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Report: Seahawks unlikely to apply franchise tag to Kenneth Walker III

NFL: Super Bowl LX-Seattle Seahawks at New England PatriotsFeb 8, 2026; Santa Clara, CA, USA; Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (9) carries the ball against the New England Patriots during the fourth quarter in Super Bowl LX at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images

The Seattle Seahawks unlikely are to apply the franchise tag to Super Bowl LX MVP Kenneth Walker III, according to a report by ESPN.

Walker, who ran for 135 yards in Seattle’s 29-13 Super Bowl victory over the New England Patriots, is not being prioritized as a retention piece, per ESPN. The Seahawks reportedly are prioritizing other pending free agents and likely will work on an extension for star receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba.

Walker, 25, would be given a one-year, $14.1 million contract if the franchise tag was applied to him. The former second-round pick is at the end of his four-year rookie contract which saw the Seahawks pay him a total of $8.4 million.

After rushing for 1,027 yards and five touchdowns in the regular season, Walker amassed 313 yards and four scores over the Seahawks’ three playoff games. He took over the majority of the reps in the wake of Zach Charbonnet’s season-ending knee injury sustained in Seattle’s divisional-round win over San Francisco.

Over four seasons with the Seahawks, Walker has rushed for 3,555 yards and 29 touchdowns while catching 133 passes for 1,005 yards and two more scores in 58 regular-season games (54 starts).

–Field Level Media

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Three Teams That Screwed Up 2026 NFL Draft

The Jacksonville Jaguars’ first-round pick, Colorado Buffaloes wide receiver and defensive back Travis Hunter, left, answers questions as General Manager James Gladstone, right, sits next to him during a press conference Friday, March 25, 2025 at Miller Electric Center in Jacksonville, Fla. [Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union]The Jacksonville Jaguars’ first-round pick, Colorado Buffaloes wide receiver and defensive back Travis Hunter, left, answers questions as General Manager James Gladstone, right, sits next to him during a press conference Friday, March 25, 2025 at Miller Electric Center in Jacksonville, Fla. [Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union]

Not every team can take home a prized draft pick, especially if they are throwing darts nowhere near the top of the board.

We can’t say enough great things about the Cleveland Browns and Las Vegas Raiders, Dallas Cowboys and New York Jets and their stadium co-tenants, the Giants. From top to bottom, there’s a lot to love about the Panthers’ draft, too.

But we have no worldly idea what a few other teams were thinking over the three-day NFL draft completed Saturday in Pittsburgh.

Jacksonville Jaguars

From all splash and sizzle in 2025 to … what-was-that vibes in 2026, maybe this is life with a 30-something general manager. We can’t say Travis Hunter, which cost Jacksonville a 2026 first-round pick in the deal with the Browns on draft night ’25, was a home run. Or even an infield single. And now we can’t say much at all about what the Jaguars did in this draft. The franchise is drafting “culture” and we’re anxious to find out how that computes year over year.

San Francisco 49ers

Dec 14, 2025; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (13) prepares to pass the ball during the first quarter against the Tennessee Titans at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-Imagn ImagesDec 14, 2025; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (13) prepares to pass the ball during the first quarter against the Tennessee Titans at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-Imagn Images

A jumbo receiver who would’ve been on the board 20 picks later De’Zhaun Stribling (Ole Miss) wasn’t entirely unexpected. But the 49ers signed Mike Evans and 2025 first-rounder Ricky Pearsall is being panned as a lead receiver. If these things compute internally, what’s the reward with Stribling? This isn’t a division where drafting depth over difference-makers can be a survival mode. Indiana RB Kaelon Black also would’ve been on the board later and he’s a niche player at best as long as the 49ers have the McCaffrey guy. So two of the top three picks are bit players in a division where everyone north of Arizona will be hyper competitive.

Atlanta Falcons

Jan 4, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Falcons defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich on the sideline against the New Orleans Saints in the first quarter at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn ImagesJan 4, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Falcons defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich on the sideline against the New Orleans Saints in the first quarter at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images

Clemson cornerback Avieon Terrell brings immediate value and it’s fair to wonder if the Falcons are having buyer’s remorse over the trade of a first-round pick for James Pearce Jr. in 2025 given his off-field issues. The draft wasn’t deep enough to find high-end pass rushers or offensive tackles in the late rounds. Using their third draft pick this year on Kendal Daniels (Oklahoma) at No. 134 is evidence the Falcons are hoping to hit the lottery on upside. Where Daniels fits in this defense is nowhere near clear at the moment.

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Red Sox bats come alive in rout of Orioles

MLB: Boston Red Sox at Baltimore OriolesApr 25, 2026; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Boston Red Sox center fielder Ceddanne Rafaela (3) hits an RBI single during the second inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Kucin Jr.-Imagn Images

Garrett Crochet pitched six shutout innings and Andruw Monasterio drilled a late-game grand slam as the Boston Red Sox snapped a four-game losing streak with a 17-1 victory against the host Baltimore Orioles on Saturday afternoon.

Caleb Durbin and Willson Contreras joined Monasterio with ninth-inning home runs as part of Boston’s 10-run blitz in the final inning.

Contreras provided a sacrifice before batting twice in the ninth with a run-scoring single and a three-run homer to finish with five runs batted in. Connor Wong drilled a three-run double in the fifth inning. Monasterio and Ceddanne Rafaela had three hits apiece.

The Orioles, who racked up 20 hits Friday night, had one hit through five innings Saturday. Taylor Ward had two of Baltimore’s six hits.

Crochet (3-3), who had a couple of rough outings during a personal two-game losing skid, limited the Orioles to three hits and two walks while striking out seven batters. He allowed Coby Mayo’s double and two sixth-inning singles.

Baltimore starter Trevor Rogers (2-3) didn’t make it through the second inning. He was charged with three runs on four hits and two walks in 1 2/3 innings. He threw 48 pitches in the second.

Even with the seven runs through five innings, Boston’s run total was one more than the team’s total in its previous four games combined.

The Red Sox produced a three-run second inning with two outs, beginning with Durbin’s run-scoring double. Isiah Kiner-Falefa drove in a run with a single two batters later before Rafaela followed with a run-producing single.

Contreras delivered a sacrifice fly in the fourth inning. Wong came through with a two-out bases-clearing double in the fifth.

Boston’s four runs across the fourth and fifth innings off reliever Albert Suarez were unearned.

The Red Sox lost the shutout bid in the seventh when Tyler O’Neill, in his first game back from the concussion injury list, singled and later scored on Leody Taveras’ groundout. That run was unearned off Greg Weissert.

Rafaela led off the ninth with a triple and scored on Contreras’ single before Baltimore turned to utility player Weston Wilson on the mound.

The start of the game was moved up four hours because of weather-related concerns later in the day.

–Field Level Media

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Galaxy, Real Salt Lake clash, dealing with crowded schedule

Soccer: Concacaf Champions Cup-Round of 16-Mt. Pleasant at LA GalaxyMar 11, 2026; Carson, California, USA; LA Galaxy forward Ruben Ramos (24) shoots during the second half of a Concacaf Champions Cup Round of 16 Leg 1 soccer game against Mount Pleasant FA at Dignity Health Sports Park. Mandatory Credit: William Liang-Imagn Images

The rivalry between Real Salt Lake and the Los Angeles Galaxy is generally spirited, but both teams will be tasked with generating renewed energy when they meet Sunday at Carson, Calif.

Both teams are winding down a busy stretch of the schedule with their third matches in nine days. Putting together the lineups will be carefully calculated.

“There’s going to be a balance to that,” said Real Salt Lake coach Pablo Mastroeni, a former player with the Galaxy. “A lot of it has to do with how the guys who started last week recover. Maybe I go against what I typically do. We’ll look at all the factors … and make the best decisions for the group for Sunday.”

Real Salt Lake (5-2-1, 16 points) lost 2-0 to visiting Inter Miami on Wednesday after a two-game stretch of scoring seven total goals in a pair of victories.

Real Salt Lake will look to get rookie forward Sergi Solans rolling; he has five goals this season.

The Galaxy (2-4-3, 9 points) have allowed two goals in each of their past two games in going 0-1-1 in those road outings. That included Wednesday’s 2-1 setback at the Columbus Crew.

“We have to be able to move faster, anticipate more, and be cleaner under pressure in certain situations,” Galaxy coach Greg Vanney said.

The teams are longtime rivals, with the Galaxy owning 22 wins, Real Salt Lake winning 18 matchups and the teams playing to 13 draws.

Last year, Real Salt Lake midfielder Diego Luna had two goals in a five-minute stretch in a 2-0 victory. Recently, he has scored in two of the team’s last three matches.

The Galaxy will have lineup adjustments, so it’s unclear if teenager Ruben Ramos Jr. will receive his second consecutive start.

With so many matches in a short span, Vanney said that factored into decisions regarding playing time throughout the week. How some players have recovered since the mid-week game will determine lineups for Sunday.

“It’s a combination of things and choosing our lineup,” Vanney said. “Sometimes it’s not always exactly how I want to draw it up, it’s what we have.”

Joseph Paintsil could see an increased role, but Vanney is mindful that he’s coming off a hamstring injury. Injured defender Jakob Glesnes (calf), who has been out since mid-March, fits into that category as well.

“They don’t have a lot of training time because the games are also coming fast so unfortunately, we have to use the games to build up their fitness and their durability,” Vanney said.

L.A.’s Gabriel Pec will look to build off his performance in the Columbus game when he recorded his first goal of the season.

The Galaxy will be without forward Joao Klauss, who had foot surgery Friday stemming from an injury last weekend.

Real Salt Lake will play on the road for the first time in more than a month — since a March 22 draw at San Diego.

As part of the match’s festivities, a statue for former L.A. Galaxy star Cobi Jones will be unveiled outside the stadium.

–Field Level Media

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