The Toronto Blue Jays now sit at .500 with a record of 4-4, looking to avoid getting swept by the Chicago White Sox. They started the season going 3-0, and a continuous pattern has been linked to lackluster pitching from reliever Brendon Little. He's shown issues of control, including costing the team runs. The Blue Jays are coming off finishing in the World Series in 2025. These losses have been tough following the non-contending MLB teams like the Colorado Rockies and the Athletics. But the Blue Jays have had a history of struggles against below-average teams. With a combination of injuries and errors its been a rough early-season start for the Blue Jays. Command issues continue to strike with Brendon Little The Blue Jays would benefit from sending Little down, as he has not put on a strong performance, weakening the bullpen and costing the team games. The left-hander has struggled to record outs, culminating in a high ERA (18.90) in the season following giving up runs late in games. He is undergoing lingering command issues, where he is having a difficult time finding the strike zone. In addition to giving up hits in high-leverage situations. Little had a strong 2025 season, sporting a 4-2 record with a 3.03 ERA across 68.1 innings. Little's struggles commenced at the end of last season. This included a blown save that occurred in the ALCS. Additionally, a loss in the World Series. While being utilized in high-pressure situations, he has not been capable of recording 1,2,3 innings and holding onto leads. This has signaled a potential demotion to the minors. This would surely help to rediscover his form and boost his confidence. He has not positioned himself as a high-leverage reliever the way Schneider has continued to use him. The Blue Jays have other options in the bullpen, and they can also call up Patrick Corbin, who was recently signed by the Blue Jays.
A couple of NFL Draft insiders have suggested the Dallas Cowboys could move up to No. 3 overall via a trade with the Arizona Cardinals. But what would that really look like? In case you missed it, there’s a growing notion the Dallas Cowboys could trade up all the way into the top three in the 2026 NFL Draft. NFL insiders Bruce Feldman and Todd McShay have put the buzz on the map and now I’m wondering what a Cowboys draft could look like if that was to happen. That’s why I fired up our own mock draft simulator at A to Z Sports and got to work to strike a deal with the Arizona Cardinals at No. 3 overall. The Cowboys-Cardinals mock trade First, let’s address the elephant in the room. Moving up from No. 12 to No. 3 overall would be very costly. Though McShay and Feldman have teased the Cowboys’ third-round pick as the price to pay, that's likely too little. Our simulator confirmed it. When trying to package No. 92 and No. 12 for No. 3, it responded that “the Cardinals don’t think it’s a serious offer.” So what could a trade really look like? The A to Z Sports’ simulator drove a hard a bargain but this is ultimately what Dallas gives up in this trade scenario. Buckle up, it’s a haul for Arizona, but we’re working under the assumption this is what the Cowboys want to do while keeping No. 20 overall later in the first round. Cardinals get: Pick No. 12 (first-round), Pick No. 92 (third round), Pick No. 152 (fifth-round), 2027 second-round pick Cowboys get: Pick No. 3 overall Now, the picks. Pick No. 3 overall: EDGE David Bailey, Texas Tech According to the buzz spearheaded by McShay and Feldman, Bailey is who the Cowboys would want to move up for. It checks out. Earlier in the year, Dallas aggressively targeted Maxx Crosby in the trade market. If not in the first round, the Cowboys are unlikely to upgrade the position in any other way. Moving up for Bailey guarantees them an improved pass rush, though run defense concerns will follow the former Red Raider into the NFL. Pick No. 20 overall: CB Avieon Terrell, Clemson Yes, the hamstring that kept Terrell from performing offseason workouts at the combine, Clemson’s pro day and his private pro day is a concern. But the film shows an NFL defensive back, and he’s a natural fit at nickel, which the Cowboys admittedly consider a need still. He’s a proven tackler, which is what Dallas wants at the position. Final thoughts While it would be unfortunate for the Cowboys to not make any picks on Day 2, it would be difficult to not be excited about this draft class. Dallas would leave Day 1 with an upgrade in the pass-rushing department and a starting-caliber nickel cornerback. If they’re approaching 2026 with a win-now mentality, I can’t complain about giving up future picks for players who raise the floor right away.
The Young and the Restless actress Dee Freeman has died at the age of 66. The star's family announced on social media that she had passed away on Thursday (02.04.26) following a battle with stage four lung cancer. They wrote in an Instagram post on Friday (03.04.26): "On behalf of her family, it is with deepest sadness that we share this update with you. Dee passed away peacefully on April 2, after a brave and fearless fight with cancer." The statement continued: "Thank you to everyone who supported Dee during her battle. It blew her away to know how many people cared about her and were pulling for her. "We knew Dee is up there in heaven, being the force of nature she always was. Now she's doing it with her angel wings on. Rest in peace, Dee." Born in Louisiana in 1959, Freeman spent six years serving in the US Marine Corps and also worked as a DJ on a radio station in Japan before pursuing a career in acting. She landed her debut screen role in a 1995 episode of ABC sitcom Coach before featuring in three episodes of the long-running US soap opera The Young and the Restless between 1997 and 2009. Freeman led the satirical show Pretty the Series from 2010 to 2015 and also made appearances in TV shows including Seinfeld, Rude Awakening, ER, The Hughleys, The X-Files, Dexter, 3rd Rock from the Sun, Do Us Part, Shameless, NCIS: Los Angeles and Sistas. Dee's publicist Desirae L Benson described her as "someone I truly respected and admired" and hailed the "strength" she showed during her cancer battle. She wrote: "Even in the face of stage 4 lung cancer, she showed up with courage and dignity. Dee had a quiet power that commanded respect without ever needing to demand it. "Her legacy is not just in her work, but in how she made people feel - and that will stay with us forever." Tribute to the actress also flooded in from co-stars following the tragic news of her passing. Sistas star Crystal Renee wrote: "Ms. Dee was a force and so lovely to work with. She will be missed. Sending my love to her family and loved ones." Actor Brian Jordan Jr. added: "Oh Ms Dee - Thank you for your beautiful energy and the light you brought to Sistas. Prayers to the family. We will always speak your name."
If you’re the New York Jets, there’s no way you seriously roll with Geno Smith as your long-term starting quarterback. Instead, you use your deep reserve of draft capital to sway the Las Vegas Raiders into a blockbuster trade. The key in all of this is that the Raiders could still walk away with a promising quarterback prospect but also keep rebuilding their roster by infusing it with some top-tier talent thanks to the multiple first-round picks that general manager John Spytek will stockpile. The Jets made a pragmatic move, acquiring Smith following an underwhelming stint with the Raiders. Still, nobody is mistaking him for the long-term answer at quarterback. He’s a bridge, nothing more. There’s a reason why new Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak has sent Smith off twice now, with the Raiders and the Seahawks last year. The real prize is Fernando Mendoza, and New York has the ammunition to go get him. Bleacher Report’s Brent Sobleski noted the Jets control four of this year’s top 44 picks, plus two extra first-rounders in 2027. That’s a war chest built for a moment exactly like this one. Sobleski envisions New York selecting Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese and Clemson cornerback Aveion Terrell with their first two picks, then getting aggressive to land Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson—calling it critical to ensure the acquisition rather than risk another team jumping ahead. However, let’s be real, the Jets are a franchise starving for stability at quarterback; the Raiders’ No. 1 pick represents something rare: a legitimate shot at a generational reset. Whether either the Jets or Spytek would agree to such a seismic move is anyone’s guess, but let’s say it were to happen; here’s one plausible scenario in terms of the draft class that the Raiders could walk away with. The Jets really gave it all up for their QB of the future… Jets receive: No. 1 pick Raiders receive: No. 2 pick, 16th pick, 33rd pick, 103rd pick + ’27 1st, 2nd, and 4th round picks Round 1, No. 2: Caleb Downs, DB, Ohio State Caleb Downs isn’t just one of the best prospects in this draft class. He may be the safest. If you’re the Raiders, there’s nothing wrong with “safe.” A two-time All-American, national champion and 2025 Thorpe Award winner, Downs arrives with credentials that are difficult to argue with. He started every game of his college career across Alabama and Ohio State, bringing a level of experience rare for a three-year player. The football bloodlines, including uncle Dre Bly and brother Josh Downs, reinforce what the tape already shows. As a strong safety, Downs processes the game at an advanced level. His eyes are disciplined, his instincts sharp and his ability to anticipate route combinations allows him to arrive early and impact plays. He matches physically with tight ends and stays attached against receivers downfield. Downs is compact but fluid, instinctive but disciplined and accomplished but still ascending. That combination of floor and ceiling is precisely what first-round selections are built around. Round 1, No. 16: Akheem Mesidor, EDGE, Miami Akheem Mesidor has done something no other defensive prospect in this draft class can claim: 35.5 career sacks. That’s not a typo. Numbers like that don’t happen by accident. Mesidor is a technically advanced pass rusher who keeps offensive tackles guessing with an arsenal of moves he chains together seamlessly. He anticipates the snap, attacks with purpose and doesn’t stop coming. When the College Football Playoff arrived and the lights got brightest, he delivered 5.5 sacks across four games. That’s the kind of player you want in January. He also lines up everywhere, which gives defensive coordinators real flexibility in how they deploy him. The one knock worth mentioning is age. Mesidor turns 25 this month, which is older than most first-round prospects. But here’s the thing about production at this level and this volume: it tends to speak louder than a birthday. Mesidor has done the work. The tape proves it. Round 2, No. 33: Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama Ty Simpson looks like a real NFL quarterback. The question is how quickly he can become one for the Raiders. The good stuff is genuinely good. Simpson drops back smoothly, goes through his reads and delivers accurate throws at all levels of the field. He moves up in the pocket when edge rushers threaten and uses his eyes to move defenders around before pulling the trigger. For a first-year starter, that kind of processing ability is impressive. But the NFL will test him quickly. Interior pressure throws off his footwork and exposes the fact that he isn’t a mobile quarterback. He also waits too long on certain routes, giving coverage time to recover. When he locks onto a target early, veteran defenders will read his eyes and make him pay. Simpson is not a finished product. But the bones are good and the tools are real; luckily, the Raiders have a coach now who’ll polish all of that. Round 2, No. 36: KC Concepcion, Texas A M, Iowa State KC Concepcion is the kind of receiver who doesn’t need to blow past you to beat you. He just needs a step, and he’ll take it every time. Working out of the slot, Concepcion is a technician. His footwork is outstanding, his routes are crisp and he can run just about any pattern an offensive coordinator draws up. He finds soft spots in zone coverage, gets open over the middle and makes life difficult for defensive backs trying to stay attached. The knocks are straightforward. He doesn’t have elite speed, and his frame isn’t built to absorb punishment from NFL linebackers all season. His blocking also needs work. But here’s the bottom line: Concepcion is a late first-round talent with a skill set that translates immediately to Sundays. He is polished, reliable and ready. Any team needing a dependable slot receiver should be very excited about this one. Pairing Concepcion and Simpson could feed families under Kubiak. Round 3, No. 67: Domonique Orange, DL, Iowa State Domonique Orange excels at one specific skill, and in the NFL, that can be sufficient. As a nose tackle, Orange is a handful to move off the ball. He’s quick off the snap, tough to block in run situations, and has the strength to hold his ground even when two offensive linemen are coming at him. When he gets hit, he resets and competes. That kind of toughness matters in the trenches. But here’s the honest truth: Orange is essentially useless as a pass rusher. One sack in four college seasons tells you everything you need to know. He also struggles to shake free from blocks once he’s grabbed, gets out of position chasing plays into the backfield, and isn’t nearly quick enough laterally to cover ground when plays bounce outside. His tackling also got noticeably worse his final college season—a red flag worth watching. Orange will be a nose tackle who’ll eat up space and protect linebackers against the run. Every Super Bowl roster needs a guy like that. Just don’t expect him to touch the quarterback. That’s simply not his game.
