There was never a plan to put together a flashy Baltimore Ravens 2026 NFL Draft class. Thats never been the point, yet, somehow, the flock managed to add a little pizazz anyway. Year after year, Eric DeCosta, Ozzie Newsome, and company approach the draft with a clear understanding of who it is, and more importantly, who it refuses to be. This years class may not have generated universal praise, but Baltimore earned something just as valuable. They earned respect. The tone was set early.The Ravens' draft was all about identity.First-round selection Vega Ioane immediately addressed one of the franchise's most pressing concerns, protecting Lamar Jackson. Baltimore has been at its best when its offensive line dictates terms, and Ioane's size and power project to do exactly that.From there, the plan was to continue to build with intention. Zion Young's addition brought an edge in presence and attitude. He fits the mold of what Baltimore covets defensively. He's physical, relentless, and disruptive. Its the kind of pick that feels less like a gamble and more like a cultural fit. Offensively, the team made a conscious effort to give Jackson more help.Adding bigger-bodied receivers like Ja'Kobi Lane and Elijah Sarratt signals a shift toward contested-catch ability, something Baltimore has lacked at times. While Lanes selection may raise eyebrows based on value, the vision behind it is clear. One of the NFL's more respected draft analysts gave them a 'B+' for their efforts."Ioane's size, strength, and nimble feet made him a solid mid-first round pick, though I do wonder if the Ravens might have been better off taking edge Rueben Bain Jr. at 14 and meeting the need for a guard later on. I wasn't sure about the value of Baltimore's Day 2 selections. Still, with his strength and length, Young meets the team's pass-rush need, while Lane is a tall jump-ball king who could be a major threat in the red zone."Depth was added. So was talent. Baltimore addressed multiple areas, from tight end to the secondary, adding players who may not start immediately but fit the system. Thats where this class quietly gains strength. Its not just about the top names. Its about building layers. There are, of course, questions. They need a center, and they'll need to consider their search as the current roster develops. And as with any draft, not every selection will hit. Zoom out, however, and see the bigger picture, and you'll notice it sharpens. Sometimes, there's no way to control how the board falls or how the selection process unfolds. Still, Eric DeCosta and company should be very happy with the job they have done.The Ravens didn't chase trends. They reinforced identity. It's easy to agree with a 'B+' grade. One day, however, we may be looking at this collection of rookies as being unmistakably Baltimore.This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Ravens reinforce their identity with 2026 NFL draft class

Real Madrid are facing a nervous wait over the fitness of Kylian Mbapp after the superstar forward limped out of Friday's 1-1 draw with Real Betis. While initial tests have offered a glimmer of hope to the Bernabu faithful, the Frenchman remains a major doubt for the season's defining fixtures and this summer's World Cup. Positive signs from initial scan Mbappe and Real Madrid have received some tentatively positive news following the striker's withdrawal during his landmark 100th appearance for the club. The former Paris Saint-Germain star sent shock waves through the Bernabu when he requested a substitution in the closing stages of the clash against Real Betis, sparking immediate fears over his availability for the season's climax. However, early medical assessments suggest the damage might not be as severe as first feared. Kylian Mbappe visited the clinic Sunday morning for an ultrasound on his left leg. Though the initial assessment was "good," a definitive diagnosis won't arrive until after a second check-up via MRI on Monday, per DAZN's Sergio Quirante. Clsico and World Cup concerns remain Despite the positive result from the scan, the Frenchman is by no means in the clear. Real Madrid are practically out of the title race, trailing Barcelona by 11 points with only five games remaining, but the timing of the injury is particularly cruel with El Clsico on May 10 just around the corner. Losing their talisman for such a high-profile fixture would be a bitter blow for manager Alvaro Arbeloa. The concern extends far beyond the Spanish capital, with France fans holding their breath ahead of this summer's World Cup in North America. Mbapp, who has been in sensational form with 41 goals this term, is the linchpin of Didier Deschamps' side. Any long-term absence would be catastrophic for Les Bleus as they prepare to face Senegal in their opening group game on June 16. Arbeloa waits on medical evolution Speaking after the frustrating 1-1 draw against Betis, which saw Madrid concede a 94th-minute equaliser to Hector Bellerin, Arbeloa was unable to provide a definitive timeline for his star man's return. The manager noted that the decision to substitute Mbapp was a reactive one based on the player's physical sensations on the pitch. "I have no idea [what's wrong with Mbapp]," Arbeloa told reporters. "He felt some discomfort. We'll see how he evolves over the next few days." The player reportedly walked past the dugout and straight to the dressing room. Madrid's mounting injury list The potential loss of Mbapp adds to a growing list of headaches for the Madrid hierarchy. With Rodrygo already ruled out of the World Cup due to a serious knee injury, the Bernabeu outfit are seeing their attacking options depleted at a critical juncture. While the MRI on Monday will provide the final verdict, it is highly likely that Mbapp will be rested for the upcoming match against Espanyol on May 3. The club's medical staff will be working around the clock to ensure he can at least play some part in the final weeks of the campaign without jeopardizing his chances of leading France on the world stage this summer.

IPL 2026 just had its most thrilling match. After Lucknow Super Giants walked with them toe-to-toe in regulation time, Kolkata Knight Riders found a familiar saviour in Sunil Narine to register a tight Super Over victory in their IPL match on Sunda

The World Series winner was fired Saturday, and he'll be an in-demand name if other teams make in-season managerial changes

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama is available to play Sunday in Game 4 of the team's first-round playoff series against the Portland Trail Blazers after clearing the NBA's concussion protocol.Wembanyama, the leagues first unanimous Defensive Player of the Year, missed Game 3 on Friday in Portland while going through the league's concussion protocol. The Spurs won 120-108 to go up 2-1 in the series.Wembanyama sustained the concussion in the first half of Tuesday's 106-103 loss to the Blazers.He traveled to Portland while continuing to complete the steps mandated by the leagues concussion protocol and had been listed as questionable for Sunday's game.Luke Kornet got the Game 2 start against the Trail Blazers in Wembanyamas absence, finishing with 14 points and 10 rebounds. San Antonio was boosted by Stephon Castle with 33 points and rookie Dylan Harper, who had 27 points and 10 rebounds.Players must clear a series of benchmarks before they are allowed to play under the concussion protocol. The results are compared to baseline neurological evaluations players take at the start of the season.San Antonio finished with the leagues second-best record behind the versatile 7-foot-4 center from France. It went 12-6 in the regular season without him.Wembanyama averaged 25 points, 11.5 rebounds, 3.1 assists and a league-best 3.1 blocks per game this season.___AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA

Not only was Ohio State safety Caleb Downs widely viewed as one of the top prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft, but the Dallas Cowboys clearly agreed. After unexpectedly sliding to No. 11 overall, Downs has quickly become one of the biggest storylines of the draft. Downs has had a wide range of comparisons, but on Friday morning, The Herds Colin Cowherd didnt hold back, viewing the Cowboys as clear winners of the NFL Draft. Its not just about Downs being a great player, but he believes hes the steal of the draft. Cowherd didnt hold back on his show, even drawing a comparison between Downs and former Baltimore Ravens safety and Hall of Famer Ed Reed. "You can not do better than what the Dallas Cowboys did with their first pick," Cowherd said. "I think hes going to be the best Buckeye in the draft. I thought last year, he was good enough to be a top-three pick in the draft. I think hes an incredible Ed Reed-level player." Downs is coming off a strong junior season with the Buckeyes, recording 68 total tackles, 45 of them solo, along with two interceptions. He also forced two fumbles and added a sack, showcasing his versatility all over the field. He didnt test as athletically as many of his Buckeyes teammates, but Downs has built his reputation on instincts, anticipation, and elite football IQ. Despite playing a position that is often undervalued, he became one of the most versatile defenders in the sport. That production and versatility have only reinforced the belief that he can immediately anchor a secondary at the next level. "He got overshadowed because they [Ohio State] have a couple of freaks in Arvell Reese and Sonny Styles and theyre just physical specimens," Cowherd said. "Best football player is Caleb Downs. He is a great, great player, so Dallas hit an absolute home run." For Cowherd, Downs blend of production, instincts and versatility seems to make him a rare defensive addition capable of transforming a secondary from Day 1. In a Cowboys defense that struggled last season without a consistent game-changing presence, Downs could step in as that difference-maker. If he lives up to the billing, Dallas may have landed one of the defining picks of the entire draft. The selection of Downs wasn't the only way the Cowboys addressed their defense in the first round of the NFL Draft. They also selected UCF defensive end Malachi Lawrence with the 23rd overall pick after trading down a few picks with the Philadelphia Eagles. Lawrence had been viewed as a potential second-round pick by most draft analysts. FOX Sports draft analyst Rob Rang actually had Lawrence ranked 50th on his big board. But Cowherd understood why Dallas reached to get him. "Their next pick was a reach, but I'm going to defend the pick," Cowherd said. "[Lawrence] is not for next season. When they traded Micah Parsons, the entire reason they did it was so that they could get four or five guys. Well, they traded Micah Parsons and they now have Rashan Gary, Quinnen Williams and Kenny Clark. They still have DeMarvion Overshown, who I like, but he gets banged up but he's good. This kid is not going to play a ton next season. That's OK. I can live with that." The Cowboys continued to add to their defense through much of the draft as well. They selected Michigan edge rusher Jaishawn Barham in the third round before adding Florida cornerback Devin Moore and Alabama defensive tackle LT Overton with the two fourth-round picks they acquired from the Eagles.

After LSG walked with them toe-to-toe in regulation time, KKR found a familiar saviour in Sunil Narine to register a tight Super Over victory in their IPL match.

If Tkachuk hits the trade block this summer, these teams would be ideal fits

BALTIMORE (AP) Less than 24 hours after the Boston Red Sox shockingly fired manager Alex Cora and five members of his coaching staff, infielder Trevor Story said the clubs path forward feels unclear.I mean obviously, its kind of up in the air what the true direction is, the two-time All-Star said on Sunday morning before a series finale against the Baltimore Orioles. Those are conversations that need to be had. Theyll be had today and onward going forward, too.The Red Sox officially dismissed Cora on Saturday evening after a 10-17 start to his eighth season guiding the club, including an embarrassing three-game sweep at home to the New York Yankees earlier this week.Chief baseball officer Craig Breslow explained the first in-season firing of a Boston manager since 2001 by suggesting it showed commitment to the current season.It really comes down to the belief we have in the players, and the belief we have in the group to accomplish what we set out to accomplish, Breslow said Sunday. By acting today, it gives us 135 games ahead of us, almost a full seasons worth of run, to take advantage of this fresh start.But Story, in the fifth season of a six-year, $140-million deal, is an exception on a young roster that has traded away stars like Mookie Betts, Chris Sale, Xander Bogaerts and Rafael Devers in the years since Cora guided Boston to a 2018 World Series title in his first season.The Red Sox have reached only two postseasons since, and only one since Storys arrival when they made a wild-card appearance in 2025.I came here to win and I came here to be successful, said the 33-year-old Story, who is among the Boston batters struggling with a .198 average, two homers and 17 RBIs. And we had a flash of that last year. Were looking to build on that. Obviously not off to a great start. But yeah, some of the direction needs to be cleared up, in my opinion.Breslow and interim manager Chad Tracy spoke with the team for roughly eight minutes in a Sunday morning gathering that also included owner John Henry and team president Sam Kennedy, according to reliever Garrett Whitlock. Players did not talk during the meeting.They spoke. Yeah, they spoke, Story said. There just has to be more conversations had. I wouldnt say it was satisfactory.To reporters, Breslow and Kennedy indicated this was a decision driven by baseball operations after the club had performed particularly poorly on offense.Despite a 17-1 win over Baltimore Saturday that halted a four-game slide, the Red Sox batters entered Sunday slashing .233/.312/.354 collectively and ranked in the bottom quarter of MLB in most key metrics.Ultimately, responsibility for the performance on the field, it falls on me as the leader of baseball operations, Breslow said. But so, too, does the responsibility for doing everything I can and the organization can to find solutions. And right now we feel like this change, these changes were warranted.Kennedy said Breslow has made several bold decisions and recommendations."And this was one of them and we fully support it.," he said.Henry remained in Baltimore Sunday but did not address the media.I think its evident by his presence here that this was a collaborative decision (with Henry), Kennedy said.Tracy makes his MLB managerial debut after six seasons guiding Triple-A Worcester. The son of longtime manager Jim Tracy, he recognized the delicate dynamics of his opportunity.Im toeing that line of sitting here with all of you in this moment, but also acknowledge the relationship with some of the people that are no longer here was strong, Tracy said. And you also know that thats, in a lot of ways, thats how some of the players feel as well. So, excited, right? But also honoring the people that were before me that were mentors to me.Story praised Tracys baseball mind, but was clearly still emotional about Coras firing.He had our backs every single day, Story said. He was very truthful with players and took bullets for us and did everything you can ask for and more as a manager. I just cant express how thankful I am to have played for him. Yeah, Ive got a love for that guy.___AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has set his sights on delivering the 2026 World Cup for Cristiano Ronaldo as the ultimate tribute to the iconic forward's career. The midfielder believes winning the global showpiece would be the perfect way to reward his long-time teammate for his unparalleled contribution to the sport. A legendary farewell for CR7 Fernandes is on a mission to ensure Ronaldos international career ends on the highest possible note. With the 41-year-old Al-Nassr icon likely heading into his final major tournament, the 2026 World Cup represents the last chance for the five-time Ballon d'Or winner to claim the one trophy that has eluded him throughout his record-breaking journey. Speaking to Wayne Rooney in a BBC interview, Fernandes made his intentions clear regarding his national team captain. "I will try my best to make my country proud. Wrapping up this last World Cup with Cristiano (Ronaldo), winning it would be something amazing," Fernandes said. "I really hope we can make it happen, not just for Portugal, but for everything Cristiano gave to football and the world." Ronaldo's enduring hunger Despite his advancing years, Ronaldo remains the focal point of Roberto Martinezs side. The Al-Nassr forward is the record scorer in international football history with 143 goals and shows no signs of relinquishing his spot. Martinez has been vocal about the striker's longevity, insisting that the veteran's mental resilience is what keeps him competing at the highest level while others might have stepped away. The Portugal boss said: "I always thought it was the body that retires a player, but its the head. Cristianos head hasnt taken that decision at 40, 41. An elite player is not the talent, its the mentality, the resilience." Fernandes remains United's focal point While Fernandes is focused on international glory, his club future at Old Trafford has also been a major talking point. Despite previous links to a lucrative move to the Saudi Pro League, Manchester United have reportedly informed the midfielder that he will not be sold under any circumstances this summer. This firm stance comes after the captain recorded 18 assists in a sensational Premier League campaign. Under the guidance of Michael Carrick, Fernandes has established himself as the undisputed leader in the dressing room. His commitment to United remains steadfast, with the club hierarchy viewing him as the cornerstone of their project to return to the pinnacle of European football alongside his duties for the national team. The road to World Cup glory Portugal face a challenging path if they are to fulfill Fernandes' dream of a fairy-tale ending for Ronaldo. They have been drawn in Group K and will open their campaign on June 17 against Congo DR in Houston. This will be followed by a clash with Uzbekistan on June 23 before a final group stage fixture against Colombia in Miami. The tournament, which features 48 teams for the first time, will be held across Canada, Mexico, and the United States. With a squad boasting captains from top European clubs, including Fernandes and Bernardo Silva, the talent is undeniable. The ultimate goal, however, remains clear: to ensure one of the greatest players in their history walks away with the biggest prize of all on July 19.