Cincinnati Bengals running back Joe Mixon is "prepared for a holdout" this offseason if he isn't given a contract extension, according to The Athletic's Paul Dehner Jr.Mixon is entering the final year of his rookie deal and is slated to earn $1.73 million.The 23-year-old has racked up a combined 2,305 rushing yards, 583 receiving yards, and 17 total touchdowns over the last two seasons.Only five running backs are slated to earn more than $10 million in 2020. Carolina Panthers star Christian McCaffrey became the highest-paid running back Tuesday by signing a deal reportedly worth $16 million per season.Ezekiel Elliott ($15 million), Le'Veon Bell ($13.25 million), David Johnson ($13 million), and Derrick Henry ($10.28-million franchise tag) are the other four running backs atop the market.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Odell Beckham Jr. isn't on the move again.The Cleveland Browns' star wide receiver was the subject of a trade rumor involving the Minnesota Vikings on Wednesday that was quickly contradicted.Marc Malusis of WFAN Sports Radio reported that the Browns and Vikings were in discussions about a trade that would send Beckham to Minnesota for a second-round pick and a 2021 fifth-rounder, citing a source.However, the rumor is "false," a source close to the Vikings told Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com.Beckham has already been traded once in his career. In March 2019, the Browns acquired the wideout from the New York Giants for a first-rounder, third-rounder, and safety Jabrill Peppers.The Vikings are in need of a receiver after trading Stefon Diggs to the Buffalo Bills for a package that included a first-round pick.While Beckham is coming off one of the worst statistical seasons of his career, it would be a shock if Cleveland parted with him for a deal that didn't include a first-round selection.Beckham publically committed to the Browns last December after it was reported that, in October, he'd encouraged opposing players and coaches to pry him loose from Cleveland.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find line reports, best bets, and subscribe to push notifications in the Betting News section.Even the biggest Joe Burrow fans have to admit that, as a pure talent, Chase Young is about as good as they come in this year's draft class. He almost certainly won't be the top pick, though, with the Cincinnati Bengals zeroing in on the LSU quarterback.So which team will spring for the star edge rusher from Ohio State? Here are the odds and a breakdown of his most likely landing spots.TEAMODDSWashington Redskins-1250Detroit Lions+600New York Giants+2000Cincinnati Bengals+2000Miami Dolphins+3000Los Angeles Chargers+4000Carolina Panthers+4500Jacksonville Jaguars+5500Las Vegas Raiders+6600New York Jets+8000Arizona Cardinals+9000The favoritesWashington is the prohibitive favorite for Young, and it isn't close. With the No. 2 pick and a roster in need of just about everything, Young is easily the "best player available" after one of the most dominant seasons we've seen from a defender in recent years - especially from an edge rusher, a position often in high demand this early in the draft. Young's former teammates Nick Bosa and Joey Bosa both went in the top three, behind only quarterbacks, and Young is on pace to do the same.If the Redskins pass on Young, the Lions would be in a perfect position to add him to their burgeoning defense, or perhaps a team like the Giants would be willing to trade up from No. 4 for a chance at the generational talent. The Bengals are a long shot to take him at No. 1, but it'd be the most plausible way that he doesn't go second overall.Do any teams offer value?If you're interested in investing your money for a week at 8% interest and minimal risk, then sure, the Redskins offer some value here. Otherwise, it's not likely that any team has a chance at Young after the second pick, so it's not worth laying odds on anyone shorter than 30-1.There has been some smoke about Washington taking a shot at Tua Tagovailoa at No. 2, which could open the door for a team like the Lions to get into the mix. There's also the possibility a team like the Panthers, whose front office is familiar with new 'Skins coach Ron Rivera, could be in the mix to facilitate their rebuild.Best betCarolina Panthers +4500It's hard to call anything at -1250 odds a "best bet," because you're likely not in a position to risk that kind of money for such a small reward. There simply aren't great odds on the teams below Washington, either. So we'll go with the Panthers, who desperately need talent on defense and have an owner who isn't afraid to take swings to get his guy. The relationship between Rivera and Carolina's front office was already demonstrated by the Kyle Allen trade earlier this offseason; perhaps things get a little spicier this time around. At 45-1, it's at least worth a shot.C Jackson Cowart is a betting writer for theScore. He's an award-winning journalist with stops at The Charlotte Observer, The San Diego Union-Tribune, The Times Herald-Record, and BetChicago. He's also a proud graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill, and his love of sweet tea is rivaled only by that of a juicy prop bet. Find him on Twitter @CJacksonCowart.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find line reports, best bets, and subscribe to push notifications in the Betting News section.Who knew a sought-after prospect playing a premium position could come with some many draft possibilities?Oregon product Justin Herbert is the consensus No. 3 quarterback in the 2020 class behind Joe Burrow and Tua Tagovailoa, and he could be a potential franchise cornerstone. But it wouldn't be the draft without rumors, smoke, and other rumblings leading up to the event.Herbert has been linked primarily to the Dolphins (No. 5 pick) and the Chargers (No. 6) based on fit and need. But as we've seen in the past, anything can happen.Here are the prices for which team will draft the 6-foot-6 signal-caller next Thursday.Odds to draft Justin HerbertTeam OddsDolphins+100Chargers+225Patriots+600Jaguars+800Panthers+950Raiders+1600Colts+2000Bengals+2500Redskins+2500Broncos+3000Lions+3000Buccaneers+3000The favoritesThe over/under for Herbert's draft spot is 5.5, with the over the chalk. Yet the Dolphins are +100 to draft him? I'm a walking thinking-face emoji. Miami should have its pick of the litter while on the clock. However, deciphering whether the franchise likes Tagovailoa or Herbert has been the obstacle.The Chargers (+225) are in the same boat. The Dolphins pick before them, which means Los Angeles could be handed the consolation prize, and that's not necessarily a bad thing.Do any teams offer value?Herbert lacking a true landing spot makes this intriguing. Burrow and Chase Young have been slotted into their new homes already, but all it takes is one trade, reach, or surprise pick for the script to alter.Jacksonville at 8-1 makes a lot of sense for Herbert, and the Jaguars haven't been consistently connected to him. The Jaguars hold two first-round picks (Nos. 9 and 20), traded away quarterback Nick Foles last month, and there wouldn't be a sunk cost at the position because Gardner Minshew was a sixth-round flier last year.The Raiders are another long shot at 12-1, although I'm not as bullish on buying a team with a starter in place already, and another backup signed this offseason. There are plenty of needs to fill in Oakland, but the Raiders could really use a game-changer under center to counter Patrick Mahomes in the division.Best betLos Angeles Chargers (+225)Our own Tom Casale linked Tagovailoa to L.A. in his piece this week. I have some skin in on that too, as well as the Chargers drafting Herbert at plus-money.The Chargers could have made a move in free agency. Instead, their lack of activity to address the quarterback position in a hot market was telling. Their eyes are undoubtedly set on a 2020 prospect.Rather than try to read the tea leaves, I'll take the Chargers to draft both quarterbacks at plus-money and leave with the small profit.Alex Kolodziej is a betting writer for theScore. He's a graduate of Eastern Illinois who has been involved in the sports betting industry for 12 years. He can quote every line from "Rounders" and appreciates franchises that regularly wear alternate jerseys. Find him on Twitter @AJKolodziej.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find out the latest on COVID-19's impact on the sports world and when sports are returning by subscribing to Breaking News push notifications in the Sports and COVID-19 section.One member of the Los Angeles Chargers' organization tested positive for COVID-19 and two others have shown symptoms, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.None of the three are Chargers owner Dean Spanos, general manager Tom Telesco, or head coach Anthony Lynn."Everyone is doing well and is on the road to recovery," team spokesperson Josh Rupprecht said.The positive diagnosis came toward the end of March. The Chargers closed their offices to non-essential staff on March 12 while essential staff continued to use the offices until March 17. The person who tested positive wasn't part of the latter group.The Chargers alerted everyone who had been exposed to the infected employee and directed them to self-quarantine.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Cleveland Browns unveiled new uniforms Wednesday that are heavily based on the club's attire from the 1960s until Nike overhauled its look in 2015.

How much do you know about the NFL draft and the history of studs and busts who've heard their name called by the commissioner?With the 2020 edition of the draft set to proceed in "virtual" fashion, take the quiz below and see how your draft knowledge stacks up against the competition.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Rival teams speculate the Atlanta Falcons will trade up from the 16th overall position in Round 1 of the 2020 NFL Draft, reports Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.The Falcons have reportedly spent more time talking to prospects who are unlikely to be available at No. 16 overall.Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff has moved up in the opening round five times since 2008, according to NFL Network's James Palmer. He traded a pair of first-round picks, a second-round selection, and two fourth-rounders to climb from No. 27 to No. 6 for wide receiver Julio Jones in 2011.Atlanta is equipped with one pick in each of the first three rounds of the 2020 draft, along with two in the fourth and one in the seventh.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find out the latest on COVID-19's impact on the sports world and when sports are returning by subscribing to Breaking News push notifications in the Sports and COVID-19 section.The NFL is preparing to start its 2020 season as scheduled, and it's possible teams could be playing without fans in attendance due to the coronavirus pandemic.One player who won't be protesting that move, should it happen, is Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins."Honestly, we practice every day in an empty grass area and pump in fake crowd noise for away games," Cousins said Tuesday on a conference call, according to ESPN's Courtney Cronin. "But more often than not, you're used to it. OTA practices don't have a lot of pomp and circumstance to them."So honestly, to go out and just play the game would kind of be refreshing, a breath of fresh air, to just let us know that we don't have to have all the smoke and the fire. We can just play football. So as long as we're playing the game, I won't have a lot of complaints, and hopefully if it's still not returned to normal, we can find a way to make it work."Jeff Pash, the NFL's general counsel, said earlier this month the league is focusing on playing a full 16-game regular season in front of fans.However, Dr. Allen Sills, the NFL's chief medical officer, suggests that widespread COVID-19 testing needs to be available before the league could consider reopening.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With Stefon Diggs clearly seeking an exit from the Minnesota Vikings, quarterback Kirk Cousins believes his team was right to grant the wide receiver a trade despite the major hole it left in the offense."It became apparent that (Diggs) wanted to play elsewhere, and I think it was smart of the Vikings to grant him that opportunity," Cousins said, according to ESPN's Courtney Cronin. "I think it wasn't a mystery, and that's OK. I wish him really well. I just so enjoyed playing with him."He's a special player, and we now have to find a way to move forward and replace that, if you will, with a variety of players. But I think that that'll be our challenge going forward, is creating that talented option outside of Adam (Thielen) on the outside, and I think there'll be a variety of ways to do that, and I'm excited to get started on that challenge."The Vikings shipped Diggs to the Buffalo Bills this offseason for a package that included a first-round pick.While the relationship between Cousins and Diggs appeared strained at times, the receiver wrote glowingly of his former QB in an essay for The Players' Tribune.Cousins also only had positive things to say about his time with Diggs, and described the trade as a "win-win.""I think my text message to him said something along the lines of, 'You're as good as any receiver I've ever played with,'" Cousins said. "That includes some names like Adam Thielen, DeSean Jackson, Pierre Garcon ... he's elite. I just wanted to affirm him, and thank him. It sounds cliche but I'm as good as a quarterback as the guys around me."Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find out the latest on COVID-19's impact on the sports world and when sports are returning by subscribing to Breaking News push notifications in the Sports and COVID-19.The San Francisco 49ers' defeat to the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIV may have prevented a more substantial loss.San Francisco fell to Kansas City on Feb. 2 - the same day that doctors in the Bay Area were dealing with the region's first cases of COVID-19, report Andrew Beaton and Ben Cohen of the Wall Street Journal.Had San Francisco won the Lombardi Trophy and held a championship parade days later, it could have led to a mass spread of the coronavirus."It may go down in the annals as being a brutal sports loss, but one that may have saved lives," said Dr. Bob Wachter, chair of the University of California San Francisco's Department of Medicine."It is certainly hard to imagine a more high-risk situation," added Dr. Niraj Sehgal, who heads the UCSF's COVID-19 command center.That command center had multiple patients the morning after Super Bowl LIV.Meanwhile, the Chiefs held their championship parade on Feb. 5, but the city of Kansas City didn't report its first case of COVID-19 until March 18."Some of it was lucky breaks, and this may be one of the lucky breaks that spared us from a much worse fate," Wachter said.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find positional rankings, additional analysis, and subscribe to push notifications in the NFL Fantasy News section.Prospect Fantasy Outlooks

The Seattle Seahawks and left guard Mike Iupati have agreed on a new one-year deal, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.Iupati joined Seattle in 2019 on a $2.75-million contract and played in all 16 games, starting 15. The 10-year vet will turn 33 before embarking on his 11th NFL season.He was part of an offensive line that allowed quarterback Russell Wilson to take 48 sacks last year, the second-highest total of the signal-caller's eight-year career.Seattle has focused much of its attention on its O-line this offseason, reportedly re-signing Iupati and adding fellow veterans Chance Warmack, B.J. Finney, and Cedric Ogbuehi.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find out the latest on COVID-19's impact on the sports world and when sports are returning by subscribing to Breaking News push notifications in the Sports and COVID-19 section.Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott has refuted a report that he hosted a party of 30 people, including Ezekiel Elliott, at his Texas home this past Friday."I understand and accept that there are additional responsibilities and media scrutiny that come with being an NFL quarterback, but it is very frustrating and disappointing when people provide completely inaccurate information from anonymous sources, especially now," Prescott said Tuesday in a statement to Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio."To set the record straight, I know that we all need to do our best to socially distance and like everyone else, I am continuing to adjust to what that requires, but the truth is that I was with fewer than 10 people for a home dinner - not a party - on Friday night."Prescott added he was "very sensitive to the challenges" of the COVID-19 pandemic and the importance of supporting first responders and medical personnel.The event occurred just days after Texas Gov. Greg Abbott ordered citizens to restrict social interactions through April and limit gatherings to 10 people or fewer. Police were unable to verify if a party violating social distancing mandates took place at Prescott's home.The Cowboys have spoken to both their star players about the importance of following government guidelines."We've certainly communicated with Dak and Zeke. I think they're certainly aware now of how sensitive these situations are and I don't think you'll be seeing that anymore," Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones said Tuesday on 105.3 The Fan. "They are certainly guys we have the utmost respect for. I certainly know they understand the sensitivity of the situation we're in, it's certainly very serious and something we know they understand."Prescott and Elliott also faced criticism two weeks ago after posting photos of their workout with former teammate Dez Bryant.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott won't participate in the team's virtual offseason program without a long-term contract extension, a source told Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk.Prescott is under no obligation to partake in the voluntary program. The 26-year-old also wouldn't be subject to a penalty for missing mandatory activities as long as he refrains from signing his franchise tag.The NFL and NFLPA agreed to terms Monday on a virtual offseason program in light of the coronavirus pandemic that has washed away organized team activities and minicamps. Teams with new head coaches, such as the Cowboys, will have four weeks to work with players, while teams with returning head coaches will be allowed three weeks.Prescott and the Cowboys have until July 15 to iron out a new deal, per franchise tag rules.The Mississippi State product ranked second in passing last season with 4,902 yards and threw for 30 touchdowns.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tim Tebow used an Easter sermon to poke fun at one of his former teams, the New York Jets.The NFL quarterback turned New York Mets minor leaguer mentioned the Jets while discussing "the greatest trade in the history of the world" during a livestreamed Easter service for Passion City Church."There have been some really big trades," Tebow said Sunday. "The Red Sox traded Babe Ruth for $100,000. How's that for a trade? Wayne Gretzky was traded for a couple of scrubs. How's that for a trade?"I got traded to the Jets. How's that for a trade? That didn't work out for anybody. When's the last time a Jets trade worked out? Anyway, that's beside the point."

Bill O'Brien was at it again last week, which is to say that the head coach of the Houston Texans continued to flaunt just how overmatched he is as the general manager of the Houston Texans. In these troubled times, O'Brien's inability to understand roster value might be the one thing on which we can all agree.To be clear: O'Brien has coached the Texans for six seasons, a stretch in which his regular-season record of 52-44 has been the fifth-best in the AFC. In other words, O'Brien is just fine as a head coach. But now that he's had the chance to louse up personnel decisions for two consecutive offseasons - and in January he was formally given the title of GM, LOL - it's fair to wonder whether someone ought to take away his keys to that side of the building.Last week, O'Brien traded a second-round pick (No. 57 overall) in next week's draft to the Los Angeles Rams in exchange for wideout Brandin Cooks and a 2022 fourth-rounder. Cooks will be 28 in September, and he certainly can still be a terrific receiver. But he's also on his fourth team in five seasons, and he's coming off what was far and away the least productive year of his NFL career - a season in which he suffered a pair of concussions within the span of a month.Jayne Kamin-Oncea / Getty ImagesThis also appears to be a year in which the draft is rich with wideouts, and young wideouts on cost-controlled contracts would be especially valuable to a team with a quarterback like Deshaun Watson, who's now eligible for an extension. So, naturally, O'Brien gave up more draft assets to chase an earlier mistake.That's right: In March, O'Brien traded DeAndre Hopkins, one of the game's premier receivers, to the Arizona Cardinals in exchange for a second-round pick and running back David Johnson. Hopkins is coming off a 104-catch season, one year after he did not drop a pass. So let's consider the Texans' return while trying not to die from laughing. First, there's this:

Find line reports, best bets, and subscribe to push notifications in the Betting News section.Former Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was the clear favorite to be the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft before the start of the 2019 college football season. But following a serious hip injury and LSU quarterback Joe Burrow's record-breaking exploits, that's no longer the case.While Tagovailoa may not go first overall, he's still favored to be drafted in the top five. So which team will select Tua? Here are the odds and breakdown of his most likely landing spots.TeamOddsMiami Dolphins-115Los Angeles Chargers+150Washington Redskins+600Jacksonville Jaguars+1200Las Vegas Raiders+1400Detroit Lions+1800Carolina Panthers+2500Cincinnati Bengals+2500Tampa Bay Buccaneers+6000The favoritesThe Miami Dolphins are the -115 favorites and team most often linked to Tagovailoa dating back to last season. The Dolphins hold the No. 5 pick and would strongly consider selecting Tua if he's still available when they are on the clock. Miami has Ryan Fitzpatrick at quarterback, and he's the perfect bridge until Tagovailoa is healthy and ready to play. The biggest obstacle to Miami landing the signal-caller is another team trading up with the Detroit Lions or New York Giants to move ahead of the Dolphins.The Los Angeles Chargers are the team most likely to trade up, and they pick one spot behind Miami. The Chargers made a run at Tom Brady but lost out to Tampa Bay. Like the Dolphins, Los Angeles has a competent quarterback in Tyrod Taylor to start the season, which would allow Tagovailoa to come along slowly. The Chargers have also been linked to former Oregon quarterback Justin Herbert, so there's a chance they sit tight at six and select whichever QB is still on the board.Do any teams offer value? Not really. On paper, the Detroit Lions make sense at No. 3 and are sitting at juicy 18-1 odds. Matthew Stafford is 32 years old and coming off a back injury that cost him eight games last season. The issue with the Lions is that head coach Matt Patricia and general manager Bob Quinn face a make-or-break campaign and must win now. The duo really doesn't have the luxury to select a quarterback for 2021, so the club is more likely to select an impact player that can help it compete immediately.The only other realistic team that's worth a look is the Jacksonville Jaguars at 12-1. The Jaguars only have two quarterbacks on their roster: starter Gardner Minshew and untested backup Josh Dobbs. Based on need, Jacksonville is one of the best fits. But the Jaguars pick ninth, so Tagovailoa must slip or Jacksonville trade into the top five. For a team with the lowest projected win total in 2020, a move up to grab one player isn't likely.Best betLos Angeles Chargers +150It looks to be a two-team race between the Dolphins and Chargers. Miami has a slight edge because it picks one spot earlier, but don't count out a trade up for Los Angeles. The Chargers have a strong roster and can afford to give up a couple picks to leapfrog the Dolphins. Not only would Tagovailoa be a good fit on the field, but he'll become a star off it and help drive ticket sales. Tua is the perfect long-term replacement after the team parted ways with Philip Rivers this offseason. Grab the better odds with the Chargers.Thomas Casale is theScore's supervising editor of sports betting. He's been following the sports betting industry for almost 30 years. A devoted fan of the wishbone offense, Thomas bets on all sports but specializes in college football, NFL, and college basketball. Find him on Twitter @TheTomCasale.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

theScore goes division by division to identify the biggest need for every AFC team ahead of the 2020 NFL Draft, which will be "fully virtual" and take place April 23-25.AFC I NFCAFC EastBuffalo BillsIcon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyBiggest need: Pass-rusherPass-rusher isn't necessarily the Bills' weakest position, but it desperately needs an infusion of youth. Defensive end Shaq Lawson and defensive tackle Jordan Phillips, who combined for 16 of the team's 44 sacks in 2019, left in free agency. Mario Addison was signed to replace Lawson but is 32 years old, while fellow starter Jerry Hughes is 31. If Buffalo is to take control of the AFC East, it needs to find a young, stud pass-rusher despite not owning a first-round pick.Top early-round targets: Curtis Weaver, Josh Uche, Jonathan GreenardMiami DolphinsBiggest need: QuarterbackThe Dolphins need a long-term answer under center, and will likely have to be aggressive to capture the quarterback they covet. Sitting at fifth overall and with two extra first-round picks at its disposal, Miami has no shortage of potential paths to take. Tua Tagovailoa will likely require a trade up to capture, but Justin Herbert should be available at No. 5. If both are gone, the Dolphins could go with the best player available and then target Jordan Love later in the first round.Top early-round targets: Tua Tagovailoa, Justin Herbert, Jordan LoveNew England PatriotsBiggest need: QuarterbackWell, this is new. After 20 years of stability at quarterback due to the presence of Tom Brady, the Patriots are finally in search of a new franchise player at the game's most important position. New England hasn't drafted a quarterback in the first round since Drew Bledsoe in 1993, but that could change as head coach Bill Belichick looks to extend the dynasty by bringing in competition for Jarrett Stidham and Brian Hoyer from the second tier of passers.Top early-round targets: Jordan Love, Jalen Hurts, Jacob EasonNew York JetsBiggest need: Wide receiverThe Jets have plenty of bodies at wide receiver but not nearly enough true playmakers. Breshad Perriman was signed as a free agent, but with the loss of Robby Anderson, the unit remains one of the NFL's weakest. New York should take advantage of a stacked class to find multiple new weapons for Sam Darnold as the quarterback enters a pivotal Year 3. At least one of the trio of elite receiver prospects should be available with the Jets' top selection.Top early-round targets: CeeDee Lamb, Henry Ruggs III, Jerry JeudyAFC NorthBaltimore RavensIcon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyBiggest need: Inside linebackerThe Ravens allowed Patrick Onwuasor and Josh Bynes to walk in free agency, leaving L.J. Fort as the only starting-caliber inside linebacker on the roster. Though safety Chuck Clark can play down in the box, Baltimore would do well to find an upgrade for the middle. The Ravens might not want to use a first-rounder on an inside linebacker, but with two picks in each of the next three rounds, they should be able to snag whichever Day 2 prospect they want.Top early-round targets: Kenneth Murray, Malik Harrison, Troy DyeCincinnati BengalsBiggest need: QuarterbackJoe Burrow has been widely penciled in at No. 1 ever since the Bengals secured the draft's top pick. It's easy to see why. The former LSU star is deadly accurate, a natural leader, and a spectacular downfield thrower despite average arm strength. Could Cincinnati shock the NFL world by trading down for another quarterback or even taking a different one at No. 1 to succeed Andy Dalton? It's highly unlikely but not impossible. Tagovailoa was a contender to go first overall before a hip injury, while some within the Bengals are apparently enamored with Herbert.Top early-round targets: Joe Burrow, Tua Tagovailoa, Justin HerbertCleveland BrownsBiggest need: Left tackleThe Browns found a massive upgrade at right tackle on the free-agent market in signing one-time All-Pro Jack Conklin to a big-money deal. But a protector for Baker Mayfield's blind side is still a must. Luckily for Cleveland, the top of the offensive line class is as good as it's been in years. The Browns own the No. 10 pick, and one of the four premium tackles should fall to them. Andrew Thomas could be a particularly good fit thanks to his advanced run-blocking skills.Top early-round targets: Jedrick Wills Jr., Andrew Thomas, Mekhi BectonPittsburgh SteelersBiggest need: Wide receiverBen Roethlisberger appears on course to return for the start of the 2020 season. But with the other star quarterbacks from the 2004 draft either retired (Eli Manning) or on a downward trend (Philip Rivers), the Steelers should maximize Roethlisberger's remaining window by bolstering his receiving corps. JuJu Smith-Schuster is still capable of being a No. 1 target, but his struggles during an injury-hit 2019 campaign highlighted the need to lessen the weight on the young wideout's shoulders.Top early-round targets: Jalen Reagor, Tee Higgins, Chase ClaypoolAFC SouthHouston TexansIcon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyBiggest need: Pass-rusherThe wheelin' and dealin' Texans addressed their need at wide receiver by trading for Brandin Cooks. While the logic of the deal is questionable and long-term options at the position are still needed, Houston is now able to focus on bolstering its pass rush with its top picks. J.J. Watt is coming off yet another injury and just turned 31 years old, while Whitney Mercilus will never be a double-digit sack artist. The Texans should use their remaining second-round pick on a defensive end to act as a pass-rushing specialist on third downs.Top early-round targets: Josh Uche, Terrell Lewis, Bradlee AnaeIndianapolis ColtsBiggest need: Wide receiverEven with Philip Rivers signed to start for 2020, the Colts need to find Andrew Luck's true successor. But Indy appears to be all-in on winning now, and that won't happen unless Rivers gets more weapons. T.Y. Hilton is 30 and has struggled to stay healthy of late, while Parris Campbell is coming off a poor rookie year that was plagued by injuries. The Colts don't own a first-round pick, but they do have two seconds - Nos. 34 and 44 - with which to snag one of the second-tier wideouts from a talent-rich class.Top early-round targets: Denzel Mims, Michael Pittman Jr., Van JeffersonJacksonville JaguarsBiggest need: CornerbackThe Jaguars' recent fire sale has opened up holes all over the roster. But cornerback is probably the defense's least talented position after Jacksonville traded away Pro Bowlers Jalen Ramsey and A.J. Bouye. D.J. Hayden will man the slot, but the Jaguars need to find at least two outside starting options after the Darqueze Dennard deal fell through. Jacksonville might not believe a cornerback not named Jeff Okudah is worthy of the No. 9 pick, so it could be more likely to target additions to the secondary on Day 2.Top early-round targets: CJ Henderson, A.J. Terrell, Noah IgbinogheneTennessee TitansBiggest need: Pass-rusherThe Titans' most pressing need is the same one it entered free agency with. Tennessee did address the pass rush by signing Vic Beasley, but 2016's league sack leader is much more of a reclamation project than a slam dunk fix. While Harold Landry had nine sacks in his sophomore year, the Titans would be wise not to put too much responsibility on him to carry the pass rush. The AFC South club also traded away Pro Bowl defensive tackle Jurrell Casey, who produced between five and seven sacks in each of the last six seasons.Top early-round targets: Yetur Gross-Matos, A.J. Epenesa, Terrell LewisAFC WestDenver BroncosJoe Amon/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images / Denver Post / GettyBiggest need: Wide receiverThe Broncos failed to address their weakness at wide receiver through free agency, but many teams adopted the same strategy knowing how talented this year's draft class is. A dream scenario for Denver would be to pair speedster Henry Ruggs III with their big-bodied standout, Courtland Sutton. But even if the hyped former Alabama star doesn't fall, the Broncos should still have a choice of several intriguing options to help Drew Lock in Year 2.Top early-round targets: Henry Ruggs III, Denzel Mims, Justin JeffersonKansas City ChiefsBiggest need: CornerbackThe Chiefs recently re-signed Bashaud Breeland, but the veteran cornerback only inked a one-year deal. The Super Bowl champions need long-term options so that Patrick Mahomes and the explosive passing attack have a solid counter-punch in shootouts. Kansas City should be able to find a cornerback capable of starting from Day 1 at the very end of the first round.Top early-round targets: Jaylon Johnson, Trevon Diggs, Kristian FultonLas Vegas RaidersBiggest need: Wide receiverLike many other AFC teams, the Raiders will enter the draft looking to add to their group of pass-catchers. The Antonio Brown experiment was a disaster, Tyrell Williams struggled with injuries after signing a big-money deal, and free-agent signing Nelson Agholor was brought in as depth and not to start. Sophomore Hunter Renfrow has the slot position locked down, so Las Vegas now has to find another youngster to build its passing attack around - likely with the No. 12 pick.Top early-round targets: CeeDee Lamb, Jerry Jeudy, Henry Ruggs IIILos Angeles ChargersBiggest need: QuarterbackThe Philip Rivers era is over, and unless the Chargers want to keep playing in front of disappointingly small crowds in their new shared stadium in Los Angeles, Tyrod Taylor can't be the starter for 2020. Owning the sixth overall pick, the Chargers will likely need an aggressive move to secure Tagovailoa, and Herbert isn't guaranteed to fall, either. L.A. could also fill its other major need at left tackle with the No. 6 selection and then trade up to nab Love later in the first round.Top early-round targets: Tua Tagovaolia, Justin Herbert, Jordan LoveCopyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Here, theScore goes division by division to identify the biggest need for every NFC team ahead of the 2020 NFL Draft, which will be "fully virtual" and take place April 23-25.AFC I NFCNFC EastDallas CowboysJoe Robbins / Getty Images Sport / GettyBiggest need: CornerbackThe Cowboys have a thin secondary after losing Byron Jones to the Miami Dolphins, who made him the highest-paid cornerback in the NFL. His departure leaves Anthony Brown, Chidobe Awuzie, and Jourdan Lewis atop the depth chart in Dallas, and the last two are scheduled to hit free agency in 2021. The Cowboys don't have many glaring holes that apply to both the short and long term, but cornerback is certainly one of them.Top early round targets: CJ Henderson, Trevon Diggs, Kristian FultonNew York GiantsBiggest need: Offensive tackleTwo years into his four-year, $62-million contract, Nate Solder has proven to be more of an expensive miscalculation than a solution at left tackle. His mate on the other side of the line, Mike Remmers, was equally inefficient at right tackle last year. Combined, Solder and Remmers allowed more quarterback pressures in 2019 than any other tackle duo in the league, according to PFF. The Giants can either solve the problem at No. 4 overall or address another need in the opening round and pick a tackle early in Day 2.Top early round targets: Jedrick Wills Jr., Tristan Wirfs, Lucas NiangPhiladelphia EaglesBiggest need: Wide receiverThe Eagles received little production from their wide receivers last season - none of them reached 500 yards. Granted, the receiving corps suffered from injuries, but Alshon Jeffery and DeSean Jackson have had durability issues throughout their careers and they're only getting older. General manager Howie Roseman acknowledged after the season his roster needs an injection of youth, and that line of thinking should apply to the wide receiver position more than any other.Top early round targets: Denzel Mims, Tee Higgins, Justin JeffersonWashington RedskinsBiggest need: CornerbackThe Redskins wisely parted ways with the expensive and rapidly regressing Josh Norman. But the decision to trade Quinton Dunbar - the only cornerback who played well in 2019 - for just a fifth-round pick was questionable. While Washington signed Kendall Fuller to start alongside Fabian Moreau, an infusion of youthful upside is needed. The Redskins are all but certain to draft pass-rusher Chase Young with the No. 2 overall pick, but it's possible they look to trade down and target top cornerback prospect Jeff Okudah.Top early round targets: Jeff Okudah, Damon Arnette, Amik RobertsonNFC NorthChicago BearsJonathan Daniel / Getty Images Sport / GettyBiggest need: Wide receiverThe real need here might be quarterback, but the Bears are in no position to draft one. As a result, they'll have to do the next best thing: add weapons. Chicago's recent wide receiver picks - Riley Ridley, Anthony Miller, and even Kevin White in 2015 - haven't paid dividends. With only two selections in the first five rounds (No. 43 and 50 overall), the Bears can't afford to whiff if they are going to bring explosiveness to this struggling offense.Top early round targets: Brandon Aiyuk, Tyler Johnson, Michael Pittman Jr.Detroit LionsBiggest need: CornerbackMatt Patricia's disdain for the blitz means he needs better coverage on the back end. Improvements at cornerback became even more urgent this offseason when the Lions traded Darius Slay and replaced him with an inferior Desmond Trufant. Detroit and Jeff Okudah seem like a perfect marriage, though there's a chance the Lions could wait until the second round if Chase Young slips past the second overall pick.Top early round targets: Jeff Okudah, Kristian Fulton, Jeff GladneyGreen Bay PackersBiggest need: Wide receiverThe Packers have invested plenty on the defensive side over the last year or so, and now it's time for them to fortify the offense. Other than Davante Adams, Aaron Rodgers hasn't had a pass-catcher he can trust for a number of years. Given the depth of the wide receiver class in this draft, it wouldn't be a surprise if Green Bay bypasses the position in Round 1. But the Packers should come away with another weapon for Rodgers by the end of Day 2, likely one capable of making plays down the field.Top early round targets: Tee Higgins, Jalen Reagor, KJ HamlerMinnesota VikingsBiggest need: Wide receiverThe Stefon Diggs trade left a massive hole in the Vikings' lineup and it's unlikely his replacement is already on the roster. Minnesota did sign Tajae Sharpe, but the former Tennessee Titans wideout hasn't had 500 yards since his rookie year in 2016. Even when they had Diggs and Adam Thielen, the Vikings suffered from the absence of a viable third option in the passing game. Minnesota has too much invested in Kirk Cousins at quarterback not to give him sufficient help.Top early round targets: Tee Higgins, Justin Jefferson, Van JeffersonNFC SouthIcon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyAtlanta FalconsBiggest need: CornerbackThe Falcons were roasted in coverage last season, and while a poor pass rush was also at fault, most of the blame can be attributed to the play at cornerback. Atlanta released longtime standout Desmond Trufant after the veteran regressed over the last two seasons, leaving the inconsistent duo of Isaiah Oliver and Blidi Wreh-Wilson as the starters and intriguing sophomore Kendall Sheffield in the slot for 2020. The Falcons should hope CJ Henderson, the No. 2 cornerback in the draft, falls to them at No. 16 overall.Top early round targets: CJ Henderson, Kristian Fulton, Trevon DiggsCarolina PanthersBiggest need: Defensive tackleThe Panthers have many needs, but they might as well start in the trenches where games are typically won and lost. The exit of Gerald McCoy and Dontari Poe means Carolina is particularly thin up front. Even with those two, the Panthers were gashed frequently in the running game a year ago. Carolina has a young pass-rusher to build for the future with Brian Burns, but needs more meat in the middle of the defensive line.Top early round targets: Derrick Brown, Javon Kinlaw, Justin MadubuikeNew Orleans SaintsBiggest need: LinebackerA.J. Klein bolted in free agency, leaving Demario Davis as the only reliable veteran returning to the middle of the Saints' defense. New Orleans has been trying to upgrade at linebacker for years, evidenced by its acquisition of Kiko Alonso last preseason and selection of high-upside prospect Alex Anzalone in 2017. Both are set to come back, but Alonso is recovering from the third ACL tear of his career, while Anzalone hasn't been able to shake off the injury issues that plagued him in college. Davis, Alonso, and Anzalone are all entering contract years.Top early round targets: Patrick Queen, Zack Baun, Kenneth MurrayTampa Bay BuccaneersBiggest need: Offensive tackleWhile Tom Brady might be the best quarterback at mitigating pressure with his IQ and pocket presence, he'll be 43 by the time the season starts. The Bucs have a solid offensive line with an especially strong interior, but they can't risk losing any time during this two-year window. Free-agent signing Joe Haeg is better suited to serve as a swing tackle rather than a starter, while the team could also upgrade from decent left tackle Donovan Smith.Top early round targets: Andrew Thomas, Josh Jones, Austin JacksonNFC WestArizona CardinalsIcon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyBiggest need: Offensive lineKyler Murray was sacked 48 times last season, tied for third-most in the league. While Murray should get better at avoiding pressure in his sophomore season, the Cardinals should still do all they can to improve the protection of their diminutive quarterback after only re-signing left tackle D.J. Humphries in free agency. At No. 8 overall, Arizona should be able to land one of the draft's premier offensive tackles.Top early round targets: Tristan Wirfs, Mekhi Becton, Andrew ThomasLos Angeles RamsBiggest need: Offensive lineThe Rams' offensive line fell apart in 2019. After being one of the league's best pass-protection units the year before, it was ranked 31st in the metric by PFF last season. Left tackle Andrew Whitworth was re-signed, though the Rams didn't have many other options. The 38-year-old suddenly became a penalty machine in 2019, and a long-term option needs to be found immediately.Top early round targets: Nick Harris, Isaiah Wilson, Jonah JacksonSan Francisco 49ersBiggest need: Wide receiverAfter watching Emmanuel Sanders leave in free agency, the 49ers need to again address the wide receiver position if they're to make it back to the Super Bowl. Sophomore Deebo Samuel had an impressive rookie season, racking up 802 yards, but his play did significantly improve after the midseason acquisition of Sanders. San Francisco owns the No. 13 and No. 31 pick after sending DeForest Buckner to the Colts, so it has more than enough ammo.Top early round targets: Jerry Jeudy, Henry Ruggs III, Denzel MimsSeattle SeahawksBiggest need: Pass rushEven if the Seahawks are able to re-sign Jadeveon Clowney, their pass rush is among the weakest in the league. The team ranked 31st in sacks last season and doesn't seem optimistic about its chances of bringing back the former Pro Bowl pass-rusher. The Seahawks can't expect to compete for a Super Bowl with Bruce Irvin, 2019 first-rounder L.J. Collier (a non-factor as a rookie), Benson Mayowa, and Rasheem Green at defensive end.Top early round targets: Zabari Zuniga, Josh Uche, Yetur Gross-MatosCopyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Seattle Seahawks' top two running backs - Chris Carson and Rashaad Penny - both suffered major injuries toward the end of the 2019 campaign, but offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer is confident the duo will be healthy and effective this season."I feel really good about both of those guys coming back," Schottenheimer said on Sports Radio 950 KJR. "Obviously, they both had significant injuries. Chris has been through some injuries before. I think it was his rookie year before I got here he had the leg fracture. I think he'll be great. It sounds like they're doing well when we get our updates from those guys."Rashaad (is) a guy that really hasn't had to deal with that adversity before but I think that we really saw him mature last year. He was really playing terrific football for us. We saw a difference with just the way he practiced, the way he prepared. Nobody wants to see their players get injured, but the injury happened at a time where he was really kind of peaking and feeling great about himself and maturing as a young man and as a football player and I think that's just going to lead into him having a terrific rehab as well."Carson set career highs with 1,230 rushing yards, 37 catches, and 266 receiving yards before fracturing his hip in Seattle's regular-season finale. He's questionable for the start of training camp.Penny, meanwhile, tore his ACL in Week 14. The Seahawks were forced to turn to C.J. Prosise, Robert Turbin, and Marshawn Lynch with their top two tailbacks sidelined. All three are not currently on the roster.Seattle's backfield also features 2019 sixth-round pick Travis Homer, who is expected to supplement Carson and Penny this year."It's a good group (of running backs)," Schottenheimer said. "We'll see where those guys come back when we actually come back and have a chance to be together with them but my money is on both those guys to bounce back from those injuries."- h/t to Pro Football TalkCopyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Carolina Panthers are signing running back Christian McCaffrey to a four-year, $64-million contract extension, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.The reported deal will average $16 million annually and make McCaffrey the highest-paid running back in NFL history. He'll be under contract through the 2025 season, as the extension will be added to the two years remaining on his first-round rookie deal from 2017 (including the fifth-year option), The Athletic's Joe Person reports."I'm so excited to continue my career in Carolina," McCaffrey said, according to Schefter. "I want to thank (owner) Mr. (David) Tepper, Marty Hurney, and coach (Matt) Rhule for the opportunity to help lead this great franchise, and to all my teammates for their help along the way. And to Panthers fans, keep pounding!"Dallas Cowboys superstar Ezekiel Elliott entered the offseason as the position's highest-paid player after signing a six-year, $90-million deal ($15 million annually) this past September.McCaffrey is coming off his best NFL campaign. The 23-year-old established career highs in 2019 by leading the league in touches (403), scrimmage yards (2,392), and touchdowns (19) to earn his first career Pro Bowl and first-team All-Pro nods.For his career, the Stanford product has averaged 973 yards and eight touchdowns on the ground per 16 games played. He's added an average of 101 receptions for 841 yards and five scores a season.McCaffrey is the only player in NFL history to amass 2,500 rushing yards and 2,500 receiving yards over his first three pro seasons.The Panthers are set to begin a new era in 2020. They hired Rhule to replace Ron Rivera after parting ways with the latter midway through last season after almost nine years. Carolina also released former MVP Cam Newton this offseason, signing quarterback Teddy Bridgewater to a three-year deal as his replacement.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

As the New England Patriots embark on their post-Tom Brady era, the franchise could look to the upcoming draft for its next long-term quarterback.This year's crop of potential first-round picks includes Joe Burrow, Tua Tagovailoa, Justin Herbert, and Jordan Love.The Patriots own the 23rd overall selection, so those passers may not be available, but the talent doesn't end with those four names."There's a lot of interesting players and guys who have really good arms, can really throw the ball, and some very athletic players, some players that have won a lot of games and have shown their competitiveness and instinctiveness. So, interesting group and probably one that has decent depth to it," Belichick said Monday in a pre-draft conference call.For the past two decades, the Patriots operated under the same system with Brady as their quarterback. Now that players at the position are becoming more athletic - including the past two NFL MVPs, Patrick Mahomes and Lamar Jackson - New England may have to consider a future with such a QB."Over the last two decades, everything we did, every single decision we made in terms of major planning, was made with the idea of how to make things best for Tom Brady," Belichick said.He added, "I don't really see that changing: Whoever the quarterback is, we'll try to make things work smoothly and efficiently for that player and take advantage of his strengths and skills. ... Each quarterback has a different skill set, and whatever things that particular player does well, we'll try to work towards and feature, or at least give him an opportunity to do those."The quarterbacks currently atop the Patriots' depth chart are veteran Brian Hoyer and second-year pro Jarrett Stidham, and Belichick is comfortable with letting the two compete for the starting job."I think we - (offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels) and myself - certainly have a pretty good feel for both those players," the coach said. "The circumstances will be different this year and we'll see how everything plays out. But again, to start with, I think the main thing is to give everyone a chance to compete, to get comfortable with the position and the skills that they're playing, the communication that's involved."Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find out the latest on COVID-19's impact on the sports world and when sports are returning by subscribing to Breaking News push notifications in the Sports and COVID-19 section.The NFL and the players' association reached an agreement on a "virtual" offseason program amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the NFLPA announced Monday.The virtual period can begin April 20, though no on-field work can take place until all 32 club facilities are reopened, sources told Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. Moreover, the NFL won't open team facilities until all 50 states remove lockdown orders, according to Charles Robinson of Yahoo Sports.

The Miami Dolphins aren't prepared to go all-in for Joe Burrow.Dolphins general manager Chris Grier and head coach Brian Flores "are very much against trading the farm" to the Cincinnati Bengals for the Heisman-winning quarterback despite a desire to do so from others within the organization, reports Peter King of NBC Sports.Burrow has been widely penciled in as the Bengals' No. 1 overall selection in the 2020 NFL Draft ever since he led LSU to a national championship to cap off a historic senior campaign.However, there have been rumblings the Dolphins - who own three first-round selections, including No. 5 overall - are interested in acquiring the Bengals' top pick. Dolphins owner Stephen Ross is reportedly a fan of Burrow, though King doesn't expect him to force his football staff into trading up.While Miami isn't eyeing a move for Burrow, it is considered one of the most likely potential landing spots for one of the two other top quarterback prospects, Tua Tagovailoa and Justin Herbert.It was reported in February the Dolphins don't view Tagovailoa as a "slam dunk" near the top of the draft, while their opinion of Herbert has become "increasingly positive."Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Some of the greatest nicknames have come from the sports world. We all know "The Great One," "Teddy Ballgame," "Black Mamba," and "Broadway Joe." Here, test your knowledge on some of the best and lesser-known sports monikers.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tarvaris Jackson, a former NFL quarterback and an assistant coach at Tennessee State, died Sunday night in a single-vehicle car crash, a police spokesperson confirmed to ESPN's Courtney Cronin.Jackson was 36.The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency said the collision occurred a few miles south of Montgomery when Jackson's automobile left the roadway, struck a tree, and overturned, according to USA TODAY Sports' Tom Schad.Jackson played 10 years in the NFL, spending time with the Minnesota Vikings, Seattle Seahawks, and Buffalo Bills. The Vikings drafted him in the second round in 2006 following a standout career at Alabama State. He attended Arkansas before transferring to the Hornets.In five seasons with Minnesota, Jackson started 20 contests plus a playoff game in 2008. He was relegated to the bench in 2009 once the Vikings acquired Brett Favre."The entire Vikings family is saddened by the news of Tarvaris Jackson being taken from us too soon," the club said in a statement. "One of Tarvaris' greatest attributes was his positive outlook and approach. He genuinely cared about others, was a good friend and will be missed by family, teammates and Vikings fans everywhere. We send our deepest condolences to his family."Jackson joined the Seahawks in 2011 and started 14 games that year. He returned to Seattle in 2013 and backed up Russell Wilson. Jackson entered Super Bowl XLVIII late with the Seahawks routing the Denver Broncos.

The Indianapolis Colts will have a slightly different look when they take the field in 2020.The club unveiled revised uniforms Monday featuring a new number font. The standard block numbers on the Colts' jerseys have been updated to the serifed numbers recently used on the team's Color Rush uniform.

Find line reports, best bets, and subscribe to push notifications in the Betting News section.With all of the hype surrounding this year's quarterback and wide receiver classes, it's easy to overlook the group of offensive linemen in next week's NFL draft. That's a mistake, as four linemen have top-10 upside, and it's one of the only position groups without a prohibitive favorite.Iowa tackle Tristan Wirfs (+100) leads the field, but narrowly so, with Louisville's Mekhi Becton (+250), Alabama's Jedrick Wills Jr. (+275), and Georgia's Andrew Thomas close behind. Here are the odds for the first OL selected in the draft and the best value play:PLAYERODDSTristan Wirfs+100Mekhi Becton+250Jedrick Wills Jr.+275Andrew Thomas+850Josh Jones+2500Austin Jackson+6000Ezra Cleveland+6000Tristan Wirfs (+100)Wirfs is the first lineman off the board in most mock drafts - with many slotting him in at No. 4 to the New York Giants - thanks to a stellar combine. A three-year starter at Iowa, Wirfs has experience in complex blocking schemes and will likely be an immediate contributor for whichever team selects him.However, there's one drawback. Many see Wirfs as a guard at the next level, and scouts tend to rank him as the second- or third-best lineman in the class even as they project him to go first. Will that affect draft-day perceptions? It's nice value at even money, but don't bet the farm.Mekhi Becton (+250)This is my favorite value on the board. Becton's rare blend of size, speed, and upside screams early pick - I mean, did you see his combine? He's generating more buzz ahead of the draft than most top linemen do in any year. If the Giants pass on Wirfs at No. 4, Becton has "first offensive lineman taken" written all over him.Jedrick Wills Jr. (+275)Wills is a monster in the run game and as skilled as Wirfs with the potential dominance of Becton. However, he projects as a right tackle, which hurts his draft stock, and his developing pass protection likely won't compel a team to reach for him in a deep class. Don't place your money here.Andrew Thomas (+850)Thomas has fallen as far as No. 14 in mock drafts, even though he's regarded as a consensus top-three prospect and even No. 1 in this class by many respected draftniks - it wasn't long ago when Thomas had respectable odds to go first overall. It's a long shot, but the odds should probably be shorter than they are.C Jackson Cowart is a betting writer for theScore. He's an award-winning journalist with stops at The Charlotte Observer, The San Diego Union-Tribune, The Times Herald-Record, and BetChicago. He's also a proud graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill, and his love of sweet tea is rivaled only by that of a juicy prop bet. Find him on Twitter @CJacksonCowart.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find line reports, best bets, and subscribe to push notifications in the Betting News section.The New England Patriots have been the talk of the NFL offseason after quarterback Tom Brady left the team and headed to Tampa Bay. Many believe the loss of Brady signals the end of the Patriots' run as Super Bowl contenders but oddsmakers disagree. Bill Belichick opened as the overwhelming +1000 favorite to win NFL Coach of the Year, an early indication that the betting market isn't ready to bury the Patriots quite yet.Belichick has been named NFL Coach of the Year three times but hasn't won the award since 2010. If he receives the honor for the fourth time, it'll likely mean the Patriots made it to the playoffs once again. Since 1991, only one coach - Bruce Arians in 2012 - has won the award by recording fewer than 10 victories, and he was in a unique position because he served as the Indianapolis Colts' interim coach for 12 games, going 9-3.While Belichick is the clear favorite, one of his old assistants is tied for the longest odds to win the award. Houston's Bill O'Brien is a long shot at 50-1 after trading away receiver DeAndre Hopkins. He's joined by Doug Marrone (Jaguars), Adam Gase (Jets), and Matt Patricia (Lions) as the coaches with the longest odds.Here is a complete list of the NFL Coach of the Year odds, along with three early bets to consider.Coach Team OddsBill BelichickPatriots+1000Kyle Shanahan49ers+1600Mike VrabelTitans+1600Bruce AriansBuccaneers+2000Kliff KingsburyCardinals+2000Mike McCarthyCowboys+2000Sean McDermottBills+2000Frank ReichColts+2000Andy ReidChiefs+2000Kevin StefanskiBrowns+2000John HarbaughRavens+2200Sean PaytonSaints+2200Vic FangioBroncos+2500Brian FloresDolphins+2500Sean McVayRams+2500Zac TaylorBengals+2500Mike TomlinSteelers+2500Pete CarrollSeahawks+2800Anthony LynnChargers+2800Doug PedersonEagles+2800Ron RiveraRedskins+2800Matt LaFleurPackers+3000Dan QuinnFalcons+3000Mike ZimmerVikings+3000Jon GrudenRaiders+4000Joe JudgeGiants+4000Matt NagyBears+4000Matt RhulePanthers+4000Adam GaseJets+5000Doug MarroneJaguars+5000Bill O'BrienTexans+5000Matt PatriciaLions+5000Mike McCarthy +2000McCarthy enters a good situation in Dallas. After spending a year out of football, the former Green Bay Packers coach takes over a talented but underachieving Cowboys team. Dallas recorded double-digit wins just three times in 10 years under Jason Garrett. If McCarthy gets the Cowboys to play up to their potential and turns them into legitimate Super Bowl contenders, he'll be a strong candidate to win the award.Sean McDermott +2000The Buffalo Bills are a team a lot of people like in 2020 and for good reason. Buffalo has quietly built one of the most talented rosters in the NFL over the last three seasons and is pushing to become one of the AFC's elite teams after winning 10 games in 2019. McDermott has taken Buffalo to the playoffs in two of his first three seasons, and should the Bills finally unseat New England in the AFC East, he'll be one of the favorites to win the award.Mike Tomlin +2500If there is one guy bettors should consider jumping on early, it's Tomlin. He could have won the award last season after leading the Steelers to within a game of the playoffs, despite losing starting quarterback Ben Roethlisberger to an elbow injury in Week 1. Pittsburgh is expected to field one of the NFL's top defenses, and if Big Ben stays healthy, the Steelers can push the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC North. Tomlin has never been named NFL Coach of the Year but at 25-1, he's the best value on the board. Expect his odds to shorten as we get closer to the start of the season.Thomas Casale is theScore's supervising editor of sports betting. He's been following the sports betting industry for almost 30 years. A devoted fan of the wishbone offense, Thomas bets on all sports but specializes in college football, NFL, and college basketball. Find him on Twitter @TheTomCasale.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It's been an offseason with mixed emotions for San Francisco 49ers defensive lineman Arik Armstead.Armstead received a five-year, $85-million extension from the 49ers. But then his longtime teammate DeForest Buckner was traded to the Indianapolis Colts, a move that surprised him."I didn't have any knowledge of it, so I signed and then I heard of that, so it was a shock to me," Armstead said in an interview on KNBR 680's "Papa and Lund."The Colts dealt their 2020 first-round pick for Buckner, who received a new four-year, $84-million deal from Indianapolis."You know, I was confused and I didn't really expect that," Armstead said. "Super excited and happy for him. Me and him actually have been working out for a few weeks now, so we've been able to hang out and talk about it. God works in mysterious ways and we both believe things happen for a reason."It's going to be weird not playing alongside each other anymore like we have done for about eight years, but I know he's going to do amazing things up there with the Colts. I'm super happy for him."Armstead and Buckner have shared the field since their time together at Oregon from 2012 to 2014. San Francisco then reunited the two defensive linemen in the NFL after selecting them during the first round in back-to-back drafts in 2015 and 2016, respectively.Over the last four seasons, the duo combined for 45.5 sacks and 111 quarterback hits, with Buckner accounting for 28.5 and 74.The 49ers hold two first-round picks for the third time in the last five seasons. They're currently scheduled to make selections with the 13th and 31st overall picks in 2020.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

theScore's Mike Alessandrini and Dan Wilkins break down the top edge prospects in the upcoming 2020 NFL Draft as part of a position-by-position series.QB | RB | WR | TE | OL

Find out the latest on COVID-19's impact on the sports world and when sports are returning by subscribing to Breaking News push notifications in the Sports and COVID-19 section.NFL commissioner Roger Goodell will announce the 2020 first-round draft picks from the basement of his house in Bronxville, New York, according to Peter King of NBC Sports.The league is being forced to operate the draft virtually this year because of the coronavirus pandemic.It's unclear how the league is planning to announce the remainder of the draft selections. Goodell normally only reads the first-round picks but is present throughout the other six rounds.The Cincinnati Bengals hold the first selection of the draft, which begins April 23.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find line reports, best bets, and subscribe to push notifications in the Betting News section.There are plenty of factors to consider when finding an edge in the win totals market: continuity, divisional competition, regression in close games. Yet one of the biggest and most overlooked factors is strength of schedule.Last year, the Patriots dominated the first half of the season despite underwhelming play in key areas. Sure enough, they entered the year with the second-easiest schedule in the league. And what about the Raiders and Broncos, who both showed promise but finished below .500? Perhaps the toughest schedules in the league played a role.Here are a few teams' win totals from theScore Bet that might be worth taking a look at when considering their respective strength of schedules, which are based on their opponents' combined 2019 win percentage.Easy schedulesBaltimore Ravens (O/U 11.5, 32nd SOS)As if you needed another reason to go over on the Ravens, here's a great one: They don't play anybody. By virtue of drawing the muddled AFC South and NFC East, Baltimore only faces five playoff teams from a year ago, and at least two of them (the Patriots and Texans) are clear regression candidates. The win total is a big number to hit, but a cupcake schedule should help.Dallas Cowboys (O/U 9.5, 30th SOS)If you can't decide between the Cowboys and Eagles at 9.5 wins, consider their schedules: Dallas gets to play the Falcons and Vikings, while Philly is stuck with the Saints and Packers. The Cowboys were already solid over candidates based on 2019 advanced stats but should enjoy a few easy wins along the way.Cleveland Browns (O/U 8.5, 29th SOS)The Browns deserved plenty of criticism a year ago, but they still showed flashes against what ended up being one of the toughest schedules in the NFL. Now they get a third-place schedule with the same easy divisional matchups as the Ravens. Positive regression is looming.Hard schedulesNew England Patriots (O/U 9, 1st SOS)Reaching nine wins was already going to be a challenge after losing key players and coaching staff members from 2019. But the toughest schedule in football won't do any favors for the Patriots, who benefited from arguably the easiest slate a year ago. This doesn't factor in improvements for teams within the division, either, which is a new obstacle for New England.San Francisco 49ers (O/U 10.5, 4th SOS)Don't get me wrong, I love the 49ers this year, and it's hard not to like the over on a team built like a dynasty. But the schedule is a concern. Despite tough intra-divisional competition a year ago, the Niners had the easiest schedule of any NFC West team. That won't be the case this year, and it could cost San Fran one or two wins you'll need to clear this high bar.Atlanta Falcons (O/U 7.5, T-5 SOS)Here's the good news: The Falcons won seven games last year against one of the tougher slates in football. The bad news? Their schedule is just as difficult this year, and that doesn't account for the likely jump from divisional rival Tampa Bay. Don't buy into the Atlanta hype, especially not with this schedule.C Jackson Cowart is a betting writer for theScore. He's an award-winning journalist with stops at The Charlotte Observer, The San Diego Union-Tribune, The Times Herald-Record, and BetChicago. He's also a proud graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill, and his love of sweet tea is rivaled only by that of a juicy prop bet. Find him on Twitter @CJacksonCowart.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

LeSean McCoy is looking to sign with a contender and hopes to play two more seasons in the NFL, the veteran running back said Friday on SiriusXM NFL Radio."I have a couple teams that I'm looking at, I'm just waiting for the right moment," he said. "This stuff is tricky now, because there's no visits, there's no real activities with the teams as much as it used to be. The thing I can control is just making the right choice, going to an offense that fits. I want to go to a team that's a winning franchise that has all the right pieces that's waiting for me, that veteran running back to help the room out, to add a spark. The teams that I'm looking at right now are those teams."McCoy spent the 2019 season with the Kansas City Chiefs, inking a one-year deal following his preseason release from the Buffalo Bills. He rushed for 465 yards and four touchdowns, averaging 4.6 yards per carry in a limited role.The 31-year-old added that he expects to sign a contract "probably after the draft or right before the draft."McCoy saw his playing time regress last year as the season progressed. He was a healthy scratch for Super Bowl LIV, where the Chiefs defeated the San Francisco 49ers.But he believes he still has enough gas in the tank to stick around in the league for a couple of more years."I talk to Frank (Gore) about this," he said. "He always tells me: 'Never put a ceiling on your career. Hey, if you feel good after this year and you do well, do another one year, and vice versa. If it doesn't go well, just let your body talk to you.' My body feels fine."McCoy has split his 11-year career between the Philadelphia Eagles, Bills, and Chiefs. The Pitt product was recently named to the NFL's 2010s All-Decade Team.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find out the latest on COVID-19's impact on the sports world and when sports are returning by subscribing to Breaking News push notifications in the Sports and COVID-19 section.Police did not confirm reports that Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott ignored social distancing mandates to host a party Friday night."The Prosper Police Department did respond to the Prescott residence after receiving a report of a potential 'party,'" assistant chief Scott M. Brewer said, according to Drew Davison of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. "The officer was unable to verify the report of a 'party.' Therefore, he just reminded the resident of the current CDC guidelines - to include social distancing."It was reported Saturday that Prescott had at least 30 guests at his house the night prior, including Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott.In response to the COVID-19 crisis, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed an executive order on March 31 that requires every person in the state to "minimize social gatherings and minimize in-person contact with people who are not in the same household."Two weeks earlier, President Donald Trump suggested Americans should limit group gatherings to 10 people.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

theScore's Mike Alessandrini and Dan Wilkins break down the top interior defensive line prospects in the upcoming 2020 NFL Draft as part of a position-by-position series.QB | RB | WR | TE | OL

We don't often see a wide receiver class featuring as many special, high-ceiling prospects as the group we're seeing in 2020. With two potential top-10 superstars, a handful of pass-catchers worthy of first-round consideration, and an impressive depth of talent in the later rounds, 2020's class of wide receivers might finally be the crop to meet expectations after some disappointing wideout recruiting in recent years.As NFL teams prepare to select from an exceptionally promising group of wide receivers, theScore examines the best wide receiver classes of the common draft era (since 1967) and the most notable selections from each.* = Hall of FamerHonorable mentions: 1979, 1998, 2003, 2011, 201310. 1976PickNameTeam54Sammy WhiteVikings65Dave LoganBrowns79Henry MarshallChiefs80Duriel HarrisDolphins114Pat TilleyCardinals117Steve Largent*OilersThe 1976 NFL Draft wasn't expected to yield an especially impressive group of wide receivers, as only three were selected in the first two rounds. But several mid-round selections became standouts over the course of their careers, including one of the league's all-time greats in Largent. Boasting mind-blowing catching ability, Largent held several league records by the time he retired in 1989, including most receptions (819), receiving yards (13,089), and touchdowns (100).Arthur Anderson / Getty Images Sport / GettyThe 1976 class also had solid contributors in Tilley and Marshall, both of whom amassed 400 career receptions, and White, an Offensive Rookie of the Year and two-time Pro Bowler.9. 1991Pick Name Team10Herman MooreLions13Mike PritchardFalcons46Jeff GrahamSteelers68Jake ReedVikings83Ed McCaffreyGiants100Rocket IsmailRaiders141Michael JacksonBrowns240Shawn JeffersonOilers326Keenan McCardellRedskinsExcluding the draft classes of the 2000s, the group of wide receivers selected in 1991 is the only one on this list that currently lacks a Hall of Famer. But while the 1991 NFL Draft might not have included any all-time great wideouts, it did feature one of the position's deepest classes ever, with several reliable starters and four Pro Bowlers.McCardell went from a 12th-round selection who was cut after his first season to leading his draft class in career catches (883), yards (11,373), and touchdowns (63). Moore, meanwhile, owned every major receiving record for the Lions until Calvin Johnson entered the league. McCaffrey and Graham also topped 500 career receptions apiece. Though he went undrafted, Willie Davis was a member of the 1991 class and enjoyed a solid eight-season career that included the league's yards-per-catch lead in 1992.8. 1978PickNameTeam3Wes ChandlerSaints6James Lofton*Packers14John JeffersonChargers98Mike RenfroOilers167Alfred JacksonFalcons197Derrick GaffneyJetsYou won't find a deep, Pro Bowler-loaded crop of wide receivers by examining the players taken in the 1978 NFL Draft. What you will see, though, is a few wideouts who were among the NFL's elite for multiple seasons throughout their careers.Lofton, an unquestionably deserving Hall of Famer, made the Pro Bowl eight times during his 16-season career and became the first player in NFL history to eclipse 14,000 receiving yards. Chandler, whose average of 129 receiving yards per game in 1982 is still an all-time high, led the league in both yards and touchdowns that year. Jefferson led the NFL in those two categories in 1980 and amassed a league-high 36 scores from 1978-80.7. 2010PickNameTeam22Demaryius ThomasBroncos24Dez BryantCowboys60Golden TateSeahawks78Brandon LaFellPanthers82Emmanuel SandersSteelers87Eric DeckerBroncos195Antonio BrownSteelersUndraftedVictor CruzGiantsThe biggest name of the 2010 wide receiver class is Brown, who displayed pure talent during his time with the Steelers and put himself in Hall of Fame discussions. If it wasn't for his off-field issues, he'd easily eclipse 1,000 catches, 10,000 yards, and 100 touchdowns for his career, something just six wideouts have achieved.Diamond Images / Diamond Images / GettyThe 2010 NFL Draft also featured several reliable wideouts who made important Super Bowl contributions in Thomas, Tate, Sanders, and Cruz. Additionally, there were a couple of very good starters in Decker and especially Bryant. Overall, this group has combined for 17 Pro Bowl berths and six first-team All-Pro selections.6. 2001Pick Name Team9Koren RobinsonSeahawks16Santana MossJets30Reggie WayneColts36Chad JohnsonBengals52Chris ChambersDolphins74Steve SmithPanthers204T.J. HoushmandzadehBengalsOnly four drafts in the common era have produced more than a single Hall of Fame wide receiver. The 2001 class is likely to become No. 5 someday when both Wayne and Smith are recognized for their outstanding careers. But while two all-time greats shine brightest here, the 2001 draft yielded impressive wideout depth overall.Ochocinco's performances were constantly overshadowed by off-field issues and Moss flew under the radar during most of his 14 pro seasons, but don't forget that both amassed 700-10,000-60 receiving lines over the course of their careers. Houshmandzadeh and Chambers also recorded solid NFL stints, especially the former, who led the league with 294 receptions from 2006-08 (including a season-high 112 receptions in 2007).5. 1974PickNameTeam21Lynn Swann*Steelers24Roger CarrColts78Nat MooreDolphins82John Stallworth*Steelers174Freddie ScottColts232Sam McCullumVikings365Billy JohnsonOilersThe Steelers had perhaps the strongest draft class in NFL history in 1974 when they selected four future Hall of Famers (a fifth, Donnie Shell, would join them as an undrafted rookie). Among this impressive group were two outstanding wide receivers: Swann and Stallworth. They helped Pittsburgh win four Super Bowl titles, with the former earning Super Bowl MVP honors on one occasion. Stallworth, meanwhile, led this class in both receptions (537) and yards (8,723).Though that production might not stand out compared to modern stat lines, the relatively modest totals can be attributed to how football was played back then. The 1974 wide receiver class also featured another 500-catch receiver in Moore and a multi-year Pro Bowler in Johnson, who shined despite being drafted in the 15th round.4. 2014PickNameTeam4Sammy WatkinsBills7Mike EvansBuccaneers12Odell Beckham Jr.Giants20Brandin CooksSaints53Davante AdamsPackers61Allen RobinsonJaguars63Jarvis LandryDolphins91John BrownCardinalsFive wide receivers drafted in 2014 enter the 2020 season as No. 1 wideouts. This group, which broke the rookie-class receiving-yards record six years ago, has already generated 15 Pro Bowl selections and is the only class with three wide receivers who rank top 10 in both catches and receiving yards since 2014 (Evans, Beckham Jr., and Landry).Mike Zarrilli / Getty Images Sport / GettyIn addition to those stud pass-catchers, this group features wideouts who recently turned in strong campaigns - Brown, Watkins, and Jordan Matthews - as well as undrafted players with solid careers in Taylor Gabriel, Allen Hurns, and Willie Snead.3. 1985Pick Name Team10Al ToonJets13Eddie BrownBengals16Jerry Rice*49ers23Jessie HesterRaiders31Vance JohnsonBroncos42Chris BurkettBills86Andre Reed*Bills175Reggie LanghorneBrowns179Eric MartinSaintsThe 1985 wide receiver class starts with two words: Jerry Rice. Arguably the greatest football player ever, Rice built along a no-brainer Hall of Fame career. Reed did the same, and while both rank far ahead of the second-tier wideouts in this draft, that second tier still had a multi-year Pro Bowler in Toon and a reliable weapon in Martin. Both eclipsed 500 career receptions.Though Johnson, Langhorne, Hester, and Brown weren't exactly go-ahead receivers, they all handled starting roles for multiple seasons and enjoyed a few standout campaigns.2. 1988PickNameTeam6Tim Brown*Raiders7Sterling SharpePackers11Michael Irvin*Cowboys15Anthony MillerChargers46Flipper AndersonRams49Brian BladesSeahawks52Brett PerrimanSaints60Quinn EarlyChargers166Michael HaynesFalconsThe 1988 NFL Draft checks every box for what to expect from a great class of wide receivers. It produced perhaps three of the top 20 wideouts of all time and five Pro Bowlers, four of whom earned at least five nods. This draft might have sent a third member to Canton along with Irvin and Brown, but Sharpe's career was shortened because of a neck injury. The former Packer retired right after making his third straight Pro Bowl following an 18-touchdown campaign in 1994.The 1988 class also produced names like Miller, Perriman, and Blades, each of whom amassed 500 career receptions while combining for six Pro Bowl berths. Anderson didn't post stellar overall numbers as a second-round pick, but he still holds the record for most receiving yards in a single game (336), a benchmark he established in 1989.1. 1996PickNameTeam1Keyshawn JohnsonJets7Terry GlennPatriots18Eddie KennisonRams19Marvin Harrison*Colts24Eric MouldsBills34Amani ToomerGiants43Muhsin MuhammadPanthers52Bobby EngramBears89Terrell Owens*49ers135Joe HornChiefsThe 1996 draft is often remembered for having the greatest wide receiver class in NFL history, and it's not hard to understand why. The group not only produced two stud Hall of Famers in Harrison and Owens, but it also featured a record 10 wideouts who amassed at least 500 career receptions - four of whom also topped 800 catches and 10,000 receiving yards.Jamie Squire / Getty Images Sport / GettyWide receivers drafted in 1996 established all-time league highs by combining for 27 Pro Bowl appearances and nine first-team All-Pro selections. Those figures don't include the accolades of Jermaine Lewis, who was originally a wideout but earned Pro Bowl and All-Pro selections as a kick returner.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find out the latest on COVID-19's impact on the sports world and when sports are returning by subscribing to Breaking News push notifications in the Sports and COVID-19 section.Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott hosted a birthday party for a friend in Prosper, Texas, on Friday night, according to TMZ Sports. Thirty people reportedly attended the event, including Prescott's teammate running back Ezekiel Elliott.The reported party took place days after Governor Greg Abbott ordered the state of Texas to restrict their social interactions - except for essential activities - to at least through the end of April. Abbott's executive order also stated gatherings must be limited to 10 people or fewer.Earlier in April, Prescott also worked out with free-agent wide receiver Dez Bryant on multiple occasions.

The New England Patriots and New Orleans Saints are among several teams doing at least some level of homework on quarterback Jordan Love ahead of the NFL draft, sources told ESPN's Jeremy Fowler.Love's former college coach at Utah State, Matt Wells, said he's received seven calls about the signal-caller within the last five days."I think they are just trying to put the complete story together on him," said Wells, who's now the head coach at Texas Tech.The Miami Dolphins, Los Angeles Chargers, Green Bay Packers, and Washington Redskins are reportedly part of the group looking into Love.Love has garnered polarizing assessments ahead of the draft, which opens April 23.In 2018, Love completed 64% of his passes and threw 32 touchdowns against six interceptions. In 2019, he completed 61.9% of his throws and tossed 20 touchdowns against 17 picks.The big-armed quarterback has seen his stock fluctuate throughout the pre-draft process, which doesn't include private workouts this year because of the coronavirus pandemic.The Patriots and Saints both face uncertainty at the quarterback position long term, with the Tom Brady era now over in New England and the Drew Brees era nearing the finish line in New Orleans.As for the other teams reportedly researching Love, the Dolphins, Chargers, and Redskins all own top-10 picks and are candidates to draft a quarterback. The Packers appear set with Aaron Rodgers for at least a few more years.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Less than two weeks before the 2020 NFL Draft kicks off, top quarterback prospect Tua Tagovailoa is looking to quiet concerns over his durability."I'm not playing badminton. I'm not on the swim team," Tagovailoa told former Alabama offensive coordinator and Maryland head coach Mike Locksley Friday on Instagram Live, according to ESPN. "(Football) is a physical sport. You're gonna get hurt. That just comes with it. And it was just very unfortunate that I got hurt every season."It's a part of the game. It's a contact sport. I can only control what I can control. I can't control that."Tagovailoa's health has dominated draft-related headlines over the last few weeks. After a serious hip injury ended his final campaign with the Crimson Tide early, reports surfaced he failed physicals with two teams and had unknown wrist injuries revealed in the process.Tua did his best to quiet concerns on Thursday, holding a private pro day. His agent also called previous reports regarding his health "overblown."In addition to last year's hip injury, the lefty required separate surgeries after suffering high ankle sprains in 2018 and 2019. However, his outlook has been almost overwhelmingly positive throughout the draft process.Healthy or not, Tagovailoa's injury history could negatively impact his stock, but the former Alabama signal-caller insisted he'd "play for whoever takes me."Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Before Tom Brady signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, reports had linked him to the San Francisco 49ers. For his part, George Kittle never believed the rumors.The star tight end brushed off Brady's potential fit in San Francisco and defended quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo following a run to the Super Bowl last season."It is what it is," Kittle said on the "PFT PM" podcast on Friday. "People talk. There's nothing else to talk about. It's nothing that I took seriously. Jimmy G is my quarterback, and he's one hell of a quarterback. We don't get to the Super Bowl without him. So there's no one that I'd replace him with. What he's done for this team leadership-wise and on the field, he's one of a kind."There's no one else I'd rather be around to throw me the ball. You know, I'm just excited being able to play football again with Jimmy G and I know that he's ready to fling that rock again."Kittle and Garoppolo were among the NFL's best offensive duos during the 2019 campaign. The quarterback targeted his top pass-catcher 107 times, connecting for 85 receptions, 1,053 yards, and five touchdowns en route to the Super Bowl appearance.Garoppolo, a former teammate of Brady, was fully healthy for the first time with the Niners and enjoyed a career year leading Kyle Shanahan's offense. He's expected to remain the team's starter in the 2020 season.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFL's temporary rule allowing pass interference calls to be reviewed is set to expire after a one-year trial.On Wednesday, the league's competition committee released the list of proposals that teams will vote on during the next owners meetings and opted not to endorse last year's alterations to pass interference. This means the rule allowing replay reviews is likely to be abandoned, according to ESPN's Kevin Seifert.Pass interference penalties were deemed reviewable when the trial was approved in March 2019, but that ruling required a vote by the owners this offseason to remain in effect for 2020, per Mark Maske of The Washington Post. It was ratified last year after the infamous missed call during the 2018 NFC Championship Game.However, the replay rule was met with displeasure due to multiple controversies during 2019 games, and clubs are against keeping it in place, according to Maske.Owners are still obligated to consider all proposals but almost always follow the league's endorsements or lack thereof, per Seifert. A source familiar with the deliberations told Maske that a vote on the matter isn't expected to occur and its expiration is certain.The competition committee has also declined to endorse a sky judge proposal submitted by the Los Angeles Chargers and Baltimore Ravens.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees is signing a deal with NBC Sports that will give him a prominent role on NFL telecasts once he retires as a player, Andrew Marchand of the New York Post reports.NBC and ESPN were reportedly vying for Brees, who would have been a candidate to take over as a future Monday Night Football analyst if he had chosen the latter.Instead, Brees will join NBC and reportedly be groomed as the potential successor to Sunday Night Football color analyst Cris Collinsworth.NBC pursued Brees ahead of the NFL's next round of TV rights negotiations. The network could potentially secure multiple NFL packages in the next media rights contract, which would allow it to utilize Brees and Collinsworth as color commentators on separate broadcast teams.NBC is already planning to replace longtime play-by-play man Al Michaels with Mike Tirico following the 2022 Super Bowl.ESPN hoped to land Brees for its struggling Monday Night Football broadcast team, which is expected to receive another makeover in 2020. The duo of Joe Tessitore and Booger McFarland was widely criticized last year, and the lineup featuring the two of them plus Jason Witten a year earlier was generally considered to be even worse.ESPN is reportedly considering in-house candidates Dan Orlovsky, Louis Riddick, and Brian Griese, along with external options including Kurt Warner and Nate Burleson, for the analyst role. The channel reportedly tried to acquire Michaels from NBC in a trade but was turned down earlier this offseason.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Weeks after dealing star receiver DeAndre Hopkins, the Houston Texans traded for Los Angeles Rams wideout Brandin Cooks.The Texans gave up a second-round pick - No. 57 overall - in the upcoming draft in exchange for Cooks and a 2022 fourth-rounder, the Rams announced Friday.This is the third time Cooks has been traded in the last four years. He starred for the New Orleans Saints for three seasons before they dealt him to the New England Patriots ahead of a 2017 campaign that ended in a Super Bowl loss for the latter. The Patriots then flipped him to the Los Angeles Rams, who wound up losing to New England in Super Bowl LIII.Cooks joins fellow deep threats Will Fuller and Kenny Stills, along with slot receiver Randall Cobb. Together with running backs David Johnson and Duke Johnson, they'll surround quarterback Deshaun Watson as the Texans look to defend their AFC South crown.But Cooks does come with concerns. The 26-year-old has suffered four concussions since 2018 and his numbers dropped off dramatically in 2019. After posting 80 catches for 1,204 yards and five touchdowns in 2018, he caught 42 passes for 583 yards and two scores last season.He also has four years remaining on a five-year, $80-million extension he signed with Los Angeles in 2018.The Texans are currently set to enter the draft on April 23 without a first-round pick after trading theirs to the Miami Dolphins in the Laremy Tunsil deal. They did, however, add a second-round selection (40th overall) in the Hopkins-David Johnson swap with Arizona, and they also own one pick each in the third, fourth, and fifth rounds.The cash-strapped Rams, meanwhile, continue to shed talent after missing the playoffs for the first time since 2016. In addition to reportedly dishing Cooks, they've released running back Todd Gurley and linebacker Clay Matthews. The team also lost safety Eric Weddle to retirement.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Presumptive No. 1 overall pick Joe Burrow has a simple goal in the NFL: to keep winning.The former LSU star is coming off a historic season in which he won the Heisman Trophy and national championship.While Burrow has already made it clear he'd be happy to be picked by the Cincinnati Bengals at the top of the draft, the quarterback is simply hoping for the best opportunity for professional success."I just want to get drafted to a good team, good organization that is going to maximize my talents," Burrow said Wednesday on "The Big Podcast with Shaq." "I've won everywhere that I've been. And I've never had a losing season in sports from the moment I was 5 years old. I'm not a loser. I just want to go somewhere where I can win."He added: "Teams are picking at the top for a reason. And I feel like, like I said before, I've won everywhere that I've ever been. I feel like if anybody can do it, I can do it."Burrow will be among 58 prospects who have been invited to virtually participate in the 2020 NFL Draft. With all public events canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the QB won't get his big moment on the draft stage.“There is definitely some disappointment. I was really looking forward to walking that stage, walking that red carpet, and hearing my name called," Burrow said. "But I think having it at home with my family is going to be just as good. Getting drafted is getting drafted. I don't really have any plans yet because I don't really know what it's going to look like."The draft is scheduled to take place April 23-25.- With h/t to NFL.comCopyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New Atlanta Falcons running back Todd Gurley will wear No. 21, the jersey made famous by Hall of Fame cornerback Deion "Prime Time" Sanders."Prime was hatin' on me," Gurley joked Friday on 92.9 The Game. "He told me, 'Don't wear it.' ... If I was Prime, I wouldn't want nobody be wearing my number either."Gurley agreed to a one-year deal with the Falcons following his release from the Los Angeles Rams early in free agency. The running back donned No. 30 for all five of his seasons with the Rams.

Tom Brady filed merchandise trademark requests for the terms "Tompa Bay" and "Tampa Brady" on April 6, according to ESPN's Jenna Laine.The new Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback filed to trademark "TB x TB" shortly after signing a two-year contract with the club in March.The latest submissions to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office came after "Tompa Bay" T-shirts began circulating online.

Find out the latest on COVID-19's impact on the sports world and when sports are returning by subscribing to Breaking News push notifications in the Sports and COVID-19 section.The XFL suspended all operations and terminated its entire staff, chief operating officer Jeffrey Pollack informed employees Friday, according to Field Yates of ESPN.The league said it was "committed to playing a full season in 2021 and future years" when it announced in March that the season would be suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic. The season was later canceled entirely.Now, however, there are no plans for the XFL to return next season, sources told Yates and Kevin Seifert.

Houston Texans head coach and de facto general manager Bill O'Brien appears to be drunk with power.In the latest of a long line of recent blockbuster trades made by the AFC South club, O'Brien attempted to fix his previous mistake of shipping off DeAndre Hopkins to the Arizona Cardinals for pennies on the dollar by acquiring another highly productive wideout in Brandin Cooks from the Los Angeles Rams.Did O'Brien succeed in upgrading his offense or is it another head-scratcher? Let's grade the trade from both Houston's and L.A.'s perspectives.Texans receive Rams receiveWR Brandin Cooks2nd-round pick2022 4th-round pickTexans grade: D-Jonathan Bachman / Getty Images Sport / GettyLet's start with the obvious: Cooks isn't a like-for-like replacement for Hopkins - far from it.Hopkins is a year older, but his career yards (8,602) and touchdowns (54) easily outshine Cooks' (5,730 and 34, respectively). Moreover, before playing with Deshaun Watson, Hopkins was catching passes from a selection of journeymen, while Cooks enjoyed the benefit of playing alongside future Hall of Famers Tom Brady and Drew Brees.While Hopkins' production dropped from 1,572 yards in 2018 to 1,165 last season (in one fewer game), he still easily outproduced Cooks, whose 584 yards (in 14 games) was the second-lowest total of his career.Cooks is more of a deep threat than Hopkins is, but his career yards-per-catch average of 14.3 barely beats out Hopkins' 13.6, though it was significantly better last season (13.9 to 11.2).The other issue is that Cooks' skill set won't provide much that the Texans don't already have. Will Fuller and Kenny Stills are both deep threats who actually benefited from Hopkins dominating the intermediate area. Now, unless O'Brien plans for Watson to throw deep on every other pass, one of the wideouts will be forced into an unsuitable role or to the bench.As far as the cost goes, O'Brien has little regard for draft value. He received only a third-round selection for Jadeveon Clowney and a second for Hopkins while sending two firsts and a second for Laremy Tunsil and Stills. By shipping off another second for Cooks, Houston is woefully lacking in draft picks for the foreseeable future.In the upcoming draft, the Texans have just three picks (No. 40, No. 90, and No. 111) within the top 170 selections. Next year, they don't have a pick until the third round. Houston is going to struggle to reload its roster with young and, more importantly, cheap talent. With big paydays coming for Watson, Tunsil, and Fuller, the Texans could struggle to balance their roster and manage the cap.Cooks' contract isn't terrible, especially if he can return to the form he was in when he had three straight 1,000-yard seasons from 2016 to 2018. He has a cap hit of $8 million in 2020, $12 million in 2021, $13 million in 2022, and $14 million in 2023. Only his 2020 salary is guaranteed, so the Texans can cut him after this season with no financial penalty.That said, he will cost far more than the rookie wideout who could've been taken in the second round, and this receiver class has been lauded as the best in years. While most teams opted out of the free-agent market because of that reason, the Texans have gone the opposite route, trading for Cooks and signing Randall Cobb.O'Brien reportedly traded Hopkins because the star wanted a pay increase (he was set to have base salaries of $13.5 million and $13.9 million in 2020 and 2021, respectively) and the head coach didn't believe he was worth it.If Hopkins signed for $19 or $20 million per season, that would've barely exceeded the combined cost of Cooks and Cobb - the latter received $18 million guaranteed in his three-year, $27-million deal - over the next two seasons. Who would you rather have?Rams grade: CMediaNews Group/The Mercury News via Getty Images / MediaNews Group / GettyThe Rams went all-in to win a Super Bowl and are now literally paying the price for their aggressiveness.