 NFL Draft. He was the ninth quarterback selected in a time in which the league only had 12 teams. And, as has become something of a tradition with Packers quarterbacks, Starr did not age as a ‘steal’ for Green Bay until a few years into his career.

In his fourth season, 1959, new head coach Vince Lombardi named him the starting quarterback. The next year, he was named to the Pro Bowl for the first time and led the Packers to the NFL championship game, though they lost to the Eagles. In 1961, he earned a second straight Pro Bowl nod and won his first championship.

Starr went on to win four more NFL championships as the Packers’ starter and led Green Bay to wins in the first two Super Bowls after the 1966 and 1967 seasons. Starr was the winner of the first two Super Bowl MVP awards. He was also the NFL MVP in 1966 and was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1977.

1. Tom Brady, QB, New England Patriots: Round 6, Pick 199 (2000)

Only one player could ever have topped this list, and it’s the sixth-round pick that went on to win seven Super Bowls, five Super Bowl MVP awards, three MVP awards, 15 Pro Bowl nods and was named to the All-Pro first team three times. He holds dozens of NFL records, including most career passing yards (89,214), most career pass completions (7,753), most career passing attempts (12,050) and most career touchdown passes (649). His 15 Pro Bowl nods are also an NFL record, and he is the only player in football history to win seven championships.

Since he only retired two years ago, he has not been named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame yet, but he will undoubtedly make it in on his first ballot in 2028.