Cease-fire talks are poised to continue Sunday against the tense backdrop of a looming Israeli offensive in the southern Gazan city of Rafah and worsening humanitarian conditions in the Palestinian enclave.

Hamas officials, in Cairo on Saturday for the latest round of talks, expressed hope that a deal could be reached to pause fighting, after months of on-and-off-again negotiations.

Commanders WR Jahan Dotson feels like he was traded to a new team – Bryan Manning, USA Today

Washington’s franchise facelift is clearly evident to Jahan Dotson.

The 2023 NFL season was one to forget for Washington Commanders wide receiver Jahan Dotson. After catching 35 passes and leading the team with seven touchdowns as a rookie in 2022 despite missing five games, Dotson was expected to be one of the NFL’s breakout players in 2023.

It didn’t happen. Dotson played in every game for the Commanders yet finished with only 49 receptions for 518 yards and four touchdowns. It was a difficult season for every Washington player. While some would be concerned about Dotson’s regression, the Commanders are not.

Gone are Ron Rivera and Eric Bieniemy. Enter Adam Peters, Dan Quinn and Kliff Kingsbury. Bieniemy’s offense was a mess for much of last season. Dotson wasn’t perfect, as he dropped several passes, but the lack of separation, rhythm and a running game was brutal.

Several players were frustrated at the end of the season.

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Kingsbury brings a new offense to Washington, one that has always been good for wide receivers. Dotson also has a new quarterback. The Commanders selected LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels second overall in last week’s NFL draft.

Finally, Dotson spoke on the frustrations from last season’s 4-13 team and how Quinn has rejuvenated everyone.

“I’ve only been a short two years, but I do feel it is completely different,” Dotson said. “This is funny to say, but I was talking to some of the guys in the locker room, and I said it almost feels like I got traded. It feels like I came into a better opportunity. I feel like the confidence is at an all-time high, not only for the team but myself included.”

How much will Eagles draft picks play in 2024? – Dave Zangaro, NBC Sports Philadelphia

Here’s how much Philly’s draft class may play, particularly their first-round pick.

Eagles rookies haven’t played very much in recent seasons and there are a few reasons for that.

One is that they have a pretty strong group of veterans on this roster. The other is that Nick Sirianni has clearly shown deference to those veterans. Perhaps that’s just his nature or perhaps that’s because of the high expectations for these Eagles teams.

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But the Eagles did get some contributions from their rookie class in 2023 and now it’s time to figure out roles for their nine rookies in the 2024 draft class:

Round 1-22: Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toledo

General manager Howie Roseman showed patience in Round 1 and let Mitchell fall to him at 22 overall. The Eagles had their pick of cornerbacks and ended up with Mitchell, who seemingly checks every box.

The Eagles know that one of their starting outside cornerbacks will be Darius Slay. Even though Slay is 33 now, he still played at a high level in 2023 and is under contract.

Mitchell should be the starter on the other side. The Eagles, of course, have some options. Incumbent starter James Bradberry is still on the roster but after a really down season in 2023, it’s hard to imagine him starting again. The Eagles also have some young players in Kelee Ringo, Eli Ricks and Isaiah Rodgers on the team. But Mitchell was a first-round pick for a reason and he should be given every opportunity to earn a starting job. I think we’ll see him working with the second team early in training camp but he should mix in with the starting group and I expect him to eventually wrestle away that job.

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Malik Nabers Propels, Sinks Giants’ 2024 Draft Class Ranking – Geoff Magliocchetti, Sports Illustrated

The first-round pick will provide a boost, but might not be enough to improve QB play.

Malik Nabers’ draft neighbors are being used to the New York Giants’ benefit and detriment.

SI.com’s ranking of the 2024 NFC draft classes placed the Giants’ group in 12th out of 16, offering praise and criticism for using the sixth overall pick on Nabers, a highly touted aerial playmaker out of LSU.

“Perhaps the Giants should be ranked lower than 12th on this list, but they landed standout wideout Malik Nabers with their No. 6 pick,” list curator Gilberto Manzano said.

“Nabers has the makings of the next Odell Beckham Jr. or Ja’Marr Chase. Nabers’s explosiveness will expand the playbook for coach Brian Daboll, making him a matchup nightmare for opposing defenses.”

Nabers, a big-play receiver in Baton Rouge, should undoubtedly inject some life into the Giants’ offense, but some critics have chided the team’s decision to pass (no pun intended) on the quarterback prospects from the touted draft class of 2024.

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The Giants reportedly made an attempt to move up on the draft board (said to be targeting eventual New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye) but after that didn’t come to fruition, they stayed put in the sixth slot, where Nabers awaited.

“Nabers has the makings of the next Odell Beckham Jr. or Ja’Marr Chase. Nabers’s explosiveness will expand the playbook for coach Brian Daboll, making him a matchup nightmare for opposing defenses.”

Nabers, a big-play receiver in Baton Rouge, should undoubtedly inject some life into the Giants’ offense, but some critics have chided the team’s decision to pass (no pun intended) on the quarterback prospects from the touted draft class of 2024.

The Giants reportedly made an attempt to move up on the draft board (said to be targeting eventual New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye) but after that didn’t come to fruition, they stayed put in the sixth slot, where Nabers awaited.

An election season thick with intrigue gets formally underway in Washington on Monday when candidates can begin filing for hundreds of local, state and federal offices.

Retirements and redistricting assure new faces will be behind the levers of power in Olympia and, in at least two cases, Washington, D.C. Hot-button issues of abortion rights, climate policy and public safety could be factors in who prevails.

Statewide, voters this fall will pick a new governor, attorney general, state lands chief, and insurance commissioner.

In the Legislature, all 98 House seats and 25 of 49 Senate seats are on ballots. Fifteen lawmakers – seven in the House and eight in the Senate – are not seeking reelection. A court-ordered redrawing of the state’s district map opens the door wider for newcomers.

Republican Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers, an influencer in the U.S. House, is not seeking reelection. Several Republican and Democrat hopefuls are already scrapping to be her successor representing a swath of eastern Washington including Spokane.

In western Washington, U.S. Rep. Derek Kilmer is tapping out after six terms. That’s set up a match between two Democrats and one Republican who now hold state elected offices.

Voters are also getting a rare opportunity to put someone on the state Supreme Court. Justice Susan Owens is turning 75 and Washington’s Constitution requires justices retire at the end of the year in which they reach that age.

Finally, in November, atop all ballots and above the battle between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump, will be citizen initiatives to repeal the state’s capital gains tax, roll back a major climate law, and rewrite the rules for Washington’s new long term care insurance program to let people more easily opt-out.

Candidates for federal, state, and judicial positions file with the Office of the Secretary of State. Online filing begins at 8 a.m. Monday and ends at  5 p.m. Friday, May 10.

According to the Snohomish County Elections Office, for district court, public utility district, and precinct committee officer positions, in-person filing is available at the Snohomish County Auditor’s Office on the 1st floor of the Robert J. Drewel Building, 3000 Rockefeller Avenue in Everett during the business hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. through May 10.  

Candidates who wish to file in person for federal, statewide, legislative, Court of Appeals, and Superior Court positions must file at the Office of the Secretary of State in Olympia. 

To file for office, you must be a registered voter, the county said. Some positions have additional requirements, such as being a minimum age, being admitted to practicing law in Washington courts, or providing a filing fee. Candidates can find more information on position requirements in the 2024 Candidate Guide posted on the Snohomish County Elections website. 

Each candidate will provide the following at the time of filing:  

– Name (as listed in the voter registration records) 

– Date of birth 

– Email address  

– Filing fee (if applicable, and must be paid by close of filing)  

Additional information including a complete list of offices up for election, candidate filing fees, and position qualifications is available at www.snoco.org/elections. Contact Snohomish County Elections at 425-388-3444 or elections@snoco.org with questions. 

This year’s primary is Aug. 6 and the general election is Nov. 5. In each primary race, the two candidates with the most votes will advance regardless of their party affiliation.

— By Jerry Cornfield, Washington State Standard, with additional information provided by the Snohomish County Elections Office.

Washington State Standard is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Washington State Standard maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Bill Lucia for questions: info@washingtonstatestandard.com. Follow Washington State Standard on Facebook and Twitter.