標籤: Projecting

NASCAR is at Darlington Raceway this weekend, with 37 drivers competing in Sunday’s Goodyear 400 at South Carolina’s iconic track. Fans will be especially interested in the Cup Series race, as Denny Hamlin and Chase Briscoe have both said that a tire blowout could result in chaos for one of the best NASCAR races in 2026.

Let’s take a look at our NASCAR predictions for the Goodyear 400.

Kyle Larson wins pole and stage

A year earlier in the spring race at Darlington Raceway, Kyle Larson’s day ended early on Lap 4 when the No. 5 car’s left side tire hit the apron, causing him to spin out and then hit the wall. We expect redemption from Hendrick Motorsports on Sunday at a track where, thanks in large part to William Byron, they have had success winning the pole. Larson has claimed the third-best average starting position (9.2) in NASCAR this season, and the pole winner at Darlington has won a stage in the spring race in each of the last two years, we think history repeats itself in the Goodyear 400 this weekend.

RELATED: NASCAR schedule, qualifying times and race information this week for Darlington

Chase Briscoe wins a stage, scores 35+ points

Over the weekend, Chase Briscoe’s success at Darlington Raceway came during the second half of the season. He won races at this track in 2024 and ’25, with a major finish last August when he finished second, won both stages, and then went to victory lane. While the spring race didn’t go as well for him, he finished fifth here two years ago and the No. 19 has dominated here previously with Martin Truex Jr. With Briscoe and the No. 19 team needing to recover from three last-place finishes in the season, we think a stage win and a big points day is coming for them.

RELATED: NASCAR Odds Darlington, 4 Picks for Goodyear 400

Ty Gibbs records fourth consecutive top-10 finish

We’re going to buy the number 54 team right now and the hot streak for Ty Gibbs. He has been participating in three races, where he has finished fifth or better each time and has recorded 123 points during that period. This car has qualified really well in the last two races here in the spring, starting from 11th or better the last two years, and Gibbs has turned them into stage points with a couple of 10th-place finishes each time. We’re predicting another great day for the number 54 side, with Gibbs leaving Darlington with more than 38 points.

RELATED: NASCAR Power Rankings ahead of Darlington Raceway, including Ty Gibbs

Brad Keselowski, Denny Hamlin finish in top 5

With tire wear and car handling expected to play such an important role in the Goodyear 400, we expect two of NASCAR’s oldest and most experienced drivers to shine. Denny Hamlin won’t be able to score back-to-back wins at his favorite track, but the No. 11 will finish in the top five in both stages and the finish on Sunday. As for Brad Keselowski, before last season, his average finishing position in five races at Darlington from September 2022 to ’24 was 6.4, and he finished sixth or better in stages five times. This will be a day with a strong point for both.

RELATED: Denny Hamlin reveals how many wins he’d like to end his career with

William Byron wins the Goodyear 400

The excellence of William Byron and the No. 24 car in the spring at Darlington will not stop this weekend. He has been incredible at this track with Hendrick Motorsports, finishing in the top five four times since 2021 and finishing second after winning the pole last year. Hendrick is looking for his first Cup Series win of the year, and it’s coming in the Goodyear 400, with Byron and the team celebrating the victory.

RELATED: NASCAR Entry List Darlington

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

It’s been an eventful 2026 NFL offseason so far, and we’re still only a few weeks away from making some of the biggest moves. Many of the top NFL free agents are now off the board, but there are still some impactful starters and key contributors who could sign with clubs in the next few days.

With that in mind, let’s take a look at our NFL free agency predictions for the top offensive players heading into the weekend. We will make a defensive list on Saturday.

Kirk Cousins, quarterback: Las Vegas Raiders

One of the most common NFL comparisons for quarterback Fernando Mendoza, who will be selected by the Las Vegas Raiders with the first overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, is Kirk Cousins. While this may not sound as appealing, let’s remember that Cousins ​​has a career 96.8 passer rating and is likely to reach 45,000 career passing yards with 300 passing touchdowns in 2026. That also fits the Las Vegas look. The Raiders want an experienced quarterback who can mentor Mendoza during his rookie season and serve as the starting quarterback temporarily. Cousins ​​could start the first few games while Mendoza gets a better feel for Clint Kubiak’s playbook and adjusts to playing under center, and then take over in October.

READ MORE: Fantasy football winners, losers from NFL free agency

Aaron Rodgers, QB: Pittsburgh Steelers

Everything the Pittsburgh Steelers have said publicly, combined with reports about the front office’s thinking, points to one thing: Aaron Rodgers is coming back for the 2026 NFL season. Even the Michael Pittman Jr. trade, acquiring a receiver who excels at creating quick separation and getting open early, hints at a plan to help a future Hall of Famer at quarterback. We don’t think Rodgers will sign until around June, but we strongly believe he will be the Steelers’ starting quarterback in 2026.

RELATED: Why the Pittsburgh Steelers made a mistake hiring Mike McCarthy

Stefon Diggs, wide receiver: Baltimore Ravens

The off-field concerns surrounding Stefon Diggs have a lot to do with how quiet his market is in NFL free agency. That said, he still put up 1,013 receiving yards on 85 receptions in his first full season last season after suffering an ACL tear. It will be a bit of a gamble for first-year head coach Jesse Minter, but the Baltimore Ravens have proven they are willing to take some non-medical risks. Diggs could be a complementary receiving threat to pair with Zay Flowers, giving Lamar Jackson a better receiving corps in his first year with new play-caller Declan Doyle.

Read more: The worst contracts from the first day of NFL free agency

Jaouan Jennings, wide receiver: Tennessee Titans

In previous NFL free agency predictions, we have seen Juwan Jennings landing with the Seattle Seahawks or Washington Commanders. However, Seattle has re-signed Rashid Shahid and Commanders general manager Adam Peters is focusing more on Brandon Aiyuk after he was released. This makes the Tennessee Titans the best fit for Jennings. The 6-foot-3 wideout offers a skill set that’s very different from free-agent signing Wan’Dale Robinson, as he can be a red-zone weapon whose size also makes him an effective target on third downs. The move will be about providing quarterback Cam Ward with a variety of pass-catching options in Brian Daboll’s offense. Plus, if Tennessee drafts Jeremiah Love, Jennings is a willing blocker.

Rasheed Walker, offensive tackle: Cleveland Browns

The Cleveland Browns have addressed right tackle (Tytus Howard), center (Elgton Jenkins) and guard (Zion Johnson and Teven Jenkins) this offseason. That still leaves a glaring hole at left tackle. Luckily for Cleveland, there isn’t much left on the market for Rasheed Walker. He has been the best offensive tackle available since the beginning of NFL free agency, but his contract demands remain an issue. We think he’ll sign a one-year deal worth over $20 million to play left tackle for Cleveland. This fills a need for the Browns, giving them flexibility heading into the 2026 NFL Draft, while also allowing Walker to test the market again next season.

David Njoku, tight end: Philadelphia Eagles

The Philadelphia Eagles gave themselves a little more time to decide on Dallas Goedert’s future with the club, but parting still appears to be the most likely outcome. What became clear last season was that this offense needs more help at the last minute, so it should come through both the NFL Draft and free agency. After spending nine years in Cleveland, Njoku likely wants to play for a Super Bowl contender with a quarterback he trusts to get him the football. With a defense focused on stopping Saquon Barkley, Devonta Smith and AJ Brown, as well as the athleticism of Jalen Hurts, Njoku could get plenty of open looks in Philadelphia.

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