Duke is on track to have three lottery picks this season – Cooper Flagg is the projected No. 1 pick, Kon Knueppel has moved into the top five with his recent play and Khaman Maluach is a top-10 prospect and is slated to go No. 8 in this edition of USA TODAY Sports’ 2025 NBA mock draft.

Duke is loaded, on an eight-game winning streak and ranked No. 1 this week for the first time all season. The Blue Devils head into the ACC tournament as the No. 1 seed and are on track to get a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.

With the major college basketball conference tournaments starting this week, let’s take a look at players who could be in the NBA as soon as next season. The draft is June 25-26:

2025 NBA mock draft

1. Cooper Flagg, Duke

Freshman, guard-forward, 6-9, 205, 18 years old
2024-25 stats: 19.4 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 4.2 apg, 1.5 spg, 1.3 bpg, 49.4% FG, 37.7% 3PT, 83% FT

The do-it-all young star leads the Blue Devils in scoring, rebounding, assists and steals. Flagg has outstanding footwork, especially in the low post. He can use either hand on shots in the paint, knows how to run plays, can hit catch-and-shoot 3s and is an active weakside defender. Flagg, who has added more muscle since the start of the year, is a physical player who initiates contact, is confident and plays with force when necessary. He is leading Duke to an impressive season, which includes the ACC regular-season title. He shot 53.9% from the field in the Blue Devils’ eight-game winning streak to end the regular season.

2. Dylan Harper, Rutgers

Freshman, guard, 6-6, 215, 19
2024-25 stats: 19.2 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 3.9 apg, 1.4 spg, 48.7% FG, 34.5% 3PT, 73.8% FT

The lefty stroke will remind some of Jalen Brunson, but Harper has far more size at 6-6 and tremendous length with a wingspan of 6-foot-10. Harper’s best asset at the next level might be his versatility to run point and play off the ball. In Rutgers’ regular-season finale against Minnesota, he had 22 points, six rebounds, two assists, two steals and two blocks.

3. Ace Bailey, Rutgers

Freshman, guard-forward, 6-10, 200, 18
2024-25 stats: 17.2 ppg, 7.2 rpg, 1.2 apg, 1.3 bpg, 45.8% FG, 34.6% 3PT, 69.2% FT

Bailey is a hyper-athletic wing with length and size coming into a league that prioritizes players built exactly the way he is with exactly the skill set he has: an effortless and reliable shot and an attack-first mentality with an ability to finish at the rim. Needs to improve as a playmaker on the pass and free throws. But even when offense isn’t easy, he remains active on defense.

4. VJ Edgecombe, Baylor

Freshman, guard, 6-5, 180, 19
2024-25 stats: 15.0 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 3.3 apg, 2.1 spg, 43.8% FG, 35.8% 3PT, 77.9% FT

The Bahamian native has displayed his athleticism, has shown he can be explosive and has an elite knack for steals. He will be able to contribute at the NBA level and can be aggressive at the point of attack. The freshman is a high-level off-ball scorer but can improve when it comes to on-ball scoring. Edgecombe logged significant minutes to end the season, including 38 in a loss to No. 3 Houston, a game in which Edgecombe had 23 points, five rebounds, three steals, two assists and one block.

5. Kon Knueppel, Duke

Freshman, guard-forward, 6-7, 217, 19
2024-25 stats: 13.7 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 2.5 apg, 47% FG, 39.9% 3PT, 91.4% FT

He can ignite an offense with his 3-point shot, thanks to an efficient motion, seemingly always ready to receive the ball in his shooting pocket. He can also lace shots from midrange, takes care of the ball and is money on free throws. He shot 33-for-58 (56.9%) from the field, including 14-for-27 on 3s, in his final six regular-season games.

6. Kasparas Jakucionis, Illinois

Freshman, guard, 6-6, 205, 19
2024-25 stats: 15.2 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 4.8 apg, 45.5% FG, 33.1% 3PT, 83.2% FT

Jakucionis is a playmaker – a scorer and passer. He has range with a nice 3-ball, can shoot off the dribble from deep, including on step-back 3s, and looks for an open teammate when he draws multiple defenders. Jakucionis sees the court well with savvy passes and likes to get to the rim for layups. But he can be turnover-prone. Illinois beat two ranked teams to finish the Big Ten regular season and though he wasn’t at his best offensively – 9-for-24 shooting – he had 11 assists.

7. Tre Johnson, Texas

Freshman, guard, 6-6, 190, 19
2024-25 stats: 20.2 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 2.8 apg, 43.4% FG, 39.5% 3PT, 88.3% FT

Johnson is a natural shooter and scorer. He does well when scoring on the move and is a decent playmaker for his size. He still needs to work on his ability to make plays for others. He must also work on his strength and his explosiveness in order to assert himself as a finisher at the rim. He has three 30-point games in the past two months, including 39 against Arkansas on Feb. 26. However, he was 0-for-14 from the field in a loss to Oklahoma to end the regular season.

8. Khaman Maluach, Duke

Freshman, center, 7-2, 250, 18
2024-25 stats: 8.0 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 1.1 bpg, 68.3% FG, 75% FT

Playing about 20 minutes per game, Maluach is a mobile big who excels in pick-and-rolls and has the hands to catch lobs for easy dunks; soft touch at the rim; shot-blocker/rim protector; active on the offensive glass; will get stronger and has a great aptitude for the game, learning concepts quickly. Played for South Sudan at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

9. Asa Newell, Georgia

Freshman, forward, 6-11, 220, 19
2024-25 stats: 15.1 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 1.1 spg, 1.0 bpg, 54% FG, 29.3% 3PT, 74.8% FT

Based off of his size, Newell wouldn’t appear to be as quick and fluid as he is, which should make him an instant threat in pick-and-roll situations. He was one of the lone bright spots for the Bulldogs in a loss against No. 1 Auburn with a team-high 20 points. His scoring dipped at the end of the regular season, however, the Bulldogs won four consecutive games before the start of the SEC tournament.

10. Egor Demin, BYU

Freshman, forward, 6-9, 19
2024-25 stats: 10.8 ppg, 5.6 apg, 3.9 rpg, 1.1 spg, 41.9% FG, 27.6% 3PT, 67.1% FT

The Russian is a playmaker who can make quick decisions and facilitate for others. Demin is the size of a wing player but has guard-like skills. On defense, he uses his length to his advantage while forcing turnovers and being active in passing lanes. His shooting efficiency is a concern. BYU ended its regular season with eight consecutive victories. Demin had 10 points, seven rebounds and six assists in 26 minutes in an 85-74 victory over Utah in the final regular-season game.

11. Jeremiah Fears, Oklahoma

Freshman, guard, 6-4, 182, 18
2024-25 stats: 16.3 ppg, 4.2 apg, 4.1 rpg, 1.5 spg, 43.3% FG, 26.5% 3PT, 85.1% FT

Solid start to his freshman season; quick on the dribble; has strength going to the rim and can finish; operates well in the pick-and-roll as a scorer and passer; needs to improve his 3-point shot but potential is there. Fears scored a season-high 31 points and added five assists and four rebounds in a win against ranked Missouri.

12. Liam McNeeley, UConn

Freshman, forward, 6-7, 210, 19
2024-25 stats: 14.7 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 2.5 apg, 39.5% FG, 34.7% 3PT, 86.4% FT

What McNeeley may lack in fluid athleticism, he more than makes up for with a smooth, natural shot and knack for drawing fouls and getting to the free throw line. He also has a quick release and plenty of range to suggest that he should get early minutes. He has bounced back since suffering an ankle injury New Year’s Day that had sidelined him for a few weeks. McNeeley struggled with his shot at times down the stretch of the regular season but helped UConn get back on track with four consecutive victories.

13. Derik Queen, Maryland

Freshman, center, 6-10, 246, 20
2024-25 stats: 15.7 ppg, 9.2 rpg, 2.0 apg, 1.1 spg, 1.0 bpg, 52.6% FG, 75.8% FT

An active, physical big man, Queen has a soft touch around the rim with either hand but has a power game, too. He can run the court and handle the basketball well for a power forward-center. He is another potential first-round pick with good hands and footwork and has the mechanics to become a shooter who can stretch the floor. He had 17 points and 12 rebounds in a big win over ranked Michigan.

14. Noa Essengue, Ratiopharm Ulm (Germany)

Forward, 6-10, 198, 18
2024-25 stats: 10.6 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 1.2 apg, 51.8% FG, 23% 3PT, 70.7% FT

The next forward with elite finishing ability to come out of France, Essengue figures to be more of a developmental prospect, but his size, instincts at the rim and plus-defensive ability could make him a star if he bulks up.

15. Collin Murray-Boyles, South Carolina

Sophomore, forward, 6-8, 245, 20
2024-25 stats: 16.7 ppg, 8.1 rpg, 2.4 agp, 1.5 spg, 1.4 bpg, 59.4% FG, 25.9% 3PT, 70% FT

Although he’s a bit undersized at 6-foot-8 for a power forward, Murray-Boyles plays with intense effort and determination, which will very quickly please his NBA coaches. He also has plenty of strength to finish at the rim and was the SEC’s No. 3 rebounder. Murray-Boyles had 35 points and seven rebounds against Arkansas.

16. Ben Saraf, Ratiopharm Ulm (Germany)

Guard, 6-6, 200, 19
2024-25 stats: 12.4 ppg, 4.4 apg, 2.8 rpg, 1.1 spg, 46.5% FG, 27.1% 3PT, 70.3% FT

He’s just as comfortable knocking down a step-back jumper, finding creases in the paint and dishing the ball with excellent vision. He may need some time to develop as he adjusts to NBA athletes, but his length and size at point guard will make him an intriguing prospect.

17. Nolan Traore, Saint-Quentin (France)

Guard, 6-4, 175, 19
2024-25 stats: 11.8 ppg, 4.6 apg, 1.9 rpg, 40.9% FG, 27.8% 3PT, 71.8% FT

Traore is a point guard who can score and pass and has court awareness but also a propensity for bad turnovers. He’s quick, can get to the rim and is comfortable taking his defender off the dribble. Needs to work on his shooting efficiency, especially on 3s. His brother, Armel, was on a two-way contract with the Los Angeles and South Bay Lakers before being waived last month.

18. Hugo Gonzalez, Real Madrid (Spain)

Guard-forward, 6-7, 207, 19
2024-25 stats: 3.4 ppg, 1.8 rpg, 41.1% FG, 27.9% 3PT, 74.4% FT

One of Europe’s top young NBA prospects, Gonzalez is a versatile wing with the ability to score inside and out. He can handle the basketball, pass and is a surprising shot-blocker. He’s still raw.

19. Thomas Sorber, Georgetown

Freshman, forward-center, 6-10, 255, 19
2024-25 stats: 14.5 ppg, 8.5 rpg, 2.4 apg, 2.0 spg, 53.2% FG, 72.4% FT

The standout freshman will miss the remainder of the season, requiring surgery to repair a foot injury suffered Feb. 15. That could alter his plans for the draft, but Sorber is a stellar inside threat who’s just as comfortable cutting to the basket on pick-and-rolls as he is backing down opponents. His rebounding and rim protection will make him an asset, as he continues to grow into his frame.

20. Jase Richardson, Michigan State

Freshman, guard, 6-3, 185, 19
2024-25 stats: 11.6 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 1.9 apg, 52.4% FG, 38.8% 3PT, 85.4% FT

The son of former Michigan State player and two-time NBA dunk champion Jason Richardson, Jase Richardson has improved as the season has progressed and has turned into the Spartans’ steady hand with the basketball as a shooter (inside and out) and facilitator. He is an active defender with surprising bouts of athleticism. He also has a knack for collecting rebounds, big plays and poise under pressure. During a seven-game winning streak to end the regular season, including five victories against ranked opponents, Richardson averaged 15.7 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.3 assists and shot 38-for-74 (51.4%) from the field.

21. Kam Jones, Marquette

Senior, guard, 6-5, 205, 23
2024-25 stats: 18.9 ppg, 6.1 apg, 4.5 rpg, 1.5 spg, 48.5% FG, 30.6% 3PT, 64.6% FT

Jones is a strong, physical guard who can finish on drives to the rim, possesses solid footwork and isn’t afraid of contact. He has improved as a playmaker/passer this season and is a solid rebounder with at least 10 five-plus rebound games. The left-hander had a dip in his 3-point shooting percentage this season but has shown the ability to make them off the dribble and on catch-and-shoots as a career 37% shooter from deep in his four-year career. Jones had a huge game in a loss against ranked St. John’s on March 8: 32 points, nine rebounds and seven assists.

22. Labaron Philon, Alabama

Freshman, guard, 6-4, 177, 19
2024-25 stats: 10.9 ppg, 3.5 apg, 3.5 rpg, 1.3 spg, 46.3% FG, 30.8% 3PT, 76.4% FT

Philon excels in transition with his speed and ability to finish at the rim; is capable on catch-and-shoot 3s but needs work on that part of his game. He’s a heady defender who disrupts opponents with his ability to get steals. The Crimson Tide finished the regular season with seven games against ranked opponents, going 3-4, and Philon had 15 points in an overtime victory against top-ranked Auburn on March 8.

23. Boogie Fland, Arkansas

Freshman, guard, 6-2, 175, 18
2024-25 stats: 15.1 ppg, 5.7 apg, 3.4 rpg, 1.5 spg, 39.1% FG, 36.5% 3PT, 83.9% FT

Fland is an aggressive defender, can hit mid-range shots, makes 3s off the dribble and on catch-and-shoots and attacks the rim. He is getting more comfortable reading defenses and finding advantages with the pass. Fland sustained a a thumb injury Jan. 11 and hasn’t played since Jan. 18. He had season-ending surgery on Jan. 22.

24. Carter Bryant, Arizona

Freshman, forward, 6-8, 225, 19
2024-25 stats: 6.4 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 1.1 apg, 1.0 bpg, 47.9% FG, 34.9% 3PT, 69.2% FT

The athletic forward provides a solid combination of strength and fluidity. He has lateral quickness to stay in front of the ball and the ability to block shots. He can still improve on his technique as a finisher and in scoring efficiency. He will get an increased opportunity to impress scouts and executives at the draft combine if he enters the draft.

25. Joan Beringer, KK Cedevita (Adriatic League)

Forward-center, 6-10, 230, 18
2024-25 stats: 4.6 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 1.4 bpg, 59.9% FG, 58.5% FT

Beringer has gained traction among NBA scouts and executives as a mobile big man who can run the pick-and-roll as a screener on offense and guard the pick-and-roll. He doesn’t have a lot of experience but his potential – especially as a rim protector – has made him a first-round prospect.

26. Noah Penda, Le Mans (France)

Forward, 6-8, 225, 20
2024-25 stats: 10.0 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 2.7 apg, 1.4 spg, 1.0 bpg, 44.4% FG, 30.9% 3PT, 72.5% FT

A solidly-built wing, Penda may not be the most explosive athlete, but he has flashed excellent footwork in the low block, has steady enough ball-handling abilities and can knock down 3s with relative efficiency. Penda has also shown that he can move well without the ball, often slashing through a defense on cuts for easy buckets.

27. Danny Wolf, Michigan

Junior, forward-center, 7-0, 250, 21
2024-25 stats: 12.9 ppg, 9.7 rpg, 3.7 apg, 1.4 bpg, 50% FG, 34.4% 3PT, 60% FT

The Yale transfer is shooting up draft boards thanks to his fluid scoring and play-making portfolio in the package of a 7-foot stretch big. Wolf has played point guard at times this season for the Wolverines just like he’s played center. His handles make him a threat as the initiator in pick-and-roll actions and his range should translate to the NBA.

28. Rasheer Fleming, Saint Joseph’s

Junior, forward, 6-9, 240, 20
2024-25 stats: 15.5 ppg, 8.6 rpg, 1.6 bpg, 1.5 spg, 1.4 apg, 56% FG, 41.8% 3PT, 72.5% FT

Fleming is a mobile forward who plays a physical game and has strong footwork to finesse his way around defenders. He likes to get easy buckets in transition, his 3-point percentage in nearly five attempts per game is encouraging and he is valuable in pick-and-rolls as the screener. Defensively, he deflects passes and can protect the rim. Fleming averaged 18.8 points and 7.7 rebounds and shot 58.9% in the last six regular-season Atlantic 10 Conference contests.

29. Johni Broome, Auburn

Senior, forward-center, 6-10, 240, 22
2024-25 stats: 18.6 ppg, 10.6 rpg, 3.3 apg, 2.4 bpg, 50.6% FG, 29.7% 3PT, 61.6% FT

A powerful and physical forward, Broome is a double-double machine in points and rebounds but also has a penchant for assists – 31 points, 14 rebounds against Georgia; 19 points, 14 rebounds, six assists and two blocks against Alabama; 21 points, 20 rebounds, six assists, three blocks against Ohio State. He is in the running for college player of the year, and even though Auburn lost to Alabama on March 8, Broome scored 34 points, grabbed eight rebounds, blocked five shots and generated three steals.

30. Alex Karaban, UConn

Junior, forward, 6-8, 225, 22
2024-25 stats: 14.5 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 2.8 apg, 1.6 bpg, 44% FG, 35.3% 3PT, 83.1% FT

After initially declaring for the 2024 draft, Karaban withdrew and opted to return to UConn. In the NBA, Karaban figures to be more of a complimentary player, with a knack for finding open gaps in a defense. His ability to catch and shoot should translate instantly. He shot the ball well at the end of the regular season, going 27-for-56 from the field and 12-for-26 on 3s in five games before the Big East Conference tournament.

It’s literally out with the Old and in with the new for English Premier League soccer team Manchester United.

The club unveiled plans Tuesday to build a new stadium to replace Old Trafford, its home for more than 100 years. The proposal calls for a new facility with up to 100,000 seats – which would make it the largest in the United Kingdom – to be built on the same site as Old Trafford.

Jim Ratcliffe, co-owner of Manchester United, said it would be ‘a truly state-of-the-art stadium that transforms the fan experience’ and would take just five years to complete.

Old Trafford opened in 1910 and has been the home of Manchester United since then. Its most recent expansion in 2006 raised the capacity to roughly 75,000. However, in terms of modern conveniences, it has fallen behind other stadiums – including that of local rival Manchester City.

The new stadium would surpass Wembley (capacity: 90,000) as the country’s largest.

Despite a recent lack of success on the pitch, Man U is still one of the world’s most recognizable franchises. Since the departure of legendary manager Alex Ferguson, the 20-time champions have struggled mightily and currently sit 14th in the Premier League Table with just nine wins in 28 games.

‘Old Trafford holds so many special memories for me personally,’ Ferguson said in a press release, ‘but we must be brave and seize this opportunity to build a new home, fit for the future, where new history can be made.’

(This story was updated to add a video.)

Howie Roseman doesn’t need an excuse to invest in his defensive line.

The Philadelphia Eagles executive vice president and general manager has made his proclivity for focusing on his fronts well known. And with a relentless pass rush keying his team’s Super Bowl 59 rout of the Kansas City Chiefs, setting the tone at the line of scrimmage remains at the forefront of his mind.

“Always on the lookout for those positions at every level,’ Roseman said at the NFL scouting combine of the offensive and defensive line, ‘whether it’s in free agency, whether it’s in the draft, whether it’s after the draft, whether it’s on the street. It’s really, like, an unhealthy obsession.’

Now, Roseman has added reason to indulge it.

Not long after the NFL’s negotiation period opened Monday ahead of the official start of free agency, the Eagles learned they had two critical defections: edge rusher Josh Sweat, who agreed to a four-year, $76.4 million contract with the Arizona Cardinals, and defensive tackle Milton Williams, who landed a four-year, $104 million deal with the New England Patriots.

Both played a vital role in the Eagles’ title run, particularly down the stretch. Sweat engineered a team-high six pressures and 2½ sacks in Super Bowl 59, while Williams added two more against the Chiefs and ranked sixth among interior defensive linemen in ESPN’s pass-rush win rate (13%) on the season.

For Philadelphia, the effort to address the departures will no doubt begin with the in-house options. At outside linebacker, Nolan Smith Jr. enjoyed a late-season breakout that featured four sacks in the team’s first three playoff contests. But counting on 2024 third-round pick Jalyx Hunt and Bryce Huff – last year’s marquee free-agent signing who was inactive for the Super Bowl after becoming an afterthought in the edge-rush rotation – could be a dicey proposition. Meanwhile, defensive lineman Moro Ojomo is slotted to take on a more substantial workload in his third season, but the Eagles could be compelled to add further help next to Pro Bowl selection Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis up front.

That could prompt Roseman to give both positions heavy consideration early in the draft, either with the final pick in the first round or either of the team’s Day 2 selections. With both spots seeming to be deep on talent as strong points of the class, there should be several potential considerations for Roseman, even if the top players at each position – including Abdul Carter, Shemar Stewart and Mykel Williams at edge rusher along with Mason Graham at defensive tackle – will almost assuredly be long gone by the time Philadelphia comes on the clock at No. 32 overall.

With that in mind, here are the Eagles’ top five options in the NFL draft at both edge rusher and defensive tackle:

Eagles’ top edge rusher options in NFL draft

1. James Pearce Jr., Tennessee

In pure pass-rushing upside, Pearce doesn’t have a peer among the potential options here. The 6-5, 245-pounder combines a blistering burst off the line of scrimmage with a penchant for converting speed to power. While his approach is still underdeveloped and too often leads to missed tackles, Pearce flashes significant untapped potential thanks to his instincts, length and balance. Even if he’s a potential liability against the run early in his career due to his subpar strength, pursuing a highly athletic threat off the edge who’s yet to put everything together has worked for the Eagles before – look no further than Sweat, the former five-star recruit who was a fourth-round pick in 2018.

2. Mike Green, Marshall

The Football Bowl Subdivision leader in sacks with 17 makes his mark by screaming off the edge in the passing game, but he’s also growing his capabilities against the run. What, then, is the knock against Green? For one, his 6-3, 251-pound frame has prompted concerns of how his ultra-aggressive style will translate to the next level, leaving him as somewhat of an all-or-nothing player until he bulks up or takes a more disciplined approach. But teams will also have to take a closer look after Green twice faced sexual assault allegations – he denied both one in high school and another at Virginia that preceded his transfer – that could put a player who might otherwise be solidly entrenched in the first round into the Eagles’ range.

3. Donovan Ezeiruaku, Boston College

At just over 6-2 and 248 pounds, he might seem like an odd candidate to take over for the rangy and explosive Sweat. But in racking up 16½ sacks last season, Ezeiruaku has demonstrated he has plenty of different ways to chart a course to the quarterback. He’s more physical than one might expect from an edge rusher of his build, and he has a knack for picking the right pass-rush move to exploit a would-be blocker. While his athletic limitations might leave him with a lower ceiling than the top two options on this list, his sound and steady approach should help him remain a highly disruptive presence at the next level – though his stock might be ticking higher into the first round.

4. JT Tuimoloau, Ohio State

A bit of a throwback defensive end, Tuimoloau relishes the chance to lock onto offensive tackles. And after recording 21½ tackles for loss last season, he’s shown he can make a distinct mark against the run while routinely pushing the pocket. Replicating the pass-rush efficiency he demonstrated with 12½ sacks last season, however, seems far-fetched given that he can be rigid and clunky when trying to close in on passers.

5. Jordan Burch, Oregon

If Roseman wants to follow Sweat’s thread of a former blue-chip recruit who never reached his full potential in college, it might lead him to Burch. The 6-4, 279-pounder finally began to put things together last season, recording 8½ sacks in 10 games after only showing occasional flashes of his promise at both South Carolina and Oregon. Burch’s size belies his capabilities both for better – his explosiveness and fluidity make an imposing matchup as a pass rusher – and worse, as he too often comes up small against the run. As a Day 2 option, he should be plenty alluring.

Eagles’ top defensive tackle options in NFL draft

1. Walter Nolen, Mississippi

Unafraid to barrel into blockers or snake past them, Nolen has the tools to become a mainstay in opposing backfields. The 6-4, 296-pounder can throw linemen off balance shortly after the snap with either his quickness or strength, and he’s one of the few defensive tackles in this class who can also moonlight on the edge.

2. Derrick Harmon, Oregon

Versatile? No question, as Harmon is comfortable attacking offenses from anywhere along the line. Disruptive? And then some – no interior defender had more pressures last season (55, according to Pro Football Focus) than the Michigan State transfer. The 6-5, 313-pound Harmon might not measure up to Williams in the ability to finish plays given limitations in his fluidity, but he can create consistent headaches for opponents and open up opportunities for others.

3. Kenneth Grant, Michigan

Far more nimble than his 6-4, 331-pound build would suggest, Grant has been likened to Davis as an astonishingly athletic big body in the middle with room to grow as a pass rusher. His inconsistency might not deter Philadelphia as much as it would other teams considering him in the late first round, as Roseman could see a physical and versatile force who demands double teams.

4. Tyleik Williams, Ohio State

Pushing his way into the backfield isn’t a problem for Williams, who routinely jolted interior offensive linemen off the snap. But while teams can count on him to be a force against the run, his production as a pass rusher is much harder to project, as he too often is neutralized when he can’t win with his bull rush.

5. Alfred Collins, Texas

Like Tyleik Williams, Collins wouldn’t represent a replacement for Milton Williams so much as an opportunity to reconfigure the defensive line as a whole. He might lack the playmaking streak as a pass rusher that would catch Roseman’s eye. But whether by force or movement, the 6-6, 332-pounder consistently puts himself in the right position. A high-end run-stopper who can help control the line of scrimmage should still be of great utility to this defense.

The unofficial start to NFL free agency started fast and furious.

Several big-name players agreed to terms with teams. Wide receiver Chris Godwin decided to stay put in Tampa Bay and cornerback D.J. Reed is taking his talents to the Motor City. Meanwhile, Sam Darnold is headed to the Pacific Northwest and Justin Fields is going to the Big Apple.

All free agents are allowed to officially sign with teams at 4 p.m. ET on March 12, the official start of the new league year. There’s been a flurry of activity, but there are still several impact players remaining in free agency.

Here are USA TODAY Sports’ top 24 free agents available:

1. Stefon Diggs, wide receiver (2024 team: Texans)

Diggs suffered a torn ACL during his first season in Houston and seems more suited as a No. 2 receiver at this stage of his career. Still, he racked up 47 catches, 496 receiving yards and three touchdowns in eight games, and should be a high-quality secondary receiver as he prepares for his age-32 season.

2. Amari Cooper, wide receiver (2024 team: Bills)

Cooper joined the Bills via trade in October but never connected with Josh Allen. He had 20 catches, 297 receiving yards and two touchdowns in eight regular season games and caught just six passes for 41 yards in the postseason. Cooper turns 31 in June but is still a sharp route runner.

3. Justin Reid, safety (2024 team: Chiefs)

Reid is an anchor in the defensive backfield for the Chiefs. He led the team in tackles in 2023. He’s a reliable safety and a sure tackler. He’s tallied over 80 tackles in all three seasons in Kansas City.

4. Aaron Rodgers, quarterback (2024 team: Jets)

Rodgers’ tenure in New York will ultimately go down as a failure. He suffered a season-ending Achilles tear just four plays into his Jets debut in 2023 and led the team to a 5-12 record in what was a tumultuous 2024 season. There is some silver lining, though. Rodgers performed better during the latter portion of the year. He had a 91-or-above passer rating in four of his final five contests.

5. Cam Robinson, tackle (2024 team: Vikings)

The Vikings traded for Robinson to help stabilize their left tackle position after Christian Darrisaw went down. Robinson filled in nicely in Minnesota. He started in 10 games for the Vikings. At 29 years old, he still has plenty of productive years left.

6. DeAndre Hopkins, wide receiver (2024 team: Chiefs)

Hopkins turned into Kansas City’s top wide receiver in 10 regular-season games. If Hopkins wasn’t 32 years old, he’d be much higher on this list. He’s not the prolific receiver he once was but is still a productive X receiver with sure hands.

7. Keenan Allen, wide receiver (2024 team: Bears)

Allen will be 33 years old at the start of next season. He saw his numbers decline during his first year in Chicago. Is the dip in production a sign of things to come, or was it a byproduct of Caleb Williams’ up-and-down rookie season with the Bears? It’s probably both, but Allen remains a savvy route runner.

8. Joey Bosa, edge (2024 team: Chargers)

Bosa is still a productive edge rusher when on the field. He was limited to 18 total starts the past three years due to various injuries. His $36.4 million cap hit in 2025 made him unattainable for the Chargers. He’s tallied 72 career sacks in nine seasons.

9. Jonathan Allen, defensive tackle (2024 team: Commanders)

The Commanders released the two-time Pro Bowler after eight seasons in the nation’s capital.  Allen missed action due to a torn left pectoral injury last season but was able to return to the field and help the Commanders reach the NFC championship game. Allen’s been durable prior to this past year. He’s only had two seasons in which he’s played less than 15 games. He’s compiled 401 tackles, 42 sacks and 60 tackles for loss in 109 career regular-season games.

10. Russell Wilson, quarterback (2024 team: Steelers)

Wilson helped the Steelers get into the playoffs, but the team’s passing offense never really got going. He averaged 225 passing yards per game for a Steelers club that had the 23rd ranked offense in the league. He still throws a pretty deep ball but has a propensity to turn down intermediate passes. The 36-year-old QB can still be a capable starter in the right situation.

11. Javon Hargrave, defensive tackle (2024 team: 49ers)

Hargrave was a coveted free agent just a couple years ago. The interior defensive lineman never lived up to his massive contract in San Francisco, but he did earn a Pro Bowl invite in 2023. His 2024 season was cut short due to torn triceps.

12. J.K. Dobbins, running back (2024 team: Chargers)

Dobbins rushed for a lifetime-best 905 yards in his first year with the Chargers. He has a career average of over five yards a carry. But injuries have followed Dobbins throughout his NFL tenure.  

13. Evan Engram, tight end (2024 team: Jaguars)

A pass-catching tight end, Engram caught 114 balls in 2023. A torn labrum limited him to just nine games last season.

14. Justin Simmons, safety (2024 team: Falcons)

Simmons was regarded as one of the top safeties in the NFL a few seasons ago. He formed a nice combo with Jessie Bates in Atlanta. He’s still a starting safety but not the perennial All-Pro that he was during his days in Denver.

15. Will Fries, guard (2024 team: Colts)

Fries broke his tibia in Week 5. He was limited to just 268 total snaps last year. He started all 17 regular-season games for the Colts in 2023.

16. Julian Blackmon, safety (2024 team: Colts)

Blackmon started 62 career games in Indy. He’s registered at least three interceptions and 86 tackles the past two seasons.

17. Teven Jenkins, guard (2024 team: Bears)

The Bears were comfortable letting Jenkins walk after they revamped their interior O-line. Jenkins was responsible for four sacks and 17 pressures in 738 snaps.

18. Kristian Fulton, cornerback (2024 team: Chargers)

Fulton had a rebound year in Los Angeles. He allowed a 62.5% completion percentage as the Chargers’ starting outside corner.

19. Dante Fowler, edge (2024 team: Commanders)

Fowler is coming off one of his best seasons as a situational pass rusher. He led the Commanders with 10.5 sacks. The former top-5 pick will be 31-years old at the start of next season. He might be best as a situational pass rusher at this stage of his career.

20. Azeez Ojulari, edge (2024 team: Giants)

Ojulari flashed during his rookie season when he tallied a career-best eight sacks. His rookie year is still his best statistical season. The potential is there but needs to show development as an edge rusher.   

21. Asante Samuel Jr., cornerback (2024 team: Chargers)

Samuel started the season as the Chargers’ starting corner. He ended the year in unheralded fashion on injured reserve after 11 games. He has solid coverage skills but not a sure tackler.

22. Mekhi Becton, guard (2024 team: Eagles)

Becton revitalized his career with the Eagles. He allowed three sacks and 25 pressures at right guard. After a rocky start to his career at tackle with the Jets, the former first-round pick seems to have found a home at guard.

23. Kyzir White, linebacker (2024 team: Cardinals)

White produced 137 tackles in 17 starts in Arizona last year. He’s an athletic linebacker who’s had four straight seasons with at least 90 tackles.  

24. Demarcus Lawrence, edge (2024 team: Cowboys)

A foot injury cut Lawrence’s 2024 season to just four games. He was the Cowboys’ second-best pass rusher when healthy. He’ll be 33 years old at the start of next season.

The New York Jets exhibited something Monday by agreeing to a deal with Justin Fields as their presumptive starting quarterback that has been severely lacking from the organization throughout their 14 straight seasons of missing the playoffs.

Self-awareness.

Nobody in the Jets front office under first-year general manager Darren Mougey will be clamoring to say this is slam-dunk move. This isn’t a long-term marriage, as the contract is a reported two years at $40 million with $30 million guaranteed, which seems like a boatload of cash, but for a quarterback in this day and age simply is not. This is a rebound from what turned into a toxic relationship with Aaron Rodgers, after the new regime told Rodgers a combination of “it’s not you, it’s us” and “thanks but no thanks” and broke up for the 2025 season.

Fields’ track record is not pleasant. He “went” 4-2 as the Pittsburgh Steelers’ starter last season, although all he had to do was take care of the ball and make a play here or there while riding the success of the defense and special teams.

Russell Wilson took over in Week 7 and Fields barely saw the field again outside of some quarterback-run packages. You’re hoping for Fields to perform and produce at a level he did not reach over his first three-plus seasons in the NFL. Signing Fields required a “what do we have to lose?” mindset. And, well, looking at the last decade and a half – can the Jets really have that much more losing on the horizon? (Keep that sarcastic answer to yourself.)

The 2025 draft contains a weak quarterback class and the Jets pick seventh. The likelihood both Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders – the two touted signal-callers slated to go at the top of the draft – are off the board is high. Maybe the Jets can come back in the second round for Jaxson Dart (although his first-round odds are ticking up) or Alabama’s Jalen Milroe, who has a similar skillset to Fields. The other quarterback in New York currently is backup Tyrod Taylor.

Fields turned 26 on March 5 and can’t yet be considered a finished product. First-year head coach Aaron Glenn and offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand can enter Year 1 with a quarterback who has started 44 games over four seasons but still has plenty of upside. Calling him a lottery ticket is a stretch. No sane person can picture Justin Fields hoisting the Lombardi Trophy any time soon. But were he to blossom in a Jets jersey – and this would be a problem the Jets would love to have – all that would need to be done is an extension. Or a trade, which figures to net benefit “Gang Green.” If Fields wilts, it’s back to a familiar place at 1 Jets Drive: the drawing board.  

There are young pieces all over the offense Fields can work with. He’ll share a backfield with running backs Breece Hall and Braelon Allen. He’ll reunite with Buckeyes teammate and wide receiver Garrett Wilson, and perhaps that connection can prove to the most fruitful of Wilson’s career. Olu Fashanu, the 11th overall pick last year, will be a starting tackle this season, while center Joe Tippmann and guard Alijah Vera-Tucker are also solid young linemen.

By far, Fields’ best attribute has been his legs. In 2022, when he started 15 games for the Bears (a career high) he rushed for 1,143 yards and averaged 7.1 yards per carry. Fields also led the league in fumbles (16) and ball-security woes have hampered him throughout his career.

The last time the Jets attempted to draft their quarterback of the future they went with Zach Wilson over Fields at No. 2 overall in 2021. Fields went 11th to the Chicago Bears, where he started for three seasons and never delivered on the promise he showed during college at Ohio State. But it’s funny how that decision by ex-general manager Joe Douglas has come full circle. It feels like the cosmos straightened things out for an organization that hasn’t been able to get out of its own way.

The Jets nonetheless have bigger problems than quarterback (cough, ownership, cough). In fact, quarterback still may be a massive issue, even after the Fields signing. This doesn’t automatically immunize the Jets from being the butt of the joke from another season. But it wasn’t a desperate move. And that’s a good start on what will be a long road to relevance.  

The next time you hear someone, anyone, from college sports complain about a lack of revenue, laugh in their face. 

They’ll have you believe those mean, greedy players have sidetracked an amateur sports world of faithful and loyal do-gooders, and ransacked it for every dollar it’s worth.

If I had $1,000 for every time a college football coach declared the current world of college sports “unsustainable,” I could pay Luka Doncic’s contract extension. 

And speaking of extension, that’s where this story turns to the absurd. Late last week, Oregon decided to extend coach Dan Lanning, who was last seen on the big stage trailing 34-0 in the College Football Playoff Rose Bowl quarterfinal — as the nation’s No.1 ranked team. 

That’s nearly $11 million per over six years for Lanning – and $60.4 million guaranteed – who has lost too many games of significance as a head coach.

I don’t blame Lanning for his agent getting everything he can out of Oregon. I blame Oregon, and the 69 other Power Four schools that include Oregon State and Washington State, who have claimed poverty since the NCAA in 2021 decided to open up a can of NIL and free player movement — at the same damn time. 

(To this day, the dumbest move in a long, long line of dumb NCAA moves).

I blame the entire 70 schools that – are you ready for this? – will make an estimated $7.4 billion in fiscal year 2025-26, and as much as $10.5 billion by 2034-35, according to a declaration filed last week in support of the multi-billion dollar House settlement. 

And still can’t figure out how to pay players without claiming the world is coming to an end. 

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Without adding more games to a postseason that already is competing with the NFL for television eyes. Without eating one of its own (RIP, Pac-12), and leaving two others (ACC, Big 12) scrambling for crumbs. 

The NCAA and attorneys representing players are awaiting final approval of the House case settlement – which would officially approve, in essence, pay for play through NIL – from U.S. District Court judge Claudia Wilken. It should come as no surprise that Wilkin will hold a hearing on April 7, which just so happens to coincide with the Final Four national championship game. 

The very tournament the NCAA earns an average of $1.1 billion annually over the course of an eight-year contract with media rights partners CBS and Turner.

You can’t make this up, people.

The declaration filed last week by economics expert Dan Rascher – who has served as the NCAA’s numbers cruncher in just about every antitrust lawsuit against the association – admitted the exorbitant cash flow through the 70 Power conference schools. But here’s where it gets a little tricky, so stay with me. 

The House settlement player pool (see: salary cap) is based on a percentage of eight revenue streams, including but not limited to media rights, ticket sales and bowl/playoff games. But the settlement numbers aren’t based off the entire athletic department revenue.

For example, Texas’ total operating athletic revenue for the 2024 fiscal year was $331.9 million, but its figure for the eight categories used for the pool calculation was $172.1 million. Cincinnati’s pool calculation was $38.8 million.

Under the terms of the agreement, the total of the eight revenue streams from the 70 power conference schools is pooled together, and the players would receive a percentage of that revenue that is expected to be between $20-23 million per school for the first year after the settlement. That number is guaranteed to increase by at least 4% in each of the two years.

The goal of equalizing the number for all schools is to prevent programs like Texas from spend more money on players than smaller programs like Cincinnati. Remember, the $20-23 million is what schools are allowed to spend on players in all the men’s and women’s programs for the use of their NIL — if they choose to.

This takes us all the way back to Lanning and every other coach and assistant coach who signed mega deals this offseason. Steve Sarkisian got a pay raise to $10.8 million annually, and Bill Belichick got $10 million annually to become North Carolina football coach.

Jim Knowles got $3.1 million annually to leave Ohio State and become Penn State’s defensive coordinator, a salary greater than 74 FBS head coaches had last season.

Yet here we go again, coaches and athletic directors and conference commissioners complaining about an “unsustainable” environment in college athletics.

Imagine an association of 70 schools, who have willingly pulled away from the rest of college sports – with a combined budget of $7.4 billion for the academic year – making player salaries the financial boogeyman.

Maybe, just maybe, stop increasing debt service with “facility improvements.” Or if you simply must have new stadiums and arenas and ballparks, and new stand-alone football and basketball facilities because recruits just need that new bling, stop paying coaches to not coach.

Stop paying millions to high school players who have never taken a snap of college football. Stop paying general managers for a job that can (and should) be done by the head coach and athletic director.

Stop paying for a staff of 40, or millions upon millions in recruiting budgets. Stop paying for coaches to take a helicopter to a high school game, so he looks different from every other coach there — to impress a 17-year-old kid.

And college sports has no idea why it finds itself in this predicament.

Lanning is 3-4 vs. rivals Washington and Oregon State, 1-1 in conference championship games and 0-1 in CFP games. And just got $60 million — no matter what happens over the next six seasons.

There’s your unsustainable, everyone. 

And it’s nothing to laugh about.

Matt Hayes is the senior national college football writer for USA TODAY Sports Network. Follow him on X at @MattHayesCFB.