There’s a distinct difference between being a top-ranked prospect and an impact rookie.Take a peek at the top two picks in the 2023 NFL Draft as Exhibit A. Bryce Young was almost universally framed as the top quarterback in the draft. Carolina pushed its chips to the middle of the table, acquired the No. 1 pick from the Bears and hitched its nearly empty wagon to the former Heisman Trophy winner out of Alabama. No. 2 pick C.J. Stroud went from Ohio State to Houston to NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year in a scheme that emphasized strengths and offered superior skill-position talent. While offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik was a critical asset for Stroud, the underappreciated element in his success was the superior offensive line to the group that tried – and largely failed – to protect the undersized Young. Year 2 could be different for both players, but we’re here to talk about the ‘24 rookie class and identify the candidates to stand out from the rest.Panthers RB Jonathan BrooksMaybe the ACL tear in November holds him back out of the gate, but anyone who expects Miles Sanders to be the bell cow in Carolina this season should rewind the 2023 All-22 and find one good reason. Brooks was the top back in the 2024 draft and has speed, balance and didn’t slow down at first contact while breaking big gains at Texas. The Panthers paid big to roll in a new wall of road-grading offensive linemen to become a dominant run-first offense.Bears WR Rome OdunzeWith apologies to Marvin Harrison Jr. (Cardinals) and Malik Nabers (Giants), Odunze by far is best positioned for a dominant rookie season. He’s not being cast as a No. 1 receiver with D.J. Moore and Keenan Allen atop of the depth chart – and tight end Cole Kmet drawing attention – but the chemistry is undeniable between No. 1 pick Caleb Williams and Odunze from their days as Pac-12 competitors. A TD-heavy rookie season is coming in Chicago from Odunze.Steelers LB Payton WilsonOne of two third-round picks for Pittsburgh, Wilson was making waves in minicamp before the ink was dry on his signed four-year deal with the Steelers. Older by relative comparison than most of his draft class, Wilson has everything head coach Mike Tomlin wants to rapidly develop as the heart of the defense. The 2023 Bednarik Award winner was only around into the third round to be selected as a potential steal for the Steelers because of a history of injuries. DE Jared Verse, RamsA pass rusher cast as an outside linebacker in Los Angeles at 255 pounds, Verse is also cross training up front and could be part of the planned solution to fill Aaron Donald’s role with a rotation of FSU defenders (Braden Fiske also landed with the Rams at pick No. 39).Raiders TE Brock BowersFor much the same reason we are buying Odunze stock, don’t blink on the opportunity to board the Bowers bandwagon. His QB situation isn’t special by any stretch, but if Garder Minshew wins the No. 1 job, Bowers essentially serves as the No. 2 receiver to Davante Adams in Vegas.Commanders TE Ben SinnottWe’re tapping the brakes on the Travis Kelce comps but Sinnott won’t be a sleeper for long. His size and athletic ability seem impossible, and Sinnott arrives as the perfect security blanket for rookie QB Jayden Daniels. Relatedunderdog online reviewparlayplay fantasy reviewsleeper fantasy football appdabble fantasy reviewowners box fantasy ratingfantasy sports at draftkingsplaying fantasy football on fanduelunderdog reload bonusparlayplay bonus codesleeper welcome bonusdabble new customer promoowners box promo codesdraftkings fantasy promo codefanduel fantasy bonus bet
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What the papers say
Aaron Ramsdale has emerged as a transfer target for Chelsea after losing his first-team spot at Arsenal to David Raya. According to The Sun, Bayern Munich are also looking at the 25-year-old England goalkeeper.
Chelsea and Manchester City are both keen on Inter Milan defender Alessandro Bastoni, 24, according to the Daily Mirror via Calciomercato. The Italian giants are likely to want more than £60million for the Italy international.
Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola could reportedly be the first managerial casualty of the Premier League season. The Sun reports he faces talks with the club this week after taking just three points from the opening nine league games.
Manchester United assistant manager Mitchell Van Der Gaag does not appear to …
Philadelphia Union beat New York City in the MLS by 2-1 at the Subaru Park in a highly exciting, intense, and overall unusual match.
Mikael Uhre broke the deadlock with a goal that put Union in front after eight minutes.
PHILLY TAKES AN EARLY LEAD!
Uhre with the finish for
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer)
In the 16th minute, Union could have gone further up, but City goalkeeper Sean Johnson pulled a superb point-blank save.
Sean Johnson with a MASSIVE save for
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer)
In the 78th minute, a scuffle broke out, eventually resulting in referee Armando Villarreal deciding to show the red card to Union physio, Paul Rushing.
Things are heating up between NYCFC and Philadelphia Union…
Manchester City youngster Romeo Lavia has joined Southampton, with the teenager signing a five-year deal at St Mary s Stadium.
The Belgium youth international, who joined the academy set-up at the Etihad Stadium from Anderlecht in 2020, made two senior appearances during his stay with Pep Guardiola s side.
It is not necessarily the end of Lavia s association with the club, however, after City reportedly installed a buy-back clause – thought to be around £40million – into the deal.
My Manchester City journey has come to an end, Lavia, 18, wrote in a post on Instagram. I’d like to thank everyone associated with this great club for all you’ve done for me during these two years at the club.
I’ve developed into an even better player, person…
Dorival Junior has asked for time to complete his revamp of the Brazil national team after the Selecao s Copa America exit.
Brazil, nine-time Copa America champions, lost 4-2 on penalties after a 0-0 draw with 10-man Uruguay in Las Vegas on Saturday.
Eder Militao and Douglas Luiz were unsuccessful from 12 yards, as a disappointing and often disjointed campaign for Brazil, who were without the suspended Vinicius Junior, came to a halt.
Dorival left out some big names for the tournament, while Neymar was absent through injury, and the coach, who was appointed in January, has reiterated the rebuild will require some patience.
He said: We are undergoing a very important renovation or reinvention of this team.
I have only coached this team for eight m…
Matthijs de Ligt believes he is ready for a new challenge, according to the Juventus centre-back s agent Mino Raiola.
Former Ajax captain De Ligt left his boyhood club for pastures new in Turin in 2019, but initially underwhelmed following his €75million transfer.
However, the Netherlands international has been reinvigorated under new Bianconeri head coach Massimiliano Allegri, starting 13 of the 14 games he has featured in for his 1,203 Serie A minutes in 2021-22.
Alongside learning from veteran duo Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci, De Ligt is turning into the dominant figure that he was expected to become – last committing an error leading to a chance in the league in his debut 2019-20 campaign.
Additionally, no Juve defender is competing f…
Antonio Conte insists the future of Eden Hazard and Thibaut Courtois is a private matter for Chelsea, as speculation persists over the Belgian duo s commitment to the club.
Hazard s father claimed in an interview with Le Soir that he has rejected the chance to extend his contract in order to wait from a possible offer from Real Madrid.
Goalkeeper Courtois has also been linked with the Spanish and European champions and still has family in Madrid, having spent three years on loan with Atletico Madrid between 2011 and 2014.
Conte was unwilling to offer any clues as to whether the two players will commit to new contracts, but stressed that negotiations will not be discussed in public.
Thibaut has a contract, also for the next season, said the Chelsea b…
Dynamo Kiev head coach Mircea Lucescu does not believe Barcelona are at the level to win the Champions League.
Group G leaders and LaLiga giants Barcelona will host Ukrainian visitors Dynamo at Camp Nou on Wednesday.
Barca equalled their worst tally of LaLiga points after six games since the Spanish competition reverted to three points for a win – Ronald Koeman s side drew 1-1 with Deportivo Alaves on Saturday, meaning they have just eight points so far in the early stages of the 2020-21 campaign.
That is the same total as Barca managed at the start of the 2002-03 campaign when another Dutchman, Louis van Gaal, was in charge.
Barca were also humiliated 8-2 by Bayern Munich in last season s Champions League quarter-final and, speaking on the eve of…
It s important that I keep fighting and working as hard as I can to stay in the squad and to stay in the team.
Every time I get the opportunity for England, I love it, it s a great place to play football here. It s free and the lads get on really well, it s a great place to come to.
I want to be a part of that in the Euros and I want to be in the starting XI in the Euros as well.
But, yes, it s important that back at Tottenham I get the opportunities there and I stay in the team there as well.
England s hopes of reaching the Nations League Finals were ended by a 2-0 defeat by Belgium on Sunday, meaning there is nothing at stake for either team in Wednesday s clash with Iceland at Wembley.
Southgate may opt to use the situation to experiment w…
Everton have announced Luis Boa Morte as their new assistant manager following the departure of Joao Pedro Sousa.
The 41-year-old has signed a two-year deal to replace Marco Silva s long-term assistant Sousa, who stepped down from his position last week to become coach of Portuguese side Famalicao.
Everton have moved quickly to fill the void by appointing Boa Morte, who previously worked with Silva at Sporting Lisbon in 2014-15 when in charge of the under-19 side.
The former Arsenal, Southampton, Fulham and West Ham forward has more recently spent time as assistant manager at Israeli side Maccabi Haifa, helping them finish second in the league.
I’m very happy to be joining Everton, a big club with so much history and tradition, he told Everton s offic…
´Nobody can break the ecosystem of football´ – PSG president Al-Khelaifi firm on Super League opposi
Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser Al-Khelaifi believes the 12 teams who attempted to form a European Super League tried to break the ecosystem of football .
In April 2021, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Atletico Madrid, Juventus, Milan, Inter, Chelsea, Manchester United, Manchester City, Arsenal, Tottenham and Liverpool tried to form a breakaway competition.
Along with Bayern Munich, PSG were a notable absentee, with the Ligue 1 side having opted against joining the plan.
The proposal swiftly broke down, with the six English clubs, the Milan teams and Atletico all dropping out, though Juve, Madrid and Barca are still pushing for a Super League.
Al-Khelaifi has been one of UEFA s firm backers in the divide, and replaced Juve chairman Andrea Agnelli as head…