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Nick Sirianni is ready to close the book on A.J. Brown.

The Philadelphia Eagles head coach was asked on Tuesday about his former receiver who was traded to the New England Patriots last week, and Sirianni tried his best to highlight the positives and look to the future.

“I would say that it was a lot of good years,” Sirianni said when asked about Brown’s time in Philadelphia. “Done a lot of good things with A.J. here. Two times in the Super Bowl. I think he was All-Pro multiple times. Pro Bowl multiple times. I would say it was a good run.”

Sirianni said he and Eagles general manager Howie Roseman were in lockstep on moving Brown, which netted the Eagles two draft picks, including a first-rounder in 2028.

“Howie and I discuss everything as you know,” Sirianni said. “… So many things that (Brown) did that (were) good for our football team and always will wish him the best of luck.

“This is a team game. … In every decision that I make and the decisions that Howie makes, we talk to each other about it.”

Sirianni said he’s “really excited about that room” and believes DeVonta Smith will “get extra opportunities that he worked so hard” for with Brown now gone. The Eagles also traded up in Round 1 to select USC’s Makai Lemon, who figures to play early and extensively.

“Really excited about Makai and where he is this offseason,” Sirianni said. “Just his ability to catch the football, his toughness, I think that’s a great addition to that room.”

Siranni also singled out Dontayvion Wicks, who was traded from Green Bay, saying that Wicks has “some Keenan Allen to his game.” He is also excited to coach Marquise Brown and Elijah Moore, who have “unique skillsets,” according to Sirianni.

Whatever bad blood there might have been with Brown, Sirianni chose to look past it and focus on the positives that came out of his time with the Eagles and what the trade and other moves helped them set up for the future.

“Again, a lot of good things have happened,” Sirianni said, “and (I’m) really excited about that room.”

It’s the dog days of guessing season with the start of real football still months away, so I’m turning my attention to dark horses in the MVP race. The conversation must be dominated by one position if we’re going to be realistic. A quarterback has won the award in 18 of the last 20 seasons, including each of the last 13.

Five more notes for context before we dive in, since they informed the crafting of this list:

• In the last eight seasons, just five players have been named MVP: Patrick Mahomes (2018, 2022), Lamar Jackson (2019, 2023), Aaron Rodgers (2020, 2021), Josh Allen (2024) and Matthew Stafford (2025). Parity has not reigned supreme of late when it comes to the game’s highest individual honor.
• The last time a non-QB won was 2012 (Vikings RB Adrian Peterson).
• Only two defensive players have ever won (Vikings DT Alan Page, 1971; Giants OLB Lawrence Taylor, 1986).
• No receiver or tight end has ever won.
• Every MVP’s team had a winning record in the year they won.

In an effort to stay true to the spirit of this exercise in identifying dark-horses, I am not including any of the players who are among the top 10 in DraftKings’ MVP odds as of 11 a.m. ET on Tuesday, June 9. That means Allen (+550), Jackson (+650), Mahomes (+1000), Justin Herbert (+1000), Joe Burrow (+1000), Drake Maye (+1100), Dak Prescott (+1300), Stafford (+1400), Caleb Williams (+1400) and Jordan Love (+1500) are not eligible for inclusion here. I’m also not including a defensive player or receiver here because it feels like too high a mountain to climb in today’s NFL. Myles Garrett broke the sack record last season and didn’t receive a single MVP vote. Ja’Marr Chase won the receiving triple crown in 2024 and finished eighth in the MVP voting, with no first-place votes.

I tried to lean into plausible but not absurd as I put the list together. This is not a ranking of front-runners, after all.

Super Bowl odds provided by DraftKings are as of 11 a.m. ET on Tuesday, June 9.

Rank 8

Bijan Robinson

Atlanta Falcons · RB · +10000

This is as close to implausible as I’m willing to get, and that’s not a knock on Robinson.

It would take historic production and a surprisingly successful season for the Falcons to make Robinson a leading MVP contender, but I can see the path for him if I squint. Robinson was a first-team All-Pro after leading the league in scrimmage yards last season (2,298), but his team wasn’t very good (8-9) and he didn’t even lead Atlanta in rushing touchdowns. That title went to backup Tyler Allgeier, who departed in free agency, so perhaps there will be more goal-line opportunities for Robinson in the first year of the Kevin Stefanski era. 

There’s a decent chance the arm strength-challenged Tua Tagovailoa will be starting at QB for the Falcons this season, which means Robinson might face stacked boxes more often than he did last season, when he ran 42 times against them (28th most). If — and it’s a massive if — no QBs emerge as the clear-cut MVP favorites by mid-December, maybe a door opens for Robinson to pull off a rare feat. He would still need a record-breaking season that fuels Atlanta’s first trip to the playoffs in nearly a decade, but he did come within 212 yards of setting the single-season scrimmage yards record in 2025, and there’s no dominant team in the NFC South. So, Robinson gets the nod over electric Lions RB Jahmyr Gibbs for the one spot on this list devoted to a non-QB, since Gibbs and his teammate, Jared Goff, might split votes if the Lions drop the hammer on the rest of the league in 2026.

Rank8

Kyler Murray

Minnesota Vikings · QB · +4000

We saw what Kevin O’Connell did with a reclamation project two years ago, when he flipped the career arc of Sam Darnold by helping him become a Pro Bowl QB (and earn a few points in the MVP voting) in his lone season with Minnesota. Now I’m fascinated to see what the QB guru can do with Murray, who’s looking for the O’Connell bump after cratering in Arizona. He still has to beat out 2024 first-round pick J.J. McCarthy for the starting job, but if Murray’s able to tap back into the dual-threat ability that earned him consecutive Pro Bowl trips a few years ago (2020-2021), it shouldn’t be much of a competition.

While it might not pop off every corner of the page, the supporting cast in Minnesota looks strong on paper, led by one of the league’s top players in WR Justin Jefferson. If Jordan Addison and Jauan Jennings stay healthy, that could be a tough trio of pass catchers for defenses to match up against. The offensive line is solid, anchored by LT Christian Darrisaw. They’re not the most dynamic at tight end (T.J. Hockenson) or running back (Aaron Jones, Jordan Mason), but all in all, it’s a respectable group.

Murray has demonstrated a propensity for making defenses look silly. He was doing it not too long ago, albeit too infrequently. If O’Connell helps him unlock peak form, the Vikings could be surprise contenders in the NFC North, and the heat from the QB’s MVP campaign might turn snowmen into puddles across Minneapolis next winter.

Rank 7

Baker Mayfield

Tampa Bay Buccaneers · QB · +4500

It’s easy to forget, given how the Buccaneers face-planted in the second half of last season, but at midseason, Mayfield was a leading MVP candidate. Tampa Bay was thriving, dropping 38 points in an October win over the future Super Bowl-champion Seahawks in Seattle. Injuries — and Mayfield was playing through a lot of them, according to now former Bucs great Lavonte David — swallowed the team whole down the stretch.

He’ll be trying to bounce back without his go-to guy, future Hall of Famer Mike Evans, who departed for the 49ers in free agency, so it won’t be easy. If Mayfield plays at an elite level despite relying on a young receiving corps led by 2025 first-round pick Emeka Egbuka, it’s not hard to imagine the MVP chatter returning. Also, he’ll be working with his fourth different offensive coordinator in his fourth season with the Bucs, but at least there’s some familiarity with new OC Zac Robinson, who was the Rams’ QB coach during Mayfield’s brief stint with the team in 2022.

The NFC South, while improved, is still very winnable for Tampa Bay, and Mayfield is only a year removed from throwing 41 TD passes. Better injury luck, which seems likely, could put him in the thick of the race once again. He might even have extra motivation from playing for a new contract.

Rank 6

Jalen Hurts

Philadelphia Eagles · QB · +2800

Philly’s offense went out with a whimper in the second half of last season, with Hurts posting a net negative on dropbacks in Expected Points Added (-11.1) during his final nine games of 2025, including the Eagles’ playoff loss, per Next Gen Stats. The vibes were even worse than those numbers. Given the scrutiny attached to playing quarterback for the Eagles, Hurts will either enter next offseason with questions about his future with the team or be riding high after returning to something resembling the form that made him the MVP runner-up in 2022 and the Super Bowl LIX MVP. The latter of the two scenarios seems well within reach.

Hurts is getting something of a fresh start in 2026, with former NFL QB Sean Mannion replacing Kevin Patullo as offensive coordinator after Patullo’s rough lone season as the play-caller. A.J. Brown was shipped to the Patriots after he and Hurts grew apart, according to Brown. The receiving corps has a much different look, with Hollywood Brown, Dontayvion Wicks and first-round pick Makai Lemon arriving this offseason. Second-round selection Eli Stowers gives the offense a freak athlete at tight end. The offensive line remains one of the league’s best. I don’t know if we’ll see peak Saquon Barkley again, but he still ranked 10th in rushing yards (1,140) even while taking a big step back with the rest of the offense last season.

The ingredients are there for Hurts to roar back on a contending team. He’ll have to be much better than the version of him we saw for much of last season, though, in an offense that will have him lining up under center more often.

Rank 5

Sam Darnold

Seattle Seahawks · QB · +2800

The Darnold’s going to turn into a pumpkin narrative was on life support heading into last season’s playoffs, and it probably died for good when he hoisted the Lombardi Trophy on the night of Feb. 8. The former draft bust has now earned Pro Bowl nods in consecutive seasons while leading his teams to a record of 31-7 (.816) in that span (including playoffs). He had a touchdown-to-interception ratio of 5:0 during Seattle’s title run, with nary a fumble lost in the playoffs.

All that’s left for him to prove is he’s the MVP — more than the beneficiary of Jaxon Smith-Njigba’s rare ability, a dominant defense and potent running game, even though such back-handed characterizations of Darnold’s contributions in 2025 were myopic anyway. He might be asked to carry an even greater chunk of the offensive load, with Kenneth Walker III departing in free agency and Zach Charbonnet working his way back from an ACL tear suffered in January’s Divisional Round win over the 49ers. If he proves up to the challenge and the Seahawks are contending for a second straight crown in the league’s best division, it would only make sense if serious MVP buzz followed.

Rank 4

Jayden Daniels

Washington Commanders · QB · +2000

What a difference a year makes. Last summer, the oddsmakers had Daniels much closer to the top of the board at MVP. The vibes were off the charts coming off Washington’s surprise run to the NFC Championship Game, with Daniels winning the Offensive Rookie of the Year award.

After an injury-plagued 2025 season, everyone’s waiting to see how he will get off the mat. Washington’s running a new offense coordinated by 30-year-old former QB David Blough, who will ask Daniels to take more snaps from under center. I won’t blame the third-year passer if the burden feels heavy. After the Commanders were very aggressive in adding support for him last offseason — trading for Laremy Tunsil and Deebo Samuel — this year’s moves were far less splashy. At the moment, third-round pick Antonio Williams is the most notable addition to the receiving corps, which is badly in need of more juice opposite Terry McLaurin.

I worry that the first three games — at Eagles, at Cowboys, vs. Seahawks — could derail Daniels and Co. before we reach October, but he’s surprised us before. When healthy, he has the potential to be one of the most electric playmakers in the game. If the Commanders are playoff contenders come December, it will be because Daniels is playing out of his mind.

Rank 3

Jared Goff

Detroit Lions · QB · +3500

I’m a bit surprised there’s not more MVP love for Goff right now. Yes, he plays in one of the league’s toughest divisions and the Lions’ rough second half of the 2025 season is still fresh in our minds, but he’s also the only quarterback to rank among the top five in EPA in each of the last four seasons. He finished fifth in the MVP voting in 2024 and has made the Pro Bowl in three of the past four seasons.

His game isn’t built on sizzling highlights, but he’s in a rare category when it comes to consistently providing top-tier production. HIs MVP campaign will go as the Lions go, and with a very manageable schedule, I like Detroit’s chances to bounce back.

Nothing will be more critical in determining Goff and the Lions’ success than the play of the new-look offensive line, with All-Pro Penei Sewell flipping from right to left tackle, free-agent signee Cade Mays stepping in at center and first-round pick Blake Miller likely to replace Sewell on the right side. Just take a look at how Goff has fared when pressured versus when he has time to throw since joining the Lions in 2022, per Next Gen Stats:

• vs. pressure: 51.8% completion rate, 7.0 yards per attempt, 24 TDs, 22 INTs, 72.6 rating.
• vs. no pressure: 75.3% completion rate, 8.3 yards per attempt, 106 TDs, 17 INTs, 117 rating.

Goff has the weaponry to make things happen. With clean pockets, he should rack up big numbers connecting with Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, Isaac TeSlaa, Sam LaPorta and Jahmyr Gibbs. In fact, with David Montgomery now in Houston, Gibbs could be in for a career year that ultimately diminishes Goff’s MVP standing, but this is still a quarterback’s award.

Rank 2

Trevor Lawrence

Jacksonville Jaguars · QB · +2200

One could argue Lawrence is not a true sleeper for the award, since he finished fifth in the MVP voting last season. The reason he qualifies is because the oddsmakers don’t seem bullish on his chances after watching what has transpired in Jacksonville this offseason.

I’m presuming the lack of buzz stems from the Jaguars’ inactivity in free agency and perceptions that the team might have overachieved in Year 1 under Liam Coen. The biggest additions on offense were RB Chris Rodriguez Jr. (career high of 500 rushing yards) and second-round TE Nate Boerkircher, who made 38 catches in his five college seasons. Also, Lawrence waved goodbye to RB Travis Etienne, his teammate since their days at Clemson, and while it’s unclear what exactly Travis Hunter’s role will entail as he returns from injury, general manager James Gladstone has said the 2025 first-rounder will be spending more time on defense in 2026. There are still quality pieces around the QB — and a bounce-back year by Brian Thomas Jr. would make them a lot more interesting — but it’s going to take development from Lawrence and some skill-position players to put him squarely in the MVP conversation.

He’s coming off his best season, and it’s entirely possible a second year in Coen’s system will bring out an even better version in a division Jacksonville has proven it can win, which is why I’m ranking him highly on this list.

Rank 1

Brock Purdy

San Francisco 49ers · QB · +2000

Unlike every other player on this list, Purdy gets to enjoy the stability of playing in the same offensive system for the fifth consecutive season, with one of the best in the business, Kyle Shanahan, at the helm. In fact, aside from Purdy and Trevor Lawrence, everyone else on the list has a new offensive coordinator this year.

Continuity alone does not make an MVP candidate, though. Purdy knows that, having finished fourth in the MVP voting in his first season as the team’s full-time starter (2023). What’s different this year is the 49ers made moves to give Purdy what could be the best receiving corps he’s ever had. Signing future Hall of Famer Mike Evans was the blockbuster acquisition, but San Francisco also brought in a former 1,000-yard receiver in Christian Kirk and clearly has high hopes for second-round pick De’Zhaun Stribling, who has the size/speed combination to make those who believe he was drafted too early (No. 33 overall) eat their words. If 2024 first-round pick Ricky Pearsall breaks out, Shanahan could have an embarrassment of riches.

Purdy still has one of the league’s better offensive lines blocking for him, and maybe his most talented pass-catching weapon of all in RB Christian McCaffrey. It’s worth monitoring how TE George Kittle fares as he makes his way back from an Achilles tear, but backup Jake Tonges performed well when he received opportunities last season. 

Now, navigating a schedule that includes two international trips and seven games against teams that made the playoffs last year will not be easy. Most people probably have the 49ers as the third-best team in their division, with the reigning-champion Seahawks and Super Bowl favorite Rams in the NFC West. If Purdy can lead his team through that gauntlet and come out the other end as the QB1 of a leading contender, he should have a powerful narrative MVP voters can embrace. The guy knows how to win games, with a 30-15 record as a starter in his four NFL seasons, and I can’t wait to see what he can do after injuries limited him to nine games last year.

Los Angeles Rams offensive tackle Alaric Jackson was arrested on suspicion of felony domestic violence early Tuesday morning, a Los Angeles Police Department spokesperson confirmed to NFL.com.

Officers responded to a domestic battery call in the 7400 Cliffside Court block of West Hills, California, at 10:46 p.m. PT on Monday. Jackson was subsequently arrested on a domestic violence charge at 12:30 a.m. and booked at Van Nuys Community Police Station at 4:24 a.m., Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department jail records show.

Jackson was later released from jail at 7:20 a.m. after posting $50,000 bond. His next court date is scheduled for June 30 in Los Angeles.

“We are aware of the incident regarding Alaric Jackson, and we take these matters very seriously,” the Rams told the Associated Press in a statement. “Due to this being an ongoing legal situation, we cannot comment further at this time.”

Jackson, 27, signed with the Rams as an undrafted free agent in 2021. He emerged as a starting tackle in 2023, starting 45 out of 51 games the past three seasons.

Jackson signed a three-year, $57 million contact with the Rams during the 2025 offseason.

Los Angeles continues its voluntary organized team activities Tuesday. The Rams will hold mandatory minicamp June 15-16.

Seven-time Pro Bowl guard Joel Bitonio announced his retirement from the NFL on Tuesday after 12 seasons, all spent with the Cleveland Browns.

“Truthfully, as time passed and my career kept going, there was never a point where I could envision myself in a different uniform,” Bitonio wrote for the team’s official website. “Wearing that orange helmet and being part of this franchise — from getting drafted to signing three contracts — I felt a loyalty to the Browns, and it gave me a sense of pride to represent a fan base who is consistently loyal to us. I started the job here, and once I got to a certain point, I knew I wanted to finish the job in Cleveland.

“Now that job is finished. After 12 seasons of wearing No. 75 in brown and orange, I have officially decided to retire.”

For much of his dozen seasons in Cleveland, Bitonio was one of the premier guards in the NFL, adding two first-team All-Pro selections and three AP second-team nods to his Pro Bowls. A steady eddy, Bitonio was one of the best pass-blocking guards in the NFL for the balance of his career and an excellent road-grader.

A second-round pick in 2014, Bitonio was an immediate starter. After an early-career injury, he was a stalwart on the Browns’ offensive line, often the strength of the Cleveland offense during his run. In 2025, he passed Joe Thomas for the most starts in a Browns jersey since 1999 (178).

“Joel Bitonio set the standards for on-field excellence, professionalism and loyalty during his 12-year career with our organization,” Browns general manager Andrew Berry said in a statement. “Few have achieved as much as Joel has during his 178 starts. With seven Pro Bowls, five All-Pro selections and being the best interior lineman at his peak, we applaud a career that should be Canton-bound.

“Everyone knows Joel’s on-field accomplishments, but he was able to elevate the entire building during his tenure because he is a Hall of Fame person. He was our longest-tenured captain, a Walter Payton Man of the Year and his dedication to Northeast Ohio both within the walls of 76 Lou Groza Boulevard and beyond is aspirational to us all. Although Joel is now entering the next phase of his life, he will always be Browns family. We excitedly look forward to the day when he is inducted into our Ring of Honor and a Dawg Pound captain.”

A free agent, Bitonio decided he’d rather retire a Brown than chase a chance at a Lombardi Trophy with another club.

“When I looked at my career and all that I had achieved — the All-Pros, Pro Bowls, snap streaks and playoff appearances — there was only one thing left that I still hoped to accomplish: a Super Bowl,” Bitonio wrote. “A small part of me thought about wanting to chase that dream, but at the end of the day, my heart was set on being a Cleveland Brown for life. This city was where my NFL career was supposed to start and finish. For that dream to be a reality, I could not be more grateful.

“To the city of Cleveland, our loyal fanbase, the Haslam family and the entire Browns organization, thank you. Thank you for 12 years of unwavering support and unforgettable memories.”

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Denver Broncos pass rusher Jonathon Cooper pleaded not guilty Monday in a domestic violence case stemming from an altercation with his girlfriend.

Cooper will have a motions hearing in a Douglas County courtroom on July 6 with the potential for a jury trial on July 22, just before the Broncos report for training camp.

Cooper’s attorney, Harvey Steinberg, said the defense doesn’t plan to file a motion to dismiss the charges and requested a trial date as soon as possible so that Cooper wouldn’t have to miss any training camp workouts.

Cooper, 28, and his girlfriend were arrested Thursday night by Parker police and both were booked into jail early Friday morning, according to Douglas County jail records. Cooper was held on suspicion of criminal mischief with a domestic violence enhancer. His girlfriend was arrested on suspicion of misdemeanor domestic violence and petty criminal mischief.

The arrests followed an argument and physical confrontation between Cooper and his girlfriend over cell phones that were damaged in the scuffle after she accused him of infidelity, according to a police affidavit.

Cooper had his first appearance Friday in the 23rd Judicial District Court and was released later that day on a personal recognizance bond.

Over the weekend, Cooper posted a Bible verse about anger on his Instagram account and wrote, “I apologize to my family and my friends and my community. … And so many others.” He added, “I realize positing a bible (verse) after something very serious happens does not just mean everything is okay.”

In another post, Cooper wrote, “I apologize. This situation is not who I am.”

Besides the legal case, Cooper could also potentially be subject to discipline under the NFL’s personal conduct policy.

A seventh-round draft pick out of Ohio State in 2021, Cooper is entering his sixth season with the Broncos. He has started every game since 2023 and has 31 1/2 career sacks. He’s had at least eight sacks in each of the last three seasons, including a career-best 10 1/2 sacks in 2024 when he signed a four-year, $54 million contract extension.

In the eyes of Atlanta Falcons quarterbacks coach Alex Van Pelt, the QB competition between Michael Penix Jr. and Tua Tagovailoa has yet to begin.

“It’s tough to have a competition when both guys aren’t competing at the same level right now,” Van Pelt said Monday, via ESPN. “So, it’s hard and it’ll come. It’ll happen at some point. Mike’s done a great job of getting himself to where he is right now. Really impressive to take 7-on-7 reps and go out and compete. That’s been great. But really, there’s no competition until we can actually evaluate him equally.”

Penix continues on pace in his recovery from the ACL tear that prematurely ended his 2025 campaign. However, he’s been held out of full-team drills. Van Pelt said that Penix has taken more 7-on-7 snaps to make up for Tagovailoa taking the bulk of the 11-on-11 reps.

“We split the reps as evenly as we can without Mike taking team reps,” Van Pelt said. “It gets a little lopsided towards Tua.”

Penix missing full-duty offseason work gives Tua a leg up when the competition inevitably gets underway. However, the club has insisted that come training camp, Penix will be on equal footing.

Coach Kevin Stefanski deflected when asked if Penix would be cleared when the Falcons hold their mandatory minicamp practices next week.

“He’s hitting every milestone that he’s supposed to hit,” Stefanski said. “We’re in constant communication with our medical team and Mike, and I think he’s doing everything he can do and certainly when he may want to do more, we have to hold him back from certain things potentially. But not going to put any time frames out there just yet, just going to focus on what’s in front of us.”

If Penix isn’t ready for full team drills next week, then the highly anticipated QB competition in ATL will have to wait for training camp in July.

The difference is palpable in John Harbaugh’s first season in New York. The state of the Giants has gone from woebegone to hopeful in a matter of months, with the belief that Big Blue can dig out of the basement and swiftly become a contender.

With mandatory minicamp underway, the vibes around the Giants are mostly positive — save the recent political debates. The belief in New York is that the club has enough talent to compete under the right leadership. Veteran pass rusher Brian Burns, however, cautioned that offseason hype doesn’t always translate come the fall.

“Man, I like to always say, like I said, everybody is excited right now,” he said Monday. “Every other team is excited. Everybody is 0-0. They’re seeing the pieces they have, flying through OTAs. But I’d be lying if I said I didn’t feel this is a little different, I was a little excited, and I expect highly of this team. I’d be lying if I didn’t say that. But at the end of the day, like I say, you’ve gotta prove it. It’s (not) just about being happy and optimistic. You’ve gotta get on the field and you’ve got to prove it against another team and impose your will on them.”

If wins were based on vibes, you could pencil in the Giants for double digits right now. Unfortunately for Big Blue, they are not.

The Giants have seen quick turnarounds under first-year coaches in the past. Between Tom Coughlin and Harbaugh, New York has hired four full-time head coaches. Two — Ben McAdoo and Brian Daboll — took their club to the playoffs in their first season in charge. Each unraveled swiftly thereafter. Those two playoff campaigns were the only winning seasons the Giants have enjoyed in 15 years.

Teams going from worst to first isn’t abnormal in the NFL. In fact, it’s become almost expected that someone will accomplish the feat each season. The question is whether the Giants, who haven’t won an NFC East crown since 2011, can be the ones to pull it off in Harbaugh’s first season.

Burns underscored that every team is feeling the positive vibes in June.

“That’s all 32 teams feeling the same way we’re feeling right now,” he said. “It’s just about how you handle it during the season, how you handle the pressure and especially how you handle the adversity when it hits. That’s the most important thing, but yeah, everybody (is) feeling good and optimistic about their season.”

Myles Garrett is participating in the Los Angeles Rams’ organized team activities this week as he gets acclimated to a new defense.

The NFL’s single-season sack record-holder spent all of his first nine seasons in Cleveland playing a traditional defensive end role in the Browns’ 4-3 system. Rams defensive coordinator Chris Shula runs a 3-4 scheme, so there are questions about how Garrett will fit into the plans or, perhaps rather, how those plans change with the NFL’s best defender now in town.

Garrett participated as an outside linebacker during individual drills on Monday, while watching from the sideline during 11-on-11s. Shula, while not speaking in specifics, indicated he plans to ensure the pass rusher remains his terrorizing self.

“Obviously, we’re still gonna have our principles … but we’re gonna let him do what he does best, and we all know exactly what he does best,” Shula said, via the team’s official website. “You’re not gonna take Michael Jordan, LeBron, all those guys and pull them out of their comfort zone. We’re gonna work with him and put him in the best spots that we think for him and the defense to succeed.”

Read: He’s not going to drop into coverage much.

The arrival of Garrett might require some tweaking from Shula on some of his coverages and OLB drops — after all, you want the best sack artist in the game getting after the quarterback as often as possible — but a complete overhaul isn’t necessary. Jared Verse dropped in coverage 17 times in 2025, per Next Gen Stats, while going after the QB on 96.6 percent of his pass rush snaps (Garrett dropped five times for a 98.9% rate with the Browns last year).

The offseason additions of Garrett and corners Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson give the Rams defense improved weaponry after last year’s downfalls. Now it’s on Shula to deploy them properly.

Tanner Brown has been the best kicker in the UFL this year and he showed everyone why during the Louisville Kings playoff game against the St. Louis BattleHawks on Sunday. 

During the Kings’ 29-20 win, Brown pulled off an improbable field goal feat that no kicker in NFL history has ever accomplished: He hit TWO field goals of 60 yards or more in one game. Cowboys kicker Brandon Aubrey holds the NFL record for most field goals of 60 yards or more in a career with six, but he’s never hit two of those in the same game. 

In the UFL, a field goal of 60 yards or more is worth four points, so Brown came up big for his team with his record-setting kicks. 

His first long kick came in the first quarter when he drilled a 60-yard field goal that gave Louisville an 11-3 lead. 

Brown then topped himself with a clutch 63-yard kick in the fourth quarter that put the Kings up 29-20. 

Overall, Brown scored 11 points in the win and Louisville is now headed to the UFL championship game, which will be played on Saturday against the DC Defenders (DC kicker Matt McCrane was also impressive over the weekend, hitting a 61-yard field goal in the Defenders’ 28-22 win over Orlando). 

The playoff game continues a wildly successful season for Brown, who has been nearly perfect in his first year in the UFL. Including the playoffs, Brown has hit 90% of his field goal attempts on the season (27 of 30) and that includes going 3 of 3 from 60 yards or longer. To put that in perspective, Aubrey is the only kicker in NFL history who has hit at least three field goals of 60 yards or more in the same season, but he had 17 games to do it. Brown hit the total while playing in just 11 games for the Kings (10 regular-season games plus one postseason game). 

With that kind of success, Brown will likely end up getting an NFL tryout this summer, so let’s break down a few landing spots that might make sense. 

Possible NFL landing spots for Tanner Brown

The UFL hasn’t exactly produced a ton of NFL stars, but it has become an impressive pipeline for kickers. The UFL/USFL/XFL has already produced five kickers, with the most notable one being Aubrey. The Cowboys kicker spent two seasons with the Birmingham Stallions (2022-23) before eventually earning a shot in the NFL, and now, he’s viewed as the best kicker in the league. The UFL has also produced Jake Bates (Lions), Harrison Mevis (Rams), Andre Szmyt (Browns) and Lucas Havrisik (Packers). 

Bates’ booming leg earned him an NFL tryout in 2024, so it won’t be surprising if Brown also gets one. Two years ago, Bates hit a 64-yard field goal in one game and followed that up the next week with a 62-yarder while playing for the Michigan Panthers. His big kicks caught the eye of the Lions, who ended up inviting him to training camp. 

There are plenty of teams that might be in the market for a kicker, so let’s take a look at a few possible landing spots for Brown, including both teams in the Big Apple: 

• Giants. John Harbaugh is a former special teams coach, and he is always on the lookout to improve at the kicker position. During his early days in Baltimore, he signed Justin Tucker as an undrafted free agent. Harbaugh has already been fiddling with the kicking position: He signed Jason Sanders back in March before releasing the former All-Pro in early June. The Giants currently have Ben Sauls and rookie Dominic Zvada, but Zvada has never kicked in a real NFL game and Sauls has never attempted a field goal outside 45 yards, so Harbaugh might be willing to add at least one more kicker to the competition. 
• Jets. The Jets had Nick Folk as their kicker last season, but he signed with the Falcons this year, so New York will definitely need a guy to replace him. The Jets currently have both Sanders and Cade York, but both come with some question marks. Sanders missed the entire 2025 season due to a hip injury and York was essentially out of the NFL last year (He spent some brief time on the Saints’ practice squad, but didn’t attempt a single field goal in 2025). The Jets might be the team that makes the most sense for Brown. 
• Rams. The Rams already have one former UFL kicker on their roster in Harrison Mevis, but it might make sense for them to bring in Brown and let the two battle it out. Mevis had a strong season, missing just one field goal attempt (12 of 13), but he’s still unproven from long range. He went just 1 of 2 from beyond 45 yards and with Brown showing off a big leg in the UFL, he might be perfect for the Rams. 
• Dolphins. Riley Patterson was the kicker in Miami last year, and he hit an impressive 93.1% of his field goal attempts, but despite those numbers, the Dolphins don’t plan on just handing him the job in 2026. The team signed Zane Gonzalez back in March and it wouldn’t be totally shocking if they decided to bring in another kicker to battle with the two veterans. 
• Commanders. Washington’s current kicker is Jake Moody, who originally signed with the team back in November. Moody kicked in six games for the Commanders last season and hit 90.9% of his field goals (10 of 11). However, the former 49ers draft pick has hit just 78% of the field goal attempts in his career, so Washington might want to put some pressure on him by bringing in some competition. The Commanders added an undrafted free agent in May with former Iowa kicker Drew Stevens, but there certainly could be room for Brown in this competition.  
• Saints. The Saints have Charley Smyth, who entered the NFL through the league’s international pathway program in 2024. Smyth, who’s from Northern Ireland, won the job in 2025 and the Saints will likely give him every chance to keep it, but he’ll have to make kicks for that to happen. Smyth hit just 75% of his field goals last season, but two of his four misses came from 56 yards or longer. The Saints did sign an undrafted free agent in former Texas kicker Mason Shipley, so they certainly seem open to bringing in some competition. 

As for Brown, he’ll be free to sign with an NFL team after the Kings’ final game, which will take place on Saturday in the UFL title game. If Brown does end up in an NFL training camp, it will mark the third time he’s signed with an NFL team. 

After two seasons at Oklahoma State, Brown went undrafted in 2023 and eventually signed with the Rams. During training camp in 2023, he went 2-for-4 on field goal attempts and was cut in late August. Brown also had a brief stay on the Falcons’ practice squad in 2024, but never saw any action. 

The UFL is a good spot for a kicker to hone his craft and as guys like Aubrey have proven, if you can succeed in the UFL, you can find success in the NFL, and Brown just might be the next kicker who’s able to successfully make that jump.

After winning the Birmingham Open title, Alex Eala is back in action against China’s Zhang Shuai in the WTA 500 HSBC Championships Round of 32 in London.

MANILA, Philippines–Alex Eala jumped four places to World No. 33 in the latest Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) rankings ahead of her campaign at the HSBC Championships, formerly known as the Queen’s Club Championships, in London.

After winning the title in the WTA 125 Birmingham Open on Sunday night, Eala wastes no time and gets back into action on Tuesday in the main draw of the Queen’s Club Championships.

The 21-year-old Eala battles China’s Zhang Shuai, who’s ranked 64th, in the round of 32.

Eala survived Czech Nikola Bartunkova, 5-7, 6-3, 7-5, in the Birmingham final for her first victory against a Czech in 14 tries since turning pro in 2020.