Five in particular — Sam Darnold, Josh Rosen, Baker Mayfield, Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen — will be scrutinized more than any other players in the draft. And for some, it will be difficult to shake off the criticism, fair or unfair, that will surely come. MOCK DRAFT 2018:Steelers, Bills trade up for QBs Which of it is legitimate, and which can be ignored? Sporting News takes an in-depth look for each of the top quarterback prospects....

But then Pittsburgh receiver Cobi Hamilton caught a 26-yard touchdown pass to give the Steelers a 27-24 overtime victory over the Browns in Week 17 to put Cleveland on the clock. The Browns began the year with 14 straight losses before knocking off the Chargers last week for their only win. The Browns have the top pick but will also pick 12th in a selection acquired last April from the Eagles (7-9)....

Leonard Williams is not (and likely never will be) on Watt’s level skill-wise. But the 6-5, 302-pound USC product also lacks an obvious positional fit, and that question mark — not talent or dominance — is the quality that’s propelled him to the top of draft boards. MORE: Mock Draft | Safe picks | Risky picks | Top 100 prospects | Late risers Trojan defensive line coach Chris Wilson had fun with Williams’ versatility for three years....

The soon-to-be-junior could have been in the conversation for the No. 1 pick in the last two NFL Drafts. Lawrence has led the Tigers to a pair of College Football Playoff championship appearances and is 25-1 as a starter at the college level. Lawrence is not the only talented player in next year’s quarterback class. Sporting News breaks down the top 10 quarterbacks for the 2021 NFL Draft. NFL MOCK DRAFT 2021:Projecting where Trevor Lawrence, Justin Fields & other top prospects will go...

When the NFL announced Friday it had fined Wright $23,152 for the hit, Wright immediately began planning his appeal. Possibly testifying in his defense: Larry Fitzgerald. MORE: Week 11 Power Rankings | Cardinals QB Palmer fined $11K-plus for gesture Wright told the Seattle Times he was appealing. He said he also understood why the play drew a personal foul penalty, saying the hit “was high. It was too high. I can admit to that....

Bush started seven games for Buffalo last season (his ninth in the NFL) and finished with 44 tackles. Coleman instantly fills the void Bush left as a veteran safety familiar with the Bills’ defensive system, led by head coach Sean McDermott, who coached Coleman during their time with the Panthers. Coleman is entering his 10th NFL season after spending just one year with the Saints, who signed him to a three-year, $16....

The legal tampering period for soon-to-be free agents and the franchise tag window took many of our top 50 free agents off the market, including nine of the top 10 and 22 of the top 25. That obviously includes the biggest domino of 2020 NFL free agency, Tom Brady, who is leaving the Patriots and signing with the Buccaneers. NFL FREE AGENCY TRACKER:Live updates on news, rumors, signings & trades...

Look no further, ladies and gentlemen. We have deep-dived into the full 2022 NFL schedule and run projections on each game using our advanced model. Since we use data and analysis to predict every single game, we feel confident in our ability to make educated guesses for every single team’s win-loss record. We then compared our projected records to DraftKings’ over/under win total listings, which allows us to recommend either betting or fading each team’s total....

The league said it suspended Watkins without pay for the first four games of the 2014 regular season. He’ll eligible to return to the Chiefs’ active roster Sept. 30, the day after Kansas City’s Monday night game against the New England Patriots. No details of the violations were disclosed. The league said Watkins is eligible to participate in all offseason and preseason practices and games. Watkins is in his third NFL season....

Buccaneers star Mike Evans and Colts wide receiver T.Y. Hilton will both likely be game-time decisions while Giants veteran Victor Cruz and Texans running back Arian Foster will sit out another Sunday. MORE: NFL Week 2: Big-time matchups, big-time excitement | Best current NFL players at each jersey number, 1 to 99 The Jets and Colts, who play Monday night, will release their final injury reports Saturday. Patriots at Bills The Patriots’ offensive line may be a sore spot for New England on Sunday with starting guard Ryan Wendell (illness) out....

The Fighting Irish finished the 2019 season 11-2 thanks to the strong depth from these future NFL Draft picks. Here are the Fighting Irish players SN’s Vinnie Iyer projects to be selected in the 2020 NFL Draft, according to our seven-round mock draft. NFL DRAFT BIG BOARD: Ranking the top 100 prospects in 2020 NFL mock draft 2020: Notre Dame’s projected picks Cole Kmet, TE Projected: Round 2, Pick No....

This special edition is limited to the top 18 overall picks, with the order set for non-playoff teams. The exceptions the Broncos, Rams, Saints and Browns, who all have traded away their upcoming first-round selections. In a shocking Week 18 twist, the Texans rallied to beat the Colts while the Bears were getting routed by the Vikings, giving Chicago (3-14) the top pick over Houston (3-13-1). Without including any potential trades, here are Sporting News’ projections for how the selections will play out from No....

Below, we’ll highlight our 10 most intriguing quarterback picks as well as six non-QB long shots worth checking out. MORE NFL FUTURES: ROYs | Divisions | AFC, NFC, Super Bowl NFL MVP 2022 odds All odds courtesy of Sports Interaction NFL MVP 2022 odds: Favorites, best bets, fades Josh Allen, QB, Bills (+490) Shocker: The first name on the list is quite often the best bet. Sorry to go chalk, but Allen has a lot going for him: He’s 26, an age at which many dual-threat QBs hit their prime; he has the same head coach, Sean McDermott, as he’s had his entire career; he still has Pro Bowler Stefon Diggs at wideout and now adds Jamison Crowder to his targets list; and, last but most important, he has Ken Dorsey at offensive coordinator....

Runyan, who also served as a congressman (R-New Jersey) from 2011-15, played 14 seasons in the NFL for four teams, most notably with the Philadelphia Eagles. Runyan’s responsibilities will be to mete out punishment for illegal hits, questionable plays and misconduct, as well as overseeing the NFL’s inspection program for uniforms and protective equipment. His official title will be Vice President of Policy and Rules Administration. MORE: New (League) Year Resolutions for NFL...

The 2018 season gave us a glimpse of what the future might look like with six playoff teams led by starting quarterbacks age 25 or younger, and it would have been seven if Carson Wentz wasn’t injured. Now with 2019 approaching, every report indicates the NFL’s young crop of QBs is only getting better. Here’s a collection of news from around the league Friday: Patrick Mahomes focused on footwork It’s hard to imagine Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes being any better than he was during his MVP season in 2018 — but he’s certainly trying....

The Chiefs, Colts and Bears all got good news regarding the health of top playmakers, while the Patriots made another move to bolster their tight end situation. Here’s the latest from around the NFL: Bears TE Trey Burton should be ready for training camp Trey Burton underwent offseason surgery for a sports hernia that cost him the entirety of OTAs and minicamp. But head coach Matt Nagy indicated Thursday that Burton should be back for training camp....

All the essentials are in one place, from updated odds and spreads, our experts’ picks (straight up and against the spread), and a game-by-game guide to trends and injury reports every bettor should know before placing their wager. There are tips for making your survivor and pick ’em pool picks this week. And if daily games are more your speed, you’ll find advice on building the ideal lineups for the most popular games on DraftKings, FanDuel and Yahoo....

According to the Post, it’s not certain whether Goodell’s authority will be reduced, but it’s clear that this week’s loss in court to Tom Brady and the NFLPA in the Deflategate case has owners in the mood to re-evaluate the disciplinary process. Brady was originally suspended four games for his role in Deflategate, but that decision was overturned by a federal judge. PHOTOS: Strange suspensions by Roger Goodell | More: Let the Roger Goodell debate begin...

The bye weeks have concluded as the final month of the 2021 regular season kicks off. The marathon is even longer this season with a Week 18 in play before getting into the playoffs toward Super Bowl 56. With every team back in action and some more massive and tiny spreads to navigate, here’s Sporting News’ latest fearless forecast of the pigskin prognostications: (Game odds reflect opening odds for Week 15, courtesy of FanDuel)...

Of all the games on the Week 14 NFL schedule, only two opened with double-digit point spreads: the Packers big over the Redskins and the Vikings big over the Lions. Nine of the games on the schedule feature lines of a field goal or fewer, making those matchups essential toss-ups. Such is life in the world of picks and predictions for the NFL, a league in which parity continues to flourish....