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NHL report cards: Grading every team’s season as we near the midway point

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NHL report cards: Grading every team’s season as we near the midway point

The NHL season is nearing its midway point, with all 32 teams playing between 35 and 41 games. By now, we generally know what each team is and isn’t and whether the rest of the season should be focused on title contention, short-term progress or the long-term future.

What better time to break out our red pens and hand out some grades? That’s exactly what The Athletic did this week when it asked its NHL staff to assign a grade to every team with expectations in mind. You’ll definitely want to show some of these to your parents (or general managers). Others … maybe not.


The Ducks are more competitive in Greg Cronin’s second season. Tangible proof exists with a minus-19 goal differential through 37 games compared to the minus-91 in 2023-24. They’re also starting to close the gap between shots on goal and against, and their defending in five-on-five play is improving, as evidenced by their goal share bumping up from a brutal 42.19 percent to a more respectable 47.79 percent. But their special teams remain horrid, ranking 31st on the power play and 26th in penalty killing (as of Thursday). The lowly offense is keeping them from winning more close games, but wins this week against Edmonton, New Jersey and Winnipeg point to resiliency and positive momentum being created. — Eric Stephens

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The Bruins have improved under interim coach Joe Sacco. They are in a playoff position. They are far tighter defensively. David Pastrnak and Brad Marchand are looking more like themselves. But it does not excuse their start under ex-coach Jim Montgomery. That they went 8-9-3 has put them in a position where every point matters. — Fluto Shinzawa


After how this season has gone for the Buffalo Sabres, it’s hard to give them a passing grade. (Nick Turchiaro / Imagn Images)

The Sabres were supposed to be in win-now mode, ready to take the next step under new coach Lindy Ruff. Instead, they are in last place in the Eastern Conference after a 13-game winless streak derailed their season. It’s tough to justify anything other than a failing grade for a team that had 91 points two seasons ago and is on track to regress for the second straight season. — Matthew Fairburn

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It’s a season above expectations in some regards for the Flames. They’re in the hunt for a playoff spot instead of being in the basement. Their young players — Dustin Wolf, Connor Zary and Matthew Coronato — are taking steps forward. Even Jonathan Huberdeau is having a better season than expected, having already surpassed his goals total from last year. But they still need to make some crucial decisions for their rebuild/retool, including obtaining a game-breaking talent. — Julian McKenzie

Most everyone expected the Hurricanes to take a step back this season, with some even suggesting Carolina would miss the playoffs. It didn’t take long for the Hurricanes to silence the doubters with a red-hot start to the season. Carolina has struggled some of late due to a combination of injured and inconsistent goalies and difficulties scoring at five-on-five. Still, the Hurricanes have firmly established themselves as Metropolitan Division contenders and a threat in the Eastern Conference. There are facets of the game Carolina can improve upon, but Rod Brind’Amour again has the Hurricanes near the top of the league. — Cory Lavalette

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The Blackhawks didn’t have a high bar to meet this season. All they had to do was show better than last season. That was the expectation from Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson. So far, they haven’t even reached that. They’re at the bottom of the league in the standings and have already gone through a coaching change. Another top-three draft pick would help the rebuild, but that wasn’t the goal for this season. — Scott Powers


The Blackhawks didn’t have a high bar to meet this season, and they still have disappointed. (Daniel Bartel / Imagn Images)

After a disastrous start, the Avalanche appear to have righted the ship. They’ve rounded into form and climbed into a comfortable playoff position in the Central. Colorado has played solid hockey all season but was undone by poor goaltending early. Since GM Chris MacFarland reworked the crease in late November, the team is 11-3-1 with one of the best save percentages in the league (.912). Combine that with Nathan MacKinnon, who leads the league with 64 points, and Mikko Rantanen, who isn’t far behind with 56, and the Avalanche are right on track with room to grow. — Jesse Granger

The Blue Jackets were expected by many to be a lottery team, perhaps the worst club in the NHL. When held to that standard, they deserve high marks for hovering around .500 and hanging in the race for a wild-card spot. One more reason for the solid report card: Their young forwards have started to look like difference-makers, especially Kirill Marchenko, Dmitri Voronkov and Kent Johnson. So why is this not an A? The Jackets are one of the NHL’s worst road clubs (4-12-3), and they’ve had two stretches — a six-game winless streak (0-5-1) in November and a five-game skid (0-3-2) in December — in which they lost their way. — Aaron Portzline

The Stars are good, but we’re grading on a curve based on expectations. They seem to have reached that stage of contention in which they realize the regular season doesn’t really matter. But they might want to flip that switch a little earlier this time around because they’re hovering around the periphery of the playoff picture a little too often. A putrid power play, Tyler Seguin’s injury and some underperforming forwards have the team underachieving. But it’s still picking up points at a .600-plus clip, and with reinforcements likely on the way at the deadline, the Stars will still be a team nobody wants to see come playoff time. — Mark Lazerus

Most expected some kind of step back for the Red Wings, but their first half still fell well short of expectations. Detroit has issues with its roster, but there’s still more talent on the team than its bottom-10 record suggests. We’ll see if new coach Todd McLellan can help the Red Wings get back on track in the new year, even if the playoffs look tough to reach. — Max Bultman

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The Oilers have been one of the NHL’s best teams since starting the season 0-3. Even with that initial blip, they’re comfortably inside the top third of the league when it comes to points percentage. Still, there’s room for continued improvement on the power play, in net and at a few key spots in the lineup. Get those improvements and the Oilers might attain their goal of tracking down Vegas for the top spot in the Pacific Division. — Daniel Nugent-Bowman

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It’s a testament to how good the Panthers have become that their B-game still makes them a top-10 team. We know what they’re capable of; we don’t necessarily need to see 82 games’ worth of it to be convinced. Eventually, they’ll need better from Sergei Bobrovsky (.899 save percentage, minus-1.75 goals saved above expected), and the bottom of the lineup is a bit dodgy, but the defending champs are doing just fine. — Sean Gentille

Credit should be thrown coach Jim Hiller’s way, as he has the Kings in a firm playoff position despite not having Drew Doughty all season. Just once have they dropped consecutive games in regulation play, and they’re an impressive 12-2-2 after any defeat. Anze Kopitar is a 37-year-old wonder, and Adrian Kempe, Vladislav Gavrikov and Mikey Anderson are also leading the way. Offseason adds Warren Foegele, Darcy Kuemper, Joel Edmundson and Tanner Jeannot have contributed to varying degrees, and youngsters Alex Laferriere, Brandt Clarke and Alex Turcotte have stepped up. Quinton Byfield and Jordan Spence are trending up. If anything, the 27th-ranked power play (as of Thursday) doesn’t get a passing grade. — Eric Stephens

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Some predicted the Wild to finish in the lower tier of the Central Division. The fact that Minnesota has the third-most points in the Western Conference says two things: (1) Kirill Kaprizov is a Hart Trophy candidate. (2) The Wild get a high grade for exceeding expectations. They hit a recent rut after a hot start, but they’ve put themselves in a good spot thanks to Kaprizov, a big bounce-back year from goaltender Filip Gustavsson and plenty of resilience, including being tested by injuries to Kaprizov, captain Jared Spurgeon and Jake Middleton. — Joe Smith

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A late surge to close out 2024 helped achieve this grade, but the Canadiens’ stated goal for the season was to be in the playoff mix and learn winning habits. In that sense, the Canadiens are achieving their goals, beginning 2025 with a .500 record and within earshot of a playoff spot. Thus, a strong grade. The best part of this Canadiens season is there is still room for improvement from some of their best players. — Arpon Basu

The season that started with arguably the most talented roster in franchise history, with some of the highest expectations, has a chance to be the worst season in franchise history. How can it be anything other than an F? The Preds have picked it up a bit lately, but unless they make a miraculous turnaround to make the playoffs, the F will stand. — Joe Rexrode

New Jersey has integrated its offseason additions well and is near the top of the Metro Division standings. Coach Sheldon Keefe has brought a detailed approach, and the Devils have draft picks with which they can work ahead of the deadline. They look like legitimate contenders. — Peter Baugh

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The worst power play in the league. The worst penalty kill in the league — and potentially in NHL history. Blown leads. Missing offense. A tired No. 1 goalie. The Islanders are only in shouting distance of a playoff spot because half the East is mediocre, but they’ve separated themselves of late to be even worse. — Arthur Staple

The Rangers’ collapse is impossible to justify. There’s blame to spread up and down the organization, from the owner to the general manager to the coach to the players. This team was two wins from the Stanley Cup Final in June and started 12-4-1. Now it feels almost certain the Rangers will be sellers at the deadline. They’ve already moved Jacob Trouba and Kaapo Kakko, and more changes are coming. — Peter Baugh

Despite a wonky November, the Senators look to be back on track and playing to their potential. They’ll need to survive without Linus Ullmark for some time. But the confidence surrounding their team under Travis Green’s coaching could help. Ullmark, Tim Stützle, Drake Batherson and Brady Tkachuk are at the forefront of their team’s success with occasional contributions from their supporting players. They’ll need good goaltending back and a few roster tweaks to cement their place in the playoffs. — Julian McKenzie

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The Flyers are probably about where they should be at this stage of their rebuild, hovering around .500 while experiencing some growing pains as a team and individually. Rookie Matvei Michkov looks like the real deal despite some ups and downs under coach John Tortorella, and Travis Sanheim and Travis Konecny have shown why they are franchise cornerstones. Conversely, other young players such as Jamie Drysdale, Tyson Foerster and Owen Tippett have struggled with their consistency. What drops the Flyers a bit below average is their goaltending, as Sam Ersson hasn’t yet shown he can handle a No. 1 workload, and projects Ivan Fedotov and Aleksei Kolosov have been brutal. — Kevin Kurz

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The Penguins started the season with a brutal October, and though they’ve played much better since, making the playoffs will be a chore because of that horrific start. Goal prevention, because of leaky goaltending and an overall inability to defend, remains the Penguins’ biggest issue. Sidney Crosby has come alive in recent weeks after a slow start, which offers some hope. — Josh Yohe


The Penguins’ Sidney Crosby has come alive in recent weeks after a slow start, which offers some hope. (Justin Berl / Getty Images)

It feels weird to give a good grade to a team near the bottom of the standings, but this season is going to plan. The Sharks had low expectations going in, and they’ve been much more competitive most nights, but there have been enough blown third-period leads to keep them in the mix for another top-three pick. Macklin Celebrini is a leading Calder Trophy candidate. Pending UFAs have provided potential trade value, with Mikael Granlund and Luke Kunin having strong seasons. Cody Ceci should be a depth add for a contender on defense. Jake Walman has been a steal from Detroit, and Yaroslav Askarov is getting NHL action and showing, as he did Thursday against Tampa Bay, he’ll soon be their No. 1 goalie. — Eric Stephens

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The Kraken are shaping up to be an also-ran side for a second consecutive year, sapping the momentum the franchise was able to generate during its dream second season. Poor backup goaltending, young players not taking a significant step (or not bouncing back as hoped, in Matty Beniers’ case) and a high-profile UFA who has massively underperformed in Chandler Stephenson have hurt the Kraken’s efforts to take a step forward this season. The club is still technically in the mix for a playoff spot, but it’s going to be a steep climb over the balance for a team that has mostly underwhelmed in the first half. — Thomas Drance

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This is where most of us expected the Blues to be near the halfway point of the season: hovering around .500 and within reach of a wild-card spot. That probably means they deserve an average “C” grade, but I’m giving them a slight bump because of their .618 points percentage (through Thursday) since Jim Montgomery took over on Nov. 24 — which is tied for 10th in the NHL in that span — and also because of the jolt Cam Fowler has given them on the blue line since being traded from Anaheim. — Jeremy Rutherford

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The Lightning’s playoff chances hinge on their elite core, and big offseason additions have helped elevate them. Jake Guentzel is bringing the heat on the top line, Ryan McDonagh has been a stout shutdown force, and J.J. Moser has solidified the top four. This team looks like it could do some damage in the postseason, but it still needs a little help. Andrei Vasilevskiy isn’t playing at his best yet, and the Lightning could use more scoring depth and need some injury luck after Victor Hedman left Thursday’s game. — Shayna Goldman

The fact the Leafs have hung around the top of the Atlantic Division all season despite their best player, Auston Matthews, either missing time or playing at less than 100 percent is deserving of praise. This team has bought into Craig Berube’s approach, playing a less risky, lower-event brand of hockey. With improved personnel and much better goaltending, the Leafs give up less than they did last season, including on a penalty kill that has made a leap. The trade-off has been a less potent offense, though stars Mitch Marner, William Nylander and John Tavares are having strong seasons. — Jonas Siegel

Utah’s season has been a bit all over the map, especially lately. A 6-0-1 stretch in mid-December gave way to a frustrating losing skid that has made the playoffs a long shot. After Thursday’s win against the Flames, the Hockey Clubbers are on pace for just 86 points, which is below preseason expectations. There have been mitigating circumstances, with injuries to two of their top four defensemen and goaltender Connor Ingram, but Utah’s offense has been surprisingly impotent (21st in goals per game as of Thursday), and that has wasted a strong season from Karel Vejmelka in net (fourth in the NHL in GSAx as of Thursday). But it’s an A-plus for the new owner and fans so far. — James Mirtle

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The Canucks’ results have been disappointing, and their perch in the standings is modest relative to preseason expectations. But given all the team has dealt with on the injury front and the off-ice drama, the fact the Canucks are still clear of the playoff bar in the West is probably a strong indicator of roster quality. We’ll fairly ding their grade for their game-to-game inconsistency, struggles to generate offensively, defensive regression and lack of answers in non-Quinn Hughes minutes, but we expect this club to be more formidable down the stretch. — Thomas Drance

The Golden Knights have won 11 of their last 13 and have the best record in the NHL at 26-9-3. They’ve been strong in nearly every phase of the game, with the fifth-ranked offense and sixth-ranked defense (as of Thursday). Vegas’ best players have been excellent, with Jack Eichel entering the Hart conversation. Players down the lineup — such as Brett Howden and Keegan Kolesar — are having career years, and goaltender Adin Hill has been solid in net with 8.28 GSAx. It’s hard to find a weakness on this team through 38 games. — Jesse Granger

There are things not to love about the Caps’ season; they’re 4-4-1 with a goal differential of zero in their last nine. Alex Ovechkin missed a chunk of time that could push his record chase into next season. The power play is just OK. Other than that, though? Smashing success. They’re leading the Eastern Conference in points as of Thursday, and they’re doing it sustainably. A no-brainer “A”-worthy showing thus far. — Sean Gentille

When the season began, I thought last year’s 110 points were out of reach but that an improved power play could make up for any trouble at even strength. I thought the Jets would be a playoff team, but the chance of finishing first in the standings is beyond my expectations. Connor Hellebuyck is having another fantastic, Vezina Trophy-caliber season, Davis Payne’s power play is firing on all cylinders, and Winnipeg’s top skaters — Mark Scheifele, Josh Morrissey, Kyle Connor, Nikolaj Ehlers and Gabriel Vilardi — are all playing like game breakers. Jets fans know second-half slides all too well, but for now, this season is beyond most fans’ wildest dreams. — Murat Ates

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Grades summary

(Illustration: Eamonn Dalton / The Athletic. Photos: Jonathan Kozub / NHLI; Bruce Bennett / Getty Images)

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All-32: Each NFL team’s biggest remaining need after 2025 free agency

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All-32: Each NFL team’s biggest remaining need after 2025 free agency

We’re only two weeks into the league new year and every NFL team has been deemed offseason champion, offseason chump or somewhere in between. But no one’s offseason to-do list is completely checked off in such little time.

So, what is your team still missing? Is it a need that can be filled in the 2025 NFL Draft in April or is there still a signing to be made? The Athletic’s NFL writers answer those questions, as they dish below on the remaining needs and wants for all 32 teams.


Arizona Cardinals

GM Monti Ossenfort is off to a solid start. The Cardinals made one of free agency’s biggest moves with the signing of Philadelphia pass rusher Josh Sweat, filling perhaps the team’s greatest need. Ossenfort also signed Cleveland’s Dalvin Tomlinson, a sturdy, dependable defensive tackle. Shoring up the offensive line — the Cardinals need help at guard — is the obvious next step. The Cardinals can address this in the draft. At No. 16, they should have options should they choose to go this direction. They also could use a productive veteran receiver to complement Marvin Harrison, Jr.. — Doug Haller

Atlanta Falcons

The Falcons taped over their holes at edge rusher and in the secondary by signing outside linebacker Leonard Floyd and safety Jordan Fuller and re-signing last year’s starting cornerback Mike Hughes, but none of those moves are the final fixes at those positions. That leaves any of the spots as options when the Falcons are on the clock with the 15th pick of the first round. Given Atlanta’s historically bad pass rush, edge rusher should still probably be the betting favorite, though. — Josh Kendall

Baltimore Ravens

The Ravens got a little clarity along their offensive line by re-signing left tackle Ronnie Stanley. They’ve added a backup quarterback (Cooper Rush) and a third quality wide receiver (DeAndre Hopkins). However, they’ve done nothing at cornerback beyond losing starter Brandon Stephens in free agency and releasing Arthur Maulet. Baltimore has only four corners on its roster. Marlon Humphrey and 2024 first-round pick Nate Wiggins are a good duo to start with, but the Ravens need at least two more starting-caliber cornerbacks. They can get one in the draft. It’s asking a lot to hit on two quality rookies ready to play immediately when you have other needs. — Jeff Zrebiec

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Buffalo Bills

The Bills have starters in place almost throughout the entire roster. That is, except for their second cornerback position. Last season’s starter, Rasul Douglas, remains a free agent and they traded 2022 first-round pick Kaiir Elam. Their only move to replenish the position was to sign Dane Jackson, primarily a No. 3 cornerback. Top starter Christian Benford is one of the best players on the team, but he’s a free agent after 2025, further complicating the potential depth of the need. The Bills would likely want to get him under contract if they can to help the need. After striking out on Elam with their top pick and finding several later draft gems at the position, it doesn’t necessarily mean the Bills are a slam dunk to use their first-round pick on a cornerback this year. — Joe Buscaglia

Carolina Panthers

The Panthers made a flurry of moves to address a defense that was among the worst in NFL history last year. But even after signing ex-Raider Tre’Von Moehrig to a three-year, $51 million contract and re-signing backup/special teams regular Nick Scott, general manager Dan Morgan still has work to do in a safety room that is being overhauled. Moehrig said he is looking forward to helping the young players “coming from college or whoever else we bring.” Morgan is expected to target a safety in the draft, but he could still add another in the late stages of free agency. — Joseph Person

Chicago Bears

The Bears added five new starters up front this offseason: guards Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson, center Drew Dalman, defensive tackle Grady Jarrett and defensive end Dayo Odeyingbo. Adding a draft pick or two will also improve the trenches. The depth at linebacker and safety now stands out. Linebacker T.J. Edwards and safety Kevin Byard are entering the final years of their contracts, while there is an affordable exit point in linebacker Tremaine Edmunds’ deal after 2025. Safety Jaquan Brisker has a history of concussions. Addressing both positions in the draft makes sense. — Adam Jahns

Cincinnati Bengals

Hard to pin down just one need. The Bengals didn’t fill many needs in free agency outside of the bank accounts of Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. They need two starting guards, a backup swing tackle, any form of pass-rush juice on the defensive line, a linebacker to start next to Logan Wilson and probably a long-term replacement for safety Geno Stone. But they don’t need receivers! The Bengals will need to find starters in the third wave of free agency as well as nail the draft to make the rest of the pieces fit around Joe Burrow, Chase and Higgins. — Paul Dehner Jr.

Cleveland Browns

Past overspending and the disastrous commitment to Deshaun Watson made the Browns value-only shoppers in the first wave of free agency, and it’s hard to make the case the team has improved at all. Quarterback remains the biggest need, both for the present and future. Kenny Pickett was acquired in a trade ahead of the new league year and is the only healthy quarterback on the roster. The Browns are still in the market for a veteran starter and will certainly be drafting a quarterback next month. But whether that player comes with the No. 2 pick or at some point on the draft’s second day remains to be seen. The Browns continue to keep an eye on things with Kirk Cousins and Russell Wilson, but real hope lies only in drafting the right young passer. — Zac Jackson

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Dallas Cowboys

There’s not an absolute No. 1, but running back is as close as it gets. They added some depth pieces in free agency with Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders, but they’re still lacking that unquestioned No. 1 back. Rico Dowdle had that role most of last year. He’s now in Carolina. The Cowboys, one of the NFL’s worst rushing teams last season, need an upgrade. The most likely path continues to be early in next month’s draft.

This is considered a quality running back draft class. Dallas should’ve drafted a back in one of the first four rounds either last year or the year before. It didn’t happen and now it’s a must. If Ashton Jeanty is still available at No. 12, it just makes too much sense. — Jon Machota

Denver Broncos

There might as well be a neon “Help Wanted!” sign hovering above Denver’s backfield. Javonte Williams joined the Cowboys in free agency, leaving the Broncos without a running back on the roster who has rushed for at least 500 yards in a season. There isn’t a huge bar to clear to outpace what Williams did last season — 3.7 yards per carry and 8.2 attempts per game — but the question is who will Denver target in a draft rich with running back talent. Omarion Hampton looms as a first-round option, but Denver should be able to get a difference-making rusher without using the 20th pick. — Nick Kosmider

Detroit Lions

What the Lions do at the edge spot opposite of Aidan Hutchinson remains a question. They released veteran Za’Darius Smith — whom they traded for ahead of the deadline after Hutchinson went down — earlier this month. They re-signed Marcus Davenport, the current projected starter, but he’s played just six total games the last two seasons. A team with Super Bowl aspirations should not count on Davenport to play a starter’s workload and stay healthy over the course of 17 games and the playoffs. The rest of the edge room consists of rotational pieces and depth. The Lions usually address needs in free agency so they don’t have to draft for need, but unless Detroit adds a starting-caliber edge before then, it should be a real priority next month. — Colton Pouncy

Green Bay Packers

The future of Green Bay’s best cornerback, Jaire Alexander, remains uncertain. My guess based on what I’ve heard is still that he doesn’t play for the Packers in 2025. Eric Stokes, Corey Ballentine and Robert Rochell have signed elsewhere in free agency. The Packers brought in Nate Hobbs from the Raiders and still have Keisean Nixon and Carrington Valentine (Packer fans won’t be thrilled if that’s the top three), but their need for depth at the position is glaring. You could argue wide receiver is a more pressing need since they’ll be without Christian Watson for at least the first half of the season, but cornerback might be atop the priority list entering the NFL Draft in Green Bay next month. — Matt Schneidman

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Houston Texans

Offensive line help remains a high priority for a team that surrendered the third-highest sack total in the NFL last season. C.J. Stroud is a quality young quarterback, but the Texans will never see him fully ascend to stardom if they do not invest in protecting him. Houston did sign ninth-year pro Cam Robinson to a one-year deal and added veterans Trent Brown and Laken Tomlinson, but they need a long-term solution and upgrades on the interior. The goal should be to emerge from the draft having used multiple early round picks on a left tackle and an interior lineman. — Mike Jones

Indianapolis Colts

The Colts desperately need to upgrade at tight end, and they’ll likely target one in the draft. Drew Ogletree and Will Mallory are currently atop the depth chart, but that likely won’t hold up for the 2025 season since neither has shown signs of being a No. 1 option. Jelani Woods was supposed to be Indianapolis’ long-term answer at tight end — using his 6-foot-7, 253-pound frame and speed to create constant mismatches — though the 2022 third-round pick has missed the last two seasons due to injury. Perhaps Penn State’s Tyler Warren or Michigan’s Colston Loveland could fill Indy’s years-long void at tight end. — James Boyd

Jacksonville Jaguars

The Jags still have plenty of needs, but there’s a glaring hole at receiver behind Brian Thomas. Stefon Diggs, Keenan Allen, Amari Cooper, Tyler Lockett, Josh Reynolds and Elijah Moore are among the best available. It’s probably not a spot where they want to draft a wideout at No. 5, so they should find a lower-cost veteran beforehand. — Jeff Howe 

Kansas City Chiefs

With the addition of left tackle Jaylon Moore in free agency, the Chiefs’ biggest priority should be to continue building their defensive line. One of the most underrated parts of the Chiefs loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LIX was how little effect their pass rush had against quarterback Jalen Hurts. Adding more youth and talent around pass rusher Chris Jones and defensive ends George Karlaftis and Charles Omenihu would be a shrewd decision for general manager Brett Veach. — Nate Taylor 

Las Vegas Raiders

The Raiders took care of their biggest need, trading for Geno Smith, and then chipped away at some others in free agency. So we’re going with a four-way tie with linebacker, cornerback, running back and receiver. The Raiders lost both starting linebackers from last year and signed run-stopper Elandon Roberts from the Steelers, but saw the Patriots match an offer sheet for pass-coverage guy Christian Elliss. They also rolled the dice on former first-round pick Eric Stokes at corner and got a bargain in 11th-year change-the-pace running back Raheem Mostert. There is no depth at receiver after Jakobi Meyers and Tre Tucker, though the Raiders will likely sign one in these last ripples of free agency. — Vic Tafur

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Los Angeles Chargers

The Chargers did a fine job methodically plugging holes through free agency. They made moves in every position group, and that has created depth. I still see two needs tied for the biggest remaining: running back and edge rusher. The Chargers have Khalil Mack, Tuli Tuipulotu and Bud Dupree. They need a fourth edge to round out that room and insure against two older players in Dupree and Mack. They have running back Najee Harris, who they signed in free agency. They need a second back with some big-play potential to create a viable one-two-punch in a remade room. — Daniel Popper

Los Angeles Rams

The Rams set the table for themselves in free agency to not enter the draft with any glaring needs. It started with keeping quarterback Matthew Stafford for at least one more year, then extending left tackle Alaric Jackson and receiver Tutu Atwell, signing nose tackle Poona Ford, receiver Davante Adams and center Coleman Shelton. Depth concerns were addressed at cornerback and inside linebacker with the signings of Ahkello Witherspoon and Nate Landman. They still need to add at the latter positions, and should be in the draft market for another young receiver, a right tackle to eventually take over for veteran Rob Havenstein, a quarterback to develop and a dynamic tight end. — Jourdan Rodrigue


Miami Dolphins

After losing Jevon Holland in free agency, you could make a compelling case for their biggest needs being at safety or defensive line — what’s the plan next to Zach Sieler? — but the Dolphins cannot enter the 2025 season with Liam Eichenberg penciled in as a starting guard. He’s OK as depth, but Miami must continue to upgrade its interior offensive line, even after signing James Daniels, who is plenty talented but coming off of an Achilles tear. The Dolphins’ running game efficiency nosedived last season, largely because of a substandard offensive line. I expect upgrading the line to be a top priority in the draft. — Jim Ayello

Minnesota Vikings

The difficulty in trying to answer this question reflects how successful a free-agent period the Vikings had. They added two interior offensive linemen (Ryan Kelly and Will Fries). They revamped the interior of their defensive line (Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave). They kept high-end cornerback Byron Murphy Jr. They enhanced their running back room (Jordan Mason). Minnesota still needs a backup quarterback. The cornerback room could use more depth. For now, though, the most glaring question mark is at left guard. The Vikings could opt for Blake Brandel or Walter Rouse, but they could also use the draft to fortify this spot. — Alec Lewis

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New England Patriots

This one is rather easy. Despite having perhaps the worst group of wide receivers in the NFL, the Patriots’ biggest need is at left tackle. Their hopes of signing Ronnie Stanley in free agency evaporated when he re-upped with the Ravens, and the other free-agent options weren’t too appealing to them. So as the draft nears, the Patriots remain without a long-term blindside protector for Drake Maye. — Chad Graff

New Orleans Saints

Marshon Lattimore and Paulson Adebo opened last season as the Saints’ starting cornerbacks. Both of them are long gone now. They brought back Isaac Yiadom via free agency after he spent last season in San Francisco. He’s a solid piece and the Saints will likely start Alontae Taylor and Kool-Aid McKinstry. But there’s a reason the Saints pursued Charvarius Ward so vigorously. The draft seems like the direction at this rate, unless the Saints pull off a trade. Taking a cornerback at No. 9 would be a likely stretch unless New Orleans made a bold move for Travis Hunter. — Larry Holder

New York Giants

Despite signing Jameis Winston to a two-year, $8 million deal, not much has changed for the Giants in their quarterback pursuits: They still need a reliable starter. Winston, who hasn’t played a full season since 2019, isn’t that. While he’ll inject personality to the locker room and in his on-field play, the Giants are still in the hunt for top remaining veteran Aaron Rodgers, per reports. Plus, they have the No. 3 pick in the draft and they have to hope for a new face of the franchise to leave with on that April weekend. — Charlotte Carroll

New York Jets

The Jets need more weapons for Justin Fields. Badly. Yes, they’re in good shape at running back. While Garrett Wilson is there at wide receiver, an argument could be made the Jets have one of the worst groups of targets at both wide receiver and tight end in the NFL — especially at TE, where they added Stone Smartt to a room with Jeremy Ruckert. Fields needs a reliable tight end for the offense the Jets are going to run — someone who can act as a safety valve in the middle of the field while also contributing as a blocker — which is why they’ve been heavily tied to Penn State’s Tyler Warren. At receiver, Allen Lazard is the current No. 2 — and he might still get cut. After him it’s just Tyler Johnson, Malachi Corley and Xavier Gipson. — Zack Rosenblatt

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Philadelphia Eagles

The Eagles need more options at safety. After trading C.J. Gardner-Johnson to the Houston Texans for Kenyon Green, an offensive guard, the Eagles created a vacancy for the starting spot opposite Reed Blankenship. Sydney Brown is the presumptive frontrunner. The 2023 third-round pick showed promise while starting in six games during his rookie season, which ended with a Week 18 ACL tear. Brown’s recovery timeline necessitated Gardner-Johnson’s arrival. His departure signals the Eagles’ faith in Brown. But it’d behoove them to acquire another option, likely in the draft. Among the three other safeties under contract, Tristin McCollum is the only one who has ever started in a game. — Brooks Kubena

Pittsburgh Steelers

Steelers general manager Omar Khan said at the combine that “ideally” he hoped to have his quarterback in place before the start of free agency. But now here we sit, two weeks after the NFL’s negotiating window opened, and the Steelers still don’t know who their starting quarterback will be in 2025. Four-time NFL MVP and soon-to-be 42-year-old QB Aaron Rodgers continues to hold the franchise hostage. It’s reached the point that people in Pittsburgh are throwing their support behind Mason Rudolph as a possible starter in 2025. Eventually, the glaring hole at defensive tackle will become the No. 1 priority in the draft. But until a QB is in place, it’s hard to think about anything else. — Mike DeFabo


The Pittsburgh Steelers hosted Aaron Rodgers for a visit last week, but continue to wait to see if the quarterback will join the team. (Mike Ehrmann / Getty Images)

San Francisco 49ers

The 49ers lost three-fourths of their 2024 starting defensive line in free agency. An argument can be made that the team finally should find a bookend for Nick Bosa at defensive end. But the most glaring weakness is defensive tackle. As it stands now, Jordan Elliott and Kevin Givens are the top players there. The upcoming draft is deep at the position, and the 49ers should bring in both a quick, penetrating defensive tackle and big body who can occupy double teams and clog the opponent’s running game. – Matt Barrows

Seattle Seahawks

Seattle’s only addition to the offensive line in free agency was Josh Jones, who signed a one-year, $4 million contract to be a backup. The Seahawks are set at tackle with Charles Cross and Abe Lucas, but the interior of the offensive line isn’t very strong. General manager John Schneider has acknowledged that the front line is the team’s main deficiency, but he prefers to address it through the draft rather than throw big money at average players. Now he must hit on several players in the draft to fix the team’s most glaring weakness. — Michael-Shawn Dugar

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Bringing back Lavonte David was significant, but the Bucs still have a need at inside linebacker. David played well last year, but he’s 35, so he might not play as well or be as healthy in the coming season. And even if he plays well again, a replacement is likely to be needed for 2026. Aside from David, the Bucs still are searching for another inside linebacker. The team remains hopeful about 2023 fifth-round pick SirVocea Dennis, but he has yet to start a game. Free-agent pickup Anthony Walker also could be a factor. The Bucs have a need at cornerback as well. Their primary need, however, is inside linebacker. — Dan Pompei

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Tennessee Titans

The Titans did much to address their biggest weakness, offensive line — though the jury’s out on Dan Moore Jr. as a satisfactory answer at left tackle — and plugged a couple other holes on a roster full of them. That leaves receiver and edge as glaring areas of concern. Harold Landry has been cut. Nick Westbrook-Ikhine has signed with the Dolphins. And those were problem spots with those guys. It would be very surprising if the Titans don’t address both positions in some way before the draft. Then, if Cam Ward at No. 1 is indeed the choice, pick No. 35 figures to be devoted to one of the two. This is a bad year to not have a third-round pick, which was traded to the Chiefs last year for L’Jarius Sneed. — Joe Rexrode

Washington Commanders

Splashy trades for left tackle Laremy Tunsil and wide receiver Deebo Samuel addressed the offense’s primary needs. Moves on the defensive front have been more quantity over quality, particularly on the line. Enough to improve last season’s 30th ranked run defense or upgrade the pass rush? Maybe on the margins, but no DE with high-end potential exists. The remaining free-agent options are solid but trend older or risky. Trading for Trey Hendrickson might no longer be an option but it’s also a pricey one on multiple fronts if executed. The Commanders likely will draft help in the first two rounds. That means raising the group’s potential but what about Washington’s 2025 ceiling? — Ben Standig

(Top photos: Al Bello and Robin Alam / Getty Images)

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Glenn Jacobs, WWE legend and Tennessee mayor, willing to do 'anything' for charity wrestling match vs Tim Walz

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Glenn Jacobs, WWE legend and Tennessee mayor, willing to do 'anything' for charity wrestling match vs Tim Walz

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Glenn Jacobs, the former WWE legend known as Kane who is now serving as mayor of Tennessee, said Tuesday he’s willing to agree to a stipulation to make a pro wrestling-style match against Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz happen.

Jacobs, the mayor of Knox County, explained more about his idea for the match in an appearance on OutKick’s “The Ricky Cobb Show.” It came after Walz claimed on California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s podcast he could kick the butts of most President Donald Trump supporters.

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Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs (Angelina Alcantar/News Sentinel/USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

“You know, obviously, my first reaction when I saw what he said was, ‘You gotta be kidding me man, Tim Walz is saying that?’ Then I thought to myself, ‘Wait a second, this could be really cool.’ We could have a charity wrestling match, have some fun, and the proceeds would go to a good cause. 

“We would split the gate 50/50 between my chosen organization and his chosen organization. I’m not going to hurt him, I promise. I was the consummate professional, ask anybody I worked with. I make it look good, but I didn’t hurt people. I pride myself on that. And I’m willing to agree to a stipulation. If I have to wrestle with one hand tied behind my back or wear a blindfold or whatever, I’ll do anything to get him in the ring.”

KURT ANGLE, WWE LEGEND AND OLYMPIC HERO, COMPARES WYATT HENDRICKSON’S WIN TO OTHER HUGE SPORTS UPSETS

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Tim Walz in August 2024

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (ROBYN BECK/AFP via Getty Images)

Jacobs said he believes that Walz would have fun and that the two could maybe even become friends after stepping out of the squared circle.

“And what he is going to find is actually fun, and I think afterward we could be friends. We’d disagree on politics, but I think that we could be friends and we’d have newfound respect for each other.”

Kane in 2012

Kane takes down two top stars during a WWE Raw event on February 27, 2012. (Ryan/Corbis via Getty Images)

Jacobs backed Trump during the 2024 presidential election. Walz was tapped as Vice President Kamala Harris’ running mate, but the two fell short of Trump and JD Vance.

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Prep baseball roundup: No. 1 Corona, No. 2 Huntington Beach win Boras Classic openers

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Prep baseball roundup: No. 1 Corona, No. 2 Huntington Beach win Boras Classic openers

The Boras Classic began Tuesday with No. 1 Corona, No. 2 Huntington Beach and No. 4 La Mirada all coming away with impressive victories to set up playoff-like matchups in the quarterfinals Wednesday.

Corona (8-0) will play Santa Margarita (7-2) at 3 p.m. at JSerra. Huntington Beach (7-0) will play La Mirada (7-1) at 3 p.m. at Mater Dei.

Corona 6, Gahr 0: For the seventh time in eight games, the Panthers recorded a shutout. This time it was sophomore Mason Sims going the distance, striking out six and giving up three hits. Jesiah Adrade had two doubles.

Santa Margarita 13, Paloma Valley 2: Warren Gravely had three RBIs for the Eagles. Gavin Spiridonoff homered and Brody Schumaker had two hits.

Huntington Beach 4, Aquinas 1: Trevor Goldenetz hit a two-run double and Otto Espinoza struck out seven in five innings to help hand Aquinas its first defeat.

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La Mirada 7, Birmingham 0: A grand slam in the first inning by Travis Friend and a two-run homer by Bear Calvo gave pitcher Jacob Oropeza all the run support he needed in five scoreless innings.

Vista Murrieta 2, Maranatha 1: A sacrifice fly by Michael Velardez in the sixth inning broke a 1-1 tie and lifted Vista Murrieta to a win in the Boras Classic. Vaughn Necker struck out eight in 5 2/3 innings. Zach Strickland struck out nine in five innings for Maranatha, which received a home run from Trevor Rivas.

Carlsbad 8, Cypress 4: Lucas Johnson had three hits for Carlsbad. Paul Dominguez homered for Cypress.

Oaks Christian 11, Calabasas 1: The Lions opened Marmonte League play with an impressive victory. James Latshaw was four for four and Carson Sheffer had three hits. Ty Hanley gave up one run in six innings.

Servite 5, Oregon Jesuit 4: The Friars (9-2) won in nine innings. Tomas Cernius homered for Servite.

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Josh Stonehouse celebrates a double to help Crespi improve to 11-0 with a 9-0 win over Loyola.

(Craig Weston)

Crespi 9, Loyola 0: Jackson Eisenhauer threw four scoreless innings to raise his scoreless innings streak to 30 this season as the Celts improved to 11-0 and 6-0 in the Mission League. Josh Stonehouse had three RBIs.

Sherman Oaks Notre Dame 2, Sierra Canyon 1: The Knights won their fourth straight Mission League game. Juju Diaz-Jones gave up one run in five innings and Patrick Arranaga got the save.

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Bishop Alemany 15, St. Francis 2: Sophomore Chase Stevenson collected four hits to help the Warriors pick up their first Mission League win under new coach Randy Thompson.

Harvard-Westlake 12, Chaminade 2: James Tronstein was three for three with two RBIs and Jake Kim had a home run and three RBIs for Harvard-Westlake.

Bishop Amat 4, St. Paul 1: The Lancers scored three runs in the top of the ninth inning to win the Del Rey League game. Izaac Muniz struck out 11 in 5 2/3 innings. Joaquin Ortiz had three hits.

Thousand Oaks 10, Agoura 5: Dane Holt homered and also drew four walks to lead the Lancers.

Westlake 6, Newbury Park 5: Mason Charles had a walk-off hit in the seventh for Westlake. He finished with three hits and four RBIs.

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Newport Harbor 3, Edison 2: Gavin Guy drove in the winning run with two out in the 10th inning for Newport Harbor. Cody Kruis had three hits for Edison.

Marina 7, Los Alamitos 3: A six-run seventh led Marina to victory. Luke Pratali finished with a double and single for Marina.

Corona del Mar 4, Fountain Valley 2: Marc Solomon homered for Corona del Mar.

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Granada Hills 20, North Torrance 4: Elysse Diaz contributed three doubles and Annabella Ramirez hit two home runs for Granada Hills.

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