The 2025 NFL season is not yet over, but many teams are already turning their attention 2026 after being eliminated from postseason contention.

A total of nine teams have been eliminated from the playoff race entering NFL Week 9. Many of those squads will be battling for the No. 1 overall pick, which the New York Giants currently possess but could change hands at will over the final four weeks of the NFL season.

The draft order figures to play a big role in determining how early quarterbacks will come off the board in the 2026 NFL Draft. Players like Fernando Mendoza, Dante Moore and Ty Simpson could all end up being high first-round picks, but their draft status may depend on which teams end up selecting early – or if there is a team willing to trade up for a signal-caller.

Here’s how the first round of the 2026 NFL draft is looking ahead of the final month of the 2025 season plays out.

2026 NFL mock draft roundup: Round 1

Here’s what all 32 first-round picks in the NFL draft could look like, according to draft experts from CBS Sports, Pro Football Focus, ESPN and USA TODAY Sports as the 2025 NFL season enters its home stretch.

1. New York Giants

CBS Sports (Josh Edwards): Arvell Reese, edge, Ohio State
Pro Football Focus (Trevor Sikkema): Trade back to No. 9.

Giants select Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State.

ESPN (Field Yates): Trade back to No. 7.

Giants select Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State.

USA TODAY Sports (Ayrton Ostly): Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State

2. Las Vegas Raiders

CBS Sports: Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
Pro Football Focus: Dante Moore, QB, Oregon
ESPN: Dante Moore, QB, Oregon
USA TODAY Sports: Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama

3. Tennessee Titans

CBS Sports: Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
Pro Football Focus: Arvell Reese, edge, Ohio State
ESPN: Arvell Reese, edge, Ohio State
USA TODAY Sports: Arvell Reese, edge, Ohio State

4. Cleveland Browns

CBS Sports: Dante Moore, QB, Oregon
Pro Football Focus: Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State
ESPN: Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
USA TODAY Sports: Dante Moore, QB, Oregon

5. New Orleans Saints

CBS Sports: Peter Woods, DT, Clemson
Pro Football Focus: Rueben Bain, edge, Miami (FL)
ESPN: Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami (FL)
USA TODAY Sports: Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana

6. Washington Commanders

CBS Sports: Rueben Bain, edge, Miami (FL)
Pro Football Focus: Cashius Howell, edge, Texas A&M
ESPN: David Bailey, edge, Texas Tech
USA TODAY Sports: Rueben Bain, edge, Miami (FL)

7. New York Jets

CBS Sports: Keldric Faulk, edge, Auburn
Pro Football Focus: Makai Lemon, WR, USC
ESPN: Trade up to No. 1.

Jets select Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana

USA TODAY Sports: Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State

8. Arizona Cardinals

CBS Sports: Spencer Fano, OT, Utah
Pro Football Focus: Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami (FL)
ESPN: Spencer Fano, OT, Utah
USA TODAY Sports: Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame

9. Los Angeles Rams (via Falcons)

CBS Sports: Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami (FL)
Pro Football Focus: Trade up to No. 1.

Rams select Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana.

ESPN: Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State
USA TODAY Sports: Spencer Fano, OT, Utah

10. Cincinnati Bengals

CBS Sports: Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
Pro Football Focus: Peter Woods, DT, Clemson
ESPN: Rueben Bain, edge, Miami (FL)
USA TODAY Sports: Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami (FL)

11. Minnesota Vikings

CBS Sports: Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State
Pro Football Focus: Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State
ESPN: Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
USA TODAY Sports: Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee

12. Miami Dolphins

CBS Sports: Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State
Pro Football Focus: Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon
ESPN: Keldric Faulk, edge, Auburn
USA TODAY Sports: Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU

13. Baltimore Ravens

CBS Sports: Denzel Boston, WR, Washington
Pro Football Focus: Kayden McDonald, DL, Ohio State
ESPN: Peter Woods, DT, Clemson
USA TODAY Sports: Peter Woods, DT, Clemson

14. Kansas City Chiefs

CBS Sports: Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon
Pro Football Focus: Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee
ESPN: Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
USA TODAY Sports: Keldric Faulk, edge, Auburn

15. Dallas Cowboys

CBS Sports: Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
Pro Football Focus: Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
ESPN: Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
USA TODAY Sports: David Bailey, edge, Texas Tech

16. Carolina Panthers

CBS Sports: Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee
Pro Football Focus: Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
ESPN: C.J. Allen, LB, Georgia
USA TODAY Sports: Makai Lemon, WR, USC

17. Detroit Lions

CBS Sports: David Bailey, edge, Texas Tech
Pro Football Focus: David Bailey, edge, Texas Tech
ESPN: Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah
USA TODAY Sports: Olaivavega Ioane, OL, Penn State

18. New York Jets (via Colts)

CBS Sports: Caleb Banks, DL, Florida
Pro Football Focus: Christen Miller, DL, Georgia
ESPN: Pick traded to Giants.

Giants select Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson.

USA TODAY Sports: LaNorris Sellers, QB, South Carolina

19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

CBS Sports: C.J. Allen, LB, Georgia
Pro Football Focus: T.J. Parker, edge, Clemson
ESPN: Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon
USA TODAY Sports: T.J. Parker, edge, Clemson

20. Pittsburgh Steelers

CBS Sports: Makai Lemon, WR, USC
Pro Football Focus: Denzel Boston, WR, Washington
ESPN: Makai Lemon, WR, USC
USA TODAY Sports: Travis Hunter, WR/CB, Colorado

21. Philadelphia Eagles

CBS Sports: Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
Pro Football Focus: Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
ESPN: Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee
USA TODAY Sports: Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson

22. Houston Texans

CBS Sports: Kayden McDonald, DL, Ohio State
Pro Football Focus: Olaivavega Ioane, OL, Penn State
ESPN: A’Mauri Washington, DT, Oregon
USA TODAY Sports: Kadyn Proctor, OT/G, Alabama

23. Chicago Bears

CBS Sports: Matayo Uiagalelei, edge, Oregon
Pro Football Focus: A.J. Haulcy, S, LSU
ESPN: Cashius Howell, edge, Texas A&M
USA TODAY Sports: Christen Miller, DL, Georgia

24. Buffalo Bills

CBS Sports: Chris Bell, WR, Louisville
Pro Football Focus: Joshua Josephs, edge, Tennessee
ESPN: Denzel Boston, WR, Washington
USA TODAY Sports: C.J. Allen, LB, Georgia

25. Los Angeles Chargers

CBS Sports: Kadyn Proctor, OT/G, Alabama
Pro Football Focus: Kadyn Proctor, OT/G, Alabama
ESPN: Olaivavega Ioane, G, Penn State
USA TODAY Sports: Cashius Howell, edge, Texas A&M

26. San Francisco 49ers

CBS Sports: A’Mauri Washington, DL, Oregon
Pro Football Focus: KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M
ESPN: Caleb Banks, DT, Florida
USA TODAY Sports: Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon

27. Cleveland Browns (via Jaguars)

CBS Sports: Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah
Pro Football Focus: Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah
ESPN: Kadyn Proctor, OT/G, Alabama
USA TODAY Sports: Caleb Tiernan, OT Northwestern

28. Dallas Cowboys (via Packers)

CBS Sports: Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson
Pro Football Focus: Romello Height, edge, Texas Tech
ESPN: Damon Wilson II, edge, Missouri
USA TODAY Sports: Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State

29. Seattle Seahawks

CBS Sports: Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee
Pro Football Focus: Gennings Dunker, OT, Iowa
ESPN: Brandon Cisse, CB, South Carolina
USA TODAY Sports: Denzel Boston, WR, Washington

30. New England Patriots

CBS Sports: T.J. Parker, edge, Clemson
Pro Football Focus: Caleb Banks, DL, Florida
ESPN: Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee
USA TODAY Sports: Chris Brazzell, WR, Tennessee

31. Los Angeles Rams

CBS Sports: Brendan Sorsby, QB, Cincinnati
Pro Football Focus: Pick traded to Giants.

Giants select Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson.

ESPN: Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama
USA TODAY Sports: Brandon Cisse, CB, South Carolina

32. Denver Broncos

CBS Sports: Olaivavega Ioane, OL, Penn State
Pro Football Focus: C.J. Allen, LB, Georgia
ESPN: Chris Bell, WR, Louisville
USA TODAY Sports: LT Overton, edge, Alabama

The NHL’s Hart Trophy front-runners display elite consistency just over one-third of the season.

Of the five players on The Hockey News’ previous Hart Trophy rankings on Nov. 13, four remain on the list. Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid finds his way back into the conversation after recording a hat trick against the Seattle Kraken on Dec. 4 and nine points in his last five games.

The Professional Hockey Writers Association will have the final say after the regular season on who is ‘the player adjudged to be the most valuable to his team,’ but this would be my ballot if voting happened now (statistics through Dec. 8).

5. Logan Thompson, G, Washington Capitals

Logan Thompson is likely the best goaltender in the NHL today. In 21 games this season, the 28-year-old has a 1.96 goals-against average and a .925 save percentage.

Among all goalies who have made at least 10 appearances, only the Minnesota Wild’s Jesper Wallstedt has a better save percentage and goals-against average, but he has played in 10 fewer contests than Thompson.

Thompson has been especially hot in his last six starts. He has five wins and one overtime loss and averaged a .955 save percentage and 1.32 goals-against average.

The Capitals netminder has been facing plenty of shots, too. On Friday, Dec. 5, he faced 38, and in his last game on Sunday, Dec. 7, he recorded a 39-save shutout.

4. Connor McDavid, C, Edmonton Oilers

McDavid had a slow start to the season by his standards, but he’s still third in league scoring with 42 points in 29 games.

At the end of October, McDavid was tied for 19th in league scoring. But since then, he’s averaged 1.65 points per game, nearly half a point more than his scoring rate in October.

Not only does McDavid lead the Oilers in points with five more than Leon Draisaitl, but his 28 assists are tied for the most in the NHL as well.

Edmonton finds itself back in the playoff picture after being on the outside of the mix from Nov. 16 to Dec. 5. As they hold on to the first wild-card spot in the Western Conference and continue to lack consistent goaltending, McDavid will be a significant factor in his team making the postseason as usual.

3. Connor Bedard, C, Chicago Blackhawks

Connor Bedard has been a consistent performer for the Chicago Blackhawks, and he’s pushed his team into a playoff spot at times this season.

Now, the Blackhawks are just one point out of a playoff spot, with a game in hand on the San Jose Sharks, which sit in the West’s second wild-card spot.

Chicago’s playoff hopes are in the hands of 20-year-old Bedard, who’s carried the weight of the team’s offense, recording 15 more points than second-place Tyler Bertuzzi.

Bedard leads the team in goals, assists, points, plus-minus, game-winning goals and more. He’s truly been a valuable piece to the Blackhawks, recording 18 goals and 22 assists for 40 points this year. He’s factored into about 47 percent of the team’s 86 goals.

2. Macklin Celebrini, C, San Jose Sharks

Like Bedard, Macklin Celebrini has been able to maintain his excellent scoring pace from the start of the season. In 30 contests, the 19-year-old has 15 goals and 43 points, which has him second in league scoring.

Celebrini’s factored into just over half of the San Jose Sharks’ 85 goals. He leads his team in goals, assists, points, plus-minus, overtime goals, power-play goals and more.

The sophomore center has 15 more points than second-place Will Smith, who has 28. Celebrini equals Smith’s point total in assists alone. He’s tied with McDavid for the league lead in that category.

1. Nathan MacKinnon, C, Colorado Avalanche

It shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone that Nathan MacKinnon sits at the top of this list. 

The Avalanche superstar center is the front-runner for the Rocket Richard Trophy as he leads the league in goals with 24. He also leads the way in the Art Ross Trophy race, sitting on top of the NHL with 49 points, six more than Celebrini.

While the Avalanche have several stars, such as defenseman Cale Makar and right wing Martin Necas, there’s no doubt that MacKinnon is the driving force of the team’s incredible 21-2-6 record.

MacKinnon also dominates the NHL in the plus-minus department with a plus-35 rating. The closest player to him outside of the Avalanche’s roster is Capitals D-man Jakob Chychrun at plus-24.

He’s proven to be an extremely valuable piece to the Avs, being on the right side of the puck almost all the time. He’s a big reason why the Avalanche are undisputedly the best team in the NHL.

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.

Women’s college basketball is basketball has a bevy of prolific scorers including Vanderbilt Commodores guard Mikayla Blakes (25.7 points a game), Notre Dame guard Hannah Hidalgo (25.9 points a game) and Florida Gators guard Liv McGill (27.3 points a game).

But who is the leading the nation? That would be Iowa State center Audi Crooks, who at 6-foot-3, averages 27.6 points a contest. She is proving hard to stop in her junior season for the No. 10 Cyclones (10-0), who face No. 12 Iowa (9-0) Wednesday night (7 p.m. ET, ESPN).

The Algona, Iowa, native isn’t new to being a scoring threat. It’s how she introduced herself to the country. During the 2024 NCAA tournament, Iowa State gained national attention when the then-freshman posted 40 points against No. 10 Maryland in the first round.

Crooks, who ranks second in the country field goal percentage (73.2), has already eclipsed the 40-point mark twice this season, has eight games of 20 or more points and recently scored 30 points in 19 minutes against the Northern Illinois Huskies.

“It’s not something I’ve seen, really, maybe ever,” Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly said of Crooks.

Being in rare company is something Crooks has made a habit of. She currently holds the longest Division I active streak (77 consecutive games) for scoring at least 10 points or more and is on pace to join Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (2023-2024) as just the second player in Division I men’s or women’s college basketball, the NBA or WNBA to average at least one point or more per minute in a single season.

With production like that, the question becomes how to slow Crooks down. She’s efficient in her minutes and confident with her shot selection, rarely wasting movement. Crooks also has impeccable footwork that has improved each season she’s been with Iowa State, helping her to develop patience in the paint, while getting to her spots. Furthermore, her release, especially on her mid-range jump shot, is one of the smoothest in college basketball.

“They’re trying to do anything they can,” Fennelly said about Crooks. “And I told her, that’s what’s coming. You’re going to get triple-teamed. People are going to fall down and act like you fouled them. You’re going to have to play through contact because you’re not going to get a call.”

When Crooks takes the floor against Iowa on Wednesday, she’ll face her toughest test yet. The Hawkeyes have multiple players who can score and defend, including standout sophomore guard Ava Heiden, who currently leads the team in points (16.1) and rebounds (9.2). Adding fuel to the fire, Iowa State hasn’t beaten Iowa since December 2021. Still, Crooks’ teammates have confidence that they’ll get a long-awaited win against the Hawkeyes and their star center will do what she does best ― just hoop.’You throw the ball to her, and it’s going in,’  Iowa State guard Reagan Wilson said.

The fight between Jake Paul and Anthony Joshua, set for Dec. 19 in Miami, has done more than generate public interest.

It has fueled skepticism, too.

Hasim Rahman, the retired heavyweight champion, captured the sentiment when he told USA TODAY Sports, ‘It should be an easy fight for Anthony Joshua. I mean, Jake Paul never fought anybody on that level in their prime or remotely useful.’

So, if Joshua fails win the eight-round heavyweight fight decisively? ‘We need some investigation going on,’ Rahman said.

Such talk is nothing new for Paul, who heard similar chatter before and after he beat 58-year-old Mike Tyson in 2024. Once again, the insinuations amount to nothing more than speculation, with no one having presented evidence of match-rigging. Also, Lou Durkin, president of the Association of Ringside Physicians, told USA TODAY Sports he thinks Paul has ‘real skills’ and there’s a good chance the fight with Joshua will go the distance.

But this time the dynamic is different.

Unlike Tyson, Joshua is 36 and still looks powerful and explosive.

Also, Paul (12-1, 7 KOs) has entered each of his previous fights as the favorite. This time, he’ll be a significant underdog. Not to mention he’ll be facing a massive size disadvantage. (Paul is 6-1 and expects to weigh in at no more than 220 pounds. Joshua is 6-6 and will be allowed to weigh in at a maximum of 245 pounds.)

With the fight shaping up to be a mismatch, at least on paper, notable retired fighters Gerry Cooney and Ray Mercer made comments similar to those from Rahman.

‘A little bit of a joke’

Cooney fought Larry Holmes for the WBC heavyweight title and The Ring heavyweight title in 1982 and fought Michael Spinks for The Ring heavyweight title 1987. He lost both bouts but did beat former champion Ken Norton and top contenders Ron Lyle and Jimmy Young.

Of Paul, Cooney said, ‘Obviously, Tyson could’ve ripped that kid apart in one round, right?’

Cooney, 69, then referred to Paul’s fight during the pandemic in 2020 on the undercard of Tyson’s exhibition bout against Roy Jones Jr. That night, Paul delivered one of the most electric moments with a brutal knockout of retired NBA player Nate Robinson.

‘Jake Paul was great,’ Cooney said. ‘He gave us entertainment. But now it’s becoming a little bit of a joke, I feel. I mean, Joshua’s going in there with him and…do whatever they want him to do, or maybe not.’

‘He can actually box’

Mercer won the WBO heavyweight title in 1991 and defended it with a victory over Tommy Morrison. He also fought the likes of Larry Holmes, Evander Holyfield and Lennox Lewis.

Mercer, 64, commended Paul.

‘I think he can actually box, but just not on the level of the people that he’s boxing,’ Mercer. ‘You know what I’m saying? If he joined a tournament like the Golden Gloves or something like that, he might do good. But the people that he’s fighting, all the champions and all that, I mean, come on.’

On Paul’s X account, he has posted images of himself looking up at Joshua and Sylvester Stallone, playing Rocky, looking up at Ivan Drago, the fictional character who Rocky defeats in ‘Rocky IV.’ Drago reappears in ‘Creed II.’

‘You got Sly Stallone come out with movies, Creed and all that,’ Mercer said. ‘But it’s real people out there (in the fight between Paul and Joshua). I hope (Joshua) can just say to hell with it and knock his ass out.’

‘Should be an easy fight’

Rahman, 53, won the unified heavyweight title in 2001 and the WBC title for a second time in 2005.

He pointed out that Joshua won an Olympic gold medal (in 2012) and the unified heavyweight title twice. By contrast, Paul has fought professionally 13 times with no amateur career — beyond a victory over a YouTuber, that is.

Paul, 28, is eight years younger than Joshua. But the gulf in experience and achievement between the boxers is undeniable.

‘I don’t believe it should be a competitive fight. It should not,’ Rahman said. ‘I feel like if Anthony Joshua don’t go in there and manhandle (Paul) and maul him and get him out of there in one or two rounds, then we got some questions to be asked.’

The 2026 Winter Olympics are almost upon us, and the participating teams will soon have to name their rosters for the tournament. That said, it’s always fun to speculate about what the Olympic rosters will look like.

Last week, we focused on Team Canada and Team USA. It’s now time to project Sweden’s men’s hockey roster.

The Swedes won’t be favorites to win the tournament, but they have the talent to win gold.

They’ll need their best players to come up big in clutch moments – we’re talking about Toronto Maple Leafs star right wing William Nylander, Los Angeles Kings right wing Adrian Kempe and Vancouver Canucks center Elias Pettersson – and their goaltending will need to be a strength for them.

Sweden has an excellent balance of young players and proven veterans. Their youngsters include Anaheim Ducks budding star Leo Carlsson, Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin and Minnesota Wild goalie Jesper Wallstedt. Some veterans are New York Rangers center Mika Zibanejad, Colorado Avalanche left winger Gabriel Landeskog and Nashville Predators left wing Filip Forsberg.

There’s also more than enough competition for roster spots that some surprising names were left off our roster projection.

Don’t forget, this projection is based on this writer’s point of view. So let’s get straight to the projection for Team Sweden. Players with an asterisk were already named to the roster in June.

Forwards

Centers: Elias Pettersson, Leo Carlsson, Joel Eriksson Ek, Mika Zibanejad 

Wingers: William Nylander*, Adrian Kempe*, Jesper Bratt, Filip Forsberg, Gabriel Landeskog*, Lucas Raymond*, Rickard Rakell, Elias Lindholm, Marcus Johansson, Emil Heineman

The lowdown: Sweden’s forward group isn’t as deep as Canada’s or the United States’, but that doesn’t mean there’s not a lot to like up front.

With centers Pettersson and Carlsson providing offense for the group, a defense-minded center like Minnesota’s Joel Eriksson Ek can star on the penalty kill and match up against the other team’s top scorers.

On the wing, there’s no shortage of offense with Nylander, Kempe, Detroit’s Lucas Raymond, Pittsburgh’s Rickard Rakell and Nashville’s Forsberg providing speed and skill. And a veteran like Minnesota’s Marcus Johansson and the New York Islanders’ Emil Heineman have essentially played their way onto the roster with strong starts to the season.

In any case, the Swedes have more than enough high-end talent to keep them competitive in this tournament. But responsible performances at both ends of the ice will be mandatory if they’re to outlast the Canadian and U.S. squads.

Defensemen

Rasmus Dahlin*, Victor Hedman*, Hampus Lindholm, Erik Karlsson, Rasmus Andersson, Gustav Forsling, Jonas Brodin, Oliver Ekman-Larsson

The lowdown: Believe us when we tell you it was very tough leaving off Edmonton’s Mattias Ekholm from this group of eight Swedish blueliners, considering he was on the 4 Nations Face-Off roster.

But Boston’s Hampus Lindholm missed the 4 Nations with an injury, and the defensive specialist will play a crucial role on the penalty kill. And Toronto’s Oliver Ekman-Larsson can be an effective depth puck-mover, and he has experience playing on the right side despite being a lefty. Ekholm can play on the right side as well in specific situations, but this is mainly a case of which type of player we want as the seventh or eighth D-man.

Dahlin, Forsling, Tampa Bay’s Victor Hedman, Calgary’s Rasmus Andersson and Minnesota’s Jonas Brodin, who were all on the 4 Nations roster, can give the Swedes at least 20 minutes of solid two-way play without giving up anything at either end of the ice.

If there is an injury (Hedman left Tuesday’s game), we’d go with Ekholm in a limited role.

Goaltenders

Jacob Markstrom, Jesper Wallstedt, Filip Gustavsson

The lowdown: Speaking of players who’ve played their way onto Team Sweden, Wild youngster Jesper Wallstedt is having a terrific year for Minnesota, and teammate Filip Gustavsson has also earned a spot.

The final goalie spot came down to two veterans having a subpar season – New Jersey’s Jacob Markstrom and Ottawa’s Linus Ullmark. And we chose Markstrom over Ullmark in a hunch. But if Ullmark outplays Markstrom in the next couple weeks, we’d be fine swapping the two.

Wallstedt is just beginning his journey as an elite netminder. But from what we’ve seen from him thus far this year, we’d give him the starter’s job to start the Olympics.

Gustavsson would be our second choice, and after that, Ullmark or Markstrom would be goaltending insurance, but Sweden’s goalies don’t have to steal them any games. If they give the Swedish forwards and defensemen a chance to win games, that’s all Swedish brass will care about.

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.

The Indianapolis Colts signed 44-year-old quarterback Philip Rivers to their practice squad.
GM Chris Ballard recently traded two first-round picks for CB Sauce Gardner, signaling a ‘win-now’ approach.
The signing of Rivers highlights the team’s lack of a reliable backup quarterback after going all-in at the trade deadline.

I’m not a poker player. Spades and Hearts are my games − maybe Solitaire or Go Fish with the kids.

But I’ve seen “Rounders,” “Casino Royale” and enough coverage of games of chance and skill on ESPN and other outlets over the years to know that when you’re pot committed, you better not overplay your hand.

Unfortunately, the Indianapolis Colts’ decision to sign 44-year-old quarterback Philip Rivers to their practice squad Tuesday seems like a strong tell that the organization and longtime general manager Chris Ballard did exactly that.

On one level you have to feel for the Colts. Ballard seemed to inherit a full house when he took the job in 2017 – then-quarterback Andrew Luck worth three aces on his own. But Indy was dealt a terrible hand when oft-injured Luck shockingly retired two weeks before the 2019 season – Ballard and Co. chasing a better one ever since, the Colts languishing outside the playoffs since Rivers last led them there in 2020 in what was purportedly his 17th and final NFL campaign.

Expectations for the team entering the 2025 season seemed modest at best, Ballard diversifying his QB options between Anthony Richardson − the tantalizingly gifted but raw, inexperienced, inconsistent and occasionally immature talent he chose fourth overall in the 2023 draft − and reclamation project Daniel Jones, once viewed as the future of the New York Giants.

Yet Jones took command of the Indianapolis offense, took command of the locker room, and the Colts took command of the AFC South with a 7-1 start. That was enough to spur Ballard – typically a conservative roster architect who prefers a draft-develop-reward/re-sign approach – to effectively push his chips into the middle of the table at the league’s Nov. 4 trade deadline by dealing two first-round picks, tantamount to parting with the crown jewels given his historical reticence for pricey acquisitions, to obtain New York Jets All-Pro cornerback Sauce Gardner.

And sure, maybe Ballard was on a warming seat nearly a decade into what’s been a disappointing tenure despite some key circumstances that had been beyond his control. But the big swing for Gardner also signaled Ballard’s belief that this team was championship caliber, and that his players should operate accordingly. And what a story it would be if the Colts could end what’s become nearly a two-decade championship drought just months after owner Jim Irsay’s stunning death.

Just one problem: Ballard didn’t account for a few of those chips, which apparently wound up under the table. After all, spending just a few more might have also given the Colts needed insurance at a quarterback position that’s been snakebit ever since Peyton Manning went under the knife 14 years ago. And Ballard has signed enough guys like Joe Flacco, Jacoby Brissett, Nick Foles and Gardner Minshew II to know you need reliable dudes like that around as fallbacks. He’s also drafted enough guys like Richardson, Sam Ehlinger and Jacob Eason to know nascent passers can’t be trusted or even expected to elevate the remainder of a roster.

But instead of anteing up for a Plan B QB at the trade deadline – current Giants third-stringer Russell Wilson, who’s on a one-year deal, would have been the obvious stopgap choice – Ballard decided to roll with Jones, rookie Riley Leonard and journeyman Brett Rypien, who resides on the practice squad. Not even Richardson, who’s been on injured reserve with an injured orbital bone for nearly two months, was an emergency option. The stratagem arguably veers into personnel malpractice given Jones had played on a fractured fibula in recent weeks before tearing his Achilles during Sunday’s loss at Jacksonville. Yet Ballard hadn’t brought in an experienced free agent like, say, Taylor Heinicke or poached a passer from another club’s practice squad in the interim.

Now, here we are – Rivers, a player-coach if there ever was one, back after nearly five years out of the league. Sure, he knows the organization. Sure, he knows head coach Shane Steichen and his playbook given all the years they spent together with the Chargers, and they’ve maintained their relationship since. Sure, Rivers is a Hall of Fame-caliber quarterback. Sure, he’s 44 but – in some respects given his limited physical gifts – he’s been a 44-year-old quarterback for the past 24 years. Right? And, yeah, this is all a bit whimsical.

But it’s hardly fair or reasonable to expect Rivers to pick up where he left off and take the Colts back to the playoffs, which they’re not even projected to make given how things shook out after Sunday’s setback. Even if Rivers is forced into the lineup – though hopefully not against that nasty Seahawks defense in Seattle this weekend – and catches lightning in a bottle like Flacco did two years ago for the Cleveland Browns and gets Indy as far as Week 19, what then? You don’t think defensive-centric teams like the Jaguars, Denver Broncos, Houston Texans or New England Patriots wouldn’t key on superstar back Jonathan Taylor and force a rusty guy born the year (1981) President Ronald Reagan took office to beat them?

Admittedly, there’s no major risk to signing Rivers. But there’s no legitimate upside, either. Even if he somehow won a playoff game, Ballard’s going to be in an unenviable position some time in January. And that means having a top-tier cornerback in a ground-and-pound division; one quarterback (Richardson) who seems ready for a fresh start; and another (Jones) rehabbing a serious injury but on the cusp of a free agency period that could bring a bidding war for his services – whether or not he’s ready to start the 2026 season. Oh, and no first-round pick as an alternative to remediate the quandary … next year or in 2027.

Poker is a cruel game. But by seemingly going with his heart of late, Ballard now has problems in spades … and could find himself in a solitary place, fishing for a new job soon enough.