Brian Kortovich and Alex Toussaint attend Aces Night Out at Sei Less on June 21, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Shareif Ziyadat/Getty Images)Getty ImagesBrian Kortovich is making quite the impact off of the basketball court as a former player with his brand, ACES.The former pro basketball player never quite made it professionally to the NBA -- he had preseason camp stints with the New York Knicks and New Jersey Nets -- but he played professionally overseas in countries such as France, Kuwait, Israel and the Dominican Republic.Kortovich also made his name on the streets of New York City's EBC RuckerPark against well-known players such as Joe Hammond and Kevin Durant, winning the scoring title in the process. However, an Achilles injury eventually spelled the end of his basketball career, leading him into starting ACES as a brand platform.That passion for basketball that led him to an athletic career eventually paved the way for the 44-year-old Kortovich to make his mark with his brand. While the platform is well-known for its clothing -- think stylish jackets and hats -- it also acts as a content marketing brand.Kortovich -- through ACES -- has held activations at major events and has had partnerships with the likes of Nike, NBA 2K, New Era. The brand recently held an activation during 2026 NBA All-Star weekend with Chase and DoorDash.Those stints in the NBA and in NYC led to Kortovich developing friendships with players such as Knicks great Allan Houston and former longtime NBA vet P.J. Tucker.Houston detailed that he met Kortovich following the conclusion of his own career -- he was hired in 2008 by the Knicks organization as an assistant to the president of basketball operations -- when Kortovich was a player in training camp in 2010. They bonded over a three-point shooting contest that both claim was a tie to this day."I've been enjoying and impressed by how Brian has stuck to a vision, using his platform to try to help people, but also something that's very strategic, right branding and is very nuanced," said Houston. "It's intentional, especially when it involves helping other people. I think that's really what I've seen with with him is he's really formulated good relationships, held on to them. With me it's not about -- and this is another thing that's really hard, especially harder today more than ever because everything is so transactional -- is being authentic. "Obviously you could help me, but I'm here to help you just as much," Houston continued. "My mother would always tell me things have to be reciprocal, and everybody has to win. Most people will come out and say, 'Hey, I need you to do this.' But they're not sure or willing to say what I can do for you. That's another thing that I've appreciated about about BK."Kortovich said basketball being taken away from him led him to becoming the successful businessman and entrepreneur that he is today."Basketball was taken away from me early," said Kortovich. "I got a cup of coffee in the league or whatnot. Never made a team, but got close, and it didn't change who I was. So for Allan to speak truly that to me, meant a lot. There's one more thing he said -- I think he remembers this in 2024 after he spoke to all the All-Americans at the MBPA -- he said something like, 'Brian, thank you. I couldn't put together the top 30 kids in the country. You did and gave me a platform.' "I'm like, 'Whoa no, thank you," Kortovich continued. "They all wanted to hear him speaking, the impact that he had on their lives by speaking to them. I want to provide value in a platform for him, so for him to recognize that in that moment, that meant a lot to me."Brian Kortovich, Allan Houston Outline The Authenticity Appeal Of ACESKortovich hammers home the "authenticity" factor is a big reason why the Knicks great and himself have been such good friends over the years. It's also a big reason why he's been able to grow the ACES platform."Why I think we've been able to grow this platform across all the verticals from grassroots to the professional ranks is you can say authenticity," said Kortovich. But to hear someone of Allan's stature and what he's done, it's who he is as a person, too. That's why Allan has longevity. That's why I think we connected right away, too. It's faith. We share faith, faith in the Lord and God. I wouldn't be here without that as well, and I know he wouldn't be either.Houston doubled down and also said one of the reasons Kortovich has made such an impact in the industry among basketball fans is that he's "authentic" and "real.""I still go back to the same thing -- people want to be a part of something that's authentic, that's real, that you want to be a part of at the end of the day," said Houston of Kortovich. "I think he has created that attraction. We always want to start with what we're doing and what we can get or gain, but we skip the most important part of who are we, and the thing that Brian has held on to is who we authentically are and let that be the root and the tree and then the branches and the fruit come off of that."We always want to start with the fruit and then work back," Houston continued. "It really comes back to just being who you are, staying consistent with that, and being that all the time. Those people are going to be the people who are in line with you. But also they're going to be people who are going to be consistently with you. Everything's relationships."Houston said his favorite ACES item are the nylon jackets and what makes the brand stand out. He said his three-point shooting is what made him stand out during his NBA career, ranking second in Knicks franchise history in the category.I would say those nylon kind of jackets are unique, said Houston. They have a style to them, a functionality to them. Theyre versatile, they can have an athletic, a lifestyle appeal. In fashion, you got to have something that is a staple. You gotta have something that youre identified with. For me, it was shooting. You have something that people can say, Oh, thats that. I think thats probably the thing that I would say stands out.This article was originally published on Forbes.com

The favorite, Renegade, drew the No. 1 post in the Kentucky Derby post position draw

Rajasthan Royals (RR) match winner Donovan Ferreira emphasised the importance of self-belief and composure under pressure after his unbeaten knock of 52 runs guided the side to a thrilling six-wicket win over Punjab Kings (PBKS).

Before this season, it had been nearly five years since Shohei Ohtani last pitched but did not hit in a game. It has now happened twice in Ohtanis last three starts on the mound, including in Tuesday nights 2-1 loss to the Marlins, as the Dodgers attempt to keep their two-way sensation as healthy as possible while handling a full pitching workload for the first time since 2023. How does the four-time MVP feel about occasionally serving only as a pitcher on his start days? "Im always going to respect the decision, regardless whether Im pitching or doing both," Ohtani said through an interpreter. "I also understand the importance of getting to the end of the season with everybody healthy. So, talking with the training staff, talking with the team, I think its really important that the team makes the decision." The Dodgers are trying to provide Ohtani rest wherever they can, especially early in the season. Theyre utilizing a six-man rotation and have often pitched Ohtani on the day before an off day. Giving him the day off from hitting when hes on the mound "almost like a half day," as manager Dave Roberts described it is another strategy. Going forward, there is no set plan for how often the Dodgers will do that. Roberts described the choice as "read and react." "Obviously having him do both duties, in theory, practice, it's great," Roberts said. "But how sustainable is it without kind of taking a little bit off his plate a little bit? That's the question, and it's not an exact science." Through five starts, Ohtani leads all qualified MLB pitchers with a 0.60 ERA in a year in which many around him believe he wants to contend for a Cy Young Award. That quest will be difficult considering how closely the Dodgers will monitor and protect their superstar player while they seek a third straight World Series title, but Ohtani has gone six innings and allowed no more than one earned run in each start so far. In two of his five starts, Ohtani has gotten the night off from hitting. The first time, there was a health component to the Dodgers decision. Ohtanis April 15 start against the Mets came two days after he took a fastball from David Peterson off the back of his throwing shoulder. Afterward, Ohtani was dealing with some soreness, so the Dodgers wanted him to channel all of his energy into pitching in his next outing. "I think that he understands that Im making a decision thats best for the player, for him, and for the team," Roberts said. It was the first time since 2021 with the Angels the "Ohtani Rule," allowing two-way players to stay in the game as a DH after pitching, wasnt created until 2022 that Ohtani was not in the lineup on a day that he started on the mound. When Roberts informed Ohtani of the decision, Ohtanis eyes widened, but he didnt push back. Roberts explained to him the reasoning. "I was a little bit surprised," Ohtani said, "but it made sense hearing what he had to say." That night, Ohtani struck out 10 batters and allowed one run on two hits and two walks in six innings. Dalton Rushing filled in at designated hitter and launched a grand slam in an 8-2 win. "We have a really good DH hit today," Ohtani said. "So, Im very open to that." Roberts was clear then that Ohtani wouldve been doing each of his normal duties had it not been for the hit by pitch. Ohtani resumed his typical two-way role the following week, throwing six shutout innings in San Francisco while going hitless at the plate. Understandably, Ohtanis offensive production has wavered on days that he pitches. In the three games in which he has both hit and pitched this season, Ohtani is batting .100 with no extra-base hits. In his 25 other games entering Wednesday, he is hitting .295 with six homers and six doubles. Overall, Ohtani has an .898 OPS, a total that puts him in the top 25 of qualified hitters but well below his usual elite production after tallying an OPS over 1.000 in each of the last three seasons. He has started to heat up, though, recording seven hits including three extra-base hits in his three games before getting another offensive breather on Tuesday. "It is easier to maintain something good when things are going well," Ohtani said. "But when things are not going well its not easy, in the sense that I have to make sure that Im healthy and not overdoing it in terms of repetition. So while Im working on certain things, its also a balancing act of making sure Im not overdoing it physically and making sure that Im healthy." Rest, not performance, is still the primary reason for the Dodgers cautiousness on days that hes pitching. After keeping Ohtani out of the DH role on his start day for the first time two weeks ago, Roberts left room open for the Dodgers to implement the strategy again. "Its something Im going to keep an eye on if it makes sense," Roberts said. "Its got to make sense to not have your best hitter in the lineup." This week, Roberts and the Dodgers decided it made sense again. Ohtani wasnt aching on Tuesday against the Marlins, but the Dodgers were playing a game for the 12th consecutive day and Ohtani was pitching on five days of rest for the first time this season. In addition, the next day was a day game in which Ohtani would be assuming his usual DH role. Roberts didnt feel the need to go through the whole reasoning process for the decision with Ohtani again, believing that his star player understood the decision. "I'd like to think he would tell me if he didn't agree with it, and then there's a deeper conversation," Roberts said. "But I think that he's just very respectful of a decision that the manager of an organization makes." Tuesdays start was more of a grind than Ohtanis previous four, but he still allowed just two runs (one earned) and struck out nine in six innings. He threw 104 pitches, his most as a Dodger. "I think his goal is to make every start," Roberts said. "And so, with that, there has to be some compromise and some openness to kind of read and react. And so far, I think we're doing a nice job, and he's open to that." Edwin Daz 100% confident he can return to form in second half Just seven appearances into his three-year, $69 million deal with the Dodgers, Edwin Daz had an ERA over 10.00. His velocity was fluctuating, and his arm felt "tired and tight." The star closer was sent for imaging, which led to surgery last week to remove five loose bodies from his elbow. Daz expects to return sometime in the second half and said hes "100% confident" he can return to his usual form when he does, especially considering how good his arm was feeling just days after his procedure. "I can move my arm really good," Daz said Monday. "My range of motion is completely back to normal, so thats something I like. Just get stronger and be ready for the second half." Dazs average fastball velocity this year of 95.7 mph was down from 97.2 mph last year. Still, he looked mostly like himself through his first five appearances with the Dodgers, striking out eight batters and allowing just one run to that point. But he didnt look right while surrendering three runs to the Rangers on April 10, and he missed the next eight days while reporting fatigue in his surgically-repaired right leg. He was feeling better leading into his appearance on April 19 in Colorado, when he failed to record an out against the four batters he faced. Daz said his arm felt fine until that outing against the Rockies. He has known about the loose bodies in his elbow since 2012, but they hadnt caused him any pain until recently. "I think my range of motion was a little bit shorter than normal," Daz said. "Now, after surgery, Im getting close to what I was, what I am when I was good. So, I think that maybe thats why the velo was a little bit inconsistent." Daz was brought in to help remedy a Dodgers bullpen that imploded last season. Theyll now need to rely on many of the same characters. Tanner Scott is expected to receive the majority of save opportunities with Daz down and has performed much better in year two of his four-year, $72 million deal. Blake Treinen and Alex Vesia could also figure into the ninth-inning mix. "That sucks, you know, to miss the first half with a team," Daz said. "But that's something I can't control. Everyone here is supporting me. All of my teammates, they're supporting me, they're happy that I'm doing way better than before. They just can't wait to see me on the mound in the second half. They say take your time, we need you in October, but I want to come back as soon as possible and help this team to win games." Rowan Kavneris an MLB writer for FOX Sports. He previously covered the L.A. Dodgers, LA Clippers and Dallas Cowboys. An LSU grad, Rowan was born in California, grew up in Texas, then moved back to the West Coast in 2014. Follow him on X at@RowanKavner.

MADRID, SPAIN - APRIL 29: Eberechi Eze of Arsenal reacts during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 Semi Final First Leg match between Atletico de Madrid and Arsenal FC at Metropolitano Stadium on April 29, 2026 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images) | Arsenal FC via Getty ImagesAdvantage Arsenal in the Champions League semifinal. The Gunners head back to London at 1-1 on aggregate, where they hammered Atletico Madrid 4-0 earlier this season. Todays match didnt have the attacking sparkle of the PSG-Bayern match, but it was intriguing in its own right. Tony Meola called it more of an old school game. It was intense and physical. The two sides played defense, something that was sorely lacking in the other semifinal.The Gunners controlled the first half. They kept Atletis potent attack at bay. The much-maligned Martinelli-Madueke-Gyokeres attacking trio fashioned a decent number of chances, although most of them didnt result in a shot on target. Notably, Piero Hincapie perhaps put off by Martinellis presence at the back post too volleyed wide and Martin degaard dribbled himself into a blocked shot. Im not sure the chance was there for the one-touch shot. We didnt get the proper replay angle to tell, but the Arsenal skipper has a penchant for taking a few too many touches, and it seems like he did again.Arsenal took the lead on a Viktor Gyokeres penalty after the Swede had been clumsily barged over from behind by an Atleti defender. Imagine if Premier League referees recognized that the Arsenal striker can, in fact, be fouled. Big Vik, as he seems to always do, ripped his penalty into the back of the net. Normally, Gyokeres hits the ball with that kind of power and gets the ball further into the corner or even the side netting. But he struck the ball so hard that it didnt really matter that it wasnt placed as well as usual. It was through Jan Oblaks arms before the goalkeeper could possibly have adjusted to the flight of the ball.The match flipped in the second half, though. And for reasons that still have my blood boiling. I dont want to do referee discourse, which is ironic because of all matches, this is one. There really isnt a way to talk about the game without talking about the second half referee decisions.Danny Makkelie is generally regarded as one of the best referees in Europe and the world. I seem to remember watching him call many an important match well. But the moment seemed too much for him tonight. It felt as if he was swayed by the home crowd and manager into calling a one-sided second half, and he (or his VAR team) got two of the three big decisions in the match wrong.The penalty award for Viktor Gyokeres was correct. The one against Ben White was ridiculous. The overturn of Arsenals second is scandalous. And for what its worth, Diego Simeone escaping that match without a booking (for any number of instances dealers choice) is laughable.The match turned on those decisions. The Atleti penalty handed them an undeserved lifeline back into the game. It energized the home crowd and galvanized their players. The 20-30 minute spell after leveling when they looked likely to get a second doesnt happen without the penalty. Theyd likely have some time in the ascendancy, but the time they spent in control was increased and accentuated by a scoreline that shouldnt have been.Arsenal wrested control of the match back in the last 15 minutes an impressive accomplishment given the flow of the second half, the home crowd, and the fatigue disparity youd expect from the two sides. They should have had the opportunity to likely win the game from the penalty spot. But for some reason, a penalty given on the pitch was overturned with the replay clearly showing the defender catching the attacker. Twice, Id add.The juxtaposition of the two calls makes it feel worse, too. The one-two combo of a soft penalty at one end with a, uh, perplexing overturn of an awarded penalty at the other really stings. Mikel Arteta was rightly incensed after the match.The good news for Arsenal is that they head back to London with a 1-1 scoreline. Draw away, win at home. This particular home win would punch a ticket to the Champions League final. Its a shame the Atleti will be able to take their weekend match off, for all intents and purposes. Arsenal wont have that luxury. Thats the way it goes. They should still be able to take care of business.

March Madness is going to expand because of soft threats and endless greed from the power conferences, Matt Norlander argues

Searching for some much needed consistency, Gujarat Titans face a stern test against a red-hot Royal Challengers Bengaluru in their Indian Premier League match in Ahmedabad on Thursday.

In the days following the NFL Draft, every fan base is over the moon about their favorite team's selections. You'll hear that many teams have filled their top needs and are now ready to make a run for the playoffs or the Lombardi Trophy just because they made the right picks. However, as we all want to be optimistic that these young prospects will pan out, only so many teams can say they had a great 2026 draft. But a great draft class can help catapult a team into contention. Just ask the New England Patriots, who went from 4-13 to AFC champions, after I ranked their haul in the 2025 NFL Draft the best in the league. The team that was right behind them on that list? The Seattle Seahawks, who went on to win the Super Bowl. This year, some of the top draft classes by team might seem more loaded than last year's. Six teams had at least two first-round picks, while the New York Jets made three first-round selections as they were a part of eight trades on the opening night of the NFL Draft. So, which teams had the best hauls in the 2026 NFL Draft? Here's my top 10: Picks: Rueben Bain Jr., edge rusher, Miami (Fla.) (No. 15 overall pick); Josiah Trotter, LB, Missouri (46); Ted Hurst, WR, Georgia State (84); Keionte Scott, DB, Miami (Fla.) (116); Demonte Capehart, DT Clemson (155); Billy Schrauth, G, Notre Dame(160); Bauer Sharp, TE, LSU (185)Top needs entering draft: OLB, LB, TEBest pick: Hurst In need of pass rush help, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers got one of the most productive edge rushers in the draft in Rueben Bain. Yep, the Miami product has short arms, but I covered Melvin Ingram when he played for the Chargers and he was highly productive with a similar frame. The best pick for Tampa Bay, though, was Ted Hurst. A couple of scouts I spoke with said he was the most underrated player in the draft. One scout compared Hursts skill set to George Pickens. And the fact that Hurst played for a former head coach in Hugh Jackson at Georgia State should help in the transition. Keionte Scott is a fierce competitor who should find his way onto the field early in his rookie season. Picks: Vega Ioane, G, Penn State (No. 14 overall pick; Zion Young, edge rusher, Missouri (45); Ja'Kobi Lane, WR, USC (80); Elijah Sarratt, WR, Indiana (115); Matthew Hibner, TE, SMU (133); Chandler Rivers, CB, Duke (162); Josh Cuevas, TE, Alabama (173); Adam Randall, RB, Clemson (174); Ryan Eckley, P, Michigan State (211); Rayshaun Benny, DT, Michigan (250); Evan Beersten, G, Northwestern (253)Top three needs entering draft:OL, WR, TEBest pick: Ioane The Baltimore Ravens got one of the most complete offensive linemen in the draft in Vega Ioane, whose physicality and toughness are a perfect fit for the organizations no-nonsense philosophy. Young is an explosive player with elite physical tools who should help fill Baltimores obvious need to add juice to the pass rush, pairing with free agency addition Trey Hendrickson. Elijah Sarratt is a big, crafty receiver who knows how to get open. Picks: Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama (No. 12 overall pick); Chris Johnson, CB, San Diego State (27); Jacob Rodriguez, LB, Texas Tech (43); Caleb Douglas, WR, Texas Tech (87); Will Kacmarek, TE, Ohio State (87); Chris Bell, WR, Louisville (94); Trey Moore, LB, Texas (130); Kyle Louis, LB, Pitt (138); Michael Taaffe, S, Texas (158); Kevin Coleman Jr., WR, Missouri (177); Seydou Traore, TE, Mississippi State (180); DJ Campbell, G, Texas (200); Max Llewellyn, DE, Iowa (238)Top three needs:WR, CB, OLBBest pick: Rodriguez Chris Johnson is a great pickup late in the first round as a cerebral cover corner with good ball skills. But Jacob Rodriguez stands out because of his production and ability to emerge as the green-dot signal caller of the Miami Dolphins' defense, like his comp coming out of college in former Texas Tech standout and Dolphins Hall of Fame linebacker Zach Thomas. Chris Bell would have been a first-rounder if he hadnt suffered an ACL tear in his final year at Louisville and he fills an obvious need in a receiver room that lost Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. Picks: Makai Lemon, WR, USC (No. 20 overall pick); Eli Stowers, TE, Vanderbilt (54); Markell Bell, OT, Miami (Fla.) (68); Cole Payton, QB, North Dakota State (178); Micah Morris, G, Georgia Tech (207); Colse Wisniewski, S, Texas Tech (244); Uar Bernard, DT, International Pathway Program (251); Keyshawn James-Newby, DE, Nex Mexico (252)Top three needs entering draft:Edge, OL, TEBest pick: Stowers Makai Lemon is a good fit for new offensive coordinator Sean Mannions version of the West Coast offense, providing insurance for the inevitable departure of A.J. Brown via trade. Eli Stowers is a versatile pass catcher who understands how to find the soft spots in zones and could be an eventual successor for Dallas Goedert. I also love the versatility that Cole Payton provides. Scouts I spoke with believed Payton was one of the most underrated prospects in the draft. Bernard ran a 4.63-second, 40-yard time and posted a 39-inch vertical jump at 6-foot-3 and 309 pounds. Picks: Arvell Reese, edge rusher, Ohio State (No. 5 overall pick); Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami (Fla.) (10); Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee (37); Malachi Fields, WR, Notre Dame (74); Bobby Jamison-Travis, DT, Auburn (186); J.C. Davis, OT, Illinois (192); Jack Kelly, LB, BYU (193)Top needs entering draft:DB, DT, G, WRBest pick: Hood New head coach John Harbaugh established an identity with how he will build the New York Giants, from the inside out, by selecting the most athletic pass rusher in Arvell Reese and edge pass protector (Francis Mauigoa) to protect Jaxon Dart in Mauigoa. Colton Hood fills a major need for defensive backs who can cover in the back end defensively. Malachi Fields offers nuance and maturity to develop into a solid contributor opposite Malik Nabors. Jack Kelly has the athletic skill set to find work on special teams and eventually contribute on defense. Picks: Max Iheanachor, OT, Arizona State (No. 21 overall); Germie Bernard, WR, Alabama (47); Drew Allar, QB, Penn State (76); Daylen Everette, CB, Georgia (85); Gennings Dunker, G, Iowa (96); Kaden Weiten, WR, Iowa (121); Riley Nowakowski, TE, Indiana (169); Gabe Rubio, DE, Notre Dame (210); Robert Spears-Jennings, S, Oklahoma (224); Eli Heidenreich, RB, Oklahoma (230)Top needs entering draft:QB, WR, G, SBest pick: Allar With no answer from Aaron Rodgers and when (or if) he returns for a second season, the Pittsburgh Steelers grabbed Drew Allar, who struggled in his final season with the Nittany Lions but has the traits for head coach Mike McCarthy to develop. I also like the athletic upside of Max Iheanachor as a future blindside protector who provides insurance should Broderick Jones struggle to return from a neck injury. Bernard is a cat-quick route runner who can make plays after the catch and should develop into a productive slot receiver in McCarthys offensive scheme. Gennings Dunkers mullet has gained fame, but his ability to run block should help him earn a starting job up front in the interior of Pittsburghs offensive line. Picks: Spencer Fano, OT, Utah (No. 9 overall pick); KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M (24); Denzel Boston, WR, Washington (39); Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo (58); Aubtin Barber, OT, Florida (86); Parker Brailsford, C, Alabama (146); Joe Royer, TE, Cincinnati (170); Taylen Green, QB, Arkansas (182); Carsen Ryan, TE, BYU (248)Top needs entering draft:OT, QB, WR, EdgeBest pick: Boston Whether its Shedeur Sanders, Deshaun Watson or Dillon Gabriel emerging as the starter, the Cleveland Browns did a nice job of building the offense around the quarterback position. Concepcion is one of the best receivers in the draft after the catch, while the big-bodied Boston is one of the best jump-ball receivers among this years rookie crop of receivers. The Browns grabbing Boston in the second round was a steal. Cleveland also secured another prospect with first-round grades in McNeil-Warren. And of course, its the Browns so why not take another developmental QB prospect on Day 3 in Green? Picks: David Bailey, edge rusher, Texas Tech (No. 2 overall pick); Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon (16); Omar Cooper Jr., WR, Indiana (30); D'Angelo Ponds, CB (50); Darrell Jackson Jr., DT, Florida State (103); Cade Klubnik, QB, Clemson (110); Anez Cooper, G, Miami (Fla.) (188); VJ Payne, S, Kansas State (228)Top three needs entering draft:QB, WR, EdgeBest pick: Sadiq The New York Jets needed talent and competency more than anything from this years draft. And New York grabbed solid prospects throughout the draft, starting with the most polished pass rusher in David Bailey, the most explosive tight end in Kenyon Sadiq and the best receiver after the catch in Omar Cooper, who some scouts labeled "Deebo Samuel lite." Ponds might be pound-for-pound the best corner in this years draft, with his 5-8 size the only reason he fell to the second round. New York grabbed a developmental QB prospect on Day 3 in Cade Klubnik and Darrell Jackson should develop into a productive interior pass rusher. Picks: Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana (No. 1 overall pick); Treydan Stukes, S, Arizona (38); Keyron Crawford, DE, Auburn (67); Trey Zuhn III, C, Texas A&M (91); Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee (101); Mike Washington Jr., RB, Arkansas (122); Dalton Johnson, S, Arizona (150); Hezekiah Masses, CB, Cal (175); Malik Benson, WR, Oregon (195); Brendan Cleevland, DT, North Carolina State, (229)Top three needs entering draft:QB, WR, DL, DBBest pick: Mendoza The Las Vegas Raiders got one of the best overall players in the draft and the long-term answer at quarterback for the next decade, so that puts the Raiders near the top of the list. But they also added players that can develop into solid contributors throughout the draft, including a first-round talent that dropped to the fourth round due to injury in Jermod McCoy, a playmaking safety in Treydan Stukes and a home run hitter at running back in Washington. Keyron Crawford also adds explosiveness to the Las Vegas pass rush. Combine this draft with the splashes the Raiders made in free agency and Las Vegas could make some noise in the AFC West. Picks: Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State (No. 11 overall pick); Malachi Lawrence, edge rusher, UCF (23); Jaishawn Barham, edge rusher, Michigan (93); Drew Shelton, OT, Penn State (112); Devin Moore, CB, Florida (114); LT Overton, edge rusher, Alabama (137); Anthony Smith, WR, East Carolina (218)Top three needs entering draft:Edge, LB, CBBest pick: Downs The Dallas Cowboys got a player who some scouts rated the top overall player in the draft by trading up one spot to No. 11 in Caleb Downs, who immediately upgrades a Dallas defense that will deploy more defensive backs under new defensive coordinator Christian Parker. And they added one of the best pass rushers available in the draft in Malachi Lawrence. In all, the Cowboys selected five defensive players and three pass rushers. One of the worst defenses in 2025 should be much improved in the upcoming season.

Now nearly a year into the rev-share era, the cap in place under the House settlement is expected to grow this summer. But as schools are finding other ways to fund their rosters, Nick Saban called for equilibrium in college football.As Ross Dellenger previously noted, schools are finding ways to blow past the rev-share cap. Following the transfer portal this offseason, On3s Pete Nakos also reported the expectation is multiple rosters could cost upward of $40 million this year.SUBSCRIBE to the On3 NIL and Sports Business NewsletterAs he evaluated the state of the game, Saban reflected on comments he made late in his tenure at Alabama about the role of collectives and the idea of pay-for-play in college football. While programs have been able to turn around in the new era, he also pointed to the salary cap in the NFL and other pro leagues while arguing for more balance with regard to spending.Well, the first time somebody had a collective and Im not going to mention any names because I got in trouble for that before I just made the statement, they didnt do anything wrong, but is this what we want college football to become? Saban said Wednesday on The Paul Finebaum Show. And thats exactly what happened.I like the fact that some programs have been able to improve because of the circumstance, but I also think there should be some equilibrium. One team shouldnt have a $40 million roster and another team have a $5 million roster, and theyre out there playing each other. Every league NFL, basketball, hockey they all have a salary cap or something that creates parity in the league so everybody has an equal opportunity to win.Once the House settlement received final approval, a $20.5 million cap went into place as schools began to directly share dollars with athletes through revenue-sharing. That figure is set to grow to $21.3 million on July 1, per terms of the settlement agreement.Nick Saban: Concern is the health of college athleticsLooking beyond football, Nick Saban said he has questions about the future of college sports as a whole. He was in attendance for a roundtable on college athletics hosted by President Donald Trump and has spoken in support of the executive order Trump signed last month.In Trumps order, he took aim at eligibility, and the NCAA advanced conversations about a new age-based rule this week. It also called for a limit to transfer movement.But Saban called out issues he sees with Olympics sports and how schools balance support for those programs with revenue programs such as football and basketball. Last week, Arkansas announced its plans to discontinue its tennis programs, which Saban also noted while vouching for non-revenue sports.I really think that the concern is the health of college athletics, not just football. I think people look at football and basketball. But how about the 22 other sports we have that are really, probably, non-revenue sports that create lots of opportunities, actually trained 85% of our Olympians in the last Olympics? Were the only country in the world that the university system and college athletics actually develop our athletes for the Olympics.So if were creating a situation where theres not enough balance between the revenue sports and the non-revenue sports. Then, people are going to start dropping these sports, which you saw Arkansas drop tennis the other day. Thats exactly what we dont want to see.

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The Los Angeles Rams shocked the football world when they took Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson with the 13th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. While the Rams stunned just about everyone on Thursday night, though, the decision was the culmination of multiple months of work on Simpson, according to head coach Sean McVay. In an interview with FS1's "The Herd," McVay told Colin Cowherd that the Rams didn't come to a sudden decision to select Simpson with the 13th overall pick as they still have the reigning MVP, Matthew Stafford, on their roster. "There wasnt that a-ha moment, it was a combination of the work," McVay said. "You like the body of work, and you say Hey, this guys got the potential to develop one day into what we would deem a possible starting quarterback. Well welcome Ty into the building with open arms, but what I did think what was important for me to make sure that there was clarity on was, let's not get it twisted. We're trying to win right now, and we've got decisions for the short and long term." Simpson only started at Alabama for one season, giving him less experience than most other quarterbacks taken in the first round in recent years. However, Simpson had an impressive year in his lone season as Alabama's starter. He finished the season with 3,567 passing yards, 30 total touchdowns and five interceptions. He also had four consecutive wins over AP Top 25 teams, leading the Crimson Tide to their first Xollege Football Playoff appearance under head coach Kalen DeBoer. As a result, Simpson was widely viewed as the No. 2 quarterback prospect in the 2026 NFL Draft, trailing only Fernando Mendoza. FOX Sports NFL Draft analyst Rob Rang gave the Rams a B grade for the pick of Simpson, calling it a "gutsy" pick. "There is no denying that he is a good fit in Sean McVays offense he was listed as such in my best NFL team fits for each of this years QBs but this is easily the gutsiest pick of the first round thus far," Rang wrote. "This is obviously a move made for the long term. But I can't help but wonder if the Rams, presumably Super Bowl contenders in 2026, will later wish theyd selected a player likelier to make an immediate impact." Even though Rang and some others liked the selection of Simpson due to the positional value, there was still a massive elephant in the room with the pick. But McVay also made it clear that the team prioritized keeping Stafford in the loop when they were making the selection of Simpson. McVay said that communication was extremely important and called Stafford "a total stud" throughout the whole process. "If you can't have a little comfort in the conflict, but it's all rooted in I trust that person. I know what they're saying is the truth ... you can work through those things," McVay said. "I think one of the biggest breakthroughs of our relationship was having to go through some of the tough conversations we had last season." Stafford didn't show any signs of aging last season, throwing for 4,707 yards, 46 touchdowns and eight interceptions as he led the Rams to the NFC Championship Game. He and the Rams are also reportedly discussing an extension to keep him under contract for a little longer. Still, Stafford turned 38 in February, and McVay admitted that the quarterback's commitment is likely on a year-to-year basis at this point. Still, even if Simpson is the heir apparent to Stafford, he'll have to work his way up the depth chart to become their backup quarterback first. As the team is in the midst of organized team activities (OTAs), McVay has iterated that Simpson will compete with Stetson Bennett for the top backup job.