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At No. 3 in the NFL Draft, the assumption is that the Arizona Cardinals will take the best player available or address a major need. However, a new report suggests that bringing in a player who can increase revenues and improve brand identity may be a priority.

The Cardinals are one of the most interesting teams heading into this week’s NFL Draft. By having the third pick, they have the opportunity to bring in a player who can be a game-changer and be a core member of the roster for years to come. Players like Texas Tech’s David Bailey, Ohio State’s Arvel Reese and Notre Dame’s Jeremiah Love have been linked to the card at No. 3.

However, a case can be made that after a 3-14 season and firing their head coach, Arizona has a lot of problems and should trade up in Round 1 to acquire more picks this year and/or next year. That’s why he’s been linked to various trade rumors over the past few weeks.

Is Jeremiah Love an ideal pick for the Arizona Cardinals?

But the school of thought guiding the team’s draft plans this year may be different, especially with that option in Round 1: making more money. on Wednesday’s edition of ESPN RiseNFL insider Adam Schefter said that if they don’t trade up from No. 3 after years of going defense-first, they need to make a spectacular move that can create a spark, excitement and energy. That’s why they feel Love will be the player they choose.

Fellow NFL insider Peter Schrager then chimed in that the Cardinals were at the bottom of the league in merchandise and ticket sales. And after bringing in a new head coach in Mike LaFleur this offseason, it feels like 2026 will be a “fresh” start for the franchise.

Then, when NFL analyst Jason McCourty was asked what the best scenario would be for the Cardinals, he said, “Get your Jeremiah Love jerseys ready” because of the marketability of the talented running back.

For many NFL Draft evaluators, Love is the best player in this year’s class due to his great running skills and ability to make plays in the passing game. However, it is rare to see a running back reach such heights in the current NFL. But Love appears to be an exception because of his talent and what he could do for the Cardinals brand.

After earning a journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos worked as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sacca… More about Jason Burgos

Despite being only 22 years old, Victor Munoz has come a long way in the game. Sunderland tried to sign him a few months ago and now, his value has already increased.

At the end of the 2024/25 season, the attacker was at Real Madrid and was criticized for a crucial miss in El Clasico. Although this led to Los Blancos losing games and even the La Liga title, Munoz has turned things around very quickly in his career.

The 22-year-old joined Osasuna in the summer and impressed, contributing 11 goals in all competitions.

This led Sunderland to attempt to sign the Spaniard in January. was covered by sports witnessBecause an offer from Wearside was on the table for the Spanish side.

Fast forward to this month, Muñoz was called up to the Spanish national team. He also scored on his debut when he returned to the net in a friendly against Serbia last week.

As a result, the winger situation is once again attracting attention.

Sunderland asked to pay more

Today, Country Take a look at Munoz’s journey in the game and note how he impressed against Serbia.

He believes he can leave Osasuna in the summer, with Real Madrid still having a 50% resale clause in his contract. The Spanish giants were aware of his skills and that is why they inserted a clause to have some degree of control over the winger.

The outlet clarified that Sunderland had offered €25m to sign him in January. This could have been satisfactory for Osasuna but the ex-Los Blancos graduate decided to reject the move.

He has a release clause of €40m in his contract and that is what the Black Cats would have to pay to sign Munoz. The main reason for this is how the player’s stature has increased in the last few months.

He could also play in the World Cup in the summer, which would be another way to establish Munoz’s value.

El Pais believe there remains interest from a number of clubs, amid indications he could depart in the summer. Sunderland are the more attractive option now, as they have shown they will not go straight back into the Championship.

Our opinion: Sunderland should stay in the race

It’s interesting to note that Munoz hasn’t just impressed this season. For Real Madrid Castilla during the 2024/25 campaign, he scored 11 league goals and also provided seven assists.

Furthermore, he can play on either flank and has also played as a striker several times at club level. Munoz is believed to thrive in 1v1 situations and has pace that can beat most defenders in the final third.

That unpredictability can come in handy for any club – and that includes Sunderland. His release clause seems relatively accessible to English clubs, which is why Regis Le Bris’s team should continue to keep an eye on the talent. It would not be a surprise if the competition for him increases, especially if he plays in the World Cup.

🇳🇱Brian Brobbie | Awesome read for Sunderland fans

📈 Players and analysts explain the sports revolution
➡️ Changed approach since Ajax
⚽️ Individual plan details and why the changes were made
⭐️ …all coming together for Brobiehttps://t.co/9Ht1dX7lN8 #safc

– Sports Witness (@Sport_Witness) 27 March 2026

Crystal Palace midfielder Jefferson Lerma has caused deep concern in Colombia after his recent injury, with journalist Carlos Antonio Vélez giving a candid assessment. rcn sports.

Velez made it clear how important the 30-year-old is to both club and country. He said: “What’s happening with Lerma seriously concerns me. Lerma is the balancing point of the team.”

The Colombian international will be out of the competition for three weeks or more, and Crystal Palace’s poor form has further fueled the discussion domestically.

“That’s what gives balance”

Vélez did not hide his concern about the situation at Crystal Palace. He cited the club’s recent record and suggested that pressure was building at Selhurst Park.

He said: “He has been injured. It doesn’t surprise me, because as much workload as he has with the national team, he also has with his club. This is a team that has only won one in the last sixteen matches.”

In his view, there are consequences beyond the results of that race. he adds: “A team that is performing poorly takes away good players. When a team is not performing well, the good players fade away.”

For Crystal Palace supporters, that line will resonate. Lerma arrived from Bournemouth in 2023 and quickly became one of the team’s most reliable performers. However, the instability around them has made their role even heavier.

Vélez also highlighted Lerma’s tactical versatility. he explained: “He has played as a five, as an eight, even as a centre-back in a back three. He has served the team in every role.”

That flexibility has also made him valuable to Colombia. Velez used a fascinating metaphor to make this point: “In the national team, he is the one who gives balance. He is the guardian of the mosque. He protects the stone. He is responsible for the balance of Colombia.”

Concerns about the World Cup are already emerging

local journalist Juan Felipe CadavidSpeaking on the same Deportes RCN program, he took a lighter tone but made the same underlying point about the timing.

He said: “Okay, it’s time for Lerma to get injured, no? Later, he’d better not joke for the World Cup. But now, okay, go and rest, take a little injury if you want, as long as it’s not serious at all. Later, don’t talk nonsense. We need him for the World Cup.”

With the tournament taking place in the middle of the year, Colombia’s message is clear. Injuries could be a concern not only for Palace, but also for the national team who see Lerma as a guaranteed starter.

From the palace’s perspective, this underlines the scale of responsibility on their shoulders. When results fall apart, structure becomes necessary. Lerma provides that structure.

If his absence is prolonged, Crystal Palace have lost not only a midfielder, but what many in Colombia openly describe as a team stabilizing force.

It’s always important not to overreact to any race during the 2026 NASCAR season, especially since a lot can change depending on the track. However, coming off the first points race of the season, we can say that there are some drivers who are headed in the right direction and others in the wrong direction heading into Atlanta this weekend.

Let’s dive into our NASCAR Stock Watch after the Daytona 500, highlighting the full-time Cup Series drivers whose stock is up or down ahead of the second race of the season.

Stock Up: Zane Smith

Zane Smith is in the spotlight at a time when 19-year-old Connor Zylisch and 23-year-old Carson Hocevar are viewed as the future faces of the NASCAR Cup Series. However, Smith made his name in the Daytona 500. He won Stage 1 – the first stage win of his career – and then moved up from 15th in Stage 2 to finish sixth behind Tyler Reddick, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Joey Logano, Chase Elliott and Brad Keselowski. Smith’s 41 points are one of his highest totals since joining the Cup Series, and he led the same number of laps as Logano and Christopher Bell (nine) in the 500. We’re not saying Smith is a safe bet to reach the playoffs by any means, but surpassing his career highs in top 10s (five) and laps led (22) seems possible.

RELATED: NASCAR Power Rankings after Daytona

Stock Down: Chase Briscoe

This is certainly not the time to panic for Chase Briscoe or the No. 19 team; It’s too early in the season for that. He made Championship 4 last season in his first year with Joe Gibbs Racing and performed as a top-five driver in the second half of the season. However, Briscoe left Florida with only 2 points after starting 2nd in the Daytona 500 and leading the field in Duel 2. He is already 41 points behind third place in the regular season points, and the new Chase format is unforgiving for many of the underperforming top drivers. Briscoe will still reach the playoffs, but its championship chances took a hit last Sunday.

Read more: Denny Hamlin predicts who will win the NASCAR championship

Stock up: Shane van Gisbergen

We know that Shane Van Gisbergen finished 30th in the Daytona 500 with only 7 points out of the No. 97 car. However, he led three laps and was regularly in the top 10 of the field before getting stuck in the Big One. He was in 12th place when the incident began and his car was so damaged that he could not effectively continue. What matters is that SVG demonstrated he is much better in oval racing than he was a year ago – good enough to crack the top-20 this year and potentially score some top-10s and stage points. SVG stock is on a rise.

RELATED: NASCAR Predictions 2026, 16 Playoff Drivers Projected

Stock Down: Connor Zylisch

With 20 laps to go in Stage 2, Conor Zylisch found himself leading the field in the Daytona 500. As the teen began earning praise from the broadcast crew, he twice got into the side of Justin Allgaier and his car came loose from there before losing control. There’s no denying that this rookie is one of the best prospects to enter the Cup Series in the last few years, but troubles are brewing and he has a lot to learn. He will be very competitive on road courses this year, but struggles on ovals in the Next Gen car will keep him out of the playoffs.

READ MORE: Denny Hamlin explains when NASCAR drivers should worry about points, standings

Stock Up: Tyler Reddick

After failing to win a single race in 2025, Tyler Reddick started his 2026 campaign with a Crown Jewel win. Although he wasn’t dominant, his last lap move to get to the front of the field and win the Daytona 500 shows what Reddick is capable of and why he was the NASCAR regular-season champion in 2024. After a turbulent season on the track last year, Reddick has regained his confidence and focus. More wins are coming this year.

RELATED: NASCAR points standings after Daytona 500

Stock Down: Alex Bowman

Hendrick Motorsports’ fourth-best driver always feels some pressure to perform. Alex Bowman has phenomenal equipment and a great team, but results in recent seasons – only one win in the last three years – have been disappointing. Unfortunately for Bowman, his 2026 campaign got off to a bad start. Not only did the No. 48 car fail to lead a lap in the Daytona 500, but it completed only 123 laps after its car suffered race-ending damage in a collision during the Big One. With that result, he now ranks 22nd in average finishing position (20.3) over the last 15 races, with the likes of Daniel Suarez, AJ Allmendinger and Justin Allgaier having multiple top-five finishes (one).

RELATED: NASCAR Hot Seat 2026

Matt Johnson is the senior NFL and college football editor for Sportsknot. His work including the weekly NFL and college… More about Matt Johnson

The ‘flow state’, when a basketball player gets in the zone and seemingly can’t miss a shot, is a real thing. Just ask RJ Davis. The former North Carolina guard, now in his first professional season in the G League with the South Bay Lakers, reached that pinnacle by dropping a career-high 45 points by the end of the month of January.

For a player who was known for racking up points during his days as a Tar Heel, being in that state of flow led Davis to shooting hoops alone in his backyard while growing up.

“The way I describe it is it’s like when you’re in the park or just in your backyard,” Davis told ClutchPoints in an exclusive interview. “It’s just you and you’re out there shooting. You’re just counting like five, four, three, two, one, and you’re alone. The zone feels like that, but you feel like every time you shoot, you’re going to make it.”

That game was special for Davis. He has led South Bay all season as the primary point guard and ball-handler, and when he was moved to the bench several times between assignments with the Los Angeles Lakers, he took it in stride.

One of the key areas of his game that he has made a point of showcasing is his ability to be a lead playmaker and initiate the offense. That’s what South Bay head coach Zach Guthrie asked of him. While he’s working on finding the right balance between scoring and facilitating, this was a good reminder that he can add points in a hurry if the game calls for it.

He thrashed the South Bay rival Salt Lake City Stars in that game with a flurry of jumpers and strong takes to the basket. They did most of their damage by getting to the free-throw line only four times. He missed only seven shots (15 of 22 from the field, 6 of 9 from 3-point range).

Davis said, “Every shot I hit, I knew it was going to go in. The release felt good, and my mindset, I think I was just in the zone. I was in a state of flow.” “I wasn’t thinking too much about whether the shot would go in or whether I would make the shot or miss, it was really about flowing within the offense.”

RJ Davis finding balance in the G League

When RJ Davis ends his college career at North Carolina after the 2024–25 season, he will remain as No. 2 on the program’s all-time scoring list, behind only Tyler Hansbrough. He had a college career-high 42 points in February 2024, which was a UNC home record for most points scored at the Smith Center.

When it comes to the ACC’s all-time scoring list, Davis ranks No. 3 behind Hansbrough and former Duke star JJ Redick, respectively. He left UNC with an average of 15.6 points per game, with his highest mark being 21.2 points during the 2023–24 season.

Davis has always been a big scoring threat, but to succeed at the professional level and get to the NBA, he knows he has to show the ability to be a facilitator. It’s something that has always been a part of his game and he’s grateful that he’s getting the chance to showcase it.

Davis said, “It’s come a long way. I think everyone knows me for scoring. Coming into training camp right now for both the Lakers and South Bay, I wanted to show that I’m more than just scoring, that I can play, especially for my size.” “You’re going to play with other guys that also know how to score. So just try to take on the role of being a playmaker, be a role player, just be another dog on the floor.”

Davis has had double-digit assists in two games this season, and he had 10 assists in both of those games. His second game of double digit assists was part of the first triple double of his career as a professional. He had 30 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists. He also has some explosive scoring games. He has scored 20 or more points in 18 of the 32 games he has played for South Bay.

Davis played alongside Kobe Bufkin for most of the season before signing a contract with the Los Angeles Lakers, so he’s gotten used to playing with another ball-handler and someone who can definitely put the ball in the basket. For him, the key is to adapt to what the team needs at the guard position, knowing when to be a playmaker, and knowing when to hunt for his shot.

Davis said, “I think for me, it’s about staying aggressive. I think it’s helped me determine if I’m able to shoot, pass, find open guys or create things for myself. I think being aggressive creates open spaces not only for me, but for my teammates.” “You’re just understanding the flow of the offense, understanding if this guy hasn’t got a shot, trying to see him. Also, just taking what the defense gives me and staying aggressive at all times.”

RJ Davis’ path to the NBA

Like most players in the G League, RJ Davis has dreams of reaching the NBA. He went undrafted in the 2025 NBA Draft and linked up with the Lakers during Summer League. He played a total of seven summer league games with the Lakers between Las Vegas and San Francisco.

Davis averaged 6.1 points, 1.0 rebounds and 2.6 assists. He didn’t shoot particularly well overall, connecting on only 38.1 percent of his shots. But in a departure from his performance in Las Vegas, he scored 42.3 percent. His summer league stint was enough for the Lakers to invite him to training camp, where he played five preseason games.

He looked more comfortable during the preseason, averaging 8.6 points and shooting exactly 50 percent overall and from the 3-point line. During his time with the Lakers in training camp, the organization identified key aspects of Davis’ game that he would need to focus on in order to move into the NBA.

Davis said, “I’ve been known to score my whole life, so now it’s just about doing the little things that other guys don’t want to do. Coming into training camp with the Lakers, you have Lucas, LeBron, AR, so being kind of a pest to my size, using my size as an advantage, getting up 94 feet, fighting through screens, doing the dirty work.” “At the same time, just being able to make plays. I feel like I’m doing that … I just have to keep doing it consistently. Just show teams that I’m able to both score and pass.”

In 32 games with South Bay, Davis averaged 19.5 points, 4.6 rebounds and 5.3 assists. He shot 44.9 percent from the field, 41.2 percent from the 3-point line and 87.6 percent from the free-throw line.

His play earned him a spot in the 2026 G League Next Up game as part of the NBA All-Star Weekend. Davis will suit up for Team White, coached by Salt Lake City Stars head coach Isaiah Fox. Each player selected for the Next Up game has substantial G League experience either as a two-way contract player, assigned by their NBA team, or has played in the league on a regular basis.

For Davis, his early experience in the G League has shown him that it is a good place for development and the ultimate goal of getting his name on the radar of NBA teams.

Davis said, “I think Gee is perfect. It’s a dog fight every night. The competitiveness is at an all-time high. You have two ways to go, the assignments are less and sometimes you have to make a little bit of a change and adjustment.” “Even if you’re playing a lot of minutes and then your role changes a little bit, adjusting to that gives you a little preview of what the league looks like.”

Davis added, “But at the same time, I think G will humble you.” “You can be 30 and then a team comes back and now it’s a tie ball game. It’s a never-ending game. It’s up and down, it’s a fast-paced game, but that’s what you need. That’s what you want. Because at the end of the day, it brings out the best in you.”