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On the international stage, FIFA’s jurisdiction over World Cup qualifiers means that Russia will not be able to play in the World Cup playoffs against Poland, scheduled for March 24 – and as a result may miss the remarkable football event.

“Football is fully united here and in full solidarity with all the people affected in Ukraine,” the joint statement said. “Both presidents hope that the situation in Ukraine will improve significantly and quickly, so that football can once again be a vector of unity and peace between people.

Rugby

On Monday, the World Rugby announced that it had removed the national teams of Russia and Belarus from “all international rugby and cross-border club rugby activities until further notice” and suspended Russia’s membership in the World Rugby Union.

Russia has yet to secure a qualification for the Men’s Rugby World Cup next year.

“World Rugby once again condemns Russia’s aggressive invasion of Ukraine and the facilitation of this action by Belarus,” the statement said.

“The global rugby family is united in solidarity with all those affected by these deeply disturbing events and joins the world community in calls for peace.

“The decision was made in the interest of rugby values ​​such as solidarity, integrity and respect at heart. The world rugby also stays in touch with its colleagues from the Rugby Federation of Ukraine and has promised its full support for the rugby community in the country. “

Ice-hockey

On Monday, the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) stopped all international and club teams of Russia and Belarus in each age group from competing in all IIHF competitions or events.

The IIHF said the decision affects several tournaments, including the Men’s World Championships in Finland on May, where Russia and Belarus will no longer be able to compete.

Russia will also be deprived of its right to host the 2023 World Junior Championships, the IIHF reported.

“The IIHF is not a political entity and cannot influence the decisions taken in connection with the war in Ukraine,” IIHF President Luke Tardif said in a statement.

“However, we have a responsibility to take care of all our members and participants, so we must do everything we can to ensure that we can hold our events in a safe environment for all teams participating in the IIHF World Cup program.

“We were incredibly shocked to see the images that came out of Ukraine. I have been in close contact with the members of the Hockey Federation of Ukraine and we hope for all Ukrainians that this conflict can be resolved peacefully and without the need for further violence. “

volleyball

The International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) announced on Tuesday that it is revoking Russia’s rights to host this year’s World Volleyball Championship for men.

Russia was to host the World Cup between August 26 and September 11.

“Following Russia’s military invasion of Ukraine, the FIVB remains seriously concerned about the escalating situation and the safety of the people of Ukraine,” the statement said.

“The FIVB Board of Directors has concluded that it would be impossible to prepare for and host the World Cup in Russia due to the war in Ukraine.

The FIVB followed that decision, announcing that all Russian and Belarusian national teams, clubs and officials, as well as beach and snow volleyball players, will be removed from all events until further notice.

Curling

On Monday, the World Curling Federation announced it would remove all Russian entries from the upcoming World Cup if there are no objections during its three-day evaluation period.

The Women’s World Cup will be held in Canada from March 19 to March 27, and for men – in Las Vegas from April 2 to April 10, and will also affect the championships of mixed doubles, adults, wheelchairs and adolescents.

“The World Curling Federation strongly condemns the military action taken by the Russian government in the invasion of Ukraine and continues to hope for a speedy and peaceful resolution of the situation,” the statement said.

Skates

The International Skating Union (ISU) announced on Tuesday that it has barred Russian and Belarusian skates from participating in all international ice skating competitions, including ISU championships and other ISU events.

The governing body added that the suspension will take effect immediately and will be in force until further notice.

“The ISU Council reaffirms its full solidarity with ISU members in Ukraine, the Ukrainian Speed ​​Skating Federation and the Ukrainian Figure Skating Federation. The ISU Council will assess the possibilities for rapid humanitarian assistance to its Ukrainian ISU members, “the statement said.

“The ISU Council will continue to monitor closely the situation in Ukraine and its impact on ISU’s activities and will take further steps if and when necessary.

swimming

On Tuesday, the International Swimming Federation (FINA) withdrew the FINA order, previously awarded to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Putin was awarded the highest FINA award in October 2014 as a result of his “important support in organizing major FINA events on Russian soil.” […] and ensuring the increased value of water sports in Russian society and around the world. “

However, the governing body stopped excluding Russian and Belarusian athletes from participating in their competitions.

FINA said that although no athlete or team from Russia or Belarus can compete under the names of countries or national flags, they can be considered neutral.

On Sunday, FINA canceled the Junior World Championships to be held in Kazan, Russia in August, but the World Short Course Championships (25m), which were to take place in the same city in December, remain.

“FINA remains deeply concerned about the impact of the war on the water sports community and the wider population of Ukraine. FINA will continue to closely monitor the difficult situation and make additional decisions if necessary,” the statement said.

badminton

The World Badminton Federation (BWF) announced on Tuesday that it was stopping all Russian athletes and officials from Russia and Belarus from competing in BWF-sanctioned competitions.

BWF has already canceled all tournaments in Russia and Belarus in force immediately and the ban on Russian and Belarusian athletes will begin at the German Open on March 8.

A “small number” of Russian athletes who have already arrived in Spain for the steam badminton tournaments will be allowed to compete, but will do so as neutral athletes without a flag or anthem.

“BWF remains committed to supporting the people of Ukraine and the Ukrainian badminton community as part of the sports movement’s mission to promote peace and solidarity among all people,” the statement said.

Skiing

Last week, the International Ski Federation (FIS) announced that all other World Cup events scheduled for Russia this season would be canceled.

The decision affects a total of six events, with the FIS already looking for countries to replace Russia as host.

The FIS went further on Tuesday, suspending the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes in all its competitions.

The FIS Council does not take lightly the decision not to allow an athlete to take part in any competition and does so only in accordance with the FIS Statute, which states that “FIS will conduct its activities in a politically neutral manner”, which is a cornerstone of the FIS values ​​adopted by its 140 member states, “the statement said.

“The Council expressed its deepest and sincere hope that the conflict in Ukraine will end quickly and that the international sports community can begin the healing process and compete again with all the athletes and nations present.

“As previously announced, the FIS, in solidarity with the Ski Federation of Ukraine, provides immediate financial, logistical and technical support to Ukrainian athletes and teams while they can return home safely.

Formula one

Last week, Formula One announced it had canceled Russia’s September 25th Grand Prix, saying it was “impossible” for the race to continue “under the current circumstances”.

“We are watching the events in Ukraine with sadness and shock and hope for a speedy and peaceful resolution of the current situation,” a statement from Formula One said.

The FIA, the governing body of motorsport, reportedly met on Tuesday in part to discuss the participation of Russia’s only Formula One driver, Nikita Mazepin, in this season’s World Championships.

Major League Baseball and the MLB Players’ Association have reportedly made progress on a new collective bargaining agreement that will end the owner’s lockout following Monday’s marathon negotiation session, which lasted until early in the morning. Initially, the MLB set a deadline of Monday (February 28) to reach an agreement before canceling the regular season matches and postponing the 2022 Opening Day. However, the league’s self-imposed deadline was postponed until 17:00 ET on Tuesday, according to Jeff Passan of ESPNand the parties will keep talking all day.

The MLB and MLBPA spent more than 16 hours at Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter, Florida, on Monday before calling it ET at about 2:30 p.m. As for the progress made during the marathons on Monday / Tuesday early in the morning, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports that there has been “some progress” but “major gaps remain in key areas”.

MLB began negotiations on Monday, informing MLBPA that it was ready to miss the games for a month and taking a more threatening tone, according to Evan Drelic of The Athletic. Hours later, numerous reports said the two sides had agreed on an expanded play-off format with 12 teams. However, discussions on the issue of the competitive balance tax (also known as the luxury tax) – and the related sanctions for exceeding this threshold – continue.

Where MLB, MLBPA are still divided

• Competitive balance tax: The “tax on luxury” of baseball was a problematic point in the negotiations. Owners want to keep the CBT threshold low and penalties high, so it serves as a de facto wage ceiling. The MLBPA aims to raise the threshold to $ 230 million, for John Heyman of MLB Network. The owners want that figure to be close to $ 220 million.
• Minimum wage: MLBPA insists on raising the league’s minimum wage – the lowest of the four major men’s sports in the United States in 2021 – $ 575,500 – to over $ 700,000 in 2022. MLB’s latest offer reached $ 675,000 for Drellich.
• Bonus pool for pre-arbitration players: Another way the union wants to get paid for younger players is through a bonus pool for the best players who do not yet qualify for arbitration (meaning they have less than three years of service ). The latest MLB figure for the bonus pool is $ 25 million, according to Heyman.

More trivial issues, such as restrictions on moving to defense, were also reportedly part of the discussions. There were a total of 13 separate face-to-face meetings between the two countries at the spring training base on Monday. The bottom line is that there is a glimmer of hope that the season will start as planned on March 31, but there is still hard work on Tuesday when the parties meet again.

CBS Sports provided a timeline of the block here, but the short version is that the owners put the padlocks on when the previous CBA expired on December 1 – exactly three months ago. They were not obliged to do so, but this was described as a defensive maneuver. The league then waited more than six weeks to make its first offer. Since then, the two sides have held a number of personal talks, some of which are major obstacles, including a tax on the competitive balance; revenue sharing; the breakdown of players qualifying for Super Two status in arbitration; and the league – the minimum wage.

CBS Sports provides live updates for Tuesday’s talks. You can follow below.

Ukraine’s 20 athletes for the Paralympic Winter Games are expected to be in Beijing in time for Friday’s opening ceremony, IPC spokesman Craig Spence told the Associated Press on Tuesday.

Spence said the team was heading to the Chinese capital and could arrive as early as Wednesday.

The arrival was questionable after Russia invaded Ukraine last week. The International Paralympic Committee is due to meet on Wednesday and may impose additional sanctions on Russian athletes or exclude them from the Paralympic Games.

Russian athletes will compete in Beijing as an RPC, abbreviated by Russia’s Paralympic Committee, as a result of a state-sponsored doping scandal and cover-up of the 2014 Sochi Olympics.

Belarus is also expected to be sanctioned by the IPC board for its involvement in the war. Belarusians may be forced to compete as neutral athletes in Beijing, as can Russia.

Russian athletes at the Winter Olympics last month competed as the ROC, abbreviated by the Russian Olympic Committee, over the doping scandal.

The International Olympic Committee, which has repeatedly failed to forcibly punish Russia for its doping history, on Monday forced dozens of sports governing bodies to exclude Russian athletes and officials from international events.

The IOC, which left the decision to others, said the action was needed to “protect the integrity of global sporting events and the safety of all participants”.

The IOC has also given sports organizations a way to circumvent expulsions.

“Where this is not possible in the short term for organizational or legal reasons, the IOC … urges international sports federations and sporting event organizers around the world to do their utmost to ensure that no athlete or sports officer Russia or Belarus will not be allowed to participate under the name Russia or Belarus, “the IOC said.

Russia is expected to have 71 athletes participating in the Paralympic Games. About 650 athletes from 49 delegations, including Ukraine, are expected to attend the Games.

The Beijing Winter Olympics, which closed on February 20th, brought together 2,900 athletes from 91 delegations. The Paralympic Games end on March 13.

The Boston Celtics are a force to be reckoned with. They have the best points difference and defense rating in the Eastern Conference and can boast the best conference record since the turn of the season on January 8. In the last month, they have beaten the 76ers by 48 points, the Heat by 30, and the Nets by 35 and 23.

The Celtics are also an enigma. Despite all their strengths, they also rank 18th in the offensive rankings, per Cleaning the glass, and the Pistons and Pacers recently gave up. With less than a quarter of the regular season before the game, they are sixth in the East, closer to the playoffs at the top of the standings.

Yet, despite this ambivalent summary, projection systems believe in Boston’s potential. The bellThe NBA odds machine gives the Celtics an 11 percent chance of winning the title, and we’re not alone: ​​the Basketball-Reference sets the odds for the Celtics Championship at 9 percent, ESPN at 13 percent and FiveThirtyEight with an astonishing, league-leading 17 percent.

Boston’s recent momentum and subsequent hopes for predictions are based primarily on the team’s defense. The defense doesn’t actually win more than a playoff attack, but Boston’s defense is out of the norm. During the Celtics series on January 8, their defense was an incredible 4.2 points per 100 possessions better than the next best defense; second place Heat are as close to 14th place as first, per CtG.

The league has come up with value switching as a means of slowing down off-screen offensive kits, and Boston is offering a prime example of this style of defense. The Celtics include 40 percent of rivals, the highest score in the league, according to data from Second Spectrum. (Miami is 39 percent; no other team is over 33.) And they only allow 0.86 points of possession when they change the screen – the most expensive rating in the league.

Boston benefits from incorporating elite individual defenders into this broader team concept. The Seven Celtics have played tough minutes after the exchange deadline and all are at least average in defense, with several ratings among the league’s most influential defenders this season, according to the projected plus-minus.

They even cleared their propensity for fouls: before January 8, the Celtics were still the top five teams in defense, but ranked only 18th in the opponent’s free throw percentage. CtG. But the Celtics improved to fourth in the percentage of free throws from the opponent after that moment.

The return of Marcus Smart from injury and the addition of Derrick White, a former Spurs, through trade aid. But the most obvious change that could help explain the Celtics’ current form comes from the deployment of Robert Williams III by rookie Name Udoka, who defends about half the number of screens he had earlier in the season, according to the analysis. of data from the Second Spectrum.

Instead, the Time Lord often plays a free role in safety, nominally guarding an undamaged player from the perimeter while Al Horford or another teammate takes the lead on the screen. So Williams – who ranks third in the league with 2.2 blocks per game – can move to deter any attempt at the edge. Note that before deploying 7 and 6 feet in all the plays in this video, Williams kept a non-shooting wing like Tori Craig or CJ Eleby, not the opponent’s best goal.

Or check out the best example of Boston’s late victory over Denver in mid-February. Instead of facing Nikola Jokic, Williams takes Aaron Gordon, while Jaylan Brown takes over the current MVP. After the switch forces the little white to Jokic, Jason Tatum doubles, opening a ribbon to the hoop – just so Williams can transfer, erase the laying attempt and help seal the Celtics’ victory.

(Aside: the last playoffs didn’t offer much in the way of strong defensive battles; in the last five postseasons only six teams have won less than 90 points. And yet between Boston and Cleveland, Miami and Toronto, this year’s Eastern playoffs The conference can bring defense back to highlights on the schedule, with teams showing stylistic diversity in how exactly they keep teams from scoring, from switching Boston and Miami to Cleveland’s three towers to Toronto’s 6-foot 8-wing fleet.)

But despite all their defensive power, the Celtics’ profile still has some flaws. Boston’s record falls by 5.6 wins less than we would expect based on the difference in points, according to CtG, which is the biggest difference for any playoff team, and the culprit is the problems in the upcoming matches. Boston is only 11-18 in clutch games (defined by NBA.com as games within five points in the last five minutes).

Usually good teams in all games are also good in the clutch and vice versa. The 11 teams with the worst records in clutch situations this season include Boston and the 10 teams with overall loss records.

But this discrepancy should not be a problem in the future; with rare exceptions, past clutch characteristics are not predictive of future clutch characteristics. The correlation between the regular season victory rate and the post-season clutch victory rate is negative -0.05, among teams with at least five playoff matches from the 2010-11 season – or generally zero, meaning there is no significant correlation. (Looking at all playoff teams in this period, even those with only one playoff game, the correlation is still a small 0.14.)

The Bucks 2020-21 had 13-15 in regular season games, then 7-2 in the playoffs on the way to the title. The 2019-20 Heat were 18-18 in regular season games, then 11-3 in the playoffs. 2011-12 76ers had the worst performance in the regular season among all teams for the playoffs in this period, with a score of 7-20 – then finished 6-2 in the playoffs.

Even if their clutch fights even in the coming weeks and months, the Celtics’ attack remains a real concern. They are still struggling to score in one of the two most lucrative areas of the court: they rank only 26th in terms of edge strikes, CtG, and although they take a healthy amount of 3 points, they don’t actually do that much. For the context of this chart, the average accuracy of 3 points this season is 34.9 percent. This means that only one of the seven most used players of the Celtics is even at the middle level. (Josh Richardson, sent to San Antonio in exchange for whites, was 39.7 percent with 3.5 long attempts to play.)

Boston’s shooting problems are compounded by the lack of a central playmaker. The Celtics do not have an offensive engine like most other contenders, which is why Tatum led the team, but ranked only 52nd in the league in points created in 36 minutes when we measured the numbers in January. His assist rate has not changed since last season. In the same way, Tatum leads the team in possession, but ranks only 45th in the league, according to NBA Advanced Stats (minimum 10 games played).

Rather, the Celtics have a number good passers-by – including especially their great ones – but no great creators in a half-court setting. They have to work hard to generate open frames, and when ping-ping-ping sequences do not align exactly, they often end up with lower insulation quality. They rank fourth in the frequency of isolated games, but do not score nearly as effectively as teams such as the Nets (which are first in isolation frequency) and the Bucks (third). Tatum, the team’s only All-Star, is ranked 12th out of 18 players with at least 150 iso this season – not terrible, but not the kind he needs this offense.

More enthusiasm in the transition would help, and Boston has cheered up a small sample since trading for White. Before the deadline, the Celtics added 1.4 transition points per 100 possessions, on CtG, which ranked 27th; after the deadline, they reach seventh place with 4.3 transition points added.

If there is an additional warning sign under the radar for the team, it is that the defense may not be as indomitable as it seems, thanks to a great deal of luck in shooting. Boston’s opponents have not met their expectations of shooting – based on factors such as the location of the shot and the distance of the defender, from the Second Spectrum – with the biggest difference for each team. The difference is especially large during Boston’s sharp rise in the standings: as of January 8, the Celtics’ opponents have an effective flight percentage of 3.3 percentage points worse than expected, while the next team on the list is only 0.8 percentage points below.

Thanks to his scheme and individual talent, Boston’s defense still needs to be one of the best in the league, even if this state of luck does not continue – but given the Celtics’ tendency towards offensive stagnation, it may be necessary to be the best, point, the team to keep its promise. Pistons 2003-04 are a historical anomaly for a reason; not many teams win the title solely because of their dominance in defense.

The projection systems are liked by the Celtics both because of their high differential and because of the talent on their list; FiveThirtyEight, in particular, is in love with the rotation of the Celtics. Of course, with such fierce competition in the East, even computers think they have a much better chance of losing in the first round (37 percent chance, according to our odds machine) than winning the title (11 percent chance). And yet, because the field looks so wide open, Boston can really have one of the best chances in the group.

In the end, the Celtics are able to beat anyone: According to CtGThe Celtics have the best net rating in the league (plus 4.9 points per 100 possessions) against opponents who rank in the top 10 by points difference. For a team that was 18-21 recently, with growing concern about the combination between its two stars, even a 1 to 10 chance in the finals marks a huge leap in the right direction.

Statistics for the entire league until the matches on Sunday.

Ukraine’s 20 athletes for the Paralympic Winter Games are expected to be in Beijing in time for Friday’s opening ceremony, IPC spokesman Craig Spence told the Associated Press on Tuesday.

Spence said the team was heading to the Chinese capital and could arrive as early as Wednesday.

The arrival was questionable after Russia invaded Ukraine last week. The International Paralympic Committee is due to meet on Wednesday and may impose additional sanctions on Russian athletes or exclude them from the Paralympic Games.

Russian athletes have to compete in Beijing as an RPC, abbreviated by Russia’s Paralympic Committee, as a result of a state-sponsored doping scandal and cover-up of the 2014 Sochi Olympics.

Belarus is also expected to be sanctioned by the IPC board for its involvement in the war. Belarusians may be forced to compete as neutral athletes in Beijing, as can Russia.

Russian athletes at the Winter Olympics last month competed as the ROC, abbreviated by the Russian Olympic Committee, over the doping scandal.

The International Olympic Committee, which has repeatedly failed to forcibly punish Russia for its doping history, on Monday forced dozens of sports governing bodies to exclude Russian athletes and officials from international events.

The IOC, which left the decision to others, said the action was needed to “protect the integrity of global sporting events and the safety of all participants”.

The IOC has also given sports organizations a way to circumvent expulsions.

“Where this is not possible in the short term for organizational or legal reasons, the IOC … urges international sports federations and sporting event organizers around the world to do their utmost to ensure that no athlete or sports officer Russia or Belarus will not be allowed to participate under the name Russia or Belarus, “the IOC said.

Russia is expected to have 71 athletes participating in the Paralympic Games. About 650 athletes from 49 delegations, including Ukraine, are expected to attend the Games.

The Beijing Winter Olympics brought together 2,900 athletes from 91 delegations. It closes on February 20. The Paralympic Games end on March 13.

___

More AP sports: https://apnews.com/hub/apf-sports and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Ukrainian tennis player Elina Svitolina took a position on Monday.

Svitolina was set to face Russia’s Anastasia Potapova at the Monterey Open on Tuesday, but vowed not to take the court unless the governing bodies of the sport take action against Russia over its invasion of her home country.

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Elina Svitolina from Ukraine in action against Tereza Martintsova from the Czech Republic during her match from the first round of the Qatar TotalEnergies Open at the Khalifa International Tennis & Squash Complex on February 21, 2022 in Doha, Qatar.
(Robert Spring / Getty Images)

“We, the Ukrainian players, have asked the ATP, WTA and ITF to follow the IOC’s recommendations to accept Russian or Belarusian nationals only as neutral athletes, without displaying any national symbols, colors, flags or anthems,” Svitolina said in a statement on Instagram.

“Accordingly, I would like to announce that I will not play tomorrow in Monterey or another match against Russian or Belarusian tennis players until our organizations make this necessary decision.

RUSSIA INVASES UKRAINE: LIVE UPDATES

“I do not blame any of the Russian athletes. They are not responsible for the invasion of our homeland.

Belarusian Victoria Azarenka celebrates victory in her third round match against Ukrainian Elina Svitolina on January 21, 2022 at the Australian Open in Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia.
(Reuters / Morgan Seth)

“Moreover, I want to pay tribute to all the players, especially the Russians and Belarusians, who boldly declared their position against the war. Their support is essential. “

RUSSIA PRESENTS SPORTS INSULATION FOR BEING IN UKRAINE

Potapova responded to Svitolina’s decision.

“Ever since I was a child, I dreamed of playing tennis without choosing a game, a country or a partner in the game … for me there is no opponent from any country, I am fighting for victory, my best game, my best result … “Unfortunately, now we, the professional athletes, are essentially becoming hostages of the current situation … I am against grief, tears and war,” she wrote on Instagram.

Christina Mladenovic of France serves against Anastasia Potapova of Russia (not pictured) in the second qualifying round of the Stade IGA on August 8, 2021 in Montreal, Quebec.
(Eric Bolt-USA TODAY Sports)

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has called on governing bodies for every sport to exclude Russian athletes and officials from international events, including the World Cup.

The leader of the Russian Olympic Committee, Stanislav Pozdnyakov, said he did not agree with the IOC’s decision.

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Svitolina is No. 15 in the world and finished in the semifinals of Wimbledon and the US Open 2019.

My first mock for the 2022 NFL draft was all the way back in mid-January, before we knew the Bengals and Rams would shake up the first-round order and make it all the way to Super Bowl LVI. It was also before the Senior Bowl, where a few prospects dominated and impressed scouts.

Time for mock draft No. 2 for picks 1-32, where I project who each team will select based on a combination of my rankings — I have a new Big Board with updates at every position — pre-free-agency needs and what I’m hearing from execs, scouts and coaches in the league. Free agency kicks off in two weeks, which could shake up how we see the top of the board, so keep that in mind as you scan each selection. We’re still waiting for a few potential quarterback moves, too.

We’ll have a big NFL combine preview later this week, and a few top prospects already have said they won’t be participating in the on-field workouts. The things that happen off the field at the combine are just as important, though, as teams can interview prospects and get to know them.

The order for the first round is set, but we’re still waiting for the league to confirm all of the compensatory picks for the rest of the draft. Check out our one-hour SportsCenter Special on ESPN2 and ESPN+ Tuesday at 5 p.m. ET to see me explain each pick — and see my pal Todd McShay question them. Let’s start with the Jags at No. 1, and I’m also going to project two trades in the top 20:

More NFL draft coverage:
Rankings | McShay’s mock 2.0
First Draft podcast | Latest news

Ikem Ekwonu, OT, NC State

Offensive tackle or edge rusher here? I don’t think the Jaguars are set either way. Realistically, this is down to four prospects: Ekwonu, Evan Neal, Aidan Hutchinson and Kayvon Thibodeaux. New coach Doug Pederson and the Jags will get an opportunity to meet with each of them at the combine. They’ll get a front seat to all four on-field workouts, of course, but what goes on behind the scenes matters just as much.

Ultimately, I lean toward Jacksonville getting protection for quarterback Trevor Lawrence, who struggled as a rookie. This could go the other way if the organization brings back Cam Robinson in free agency, but Ekwonu — who is a hot name among NFL teams — would be an immediate upgrade. If the Jags can protect Lawrence with Ekwonu on the left side and Walker Little on the right, they can begin to turn around the offense. As McShay mentioned in his latest mock, 2013 was the last time an offensive tackle went No. 1 overall (Eric Fisher to the Chiefs).

Aidan Hutchinson, DE, Michigan

The Lions are in a great spot here, with a clear need at edge rusher and one of the best two prospects guaranteed to be available. Hutchinson is a local kid who just finished second in the voting for the Heisman Trophy, racking up 14 sacks and 19 total tackles for loss and dominating Big Ten offensive tackles. This is not just a sentimental pick because he went to Michigan; Hutchinson is an elite defender.

Detroit’s defense is still a few pieces away from being average — there are big questions in the secondary, too — but this should be a rush-to-the-podium selection.

Evan Neal, OT, Alabama

This is an extremely tough pick to project before free agency, because the Texans have a barren roster with needs at most every position. And can you believe they have had only one first-round choice in the four drafts before this one? They have a long way to go to compete again in the AFC South.

If Houston really is tearing down its roster even further, that could mean trading a few key veterans, such as tackle Laremy Tunsil and wide receiver Brandin Cooks, and trying to add more picks. That opens a hole on the left side for Neal, a physical blocker with great feet. I don’t think the Texans could go wrong with high-upside pass-rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux, either, but they have to hit on the top guy on their board here.

Kyle Hamilton, S, Notre Dame

I’m going to stick with Hamilton to the Jets, who were awful in the secondary in 2021 and could lose Marcus Maye in free agency. Because I know you’re thinking it, no, this is not too high to take a safety. Not a safety like Hamilton, who can make a massive impact against the run and pass. He had eight career interceptions at Notre Dame and could play multiple spots along the defense at the next level. Hamilton is a versatile playmaker who will make a defense better on Day 1. The Jets still have another first-round pick to try to improve their offense.

Kayvon Thibodeaux, DE, Oregon

If the draft plays out like this and both of the top offensive tackles are off the board before the Giants pick, taking a defender makes the most sense. And if Thibodeaux is available, he’d be a perfect fit for a New York defense that needs to pair a true edge rusher with rookie Azeez Ojulari, who led the team with eight sacks last season. Thibodeaux has to improve his all-around game, but he has outstanding physical tools as a pass-rusher. He had seven sacks last season and put up the second-best pressure rate in the country (17.8%). If he comes close to his ceiling, he’ll make multiple All-Pro teams.

The Giants have some nice pieces to build around for new general manager Joe Schoen and coach Brian Daboll, but they’re not going to be able to acquire an edge rusher like Thibodeaux anywhere other than the draft. We could look back at this pick in five years and consider it a steal.

Charles Cross, OT, Mississippi State

This is a tricky pick, especially since we don’t know yet whether the Panthers are going to acquire a veteran quarterback via trade or through free agency. Ultimately, this is a little too high for a quarterback based on my rankings because I don’t see any of them in this class as top-10 selections. So while I thought about a wide receiver to help Carolina’s offense — the 6-foot-5 Drake London could help any quarterback — let’s fill a need with an immediate starter.

Cross allowed just one sack in 2021, leveling up for a pass-happy Mississippi State offense that shows no mercy for linemen. He is a stellar pass-blocker as a left tackle.

Devin Lloyd, ILB, Utah

With the Giants’ second top-10 pick, I’m going all-in on improving the front seven of the defense. Lloyd is a middle linebacker, yes, but he does so much more. He had 111 total tackles, eight sacks, 20 tackles for loss, four interceptions and a forced fumble last season. He had 16.5 total sacks over the past three seasons. Lloyd (and No. 5 pick Kayvon Thibodeaux) can add some pass-rush upside to a team that desperately needs it. If New York does take Lloyd here, that probably means Blake Martinez, who tore his ACL in September, will be a salary-cap casualty.

The Giants are going to have to address their offensive line at some point this offseason, and I also thought about center Tyler Linderbaum here.

Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner, CB, Cincinnati

I’m going to stick with the same position for the Falcons at No. 8 but switch the prospect. Gardner is rising since the second half of the season and has a great shot at being the top corner in April’s draft. He allowed just eight catches for 60 yards in 13 games.

Why Gardner over Derek Stingley Jr.? NFL scouts just haven’t seen Stingley playing to his 2019 level over the past two seasons. He has a high ceiling, but he played in just three games in 2021 and was so-so in 2020. Stingley won’t work out at the combine, but he will have a chance to rise again if he puts up excellent testing numbers at his pro day. Gardner is a safer prospect at this point. This also is a spot to watch for an edge rusher, and the Falcons have an extra second-round pick because of the Julio Jones trade with Tennessee.

Projected trade: Browns move up to get the top wideout

With the Jets lurking at No. 10, I could see the Browns making sure they get the best receiver in this class. In this scenario, the Browns could give up a third-round pick to move four spots, which should be enough to get a deal done.

From Denver’s perspective, this adds a valuable top-100 pick and still keeps it in the discussion for the best edge rushers in the class.

Drake London, WR, USC

The Browns have a void at wide receiver and have to add better players around Baker Mayfield. He has shown that he can be an above-average NFL quarterback when he has help around him, and Cleveland should prioritize a top-tier pass-catcher in this draft. The team had just one receiver with more than 35 catches last season (Jarvis Landry with 52).

London is a 6-foot-5 aerial threat with the traits to be an end zone weapon. He averaged 11 catches and 136 yards per game last season, before he broke his ankle in late October. He would make Mayfield better.

Tyler Linderbaum, C, Iowa

This could be the sweet spot in the draft for Linderbaum, one of the best center prospects of the past decade. He’s a plug-and-play lineman who can do everything at a high level. The Jets have to get better in front of and around quarterback Zach Wilson, who didn’t have many bright spots as a rookie. Linderbaum is a step in that direction, though if wideout Drake London makes it to No. 10, he’d be a great fit.

I wouldn’t be shocked if New York added another defender here, too, particularly one of the edge rushers. With four picks in the top 38, general manager Joe Douglas should put multiple selections toward a D that had trouble at every level in 2021.

Kenny Pickett, QB, Pitt

Washington’s defense took a step back in 2021, but it has a lot of talent invested on that side of the ball. That’s why I see the Commanders as the team most likely to target a quarterback in Round 1. Taylor Heinicke hasn’t shown that he can be a consistent, NFL-level starter; Pickett could be an upgrade.

This is still a little high for a quarterback based on my Big Board — I have Pickett and Malik Willis at Nos. 19 and 20, respectively — but the 24-year-old Pickett is ready to play in the NFL right now. I don’t think he’ll have to have the developmental time that Willis will need. Ron Rivera’s team could compete in the NFC East with competent quarterback play and Pickett could give them a chance. He’s going to be under the microscope at the combine, as we still don’t have an official hand size for him. He’s expected to have below 9-inch hands, which has been one of the benchmarks for quarterbacks. I’m curious to hear how he does in interviews with teams as well.

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Todd McShay breaks down the best options at quarterback for the Commanders if they choose to draft one.

Derek Stingley Jr., CB, LSU

New general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and coach Kevin O’Connell inherit an aging defense from a front office that has had some notable first-round misses at cornerback in recent years, but that shouldn’t keep them from taking another swing. This is the position Minnesota needs most, and Stingley could be worth it.

Stingley needs to show NFL teams that he can get back to the way he played in 2019, when had six picks as a true freshman on LSU’s national title team. He won’t be working out at the combine, which means his off-field work there — interviews with teams — will be crucial.

Jermaine Johnson II, DE, Florida State

Johnson is one of the biggest risers of the past month; he dominated at the Senior Bowl, showing that his 12 sacks after transferring from Georgia weren’t a fluke. He destroyed offensive tackles in Mobile, Alabama. With Von Miller gone, this is a spot the Broncos can improve upon, especially with Bradley Chubb’s injury issues. They finished the season ranked last in the league in pass rush win rate. Johnson has a big frame (6-foot-4, 260 pounds) and can play with his hand in the dirt or on his feet in a 3-4 defense. I’m a fan.

Denver is a team to watch for the quarterbacks, but I still think it’s more likely that it adds one before the draft, either in free agency or via trade.

Projected trade: Saints make a jump for a pass-catcher

How about another trade here? We know the Saints are aggressive in the draft, as they once traded a future first-rounder to move up for edge rusher Marcus Davenport. This wouldn’t cost near that; it’d likely take a third-round pick to move up four spots, and New Orleans only has a compensatory selection in Round 3. The need at receiver is clear, however.

Baltimore loves to acquire extra picks and could stick to its board by moving down a few spots.

Garrett Wilson, WR, Ohio State

There are many questions around the post-Sean Payton era for the Saints, but it’s clear that the team has to add more weapons around whomever plays quarterback in 2022. Michael Thomas should be back after missing all of last season, and he could use a wideout to take some pressure off him. Wilson has the versatility to play in the slot or outside, and he can pile on yards after the catch. He had 113 catches and 18 touchdowns for the Buckeyes over the past two seasons.

If the Saints keep the No. 18 pick, offensive tackle could be in play, especially if Trevor Penning is available. Quarterback Malik Willis could be an option, too, but the Saints are more ready to try to win in 2022, and I think Willis needs a little more seasoning before he’s thrown into the fire in the NFL.

Trent McDuffie, CB, Washington

Let’s fill some holes for Philadelphia, which has three first-round picks and problems at a few spots on its roster. The Eagles made a run to the playoffs last season, winning six of their final eight games, but their defense was exposed along the way. They allowed quarterbacks to complete a whopping 69.4% of their passes, which ranked last in the league.

McDuffie, who didn’t allow a single touchdown in coverage over the past two seasons, could play the spot opposite Darius Slay. He also has the ability to play out of the slot.

David Ojabo, OLB, Michigan

The Eagles ranked 31st in the league with 29 sacks last season; they have to get better there. Getting pressure on the quarterback is a way to improve the entire defense. Ojabo is a pure pass-rusher who is still developing as a run defender. He had had 11 sacks and five forced fumbles, wreaking havoc opposite potential No. 1 pick Aidan Hutchinson. I’d feel better about taking Ojabo in the middle of Round 1 vs. the top 10 because he can get swallowed up in the run game, but his edge-rush upside is undeniable.

Travon Walker, DE, Georgia

As I mentioned in my debut mock draft, the Chargers still haven’t fixed their yearslong issue defending the run, as they ranked 28th in the league in yards per carry (4.8). If you’re looking at a void to fill for a team that is right on the edge of playoff contention, this is a way to do it. The 280-pound Walker could be an ideal fit for L.A.’s 3-4 defense because he’s a good run defender who also has some pass-rush ability. He’s not a two-down player like his former Georgia teammate Jordan Davis; I think this is too high to take a nose tackle with a low ceiling for sacks. Walker had six for the national champs in 2021.

Trevor Penning, OT, Northern Iowa

This should be offensive line all the way. Left tackle Ronnie Stanley has played in just seven games over the past two seasons because of an ankle injury, and there’s no guarantee he is going to get back to his 2019 level. Penning played left tackle for the Panthers, but he could slide over to the right side if Stanley returns healthy. Penning had a great Senior Bowl; he is a road grader in the run game who can plow over defenders. We know the Ravens want to run the ball, so Penning fits their style of play. Center Tyler Linderbaum also could be an option, if he is on the board.

And if Baltimore goes defense, instead, keep an eye on end Travon Walker, a versatile and disruptive player.

Treylon Burks, WR, Arkansas

One more Round 1 selection for the Eagles, who I gave defenders at Nos. 15 and 16. This could be a spot to take another receiver, their third straight draft to take one in the first round. Jalen Reagor, the No. 21 pick in 2020, has underwhelmed — I thought it was a reach at the time — while DeVonta Smith, the No. 10 choice last year, had a good but not great rookie season.

I would get Jalen Hurts a different kind of receiver in Burks, who is big and physical (6-foot-3, 225 pounds) and could complement Smith’s speed. Burks had 1,104 yards and 11 touchdowns for the Razorbacks last season. I’m really curious to see his athletic testing numbers at the combine; it’s not out of the question that he rises even farther up the board.

Malik Willis, QB, Liberty

Here’s a nice landing spot for Willis, whom I’ve mentioned will need some time to adjust to the speed of the NFL. He didn’t have a ton of talent around him at Liberty and he was sacked an FBS-high 51 times last season. He shouldn’t be asked to play in Week 1 in September. If he goes to Pittsburgh, he’ll compete with Mason Rudolph and Dwayne Haskins (and potentially another short-term veteran) and won’t be pressured to play immediately, though the Steelers aren’t going to rebuild in the post-Ben Roethlisberger era.

Willis is the most talented quarterback in this class, in my opinion, but he can be erratic with his accuracy. He has all of the tools to be successful, but he’ll need to be coached hard. If the Steelers don’t go with a signal-caller here, keep an eye out for offensive line.

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Ryan Clark says the Steelers are not a Super Bowl contender if Mason Rudolph is the starting quarterback in 2022.

Arnold Ebiketie, DE, Penn State

The Patriots got 12.5 sacks from free-agent pickup Matthew Judon last season, while Kyle Van Noy was second on the team with five. No other player had more than three. This front seven has to add an edge rusher, especially as it seems Bill Belichick & Co. don’t trust Chase Winovich, who played only 111 snaps last season, to take on a bigger role.

Ebiketie had 19 tackles for loss and 9.5 sacks last season, his first at Penn State after transferring from Temple. At 6-foot-3, 260 pounds, he could put on a few more pounds and add the position versatility that New England loves, shifting all along the defensive line. He has extremely long arms and can create leverage on his pass-rush moves. The Patriots also need to invest again at wide receiver, so I thought about one with this pick.

Nakobe Dean, ILB, Georgia

The Raiders have a new regime under coach Josh McDaniels and general manager Dave Ziegler, and they have a clear void in the middle of their defense. If Dean is still available at No. 22, this is a no-brainer. His coaches at Georgia rave about his leadership skills and he’s a dominant off-ball linebacker on the field, too. He stuffed the stat sheet with 72 tackles, six sacks, two forced fumbles and two picks last season.

Cornerback and wide receiver are two other positions I considered for Las Vegas, which also has questions surrounding the future of quarterback Derek Carr, whose contract is up after the 2022 season.

Chris Olave, WR, Ohio State

Sure, Arizona spent a second-round pick on Rondale Moore a year ago, but he’s more of a slot receiver who could be used in the run game, too. He averaged a staggeringly low 8.1 yards per catch on his 54 receptions, producing just 18 first downs. Think of Olave as more of a replacement for A.J. Green, who is a free agent. Olave can line up outside and run crisp routes to beat cornerbacks. He had 35 career touchdowns for the Buckeyes. This would be a selection to try to make Kyler Murray a little happier heading into an important season.

George Karlaftis, DE, Purdue

As I mentioned in January when going through my first mock draft for this class, the Cowboys’ big list of free agents makes this a tough pick to project before April. They could have needs at all three levels of the defense depending on how free agency shakes out.

For now, let’s get them a defensive end who would allow Micah Parsons to play more snaps at linebacker. Karlaftis didn’t have eye-popping stats in 2021, but he is a good run defender who could get more sacks in the NFL than he had in college. He had just 4.5 last season. He’s tough and physical, though he doesn’t have the physical tools of a few other edge rushers in this class. Karlaftis’ athletic testing numbers at the combine will be closely watched.

Devonte Wyatt, DT, Georgia

Here’s the third member of Georgia’s defense in my first-round mock, and that doesn’t even include massive nose tackle Jordan Davis, who has a chance to go in Round 1 to a team that runs a 3-4 D. Wyatt is a hulking 310-pound tackle who really impressed NFL teams at the Senior Bowl last month. He could play next to Ed Oliver and eat up blockers, allowing the linebackers more space to get to the ball. Wyatt, my new top-ranked defensive tackle, went a little under the radar in college because of the talent around him, but he’s a really promising prospect.

Jahan Dotson, WR, Penn State

Julio Jones is 33, has played just 19 games over the past two seasons and has only four touchdowns over that span. Can the Titans really rely on him to be a great wideout next to A.J. Brown, who has had injury issues himself? I think they need to add an extra dimension for quarterback Ryan Tannehill, and Dotson has the versatility to align out of multiple spots. He had 91 catches for 1,182 yards and 12 touchdowns last season, and he could rack up yards after the catch to help Tannehill.

Another wideout to keep an eye on late in Round 1: Calvin Austin III, a 5-foot-9, 165-pound dynamo who could run a sub-4.4-second 40-yard dash this week. He is one of the most underrated prospects in this draft, and I don’t think it’s that off the wall to put him to Tennessee here. He had 74 catches for 1,149 yards and eight scores at Memphis last season.

Zion Johnson, G/C, Boston College

The Bucs entered the offseason with several free-agent decisions to make, and they just added another hole with the retirement of underrated guard Ali Marpet. They could go several ways here, from offensive line to defensive line to corner. Johnson would be a pick to start at either guard or center, where Ryan Jensen is among the players set to hit the open market in a couple of weeks.

Johnson played both guard and tackle for the Eagles, but he had a dominant season at guard in 2021, where he didn’t allow a single quarterback pressure, much less a sack. He took some snaps at center at the Senior Bowl and showed that he could make the transition.

Jameson Williams, WR, Alabama

The last time the Packers took a wide receiver in Round 1? It was Javon Walker all the way back in 2002. So why not another wideout 20 years later, one who could make Aaron Rodgers’ life easier (assuming he stays). Williams was my top-ranked receiver before he tore his ACL in the national title game in January, which means he might not be ready to play until late in the 2022 season. For a team expected to play well into January, though, he could be a great addition. Williams averaged 19.9 yards on his 79 catches last season and had 15 touchdowns. He’s super explosive. I love this fit both for team and player.

Bernhard Raimann, OT, Central Michigan

Miami has a tackle problem. Austin Jackson, the No. 18 overall pick two years ago, had to move to guard because he couldn’t cut it outside. Liam Eichenberg, a second-round pick in 2021, was just OK as a rookie. The offensive line around Tua Tagovailoa just wasn’t good enough last season.

Raimann is a 6-foot-6, 305-pound former tight end who had a great 2021 season. He can move his feet in pass protection and anchor in the run game. He had some trouble at times with better prospects at the Senior Bowl, but I believe in his upside. He could play left or right tackle for Miami.

Boye Mafe, OLB, Minnesota

I included Mafe (and Bernhard Raimann) on my list of potential first-round sleepers back in October, and he just keeps rising. He finished the season in a sack slump (one in his final five games), but he was phenomenal at the Senior Bowl, showing some power and finesse as an edge rusher. At 6-foot-3, 255 pounds, he can use his get-off speed to fly by tackles. Mafe has versatility as well, and he moved up to No. 3 in my outside linebacker rankings.

For the Chiefs, this is about getting younger and improving a pass rush that had only 31 sacks last season (29th in the league).

Kyler Gordon, CB, Washington

Why no offensive linemen here? Because the Bengals shouldn’t force it to try to fill their biggest need. In this scenario, I didn’t have another lineman with a Round 1 grade; Daniel Faalele (Minnesota) and Tyler Smith (Tulsa) are more likely to go in the first 15 picks in the second round. Cincinnati, which has salary-cap space, could also address the position in free agency.

Instead I went with a corner in Gordon who has the length and physical traits to be a No. 1 guy in the NFL. He had two interceptions last season and showed some high-end coverage traits.

Matt Corral, QB, Ole Miss

Let’s end this mock draft with another quarterback, because I’m not convinced Jared Goff will be Detroit’s long-term signal-caller. Corral could be, though, and in this scenario he could get time to learn behind Goff in 2022, when the Lions almost certainly won’t be contending in the NFC North. Yes, they have several needs, but if they can get a quarterback with a fifth-year option, they could continue the positive momentum of their rebuild.

Corral took a step forward in 2021, throwing 20 touchdown passes and just five picks. He’s a dual-threat quarterback who can beat teams with his legs, but he ran an RPO-centric offense at Ole Miss, and he’s going to need to learn how to adapt in the NFL. He can spin the football, though. Corral won’t work out for NFL teams at the combine, which means all eyes will be on his pro day in late March.

Derek Jeter’s Hall of Fame announcement that he is stepping down as CEO of Marlins surprised most of the baseball world on Monday. Among those caught unprepared? Miguel Rojas in Miami.

Rojas, the current Marlin with the longest term, spoke to Chris Rose of Jomboy Media after the news of Jeter’s departure and expressed gratitude for some of the moves the club has made this off-season, then admitted that he had not seen Jeter leave.

“I am disappointed that I will no longer have Derek Jeter on my team,” Rojas said. “When you have a relationship with someone like him – the first thing I remember is the things he said when he came in 2018. He offered me and the boys a plan … one of the things I have to take away from all this is the integrity of man. Derek Jeter’s integrity, on and off the field … I’m obviously disappointed I don’t have him anymore. “