Sports
2026 NFL Mock Draft: First 12 Picks Predictions and Analysis
Nov 22, 2025; South Bend, Indiana, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Jeremiyah Love (4) runs the ball against the Syracuse Orange during the first half at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Michael Caterina-Imagn Images The NFL Draft is one month away.
Pittsburgh will become the center of the football world as college stars cross the stage to start their professional careers.
There are currently five teams with first-round draft selections. Certainly, the first-round will be shaken up a bit more before it concludes – as teams will trade around throughout the duration of the draft.
Let’s take a look at how the NFL Draft will start.
1. Las Vegas Raiders, Fernando Mendoza QB, Indiana
No brainer.
2. New York Jets, David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech
The bad news for the Jets is that there’s not a quarterback worth taking in this slot. The good news is that they have plenty more picks and Bailey is a stud pass rusher.
Even though he might never become a player like Myles Garrett, the Jets will take whatever they can get, and Bailey is one hell of a player.
3. Arizona Cardinals, Rueben Bain Jr., EDGE, Miami
University of Miami’s Rueben Bain Jr. talks at Media Day during the College Football Playoff on Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026. New Cardinals head coach Mike LaFleur knows how good the AFC West is. You’re nothing without a stout defense. Bain Jr. changes everything for the Cardinals – who need a little bit of talent everywhere.
4. Tennessee Titans, Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
This could end up being the best player in the draft. The last time the Titans were good, Derrick Henry was unstoppable. This selection would take an unbelievable amount of pressure off of Cam Ward, which should be the objective.
5. New York Giants, Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
Styles stole the show at the NFL Combine. When you turn on the tape, you see a tremendously complete linebacker.
New Giants head coach John Harbaugh might not be able to help himself. The Giants invested in a linebacker in free agency, but that’s never a guarantee.
6. Cleveland Browns, Monroe Freeling, OL, Georgia
The Browns need everything offensively. A potentially franchise-changing left tackle is a great place to start. Freeling might need a little development so No. 6 overall could be a reach, but the Browns desperately need to address this spot.
7. Washington Commanders, Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State
Nov 28, 2025; Tempe, Arizona, USA; Arizona State Sun Devils wide receiver Jordyn Tyson (0) against the Arizona Wildcats during the 99th Territorial Cup at Mountain America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images Tyson and Terry McLaurin would be a dynamic receiving tandem. While Ohio State’s Carnell Tate is expected to be the first receiver drafted, the Commanders are in a spot to gamble on upside while Jayden Daniels is on his rookie deal.
8. New Orleans Saints, Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
The Saints can’t help themselves from drafting another Ohio State wide receiver. Tate at No. 8 overall is a tremendous value – even if he doesn’t have the early-career success of Emeka Egbuka.
9. Kansas City Chiefs, Jermod McCoy, CB, Kansas City Chiefs
It’s no secret that the Chiefs need immediate cornerback. Insert McCoy, who would immediately get thrown into a major starting role.
10. Cincinnati Bengals, Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah
The Bengals need to continue to invest in protecting Joe Burrow. Lomu is arguably the best offensive lineman in this class.
11. Miami Dolphins, Makai Lemon, WR, USC
Oct 11, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; USC Trojans wide receiver Makai Lemon (6) runs for a first down before he is stopped by Michigan Wolverines linebacker Jimmy Rolder (30), defensive back Rod Moore (19) and defensive end Cameron Brandt (9) in the second half at United Airlines Field at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images The Dolphins desperately need wide receiver help after trading Jaylen Waddle and seemingly letting Tyreek Hill walk in free agency after releasing him. Lemon could be a game-changer with Malik Willis.
12. Dallas Cowboys, Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State
Arguably the best player in the draft, Jerry Jones lands himself a defensive star. The Cowboys would be tremendously lucky to be able to make this pick.
Sports
Spacestation Gaming stay hot in Overwatch Champions Series
A custom gaming keyboard backlit with red LED lights waits for tactile input before Manual took on Boone County in a Rocket League match, which was streamed on YouTube on Thursday, March 5, 2020. Spacestation Gaming recorded their second win in as many days by posting a 3-2 victory over Disguised on Sunday in the Overwatch Champions Series 2026 — North America Stage 1.
The Overwatch 2 online competition, with a prize pool of $75,000, features six teams playing a regular season with a round-robin format from March 21 to April 5. All matches are first-to-three.
The top four teams advance to the regional playoffs, which are April 10-12 and feature a double-elimination bracket. All matches are first-to-three except for the grand final, which is first-to-four.
Spacestation Gaming followed up their 3-0 victory over LuneX on Saturday by outlasting Disguised on Sunday.
Disguised jumped out to a fast start by sandwiching a 2-1 victory on Lijiang Tower and a 3-1 triumph on Aatlis around a 3-0 setback on Rialto. Spacestation Gaming, however, bounced back with a 3-1 win on Numbani and 89.69m-62.11m victory on Runasapi.
LuneX Gaming rebounded from Saturday’s setback with a 3-0 victory over Extinction.
LuneX notched a 2-1 win on Lijiang Tower, a 128.06m-51.42m victory on Esperanca and 3-2 triumph on Suravasa.
Saturday’s Week 2 matches:
–Team Liquid vs. Dallas Fuel
–Disguised vs. Extinction
Standings
1. Spacestation Gaming, 2-0, +4
2. Dallas Fuel, 1-0, +2
3. Team Liquid, 1-0, +1
4. LuneX Gaming, 1-1, 0
5. Disguised, 0-2, -3
6. Extinction, 0-2, -4
Prize pool:
1. $30,000, qualifies for Champions Clash, NA Stage 2
2. $15,000, qualifies for Champions Clash, NA Stage 2
3. $12,000, qualifies for NA Stage 2
4. $8,000, qualifies for NA Stage 2
5-6. $5,000, qualifies for NA Stage 2 promotion/relegation
–Field Level Media
Sports
OpTic Texas atop final standings at CDL Major 2 qualifying
A backlit keyboard is part of the gear online video game streamer Jordan Woodruff uses in his Gilbert home.
Jordan Woodruff
OpTic Texas finished with the best record at 10-1, including a win on Sunday in the conclusion of Call of Duty League Stage 2 Major qualifying.
The 12 Call of Duty League teams were playing a full qualifying round robin to determine seeding for the second major of the season, to be held March 27-29 in Marston Green, England, as part of the DreamHack Birmingham event.
First place in the standings was worth 100 CDL points for OpTic Texas, who along with the next five teams will head straight into the Stage 2 Major playoffs. The teams in seventh through 10th place will compete in a play-in round.
Boston Breach and Cloud9 New York, which finished 11th and 12th, did not advance.
The Stage 2 Major champion will receive $150,000 and 100 Call of Duty League points. The runner-up will get $90,000 and 75 CDL points.
On Sunday, the Vancouver Surge outlasted the Riyadh Falcons 3-2. Vancouver opened with a 250-237 win on Scar Hardpoint and 6-4 win on Raid Search and Destroy. But the Falcons drew even with wins on Scar Overload (6-3) and Exposure Hardpoint (250-83). The Surge captured the last map, Colossus Search and Destroy, 6-2, for the win.
Kenyen “Capsidal” Sutton of the United States was match MVP with 105 kills to 101 deaths as the only Surge player in positive numbers.
The Los Angeles Thieves went the distance to down Paris Gentle Mates 3-2. The Thieves started fast with a 250-107 win on Den Hardpoint and 6-4 win on Colossus Search and Destroy. PARIVISION rallied with a 5-3 win on Exposure Overload and 250-176 victory on Colossus Hardpoint. Los Angeles took the match with a 6-2 win on Raid Search and Destroy.
Paco “HyDra” Rusiewiez of France was match MVP with 90 kills and a plus-6 kill-death differential for Los Angeles.
The Miami Heretics swept Boston Breach, winning 250-157 on Den Hardpoint, 6-4 on Exposure Search and Destroy and 6-2 on Exposure Overload.
Diego “SupeR” Escudero of Spain was match MVP with 59 kills and a plus-15 differential for Miami.
OpTic Texas closed out the week with a sweep of Toronto KOI, winning 250-216 on Den Hardpoint, 6-3 on Raid Search and Destroy and 5-4 on Scar Overload.
Brandon “Dashy” Otell of Canada was match MVP, pacing OpTic with 64 kills and a plus-18 differential.
Call of Duty League Stage 2 Major qualifying final standings (match record, map differential, CDL points)
1. OpTic Texas, 10-1, +21, 100
2. Miami Heretics, 7-4, +11, 70
3. Los Angeles Thieves, 7-4, +9, 70
4. GS Minnesota, 6-5, 0, 60
5. Riyadh Falcons, 6-5, +6, 60
6. FaZe Vegas, 6-5, +3, 60
7. Carolina Royal Ravens, 6-5, 0, 60
8. Toronto KOI, 5-6, -1, 50
9. Vancouver Surge, 4-7, -1, 40
10. Paris Gentle Mates, 4-7, -4, 40
11. Boston Breach, 3-9, -13, none
12. Cloud9 New York, 2-9, -20, none
–Field Level Media
Sports
Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka sails through third round at Miami Open
Mar 22, 2026; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Aryna Sabalenka hits a forehand against Caty McNally (USA) (not pictured) on day six of the 2026 Miami Open at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka won 10 of the last 12 games in dispatching Caty McNally 6-4, 6-2 in one hour, 25 minutes in a third-round match on Sunday night at the Miami Open.
Sabalenka of Belarus, coming off the BNP Paribas Open championship at Indian Wells, Calif., is defending her title in Miami Gardens, Fla.
It wasn’t all that easy, as Sabalenka blew a 4-2 lead in the first set for 4-4, then needed six deuces to hold serve — despite a 15-30 start — before breaking McNally’s serve for the third time to win the set.
Sabalenka converted 5 of 8 break points in the match, to 2 of 3 for McNally, and won 67.4% of her first serve points (29 of 43), to 55.3% (21 of 38) for her American opponent.
Next up for Sabalenka is No. 23 Qinwen Zheng of China, who had a much tougher match in beating 15th-seeded Madison Keys of the United States 4-6, 6-2, 6-4 in two hours, 17 minutes.
“The ball was just like a bomb for me at the beginning,” Zheng said of the early going against Keys. “I couldn’t react. I haven’t had this speed of match in a long time.”
Zheng would catch up, finishing with 31 winners — 23 in the last two sets — to Keys’ 15. Zheng had more aces (11-4) and fewer double faults (3-5). She converted four of 13 break-point opportunities, but Keys succeeded on just 2 of 12.
Sabalenka won the first six meetings against Zheng, who won two of the next three of nine total.
“I’ll focus on myself. I’ll focus on my game. I’ll try to stay focused from the first point ‘til the last,” Sabalenka said of playing Zheng. “She’s an incredible player. We played a lot of matches. I have a good record against her, but it doesn’t say anything. It’s always tough battles. I’m always looking forward to play her. It’s always a fight and I really enjoy it.”
Third-seeded Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan defeated No. 27 Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine 6-3, 6-4. No. 5 Jessica Pegula downed No. 26 Leah Fernandez of Canada 6-2, 6-2.
Other high seeds didn’t make it out of the round. No. 7 Jasmine Paolini of Italy was knocked out by No. 25 Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia 5-7, 6-2, 7-5. No. 9 Elina Svitolina of Ukaine fell to American Hailey Baptiste 6-3, 7-5. No. 11 Ekaterina Alexandrova of Russia was eliminated by No. 34 Jaqueline Cristian of Romania 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (5).
Australia’s Talia Gibson, coming off of a quarterfinal run at Indian Wells where she earned her first three top-20 wins, notched her fifth on Sunday. Gibson, who beat Naomi Osaka in straight sets on Saturday, downed 18th-seeded Iva Jovic of the United States 6-2, 6-2 on Sunday.
Gibson did not face a break point while converting four of eight.
–Field Level Media
Spacestation Gaming stay hot in Overwatch Champions Series
OpTic Texas atop final standings at CDL Major 2 qualifying
