The 2022 class of free agents follows that rule based on which wide receivers are unsigned to play with their current teams in 2022 in beyond. Although the top three available aren’t expected to go anywhere, expect some big movement involving some big other names. MORE: Ranking the 50 best NFL free agents for 2022 NFL free agency 2022: Wide receiver rankings Davante Adams, Packers (age: 29) (franchise-tagged) Adams is arguably still the best all-around wide receiver in the NFL and in his prime with long-time QB Aaron Rodgers....

With Lynch’s backup, Fred Jackson, also injured (he was listed as questionable), the Seahawks will again turn to rookie Thomas Rawls to shoulder the load. Elsewhere, Baltimore’s Steve Smith (back), Buffalo’s LeSean McCoy (hamstring) and Detroit’s Eric Ebron (knee) were all ruled out while Alshon Jeffrey (hamstring) is questionable for Chicago. MORE: Best photos from Week 5 | NFL Week 5 picks Here are the five most impactful injuries heading into Week 5:...

Tony Romo’s injury thrusts Brandon Weeden into a starting role, while Saints backup Luke MCown and Bears backup Jimmy Clausen are in similar situations. MORE: These NFL stars must step up in Week 3 | Week 3: Big-time matchups, big-time excitement Weeden will try to keep pace with a high-flying Falcons offense, and McCown and Clausen face two of the tougher defenses in the NFL with the Panthers and Seahawks, respectively....

The NFL announced its investigation after a Boston Globe report on Friday, in which Chung — who is Korean-American — claimed a team told him he was “not the right minority” for the job during an interview. He declined to name the team with whom he interviewed. “We will review the matter,” NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said in a statement via NFL.com. “That comment is completely inappropriate and contrary to league values and workplace policies....

While the rest of the slate doesn’t have quite the same shine, all of the games have point spreads and totals, and thus, have our interest. The Linemakers on Sporting News offer our opinions and picks on the dozen games on Sunday. The lines listed below are the Las Vegas consensus as of Saturday. Check updated NFL spreads and totals on our live odds page. Panthers vs. Vikings (-2.5, 42....

The Linemakers on Sporting News offer our analysis, opinions and picks on Sunday’s betting card. The lines and totals listed below are the Vegas consensus as of Saturday. You can check updated NFL point spreads and totals on our live odds page . Jets vs. Vikings (-5.5, 40.5), 1 p.m. ET, CBS The line here is an overreaction by the betting market. Minnesota has been outgained in its last three games – including by Carolina and Chicago – and our power ratings indicate this spread is off by about 3 points....

So, as a preview to the draft as it stands now, before all of the major and minor signings are finalized in free agency, here’s an updated, two-round mock draft. Houston Texans — Blake Bortles, QB, UCF What the Texans do in free agency at the quarterback spot will be interesting, particularly with their rumored interest and connection to the Patriots’ Ryan Mallett. However, until they answer the quarterback question mark, Bortles, who’s the best fit but not necessarily the best quarterback available, will remain the pick....

In our last mock draft for 2019, we considered how teams’ short-term needs changed after NFL free agency. This time we have a better understanding of where the top prospects’ stock is settling, and who each team is interested in picking in the 2019 NFL Draft. NFL DRAFT 2019:Big Board of top 100 prospects With all that in mind, here is how we see picks No. 1 through No. 32 playing out on the night of April 25....

With the some prominent prospects rising to the occasion and the updated draft order in flux, that fine intersection of pro future and college present makes it a great time for a new Sporting News first-round mock. There’s no doubt the big shakeup in how teams are picking in the top 18 have ripple effects for every pick through 32: BIG BOARD: Ranking the top 100 prospects for 2022 NFL Draft...

The Jets, Giants and Eagles won’t be making the playoffs, but they can look forward most to next year with two first-round picks each. At the moment, based on their respective past trade partners — Seahawks, Bears and Dolphins — also looking like also-rans — those three marquee East Coast teams all would pick twice in the top 10. With the fluctuating value of prospects before the college playoffs, bowls and all-star games ahead, there’s also a shakeup of where the best players, including the quarterbacks, might go....

The Jaguars and Giants joined the mix with their Saturday losses to take them out of Super Bowl 57 contention.The Cowboys and Bills, Sunday’s losers, also know when they will be picking on the night of April 27 in Kansas City. Here’s Sporting News’ updated mock draft that also covers the needs of those four games: BIG BOARD: Ranking the top 70 prospects for 2023 NFL Draft NFL mock draft 2023 Chicago Bears Will Anderson Jr....

MATTIOLI: Baylor is proof of real consequences We get why the 60-year-old coach would be a welcome asset as, at worst, an offensive consultant in the league. What he did with Bears on the field is exceptional. Not only did Briles create one of college’s more dynamic offenses, it translated well in the pro prospects — especially wide receivers — he sent to the NFL. With teams struggling to merge concepts to maximize younger players’ unique skill sets, somebody might want to pick Briles’ brain....

The NFL achieved its fifth consecutive ‘A’ grade for racial hiring practices and received a ‘C-’ for gender hiring practices. This gave the NFL a combined ‘B’ grade. MORE: Cardinals RB Johnathan Dwyer arrested on domestic violence charges The ‘C-’ grade for gender hiring came before a flurry of key management hirings that were made Monday and Tuesday. On Monday, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell announced the addition of senior advisors Lisa Friel, the former head of the Sex Crimes Prosecution Unit in the New York County District Attorney’s Office; NO MORE co-founder Jane Randel; and Rita Smith, the former executive director of the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence....

“Comments like we heard last night from the president are inappropriate, offensive and divisive,” Giants owners John Mara and Steve Tisch said in a joint message issued Saturday morning. “We are proud of our players, the vast majority of whom use their NFL platform to make a positive difference in our society.” By the afternoon, Dolphins owner Stephen Ross followed suit, calling for unity in society and the NFL....

But those records could be broken on Sunday. Quietly in 2021, Tom Brady has approached that passing yard mark. In the same season in which he surpassed Drew Brees for the all-time career passing yards record, Brady finds himself within striking distance of Manning’s single-season record, potentially setting himself up to claim another record in his Hall of Fame career. While the record, if broken, would be viewed by some with an asterisk due to the 17 games Brady had to set the record compared to Manning, who accomplished the feat in 16 games, it would still be a major achievement for the 44-year-old quarterback and could potentially open the door back up in the race for the NFL MVP award....

MORE: Get the latest NFL Week 13 odds, lines & more here Week 13 brings plenty more small lines and tossup games, but also some considerable double-digit favorites to navigate. Everything has gotten more difficult as some of the lesser teams clump together as more equals, regressing to their mean. Without trepidation, here’s how SN breaks down the upcoming matchups and sees the entire slate of 15 games playing out:...

Two of those games are in the NFC. The San Francisco 49ers travel to Philadelphia in what could be one of the more-entertaining games of the day. The 49ers are a road favorite worth watching. New Orleans travels to Carolina for a matchup between NFC rivals. Will Jameis Winston build on an impressive Week 1 performance? The third matchup features Pittsburgh and Las Vegas. The Steelers and Raiders both were underdog winners in Week 1....

Having trouble with your picks and predictions? We’ve got all of the latest odds, lines and analysis for Week 2 from our experts. Here are some of the key games we’re watching. MORE: Week 2 picks against spread | Expert NFL picks | Week 1 lines, odds Seahawks at Packers pick against the spread Vinnie Iyer’s pick: Seattle couldn’t possibly start 0-2, could it? Green Bay couldn’t possibly lose another tough game to its top NFC competition, could it?...

This week was one of the league’s worst, with a massive outbreak and multiple teams placing 10 or more players on their respective COVID reserve lists. With bye weeks done, every team is scheduled to play every week for the remainder of the season, including teams with rampant COVID. Those teams will have little time to recover from their issues. MORE: NFL COVID-19 tracker after leaguewide outbreak On Friday, the NFL postponed three games — Raiders at Browns, Seahawks at Rams and Washington at Eagles — one day after announcing new COVID protocols....

The Eagles (8-7) got the upper hand by beating the Cowboys (7-8) in Week 16, avenging their loss in Dallas earlier this season to go up a full game. The Cowboys would have won the division by sweeping the season series, but now the Eagles have complete control in Week 17. NFL PLAYOFF PICTURE:Updated AFC, NFC standings for Week 16 The winner of the NFC East will get into playoffs with the No....