The sun set on Augusta National Golf Club on Friday evening, as did the championship hopes of 42 golfers.

The field at the 2025 Masters dwindled from 95 golfers to 53 after the cut line was set at 2-over on Friday, meaning dozens of big names and past champions will not make it to the weekend in Augusta, Georgia following lackluster first and second rounds.

Former Masters champions Dustin Johnson (2020), Sergio Garcia (2017) and Phil Mickelson (2004, 2006, 2010) are among the golfers that are done after 36 holes. Johnson missed the cut at the Masters for the second consecutive year, while Mickelson won’t see the weekend in Augusta for the first time since 2016.

Garcia has now missed the cut at the Masters in three consecutive years. Meanwhile, Bernhard Langer missed the cut in his 40th and final Masters tournament of his career. The 67-year-old, two-time Masters champion landed on just the wrong side of the cut line after a bogey on hole No. 18.

Here’s a look at the notable golfers that missed the cut:

OPINION: Dustin Johnson, once major lock, afterthought at Masters

Who missed the 2025 Masters cut?

The cut line fluctuated between 1-over to 2-over on Friday, but as the round ended, the cut line was set firmly at 2-over. Jordan Spieth (+2) and Jon Rahm (+2) live to fight another day despite flirting with the cut line. Everyone wasn’t so lucky. Here are some notable golfers that missed the cut on Friday:

Dustin Johnson (+3)
Bernhard Langer (+3)
Tony Finau (+4)
Sergio Garcia (+4)
Fred Couples (+4)
Phil Mickelson (+5)
Brooks Koepka (+5)
Cameron Smith (+5)
Billy Horschel (+5)
Cameron Young (+7)
Will Zalatoris (+8)
Jose Luis Ballester (a) (+10)

Did Fred Couples miss cut at Masters 2025?

Yes.

Couples became the oldest player to make the cut at the Masters in 2023 at age 63, and he was on the verge of extending his record. After missing the cut in 2024, Couples returned strong to Augusta this year and opened the tournament by shooting 1-under 71 in his 40th start on Thursday, including an eagle on hole No. 14 from 191 yards out. His first-round score made him the second-oldest golfer to turn in a subpar round at the Masters.

Couples, 65, was on his way to playing the weekend, but a shaky performance on Friday landed him on the wrong side of the cut line. Couples hit six bogeys in the second round and finished 5-over on the day and 4-over on the tournament, two strokes over the cut line. Couples has previously made the cut 31 times at the Masters, second all-time to Jack Nicklaus (37). Couples won the Masters in 1992 and earned a lifetime exemption.

Couples’ record was challenged by 67-year-old Bernhard Langer, who could’ve become the oldest golfer to make the cut at the Masters if he made it into the weekend. But Langer finished 3-over for the tournament on Friday. 

How to watch 2025 Masters: TV, streaming for weekend

Live coverage of the third and fourth rounds will broadcast on CBS, beginning at 2 p.m. ET, with early coverage on CBS Sports Network and Paramount+, starting at 10 a.m. ET.

The 2025 Masters can also be streamed via Masters.com or the Masters App, with particular feeds available for featured groups and featured holes at Augusta National Golf Club. The tournament can also be streamed on CBSSports.com, CBS Sports app (TV provider or Paramount+ with Showtime login required) and with Fubo, which is offering a free trial to new subscribers.

Watch the 2025 Masters on Fubo (free trial)

Here’s the complete schedule:

Saturday, April 12

TV Channel: CBS, beginning at 2 p.m. ET
Streaming: Paramount+, beginning at 10 a.m. ET
Streaming: Masters.com/Masters App

Featured Groups, 7:15 a.m.-4 p.m.
Nos. 4, 5 and 6 Live: 7:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Amen Corner Live: 8:45 a.m.-3 p.m.
Nos. 15 and 16 Live: 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.

Sunday, April 13

TV Channel: CBS, beginning at 2 p.m. ET
Streaming: Paramount+, beginning at 10 a.m. ET
Streaming: Masters.com/Masters App

Featured Groups, 7:15 a.m.-4 p.m.
Nos. 4, 5 and 6 Live: 7:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Amen Corner Live: 8:45 a.m.-3 p.m.
Nos. 15 and 16 Live: 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Green Jacket Ceremony: 4-4:15 p.m. 

The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.

Watch out, Lionel Messi.

Here come the Vancouver Whitecaps.

On Wednesday night, both Inter Miami (in somewhat convincing fashion) and the Vancouver Whitecaps (in less-convincing fashion with a stoppage time goal) advanced to the Concacaf Champions Cup semifinals. The two will square off in a two-leg showdown between MLS clubs for a spot in the tournament’s final.

With all due respect to Messi and Inter Miami — who were expected to be Major League Soccer’s premiere club — Vancouver’s run in the regional club tournament has been more impressive. Vancouver has knocked off two storied Liga MX clubs, getting the results it needed on the road to advance. MLS teams traditionally have been hot garbage in games played in Mexico. Vancouver has bucked that trend by eliminating 2021 Concacaf Champions League winners Monterrey in the Round of 16 before stunning Pumas in the quarterfinals.

The Vancouver Whitecaps also have stepped up their game in league play, pacing the Western Conference as Supporters’ Shield leaders. This has come as a bit of a surprise. The team fired coach Vanni Sartini after a 2024 season in which the Whitecaps qualified for the MLS playoffs and won the Canadian Championship. Jesper Sørensen has taken over the reigns and the Whitecaps have stormed out of the gates in 2025, all while the club’s future in Vancouver is unclear.

So, mark your calendars for April 24 and April 30, when Vancouver and Miami vie for a spot in the Concacaf Champions Cup final on June 1.

MLS Matchday 8: What are this weekend’s games?

(All games available on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.)

Saturday

Toronto FC vs. Minnesota United FC, 2:30 p.m. ET
Atlanta United vs. New England Revolution, 2:45 p.m. ET
Orlando City SC vs. New York Red Bulls, 4:30 p.m. ET
D.C. United vs. FC Cincinnati, 7:30 p.m. ET
CF Montréal vs. Charlotte FC, 7:30 p.m. ET
New York City FC vs. Philadelphia Union, 7:30 p.m. ET
Vancouver Whitecaps FC vs. Austin FC, 7:30 p.m. ET
FC Dallas vs. Seattle Sounders FC, 8:30 p.m. ET
Nashville SC vs. Real Salt Lake, 8:30 p.m. ET
Colorado Rapids vs. San Diego FC, 9:30 p.m. ET
LA Galaxy vs. Houston Dynamo FC, 10:30 p.m. ET
Los Angeles FC vs. San Jose Earthquakes, 10:30 p.m. ET

Sunday

Sporting Kansas City vs. Portland Timbers, 2:15 p.m. ET (FOX)
Chicago Fire FC vs. Inter Miami CF, 4:30 p.m. ET
St. Louis City SC vs. Columbus Crew, 7 p.m. ET

MLS game of the week: Vancouver Whitecaps vs. Austin FC

Date and time: Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET
TV/streaming info: MLS Season Pass

Vancouver follows up its stunning Concacaf Champions Cup semifinal run with an intriguing showdown against Austin FC. While Whitecaps sit in first place in the Western Conference, Austin FC enters MLS Matchday 8 in fourth. Brian White is the player to watch, as the striker is on the radar of USMNT coach Mauricio Pochettino, who called in the striker for the Concacaf Nations League finals last month.

Like Vancouver, Austin is operating under a new coach, Nico Estévez, who replaced Josh Wolff, who coached the team in its first four seasons. As Austin waits for newcomer Brandon Vázquez to start scoring more goals, goalkeeper Brad Stuver has kept the team in games by recording four clean sheets in the season’s first seven games.

Where can you watch MLS games?

All Major League Soccer games air on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV. Some select games are available for free on Apple TV and viewers only need an Apple ID to watch.

In a major push to reach more viewers this season, Comcast Xfinity and DirecTV customers can subscribe and watch MLS Season Pass through the TV providers, while T-Mobile users will be able to access MLS Season Pass for free.

FOX Sports will air select games on linear television. This week, Sporting Kansas City vs. Portland Timbers airs on FOX.

Concacaf Champions Cup bracket

Here’s your 52-second read on the latest Concacaf Champions Cup happenings …

There will be an all-Major League Soccer semifinal in the Concacaf Champions Cup, as Lionel Messi and Inter Miami will face the surprising Vancouver Whitecaps.

Here’s what went down in the quarterfinals:

Inter Miami defeated Los Angeles FC, 3-2 on aggregate
Vancouver Whitecaps defeated Pumas, 3-3 on aggregate (Vancouver advanced via away-goal tiebreaker)
Tigres defeated the Los Angeles Galaxy, 3-2 on aggregate
Cruz Azul defeated Club America, 2-1 on aggregate

Here’s the semifinal schedule:

April 23: Tigres vs. Cruz Azul (Leg 1), 10 p.m. ET
April 24: Vancouver Whitecaps vs. Inter Miami (Leg 1), 10:30 p.m. ET
April 30: Inter Miami vs. Vancouver Whitecaps (Leg 2), 8 p.m. ET
May 1: Cruz Azul vs. Tigres (Leg 2), 10 p.m. ET

U.S. Open Cup: Round of 3 schedule

Round 3 of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup will take place April 15-16. Here are the matchups (all games on Paramount+):

Tuesday

Columbus Crew 2 vs. Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC, 6 p.m. ET
Louisville City FC vs. Loudoun United FC, 7 p.m. ET (CBS Sports Network)
Charlotte Independence vs. North Carolina FC, 7 p.m. ET
Portland Hearts of Pine vs. Rhode Island FC, 7 p.m. ET (CBS Sports Golazo Network)
Charleston Battery vs. South Georgia Tormenta FC, 7:30 p.m. ET
Union Omaha vs. San Antonio FC, 8 p.m. ET
AV ALTA FC vs. Orange County SC, 10 p.m. ET (CBS Sports Golazo Network)
Tacoma Defiance vs. Oakland Roots SC, 10:30 p.m. ET

Wednesday

Detroit City FC vs. Westchester SC, 7 p.m. ET
FC Naples vs. Tampa Bay Rowdies, 7 p.m. ET (CBS Sports Golazo Network)
Indy Eleven vs. Miami FC, 7:30 p.m. ET
FC Tulsa vs. Phoenix Rising FC, 8 p.m. ET
Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC vs. One Knoxville SC, 9 p.m. ET
New Mexico United vs. El Paso Locomotive, 9:30 p.m. ET (CBS Sports Golazo Network)
Sacramento Republic FC vs. El Farolito, 10 p.m. ET (CBS Sports Network)
Las Vegas Lights vs. Chattanooga Red Wolves SC, 10:30 p.m. ET

Round 3 teams by league:

➤ USL Championship (20): Charleston Battery, Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC, Detroit City FC, El Paso Locomotive FC, FC Tulsa, Indy Eleven, Las Vegas Lights FC, Loudoun United FC, Louisville City FC, Miami FC, New Mexico United, North Carolina FC, Oakland Roots SC, Orange County SC, Phoenix Rising FC, Pittsburgh Riverhounds, Rhode Island FC, San Antonio FC, Sacramento Republic FC, Tampa Bay Rowdies

➤ USL League One (9): AV ALTA FC, Charlotte Independence, Chattanooga Red Wolves SC, FC Naples, One Knoxville SC, Portland Hearts of Pine, South Georgia Tormenta FC, Union Omaha, Westchester SC

➤ MLS NEXT Pro (2): Columbus Crew 2, Tacoma Defiance

➤ NPSL (1): El Farolito

16 select MLS teams will join the competition in the Round of 32 (May 6-7).

MLS betting odds: Who is favorite to win 2025 championship?

According to the latest BetMGM odds, Inter Miami CF (+300) is the current favorite to win the 2025 league championship, followed by Los Angeles FC (+800), Vancouver Whitecaps (+1200), Columbus Crew (+1400), New York Red Bulls (+1600), FC Cincinnati (+1800) and San Diego FC (+1800).

MLS 2025 season key dates

May 6-7: U.S. Open Cup Round of 32: MLS teams enter the competition
May 14-18: Rivalry week
June 14-July 13: Club World Cup
July 23: MLS All-Star Game, in Austin, Texas
July 29-Aug. 31: Leagues Cup
Oct. 18: Final day of regular season (MLS Decision Day)

Look at the New Orleans Saints. Take a really good look. Because they are a team that now has a huge say in the 2025 NFL draft.

Then again, they often do, because the team is often bad. The franchise is no stranger to picking high in the draft. They are doing it again this season as New Orleans has the ninth overall pick. So in some ways it’s true that they already had a huge say because the team picks in the top 10.

What does this mean? It means the Saints are in an excellent position. They may be in the best position of all the teams in the draft except the Tennessee Titans, who pick first. (I’ll explain why in a second. Be patient.) In some ways, Carr’s injury may significantly impact the top half of the draft.

This is why.

Carr’s long-term viability was an issue even before the reported injury situation. With all due respect, he’s also not very good. The Saints were likely looking for a solution at the position in this year’s draft. There’s been a large amount of speculation that if Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders was available at nine, the Saints would take him. Makes a ton of sense.

That scenario becomes more pertinent now.

Wrote ESPN analyst Louis Riddick on X: ‘That 9th pick gonna be all kinds of interesting.’ Colorado coach Deion Sanders, Shedeur’s father, reposted Riddick’s message, utilizing the two eyeballs emoji. As in: yeah, you are correct, sir.

Told you. Told you this was getting good.

Even if Carr’s injury turns out to not be as serious as the reporting suggests, the Saints are still likely to go after a quarterback at the ninth spot. They can’t trust that Carr will stay healthy. Maybe New Orleans goes after Sanders. Maybe they grasp for Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart. The latter move would be a magnificent reach and stupendously ridiculous, and while the Saints have been stupendously ridiculous before, that would be bonkers even for them.

Again, some of these scenarios were true before the Carr news broke. It’s just that now all of these various scenarios have gotten spicier.

Could the Saints take a non-quarterback at nine and then draft Dart in a later round? They could but there’s no question who is the better quarterback of the two and it’s Sanders. If the Saints can get him, logic dictates they should.

The Saints could try to wrench Kirk Cousins from the Atlanta Falcons but even if they did, the team would still need a quarterback of the future. Plus, did you see Cousins play last season? He looked like Derek Carr.

Or, perhaps more likely, the Saints make a run at free agent Aaron Rodgers. He’s better than the law firm of Cousins & Carr but he’s still a short-term solution.

Saints’ Derek Carr suffers shoulder injury, at risk of missing time in 2025

All of this leads to why the Saints could be the sun and, in part at least, the upper level of the draft could orbit around the Saints.

If there was a team behind New Orleans that was in love with Sanders and was already considering jumping ahead of the Saints to get him, they are investing in trampolines now. Because they know the Saints are slightly more desperate. They know the Saints could make moves.

If the Saints were already considering moving up several spots to make sure they get Sanders, should he slip past the Browns and Giants at two and three, respectively, that thinking becomes even more urgent.

This draft season, thus far, has been exceedingly boring. That’s because there just aren’t as many superstar players in it to generate interest. There are a handful. But not many. Everything also seems so settled. We think we know where everyone is headed. This draft has been placid.

Nowwwww, we get some possible excitement. Hopefully, Carr will be OK, but this news has spiced things up in the draft. And the Saints could make the first round of the draft, well, extremely interesting.

The second round of the 89th edition of the Masters concluded on Friday, and the field was narrowed down to the top 53 golfers for the weekend.

Justin Rose (-8) remains atop the 2025 Masters leaderboard after two rounds, but Bryson DeChambeau (-7), Rory McIlroy (-6) and tournament favorite Scottie Scheffler (-5) lurk close behind after promising performances through the opening 36 holes.

On the other end of the spectrum, LIV Golf regulars Brooks Koepka (+5) and Phil Mickelson (+5) are among the notable names to miss the cut at this year’s Masters.

USA TODAY Sports provided complete coverage of all the action during the second round at Augusta National Golf Course. Catch up with the leaderboard and all the highlights from Friday.

Masters 2025 leaderboard

Here’s the current Masters leaderboard after the conclusion of the second round:

1. Justin Rose: -8 (F)
2. Bryson DeChambeau: -7 (F)
T3: Rory McIlroy: -6 (F)
T3. Corey Conners: -6 (F)
T5. Tyrrell Hatton: -5 (F)
T5. Scottie Scheffler: -5 (F)
T5. Matt McCarty: -5 (F)
T5. Shane Lowry: -5 (F)
T9. Jason Day: -4 (F)
T9. Rasmus Højgaard: -4 (F)
T9. Viktor Hovland: -4 (F)

You can get the latest leaderboard updates and tee times here.

Scottie Scheffler ends second round with bogey

Amateur Jose Luis Ballester misses cut

Jose Luis Ballester’s Cinderella story has come to an end. The amateur followed up Thursday’s round of 4-over 76 with a 6-over 78 on Friday, brining him to 10-over on the tournament. Ballester, who’s a senior at Arizona State, found himself in the headlines on Thursday after his hat featuring “Sun Devils” written upside down and backwards caused a stir. He also relieved himself in Rae’s Creek tributary during the first round.

What’s the 2025 Masters projected cut line?

The cut line for the 89th Masters Tournament is projected at 2-over as second round action comes to a close Friday, per the PGA Tour. Here’s where the cut line fell in the most recent Masters tournaments:

2024: +6
2023: +3
2022: +4
2021: +3
2020: E
2019: +3
2018: +5

Tyrrell Hatton birdies, then bogeys

Tyrrell Hatton was tied for second place with fellow LIV Golf star Bryson Dechambeau at 7-under on the tournament after a birdie on No. 15, but he quickly lost his positioning after turning in a bogey on the par-3 No. 16. He’s had a rollercoaster round so far on Friday. Hatton started off with a bogey on No. 1 before settling in and recording a birdie on No. 2, in addition to holes No. 7, No. 8 and No. 9. But Hatton has struggled on the back nine. He’s hit two birdies and two bogeys with two holes remaining in the second round.

Scottie Scheffler birdies No. 14

Scottie Scheffler is climbing up the leaderboard. The American hit a birdie on No. 14 to drop to 6-under on the tournament, which is good for a four-way tie for third place. Scheffler had an opportunity to move even higher up the leaderboard, but he couldn’t convert a birdie putt on No. 15 as the winds continue to gust at Augusta National. Scheffler has shot five birdies and three bogeys during the second round as he enters No. 16.

Fred Couples will likely miss the cut 

Couples became the oldest player to make the cut at the Masters in 2023 at age 63, and he was on the verge of adding to his record. After missing the cut in 2024, Couples returned strong to Augusta this year and opened the tournament by shooting 1-under 71 in his 40th start on Thursday, including an eagle on hole No. 14 from 191 yards out. His first-round score made him the second-oldest golfer to turn in a subpar round at the Masters.

Couples, 65, was on his way to playing the weekend, but a not-so-stellar performance on Friday has likely landed him on the wrong side of the projected cut line of 2-over. Couples hit six bogeys in the second round and finished 5-over on the day and 4-over on the tournament. 

Bernhard Langer likely misses cut

Couples’ record was challenged by 67-year-old Bernhard Langer, who could have reclaimed his title as the oldest golfer to make the cut at the Masters. But Langer finished 3-over on the tournament on Friday in the final Masters tournament in his career.

‘A lot of gratitude. It’s been tremendous to be here 41 times playing this tournament and this golf course,’ said Langer, who won the Masters in 1985 and 1993. ‘The support I’ve received these past couple days has been unbelievable. … I was playing really well today and I just had a horrible finish, which knocked me out the cut.’

Langer added: ‘I feel very much at home here, I always have, even the very first time I set foot on this place.’

Scottie Scheffler’s crazy recovery saves him on Amen Corner

The defending Masters champion is taking fans on a rollercoaster ride during his second round. After making the turn at 6-under, Scheffler bogeyed consecutive holes within Augusta National’s Amen Corner set of holes to drop four shots off the lead. Then he responded with an unlikely birdie at No. 12, hitting his tee shot into the bushes only to see the ball bounce back out into the rough within 15 feet of the cup.

He then sank his ensuing chip shot to move back to 5-under for the tournament.

Bernhard Langer, Fred Couples chase Masters history — and there’s drama

There’s a fascinating subplot involving Bernhard Langer playing out as Friday’s second round at the 2025 Masters nears its completion. Langer, 67, is attempting to regain his record as the oldest golfer to make the cut at the Masters.

The 1985 and 1993 Masters winner already announced this will be his last appearance competing at Augusta National for golf’s first major. He looked to be in a solid spot at even par to make the cut before hitting his approach on No. 15 into the water. Langer’s ensuing double bogey creates some serious drama for the final three holes with the current cut line at +2.

Fred Couples, 65, currently holds the record as the oldest golfer to make the cut at The Masters and he’s also potentially in position to extend that record (if Langer doesn’t break it) sitting at 2-over par with four holes left in his second round.

Tyrrell Hatton with three-straight birdies

There’s another LIV Golf regular working his way up the 2025 Masters leaderboard. Tyrrell Hatton just sank his third-straight birdie putt to move to 6-under as he heads to the back nine at Augusta National Golf Club.

After Justin Rose only shot 1-under on Friday, things are starting to bunch up behind him. There are now eight golfers within three shots of the lead.

Scottie Scheffler makes the turn in good position

Don’t forget about defending Masters champion Scottie Scheffler.

While Rory McIlroy and Bryson DeChambeau were the headliners throughout the morning and early afternoon, Scheffler is poised to make an assault on the top of the leaderboard as Friday’s second round comes to a close. He just made the turn to the back nine at Augusta National Golf Club sitting in a tie for third place (along with McIlroy) at 6-under.

Scheffler, the tournament favorite, is 2-under for his round so far. He recovered from his first bogey of this year’s Masters at No. 7 with a birdie at No. 8.

Bryson DeChambeau finishes Masters Round 2 in second place

Bryson DeChambeau has positioned himself within striking distance heading into moving day at The Masters. He finished his second round one shot back of Justin Rose after a round of 68. DeChambeau had his lone bogey of the day on No. 16 but bounced back with a birdie on No. 17. It’s shaping up to be star-studded atop the leaderboard heading into Saturday’s third round.

Rory McIlroy closes remarkable Masters recovery

Rory McIlroy will enter the weekend at the 2025 Masters back in contention after closing out a strong second round of 66 on the heels of a disastrous finish on Thursday. McIlroy is 6-under for the tournament and was bogey-free Friday after two double bogeys on No. 15 and No. 17 in the first round wasted an otherwise quality performance. He’s just two shots back of leader Justin Rose.

McIlroy is in search of his first Masters win, which would complete the career grand slam for him.

Viktor Hovland birdies at No. 16

Viktor Hovland is tied for third place after reaching six under par, thanks to four consecutive birdies, including one at No. 16.

Rory McIlroy gets himself out of trouble at No. 14

Rory McIlroy hits a fantastic shot at No. 14 from the trees, keeping him in contention and currently tied for third as he heads to No. 15.

Rory McIlroy eagles at No. 13

Rory McIlroy made the first eagle of the day at No. 13, tying him for fourth place.

Matt McCarty makes another birdie

Rookie Matt McCarty birdies for the sixth time in eight holes, tying for fourth place as he finishes his second round of the tournament on a high note.

McIlroy climbs up the leaderboard

Rory McIlroy continues to climb up the leaderboard after following up a birdie at No. 10 with a birdie at No. 11. McIlroy is now tied for ninth.

Rory McIlroy birdies at No. 10

Rory McIlroy records his second birdie of the second round at No. 10, bringing his score to two-under-par. He is currently tied for 14th place.

Justin Rose extends lead

Justin Rose birdies at No. 12 to extend his lead by three and remains atop the leaderboard. This marks Rose’s third birdie of the day.

Matt McCarty birdies at No. 13

Matt McCarty, a rookie at the Masters Tournament, moves up the leaderboard and is now tied for third after making a birdie on No. 12 and followed it up with a birdie on No. 13. This marks his sixth birdie in the second round.

Bryson DeChambeau continues the momentum

Bryson DeChambeau successfully escapes the bunker on No. 4, receiving cheers from the crowd as he continues to move up the leaderboard.

Here comes Bryson DeChambeau

Bryson DeChambeau has moved into a tie for third with an early birdie to start off his second round on Friday. He’s played the best of the LIV Golf stars thus far. Ludvig Aberg, meanwhile, has grabbed sole possession of second place, moving to 5-under with a birdie at the par 4 No. 3.

Matt Fitzpatrick, Sunjae Im, Daniel Berger climb Masters leaderboard

Matt Fitzpatrick, the 2022 U.S. Open champion, has one of the day’s first highlights with an eagle on No. 2 to move to 2-under for the tournament and climb into the top 10 of the leaderboard.

Sunjae Im is also making some early moves with birdies on his opening two moves to move to within four shots of the lead. Justin Rose is back to 7-under after a bogey on the par-4 No. 5 following an errant tee shot into a bunker.

Daniel Berger, who had his rise on the PGA Tour stalled by injury in recent years, is also off to a good start and sits at 2-under now.

Rory McIlroy and Ludvig Aberg tee off

The marquee morning group featuring Rory McIlroy and Ludvig Aberg has started its second round, and each could produce a compelling 18 holes of golf today.

McIlroy will attempt to rebound from the disastrous end to his first round, when he made a mess of No. 15 and No. 17 to completely wreck an otherwise great start at Augusta National Golf Club. McIlroy carded double bogeys on both holes and ended up at even par. He started Friday’s second round eight shots back of leader Justin Rose.

Aberg, meanwhile, backed up the expectation that he will contend again at The Masters by shooting 4-under in the first round. He finished second in his Masters debut last year and is among the favorites trying to chase down Rose.

Justin Rose extends lead at Masters

After his brilliant first round, Masters leader Justin Rose is off to another good start on Friday. He just birdied No. 2 to take a four-shot lead on the field. The rest of the top 10 on the current leaderboard have yet to tee off.

Masters 2025 Round 2 is underway

The first group of Friday’s second round at the 2025 Masters featuring Cam Davis, Rafael Campos and Austin Eckroat has started from the first tee at Augusta National Golf Club. First-round leader Justin Rose, along with notable former major winners and contenders like Bryson DeChambeau, Rory McIlroy and Brooks Koepka, also tee off in the morning.

Who is leading the field after Round 1?

Justin Rose leads the field after Round 1 after shooting a 7-under 65. Rose finished his opening round with a bogey on 18 after seven birdies through 17 holes. It’s the fifth time he has led The Masters after the first round, which is a tournament record.

Rose sits three strokes up on the rest of the field. While Rose could not match the Masters record of 63 in a round (Nick Price, 1986 and Greg Norman, 1996), Rose’s three-stroke lead is actually greater than Norman had in 1996, as Phil Mickelson shot an opening round 65 to give himself a two-stroke deficit heading into Round 2 that year.

Where to watch Masters 2025: TV Channel, streaming Friday

TV coverage of the Masters begins at 3 p.m. ET on ESPN with coverage live via streaming on Masters.com, the Masters app and Fubo, which is offering a free trial. Select holes and groups will also be available via ESPN+.

TV channel: ESPN (starting at 3 p.m. ET)
Live stream: Masters.com, ESPN+ and Fubo (Fubo offers a free trial subscription) starting at 8:45 a.m. ET

Watch the 2025 Masters from Augusta with Fubo

Masters 2025: Friday’s Round 2 tee times, groups

Notable tee times. For a full list of tee times, you can find Friday’s starts here.

All times Eastern.

7:40 a.m. — Cameron Davis, Rafael Campos, Austin Eckroat
7:51 a.m. — Angel Cabrera, Laurie Canter, Adam Schenk
8:02 a.m. — José María Olazábal, Thriston Lawrence, Brian Campbell
8:13 a.m. — Bubba Watson, Matthieu Pavon, Evan Beck (A)
8:24 a.m. — Tom Hoge, Matt McCarty, Christiaan Bezuidenhout
8:35 a.m. — Charl Schwartzel, Denny McCarthy, Hiroshi Tai (A)
8:52 a.m. — Max Homa, Justin Rose, J.J. Spaun
9:03 a.m. — Dustin Johnson, Nick Taylor, Justin Hastings (A)
9:14 a.m. — Sergio Garcia, Lucas Glover, Daniel Berger
9:25 a.m. — Patrick Cantlay, Rasmus Højgaard, Matt Fitzpatrick
9:36 a.m. — Brooks Koepka, Russell Henley, Sungjae Im
9:47 a.m. — Adam Scott, Xander Schauffele, Viktor Hovland
9:58 a.m. — Rory McIlroy, Ludvig Åberg, Akshay Bhatia
10:15 a.m. — Hideki Matsuyama, Bryson DeChambeau, Shane Lowry
10:26 a.m. — Jon Rahm, Wyndham Clark, Tommy Fleetwood
10:37 a.m. — Sahith Theegala, Sepp Straka, Sam Burns
10:48 a.m. — Davis Riley, Patton Kizzire
10:59 a.m. — Kevin Yu, Jhonattan Vegas, Nicolai Højgaard
11:10 a.m. — Mike Weir, Michael Kim, Cameron Young
11:21 a.m. — Zach Johnson, Joe Highsmith, Chris Kirk
11:38 a.m. — Danny Willett, Nicolas Echavarria, Davis Thompson
11:49 a.m. — Bernhard Langer, Will Zalatoris, Noah Kent (A)
12 p.m. — Cameron Smith, J.T. Poston, Aaron Rai
12:11 p.m. — Fred Couples, Harris English, Taylor Pendrith
12:22 p.m. — Corey Conners, Brian Harman, Stephan Jaeger
12:33 p.m. — Patrick Reed, Max Greyserman, Byeong Hun An
12:50 p.m. — Robert MacIntyre, Billy Horschel, Nick Dunlap
1:01 p.m. — Collin Morikawa, Joaquín Niemann, Min Woo Lee
1:12 p.m. — Phil Mickelson, Jason Day, Keegan Bradley
1:23 p.m. — Scottie Scheffler, Justin Thomas, Jose Luis Ballester (A)
1:34 p.m. — Jordan Spieth, Tom Kim, Tyrrell Hatton
1:45 p.m. — Tony Finau, Maverick McNealy, Thomas Detry

Masters weather forecast: Latest updates for Friday

Weather forecasts are according to the Weather Channel:

Friday, April 11: Sunshine and clouds mixed with a 15% chance of rain. There is a marginal risk of severe weather. Winds W at 10 to 20 mph. Low: 48F; High: 72F
Saturday, April 12: Mostly sunny, along with a few afternoon clouds and a 5% chance for rain. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. Low: 45F; High: 68F
Sunday, April 13: Mainly sunny with a 2% chance of rain. Winds NW 5 mph. Low: 53F; High: 74F

Masters odds: Favorites at Augusta

All odds via BetMGM on Friday, April 11.

1) Scottie Scheffler: +225
2) Ludvig Aberg: +600
3) Justin Rose: +750
4) Bryson DeChambeau: +800
5) Rory McIlroy: +1200
6) Corey Conners: +1600
7) Tyrrell Hatton: +2500
T8) Akshay Bhatia: +4000
T8) Collin Morikawa: +4000
T8) Shane Lowry: +4000

Masters 2025 predictions and picks

Here are some predictions made ahead of the Masters.

Mark Giannotto, USA TODAY: Collin Morikawa

‘Morikawa currently ranks second behind only McIlroy in strokes gained tee-to-green in 2025. It’s perhaps gone under the radar because Morikawa is searching for his first win in more than 18 months and fell short again with a chance to win this year’s Arnold Palmer Invitational. But he has three top-10 finishes in five starts this season, in addition to winning the PGA Championship and British Open previously. Maybe he’s ready to prove his mettle at The Masters.’

DraftKings Network: Xander Schauffele

‘Schauffele started this season late due to a rib injury and, after looking rusty in his first two starts, came alive at the Valspar Championship … gaining an eye-popping 11.2 strokes on approach at the Copperhead Course. This number set a career-high for Schauffele … The 31-year-old is notorious for playing his best golf at major championships and Schauffele is a very intriguing early bet at this number.’

BetMGM: Ludvig Aberg

‘Aberg came extremely close to ending the Masters debutant winless run last April, ultimately settling for a runner-up finish. Illness plagued Aberg in late January through February, but a win at the Genesis should give hope to those considering backing Aberg at the Masters. That week, Aberg gained 10 strokes tee-to-green, the third-best output of his entire career.’

Best shots from Round 1 Masters 2025

Masters again spotlights LIV-PGA Tour feud

Make no mistake, the Masters is a colossus whether LIV exists or not. To golfers and hardcore fans, it’s special because it’s a major. To the common sports viewer who watches this tournament and maybe a few others, it’s the visual effects – the sparkling white sand, the vividly pink flowers, the perfectly mowed grass − that inspire imagination and awe.

But the PGA Tour-LIV split has made this week something different, even a level above what the Masters was before. Golf fans just don’t get many tournaments like this anymore. That’s a sad commentary on the state of the game but another layer of mystique for a 365-acre tract of Georgia land that was already the biggest thing in the sport. — Dan Wolken

Food at the Masters

The traditional Augusta National staples will all cost the same as they did last year. In fact, the price of the egg salad and pimento cheese sandwiches hasn’t gone up since 2002.

Egg Salad: $1.50
Pimento Cheese: $1.50
Masters Club: $3.00
Pork Bar-B-Que: $3.00
Georgia Peach Ice Cream Sandwich: $3.00

Beverages, too, remain the same as last year.

Soft drinks: $2.00
Iced tea/bottled water: $2.00
Beer/wine: $6.00

Augusta National also serves a special wheat ale called ‘Crow’s Nest,’ which replaced Blue Moon ale in 2021 and also sells for $6.00. — Steve Gardner

Masters predictions: Sleeper picks at Augusta

Experts from Golfweek and the USA TODAY Network had thoughts on longshots ahead of the Masters action. Here is who they picked.

Adam Schupak, Golfweek: Will Zalatoris (+5000)
Beth Ann Nichols, Golfweek: Corey Conners (+5000)
Cameron Jourdan, Golfweek: Corey Conners (+5000)
David Dusek, Golfweek: Sepp Straka (+5500)
Jason Lusk, Golfweek: Shane Lowry (+3300)
Tim Schmitt, Golfweek: Sergio García (+6600)
Will Cheney, Augusta Chronicle: Akshay Bhatia (+6600)
Dan Spears, USA TODAY Network: Tom Kim (+10000)
Todd Kelly, Golfweek: Nick Taylor (+30000)

LOS ANGELES — Cooper Flagg is coming off a successful freshman season at Duke that earned him several accolades. He met the lofty expectations placed upon him as one of the top-ranked players in the 2024 recruiting class.

Flagg was named the men’s John R. Wooden Award winner, an accolade that has recognized the nation’s most outstanding college basketball player each season since it was established in 1976.

The Duke star is the fourth freshman to win the award, joining Kevin Durant, Anthony Davis and Zion Williamson.

Flagg received 1,979 points in the voting, just edging out Auburn forward Johni Broome (1,801).

The 18-year-old averaged 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game. The Blue Devils went 35-4, falling in the Final Four.

“There’s a little bit of pressure, but it’s all about trusting the work, my teammates and my coaches and the positions and situations they put me in,” Flagg said about his first college season. “Just being who I am and playing to my potential.”

He was in attendance Friday to receive his award at the Los Angeles Athletic Club.

“It’s an incredible honor for me to get this type of recognition,” Flagg said. “I’m so grateful and it’s just a big honor. I’m just incredibly blessed to have this opportunity and experience.”

He also won the ACC Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year awards. He led Duke back to the Final Four for the first time since 2022. But the Blue Devils were eliminated by Houston, which stunningly rallied in the final minutes of the game.

The Cougars went on a 9-0 scoring run in the final 35 seconds of the game to beat Duke 70-67 at the Alamodome and advance to the national championship game.

“I think you can take lessons from every game that you play in,” Flagg said. “I’ll take that and I’m going to learn a lot from it. I’ll probably watch the film and just try to grow from that experience and remember what that felt like and use it as motivation.”

Flagg is likely to carry that motivation with him to the next level. He wasn’t willing to speak publicly yet about his future, but he’s expected to be the first player selected in the 2025 NBA Draft.

Who will have the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft?

The NBA Draft Lottery is scheduled for May 12 in Chicago.

The Utah Jazz (17-63), Washington Wizards (17-63), and Charlotte Hornets (19-62) have the three worst records in the NBA and are on track to have the best odds to land the top pick.

When is the NBA draft?

The NBA draft is scheduled for June 25, at 8 p.m. ET. The draft will be broadcast on ESPN, ABC and ESPN+.

The 2025 WNBA draft is around the corner and on Friday, the league announced 16 players will be in attendance in New York for the draft.

UConn guard and presumed No. 1 overall pick Paige Bueckers, along with USC forward Kiki Iriafen, LSU forward Aneesah Morrow and TCU guard Hailey Van Lith headline the players invited to attend the draft on Monday, April 14 at The Shed at Hudson Yards in Manhattan.

The Dallas Wings hold the No. 1 pick following the WNBA draft lottery on Nov. 17. The Golden State Valkyries – the WNBA’s first expansion team in 17 seasons ― will pick fifth, while the Washington Mystics hold three of the top six picks.

Along with the WNBA draft invite, the players were invited to the Empire State Building for a lighting ceremony to celebrate the occasion. And just before the players wait for their names to be selected, they will walk WNBA’s iconic ‘Orange Carpet,’ which allows the players to showcase their personalities and fashion.

Here’s what you need to know about the 16 players invited to the WNBA draft, along with information about when the draft is and where:

WNBA draft attendees

Sixteen total players were invited to attend the 2025 WNBA draft on Monday, April 14. WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert will announce the picks before they come to the podium to greet her upon their selection.

Bueckers, who is the projected No. 1 overall pick, led UConn to a national championship win over South Carolina. Dominique Malonga of France and Ajša Sivka of Slovenia are the two international players who have been invited to attend the draft.

Here’s a look at the full list of players invited to the 2025 WNBA draft:

Paige Bueckers, guard, UConn
Kiki Iriafen, forward, USC
Aneesah Morrow, guard, LSU
Hailey Van Lith, guard, TCU
Georgia Amoore, guard, Kentucky
Sarah Ashlee Barker, guard, Alabama 
Sonia Citron, guard, Notre Dame
Sania Feagin, forward, South Carolina
Aziaha James, guard, NC State
Dominique Malonga, center, Lyon ASVEL/France)
Te-Hina Paopao, guard, South Carolina
Saniya Rivers, guard, NC State
Madison Scott, guard/forward, Ole Miss
Shyanne Sellers, guard, Maryland
Ajša Sivka, forward, Tarbes Gespe Bigorre/Slovenia
Serena Sundell, guard, Kansas State

When is the WNBA draft?

Date: Monday, April 14
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET (Coverage begins at 7 p.m.)
TV channel: ESPN
Streaming: ESPN+, Fubo (free trial for new subscribers)
Location: The Shed (New York )

The 2025 WNBA draft will be held at The Shed in New York City on Monday, April 14. Coverage for the draft will begin at 7 p.m. ET, with the draft starting at 7:30 p.m. and continuing through three rounds and 38 total picks.

Watch the WNBA draft on Fubo (free trial)

WNBA draft order

Despite the addition of a new franchise ― the Golden State Valkyries ― the first round will only have 12 picks. The Las Vegas Aces had their natural first-round pick rescinded after the WNBA found the Aces had broken league rules concerning player benefits.

Here’s a look at the WNBA draft order:

First round

1. Dallas Wings
2. Seattle Storm (from Los Angeles Sparks)
3. Washington Mystics (from Chicago Sky)
4. Washington Mystics
5. Golden State Valkyries
6. Washington Mystics (from Atlanta Dream)
7. Connecticut Sun (from New York Liberty)
8. Connecticut Sun (from Indiana Fever)
9. Los Angeles Sparks (from Seattle Storm)
10. Chicago Sky (from Connecticut Sun)
11. Minnesota Lynx
12. Dallas Wings (from New York Liberty)

Second round

13. Las Vegas Aces (from Los Angeles Sparks)
14. Dallas Wings
15. Minnesota Lynx (from Chicago Sky)
16. Chicago Sky (from Washington Mystics)
17. Golden State Valkyries
18. Atlanta Dream
19. Indiana Fever (from Phoenix Mercury)
20. Indiana Fever
21. Los Angeles Sparks (from Seattle Storm)
22. Chicago Sky (from Las Vegas Aces)
23. Washington Mystics (from Connecticut Sun)
24. Minnesota Lynx
25. Connecticut Sun (from New York Liberty)

Third round

26. Seattle Storm (from Los Angeles Sparks)
27. Dallas Wings
28. Los Angeles Sparks (from Chicago Sky)
29. Seattle Storm (from Washington Mystics)
30. Golden State Valkyries
31. Dallas Wings (from Atlanta Dream)
32. Washington Mystics (from Phoenix Mercury)
33. Indiana Fever
34. Seattle Storm
35. Las Vegas Aces
36. Atlanta Dream (from Connecticut Sun)
37. Minnesota Lynx
38. New York Liberty

There’s no such thing as a truly safe pick in the NFL draft.

With so many variables at play as players make a sizable jump in their careers, the trajectory for every prospect comes with little certainty. But whether it’s due to subpar production or unrealized potential, several future picks annually stand out from their peers by sparking particularly divisive evaluations. It’s up to team decision-makers, then, to weigh their risk tolerance against the payoff for any particular player, who can either make franchises look foolish either for drafting them or passing on them.

With this year’s class igniting several notable debates among big-name players, here are the 10 biggest boom-or-bust prospects in this year’s NFL draft, ranked by just how much risk – and upside – they entail:

10. Bhayshul Tuten, RB, Virginia Tech

As a likely mid-round draft pick, Tuten might not be as risky as other players who will necessitate a heavier investment of draft capital. But the volatility in his game is readily evident.

A transfer from North Carolina A&T, the former track star averaged 6.3 yards per carry last season and ripped off the fastest 40-yard dash time (4.32 seconds) of any running back at the NFL Scouting Combine. Not just an outstanding linear athlete, Tuten can keep runs alive by making defenders miss in the open field and fighting through contact.

But it should come as no surprise that a player with singular explosiveness has a problem with patience. Rather than letting blocks develop in front of him, Tuten too often is content to bounce the play to the outside. That approach won’t be tenable at the next level, so the 5-9, 206-pound ball carrier will need to be more decisive and take what’s given to him on the inside. If he can manage that, he could stay on the field regularly while making his mark as one of the league’s pre-eminent big-play threats. But if he struggles to adapt – or continues to be plagued by fumbles – he might end up as an all-or-nothing runner.

9. Shavon Revel Jr., CB, East Carolina

If not for a torn anterior cruciate ligament suffered in September, Revel could easily be in the conversation for the first round. The 6-2, 194-pounder evokes comparisons to Richard Sherman and Antonio Cromartie as a smothering coverage presence who’s at his most comfortable jockeying with receivers, whether that’s at the line of scrimmage or the catch point. Between his hyperphysical approach and penchant for finding the ball, Revel can handle either zone or man assignments.

But even though Revel is expected to be ready in time for training camp, his injury can’t be ignored. Beyond sparking concerns about his ability to stay on the field, it also robbed him of the opportunity to polish his game. Like most taller corners, Revel has lapses when he can get too upright, leaving him susceptible to being shaken in man coverage by quicker receivers. And with a significant jump in quality of competition ahead, flags could follow him early if he doesn’t dial back his handsy approach.

8. James Pearce Jr., DE, Tennessee

A fixture of way-too-early mock drafts one year ago, Pearce now might be teetering on the edge of the first round. What happened? The 6-5, 245-pounder hardly disappointed last season, notching his second consecutive first-team All-Southeastern Conference honor after tallying 13 tackles for loss and 7 ½ sacks. Rather, Pearce’s final showings only underscored the ways in which he would come to be seen as a polarizing prospect for teams.

There’s no questioning Pearce’s explosiveness off the line of scrimmage, which allows him to zip past blockers or jolt them back when they’re on their heels. Yet that same aggressiveness at the start of his rush can also prove problematic at the end, as Pearce struggles to regain control in space and wrap up quarterbacks or ball carriers who should be easily in his grasp. And without a runway to the passer, Pearce can have trouble bending to complete the play or disengaging blockers. With lingering concerns about whether he can hold up against the run, Pearce will have to show growth as a pass rusher to properly harness his considerable upside.

7. Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona

A 6-4, 219-pound target with an extensive track record of bailing out his quarterback sounds like the kind of player who would have a relatively high floor. And while McMillan is surehanded and can win in multiple ways, there are critical concerns about the core of his game that could go a long way toward determining his effectiveness.

As someone able to consistently win in college thanks to his massive catch-radius and ability to box out, McMillan regularly was content to overpower defensive backs rather than free himself of them. That tendency has left questions of whether he can consistently create separation when working downfield, with his rudimentary route tree only exacerbating the issue. And while he can thrive in the short to intermediate game by securing slants and creating mismatches, it will be a tall ask to expect his future quarterback to repeatedly trust him on contested catch scenarios when looking deep.

6. Darien Porter, CB, Iowa State

A sixth-year breakout with limited experience at his position might seem like an inherent contradiction. But after flipping from wide receiver to cornerback midway through his career at Iowa State and only becoming a starter in his final campaign, Porter stands out as a tricky yet tantalizing prospect.

There might not be a better overall athlete at the position in this year’s draft than the 6-3, 195-pounder, who ran a 4.30-second 40-yard dash and had a 10-foot-11 broad jump. And with his receiver background on display whenever he closes in on the ball, it’s easy to see why some envision him as the kind of supersized playmaker that Seattle Seahawks cornerback Riq Woolen was as a Pro Bowl selection in his 2022 rookie campaign.

But Porter’s inexperience looms over his draft stock and his acclimation period to the NFL. With underdeveloped instincts and a scarcity of work in man coverage, he could be exploited by crafty route runners early in his career. His optimal outcome is landing with a zone-heavy team that will allow him to work on the finer points of coverage more gradually. Growing pains, however, appear inevitable.

5. Walter Nolen, DT, Mississippi

At times, it’s easy to see why Nolen was once ranked right alongside Travis Hunter as one of the best college football recruits in the country. After transferring from Texas A&M, the 6-4, 296-pounder broke out as a consensus All-American last season with 14 tackles for loss and 6 ½ sacks. He gets offensive linemen off balance from the snap with his explosive burst, and he’s equally adept at shooting gaps and finishing plays off in the backfield.

Still, the flashy contributions only tell part of the story. When Nolen isn’t snapping past a blocker right away, his results can be a little more uneven, as he still needs to develop counter moves and improve his overall hand usage. Without an ability to figure out a way to win later on downs, he could continue to run hot and cold throughout games.

4. Luther Burden III, WR, Missouri

With the ball in his hands, Burden is as big of a threat as any wide receiver in this class. The former five-star recruit has a knack for making would-be tacklers miss in the open field with his quick cuts, but the 6-0, 206-pounder also isn’t afraid to get physical when fighting for position in traffic or lowering a shoulder into defenders.

Yet at this point in his career, Burden is far more of a general offensive weapon than a finished product at wideout. Missouri’s scheme went to great lengths to get him open in space, feeding him a heavy dose of targets near the line of scrimmage while also trying to create favorable matchups downfield. The result is that Burden is neither sudden nor precise as a route runner, and he might require manufactured touches to be involved in the game plan early in his career. His shortcomings can all be addressed, and he shows upside as someone comfortable tracking deep shots and hauling in throws away from his frame. But after averaging just 11.1 yards per catch in 2024’s uninspiring follow-up to his second-team All-American campaign, Burden has to demonstrate that he’s ready to take on more than what the Tigers’ offense afforded him.

3. Cam Ward, QB, Miami (Fla.)

Of course the expected No. 1 pick has to be on the list. From his previous stops at Incarnate Word and Washington State to his breakout season with the Hurricanes, Ward built his game off an embrace of decisions others might eschew. The 6-2, 219-pound passer consistently lives on the edge with his attacking mentality, firing the ball into tight windows and looking to capitalize on opportunities when things break down.

While he no doubt will be asked to tap into his playmaking streak in the pros, Ward might face a significantly lower tolerance for the kind of throws that could easily become turnovers. As he extends plays – and Ward is quite good at avoiding sacks and taxing defenses with his scrambling ability – he becomes prone to searching for chunk plays rather than taking what’s afforded to him. And though he’s instinctive within structure from the pocket, his proclivity for holding onto the ball until the last possible moment can be his undoing. For a player often compared to Patrick Mahomes thanks to his dynamic ability to force defenses out of their comfort zone, the goal should be to emulate the more discerning, quick-trigger phase of the Kansas City Chiefs quarterback’s career in recent years than his wild introduction to the league.

2. Shemar Stewart, DE, Texas A&M

The high-end traits are all there. The production isn’t. The dichotomy between what Stewart can achieve as a pass rusher and what he has managed to yield so far has stirred significant debate about his value in a deep class of edge rushers. Ultimately, it will be on NFL general managers to stack him up against his more accomplished peers and determine whether he can translate his considerable athleticism.

Thus far, the disconnect has been impossible to ignore. The 6-5, 267-pound former five-star recruit managed just 1 ½ sacks in each of his three seasons in College Station. While that can partially be attributed to his usage – the Aggies deployed him in a manner that didn’t afford him as many true edge reps – he also exhibited a concerning habit for missing tackles, often simply falling off the ball carrier when he was in position to make a play. With his ability to capitalize off his quick burst off the line of scrimmage and powerful yet fluid movements, Stewart should at least be able to generate pressure with some regularity. But a potential top-20 pick is going to be expected to finish plays, and Stewart might be defined by his ability to grow in that area.

1. Jalen Milroe, QB, Alabama

He might be the NFL draft’s most compelling conundrum. At 6-2 and 217 pounds with breakaway speed as a runner and superlative arm strength, he can devastate defenses when everything is clicking. And with nearly 500 total yards and four total touchdowns in a thrilling September win over Georgia, Milroe has shown he can stand tall against even the stoutest competition.

But the expected leap in his second season as a starter never fully materialized, and instead erratic play – including a late-season unraveling against unranked Oklahoma that dashed the Crimson Tide’s College Football Playoff hopes – became the hallmark of his 2024 campaign. Shaky mechanics are to blame for much of the problem, as Milroe can be wildly off the mark at all three levels when he’s rushing things. And when he’s not going to his first read, there’s a level of discomfort to his play that’s reflected by a lack of touch on his throws and an eagerness to bail on clean pockets. There’s no questioning his distinct value in this class as a developmental passer, but there’s substantial work to be done before he can be fully trusted to handle NFL defenses.