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The Los Angeles Chargers went a little lighter than expected at tight end this offseason despite it looking like one of the team’s biggest outright needs as they seek to support Justin Herbert.
Granted, the Chargers signed Tyler Conklin and there might be some upside there. But for now, his arrival sort of felt like a lateral move, not unlike Will Dissly.
But perhaps the Chargers are playing the long game.
Perhaps the Chargers have had eyes on the Atlanta Falcons, a team at least willing to listen to trade offers for Kyle Pitts now that teams have been giving them calls.
Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz reported the news: “Nothing is imminent, and Atlanta would prefer to keep him — but I’m told it would take at least a Day 2 pick to even spark serious talks.”
The Chargers have been pretty conservative overall under general manager Joe Hortiz, so a Day 2 pick might be rich. But Pitts is a former fourth-overall pick who they could potentially view as a guy who could blossom into something closer resembling his major upside if he gets in the same offense as Justin Herbert.
Pitts has yet to pass the 1,000-yard mark since his rookie season and is now on the fifth and final year of his rookie contract, so an extension would come into play at some point for the Chargers. But given their stunning free cap space, that’s not much of a factor in the equation here.
For the Chargers, remaining steady with what they have is the likely course. But it’s hard to ignore when a 24-year-old former top-five pick might be available – especially at such a position of need for the team.
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Green Bay Packers: NFL Insider Drops 2 Things that Have Stood Out About Rookie WR Matthew Golden
One of the most anticipated things about the Green Bay Packers this upcoming season is watching 2025 first round pick Matthew Golden. Very few, if any, people expected the Packers to use their first round selection on a wide receiver, something that they had not done since 2002. Even starting quarterback Jordan Love predicted that the team would go defense in the first round, just based on what they have done in previous drafts. But the Packers’ wide receivers were some of the worst in the NFL last season when it came to drops and drop percentage. And with their most sure-handed wide receiver, Christian Watson, out for the start of the upcoming season as he recovers from a torn ACL, Green Bay decided to add to the room, putting pressure on their young core to improve or lose their jobs. From what is being observed from Golden so far in camp, it appears that the future is, indeed, bright at the position. Green Bay Packers Wide Receiver Matthew Golden Is Turning Heads ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler recently published an article which detailed his observations and notes from visiting nine NFL training camps in nine days. He visited Green Bay on July 31 and was very impressed with what he saw from Golden: “People inside the Packers aren’t quiet about their impressions of first-round receiver Matthew Golden, who has looked the part thus far. Two things that have stood out: His hands (he’s not a body-catcher) and his determination to be great. One person with the team pointed out that he hadn’t dropped a pass through the first week-plus of camp, and he connected on a 60-yard deep ball in 11-man earlier in the week. “Golden is part of a deep receiver room that will create tough roster decisions. ‘It’s a very competitive room right now,’ LaFleur said. Players on the fringe, such as Mecole Hardman and Malik Heath, are performing well.” Of course, the desire to be great is always a great thing to hear from NFL players. After all, which of them does not want that? But the most encouraging note, especially for fans, is how sure-handed Golden has been so far in camp. As mentioned, Green Bay led the NFL in dropped passes last season, which may have played a part in the early notion that Jordan Love had “taken a step back” from 2023 to 2024. The fact of the matter, though, is that Jayden Reed, Romeo Doubs, and Dontayvion Wicks were all among the league leaders in dropped passes. With Golden (and the rest of the newcomers) competing for snaps, that is an issue that hopefully will not plague the Packers again in 2025.
Knee operation: Kirby Dach not yet back on his feet
Two years ago to the day, Canadiens fans were optimistic about Kirby Dach’s future in Montreal: the 6’4 forward had just collected 38 points in 58 games – in his first campaign in Quebec – and many wondered whether Dach had a better chance of establishing himself as a first NHL center than captain Nick Suzuki. The past 730 days have proven otherwise, but that’s not the point this morning. Since joining the Canadiens, Dach has earned a reputation as a fragile player. Virus, shoulder, upper body (concussion?), lower body, knee(ACL and MCL), knee again… Let’s just say that injuries haven’t spared Dach since he arrived in Montreal. In fact, injuries haven’t spared Dach since he started playing hockey. He has never played more than 70 games in a single season, and has only broken the 60-game barrier three times in nine junior or pro seasons. Last February, Dach underwent a second operation on his right knee in the space of 18 months. Jeff Gorton and Kent Hughes may tell us that Kirby Dach is fine,but we still have our doubts. Especially whenyou consider that, with the Canadiens’ recent additions and departures, Kirby Dach is still the team’s second center on the organizational chart. content-ads]Last week, I wondered where Kirby was ? We’ve seen plenty of Habs players skating at the CN Complex this summer, but not Kirby Dach. And I had to work like a monk to catch a glimpse of him in a video filmed at Nick Suzuki’s wedding! Yesterday, I was told that Kirby Dach was spending the summer in Edmonton with Kaiden Guhle – Dach is from Saskatchewan and Guhle is from Alberta – and that Dach was still in rehab. I repeat: five months after his most recent knee operation and some 40 days before the start of practice camp, Kirby Dach is still not recovered and ready to play. Good informants spotted him in an Edmonton gym doing squats with loads that look like the ones I used to take when I went to Econofitness, not the ones an NHL player uses [content-ads]This explains it: when he came to Montreal for his captain’s wedding, Kirby Dach couldn’t – or wouldn’t – skate with his teammates in Brossard. It’s worth noting that Dach is also very quiet on social networks – his last post was in November 2024 – probably in an effort to be forgotten… to go unnoticed. Spending the summer in Alberta, rather than in Montreal (with his chums at Osheaga), makes sense, when you think about it…Let’s just say that the chances of Dach starting his season at the same time as everyone else in two months’ time are pretty slim, which is cause for concern for those hoping to see the Canadiens in the playoffs in 2026. Yes, the Kirby Dach problem would be solved if a guy like Mason MacTavish-good offensively, defensively, physically and in the face-off circle-came to Montreal, but let’s just say that the odds of that happening this summer are very low. And you can’t make plans with very improbable things![spacer title=’Prolongation’]Matthew Tkachuk, who was injured last winter while throwing down the gloves at the 4 Nations tournament, underwent surgery last month (hernia and adductor). According to the latest information from Elliotte Friedman, Tkachuk could return to action just before the Olympic Games. Let’s hope Kirby Dach doesn’t have to wait as long as Tkachuk.
Surprising Marlins earn MLB first in sweep of Yankees
The Miami Marlins achieved a franchise first on Sunday. In doing so, they carved out an interesting place in MLB history. With a 7-3 victory over the Yankees, the Marlins swept New York for the first time in a series of three or more games. In doing so, the Marlins became the only team to have a winning record, including the postseason, against the Yankees. The Yankees now have a 22-21 record against the Marlins in the regular season. However, the Marlins won the 2003 World Series against the Yankees in six games, giving the Fish a 25-24 record all-time. The Marlins' victory on Sunday meant more than a unique place in baseball history. That victory evened the Marlins' record at 55-55, the first time they have been at .500 or better since April 15 (8-8). The Marlins are 30-14 in their last 44 games, tying the 2003 championship team for the best stretch (last done from June 18-Aug. 9) in franchise history. The Marlins defied expectations at the trade deadline, holding on to pitchers Sandy Alcantara and Edward Cabrera. Their only trade involved sending outfielder Jesus Sanchez to Houston, acquiring pitcher Ryan Gusto and a pair of prospects. Expectations were that the Marlins were simply waiting for the offseason to trade those pitchers, as there may be a larger market. Instead, the generally inexperienced Marlins roster is growing and improving by the day. They have clawed back from a 24-40 start to the season to pull themselves into the NL wild-card conversation. Although a lot would need to go right for the Marlins to reach the playoffs this season, they could be a dangerous team over the rest of the season and beyond. The Yankees found that out the hard way.
NBA Trade Idea Sees Lakers Land 17.2 PPG Shooting Guard
A new trade proposal circulating NBA circles suggests the Los Angeles Lakers could bring back a familiar face, Malik Monk, in exchange for forward Rui Hachimura and future draft picks. The deal would send Monk to Los Angeles while Sacramento would receive Hachimura, a 2031 first-round pick, and a 2032 second-round pick from the Lakers. Los Angeles Lakers Receive: Malik Monk Sacremento Kings Receive: Rui Hachimura, 2031 Los Angeles Lakers first-round pick, 2032 Los Angeles Lakers second-round pick On paper, the numbers line up. Monk is entering the second year of his four-year, $77.9 million contract, which pays him $18.7 million in 2025-26, nearly identical to Rui Hachimura’s $18.2 million salary. From a cap standpoint, the trade is feasible. But the implications stretch beyond just money. Monk, who averaged 17.2 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 5.6 assists per game last season while shooting 43.9% from the field and 32.5% from deep, has established himself as one of the league’s premier scoring threats off the bench. His ability to create his own shot, break down defenses, and catch fire as a microwave scorer could be a major asset to the Lakers, who are building around Luka Doncic and still holding onto LeBron James for what might be his final run. However, the Lakers already possess a crowded backcourt rotation with Marcus Smart, Austin Reaves, Bronny James, and Gabe Vincent. Adding Monk could boost their offensive firepower but it would also demand another reshuffling of their guard-heavy roster. From Sacramento’s standpoint, the interest lies in moving off Monk’s contract. The Kings have explored ways to free up financial flexibility and had previously offered Monk in a sign-and-trade deal to the Golden State Warriors for Jonathan Kuminga, a deal that ultimately fell apart when Golden State backed out. With the Kings still shopping Monk, flipping him for an expiring contract like Rui’s makes sense. Rui Hachimura is coming off an efficient season where he averaged 13.3 points per game, albeit in limited sample size, on a scorching 50.9% shooting from the floor and 41.3% from three. Hachimura remains a versatile, physically gifted forward who could help Sacramento as a rotational piece or trade chip next season before his deal expires. Yet for the Lakers, the long-term consequences of this deal could create complications. Monk’s deal runs through the 2027-28 season, and the Lakers have over $111 million in expiring contracts coming off the books next summer. Their front office has carefully positioned themselves to be players in the 2026 free agency sweepstakes. Taking on Monk’s salary beyond 2026 would eat into that flexibility. Unless Monk performs at near All-Star level, the Lakers would be sacrificing future cap space for short-term bench scoring. In essence, this deal presents a classic front office dilemma, immediate firepower versus long-term cap freedom. If Rob Pelinka believes Malik Monk can push the Lakers into championship contention with Luka and LeBron still leading the charge, the move makes sense. But if 2026 remains the target for a third superstar, this trade may be too costly in the long run.
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