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NFL All-Rookie Team: Jayden Daniels, Malik Nabers and more 2024 draft picks who shined

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NFL All-Rookie Team: Jayden Daniels, Malik Nabers and more 2024 draft picks who shined

As I put finishing grades on prospects for the 2025 NFL Draft, I find myself wishing it were as strong of a class as the 2024 version.

Based on the rookie film, last year’s draft class certainly hasn’t disappointed in the NFL. Here is a look at The Athletic’s All-Rookie team:

Quarterback

Jayden Daniels, Washington Commanders (Round 1, No. 2 overall)

Because of the season Bo Nix had, this was a much closer race than anyone expected. From start to finish this season, though, Daniels was the best rookie quarterback.

He engineered a dramatic franchise turnaround, leading a Commanders team that won just four games a year ago to a 12-5 finish. Daniels passed for 3,568 yards and accounted for 31 total touchdowns, finishing No. 1 among rookies in completion percentage (69 percent), yards per attempt (7.4) and passing first downs (204).

Daniels is a high-completion passer, but it’s what he brings with his legs that separates him. He set a rookie QB rushing record (891 yards) and finished 10th in the NFL with 28 carries of 10-plus yards. He also scrambled an NFL-high 75 times, so it will be interesting to see how that number fluctuates over the next few seasons.

A common thread between Daniels and Nix? Both were five-year starters in college, and that experience certainly played a part in their successes.

Second team: Bo Nix, Denver Broncos (Round 1, No. 12)

In most years, Nix runs away with Offensive Rookie of the Year. His finished the regular season with 3,775 passing yards, 29 passing touchdowns and 12 interceptions, adding 430 yards and four touchdowns on the ground. And, like Daniels, Nix played a critical part in leading his team to double-digit wins and the playoffs.

The two things I liked best about Nix as a prospect: He understood where to go with the football, and his scrambling gave defenders fits. The main concerns, however, were how much he relied on the quick game in college and how he struggled when his eyes sped up on him. All credit to Nix and Sean Payton for the QB’s development. He’s been proving a lot of people wrong, including me.

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Honorable mentions: Caleb Williams (Bears), Drake Maye (Patriots), Michael Penix Jr. (Falcons), Spencer Rattler (Saints), Joe Milton III (Patriots)

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Running back

Bucky Irving, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Round 4, No. 125)

Just four running backs rushed for 1,100-plus yards while averaging more than 5.0 yards per carry this season: Saquon Barkley, Derrick Henry, Jahmyr Gibbs and … Irving. He played only 45.2 percent of Tampa’s offensive snaps and had single-digit carries in eight of 17 games, but Irving proved to be a valuable part of the Bucs’ run to an NFC South title — Tampa finished 6-1 in its final seven games and Irving averaged 119.1 total yards per game during that stretch.

The sixth back drafted in April, Irving finished No. 1 among all first-year running backs in rushing yards (1,122), rushing touchdowns (eight) and receiving (47 catches for 392 yards). Some soured on him during the draft process due to his average testing (4.55-second 40-yard dash and 29.5-inch vertical, at only 192 pounds), but his instinctive run qualities and pass-catching skills made it easy to appreciate Irving’s skill set.

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Second team: Tyrone Tracy, New York Giants (Round 5, No. 166)

In basketball terms, Tracy would be that high-energy sixth man who can swing games when he catches fire. The Purdue product was a threat to rip off an explosive play any time he touched the ball — he finished with six carries of 20-plus yards (one more than Bijan Robinson). Tracy (839 yards) was the only rookie back other than Irving to top 500 yards rushing.

Honorable mentions: Ray Davis (Bills), Isaac Guerendo (49ers), Braelon Allen (Jets), Trey Benson (Cardinals), Audric Estime (Broncos)

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Wide receiver

Brian Thomas Jr., Jacksonville Jaguars (Round 1, No. 23); Malik Nabers, New York Giants (Round 1, No. 6)

LSU teammates a year ago, Thomas and Nabers took the NFL by storm — despite dealing with inconsistent quarterback play.

Thomas finished with a rookie-best 1,282 receiving yards, third most in the NFL behind only Ja’Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson. He had the fastest “flying 20” at the combine, so it was no surprise that he proved to be a big-play weapons almost immediately, producing a league-best five catches of 50-plus yards. He felt like a steal on draft night, and that is even more true now.

Nabers, meanwhile, finished third among all NFL receivers with 109 catches (behind only Chase and Amon-Ra St. Brown), even though he missed two games. His 1,204 receiving yards ranked seventh in the league, and he was one of the best at making defenders miss in space and moving the chains. Nabers is (already) knocking on the door of being considered a top-five NFL receiver.

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Second team: Marvin Harrison Jr., Arizona Cardinals (Round 1, No. 4); Xavier Worthy, Kansas City Chiefs (Round 1, No. 28)

Harrison’s production pales in comparison to expectations, but he still had a very respectable rookie campaign. He finished fourth among first-year receivers with 822 receiving yards, and his seven touchdowns tied with Nabers and Ladd McConkey for second most among rookies. On 108 targets, Harrison was tagged with just one drop.

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Worthy wasn’t considered a first-rounder by most teams, due to his lack of size and the undisciplined areas of his game. Although those concerns popped up in almost every game Worthy played, the Chiefs leaned into his explosive talent to maximize his impact. Worthy finished with nine total touchdowns (six receiving, three rushing).

Honorable mentions: Rome Odunze (Bears), Keon Coleman (Bills), Jalen McMillan (Buccaneers), Xavier Legette (Panthers), Troy Franklin (Broncos)

Slot receiver

Ladd McConkey, Los Angeles Chargers (Round 2, No. 34)

In an exceptional wide receiver draft, the Chargers addressed their offensive line in the first round and trusted the depth of the class. And the strategy worked — Los Angeles traded up a few spots to secure McConkey, whom many around the league believed would be a first-rounder.

McConkey finished with the ninth-most receiving yards (1,149) among all wide receivers and showed off his shiftiness after the catch (14 forced missed tackles). Despite two fumbles, he was one of the most reliable rookies (74.8 percent reception rate when targeted). Most importantly, McConkey stayed healthy, missing just one game.

Second team: Devaughn Vele, Denver Broncos (Round 7, No. 235)

I don’t think many predicted Vele to have the same number of receiving touchdowns as Deebo Samuel, Puka Nacua or George Pickens. But he found a home in Denver and took advantage of his playing time. With 70 percent of his snaps coming in the slot, Vele finished with 41 catches for 475 yards and three touchdowns.

Honorable mentions: Jalen Coker (Panthers), Ricky Pearsall (49ers), Malik Washington (Dolphins)

Tight end

Brock Bowers, Las Vegas Raiders (Round 1, No. 13)

The easiest decision on this All-Rookie team, Bowers had arguably the best debut season for a tight end in NFL history.

Despite the Raiders’ below-average quarterback play, Bowers led all NFL tight ends in catches (112), receiving yards (1,194) and first-down grabs (58) and finished second in catches of 20-plus yards (15). He broke Mike Ditka’s 63-year-old record for receiving yards by a rookie tight end, and his drops were rare (three on 139 targets). Bowers’ touchdown total (five) doesn’t match the rest of his production, but that is more a reflection of the team than the player.

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Second Team: AJ Barner, Seattle Seahawks (Round 4, No. 121)

There was a massive gap between Bowers and the next-best rookie tight end. Barner gets the nod because he was reliable catching the football and solid as a blocker. He finished with 30 catches for 245 yards and four touchdowns, joining Bowers as the only rookie tight ends with multiple TDs.

Honorable mentions: Ja’Tavion Sanders (Panthers), Theo Johnson (Giants), Erick All (Bengals), Cade Stover (Texans)

Offensive tackle

Joe Alt, Los Angeles Chargers (Round 1, No. 5); JC Latham, Tennessee Titans (Round 1, No. 7)

The Chargers passed on Nabers, but I don’t know many who believe they made the wrong choice. That is how good Alt has been.

He is incredibly consistent with his steps, hands and body movements to frame up rushers and win with leverage. And he is doing all this at a position he hadn’t played before this season. This is going to sound hyperbolic, but based on Alt’s performance and development, it wouldn’t be surprising if he ascends to be the league’s top right tackle at some point the next few seasons.

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While Alt moved from the left side to the right, Latham made the reverse transition and played well in his first season at left tackle. It was far from perfect, and he had understandable struggles for a rookie, but Tennessee can feel comfortable it has its long-term left tackle.

Second Team: Taliese Fuaga, New Orleans Saints (Round 1, No. 14); Roger Rosengarten, Baltimore Ravens (Round 2, No. 62)

Unsurprisingly, Fuaga was the only rookie tackle close to Alt as a run blocker. And his improvements in pass pro at left tackle over the final month were encouraging (see his tapes vs. the Commanders and Buccaneers). Similarly, Rosengarten was outstanding as a pass blocker at right tackle over the final two months (10 pressures and one sack allowed in his final eight starts).

Honorable mentions: Olu Fashanu (Jets), Amarius Mims (Bengals), Brandon Coleman (Commanders), DJ Glaze (Raiders), Tyler Guyton (Cowboys), Matt Goncalves (Colts)

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Guard

Dominick Puni, San Francisco 49ers (Round 3, No. 86); Jackson Powers-Johnson, Las Vegas Raiders (Round 2, No. 44)

There were 25 offensive linemen drafted before Puni, but he would be one of the first offensive linemen off the board if a redraft happened today. Not only did Puni play at a high level for a rookie, especially in the run game, he was reliable, starting all 17 games and leading his team in snaps played.

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Powers-Johnson got a late start this season due to injury and went through his share of hiccups early. But he improved as the season progressed and his confidence increased, which allowed him to lean on his movement skills and physicality. His versatility was a strong selling point, and he showed that with eight starts at guard and six at center.

Second Team: Mason McCormick, Pittsburgh Steelers (Round 4, No. 119); Layden Robinson, New England Patriots (Round 4, No. 103)

McCormick had a few “welcome to the league” moments (see his tape vs. the Ravens), but there were more positive moments in his debut season, as he started the final 14 games. Robinson wasn’t nearly as consistent, but the positive flashes — especially after he moved to left guard — were encouraging.

Honorable mentions: Dalton Tucker (Colts), Isaiah Adams (Cardinals), Christian Mahogany (Lions), Jordan Morgan (Packers)

Center

Zach Frazier, Pittsburgh Steelers (Round 2, No. 51)

As good as Alt and Puni have been, there is a strong case to be made that Frazier was the top first-year offensive linemen. Although his length and athleticism are more solid than exceptional, he already looks like a veteran with his strength at contact and ability to outmaneuver defenders. I think people get tired of hearing about wrestling backgrounds for offensive linemen, but with Frazier, you can clearly see how his skills on the mat translate to the NFL.

Second Team: Graham Barton, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Round 1, No. 26)

In most years, Barton would have been a shoo-in for the top rookie center. He seemed to have at least one penalty a game, an area of his game which needs to improve (flags were an issue for him in college, too). But Tampa has to be thrilled with his development.

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Honorable mentions: Tanor Bortolini (Colts), Cooper Beebe (Cowboys), Beaux Limmer (Rams)

Edge rusher

Jared Verse, Los Angeles Rams (Round 1, No. 19); Chop Robinson, Miami Dolphins (Round 1, No. 21)

Trey Hendrickson, Myles Garrett and Jonathan Greenard are the only players who created more pressures this season than Verse (77). To put that number in perspective, only Nick Bosa had more pressures as a rookie over the last dozen years. When Von Miller won Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2011, he averaged 4.4 pressures per game; Verse averaged 4.5 this season.

Robinson’s impact was more gradual. After tallying 14 pressures over the first eight games, he accounted for 42 over the second half of the season to finish with 56 — three more than T.J. Watt.

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Second Team: Laiatu Latu, Indianapolis Colts (Round 1, No. 15); Jonah Elliss, Denver Broncos (Round 3, No. 76)

As the first defensive player drafted, Latu had a bit of a disappointing season with just four sacks. But he led all rookies with three forced fumbles and showed enough promise off the bench that the Colts can be excited about a sophomore jump. Elliss, who finished third among rookies with five sacks, proved to be a quality subpackage rusher.

Honorable mentions: Chris Braswell (Buccaneers), Dallas Turner (Vikings), Marshawn Kneeland (Cowboys), Austin Booker (Bears), Javon Solomon (Bills), Jalyx Hunt (Eagles)

Defensive tackle

Braden Fiske, Los Angeles Rams (Round 2, No. 39); T’Vondre Sweat, Tennessee Titans (Round 2, No. 38)

Fiske finished as the rookie leader in sacks (8.5) and collected 51 pressures, three behind Quinnen Williams. He always had the twitchy urgency and quickness to make an impact in the NFL, but the continued development with his hands was awesome to see.

Selected one spot before Fiske, Sweat generally was viewed as a potential first-round pick based on size and ability, but questions about his weight and off-field consistency removed him from several boards. The Titans rolled the dice and, so far, that gamble has paid off. Sweat might never be a playmaker as a pass rusher, but he destroys gaps in the run game and has better range than his 360-pound size would suggest.

Second Team: Byron Murphy II, Seattle Seahawks (Round 1, No. 16); Jer’Zhan Newton, Washington Commanders (Round 2, No. 36)

Injuries robbed us of seeing Murphy at full-go, but the flashes were enough to explain why he was so coveted in the draft. The same could be said about Newton, who started slow but has been a welcome part of the Commanders’ defensive line rotation.

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Honorable mentions: Elijah Chatman (Giants), Mike Hall Jr. (Browns), Kris Jenkins (Bengals), Evan Anderson (49ers), Leonard Taylor III (Jets), Jonah Laulu (Raiders), Maason Smith (Jaguars), DeWayne Carter (Bills)

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Linebacker

First team: Edgerrin Cooper, Green Bay Packers (Round 2, No. 45); Payton Wilson, Pittsburgh Steelers (Round 3, No. 98)

Part of Cooper’s appeal as a prospect was his do-everything skill set, which was on full display this season. Despite missing a few games, he led all rookies with 13.0 tackles for loss (No. 2 among all NFL off-ball linebackers). After he returned from injury, Cooper played like one of the best defenders — not just rookie defenders — in the league.

Wilson had a terrific year, too, defending the run, dropping in coverage and blitzing the pocket. Most importantly, he stayed healthy for all 17 regular-season games and was one of the Steelers’ best coverage players on kicks and punts (300 special-teams snaps).

Second Team: Tyrice Knight, Seattle Seahawks (Round 4, No. 118); Omar Speights, Los Angeles Rams (undrafted)

An off-and-on starter, Knight led all rookie linebackers in tackles (88) — not too surprising, considering he had 140 tackles last season at UTEP. He plays like a rabid dog against the run, with the instincts and play personality that directly lead to production. Speights ranked top 20 in the NFL with 60 tackles over the final two months of the season. He also has the lowest missed-tackle rate (5.7 percent) among rookie linebackers.

Honorable mentions: Trevin Wallace (Panthers), Marist Liufau (Cowboys), Jaylon Carlies (Colts), Junior Colson (Chargers), Winston Reid (Browns), Darius Muasau (Giants)

Cornerback

Quinyon Mitchell, Philadelphia Eagles (Round 1, No. 22); Mike Sainristil, Washington Commanders (Round 2, No. 50)

Chase, CeeDee Lamb, Mike Evans, Terry McLaurin, Nabers — Mitchell faced some of the NFL’s best wide receivers and more than held his own. Despite not registering an interception (he had his chances), his snap-to-snap consistency made him the league’s most impressive first-year cornerback. Over the final 12 games, Mitchell allowed more than 35 receiving yards in a game just once. He also finished with 12 passes defended.

The second outside corner spot was much more competitive, but Sainristil gets the edge. He led all rookies with 14 passes defended and committed just two penalties, despite leading all first-year players in defensive snaps played (978). His competitiveness in coverage and against the run jumped off the screen — he finished with 93 tackles, second most among rookies.

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Second Team: Nate Wiggins, Baltimore Ravens (Round 1, No. 30); Kamari Lassiter, Houston Texans (Round 2, No. 42); Tarheeb Still, Los Angeles Chargers (Round 5, No. 137)

With his pick six in Week 18, Wiggins finished his rookie campaign with more touchdowns than touchdowns allowed. The only rookie corner to allow a lower reception rate than Wiggins was Lassiter (47.8 percent of targets resulting in a catch). And I couldn’t leave off Still, who finished second among rookies with four interceptions while posting 10 passes defended and committing just one penalty.

Honorable mentions: Terrion Arnold (Lions), Renardo Green (49ers), Josh Newton (Bengals), Jarvis Brownlee Jr. (Titans), Kool-Aid McKinstry (Saints), Max Melton (Cardinals), Kris Abrams-Draine (Broncos)

Nickel cornerback

Cooper DeJean, Philadelphia Eagles (Round 2, No. 40)

After missing most of the first five weeks, DeJean entered the Eagles’ starting lineup and played like one of the best nickels in the league. You could make a strong argument that he was the best run defender among all first-year players, and he didn’t allow a touchdown on 71 coverage targets. Add his impact on special teams, and DeJean has been a home run for Philadelphia — especially for a second-rounder.

Second Team: Andru Phillips, New York Giants (Round 3, No. 70); Tykee Smith, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Round 3, No. 89)

Phillips was an outstanding run defender this season and flashed in coverage. One of the concerns with him as a prospect was that he produced zero interceptions in 38 career games at Kentucky, so his first career NFL interception in Week 17 great to see. Despite missing four games due to injury, Smith finished his rookie season as one of only five NFL players with at least three forced fumbles and two interceptions — he was the first rookie to post those numbers since 2018.

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Honorable mentions: Beanie Bishop Jr. (Steelers), Jarrian Jones (Jaguars), Chau Smith-Wade (Panthers), Christian Roland-Wallace (Chiefs)

Safety

Calen Bullock, Houston Texans (Round 3, No. 78); Tyler Nubin, New York Giants (Round 2, No. 47)

In a lot of ways, Bullock lived up exactly to his scouting report — both the good and the volatile. With his range in coverage, he led all rookies in interceptions (five) and allowed just 42.3 percent receptions when targeted. However, his questionable play strength was an issue, especially as a run defender. Despite the hiccups, Bullock proved to be an integral part of DeMeco Ryans’ defense, playing almost 1,000 snaps.

Nubin led all rookies in tackles (98), even though he missed four games. One of the reasons the Giants drafted him in the top 50 was his ball production in college (13 career interceptions), but he didn’t record an interception and registered just one pass breakup as a rookie — those numbers will need to improve next season.

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Second Team: Evan Williams, Green Bay Packers (Round 4, No. 111); Kamren Kinchens, Los Angeles Rams (Round 3, No. 99)

If he hadn’t missed five games (and parts of others) due to injury, Williams likely would have made the first team. Regardless, he had a much better season than anyone anticipated, and the Packers can feel optimistic about their free safety situation moving forward. Kinchens allowed four touchdown passes this season, but he posted four interceptions and led all rookies in interception yards (123).

Honorable mentions: Malik Mustapha (49ers), Javon Bullard (Packers), Demani Richardson (Panthers), Jaylen McCollough (Rams), Cole Bishop (Bills), Jaden Hicks (Chiefs), Dadrion Taylor-Demerson (Cardinals), Dell Pettus (Patriots)

Kicker

Cam Little, Jacksonville Jaguars (Round 6, No. 212)

Second Team: Will Reichard, Minnesota Vikings (Round 6, No. 203), Joshua Karty, Los Angeles Rams (Round 6, No. 209)

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Punter

Tory Taylor, Chicago Bears (Round 4, No. 122)

Second Team: Ryan Rehkow, Cincinnati Bengals (undrafted); Matthew Hayball, New Orleans Saints (undrafted)

(Top photos of Jayden Daniels and Malik Nabers: Kara Durrette, Kevin Sabitus / Getty Images)

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Ohio State tops first College Football Playoff rankings with Indiana behind at No. 2

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13 hours ago

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November 4, 2025

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Ohio State tops first College Football Playoff rankings with Indiana behind at No. 2

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The first College Football Playoff rankings have been released, and the reigning champions are atop the pack.

The Ohio State Buckeyes were ranked first when ESPN unveiled the projected 12-team bracket Tuesday night. The 2024 champions, who defeated Notre Dame in the championship game earlier this year, have been stellar with an 8-0 start to no one’s surprise.

But perhaps one of the best storylines this season comes from the No. 2 team in the rankings, the Indiana Hoosiers. Head coach Curt Cignetti’s group has been phenomenal to start the year, and they’re leading the Big Ten with a 9-0 record behind the play of Heisman candidate quarterback Fernando Mendoza.

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Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day watches during the second half against the Illinois Fighting Illini at Gies Memorial Stadium in Champaign Oct. 11, 2025. (IMAGN)

Rounding out the top four seeds, who will all get a bye in the first round of the CFP, are No. 3 Texas A&M and No. 4 Alabama.

The SEC is represented well in the debut rankings. Georgia comes in at No. 5, followed by Lane Kiffin’s Ole Miss Rebels at No. 6.

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Rounding out the top 10 are BYU, the No. 7 team that leads the Big 12 with a perfect 8-0 record; Texas Tech; Oregon; and the Fighting Irish at No. 10.

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Notre Dame may have lost its first two games of the season, but the Irish have ripped off six straight wins as an at-large team. Their first two losses came against the Aggies and No. 18 Miami in their opener.

Speaking of the Hurricanes, they have the same number of losses as the Fighting Irish, but their recent overtime loss to SMU dropped them in the rankings.

Lane Kiffin looks on during a game

Mississippi head coach Lane Kiffin watches his team play against Oklahoma during the first half in Norman, Okla., Oct. 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Alonzo Adams)

Right on the cusp are Arch Manning and the Texas Longhorns at No. 11, especially given the team’s win over No. 16 Vanderbilt. The No. 12 Oklahoma Sooners are close as well.

Given that each Power Four conference will have a representative, Virginia, the leader in the ACC, comes in at No. 14. With all top 25 teams coming from a Power Four conference, the CFP committee had Memphis as the top team from the Group of Five.

However, this isn’t the same format as previous college football seasons because the committee is using a straight seeding model this time. The top four teams in the final ranking, no matter what conference they play in, will receive a first-round bye.

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Jeremiah Smith reacts on field

Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Jeremiah Smith celebrates a catch against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Ohio Stadium in Columbus Nov. 1, 2025. (Imagn)

With the current rankings, Memphis would face Georgia, Virginia would play Ole Miss, Notre Dame would travel to BYU and Oregon would take on Texas Tech.

Of course, this is just the first of many rankings to come. The bracket will be finalized Dec. 7, the day after conference championship games.

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

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Scott Thompson is a sports writer for Fox News Digital.

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Clippers owner Steve Ballmer sued for fraud by Aspiration investors over Kawhi Leonard allegations

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14 hours ago

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November 4, 2025

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Clippers owner Steve Ballmer sued for fraud by Aspiration investors over Kawhi Leonard allegations

Clippers owner Steve Ballmer is being sued by 11 former investors in the sustainability firm Aspiration Partners.

Ballmer was added this week as a defendant in an existing civil lawsuit against Aspiration co-founder Joseph Sanberg and several others associated with the now-defunct company. Ballmer and the other defendants are accused of fraud and aiding and abetting fraud, with the plaintiffs seeking at least $50 million in damages.

“This is an action to recover millions of dollars that Plaintiffs were defrauded into investing, directly or indirectly, in CTN Holdings, Inc. (‘Catona’), previously known as Aspiration Partners, Inc,” reads the lawsuit, which was initially filed July 9 in Los Angeles County Superior Court, Central District.

Attorney Skip Miller said his firm, Miller Barondess LLP, filed an amended complaint Monday that added the billionaire team owner and his investment company, Ballmer Group, as defendants in light of recent allegations that a $28-million deal between Aspiration and Clippers star Kawhi Leonard helped the team circumvent the NBA’s salary cap.

“Ballmer was the perfect deep-pocket partner to fund Catona’s flagging operations and lend legitimacy to Catona’s carbon credit business,” says the amended complaint, which has been viewed by The Times. “Since Ballmer had publicly promoted himself as an advocate for sustainability, Catona was an ideal vehicle for Ballmer to secretly circumvent the NBA salary cap while purporting to support the company as a legitimate environmentalist investor.”

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Although Ballmer did invest millions in Aspiration, it is not known whether he was aware of or played a role in facilitating the company’s deal with Leonard. The Times reached out to the Clippers for a comment from Ballmer or a team representative but did not receive an immediate response.

CTN Holdings filed for bankruptcy in March and, according to the lawsuit, is no longer in operation.

In late August, Sanberg agreed to plead guilty in federal court to a scheme to defraud investors and lenders of more than $248 million. On Sept. 3, investigative journalist Pablo Torre reported on his podcast that after reviewing numerous documents and conducting interviews with former employees of the now-defunct firm, he did not find evidence of any marketing or endorsement work done by Leonard for the company.

That was news to the plaintiffs, according to their amended lawsuit.

“Ballmer’s purported status as a legitimate investor in Catona was material to Plaintiffs’ decision to invest in and/or keep their investments with Catona,” the complaint states.

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It also says that “Sanberg and Ballmer never disclosed to Plaintiffs that the millions of dollars Ballmer injected into Catona were meant to allow Ballmer to funnel compensation to Leonard in violation of NBA rules and keep Catona’s failing business afloat financially. Sanberg and Ballmer’s scheme to pay Leonard through Catona to evade the NBA’s salary cap was only later revealed in 2025, by journalist Pablo Torre.”

Miller said in a statement to The Times: “A lot of people including our clients got hurt badly in this case. This lawsuit is being brought to make them whole for their losses. I look forward to our day in court for justice.”

The NBA announced an investigation into the matter in early September. Speaking at a forum that month hosted by the Sports Business Journal, Ballmer said that he felt “quite confident … that we abided [by] the rules. So, I welcome the investigation that the NBA is doing.”

The Clippers said in a statement at the time: “Neither Mr. Ballmer nor the Clippers circumvented the salary cap or engaged in any misconduct related to Aspiration. Any contrary assertion is provably false: The team ended its relationship with Aspiration years ago, during the 2022-23 season, when Aspiration defaulted on its obligations.

“Neither the Clippers nor Mr. Ballmer was aware of any improper activity by Aspiration or its co-founder until after the government instituted its investigation.”

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Leonard also has denied being involved in any wrongdoing associated with his deal with the now-defunct firm. Asked about the matter Sept. 29 during Clippers media day to open training camp, Leonard said, “I don’t think it’s accurate” that he provided no endorsement services to the company. He added that he hadn’t been paid all the money due to him from the deal.

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Cardinals snap 5-game skid with road win over struggling Cowboys

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November 4, 2025

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Cardinals snap 5-game skid with road win over struggling Cowboys

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The Arizona Cardinals have finally snapped their five-game losing streak, doing so in convincing fashion with a 27-17 victory over the Dallas Cowboys. 

The Cardinals, who started 2-0, are now 3-5, while the Cowboys – blown out by the Denver Broncos last week – fell to 3-5-1 heading into their bye week. 

All eyes were on the Cowboys entering this game after that brutal loss at Mile High, but the Cardinals also came into this game desperately needing a win to not only get the vibes high in the locker room again but keep the season afloat. 

It was Jacoby Brissett once again starting for Arizona, as Kyler Murray remains out with his toe injury. Brissett, though, was the man for the job from the jump, and Marvin Harrison Jr. was his right-hand man. 

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Marvin Harrison Jr. of the Arizona Cardinals celebrates his touchdown with Elijah Higgins against the Dallas Cowboys during the second quarter in the game at AT&T Stadium on Nov. 3, 2025 in Arlington, Texas. (Stacy Revere/Getty Images)

The second-year receiver had a fantastic night, tallying seven catches and 96 yards in the first half with the game’s first touchdown on a beautiful release that left cornerback Da’Ron Bland flat-footed.

However, Dak Prescott and the Cowboys’ offense – averaging over 30 points per game this season – couldn’t find a rhythm against the Cardinals’ defense. They turned it over on downs on their opening drive and came away empty-handed.

After a Cowboys punt, Harrison’s touchdown made it 10-0, and tight end Jake Ferguson’s fumble in Arizona territory killed another promising Dallas drive. But the Cowboys’ special teams answered when Sam Williams blocked a punt that ricocheted off his helmet and rolled into the end zone, where Marshawn Kneeland recovered it for a touchdown.

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Brissett and the Cardinals responded immediately, marching 74 yards in 11 plays before Brissett snuck one across at the goal line. 

When the third quarter began, Michael Wilson immediately put the Cardinals in plus territory as he caught a ball from Brissett and ran 50 yards to Dallas’ 24-yard line. A few plays later, tight end Trey McBride made it 24-7 with a nice snag on the right side of the colored paint. 

Jacoby Brissett looks to snap ball

Jacoby Brissett of the Arizona Cardinals on the line of scrimmage against the Dallas Cowboys during the second quarter in the game at AT&T Stadium on Nov. 3, 2025 in Arlington, Texas. (Stacy Revere/Getty Images)

Dallas added a field goal, then Prescott connected with Ryan Flournoy for a short touchdown to cut the deficit to 10. Given how Arizona’s recent losses came down to one score, this one still felt far from over.

Dallas got another stop on defense, but it was the Cardinals’ defense that came away with a massive play during the ensuing drive. Prescott was blitzed and threw the ball immediately to running back Javonte Williams, who wasn’t ready for a Cardinals defender to hit him right away. During the tackle, the ball was ripped out of Williams’ arm and Akeem David-Gaither recovered it before it went out of bounds. 

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That play came with 4:46 left in the game, and just when it seemed like there was a chance for another epic collapse, Arizona finally came through with the play they needed. 

In the box score, Brissett was 21-of-31 for 261 yards with two touchdown passes despite getting sacked five times by the Cowboys. McBride finished with five catches for 55 yards, while Emari Demercado led the way on the ground with 79 yards on 14 carries. 

Jacoby Brissett looks to pass

Jacoby Brissett of the Arizona Cardinals throws against the Dallas Cowboys during the first quarter in the game at AT&T Stadium on Nov. 03, 2025 in Arlington, Texas. (Sam Hodde/Getty Images)

For Dallas, Javonte Williams totaled 83 yards on 15 carries, but turnovers doomed the offense. Prescott went 24-for-39 for 250 yards with one touchdown and one interception, the latter coming on the Cowboys’ final drive.

CeeDee Lamb finished with 85 yards on seven catches, while George Pickens added six receptions for 79 yards.

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Scott Thompson is a sports writer for Fox News Digital.

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