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Two arrested after Sala image posted online

Published in Soccer
Tuesday, 30 April 2019 03:48

Two people have been arrested after an image of deceased footballer Emiliano Sala's body had been posted on social media.

Dorset police announced on Saturday an investigation would be launched following the discovery of the image online.

- Borden: In search of Emiliano Sala

"On Feb. 7 2019, a post mortem examination of Emiliano Sala was conducted at Holly Tree Lodge Mortuary in Dorset," a police statement read. "On Feb. 13, Dorset Police became aware of an image on Twitter purporting to show the post mortem of Emiliano, and an investigation was launched.

"The image had been swiftly removed by Twitter, but unfortunately it had been circulated extensively on various social media sites by this time. As part of the enquiries by Dorset Police, a warrant was obtained for an address in Wiltshire and, on Feb. 18, this warrant was executed by officers from the Digital Investigations & Intelligence Unit within Wiltshire Police.

"A 48-year-old woman from Corsham was arrested at the scene on suspicion of unauthorised access to computer material [an offence under the Computer Misuse Act] and malicious communications, and is currently released on conditional bail.

"As the police investigation continued, a 62-year-old man from Calne was also arrested on suspicion of unauthorised access to computer material, and is currently released under investigation."

The single-engined Piper Malibu aircraft carrying Sala, 28, disappeared over the English Channel when flying him from previous club Nantes to Cardiff on Jan. 21.

Wreckage was found on Feb. 3 following a privately-funded underwater search and a body was recovered three days later. Later that month Sala's body was flown back to Argentina for his funeral.

It has been a very difficult period for the Sala family with Emiliano's father Horacio passing away following a sudden heart attack on Friday.

Cardiff and Nantes remain in a dispute over Sala's transfer after the Premier League side refused to make the first scheduled payment for the Argentine.

The Bluebirds argue the agreement struck with Nantes regarding Sala's purchase was not legal as the French club failed to fulfill conditions they set.

FIFA has granted Cardiff City and Nantes extra time to submit full details of the transfer of Sala as the clubs look to schedule face-to-face talks.

Sources: Madrid won't match Pogba's Utd wage

Published in Soccer
Tuesday, 30 April 2019 05:03

Paul Pogba will be forced to take a pay cut if he leaves Manchester United for Real Madrid this summer, as sources have told ESPN FC that the Spanish club are not prepared to match his £290,000-a-week Old Trafford wages.

Sources at United have repeatedly said Pogba, 26, will not be sold at the end of the season, despite persistent speculation linking the midfielder with a move to the Santiago Bernabeu.

Both Pogba and Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane have spoken recently about the prospect of the France international playing in the Spanish capital, but United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has said that he expects the £89 million signing from Juventus to be a part of his squad next season.

Sources have told ESPN FC, however, that some of Pogba's club teammates expect him to push for a move this summer if United fail to qualify for the Champions League -- an outcome which is now increasingly likely following Sunday's 1-1 draw with Chelsea at Old Trafford which has left United three points adrift of the top four with only two games left to play.

United's determination to keep Pogba, rooted as much in the player's commercial value as his contribution to the team, may yet prompt the club to discuss a new contract with his advisors in an effort to put an end to Madrid's efforts.

But while sources have told ESPN FC that Madrid's interest in Pogba is strong and long-standing, the club are unwilling to add further strain to their huge wage bill by offering him a contract worth more than his United deal.

Madrid are also in the hunt for Chelsea forward Eden Hazard, with the club aware of the need to strengthen all departments of the team and reduce the average age of Zidane's squad.

With high earners Gareth Bale, Toni Kroos and Isco all facing uncertain futures, Madrid need to create space on their wage bill to accommodate the likes of Hazard and Pogba, who would both likely cost in excess of £100m each should transfers be negotiated with Chelsea and United respectively.

And if Pogba is able to force through a move from United, he will have to accept a reduced salary in order to make it happen this summer.

The Champions League returns and with just four teams left, the path to glory is wide open. Any of the remaining sides has a chance but equally, question marks surrounding their challenge. Can Liverpool crack Lionel Messi & Co. to deny their Treble push? And which of the "underdogs" will prevail in the other semifinal?

Here's everything you need to know, from the superheroes and the sidekicks who can decide the ties to the keys for victory.

Jump to: Tottenham-Ajax | Liverpool-Barcelona


Tottenham vs. Ajax

WHEN: Tuesday, April 30, 3 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. BST

BACKSTORY: Ajax are doing their glorious past proud, having eliminated perennial Serie A champs Juventus and Champions League holders Real Madrid to get into the semifinals. The quality, freshness and fearlessness displayed in those matches have made them the neutrals' favorites. They are tied at the top of the Dutch league and in the Dutch Cup final, so they, too, have Treble aspirations.

Tottenham have lost more than half the games they have played since Valentine's Day, but they are still hanging on to third place in the Premier League and knocked out mighty Manchester City to get this far. That they're in the final four is remarkable given the rash of injuries they've suffered -- most notably to captain Harry Kane, who is out of both legs -- and their limited resources. Limited relative to most, but not Ajax: in any other season, Spurs would be the Cinderella team at this stage.

HOW THEY MATCH UP: Tottenham are at times perhaps more pragmatic, but there's a lot of common ground between the way these two sides play, and with the Spurs trio of Toby Alderweireld, Jan Vertonghen and Christian Eriksen having combined to spend nearly three decades at Ajax at youth and senior levels, there will be few surprises.

Given Kane's absence and the fact that Ajax's approach changes little home and away (regardless of the opposition's pedigree), you can imagine Spurs exploiting the counterattack, particularly with the fleet-footed Lucas Moura.

TOTTENHAM'S STAR TO WATCH: Eriksen. He's at a crossroads in many ways. He has yet to extend his contract, which expires in June 2020, suggesting he's open to a summer move. Wouldn't a decisive turn in the Champions League semifinal be the ultimate shop window? He's facing his past, but he's also the man who can create out of nothing for Tottenham and who may have to carry them, as he's done so many times before.

AJAX'S STAR TO WATCH: Frenkie De Jong. He epitomizes the modern two-way midfielder, with the added wrinkle that he carries himself with a charisma and a personality far beyond his years. He's making the jump to Barcelona in the summer but very few 21-year-olds have seemed this ready for that kind of quantum leap.

X-FACTOR, TOTTENHAM: Dele Alli. He hasn't put up the gaudy numbers of past seasons (he had 22 goals from midfield in 2016-17 compared to seven this year), partly because he missed seven weeks due to injury and partly because he has had to reinvent himself as a hole-plugging jack of all trades given Spurs' many injuries, particularly in the middle. But he has the dynamism and selflessness to match Ajax, and if he can keep Ajax from bossing the midfield, he can turn this Tottenham's way.

X-FACTOR, AJAX: David Neres. At 22, he's still very raw, but his dribbling ability and unpredictability make him a real handful. Within a philosophy that carefully balances the team versus the individual, he can lean toward the latter at times (which may be why he had a bumpy start to the campaign), but that makes him no less valuable over 180 minutes.

TOTTENHAM NEED TO... find a makeshift midfield combination that can see them through (which will not be easy, given the likely absences of Moussa Sissoko and Harry Winks) without leaving the initiative to Ajax, while getting Eriksen into positions where he can create.

AJAX NEED TO... not let the intensity and fearlessness drop simply because Tottenham's pedigree isn't equal to that of their previous Champions League opponents (Juventus, Real Madrid and Bayern), while ensuring the center-back duo of Daley Blind and Matthijs de Ligt need to do as little open-field defending against Lucas Moura as possible.

PREDICTION: Tottenham 2-1 Ajax. Momentum isn't with Tottenham and the midfield is a mystery but they otherwise don't match up badly against Ajax.


Barcelona vs. Liverpool

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1:27

Nicol: Liverpool can't man-mark Lionel Messi

Former Liverpool defender Steve Nicol details how the Reds should approach defending Barcelona's Lionel Messi in the Champions League semifinals.

WHEN: Wednesday, May 1, 3 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. BST

BACKSTORY: Barcelona won La Liga on Saturday and will play Valencia in the Spanish Cup final later this month, which means they're still on track for the Treble. It would be their third since 2008, which is some achievement when you consider that it had only been achieved three times in the first 40 years of European football.

Liverpool reached the Champions League final last year, of course, but unlike then -- when they went out of domestic contention early -- they are now neck-and-neck with Manchester City for the Premier League title. They've won 10 games in a row in all competitions and look stronger and more complete than last year.

HOW THEY MATCH UP: It used to be a rarity for a team to score 100 goals in all competitions, but Liverpool passed that mark on Saturday and Barcelona did it back in February. Yet though both can (and do) score plenty, there's a more patient, defensive dimension to what they do as well. Jurgen Klopp only wheels out his "heavy metal" all-out press intermittently, and compared to prior incarnations, this Barca side are more safety-oriented in the middle of the park. That fact that both have outstanding goalkeepers in Marc-Andre ter Stegen and Alisson adds another layer of solidity.

BARCELONA'S STAR TO WATCH: Lionel Messi. He's averaging more than a goal a game (again) while playing an even bigger role than before in terms of dropping deep and creating chances for others. You can find your own superlatives here.

LIVERPOOL'S STAR TO WATCH: LIVERPOOL'S STAR TO WATCH: Virgil van Dijk. Few signings have been as transformative in recent years as the Dutchman's arrival at Anfield in January 2018. A colossus in the air, his work in reading the game and marshalling a back four in which both fullbacks are often attacking at the same time is second to none.

X-FACTOR, BARCELONA: Jordi Alba. He has 16 assists in all competitions this year from left back and a nearly supernatural understanding with Messi, who often cuts in from the opposite flank. He'll be up against Trent Alexander-Arnold and Mohamed Salah, which means Liverpool will need to get a midfielder helping out when he advances. Except they can't overcommit to him, because Messi is on the opposite side...

X-FACTOR, LIVERPOOL: Roberto Firmino. He's a center-forward who doesn't score that much (he has broken the 20-goal mark just twice in his career) but his prodigious movement and off-the-ball work rate more than make up for it. Between Sergio Busquets in midfield and Gerard Pique at the back, Barcelona won't want to lose sight of him.

BARCELONA NEED TO... Dictate the game in midfield and pin back Alexander-Arnold and Andrew Robertson, Liverpool's full-backs, while denying service to Salah and Sadio Mane, particularly in transition.

LIVERPOOL NEED TO... Be aware of Messi at all times, but particularly when he drops back to create. Ensure the front three don't get isolated, while also maintaining their shape.

PREDICTION: Liverpool 1-2 Barcelona. Two evenly matched sides but one of them has Messi, the other does not.

Though Royal Challengers Bangalore are at the bottom of the table with just eight points, there are still a couple of ways by which they can reach the playoffs.

The first condition, of course, is that they win their remaining two games, which gives them 12 points. That would obviously mean a loss each for Rajasthan Royals and Sunrisers Hyderabad, which will mean Royals reach a maximum of 12 points, that if they beat Delhi Capitals.

The second condition is that Sunrisers must lose to Mumbai Indians on May 2, and stay on 12 points.

Whoever wins the Kings XI Punjab v Kolkata Knight Riders match must then lose their final game. Kings XI play theirs at home against Chennai Super Kings, while Knight Riders play theirs away, in Mumbai.

The winners of the Kings XI v Knight Riders game will then have 12 points, while the losers will have either 10 or 12 points depending on the result of their final game.

So, basically, if Royal Challengers win their final two games, Sunrisers lose theirs, Royals beat Capitals, the Kings XI v Knight Riders winners lose their final game and the losers win theirs, then five teams - Royals, Royal Challengers, Kings XI, Sunrisers and Knight Riders - will be on 12 points, leaving net run-rate to decide who qualify for the playoffs.

The best-case scenario for Royal Challengers is (a) Royals lose to Capitals, and (b) Kings XI and Knight Riders both lose their final games. That will leave just three teams on 12 points: Sunrisers, Royal Challengers and the winners of Kings XI v Knight Riders, while the other two teams will be on 10.

The other part, though, is that Royal Challengers need to get their net run-rate up. It's currently the lowest (-0.694), so they need to win their remaining two games by big margins and hope the teams around them lose by big margins too. Sunrisers' net run-rate of +0.709 is a big problem for them. They not only have to beat Sunrisers by a big margin but hope Mumbai do too, so that net run-rate slides. Knight Riders also have a positive net run-rate (+0.1), so ideally Royal Challengers would want Kings XI to beat them and stop them getting to 12 points. If Royal Challengers, Kings XI and Sunrisers are the teams to finish on 12 points, then there's some hope for Royal Challengers, but again, only if Sunrisers lose their last two emphatically.

South Africa's anxious wait for an update on Dale Steyn's injured right shoulder continues, but the fast bowler has seen a specialist in Cape Town since his early return from the IPL. In two weeks, the Proteas will meet for a pre-World Cup camp, and the selectors have until May 23 to name a potential replacement - if Steyn is not fully fit by then.

"As it stands, we are aware that Dale Steyn has seen the shoulder specialist since he got back from India," National Selection Panel convener Linda Zondi told ESPNcricinfo. "But at the moment we're just waiting for our medical team to keep us updated in terms of his progress. He's still due to meet up with the team for camp on the 12th, and as the selection panel, we'll be guided by the medical team, and then we'll take it from there."

Zondi said the coach Ottis Gibson will be part of the decision making as well. "Ottis is also a specialist from the bowling point of view, so he will definitely take Dale for a run in the nets to see how he's doing with his shoulder and how far he might have to go. We still have enough time before the 23rd of May to decide whether we need to change the team or not. But for now that's where we are."

Steyn, 35, played two matches for Royal Challengers Bangalore before his right shoulder - which has previously been seriously injured - flared up. He had already been named in South Africa's World Cup squad, and had been expected to lead the attack alongside Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi, with Anrich Nortje as back-up.

"Ottis will definitely take Dale for a run in the nets to see how he's doing with his shoulder and how far he might have to go" SA selection convener Linda Zondi

Nortje is himself recovering from injury and told ESPNcricinfo that he bowled six overs in a match against the touring Afghanistan Academy team last week and that he is "still busy with rehab and building and getting closer to bowling fitness. Really happy with how things have gone but still have a bit of work to do".

Ngidi, who has been recovering from a Grade II muscle strain in his side, also got some overs in his legs against the touring Afghanistan side. JP Duminy's rehabilitation from shoulder surgery continues, and he has returned to competitive action with the Cape Cobras at the tail end of the CSA T20 Challenge. Definitive news on Steyn, however, is yet to emerge, and in the meantime CSA have potential replacements on stand-by - though they don't want to say exactly who just yet.

MS Dhoni a doubtful starter in clash of top two teams

Published in Cricket
Tuesday, 30 April 2019 07:21

Big picture

Both teams are already through to the playoffs, but places in the top two are still up for grabs, and any slip-ups in the closing stages of the league phase could land either Delhi Capitals or Chennai Super Kings in the Eliminator. It's not a situation either team wants to be in. Capitals have considerable momentum behind them, having won six of their last seven matches, but Super Kings come to this meeting with defeats in three of their last four games.

This slump in form can be read as a season-long weakness finally beginning to reflect in their results. Of all teams in the competition, Super Kings have been the slowest-scoring team in the Powerplay, with a run rate of 6.4 in that phase, and in the middle overs (7-15), where they have gone at 6.9. Two of their key batsmen, Ambati Rayudu and Kedar Jadhav, are this season's slowest scorers among all batsmen with a minimum of 100 runs to their name, with strike rates of 89.49 and 96.42 respectively. In third place, at 110.49, is another Super King - Faf du Plessis.

MS Dhoni's form (his 314 runs this season have come at an average of 104.66 and a strike rate of 137.11) could only cover these cracks for so long. It wasn't surprising that Super Kings, minus Dhoni, slumped to 109 all out, and their first home defeat of the season, in their last match against Mumbai Indians.

Apart from the fever that kept him out of the game against Mumbai, Dhoni has also had to deal with back trouble this season. Will he be back on Tuesday? We don't know yet.

"Dhoni is progressing," Super Kings coach Stephen Fleming said on the eve of the match. "He's been pretty sick during the week. We'll make a call on him tomorrow but he's progressing, which is good."

Whether Dhoni plays or not, Capitals will know it's never an easy task to play Super Kings at the MA Chidambaram Stadium. Their away record - five wins in six games this season - should give them confidence, but if they haven't been quite as good at home - three wins in six games - it's because they haven't enjoyed batting on the slow, grippy surface at Feroz Shah Kotla. Only one surface this season has been slower and grippier this season - the one they'll play on tomorrow.

Previous meeting

Dwayne Bravo picked up three wickets at the death, and Capitals only managed 29 in their last five overs, leaving Super Kings a not-hugely-challenging 147 to chase. Shane Watson's 26-ball 44 gave them the early impetus, but the win took until the last over to arrive, thanks to a leisurely stand of 48 in 53 balls between Dhoni and Jadhav.

In the news

Like Dhoni, Ravindra Jadeja and du Plessis were also absent ill from the match against Mumbai. Unlike Dhoni, both have recovered fully. "Faf's been fine. Jadeja's also training well," Fleming said. "Definitely in consideration for tomorrow."

Likely XIs

Chennai Super Kings: 1 Faf du Plessis/M Vijay, 2 Shane Watson, 3 Suresh Raina, 4 Ambati Rayudu, 5 Kedar Jadhav, 6 MS Dhoni/Dhruv Shorey, 7 Dwayne Bravo, 8 Ravindra Jadeja/Mitchell Santner, 9 Deepak Chahar, 10 Harbhajan Singh, 11 Imran Tahir

Delhi Capitals: 1 Prithvi Shaw, 2 Shikhar Dhawan, 3 Shreyas Iyer (capt), 4 Rishabh Pant (wk), 5 Colin Ingram, 6 Sherfane Rutherford, 7 Axar Patel, 8 Sandeep Lamichhane, 9 Amit Mishra, 10 Kagiso Rabada, 11 Ishant Sharma

Strategy punt

  • Kagiso Rabada has played 18 games for Capitals/Daredevils in the IPL, and he's picked up two or more wickets in 11 of those matches. Of those 11 games, his team has won eight and lost three. When he's picked up less than two wickets, however, they've only won two out of five. These numbers suggest that teams are unable to go after the other Capitals bowlers if they suffer too much damage at the hands of their main strike weapon; perhaps there is a case for Super Kings to play Rabada out watchfully.

  • Colin Ingram has had an excellent IPL season against spin, scoring 91 off 64 balls while only being dismissed once. He's not been great against pace, though, scoring 80 off 62 while being dismissed six times. Rishabh Pant has been pretty good against spin - 152 off 108 balls, four dismissals - but devastating against pace - 191 off 105 balls, six dismissals. Spinners always bowl plenty of overs in Chennai, and which of these two left-handers bats at No. 4 and which one is held back to No. 5 could well depend on the phase of the innings and which bowlers are operating.

  • Jadeja has bowled 165 balls to right-hand batsmen in IPL 2019, conceding 161 runs and taking nine wickets. Against left-hand batsmen, he has bowled 75 balls, conceding 104 runs and taking no wickets. Mitchell Santner, on the other hand, has been excellent against left-hand batsmen (14 balls, nine runs, two wickets), albeit from a small sample size. Given the number of left-handers in Delhi's top order, however, Super Kings might be tempted to retain Santner even though Jadeja should be available, even if they aren't able to bring back du Plessis as a result.

Stats that matter

  • Super Kings have won 13 and lost six of their matches against Capitals.

  • If du Plessis features, he will be playing his 200th T20 match.

  • Dwayne Bravo is one short of 300 T20 sixes, and also one short of 50 T20 wickets at MA Chidambaram Stadium.

  • Suresh Raina has 49 fifties in T20 cricket.

Toss Rajasthan Royals chose to bowl v Royal Challengers Bangalore

Rajasthan Royals captain Steven Smith chose to field after winning the toss against Royal Challengers Bangalore. His opposite number Virat Kohli, who rued his luck at losing the tenth toss in the tournament, said that he would have preferred to chase given the dew factor.

Royals dropped Ashton Turner and included Mahipal Lomror, the 19-year-old allrounder, who is making his IPL debut.

Royal Challengers brought in Pawan Negi and Kulwant Khejroliya, by dropping Shivam Dube and Washington Sundar.

Royal Challengers Bangalore: 1 Parthiv Patel (wk), 2 Virat Kohli (capt), 3 AB de Villiers, 4 Heinrich Klaasen, 5 Gurkeerat Singh, 6 Marcus Stoinis, 7 Kulwant Khejroliya, 8 Pawan Negi, 9 Umesh Yadav, 10 Yuzvendra Chahal, 11 Navdeep Saini

Rajasthan Royals: 1 Ajinkya Rahane, 2 Liam Livingstone, 3 Steven Smith (capt), 4 Sanju Samson (wk), 5 Mahipal Lomror, 6 Riyan Parag, 7 Stuart Binny, 8 Shreyas Gopal, 9 Jaydev Unadkat, 10 Varun Aaron, 11 Oshane Thomas

Alex Hepburn, the former Worcestershire allrounder, has been jailed for five years at Hereford Crown Court after being found guilty of raping a sleeping women in his team-mate's bed.

Hepburn, 23, had been warned at the conclusion of his retrial earlier this month that a jail sentence was inevitable, after he had been found guilty on one count of oral rape, relating to an attack that took place at his flat in Worcester in April 2017.

In the course of the four-day trial at Worcester Crown Court, the jury heard from the prosecution how Hepburn had "dehumanised" women, rating them in text messages to his team-mates in a "sexual conquest competition" on the social media app WhatsApp.

Hepburn, it was alleged, had been "fired up" by the contest and took advantage of his victim after finding her alone on a mattress on the floor of the the flat that he shared with Clarke.

The victim had initially believed she was having sex with Clarke, and only realised Hepburn's identity after 10 minutes.

Giving evidence, Hepburn had told the court: "She was engaging in the act so I presumed she was enjoying it."

In handing down his sentence, judge Jim Tindal said: "I sentence you on the basis the jury were sure the victim was woken by you but was still barely awake and in the dark thought you were Joe Clarke.

"You thought you were God's gift to women. You saw the victim as a piece of meat, not another human entitled to respect."

After the verdict, the Professional Cricketers' Association (PCA) had released a statement emphasising the importance of players participating in its personal development programmes.

"This public case provides a stark reminder to all PCA members of all requirements and behaviours demanded of a professional cricketer, provided through its Personal Development and welfare Programme, which is facilitated closely alongside the ECB and first-class counties.

"Throughout the criminal investigations, we have provided suitable advice and assistance to Alex. As the game's player association, offering support and guidance to players in times of turbulence is a fundamental responsibility for the PCA."

The Indianapolis Colts have signed free-agent running back Spencer Ware, the team announced Tuesday.

Ware's signing comes after the Colts didn't select a running back in the 2019 NFL draft. He joins a backfield led by Marlon Mack. The Colts also have Nyheim Hines, Jordan Wilkins and Jonathan Williams on the depth chart.

The 27-year-old Ware has rushed for 1,580 yards and 11 touchdowns in his four NFL seasons, including the last three with the Kansas City Chiefs.

He joined the Chiefs as a free agent in 2015 after spending parts of two seasons with the Seattle Seahawks. He immediately helped the Chiefs fill the running back void left by a season-ending knee injury to Jamaal Charles by rushing for 403 yards and six touchdowns.

Ware went on to lead the Chiefs in rushing in 2016 with 921 yards. But a preseason knee injury cost him the entire 2017 season and, by the time he returned last year, Kareem Hunt had established himself as the Chiefs' featured back.

When the Chiefs released Hunt late in the season, Ware suffered a hamstring injury and lost an opportunity to reclaim the starting job. By the time he returned, Damien Williams was playing well and had been installed as the featured back.

The Colts waived safety Isaiah Johnson and defensive tackle DeShawn Williams. The team also released wide receiver James Wright.

ESPN's Adam Teicher contributed to this report.

Biggest post-draft questions for all 32 teams

Published in Breaking News
Monday, 29 April 2019 06:15

With the 2019 NFL draft now concluded and 254 rookies having been selected by their new teams (plus hundreds of other first-year players who will sign as free agents over the next week), the 2019 versions of each NFL franchise are starting to take focus. But that doesn't mean there aren't questions for each team going forward.

Our NFL Nation reporters were asked to identify the biggest question for each team. Whether the teams answer those questions between now and Week 1 is out of our control, but, hey, it doesn't hurt to ask.

Scan through all 32 teams by division, or click here to jump ahead to your team:


AFC EAST

Buffalo Bills

Who is the No. 1 receiver? The Bills addressed several areas of need during the draft but did not select a wide receiver. That leaves the Bills with a mix of No. 2 or No. 3 options in Zay Jones, John Brown and Cole Beasley but no bona fide top target for Josh Allen. -- Mike Rodak

Miami Dolphins

Who is going to rush the quarterback? The Dolphins had too many needs to address all of them in the draft, but edge rusher sticks out in a big way. Fifth-round pick Andrew Van Ginkel could eventually work his way into a situational role, but he is the top addition for a team that finished 29th in sacks (31) last season and lost its best three edge rushers. Disappointing 2017 first-round pick Charles Harris is the team's top defensive end. Look for Miami to examine the free-agency market in this area after the compensatory formula ends May 8 and again after post-June 1 cuts. -- Cameron Wolfe

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1:23

Woody: Patriots had the best overall draft

Damien Woody evaluates the players New England added in the draft, including wide receiver N'Keal Harry.

New England Patriots

Did the Patriots do enough at TE as they enter the post-Gronk era? This was viewed by some as a deep tight end class, but the Patriots didn't select a player at the position. That leaves Austin Seferian-Jenkins, Jacob Hollister, Stephen Anderson, Matt LaCosse and Ryan Izzo on the depth chart, which means someone under the radar will have to emerge unless the team has another personnel move in mind (e.g., trade for Kyle Rudolph or lure Benjamin Watson out of retirement). Izzo was a 2018 seventh-round draft choice from Florida State who flashed last training camp and thus could be someone to watch after spending his rookie season on injured reserve. -- Mike Reiss

New York Jets

Did the Jets err by not drafting a center? Right now, they're counting on Jonotthan Harrison, who began last season on the bench before stepping into the lineup as an injury replacement. Team officials say they're OK with Harrison, based on the offense showing some signs of life late in the season, but it's still a gamble. Ideally, they should have a seasoned center who can help second-year QB Sam Darnold navigate the pre-snap issues every quarterback faces. -- Rich Cimini


AFC NORTH

Baltimore Ravens

What are the Ravens going to do at inside linebacker? After losing C.J. Mosley in free agency, Baltimore didn't add a replacement for its leading tackler with any of its eight draft picks. The Ravens didn't find much value with this inside linebacker class, which was thinner than other positions. Team officials appear comfortable going with Patrick Onwuasor, who finished strong, and Kenny Young, a fourth-round pick from a year ago, in the middle of their retooled defense. The Ravens have a history of finding quality undrafted inside linebackers and also could sign a veteran who's still available. -- Jamison Hensley

Cincinnati Bengals

Did the Bengals do enough to fix the defense? The Bengals surprised quite a few when they waited until the third round to draft a linebacker, a huge area of need. Considering the Bengals were once on pace to have the worst defense in league history last season, they've got a lot of work to do. The draft might not have been enough to fix the holes on that side of the ball. -- Katherine Terrell

Cleveland Browns

Is Freddie Kitchens up for this? The Browns have put together a talented roster with some spicy personalities and several others who are trying to move past previous character concerns. We know that Kitchens can scheme a dynamic offense. But his ability to manage Cleveland's complex locker room is largely unknown after he's spent a career as a position coach -- the biggest variable when projecting the Browns' season. -- Kevin Seifert

Pittsburgh Steelers

Who is the Steelers' No. 2 wide receiver? JuJu Smith-Schuster is the unquestioned top target for Ben Roethlisberger, but the secondary option remains up in the air. James Washington is an unknown commodity after a lackluster rookie season, and free-agent pickup Donte Moncrief hasn't caught more than 50 passes since 2015. The wild card will be Diontae Johnson, who was selected in the third round (with the pick Pittsburgh acquired in the trade for Antonio Brown). He looks like a clone of Brown, from his size (5-foot-10) to his strengths (slippery in the open field and dependable hands). -- Jamison Hensley


AFC SOUTH

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1:01

NFL draft profile: Tytus Howard

Alabama State's Tytus Howard has a good blend of abilities and is tough to beat when his hand placement is sound in pass protection.

Houston Texans

Are two rookies going to be enough to vastly improve the offensive line? The Texans drafted two versatile tackles in Tytus Howard (No. 23) and Max Scharping (No. 55), but only time will tell whether those additions will help sufficiently protect Deshaun Watson. The third-year quarterback was sacked an NFL-high 62 times last season. -- Sarah Barshop

Indianapolis Colts

Who will be the third starting linebacker alongside Darius Leonard and Anthony Walker? The Colts selected three outside linebackers in the draft, including using their second-round pick on TCU's Ben Banogu. Banogu, Bobby Okereke (third round) and Gerri Green (sixth round) will be competing with returners such as Matthew Adams and Zaire Franklin for that spot. -- Mike Wells

Jacksonville Jaguars

What do the Jaguars do about safety depth? The team cut Tashaun Gipson, which means Ronnie Harrison and Jarrod Wilson are the starters, but there isn't much experienced depth behind them. Cody Davis is a special-teams player, and C.J. Reavis didn't play much as a rookie. That doesn't bode well if there are any injuries. The Jaguars seem to be willing to gamble a bit there, though they will certainly keep an eye open for veteran cuts between now and the start of the season. -- Mike DiRocco

Tennessee Titans

Did the Titans properly address the OLB spot opposite Harold Landry? Even though a lot of analysts thought the Titans would use an early pick on an OLB/DE, the team waited until the fifth round to do so. OLB D'Andre Walker fell to the Titans in the fifth round, but he was the only edge prospect who was selected. Landry will definitely be one of the starters, but Walker needs to emerge as a candidate opposite Landry. -- Turron Davenport


AFC WEST

Denver Broncos

Do the Broncos have the patience and discipline to let Drew Lock find his way? The Broncos' decision-makers made it clear this past weekend: Lock has plenty to work on and needs time to address those things as the "quarterback of the future," as John Elway put it. Elway and coach Vic Fangio have been adamant that Joe Flacco is the starter. Everybody involved will have to stick to that, through any losses, Flacco interceptions and the general swirl that usually surrounds a quarterback in waiting. And Flacco, who already has won over his new Broncos teammates, will need to be at his composed best to handle the questions sure to come his way about Lock. In the end, the Broncos will be at their best if Flacco is the quarterback Elway and Fangio think he is and if Lock gets the time he needs to grow into the player he can be. -- Jeff Legwold

Kansas City Chiefs

Did the Chiefs adequately prepare for the potential loss of Tyreek Hill? The Chiefs traded up in the second round to draft Georgia WR Mecole Hardman, but he might not be enough to cover for the loss of Hill, who is suspended and might eventually be released. Without Hill, the Chiefs would go with Sammy Watkins and Demarcus Robinson as their starting receivers. The speedy Hardman will have to contribute in a significant way. -- Adam Teicher

Los Angeles Chargers

Will the Chargers regret passing on adding immediate help for the O-line? Young offensive linemen such as right tackle Sam Tevi and left guard Dan Feeney struggled at times in pass protection in 2018, but the Chargers added just one offensive lineman in the draft -- developmental prospect Trey Pipkins in the third round. A product of Division II Sioux Falls, Pipkins is raw and unlikely to see meaningful minutes in 2019, so the Chargers will rely on the return of guard Forrest Lamp from an ACL injury and continuity along the offensive line for improvement in 2019. -- Eric D. Williams

Oakland Raiders

Did the Raiders do enough in the draft to address the lack of a pass rush? True, Oakland, which had a league-low 13 sacks last season, did use six of its nine picks on defensive players, with three of those being defensive ends. And although first-rounder Clelin Ferrell had 27 sacks in his Clemson career, fourth-rounder Maxx Crosby had 20 career sacks at Eastern Michigan and seventh-rounder Quinton Bell got 7.5 sacks in his lone season at the position after switching from receiver at Prairie View A&M, questions abound. Especially since the four defensive ends already on the roster -- Benson Mayowa (13), Josh Mauro (3), Arden Key (1) and Alex Barrett (0) -- have a combined 17 sacks in the NFL. -- Paul Gutierrez


NFC EAST

Dallas Cowboys

Do the Cowboys still need help at safety? They considered Juan Thornhill in the second round but went with defensive tackle Trysten Hill instead. They were considering Will Harris in the third, but he was plucked before the 90th pick. They added Donovan Wilson in the sixth round. At present, the Cowboys have Xavier Woods and Jeff Heath as their starters, just like last year, although George Iloka will have a chance to compete for a starting spot. The Cowboys continue to follow Rod Marinelli's belief that a safety is not one of the most important pieces to the defense. "We felt better than people from the outside looking in feel about our safety position," executive vice president Stephen Jones said. "I've mentioned time and time again that we don't have as much resources allocated to that position, and it is probably not by accident." But will that turn into the soft spot that prevents the Cowboys from taking the next step in 2019? -- Todd Archer

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1:31

Max vents on Giants' pick: Jones is a 'Day 2 guy'

Max Kellerman pops off on the Giants picking Daniel Jones at No. 6 in the draft, saying he shouldn't have even been picked in the first round.

New York Giants

When will we see Daniel Jones? The Giants invested the No. 6 overall pick in a quarterback, but the intention is to start Eli Manning this season. Jones could enter the lineup midway through his rookie season like Manning did, sit like Patrick Mahomes did for almost all of his rookie year with the Chiefs or wait multiple years like Aaron Rodgers did. Only time will tell. -- Jordan Raanan

Philadelphia Eagles

Who is going to replace Jordan Hicks? The Eagles' middle linebacker for parts of the past four seasons is now in Arizona, and though they did pick up L.J. Fort in free agency, the linebacker position still feels light. Executive vice president of football operations Howie Roseman noted post-draft that talent acquisition season is not over. Look for them to add via trade or signing before the offseason is through. -- Tim McManus

Washington Redskins

When will Dwayne Haskins be ready? The Redskins have long considered him to have big upside; he has arm talent, is smart and is willing to work. But they know it will take some time due to his inexperience, with only 14 starts in college. They want to see how he handles the transition to an NFL offense and throwing with a different level of anticipation to succeed. Because he's a true pocket passer, they want to make sure he's adept at those areas before taking over. The key will be having a fan base and ownership that remains patient and allows him to develop the right way. To help that, Case Keenum must produce enough early to win games. Haskins could pay off big time for Washington, but he shouldn't be rushed. -- John Keim


NFC NORTH

Chicago Bears

Who will be the place-kicker? This is a hot-button issue for the Bears after the Cody Parkey debacle last season. General manager Ryan Pace said over the weekend that Chicago intends to have four kickers on its offseason roster. There are currently no clear-cut favorites to win the job, and the competition is wide open. Coach Matt Nagy believes the entire situation will eventually "work itself out." Bears fans certainly hope he's right. -- Jeff Dickerson

Detroit Lions

Who plays right guard? This wasn't necessarily going to be solved during the draft, but the Lions ignored the offensive line with their nine selections. Although it's entirely possible the right guard isn't on the roster yet, based on what Detroit has now, the club will have a pretty open competition between Kenny Wiggins, Joe Dahl, Oday Aboushi and perhaps Tyrell Crosby during training camp. An outside possibility, if the Lions end up in a real pinch, is moving Graham Glasgow back to guard and starting Leo Koloamatangi at center -- but that would seem like a last resort. Pay attention the next few weeks because signing a veteran guard is a possibility. -- Michael Rothstein

Green Bay Packers

Do the Packers still need another receiver? Some mock drafts had them taking one in the first round. They didn't take one at all. It leaves Davante Adams without the aid of a true No. 2. The Packers clearly are banking on the return of Geronimo Allison, who was off to a hot start before an injury ruined his 2018 season, as well as the second-year development of the young receivers -- Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Equanimeous St. Brown, J'Mon Moore and Jake Kumerow. Said GM Brian Gutekunst after the draft: "I'm really content with the three guys we drafted last year. I think they have huge upsides; I thought they took really good steps last year. Obviously, Geronimo coming back, he's kind of a veteran guy stepping into that role, and I do like some of our guys that are kind of competing for some spots there as well. It's not like we wouldn't add one if we thought the right guy was there, but I like that group." -- Rob Demovsky

Minnesota Vikings

How are the Vikings going to pay everyone? Minnesota was dead last in salary-cap space prior to the draft and went on to select 12 players. Though it's unlikely that all of these new players stick, the Vikings need to figure out how they're going to get the estimated $4 million needed to pay their draft class. Since a trade involving Kyle Rudolph didn't pan out, Minnesota could ask the veteran tight end to take a restructure (something he said he's willing to discuss) or cut him to save $7.625 million against the cap. The Vikings also could look to release one of their veterans with a post-June 1 designation. For example, if they went that route with LT Riley Reiff, they could get $9.5 million in savings. -- Courtney Cronin


NFC SOUTH

Atlanta Falcons

Are the Falcons really set at right tackle? Sure, they traded up into the end of the first round to take Kaleb McGary out of Washington, but coaches and scouts around the league believe McGary is "raw" and incapable of handling top pass-rushers right now. The Falcons signed Ty Sambrailo to a three-year extension after he replaced the released Ryan Schraeder at right tackle, but Sambrailo is viewed around the league as more of a backup. Stay tuned. -- Vaughn McClure

Carolina Panthers

Do the Panthers still need to address the secondary, specifically safety? Eric Reid is the starter at strong safety, and the options at free safety are Da'Norris Searcy (who missed most of last season with a concussion) and second-year player Rashaan Gaulden. There are other options as well, but none with a lot of experience. The same goes at cornerback behind starters James Bradberry and Donte Jackson. There are decent pieces, but according to Pro Football Focus, no Carolina defensive back finished with a coverage grade in the top 100. Perhaps all the effort to upgrade the pass rush will help, but it's still something to keep an eye on. -- David Newton

New Orleans Saints

Do the Saints have good enough targets for Drew Brees? New Orleans' biggest issue down the stretch of last season was a lack of reliable pass-catchers behind Michael Thomas and Alvin Kamara. Signing TE Jared Cook in free agency and getting WR Ted Ginn Jr. back healthy should help, but the Saints didn't add any receivers in free agency or the draft. So they need to decide if they want to add another veteran or count on the development of young receivers such as Cameron Meredith, Tre'Quan Smith, Keith Kirkwood and Austin Carr. -- Mike Triplett

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

What will the Bucs do with Gerald McCoy, since there was no draft trade and they didn't address defensive tackle until the seventh round? Having him on the books for $13 million means the Bucs have less than $2 million to spend on their draft picks, and they need roughly $10.4 million to sign them (it was $9.2 million, but having an additional third-round pick boosted this figure). McCoy also hasn't been present for any of the offseason workouts. When I asked general manager Jason Licht about clearing up cap space to sign their draft picks, he said, "There's always ways." I then asked if he foresaw having to make a lot of roster moves to free up money. "We don't have to," he said. The big question is, "How?" So far, there have been no indications of McCoy accepting a pay cut, and there have been no indications that he'd even be willing to. -- Jenna Laine


NFC WEST

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0:43

Just like that, the 2019 draft is over, Josh Rosen is traded

Just like that, the 2019 draft is over, Josh Rosen is traded and the Cardinals are moving on. Video by Josh Weinfuss

Arizona Cardinals

Are three new receivers enough for the Cardinals? One of Arizona's biggest liabilities last season was its receiving corps. Beyond Larry Fitzgerald and Christian Kirk, the Cardinals were thin and inexperienced, as the team's next-leading receivers were tight ends and running backs. Arizona addressed the need in this year's draft with Andy Isabella, Hakeem Butler and KeeSean Johnson. All three are talented and have the potential to be impact players in Kliff Kingsbury's Air Raid offense. But are they enough? Besides the need to stock the roster with offensive resources for new quarterback Kyler Murray, the Cardinals need enough receivers to keep them coming in waves -- almost like hockey lines. And that would mean their draft haul is a good first step but still not enough. -- Josh Weinfuss

Los Angeles Rams

How will running back Darrell Henderson fit into the offense? The Rams' decision to move up to No. 70 to take Henderson raises more questions about the health of Todd Gurley's knee. Sean McVay said Henderson was the change-of-pace back he has been seeking for the past two seasons and that Henderson will be a complement to Gurley and backup Malcolm Brown. But, naturally, as uncertainty looms around Gurley, it's easy to wonder if Henderson was selected as an insurance policy. -- Lindsey Thiry

San Francisco 49ers

Can the 49ers' secondary make enough internal improvement to complement their improved front seven? The Niners are basically running it back with the same group of defensive backs that had just two interceptions last season, save for cornerback Jason Verrett, who has a long history of injury issues. Veteran cornerback Richard Sherman is another year removed from his Achilles injury but is surrounded by question marks. The Niners hope their amped-up pass rush will make things easier on the secondary, but that group is going to need to take a significant step forward under new position coach Joe Woods to maximize their investments up front and for them to take the next step as a defense. -- Nick Wagoner

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0:15

Metcalf goes shirtless to Seahawks meeting, Carroll joins him

DK Metcalf goes without a shirt at a combine meeting with the Seahawks' staff, and Pete Carroll decides to go shirtless himself.

Seattle Seahawks

Is this it for Doug Baldwin? GM John Schneider said Baldwin's increasingly uncertain future didn't weigh into the decision to draft DK Metcalf in the second round, perhaps because Metcalf is the type of big receiver they would have wanted to add under any circumstances. But the fact that they drafted two more receivers -- Gary Jennings Jr. in Round 4 and John Ursua in Round 7 -- does not give the impression that they're expecting Baldwin to be back. Ursua gives them an option to replace Baldwin in the slot. -- Brady Henderson

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