Ahead of the 2026 Major League Baseball season, there was a lot of talk about this year’s rookie class being historic. In the first month of the season, that has proven to be the case with a deep array of rising stars around MLB.

Let’s take a look at our rankings of this season’s best MLB rookies as May approaches.

1. Kevin McGonigle, 3B, Detroit Tigers

Entering the game on April 28, Detroit Tigers third baseman Kevin McGonigal leads all position players in Baseball Reference’s Wins Above Replacement (2.0) and he is third in FanGraphs’ WAR (1.4). He has been phenomenal at the plate, leading all rookies in batting average (.330) and wRC+ (over 100 plate appearances) this month. What also needs to be highlighted is the value he brings to the basepaths, as demonstrated by his 100th percentile baserunning run value (3). McGonigle is performing like an American League MVP candidate right now, so he’s the obvious pick to win AL Rookie of the Year.

2. Sal Stewart, 1B, Cincinnati Reds

One reason Sal Stewart is the top choice for National League Rookie of the Year this season is because of what he has done for the Cincinnati Reds lineup. Entering MLB games on Tuesday, Cincinnati ranked 23rd in runs scored (118) with the lowest batting average (.213) in baseball. Stewart is the only everyday Reds player with a BA of .275-plus; The majority of the Reds’ lineup is hitting .230 or worse. He contributed 26.9 percent of the team’s RBI and 17.8 percent of their total bases. With a .987 OPS with 9 home runs and 30 hits through 103 at-bats, Stewart is a big reason why Cincinnati is in first place in the NL Central and well above .500.

3. Nolan McLean, SP, New York Mets

While everyone justifiably expected Freddy Peralta to establish himself as the ace of the New York Mets rotation this season, it is rookie Nolan McLean who is taking over that role. The 24-year-old righty has made six starts this season and has a season-high 3 in earned runs, a game in which he also recorded double-digit strikeouts. McLean has the third-highest strikeout rate (33.3 percent) among starters, with the sixth-best WHIP (0.85) and sixth-lowest batting average allowed (.161). He’s everything New York hoped for and more, and it certainly looks like the NL Cy Young future is in his future.

RELATED: Insider reveals timeline for Francisco Lindor injury return

4. Munetaka Murakami, 1B, Chicago White Sox

We’re in a flashback of Joey Gallo and Adam Dunn. In his respective peak years, Adam Dunn averaged more than 40 home runs per season, struck out 28 percent of the time and boasted a walk rate of nearly 17 percent. A decade later, Joey Gallo averaged 40 homers per season with a 36 percent strikeout rate and a walk rate around 14 percent (2017–18).

Now let’s compare this to Chicago White Sox slugger Munetaka Murakami in his first major test. He boasts the ninth-highest walk rate (17.5 percent) and leads MLB in home runs (12) through 29 games. Murakami is also hitting in 32.5 percent of his plate appearances. When he’s making contact, it’s amazing to watch. When he’s not there, Murakami swings as if he’s generating wind power.

5. Parker Messick, SP, Cleveland Guardians

Parker Messick is not only one of the five best MLB rookies this season, he is also underrated. The Cleveland Guardians aren’t getting any attention at all on a national level, which is par for the course, but Messick is quickly establishing himself as a front-line starter.

He pitched 8 hitless innings against the Baltimore Orioles on April 16, one of his great pitching performances in April. The Cleveland southpaw recorded 9 strikeouts with only 3 hits and 1 earned run in his Monday start against the Tampa Bay Rays. He has allowed the 11th lowest batting average (.177) on the season, recorded the eighth lowest WHIP (0.88) and all this has come with only 7 earned runs allowed in 36.1 innings of work.

6. JJ Weatherholt, 2B, St. Louis Cardinals

St. Louis Cardinals second baseman JJ Weatherholt had a stellar season in his MLB debut, posting a .300 batting average in his first five games. He then suffered an early slump, going 6 for 36 with a .167 batting average in his next 45 plate appearances. However, during that span, he walked (eight) almost as much as he struck out (nine) and his composure at the plate paid off.

From April 14–27, Weatherholt has put up a 1.036 OPS and five of his 12 hits have gone from 15 yards. He has collected 9 RBI in that span, added one stolen base and still has a reasonable 10-5 K-BB line. Oh, we should also mention that Weatherholt ranks in the 98th percentile for shots above average (four) this season. In a down year, he would be a great pick for NL Rookie of the Year.

just missed: Chase DeLauter, OF, Cleveland Guardians; Moises Ballesteros, DH, Chicago Cubs; Connor Griffin, SS, Pittsburgh Pirates

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

Immediately following the 2026 NFL Draft, one of the focuses turns to how the rookie class will perform in the upcoming season. There are some compelling NFL Rookie of the Year candidates this year, with some similarities to last year’s class that make for a meaningful comparison.

At this time a year ago, Las Vegas Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty was the heavy favorite to win NFL Rookie of the Year, with Tennessee Titans quarterback Cam Ward behind him. who won? Carolina Panthers wide receiver Tetaroa McMillan, neither Jeanty nor Ward finished in the top five in voting.

We’re keeping that in mind as we dive into ranking the 2026 NFL Rookie of the Year candidates ahead of the summer.

1. Jeremiah Love, RB, Arizona Cardinals

We’ve seen discussion about the Arizona Cardinals’ depth with Tyler Allger, Trey Benson and James Conner. The latter two are irrelevant when you use the third overall pick on a running back, and Alger is clearly going to be a situational back for Arizona. Jeremiah Love’s skill set is similar to Bijan Robinson’s, with both having the ability to make explosive runs and impact the passing game like a receiver.

Arizona has also upgraded its interior offensive line this season with Isaac Seumalo and Chase Bissontis, so there should be some running lanes for Love. We’ve seen Robinson (1,463) and Jeanty (1,321) eclipse 1,300 scrimmage yards in their rookie seasons, and that seems like a reasonable goal for Love. Plus, considering this isn’t the strongest group of Rookie of the Year candidates, this could be enough for him to win.

RELATED: 2026 Dynasty Positional Rankings

2. Carnell Tate, WR, Tennessee Titans

The best bet to win Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2026, at least for now, is Tennessee Titans wide receiver Carnell Tate. Although he’s a bit overshadowed by the presence of Wan’Dale Robinson, who signed a $70 million contract this offseason and is a favorite of offensive coordinator Brian Daboll, we still like the situation with the Tennessee Titans.

Tate is a great route-runner who has a nice set of skills that translate immediately to the NFL and could make him a favorite target for Cam Ward. Tate McMillan needed only 1,014 receiving yards and 7 touchdowns last time out to win Rookie of the Year, and if Ward completes 550-plus pass attempts with a 62-plus percent completion rate, a 1,000-yard season is more than possible for Tate. He may also be the only rookie receiver to surpass that mark.

3. Casey Concepcion, WR, Cleveland Browns

We liked what the Cleveland Browns did in the 2026 NFL Draft, and we wouldn’t be at all surprised if Casey Concepcion wins Rookie of the Year honors after the upcoming season. While Jerry Jeudy will still have a role in Todd Monken’s offense, he doesn’t provide the playmaking ability with the football in his hands that Concepcion brings to the table. Monken can also open up Concepcion quickly on down routes, and we’re confident these are the types of throws Shadeur Sanders can hit consistently with good timing and touch.

We believe it is possible for Concepcion to have over 800 receiving yards with 5 touchdowns in his rookie season. What elevates him even higher in our ranking of Rookie of the Year candidates is his explosive ability as a returner. If he can take one back to the house and be one of the NFL’s best returners, it’s possible for Roy to win.

RELATED: Best 2026 NFL Draft Classes

4. Jordan Tyson, WR, New Orleans Saints

Durability is our primary issue when including Jordan Tyson among the NFL Rookie of the Year candidates in 2026. The New Orleans Saints made him the 8th overall pick, and he will complement Chris Olave well in this offense. However, his pre-draft process was also a bit shaky due to a hamstring injury, which confirmed long-standing concerns about his injury history.

If Tyson plays all 17 games, he could be the perfect choice to win the ODI. Although he won’t see as many targets as Olave, playing the No. 2 role also means drawing less defensive attention and getting more favorable cornerback matchups. Tyson has a very good chance to lead all rookies in receiving touchdowns, and could have over 900 receiving yards to go with it.

5. Fernando Mendoza, QB, Las Vegas Raiders

It already seems clear that Kirk Cousins ​​will be the Las Vegas Raiders starting quarterback in Week 1. This is a reasonable approach, as the franchise wants to make sure that Fernando Mendoza is ready to run Andrew Janko’s offense and be under center when he makes his first start. However, this does hurt his Rookie of the Year chances slightly.

We’re also taking into account the recent history of Offensive Rookie of the Year winners. Jaden Daniels and CJ Stroud both made the playoffs and posted QB ratings over 100 in 15 games when they earned the honor in their respective years. We don’t necessarily believe Mendoza will be that successful in his first year, nor are the Raiders in a good position to make such a big jump.

6. Jadarion Price, RB, Seattle Seahawks

One thing working against the Seattle Seahawks running back Jadarion Price is that taking him in Round 1 is already viewed negatively by voters. It was a reach, and the Seahawks front office raised expectations for him by getting to that spot. Recognizing this, the opportunity in Seattle is attractive.

The Seahawks offensive line ranked eighth in ESPN run-block win rate (73 percent) in 2025, so there should be some running lanes for Price. He’s a very good starting back, and with Zach Charbonnet recovering from a torn ACL in the playoffs, the path is clear for Price to become the primary ball-carrier early in the season. We’re not sure if he’ll put up the numbers this season to overtake any of the big names who will play more prominent roles.

RELATED: NFL Power Rankings, evaluating teams after the 2026 NFL Draft

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 UFC has removed Colby Covington from its official welterweight rankings, ending his tenure in the top 15 as of 2017.

Covington was removed from the list in the latest edition of the 170-pound rankings released Tuesday, replacing Mike Malott and Yaroslav Amosov in the top 15. This removal brings an end to a situation that has been criticized for years.

In January, UFC CEO Dana White acknowledged that it was strange for Covington to still be ranked 14th in one of the sport’s most competitive divisions, given Covington’s prolonged inactivity. Covington fought only once in each of 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024. His most recent win was a TKO loss to Joaquin Buckley in December 2024, and his last win came against the now-retired Jorge Masvidal in March 2022.

Covington ignored the criticism at the time and focused on his public persona rather than engaging in the substance of the argument. “It doesn’t really matter what Dana White thinks about me,” Covington told reporters in January.

“I’m a world champion. I’m Donald Trump’s favorite fighter. I’m America’s champion. I’m the King of Miami. You can never take those titles away from me. Take me out of those rankings, but whatever happens, I’m still the greatest welterweight. It doesn’t matter what number is next to my name. I know what I’m capable of, and I know I’m still the best fighter and wrestler on planet Earth.”

Despite his self-described status as Donald Trump’s favorite fighter, Covington failed to earn a spot at UFC Freedom 250 at the White House on June 14, a card for which he had publicly campaigned. He admitted that he was disappointed to miss the event and currently has no definite plans to return to the Octagon.

Covington has also been active outside of the UFC, competing in the Real American Freestyle earlier this year and defeating Dillon Danis by technical fall. He is expected to headline RAF 09 in Dallas on May 30, giving him a competitive outlet while his UFC future remains in limbo. This should also give fight fans hope that the UFC will accelerate the removal of inactive fighters from the rankings going forward.

Who will get the first pick in the 2026 NBA Draft? This is a question that has become a big point of discussion this season due to the massive amount of tanking around the NBA. Although the lottery isn’t until May 17, we’re looking at the teams that are actually most worthy of the No. 1 overall pick.

Let’s take a look at our list of the five teams most worthy of winning the NBA Draft Lottery and getting the right to the top pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.

1.Memphis Grizzlies

The Memphis Grizzlies are the most eligible team for the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. Ja Morant’s injuries and his questionable commitment to the game have really put this team in a position where it needs a rebuild. So, the organization correctly acknowledged that by trading away Desmond Benn and later Jaren Jackson Jr. We’ve seen what Memphis can do for the likes of Jaylen Wells (39th overall pick in 2024) and Cedric Coward (11th overall pick in 2025), they know how to maximize player development. Plus, the city of Memphis deserves a new franchise cornerstone that it can rally behind. On top of all that, the NBA would certainly like to see that the team that wins the NBA Draft Lottery is not the team that has basically played double-digit games this season.

2. Washington Wizards

Placing the Washington Wizards here instead of the Indiana Pacers, Brooklyn Nets or Utah Jazz would draw criticism. In our view, Indiana doesn’t need a top pick in a tremendous down year when they have Tyrese Haliburton, Pascal Siakam and Ivica Zubac. We also do not believe that Utah’s multi-year tanking plan spearheaded by Danny Ainge should be rewarded. Instead, magicians are more qualified. AJ Diabantsa or Cameron Boozer could enter a core that already includes Trae Young, Bilal Koulibaly and Alex Sarr. Even what happens to Anthony Davis is excluded. Washington has already positioned itself to become an Eastern Conference contender next season ahead of the NBA trade deadline.

3. Sacramento Kings

The Sacramento Kings aren’t intentionally tanking, it’s just an organization that is worryingly badly run and coached. Sacramento is actually the worst NBA team in the entire 2025-26 NBA season, but they haven’t had a head coach willing to go to extremes to improve the team’s NBA Draft Lottery odds, as we saw in March. Typically, this would make Sacramento the most eligible team for the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. That said, given how owner Vivek Ranadive has run the team, landing in Sacramento would be detrimental to the potential of any top prospect.

4.Chicago Bulls

The Chicago Bulls haven’t exactly been a well-run organization in recent years, that’s good. The least you can say in defense of this franchise is that it clearly isn’t at the levels we’ve seen from the Brooklyn Nets and Indiana Pacers this year nor the likes of the Utah Jazz over the past few seasons. Chicago also isn’t resting its star player for the rest of the year like the Milwaukee Bucks. Of the teams that will have realistically top-10 lottery prospects, Chicago is one of the few that has remained mildly competitive at least through the second half of the season. At the same time, there is a desire to see a generational talent land in Chicago and potentially transform an aging franchise.

RELATED: Chicago Bulls HC addresses UNC Tar Heels rumors

5. Atlanta Hawks

The Atlanta Hawks received universal praise last year for acquiring the unprotected rights to the New Orleans Pelicans’ first-round selection in the 2026 NBA Draft. Fast forward to now, there is about a 25 percent chance that it will become one of the top four. Meanwhile, the Hawks are headed for a top-six seed in the Eastern Conference with player development in the success of Jalen Johnson and Onyeka Okongwu. Atlanta won the NBA Draft Lottery a few years ago, but Zachary Rissacher was one of the worst prospects to go No. 1 overall in recent memory. It’s an exciting idea to imagine this rising Hawks team winning the draft lottery again and adding AJ DiBantsa to play alongside Johnson and Dyson Daniels.

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

Who will win the NBA Championship this year? While the 2026 NBA Finals won’t start until June and we’re not even at the end of the regular season, it seems like we’ve seen enough to predict which clubs are making a realistic attempt at winning it this year.

Let’s take a look at our ranking of the NBA Finals contenders. If a team is not listed, we do not believe they have a viable path to winning the championship this season.

1.Oklahoma City Thunder

Even with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams and Ajay Mitchell each missing significant time this season, the Oklahoma City Thunder are likely to finish the regular season with the best record in the NBA. Through 70 games, Oklahoma City has allowed the second-fewest PPG (107.5), lowest opponents’ field goal percentage (43.4 percent) and its league-best 11.0 net rating is equal to the combined net value of the fourth (San Antonio Spurs) and 10th-best teams (Minnesota Timberwolves) in the NBA. SGA is now healthy and consistently performing better than last season, Mitchell is back and Williams should be ready for the playoffs. Additionally, thanks to Daryl Morey trading away Jared McCain, the Thunder’s rotation is deeper than last season.

RELATED: NBA MVP Race; Ranking of top five candidates

2. San Antonio Spurs

The last time the San Antonio Spurs appeared in the NBA playoffs (2019), Victor Wembanyama was 15 years old and De’Aaron Fox was in his second season with the Sacramento Kings. It’s actually the very limited postseason experience on the Spurs roster that we are lacking with the team. That said, San Antonio went 4-1 against Oklahoma City with a +26 point differential in the regular season and Wembanyama has been able to dominate Chet Holmgren in a series. Plus, it’s been made clear that the likes of Stephen Cassel, Devin Vassell, Keldon Johnson, and Dylan Harper have just as bad feelings toward the Thunder as Wambayama. If we’re picking anyone outside of Oklahoma City to win the NBA Finals, it’s San Antonio.

READ MORE: 2026 NBA Mock Draft Ahead of March Madness

3. Boston Celtics

The Boston Celtics entered the weekend with a 6-1 record with Jayson Tatum in the lineup. Admittedly we were a little concerned about the decision to bring him back from a torn Achilles so soon, but the perennial All-Star forward has really impressed in his return. This is now a lineup that features two MVP-caliber performers in Tatum and Jaylen Brown, while Derrick White may be the best No. 3 player on any team in the NBA. Boston has the most playoff experience in the Eastern Conference and we can confidently say that this is the best coached team we have ever seen. It’s just a question of how Tatum performs during the playoffs and whether a sub-.500 record against top-10 teams is a sign that Boston can withstand an upset in the NBA Finals.

Read more: Single-game NBA scoring records for all 30 teams

4. Denver Nuggets

Ranking the Denver Nuggets fourth among potential NBA Finals contenders is all about Nikola Jokic. He currently ranks fourth in the NBA playoffs in career win shares per 48 minutes (.2298). If you just focus on the last four years, Jokic has an absurd 0.25 WS/48 and has averaged 28.7 points, 13.2 rebounds and 8.5 assists per game while shooting 53.5 percent from the field in his last 51 playoff games. With Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon healthy, they don’t need to carry much for Denver. Denver’s 10-12 record over the last 22 games should ring some alarm bells and Cam Johnson has been a big disappointment, but we’ll never underestimate Jokic’s ability to lead his team to the NBA Finals.

5. Cleveland Cavaliers

Are the Cleveland Cavaliers a better team with James Harden than Darius Garland? Yes, we definitely have more confidence in their chances of making the playoffs this season after the trade. That said, Harden’s proven reputation for collapsing in win-or-home playoff games is a serious concern for Cleveland. There’s already plenty of evidence that the Jarrett Allen-Evan Mobley frontcourt pairing doesn’t work well in the NBA playoffs, even with the performance Donovan Mitchell has had at that time of the year (28.3 ppg) for Cleveland. The Cavaliers have a chance to win the Eastern Conference, but this team will likely need a significant injury in the West to win the NBA Finals.

6. New York Knicks

It’s now or never situation for the New York Knicks. Mike Brown was brought in during the offseason with the hopes that he would make enough changes to ensure that Madison Square Garden would host multiple NBA Finals games. From February 1 to March 20, New York posted a respectable 16–7 record with a +8.7 point differential and included wins over the Nuggets, Spurs, and Rockets. There’s a strong case for the Detroit Pistons in this spot, but we’re giving the Knicks a slight edge due to their playoff experience.

RELATED: NBA scouts, executives cast doubt on NY Knicks’ chances for playoff run

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

Who will win NBA MVP? As the 2025-26 NBA season nears its conclusion, Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic’s recent excellence has made a splash in the race. Although it is still largely a two-man battle, this year’s NBA MVP rankings will be very interesting.

With only a few weeks left in the regular season, let’s dive into our latest top five in the NBA MVP race today.

1. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder

Winning back-to-back MVPs requires complete dominance by a star player on one of the league’s best teams. With Shai Gilgeous-Alexander declining in the running for the No. 1-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder, he should join Nikola Jokic (2021-22), Giannis Antetokounmpo (2019-20) and Stephen Curry (2014-16) as back-to-back NBA MVP winners. In win share per 48 minutes, which is often a strong indicator of who will win MVP, Gilgeous-Alexander (.333) leads Jokic (.319) by a significant margin. To put SGA’s WS/48 into perspective, it would be the second-highest in a single season, behind only Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (.3399) in 1971–72. Since the reigning MVP returned from his injury, Oklahoma City is 9-0 with him in the lineup. He averaged 29.9 points, 7.7 assists, 4.6 rebounds and 2.2 steals per game with only 2.1 turnovers per game, and he posted a 57.3 percent effective field goal percentage. Leading the team with the best record in the NBA is just icing on the cake for his MVP candidacy.

READ MORE: 2026 NBA Mock Draft Ahead of March Madness

2. Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic arguably should have been a four-time NBA MVP if not for SGA’s phenomenal season a year ago and voters deciding to give the award to Joel Embiid two years ago. Since returning from injury, Jokic has averaged 26.2 points, 13.4 rebounds, 9.9 assists, 1.6 steals and 1 block per game with a .567 eFG. He has returned to his usual form and has had more triple-doubles (27) than the players second (Jalen Johnson, 13) and third (Josh Giddy, 12) this season despite missing significant time with a knee injury. Unfortunately for Jokic, Denver has also only posted a 10-12 record since his return and will enter the weekend in sixth place in the Western Conference. Team success means something and as impressive as Jokic has been, the time missed due to injury along with Denver’s record put him below SGA.

3. Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs

The San Antonio Spurs won a combined 57 games over the past two seasons heading into the 2025-26 campaign. With a healthy Victor Vembanyama, this team is already ranked 52nd and is headed for its best season in a decade. Let’s also keep in mind that he just turned 22 in January, and this is only the second time in three years that he’s played more than 50 games. Since he rejoined the starting lineup in San Antonio after returning from injury, Wembanyama has averaged 24.5 points, 11 rebounds, 3 blocks, 2.7 assists and 1.2 steals per game. He has also averaged 2.4 three-pointers per game during this run, in which the Spurs have compiled an unprecedented 25–6 record in the last 31 games with Wembanyama in the lineup. He’s also going to win Defensive Player of the Year. The NBA MVP award won’t be his this season, but we’re probably just a year away from him winning both DPOY and MVP.

4. Luka Doncic, Los Angeles Lakers

Nico Harrison is hurting right now and with the way Luka Doncic has played recently, the Los Angeles Lakers look like NBA Finals contenders. During this eight-game winning streak, Doncic has averaged 40.9 points, 8.9 rebounds, 7.4 assists and 2.4 steals per game. He’s accomplishing all this while shooting 50.2 percent from the field, making 6.1 three-pointers per game and even averaging 8 free-throws per contest. Oh, even sweeter for Los Angeles, he’s playing passive defense. Doncic, the NBA’s leading scorer, has made 83 three-pointers (5.2 3PM per game) and scored 561 points (35.1 PPG) in his last 16 contests. We’re not ready to include him among the top three NBA MVP candidates because it’s a season-long award, but his performance was by far the best we’ve seen from him during the regular season.

RELATED: LeBron James gives high praise to Luka Doncic

5. Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics

Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham is likely to miss the remainder of the regular season due to a bad lung, putting him under the 65-game threshold for NBA MVP consideration. This moved Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown to fifth place. Let’s take you back to the preseason: With many projecting Boston to win anywhere between 38-42 wins, some were wondering if the team would reset this season. Evolving into a superstar for the Celtics, Brown has had a career year. Boston is going to finish with over 50 wins and will likely be the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference. He has scored more than 30 points in 19 games this season with six 40-pointers. If you don’t have Brown as a top-five finalist for MVP, assuming Cunningham is ineligible, we have to assume you have Joe Mazzulla as NBA Coach of the Year. It’s either or both, neither.

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

Suddenly, it makes sense why we heard Simon Nemec is in danger at the 2026 NHL trade deadline. The New Jersey Devils clearly intend to bring in a big name. One name was revealed yesterday and its link is given below.

Elsewhere, is Auston Matthews’ time up in Toronto? Devils prospect rankings, and much more.

Devil’s Trade Rumors and News

New Jersey Hockey Now: Perhaps that’s why the Devils put Simon Nemec’s name up at the 2026 NHL trade deadline. New Jersey has “serious interest” in Toronto Maple Leafs forward Matthew Nease, according to a report.

📺 devil’s rink report: Last night in the locker room, Jack Hughes responded to the golden goal comments that went viral, explaining that he was honored to see the puck go past Jordan Binnington into the Hockey Hall-of-Fame. Full comments on the Devil’s Rink Report YouTube channel.

Also on the Devils Rink Report YouTube channel, Pasha Eshghi and I look at Jack Hughes’s seeming new maturity, despite comments made about his golden goal.

Full episode here 👇🏼 Watch the full Devils Rink report here:

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The Athletic ($): Here are the Devils’ top 13 prospects, as revealed by prospect guru Scott Wheeler.

NHL Trade Talk, News and National Hockey Now

Toronto Hockey Now: Auston Matthews’ season is officially over. The Toronto Maple Leafs captain underwent successful surgery yesterday.

athletic ($): Now, this is where things get interesting. Did Matthews play his last game as a member of the Maple Leafs?

Forever Blueshirts: When the New York Rangers claimed Ty Carthay, they didn’t think he would have such a big impact. Here’s more about the relationship he’s building as a future third-line candidate.

Pittsburgh hockey now: Glass. This is not what you want to hear. Former Pittsburgh Penguins forward Billy Tibbets is in legal trouble again.

montreal hockey now: You can pinpoint the Montreal Canadiens’ power play struggles with this one key statistic.

James is the fully certified New Jersey Devils beat reporter for New Jersey Hockey Now on SportsNote and … More about James Nicholls

Who is the best center fielder in MLB right now? As the 2026 Major League Baseball season approaches, we’re ranking the 10 best players at each position. As we look at the best MLB center fielders in 2026, defense remains the top priority, as evidenced by some of the top names. However, there are some quality hitters who make up for their defensive shortcomings in center.

Let’s take a look at our ranking of the best center fielders in MLB right now.

1. Julio Rodriguez, Seattle Mariners

Julio Rodriguez is the best center fielder in baseball. Already a three-time All-Star selection and two-time Silver Slugger Award winner at age 25, he had 45 RBI, 18 home runs, 14 doubles and a .900 OPS in the second half of last season to earn All-MLB First Team honors. A history of slow starts in the first half, which has kept him from becoming a superstar — a .721 OPS in 2023, a .690 OPS in ’24 and a .731 OPS in ’25 — hurt his season-long numbers. As far as his fielding goes, he finished sixth among starting center fielders in defensive runs saved (nine) last year and was in the 97th percentile for range (11 OAA) and the 95th percentile for arm strength.

RELATED: Best MLB Catchers 2026

2. Byron Buxton, Minnesota Twins

The 2025 MLB season was the first time since 2017 that Byron Buxton had over 500 plate appearances. He remained relatively healthy and had his second consecutive campaign with an OPS over .850, while setting career highs in hits (129), triples (seven), home runs (35) and RBI (83). He led his teammates in OPS and tied the best wRC+ (128). He’s no longer the defender he used to be in center field, but a lot of that has to do with playing smart to preserve his health, and he still finished with an average of 3 outs (81st percentile). Staying healthy at age 32 is obviously not possible, but Buxton has demonstrated that he is still capable of playing at an All-Star level.

RELATED: Best MLB First Basemen 2026

3. Pete Crowe-Armstrong, Chicago Cubs

At his peak in 2025, Pete Crowe-Armstrong was one of the best players in baseball. The Chicago Cubs center fielder went into the All-Star break with the fourth-highest fWAR (4.6), and he entered August with an .868 OPS, .272/.309/.559 triple-slash line, 27 home runs and 29 steals. Over the final two months of the season, Crowe-Armstrong had a .533 OPS with a .188/.237/.295 line; He was the worst hitter in MLB during that period. The metrics (43rd percentile average exit velocity, 42nd percentile hard-hit rate and 2nd percentile chase rate) suggest the first half’s numbers probably aren’t coming back. Still, he’s good enough defensively to win a Platinum Glove Award, and he’s one of the most dominant MLB players on the basepaths. Add in his pop, which still makes him one of the best center fielders in MLB.

RELATED: Best MLB Second Basemen 2026

4. Jackson Merrill, San Diego Padres

San Diego Padres center fielder Jackson Merrill took the baseball world by storm as a rookie in 2024, earning an All-Star selection and a Silver Slugger Award with a .292 batting average, .826 OPS, 90 RBI, 31 doubles, 24 home runs and 16 steals. He spent three stints on the injured list (concussion, hamstring and ankle) in 2025, but the final two months of his campaign (.888 OPS, 26 RBI and 9 home runs in 147 AB) added up to his rookie success. Merrill’s defensive ability isn’t elite, but he certainly doesn’t hurt San Diego in that regard, and he brings added value as a base runner. In terms of ceiling, Merrill probably exceeds Pete Crowe-Armstrong offensively.

RExcited: Best MLB Third Basemen 2026

5. Sedan Rafaela, Boston Red Sox

Defensively, Sedan Rafaela is the best center fielder in MLB. He led the field in defensive runs saved (20) last season, with a multiple DRS value as the ninth-best center fielder by a margin of Pete Crowe-Armstrong (15). That’s why he won the Fielding Bible Award. The .249 batting average and .295 OBP are certainly not good compared to his peers, but he still had 34 doubles and had the fifth-best slugging percentage (.457). He can also be hot at the plate – .861 OPS from June to July – so there’s a possibility he could be even better. Even though Rafaela remains inconsistent and very aggressive with the bat, his fielding makes him one of the best young outfielders in MLB.

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6. Daulton Varsho, Toronto Blue Jays

Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Daulton Varsho is coming off the best season of his career. He only played in 71 games, but he hit 20 home runs with 55 RBI and had an .833 OPS. Varsho had the highest OPS among center fielders with over 200 plate appearances. He is also unreliable defensively, ranking in the 95th percentile for Outs Above Average (nine). He could be even better in center field next season now that it has been more than a year since he had right rotator cuff surgery. He’s not higher in our center field rankings because we don’t see a world where a hitter with a .217/.289/.398 slash line and .686 OPS over the last two seasons achieves what we saw in a much smaller sample size.

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7. Andy Paige, Los Angeles Dodgers

Andy Paige made the second-year jump, with the Los Angeles Dodgers needing help in center field last season. Although he did not walk much, he raised his batting average by nearly 30 points (.248 to .272) while hitting 27 home runs and 86 RBI. Most of that production – a .795 OPS, 19 home runs and 64 RBI – came before August. Perhaps Page is closer to the hitter who had a .293 OBP and .728 OPS over the past two months, but power output and defense (97th percentile range and 98th percentile arm strength) still make him one of the best MLB center fielders in 2026.

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8. Trent Grisham, New York Yankees

Trent Grisham falls a bit lower in our center fielder rankings due to the weight we are placing on defense. After all, he had the fourth-worst defensive runs saved (-11) among starting center fielders in 2025. He brought no value on the basepaths, placing in the 8th percentile for baserunning run value (-3). With all that said, he was fifth among outfielders in home runs (33) and 12th in OPS (.807), while his walk rate (14.1 percent) was fourth. He really seemed to find a home with the New York Yankees, and the adjustment helped him have a career-best season. Still, his career statistics suggest that regression is inevitable, and he’ll likely finish around a .750 OPS with poor defense in center.

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9. Michael Harris II, Atlanta Braves

Atlanta Braves center fielder Michael Harris II is an example of how quickly a rising star can fade away in baseball. In his first two seasons, he had batting averages of .828 OPS and .295 OPS and was worth 8.6 bWAR. Now compare that to the last two seasons, with a 5.4 bWAR, .255 batting average and .697 OPS. He’ll only be 25 this season, and perhaps his last two months last year (11 home runs, 36 RBI, .278 batting average and .775 OPS) are a sign of him getting back on track. If he does that, with above-average defense (six defensive runs saved) and over 20 steals, he will again be a top-five center fielder.

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10. TJ Friedel, Cincinnati Reds

Cincinnati Reds outfielder TJ Friedel is definitely one of the most underrated players in MLB. He hasn’t replicated the power of his breakout 2023 campaign, when he hit 18 home runs and a career-best .819 OPS, but he remains a high-level contributor. In 2025, he set new highs in games played (152), hits (151) and walks (81), posting a career-best .364 OBP. Among center fielders with over 500 plate appearances over the past two seasons, he ranks 10th in batting average (.250), ninth in OPS (.729), eighth in wRC+ (104) and seventh in runs scored (115).

Read More: MLB Power Rankings 2026, evaluating all 30 teams

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

Who is the best catcher in MLB? Reigning AL MVP runner-up Cal Raley is widely acknowledged as the best player at his position currently. As we look at the landscape of the best catchers in MLB ahead of the 2026 season, it’s clear that how you rank the top players depends on which skills you value most.

Let’s take a look at our list of the best MLB catchers right now

1. Cal Raleigh, Seattle Mariners

Cal Raleigh is the best catcher in baseball. He arguably deserved the AL MVP last season, not only because of his work with the bat (60 home runs, a .948 OPS, and 125 RBI), but also because of his work behind the plate. Raley is fifth in catcher framing runs (seven). He finished the season with 8.6 FanGraphs Wins Above Replacement, making him jointly the second best (4.7 fWAR) and third best catchers (4.1 fWAR). He probably won’t be able to repeat his run production in 2026, but his frame could allow him to earn a Gold Glove Award again.

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2. Will Smith, Los Angeles Dodgers

When ranking the best catchers in MLB, Cal Raleigh is one level apart from everyone else. However, Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Will Smith has quite the resume. A three-time All-Star and World Series champion, he earned All-MLB Second Team honors in 2025, even with a hairline fracture in early September, which came after a terrible August (.630 OPS). He still finished the season with the third-highest OPS (.901) and second-best wRC+ (152) among catchers with over 400 plate appearances. He doesn’t provide a lot of value with his work behind the dish, but that doesn’t matter as much when you produce an OPS over the last two seasons (.822) that puts you in the same category as Fernando Tatis Jr., Pete Alonso and Francisco Lindor.

Read More: MLB Power Rankings 2026, evaluating all 30 teams

3. Alejandro Kirk, Toronto Blue Jays

Toronto Blue Jays catcher Alejandro Kirk is coming off a productive MLB postseason, where he posted a .842 OPS with the third-most RBI (13) and the fifth-most total bases (35) in baseball. It was the perfect capstone for his rebound 2025 campaign, earning his second All-Star selection thanks to a .282/.348/.421 slash line with a .769 OPS and career highs in home runs (15) and RBI (76). He had the lowest strikeout rate among catchers last season (11.7%) and finished second in fWAR (4.7%), trailing only Patrick Bailey in catcher framing runs (17), while posting the fourth-highest shadow strikeout rate in baseball (47.1%). Luckily for Toronto, Kirk is under contract through the 2030 season.

4. William Contreras, Milwaukee Brewers

Acquired from the Atlanta Braves in December 2022, Milwaukee Brewers star William Contreras has become one of the best MLB catchers at the moment. He earned the Silver Slugger Award in consecutive seasons after combining for a .285/.366/.462 triple-slash line with an .828 OPS and 40 home runs in 2023–24. He’s coming off a down year by his standards – .260/.355/.399 with a .754 OPS – but the OBP was still third-best among catchers, and he walks (12.7%) almost as much as he strikes out (18.2%). If he can recapture what we saw the last two seasons in Milwaukee, Contreras’ pitch framing is good enough for him to challenge for All-MLB honors again in 2026.

5. Patrick Bailey, San Francisco Giants

Patrick Bailey’s ranking among the best catchers in MLB is a litmus test of how much you value glove work over offensive production. He posted a .222 batting average last season with a .602 OPS and 6 home runs – two of which were walk-offs, inside-the-parker. Indeed, had he not had an electric September (18 RBI, .272/.313/.435 line), his run production might have been even worse. His .626 OPS over the past three seasons, 32nd among qualified catchers, is a better indication of his work with the bat. Now for the glove work: Putting Bailey’s pitch framing (25 catcher framing runs) into perspective, the gap between him and the second-best catcher (Kirk, 17) is as big as the total made by the fifth-best catcher (Raleigh, 7) last season. Bailey is in a league of his own defensively, but his run production takes away some of his value.

6. Dillon Dingler, Detroit Tigers

After winning a Gold Glove Award in 2025, Detroit Tigers catcher Dillon Dingler could have a real chance to earn his first All-Star selection if all goes well in 2026. He finished last season with a .752 OPS, and this was his first real taste since a cup of coffee (84 at-bats) last year. Importantly, he demonstrated the ability to adjust, posting a .774 OPS with a .284 batting average after a difficult June (.209 average and .598 OPS) after July 1. Behind the plate, Dingler tied with Cal Raley for the fifth-most catcher framing runs (7), and he tied Will Smith for the eighth-most catcher CS Above Average (4). Dingler is on the upside and is an underrated part of Detroit’s success.

7. Drake Baldwin, Atlanta Braves

The Atlanta Braves have a pretty good track record when it comes to catchers. Reigning NL Rookie of the Year winner Drake Baldwin is the latest example. He posted the fifth-best OPS (.810) among catchers with 350-plus plate appearances in 2025, and he was the only catcher with an .800-plus OPS who had a strikeout rate under 16% (15.2%). Baldwin’s worst month (.741 OPS in June) was still above average for his position, and he boasted a .270/.332/.460 line with a .792 OPS and 48 RBI after the All-Star break. Had he been better defensively – 51st on average in catcher’s CS and 31st in catcher framing runs – he would have had a chance to be a top-five catcher.

8. Shea Langeliers, Sacramento Athletics

There is a theme among the best MLB catchers at the moment; Many of them have roots in the Braves organization. The Sacramento Athletics acquired Shea Langeliers as part of the Matt Olson trade in 2022, and he developed into the form the club hoped for. After making progress at the plate in 2024 (.739 OPS), the right-handed hitter posted an .861 OPS last season, increasing his batting average from .224 to .277. Remarkably, considering how hitter-friendly the ballpark is in Sacramento, Langeliers had a higher OPS on the road (.912) than at home (.817). Considering he posted a 1.018 OPS with 19 home runs and a .328 batting average after the All-Star break, we could see even better season-long numbers from Langeliers in 2026.

9. Gabriel Moreno, Arizona Diamondbacks

Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Gabriel Moreno looked like a future star in his first season with the team, posting a .284/.339/.408 triple-slash line and 4.3 bWAR with a .747 OPS. He wasn’t as good the next year, but that run production bounced back last season (.285/.353/.433 with a .786 OPS). He combines that offensive output with above-average pitch framing (catcher framing ranks fifth in runs). Moreno’s only real challenges are durability issues and his catch-stealing numbers have declined, but the strength of his game still makes him a top-10 catcher.

10. Carlos Narvaez, Boston Red Sox

We might be buying a little too much here, rating Carlos Narvaez as one of the 10 best MLB catchers right now. If you put a premium on glove work, he ranked first in the majors in caught steals (32) and eighth in catcher framing runs (8). Narváez also showed plenty of power last season, posting a .726 OPS and finishing 11th at his position in slugging (.419). If the Boston Red Sox pitching staff meets high expectations for this season and Narvaez can repeat his output, he will be more widely viewed as a top-10 player at his position by the summer.

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

Who is the best pitcher in baseball? Major League Baseball is back, spring training is underway and pitchers are working on getting ready for Opening Day. As recent signings have demonstrated, aces are more valuable than ever and the teams with the best pitchers in MLB have an edge every time their workhorse takes the mound.

Let’s take a look at our list of the 10 best MLB pitchers right now.

Read More: MLB Power Rankings 2026, evaluating all 30 teams

1. Tarik Skubal, Detroit Tigers

Tarik Skubal is the best pitcher in baseball. Over the past two seasons, he has boasted the second-best K-BB rate (26.7 percent); Skubal and Garrett Crockett are the only two qualified starters with a K-BB over 25 percent. No other qualified starter has a K-BB rate higher than 24 percent. Skubal has also surrendered the second-lowest batting average (.199) with the lowest WHIP (0.89), while limiting opponents to the second-lowest hard-hit rate (33.4 percent) with an impressive 2.30 ERA in 387.2 innings. Coming off back-to-back seasons with the AL Cy Young Award, Skubal is on pace for the Hall of Fame as one of the best pitchers of his era.

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2. Paul Skenes, Pittsburgh Pirates

Paul Skenes is a perfect example of why wins don’t matter as much as they used to when evaluating starting pitchers. In his first two MLB seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates, the 6-foot-6 player has allowed more than four earned runs in only five of his 55 career starts, and he has allowed more than three earned runs in only 16.4 percent of his major league career starts. Last season, when he was the unanimous NL Cy Young Award winner at age 23, his strikeout rate (29.5 percent) was fourth and he was the only eligible starter with a sub-2.00 ERA. Heading into his age-24 season, Skane’s adjusted ERA+ (215) is better than Jacob deGrom’s peak (190) from 2018-19.

3. Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Los Angeles Dodgers

In Madison Bumgarner’s memorable 2014 postseason run, in which he earned NLCS MVP and World Series MVP, he recorded a 1.03 ERA with a 0.65 WHIP in 52.2 innings. Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto, in his second season in the majors, was almost as good, posting a 1.45 ERA and 0.77 WHIP in the postseason. Of course, ranking him third among the best MLB pitchers is even more than October. During the regular season, he also gave up the lowest batting average (.183) among starters with over 170 innings, while posting the fourth-best strikeout rate (29.4 percent). As long as he’s healthy, he could challenge Paul Skenes for the NL Cy Young Award in 2026.

4. Garrett Crochet, Boston Red Sox

From 2020-23, Garrett Crockett pitched in just 73 innings as a reliever, with a 2.71 ERA and 1.33 WHIP. It all started to come together when he transitioned into a starter in 2024. The Boston Red Sox hit back, hoping the 6-foot-6 southpaw can keep that momentum going. What Boston got is the second-best starting pitcher in the American League. Crockett finished the 2025 campaign with the second-highest strikeout rate (31.3 percent) and second in outside zone swing rate (35.9 percent), while holding opponents to a .216 batting average.

5. Logan Webb, San Francisco Giants

Taken in the fourth round of the 2014 MLB draft, Logan Webb first reached the majors in 2019 and had a 5.36 ERA with a 1.52 WHIP over his first two seasons. Since the start of the 2021 campaign, the ace of the San Francisco Giants rotation has recorded the third-best ERA (3.19) among starters with over 800 innings. He has also been a workhorse the last three seasons, leading the National League in innings pitched each year and batters faced in the last two seasons. He’s been as durable as they come, and at a time when he’s so hard to find, the availability of the web is as important as his continuity.

6. Christopher Sanchez, Philadelphia Phillies

The Philadelphia Phillies have done it again. It took some time for everything to click for Christopher Sanchez, although the signs became increasingly clear in 2023. He earned his first All-Star selection in 2024, posting a 3.32 ERA and tying for the major league lead in complete games. Sanchez reaches another stratosphere in 2025. He ranked ninth league-wide in K-BB rate (20.8 percent), fifth in ERA (2.50), and tied Paul Skenes for the lowest HR/9 (0.53) in the majors. He is also on a contract deal that will potentially make him $51.5 million over the next five seasons, and he will only receive a $50,000 bonus for each All-Star selection.

7. Hunter Brown, Houston Astros

The Houston Astros have a remarkable track record when it comes to drafting and developing pitchers. Hunter Brown is the latest success story. Just a few years after being taken in the fifth round of the 2019 MLB Draft, he earned All-MLB Second Team honors after posting the third-lowest ERA (2.43), ninth-lowest batting average (.201), and seventh-highest strikeout rate (28.3 percent) in MLB last season. He has established himself as one of the best starting pitchers in baseball right now, and he has a good shot at a sub-3.00 ERA while pitching 200 innings for the first time in his career this year.

8. Chris Sale, Atlanta Braves

It has truly been a remarkable major-league career for Chris Sale. From 2012–18, he recorded a 2.91 ERA and 1.02 WHIP, while leading the league in strikeouts twice. He then made only 56 starts (298.1 innings) over the next five seasons, and entering his age-35 season, a distinguished career seemed to be on its final legs. Since then, Sale has won the NL Cy Young Award after winning the Triple Crown and Gold Glove Award in 2024, and his 2.46 ERA is the third-lowest among starters with more than 300 innings over the past two seasons. Health is a big question heading into the 2026 campaign, but there’s no reason to think he can’t challenge for another Cy Young Award as a 37-year-old.

9. Cole Ragans, Kansas City Royals

The Kansas City Royals performed like historic bandits in the 2023 Aroldis Chapman trade and grabbed Cole Ragans from the Texas Rangers. Formerly the 30th overall pick in the 2016 MLB Draft, he held a 5.32 ERA and 1.35 WHIP in only 64.1 career innings with the Rangers. Landing in Kansas City changed the direction of his major-league career. Ragans’ numbers in 2025 – a 4.67 ERA – are largely a reflection of the fact that he battled a rotator cuff strain that ultimately landed him on the 60-day injured list. We believe the starting pitcher who had the ninth-lowest batting average (.212) and sixth-best strikeout rate (29.3 percent) in 2024 will return to form this season.

10. Hunter Greene, Cincinnati Reds

There are several starters worthy of the 10th spot in our rankings. What brought Hunter Greene here are the surrounding factors through which he operates. Last season, the Cincinnati Reds were 20th in defensive runs saved and 21st in FanGraphs defensive rating (-2.6). On top of this, Great American Ball Park ranked as the fourth most unfriendly ballpark for pitchers with a 103 park factor. Green’s battery partner Tyler Stephenson also ranks 50th among catchers in catcher framing run (-8) and 45th in shadow strikeout rate (40.3 percent).

So, there are a lot of factors not working in his favor when Green is on the mound. Still, the 6-foot-5 standout is now coming off his second consecutive season with a sub-2.80 ERA, and he maintained a career-best 0.94 WHIP in his most recent campaign. The primary flaw on Green at this point is that he has yet to pitch more than 160 innings in a season. That said, even with some bad surrounding circumstances, his numbers on the mound make him one of the best MLB pitchers right now.

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

Although the New England Patriots were defeated 29–13 by the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl LX, it does not put an end to their remarkable season. They improved from 4–13 and last place in the AFC East in 2024 to 14–3 in 2025 and became division champions and conference champions.

The Chicago Bears also moved from worst to first in the NFC North this season, going from 5-12 a year ago to 11-6 this season.

The bottom eight teams in their respective divisions are hoping to have similar success to what the Patriots and Bears achieved. Here is our ranking of the teams that have the best chances of moving from worst to first in their respective divisions next season.

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1. New York Giants (4-13)

The New York Giants have two things in common that propelled the Patriots and Bears from worst to first. They upgraded their head coaching position with the addition of John Harbaugh, and they have a talented quarterback who is entering his second year in Jackson Dart.

Often, quarterbacks make their biggest jumps from one year to the next, and with Malik Nabors coming back from a torn ACL, we should see a huge jump in Dart’s production. In addition to Dart and Nabors, the Giants have talented players such as Brian Burns, Abdul Carter, Dexter Lawrence and Andrew Thomas.

The NFC East is winnable as both the Eagles and Cowboys have taken a step back this season, and the Commanders have a roster that is starting to show their age at certain positions. Big Blue will add an impact player with the fifth overall selection in the draft, giving them the best chance of going from worst to first.

2. New Orleans Saints (6-11)

Although they finished in last place in the NFC South with a 6–11 record, they finished the year strong, winning four of their last five games, including wins over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the division winners, the Carolina Panthers. In his 11 starts, rookie quarterback Tyler Shaw showed steady improvement as the season progressed and had three games with a passer rating over 100.

Head coach Kellen Moore is entering his second year on the job, and he and Shaw will have better command of the team in 2026. The team will likely add an offensive playmaker with the eighth overall selection to help boost their offense, which was ranked 23rd.^third.

The best sign for the Saints’ chances of winning the division is that there is no dominant team in the NFC South, as the other three teams finished 8-9 this season.

3. Detroit Lions (9-8)

The Lions were perhaps the most disappointing team this year as they missed the playoffs after winning the NFC North the previous two seasons. Poor offensive line play, losing safety Brian Branch to a torn Achilles tendon, and losing five of their last eight games ultimately cost them their chance to make the playoffs.

The Lions have two of the best skill position players in the league in Jahmir Gibbs and Amon-Ra St. Brown, but for whatever reason, the team doesn’t live up to expectations. It was clear that losing both of their coordinators played a big role in their regression.

If they replace some pieces on the offensive line and defense, they should contend for the division crown. However, they are in the most competitive division in the NFL as every team in the division had a winning record.

4. Cleveland Browns (5-12)

The Browns are hoping newly minted head coach Todd Monken can help turn the team’s fortunes around. The biggest positive for the Browns is that they have one of the best defenses in the league, led by reigning Defensive Player of the Year and single-season sack king Myles Garrett. The bad news is that they had the 30th ranked passing offense and 31st ranked passing offense.

The Browns have two selections (6 and 24) in the first round.^th Overall), which should result in two immediate impact players. What is good for Cleveland is that the two teams that dominate the division, the Steelers and Ravens, are going through coaching changes as Mike McCarthy is replacing Mike Tomlin, and Jesse Minter is replacing John Harbaugh.

If they can get better quarterback play from Shadure Sanders or whoever will be under center, it wouldn’t be a shock to see them at the top of the AFC North.

5. Tennessee Titans (3-14)

New head coach Robert Saleh has the task of rebuilding a Titans team that has gone 6-28 over the past two seasons. This will be Saleh’s second stint as an NFL head coach, and one thing we know from his background is that the Titans’ defense will be much improved.

Saleh hired former New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll as the team’s new offensive coordinator and turned around an offense that was ranked 31st.^{scheduled tribe} In the league. Daboll’s top duty will be to help develop quarterback Cam Ward, in the same way he helped develop Josh Allen when he was offensive coordinator with the Bills.

Despite the experienced coaching staff, the Titans lacked talent compared to the rest of the division, which had two playoff teams in the Jaguars and Texans. No matter how much Ward improves in year two, it’s hard to see them breaking ahead of the rest of the AFC South next season.

6. New York Jets (3-14)

The first year of the Aaron Glenn regime was an epic disaster as the defense failed to record an interception for the entire season, and their quarterback situation was as shaky as any team in the league with Justin Fields and Tyrod Taylor. The Jets ranked last in passing offense (140.3 yards per game), and right now, it’s anyone’s guess who will be under center in Week 1. Additionally, the Jets’ minus-203-point differential was the worst in the league.

The Jets currently have the second and 16th overall selections in the draft and they have a ton of options they can do with those selections. One positive for the Jets is that the other teams in the division have question marks of their own. Despite making it to Super Bowl LX, the first-place schedule will be tough for the New England Patriots after having one of the easiest schedules in the last quarter of a century. Both the Bills and Dolphins have new first-time NFL head coaches in Joe Brady and Jeff Hafley.

All that being said, it’s highly unlikely the Jets will be able to compete with the Patriots and Bills.

7. Las Vegas Raiders (3-14)

The Raiders have the first overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, where they are expected to take Heisman Trophy winner and national champion Fernando Mendoza from Indiana. The Raiders have arguably the best tight end in football in Brock Bowers, and rookie running back Ashton Jeanty showed promise despite running behind a poor offensive line.

But other than Bowers and Jeanty, there isn’t much positive going on with the silver and black. crime ended 32^Ra in the league, and the Pro Bowl defensive end has been the subject of trade rumors after the team placed him on IR at the end of 2025.

The biggest reason we don’t see the Raiders go from worst to first with rookie head coach Clint Kubiak is that this division is just too talented. The Broncos were the number one seed in the playoffs, and if Bo Nix had not been injured in a 33–30 divisional round victory over the Buffalo Bills, they probably would have been in the Super Bowl. The Chargers will be better off with Rashawn Slater and Joe Ault at starting tackle and the Chiefs will recover from missing the playoffs for the first time in the Patrick Mahomes era when he returns to action. The Raiders will once again look to finish in the basement of the AFC West.

8. Arizona Cardinals (3-14)

It would take a major miracle for the Cardinals to go from worst to first in the NFC West in 2026. Not only did the other three teams, including the defending Super Bowl Champions Seattle Seahawks, make the playoffs, and a case can be made that the Seahawks, Rams, and 49ers are the three best teams in the NFC.

Rookie head coach Mike LaFleur has a lot on his plate as he takes over a team that lost 14 of its last 15 games in 2025, and it is rumored the team may try to move on from quarterback Kyler Murray this offseason. Trey McBride is one of the best tight ends in the NFL, but teams are still waiting for Marvin Harrison Jr. to show the talent he showed in college. This would be the longest shot for the Cardinals to win the NFC West next season and could miss the division for the second year in a row.

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