On Saturday night, top 10 UFC featherweights Aljamain Sterling and Youssef Zalal moved closer to a title opportunity in 2026 when they faced off in the main event of the promotion’s latest Fight Night card inside the UFC Apex.

Just like he did when he became champion at 135 pounds, Sterling used his excellent wrestling to win the first two rounds and earn a unanimous decision victory over the red-hot Jalal. Following their bout on Saturday, let’s take a look at where they now land in our updated UFC featherweight rankings.

10. Arnold Allen (20-4)

A few years ago, England’s Arnold Allen was being touted as a future title contender after winning 10 consecutive titles early in his UFC career. However, he then began facing the division’s top players and saw what appeared to be the end of the water at featherweight, as he lost two in a row.

However, he did win against Giga Chikadze in 2024. Unfortunately, he was sidelined for a year and a half before returning for a tough test at UFC 324 against Jean Silva. Despite his best efforts in a great battle, he failed against the Brazilian. Fell for the third time in his last four matches.

9. Yousuf Jalal (18-6-1)

After going winless four-straight, Youssef Zalal was fired from the UFC four years ago and had to fight his way back into the company. He did so and entered UFC 320 on an impressive seven-fight winning streak. In his tough scrap on the main card of the PPV, he dominated and scored a first-round submission victory over top-10 veteran, Josh Emmett.

The big win brought him into the limelight for the first time when he defeated former bantamweight king Aljamain Sterling. Unfortunately, the future Hall of Famer was able to outwit him. Their winning streak ended at eight straight.

8. Steve Garcia (19-5)

After losing two of his first three starts inside the Octagon and coming on the verge of retirement, veteran Steve Garcia has caught fire over the past four years. In that time, he has won seven in a row, with all but one of those victories coming by decision.

Three of his last four wins were first-round knockouts. He has violently earned his spot in the top 10 of our latest UFC featherweight rankings.

7. Yair Rodriguez (20-5)

After a period in which he struggled with injuries and some tough defeats, there were doubts whether Yair Rodríguez would ever reach his potential. He put all the uncertainties to rest with massive wins over Brian Ortega and Josh Emmett. The latter made him the new interim champion. However, his reign was short-lived as Alexander Volkanovski took back the undisputed spot at UFC 290.

He then suffered another decisive defeat in his home country to Brian Ortega in February. He will need to enter UFC 314 in a must-win situation if he ever wants to fight for UFC gold again. In a big fight welcoming Patricio Pitbull to the UFC, “El Pantera” scored a dominant win to get his name back into the championship conversation.

6. Aljamain Sterling (26-5)

After a stellar performance at bantamweight that should earn him a spot in the UFC Hall of Fame, Aljamain Sterling makes the jump to featherweight in 2024. While he split his first two at 145 pounds, his only loss came against the division’s top contender Movsar Evloev.

Since that loss, he has reeled off two consecutive wins, including an April main event victory over one of the division’s most popular fighters, Youssef Zalal.

5. Jean Silva (17-3)

If there was any doubt about how good Jean Silva was, he sent a huge message to the division by shutting down Bryce Mitchell’s grappling and stomping him on the feet at UFC 314. Unfortunately, despite seeing good points in his follow-up against Diego Lopes in September, he suffered a TKO loss, ending a 13-fight winning streak.

But he proved he remains a rising contender ranked 145 in January this year when he bounced back with a hard-fought victory at UFC 324 against another ranked fighter, Arnold Allen. The win gets them back on track and in the 2026 contender mix.

4. Leron Murphy (17-1-1)

England’s Leron Murphy has quietly become one of the best 145-pound fighters in the world. “The Miracle” had won nine in a row inside the Octagon, setting himself up for a title fight in his next bout with his victory at UFC 319.

However, instead, they were given the unsolved puzzle that is Movsar Evloev in March. Unfortunately, he was the victim of Russia’s latest decision loss. Murphy is still one of the best featherweights in the world, but a title shot in 2026 is no longer a possibility.

3. Diego Lopez (27-8)

After making his UFC debut in a very tough short-notice clash with Movsar Avloev, Diego Lopes has put in an impressive performance inside the Octagon. He is 6-3 in the UFC and has suffered setbacks in elite competition. However, in that time, he has picked up some big wins, including wins over Brian Ortega and Gene Silva.

In January, he got a second – perhaps unfair – chance at the title. And just like his opportunity in April 2025, he was outmatched and outmatched by division veteran Alexander Volkanovski. Still, the 31-year-old remains one of the must-watch fighters in the division.

2. Movser Avloev (20-0) – Top Contender

Since entering the UFC in 2019, former M1 star Movser Evloev has been a problem featherweight fighters can’t solve. Entering 2026, the Russian was 9-0 inside the Octagon and has wins over top talents like Diego Lopes, Aljamain Sterling and Arnold Allen.

Evalov extended his undefeated streak in March when he scored his biggest win against Leron Murphy in his enemy’s home country. Although he is not an exciting fighter, he has done more than enough to become Volkanovski’s No. 1 contender.

1. Alexander Volkanovski (28-4) – Champion

Alexander Volkanovski has solidified his place as the best featherweight of all time. However, a move up in weight for a second title shot and the rise of Ilya Topuria led to “The Great” suffering three consecutive losses and speculation that his best days were behind him.

However, he has bounced back from those setbacks to establish his dominance at 145 pounds with back-to-back wins over Diego Lopes. Most recently appearing in front of his countrymen at UFC 325. Although he did not get the finish, he once again proved that he is a cut above the Brazilian native.

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

As this terrible season ended for the Milwaukee Bucks, they made quick work of firing head coach Doc Rivers. Now, almost as quickly, they have named his replacement. The Bucks have agreed to terms with top head coach Taylor Jenkins on the market.

Lucas Giolito’s free agency saga has finally come to an end.

After being one of the top-rated free agents heading into the 2026 season, his offseason was relatively sparse. Despite interest from several clubs, his agents could not find a preferred number at any time in the offseason.

That changed this morning, as the San Diego Padres announced the signing of Giolito on the X. The move is a way for the Friars to strengthen their rotation after Nick Pivetta landed on the injured list for the indefinite future. He will be able to join the club around mid-May.

Giolito must be added to the roster within 25 days of his signing. Kevin Ace of the San Diego Union-Tribune reported that he would begin his season with Low-A Lake Elsinore. This is likely so the Padres’ coaching staff can evaluate him after the offseason. Giolito has stated on several occasions that he has been pitching throughout his vacation, but trainers would still like to check his stuff.

Salary implications for ascetics

It is reported that the contract is worth $3 million and is prorated. This means the Friars are only paying Giolito for the time he has spent with them (not for the portion of the season he has missed so far).

If that amount is correct, it would be a steal for San Diego. General manager AJ Preller has been overpaid in the past. Starting pitching is also at a premium in MLB, so it’s surprising to see one of the top-rated free agent pitchers at $3 million by the end of April 22nd.

Giolito has been a great back-end option for the Boston Red Sox over the past few years. This culminated in a career-best 3.41 ERA in 2025. While there was speculation that this would not last long, their underlying metrics are painting a different picture. But the Padres (and their lack of starting pitching depth) are willing to take a gamble on the right-hander.

Over the years, he has battled countless injuries that have kept him off the field. The Padres are hoping to get a full, healthy season from Giolito. If that’s the case, he’ll be considered as a depth option for the rest of 2026. It’s possible that once everyone is healthy he will stop rotating between the big and the small. But if Giolito competes well enough to earn a spot, the Friars will have no choice but to keep him.

After 82 games and the latest edition of the play-in tournament, the 2026 NBA Playoffs are finally here. The postseason schedule begins tonight with a quartet of matchups, including the Atlanta Hawks in Gotham to battle the New York Knicks and the Houston Rockets visiting LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers.

So, who are the best teams heading into this year’s postseason? Our new NBA power rankings for the 2026 playoffs answer that question.

16. Orlando Magic

Expectations were high for the Orlando Magic in 2025-26, as they gave up a chunk of draft assets to land Grizzlies veteran Desmond Bane. However, he did not make the impact on attack that he had hoped for, and Franz Wagner missed only 31 games, making matters worse.

But the biggest surprise this season was the Magic’s decline on defense. They went from giving up just 105.5 ppg (No. 1 in the NBA) in 2024-25 to 115.3 this season. This is one of the main reasons why they are much weaker than pistons.

15.Portland Trail Blazers

The Portland Trail Blazers have seen dark clouds hang over their season since day one when former head coach Chauncey Billups was implicated in a wild poker game rigging scheme. However, interim coach Tiago Splitter did an impressive job overcoming the drama, leading them to a 42-40 record and their first trip to the playoffs since 2021.

The biggest reason they are in the playoffs this month is former Wizards lottery pick Deni Avdija having a career year. The 25-year-old leads the team in scoring (24.2 ppg) and dropped 41 in their play-in win earlier this week. Their series with the Spurs should be fun while it lasts.

14. Toronto Raptors

The Toronto Raptors made the playoffs last season. Hopefully the addition of second-year head coaches Darko Rajakovic and Brandon Ingram can make a big difference in 2025-26. It has worked as they have won 16 more games than a year ago.

This season, Toronto has a top 10 defense (111.8 points). But an offense that ranks in the bottom 10 (114.6 ppg) is why they are vulnerable in a four vs. five seed battle with the Cavs.

13. Phoenix Suns

Outside of the 76ers, the Phoenix Suns were the NBA’s biggest drop in 2024-25. That’s why they made massive changes last summer, including bringing in a new coach and getting rid of Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal. The changes produced positive results, and Phoenix was a team worthy of respect in 2025–26.

The biggest difference from last season is that this group plays very good defense, giving up the sixth-fewest points in the NBA (111.1 PPG). They need two play-in games to reach the playoffs, but should provide solid resistance to the defending champion Thunder in Round 1.

12. Los Angeles Lakers

There were high expectations for the Los Angeles Lakers this season. He received a full training camp with young superstar Luka Doncic, and impressed head coach JJ Redick during his rookie year. Plus, they still have one of the greatest players of all-time, LeBron James, who is still playing at a high level.

Over the past few months, they were one of the best teams in the NBA. However, serious injuries to Dončić and Austin Reaves at the worst possible time left James alone to lead the way in a tough matchup against the Rockets in Round 1.

11. Philadelphia 76ers

The Philadelphia 76ers bounced back from a disastrous 2024-25 campaign thanks to the emergence of rookie VJ Edgecombe into one of the NBA’s most talented young stars, Tyrese Maxey, and a future All-Star. Their talented guard and white beard, Paul George, is why their series against the Celtics in Round 1 is a must-see matchup.

10. Atlanta Hawks

This has been a very interesting season for the Atlanta Hawks. At first it seemed like it was about building for the long term. The best evidence was the emergence of Jalen Johnson as a new star and the organization moving Trae Young, longtime face of the franchise, to Washington.

Just being competitive seemed like enough. However, the Hawks and their young players have looked confident and dangerous in the NBA playoffs, averaging 118.5 ppg – sixth best in the league.

9. Minnesota Timberwolves

The Minnesota Timberwolves entered the new season as one of the West’s elite teams after consecutive trips to the Western Conference Finals. However, one of the NBA’s best defensive units has regressed this season. A year ago, they were delivering 109.3 per night. This year, they finished with 114.6 points.

With a superstar like Anthony Edwards, the Timberwolves remain dangerous, but it doesn’t look like the teams of the last two seasons.

8. Cleveland Cavaliers

Last year, the Cleveland Cavaliers were the best team in the East during the regular season. However, for most of this season, Cleveland fell out of the No. 1 spot in the East. But after their deadline trade for James Harden, the Cavs headed into the playoffs like a dark horse.

While they have a middle-of-the-road defensive team, the group that posted 119.5 PPG – fourth best in the NBA – cannot be underestimated in the seven-game series.

7. Houston Rockets

The Houston Rockets were one of the NBA’s best stories last season, as they developed into an elite team in the West with strong defense and the emergence of Alpern Sengun. He believed that adding future Hall of Famer Kevin Durant would create a force that would rival the Thunder. But although the Rockets are good, they are not striking fear among their rivals.

Although they are only giving up 110.0 points per night – fourth best in the NBA – the absence of Fred VanVleet has resulted in an offense that ranks near the bottom 10 (115.2 ppg). However, they are favorites to advance as the Lakers are very excited to begin the 2026 NBA Playoffs.

6. Detroit Pistons

The Detroit Pistons have gone from a feel-good story last season to one of the NBA’s best teams in 2025-26. Led by Cade Cunningham and his young core, the Pistons have a real chance to reach the NBA Finals, giving up only 109.6 PPG – third best in the NBA.

However, Detroit will only go as far as MVP candidate Cunningham takes them. After suffering a lung injury last month, there are concerns whether the team’s most important player will be limited at the worst possible time.

5. New York Knicks

After falling short in the East Finals last year, the New York Knicks made the bold move of firing head coach Tom Thibodeau and replacing him with veteran coach Mike Brown. Nevertheless, the move has not produced much different results compared to last season.

The team would win over 50 games for the third consecutive year, but despite a statistically top 10 offense and top five defense, Jalen Brunson and his Knicks have many critics because of how inconsistent they are against elite teams. They will have a very tough matchup against the Hawks early this postseason.

4. Denver Nuggets

When you have, arguably, the best player on the planet, Nikola Kokic, the Denver Nuggets will always be a very competitive team. Although they made a coaching change at the end of last season, their offense (122.1 ppg) is still the best in the NBA in the postseason.

A major reason for this is the re-emergence of Jamal Murray. The one-time All-Star had a career year in 2025-26 and looks like he could be a game-changer during their title run in 2023. If they can play solid defense when it matters, Denver will be a problem in the playoffs.

3. Boston Celtics

Jayson Tatum’s season-ending injury a year ago set the Boston Celtics up for a season well below their usual expectations. However, Jaylen Brown and the best defense in the NBA (107.2 PPG) helped the Celtics finish with the second-best record in the East.

Although they would have been a force in the playoffs, they are a popular choice to reach the Finals as Tatum is back and looking back to his old form sooner than anyone expected.

2. San Antonio Spurs

There is no better story in the NBA this season than Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs. Despite being just a few years removed from a second consecutive 22-win season, the young team looks to win 40 more games in 2025-26 and is a serious threat for the Thunder in the West.

Additionally, the 22-year-old phenom is a legitimate MVP candidate and is likely to win Defensive Player of the Year due to his strength on both sides of the court. The French, their young and talented core, and top-three offense (119.8 ppg) make them feel like a group that can reach the finals in June.

1.Oklahoma City Thunder

The Oklahoma City Thunder led the NBA in scoring last season and a year ago the franchise won its first championship. Not much has changed for reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the team in 2025-26 as they head into the playoffs with a top-five offense and No. 2 defense in the league (107.9 PPG).

The biggest difference in 2025-26 was that elite B-side forward Jalen Williams only played 31 games during the regular season. However, despite his absence he has had the best record in the NBA all year and is looking healthy at the right times.

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

The 2026 NFL Draft is exactly one week away, and the picture is starting to come into focus ahead of the Arizona Cardinals’ first-round selection. Expectations are the Las Vegas Raiders will take quarterback Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 pick. The New York Jets will select a pass-rusher, possibly Texas Tech’s David Bailey or Ohio State’s freak linebacker/edge rusher Arvel Reese.

But what about the Cardinals at No. 3? This remains the biggest mystery. While NFL insider Jordan Schultz reports that a trade down for Arizona is “very much in play”, others suggest the Cardinals have a surprise selection in mind.

Recently, SNY’s Connor Hughes reported that we “shouldn’t be surprised” if the Cardinals select Notre Dame running back Jeremiah Love with the third overall selection in the first round.

The Cardinals’ selection of Love came as a shock when they brought back James Conner and signed Tyler Allger to a $12.5 million contract this offseason. Of course, Love has a higher ceiling than either of these two, but Arizona also has other, more pressing needs such as an offensive tackle or even a pass-rusher.

Still, if the Cardinals are sticking to the best player available mantra, it’s hard to argue against the selection of Love. Many consider him the best overall player in the draft class, and Arizona could inject talent on both sides of the ball.

RELATED: 2026 NFL mock draft: Trades that captured the first round of the NFL draft

Dedicated NFL copywriter/editor. My work has been found on SportsNut, Sports Illustrated, Sporting News, MSN, Yahoo, and Minnesota Sports… More about Andrew Buller-Russ

On Saturday night at UFC 327, heavyweights Josh Hockitt and Curtis Blaydes stole the show by engaging in a wild brawl that will go down as one of the best in the history of the division. After three rounds, Hockitt scored a career-changing victory over the top-10 veteran, despite being a huge underdog in the bout.

Following their melee in the Octagon, see where both land in our new UFC heavyweight rankings.

10. Tyrell Fortune (18-3)

Multiple-time wrestling champion Tyrell Fortune was a top prospect for Bellator in the final years of the promotion’s existence. But after two appearances in the PFL, he took his talents to the MMA regional scene to build his resume for a shot in the UFC.

Well, he got that opportunity in the Octagon in March 2026 and he made the most of it by scoring a big decision victory over ranked veteran Marcin Tybura. The win earned him a spot in our latest UFC Heavyweight Top 10.

9. Rizvan Kuniev (14-3-1)

PFL and Contender Series veteran Rizwan Kuniev joins our UFC heavyweight rankings after scoring the biggest win of his career with a hard-fought victory over Zelton Almeida during his debut in the Octagon in February 2025. While it wasn’t great, he proved he could compete with top-10 talent.

Sergei Spivak has been a consistent top-15-tier fighter at heavyweight for the past five years. While he has lost six times inside the Octagon, his most recent failures have come against elite competition such as Tom Aspinall, Waldo Cortes-Acosta and Cyril Gane. However, he has also achieved some big wins against big-name or ranked foes.

He scored another goal in February when he scored in a very hard-fought victory over talented finisher Ante Delija. Their latest win halted a potential losing streak and brings them back into our top 10.

7.Curtis Blades (19-6)

While Curtis Blaydes has suffered some tough losses during his career, he has remained a top-five tier heavyweight for most of the last decade, earning wins over fighters such as Junior dos Santos, Alexander Volkov, and Zelton Almeida during his tenure in the UFC.

However, in the UFC 327 scrap, where he was a huge favorite, the 35-year-old decided to engage Josh Hockitt in a brawl, and suffered a surprisingly upset loss. It’s hard to imagine that “Razor” will ever fight for UFC gold again.

6. Josh Hockitt (9-0)

Leading up to his scrap at UFC 327, few people knew who Josh Hockitt was. However, his bizarre antics during Fight Week brought the talented wrestler a lot of attention, but mostly for the wrong reasons. Nevertheless, on fight night, he still had an opportunity to earn top 10 status in a clash with Curtis Blaydes.

Although it was no technical performance, Hokit showed an impressive chin and courage as he shocked the MMA world by defeating Blaydes in Fight of the Night. His third consecutive win in the Octagon lands him in our latest Top 10 and on the radar of UFC fans around the world.

5. Sergei Pavlovich (20-3)

Sergei Pavlovich has been an absolute crushing machine during most of his UFC career. After losing to Alistair Overeem in his debut match, he reeled off six consecutive wins and all of those wins came via devastating knockout. However, a string of two-match defeats halted all their momentum. But he has righted the ship in 2025 and has scored two decision wins. The most recent fight was against Waldo Cortés-Acosta in Shanghai.

4. Alexander Volkov (39-11)

Alexander Volkov has been a top-tier MMA heavyweight for a long time. Although he has been unable to earn a UFC title shot, he has remained a veteran in the top 10 over the years. For many watching UFC 310, he scored a win against Cyril Gane that should have cost him the title. However, the judges did not judge it his way and he suffered a crushing defeat from the Frenchman.

In October, he bounced back from the setback to get himself back into title contention with a hard-fought split-decision victory over top-five talent Zelton Almeida.

Dominican legend Waldo Cortes Acosta has quietly become a serious force in the heavyweight division. In his 12 bouts inside the Octagon, he has recorded 10 wins, including wins against some notable talents in the top 15. The latest came against fan-favorite Derrick Lewis at UFC 324 in January.

“Salsa Boy” showed why he is one of the more athletic and polished strikers in the division when he added the two-time challenger to his hit list inside the Octagon.

2. Cyril Gane (13-2)

Cyril Gane is a superb athlete and one of the most technical heavyweight strikers in the game. This is the reason why he is constantly in the title discussion. However, his wrestling shortcomings remain a problem, and they were evident again in his UFC 310 bout with Alexander Volkov. Fortunately “Bon Gamine” was able to escape and win the decision.

This victory earned him a title opportunity at UFC 321. However, his good luck ran out against Volkov, and his chance to win UFC gold was halted after just a few minutes when he kicked champion Tom Aspinall in both eyes, ending the fight.

1. Tom Aspinall (14-3)

Englishman Tom Aspinall is the best heavyweight in the UFC. It became official when MMA GOAT Jon Jones decided to step away from the sport earlier this year. The Englishman has defeated many of the best fighters in the division over the past three years and is the undisputed leader in the eyes of most UFC fans.

After definitively avenging the only defeat of his UFC career in the summer of 2024, he made his first defense of the undisputed title in October. Unfortunately, a nasty blow from opponent Cyril Game ended the UFC 321 main event after just a few minutes. An immediate rematch in early 2026 appears likely.

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

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are on the verge of contention. While they missed the playoffs last season, it is now up to general manager Jason Licht and head coach Todd Bowles to make sure they don’t do that again in 2026.

They already have their work cut out for them after losing a pair of locker room leaders, one in Mike Evans on offense and one in Lavonte David on defense. The Buccaneers have one of the game’s great young receivers in Emeka Egbuka, but replacing David will not be easy, but free agent signee Alex Anzalone will give it his best shot.

Meanwhile, the Buccaneers are preparing for the 2026 NFL Draft, where they have the 15th overall pick in the first round. The Bucs could use that pick to help replenish an offense that will no longer have Evans. Or, they could use it to strengthen their defense after losing a defensive leader like David.

Knowing the weaknesses of the Buccaneers, athleticNick Baumgardner projects Tampa Bay to select edge-rusher Keldrick Faulk out of Auburn. Baumgardner suggested the 6-foot-6, 276-pound prospect has “pretty wild potential.”

“Faulk is 2025 first-rounder Mychal Williams without the injury history,” Baumgardner wrote. “One of the youngest players in the class, Faulk’s potential (6 feet 6 inches and 276 pounds with nearly 35-inch arms) is quite wild. Todd Bowles can have fun with this selection.”

Keeping with the theme, Faulk is viewed as a wild card with his draft projection, but he is expected to land anywhere from the top-15 to the end of the first. However, almost everyone agrees that he will hear his name called on the first night of the draft, possibly even by Tampa Bay.

RELATED: Tampa Bay Buccaneers interested in 25-year-old former first-round pick

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The Miami Dolphins don’t have much left on their roster after eliminating a large portion of the roster. This season will be viewed as an opportunity for the new-look Dolphins to rebound after shedding several major salaries. Nevertheless, the Dolphins are still excited about the upcoming season.

After all, they have a new general manager, a first-year head coach and a new franchise quarterback. Naturally, Dolphins fans are eager to see what Malik Willis is capable of after having some of his greatest moments on the Packers.

Yet, soon enough, the focus will turn to the 2026 NFL Draft, where the Dolphins have a prime opportunity to seriously upgrade their roster. With 11 draft selections in three days, he has the second-most selections in the NFL. That group includes the 11th and 30th picks in the first round.

recently, athleticNick Baumgardner weighed in on some draft predictions as the three-day selection event approaches. When it came to the Dolphins, they led Miami to select offensive tackle Spencer Fano of Utah, who many consider the best or second-best offensive lineman in the draft class.

Baumgardner thinks Fanno, who practiced at all five positions in front of NFL evaluators at the scouting combine, could play left or right tackle in the pros.

Pauline wrote, “It feels like the destination for what’s left of the Fano-Mauigoa duo.” “Fano’s blend of athleticism and strength makes him a very interesting run blocker, and despite some length concerns, he could probably play right or left tackle in the NFL.”

Fano is viewed as a surefire first-round pick, but his actual draft slot is everywhere, from a top-10 pick to somewhere in the teens. That means he could definitely be in the game with the Dolphins’ first pick. Unless, of course, another team falls in love with him first.

RELATED: Former NFL defensive lineman thinks Reuben Benn Jr. will be fired as GM

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Some of the questions about the Minnesota Vikings’ quarterback situation are now over. Still, new questions will arise now, as a potential QB competition looms in the Twin Cities.

According to NFL insider Jordan Schultz, the Vikings have signed Kyler Murray to a one-year contract. He’s signing a minimum of $1.3 million for a veteran player, which is an incredible deal in a situation where the salaries of the highest-paid players approach $60 million.

School. pic.twitter.com/pluMd4wp0k

– Kyler Murray (@K1) 12 March 2026

According to Murray’s agent Eric Burkhardt, a no-tag clause will be included in Murray’s Vikings contract. This prevents the Vikings from making a transition or placing the franchise tag on him next offseason.

Of course, if all goes well, the Vikings and Murray could work on an extension before hitting the open market again. If not, Murray gets one season to prove his worth and maximize his value on the open market next year.

That means the two-time Pro Bowl quarterback enters the season as a motivated guy who wants to show that the Cardinals made a big mistake by moving on from their franchise QB. Murray has completed 67.1% of his passes for 20,460 yards, 121 touchdowns and 60 interceptions.

Still, Murray adds another element that the Vikings’ offense hasn’t seen since a short stint with Josh Dobbs following Kirk Cousins’ injury in 2023. An uber-athlete who was even a top-ten pick in the MLB draft, Murray had 819 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns in 2020. Overall, he racked up 3,193 yards and 32 touchdowns on the ground, adding a unique aspect to Coach Minnesota’s scoring attack.

Murray is entering an excellent situation playing for Kevin O’Connell, who also helped Sam Darnold maximize his potential. Plus, it never hurts to have Justin Jefferson, who is also joined by Jordan Addison and TJ Hockenson. Another option could be to move up to the middle rounds of the draft after losing Jalen Naylor to the Raiders in free agency.

Next, the focus will be on whether the 28-year-old Murray finds himself in competition with JJ McCarthy, the 10th overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft. Still, the Vikings may not be ready to give up McCarthy, 23, but signing a proven seven-year veteran who has started all 87 games sends a strong signal that could send the 23-year-old to the bench.

RELATED: Philadelphia Eagles ‘in contact’ about trading Pro Bowl pass-rusher

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NFL free agency begins March 11^thThere is a lot of curiosity as to how the New York Giants will approach free agency under head coach John Harbaugh.

The Giants’ top free agents are receiver Wan’Dale Robinson, right tackle Jermaine Eluemunor and corner Cor’Dell Floet. All three are at the top of their respective positions on the free agency market and will draw attention across the league.

The team has interest in trying to re-sign each player, but with $14.2 million in cap space according to Over the Cap after cutting Bobby Okereke, James Hudson and restructuring Devin Singletary’s contract, that’s not a realistic possibility. Here are our predictions for the landing spots for New York’s top three free agents.

RELATED: 3 free agent receivers who should be on the New York Giants’ radar

van’dale robinson

Robinson is coming off the best season of his four-year career as he had career highs in receptions (92), receiving yards (1,014) and receiving touchdowns with four. When Malik Nabors was lost for the season due to a torn ACL in Week 4, Robinson was the only reliable wideout that Jackson Dart had to throw to.

The twenty-five-year-old wideout has established himself as one of the best slot receivers in the league, and it is expected that he will want a contract that will pay him $16-18 million annually. This may be more than New York is willing to pay the 5’8 185-pound receiver, especially since he is limited outside in numbers.

Additionally, former Giants head coach Brian Daboll, now the offensive coordinator with the Tennessee Titans, would love to reunite with Robinson and help him develop quarterback Cam Ward. The Titans have more than $92 million in cap space and can pay Robinson whatever they want.

Prediction: Robinson signs with Tennessee Titans

german elyumunor

Elyumunor spent the last two seasons with Big Blue and started 31 games. The 31-year-old right tackle has been solid in pass protection as he had a PFF pass blocking grade of 76.7, and he helped the Giants finish fifth in the league at 129 yards per game.

Elyumunor considers himself one of the best right tackles in the league, and the above-average offensive tackle could be worth $13 to $17 million annually. If he and his agent are willing to settle for the low end of that range, there’s a good chance he’ll return to the team.

What bodes well for his return is that head coach John Harbaugh was the head coach in Baltimore when the Ravens drafted him with the 159th overall selection in the 2017 NFL Draft. Ensuring that Jackson Dart remains upright is a priority for the club, and Elyumunor has shown he can help achieve this.

Prediction: Elyumunor re-signs with Giants

Kor’Del Mahan

After being a part-time starter his first three seasons, Flott emerged as a full-time starter and started all 14 games in which he appeared. In 2025, he had 38 tackles, a career-high 11 passes defensed, and one interception.

The 24-year-old corner will look to maximize his earning potential while still in the prime of his career, but this is a deep free agency pool at cornerback. With many corners on the market, this could hurt his value, especially since he has never thrown more than one interception in a season. His small frame at 6’2, 175 pounds has raised concerns about whether he will fit the physical style that New York expects to play under new defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson.

The Giants are weak, especially as Deonte Banks has been a huge disappointment in his three years with the team. So, unless another team breaks the bank to pay the float, he should come back to the team.

Prediction: Flott re-signs with the Giants

RELATED: 2026 NFL Mock Draft: Round 1 projections ahead of NFL free agency

The New York Knicks have tried to land a superstar for years. From pursuing LeBron James’ free agency in 2010 to being linked to stars like Donovan Mitchell and even Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Knicks appear to be home to one of basketball’s biggest stars and a perennial championship contender. But, that effort to acquire franchise-changing talent hindered the Knicks for several years.

In an interview with Fan Duel TV play it backFormer Knicks coach David Fizdale looks back at the 2018-2019 season, where New York went 17-65. According to him, the team was trying to land either Zion Williamson or Ja Morant in the 2019 NBA Draft, while also trying to land Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving.

“I was totally on board with the plan we came up with, and I thought this was the deal and this was the way to go about it. It didn’t work out… losing all the games, sacrificing our record to get Zion Williamson or Ja.

He added, “That summer our guys thought KD and Kyrie were definitely coming to us, but it didn’t work out.”

The Knicks have had some productive role players on the team, such as Luke Kornet, who is emerging as a backup center with the Spurs this season. Tim Hardaway, Courtney Lee and Enes Kanter have had productive years in the league and Kristaps Porziņš, though battling injuries, recently helped the Boston Celtics win the 2024 NBA title.

But Fizdale believed the roster construction was not really conducive to winning.

“When you look at that roster as a whole, all solid players, but when you put them on the floor together, the pieces weren’t working… If I were doing it again, I would have struggled more to make a team early on and not cash in on my record.”

Overall, Fizdale brought a different take to the conversation about tanking. The tanking discussion has been a big one throughout the season, and Fizdale offered a different perspective on it.

“That’s the hard part for coaches when you agree to tank. When you tank, you have to build something big. Not everything that happens is considered a tank… That’s not the formula.”

The Arizona Cardinals have a new head coach. Chances are, they’ll also have a new starting quarterback in 2026, which will likely be the end of Kyler Murray’s career in Arizona. If new Cardinals head coach Mike LaFleur decides he wants his own hand-picked QB, who could it be?

The popular pick points to the Cardinals pursuing top free agent quarterback Malik Willis. The dual-threat QB, who has spent the last two seasons in Green Bay, could be an ideal fit for LaFleur’s offense, especially since he spent the last two seasons in Green Bay playing for Mike’s brother Matt.

Recently, Tony Pauline of Essential Sports revealed that sources he has spoken with believe Willis will end up with the Cardinals.

Willis will likely not re-sign in Green Bay. Instead, he’ll likely receive some offers that will give him a chance to emerge as the starting quarterback, and Arizona would certainly fit the bill. However, the Cardinals likely won’t be the only team pursuing the 26-year-old who went 2-1 as a starter in Green Bay.

Teams view Willis as a player worth taking a big chance after completing 78.7% of his passes for 972 yards, 6 TDs and no interceptions as a member of the Packers.

The question is, how much money will teams be willing to pay for a player who has made six starts? And how many teams will be involved in a market that doesn’t have many high-end options available at the QB position?

RELATED: Arizona Cardinals could pursue top running back for Mike LaFleur’s offense

Dedicated NFL copywriter/editor. My work has been found on SportsNut, Sports Illustrated, Sporting News, MSN, Yahoo, and Minnesota Sports… More about Andrew Buller-Russ

NFL free agency is right around the corner, and there are some high-level skill players available on both sides of the ball this offseason. However, winning in the trenches is more important than ever; That’s why some of the best offensive linemen in NFL free agency will receive lucrative contracts this offseason.

Let’s take a look at our NFL offseason predictions to see where the top offensive linemen land in NFL free agency.

Rasheed Walker, OT: Pittsburgh Steelers

It seems like the possibility of Aaron Rodgers returning as the Pittsburgh Steelers starting quarterback in 2026 is increasing. If that happens, the club would be wise to upgrade at left tackle. Things never worked out well with Broderick Jones, so we can’t count on the Steelers to bring someone in and develop him. Instead, they could go after the best offensive tackle in NFL free agency. Rasheed Walker is somewhat like Dan Moore Jr., although perhaps better in pass protection. Acquiring him would cost over $20 million in AAV, but the Steelers have enough cap space to make it happen. Also, he may remain fit for a long time as he has just turned 26.

RELATED: NFL offseason predictions for top edge rushers

Braden Smith: Los Angeles Rams

The Los Angeles Rams certainly have the option to use one of their first-round selections on an offensive tackle to replace Rob Havenstein. However, going after a sure thing for a Super Bowl contender is a much safer bet. Braden Smith is an above-average starter at right tackle, providing stability in both pass protection and run blocking. Durability is their biggest issue, but the Rams do have a backup plan, as Warren McClendon Jr. proved he could hold his own as a fill-in starter last season.

RELATED: Bold NFL offseason predictions for QB landing spots

Isaac Seumalo, IOL: Las Vegas Raiders

The Las Vegas Raiders will definitely spend money in NFL free agency; It’s just a question of which offensive lineman they go after. Guard Isaac Seumalo not only brings the playing style and mentality that new head coach Clint Kubiak likely wants in the trenches, but he also provides something else that Las Vegas needs. Seumalo finished last season with the third-highest ESPN pass-block win rate (97 percent) in the NFL; The veteran is exactly who the Raiders should put at left tackle to protect Fernando Mendoza.

READ MORE: NFL offseason predictions for the top running backs in NFL free agency

David Edwards, IOL: Houston Texans

The Houston Texans need to do a lot more this offseason to protect CJ Stroud. It would also help if the front office invested more in improving the ground game. The signing of David Edwards helps on both counts. Edwards ranked 10th among interior linemen in ESPN run-block win rate (75 percent) in 2025, and he allowed only one quarterback hit while earning the 14th-best PFF pass-blocking grade among guards. This is the type of investment that is desperately needed in Houston, and it would be a huge step towards a more consistent and well-developed offense in 2026 and beyond.

Read more: NFL free agency predictions for top wide receivers

Connor McGovern, C: Los Angeles Chargers

The Los Angeles Chargers could get a quality starting guard in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft. Unfortunately for the club, this year’s prospect pool is worryingly low at center back. This leaves NFL free agency as the best way to upgrade at the position. They would have to beat the Buffalo Bills to land Connor McGovern, as he ranked third among all centers in ESPN pass-block win rate (97 percent) last season. it is worth it. Moving from Bradley Bozeman to McGovern would be a huge upgrade for the interior Chargers offensive line and would do wonders to help Justin Herbert and Mike McDaniel.

Read More: 2026 NFL Mock Draft

Tyler Linderbaum, C: Baltimore Ravens

The Baltimore Ravens will not use the franchise tag to prevent Pro Bowl center Tyler Linderbaum from reaching NFL free agency. However, we can’t imagine the club losing him on the open market. Baltimore already had a bottom-10 offensive line in 2025, with the interior being the biggest reason for the unit’s struggles. Losing Linderbaum will put Lamar Jackson under even more pressure in worse circumstances next season. Baltimore may not like the price they paid to re-sign Linderbaum, but it’s worth it; This is why interior offensive linemen of his caliber rarely leave the team that drafted them when they are entering the prime of their careers.

RELATED: NFL Trades We’d Like to See This Offseason

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

There are still a few weeks left until moves are made in the 2026 NFL offseason, but the amount of pass rushers available this spring is already generating a lot of buzz. From NFL trade rumors involving Trey Hendrickson and Max Crosby to some underappreciated free agents, there are attractive options for pass-rush-needy teams.

Let’s take a look at our NFL offseason predictions to see where the top edge players will land this spring in both the trade market and NFL free agency.

Trey Hendrickson: Indianapolis Colts

A tag-and-trade for Trey Hendrickson seems inevitable. With the way the Cincinnati Bengals have handled contract negotiations with their All-Pro edge rusher over the past few years, we see no reason to believe they’ll let him hit the open market and walk away for nothing. The issue for Cincinnati is that a tag-and-trade creates more drama, and any team interested in acquiring Hendrickson would have to pay for the trade and then sign him to a long-term deal. With general manager Chris Ballard on the hot seat and having already sacrificed future draft capital to build this defense, we think the Indianapolis Colts will make a big change and re-unite Hendrickson with defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo.

RELATED: NFL trade candidates this offseason, including Trey Hendrickson

Khalil Mack: Baltimore Ravens

In 2025, the Baltimore Ravens finished the regular season with the fifth-lowest pressure rate (19%) and second-lowest sack rate (4.6%) in the NFL. We’re confident that first-year head coach Jesse Minter will help fix some of this, but Baltimore’s pass rush still leaves a lot to be desired. Fortunately, the club has over $20 million in cap space this offseason, and could make a lot of it with the Lamar Jackson contract restructuring. Doing so would give Baltimore the financial flexibility to bring in Khalil Mack on a one-year deal, while also adding a high-end defender who can still generate pressure and stop the run.

Read More: 2026 NFL Mock Draft

Hidden Object: Washington Commanders

We think instead of spending on a top pass rusher in NFL free agency, the Washington Commanders take a different approach. This will see a significant portion of their cap room spent on improving the supporting cast around Jaden Daniels and utilizing a top-10 pick on an edge rusher. It won’t be everything that Commanders general manager Adam Peters does. He will take advantage of the defense that has led his team to the Lombardy Trophy with the addition of Boye Mafe. While his sack numbers – 8 over the past two seasons – don’t jump off the page, the 27-year-old is above average against the run and generating pressure.

RELATED: Bold NFL offseason predictions for QB landing spots

Odafe Oweh: Los Angeles Chargers

The Los Angeles Chargers need to retain one of their top pass rushers who is bound for NFL free agency. Given that Odafe Oweh is young, we think the 27-year-old will be brought back if Khalil Mack heads elsewhere. After landing in Los Angeles a few weeks before the NFL trade deadline, Oweh generated 19 pressures, 13 quarterback hits, 8 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks in 12 games with the Chargers. Also, with the departure of Jesse Minter, the club needs to retain one of the primary reasons for its defensive success last season.

READ MORE: NFL offseason predictions for top running backs

Bradley Chubb: Dallas Cowboys

Because he is being released, signing edge rusher Bradley Chubb will not be included in the NFL’s compensatory-selection formula. This makes him very attractive to clubs in need of pass-rushing help who would not be able to spend money in NFL free agency because they do not want to give up the selection they receive for departing talent. A team like the Green Bay Packers could be an option, but we’re going in a different direction. New Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Christian Parker worked in Denver when Chubb earned his second Pro Bowl selection in 2022. Dallas also needs veteran pass-rushing help, preferably at a reasonable price.

Read more: NFL free agency predictions for top wide receivers

Max Crosby: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

We think Max Crosby will request a trade this offseason, making the Las Vegas Raiders willing to move him to a contender. While the Detroit Lions are a popular choice as his landing spot, we’re projecting the All-Pro edge rusher to land with another NFC contender. If Mike Evans and Lavonte David are re-signed, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are looking at a narrow window for contention with their core getting older. Crosby would be a major upgrade for the Buccaneers Rush, giving them a difference-maker whose presence will also help Vita Vea, Calijah Kensi and Yaya Diaby. Las Vegas takes the premium draft capital and moves Crosby to the NFC, while the Buccaneers pick up a player who can help them compete for an NFC crown next season.

RELATED: NFL Trades We’d Like to See This Offseason

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