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Jalen Hurts Paired With 2,800-Yard Pass Catcher in NFL Mock Draft
© Bill Streicher-Imagn Images

The Philadelphia Eagles and quarterback Jalen Hurts are preparing to play the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX on Sunday.

That doesn't mean it's a bad time to look into the future, though, and one big question they will answer in the offseason is who will take the first pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.

In a mock draft from Ryan Wilson of CBS Sports, he predicts that the Eagles will select Ohio State wide receiver Emeka Egbuka to become another option for Hurts.

"Big body, fluid mover, natural hands away from body with good contact balance and has the ability to run through arm tackles," he wrote ."He gets in and out of breaks with urgency and YAC ability. He's not a finesse player but more of a bruiser. When you talk about 'big slots,' this is what you mean. I think he has some Amon-Ra St. Brown in his game."

It's no doubt an interesting selection for Philadelphia, especially considering the A.J. Browns is under contract until the end of 2029 and DeVonta Smith until the end of 2028.

However, other than those two, the team lacks another threat at the position, as their third most efficient wide receiver was Jahan Dotson, who accumulated just 19 receptions, 216 yards, and zero touchdowns.

In his four years with Ohio State, Egbuka accumulated 205 receptions, 2,868 yards, and 24 touchdowns.

If he can bring that same production to Philadelphia and become a reliable target for Hurts, then the team could potentially already impressive offense, which ranked seventh in points per game (27.2) in 2024.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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Steelers News: Omar Khan Details Why George Pickens Was Traded to the Cowboys Despite 'Developing' Him Since 2022
NFL

Steelers News: Omar Khan Details Why George Pickens Was Traded to the Cowboys Despite 'Developing' Him Since 2022

Following his breakout year in 2023, George Pickens was expected to be the WR1 of the Pittsburgh Steelers for the foreseeable future. He had already justified the second-round draft capital that the franchise had initially invested in him, but there were growing concerns about Pickens’ lack of maturity. Fast forward to the 2025 offseason, and even though he’s managed to produce a career total of 2,841 receiving yards throughout his first three seasons in the league, the Steelers were willing to let him go in exchange for nothing more than a 2026 third-round pick and a minuscule value swap with the Dallas Cowboys. While the team has since managed to replace Pickens’ service with that of D.K. Metcalf, fans and analysts alike are still questioning the decision. Thankfully, the self-titled host of The Rich Eisen made the most of his recent discussion with the team’s general manager, Omar Khan, by directly asking him “Why did George Pickens have to go despite developing him?” “I’ll just say, as we went through the offseason and the process, it just became evident that, for both sides, a fresh start was the best thing,” Khan explained. “It just made sense for both of us.” Suffice to say, Khan’s answer, while not very insightful, does suggest that Pickens’ relationships with various Pittsburgh personnel had become fractured beyond repair. Whether it was the Steelers or Pickens himself who was responsible for things not working out does not matter anymore, as Khan’s brief statement brings the entire saga to a somewhat definitive end. For one reason or another, it was no longer in either side’s best interest to continue working together, and that’s that. Much like the rest of his interview with Eisen, Khan and the rest of the Steelers’ organization is now moving forward. When Eisen noted that Pittsburgh’s trade involving Minkah Fitzpatrick and Jalen Ramsey couldn’t have “happened over night,” Khan explained that it took “weeks” to finally get the deal done with the Miami Dolphins. Being sure to cover all of the high notes from the Steelers’ chaotic offseason, the seven-time Sports Emmy award nominee also inquired about T.J. Watt’s latest benchmark contract with the team. While he was unwilling to go into the “specifics of the numbers,” Khan did proclaim that, “I think it just reflects how we feel about him. It was important for me, and the organization, for T.J. to be a one-helmet Hall of Famer. It would be a great thing and hopefully there’s many, many more years to go with T.J., but it was just important. His numbers speak for themselves… As great of a player as he is, he’s an even better person.” At 6-foot-4 and 229-pounds, the aforementioned Metcalf is certainly capable of filling the Pickens-sized hole in Pittsburgh’s receiving core. Likewise, the addition of Ramsey along with their retaining of Watt will help to ensure that the defense is as stout as ever. The Steelers are going all in on the 2025 regular season with the hopes of discovering their first playoff win since January 15th of 2017 and it’s too late for them to turn back now. They’ll have to hope that they’ve made the right moves and prioritized the right signings. Otherwise they’ll risk wasting the final regular season of one of the most storied careers in all of NFL history.

All signs point to Yankees moving on from Anthony Volpe
MLB

All signs point to Yankees moving on from Anthony Volpe

With the trade for Ryan McMahon now complete, it would seem New York Yankees’ general manager Brian Cashman has fulfilled one of his three priorities. He can now cross third base off the list, which leaves the rotation and bullpen as his remaining priorities. However, according to one Yankees writer, Cashman might not be done with the infield. Chris Kirschner of The Athletic reported this after the McMahon trade: “The Yankees may not be done adding to their infield. A team source said the Yankees are interested in adding a right-handed hitter who could play the infield.” Kirschner adds that the Yankees have had interest in Willi Castro and Amed Rosario. But the question now is, how would another player fit in the Yankees’ infield? Needless to say, Paul Goldschmidt and Jazz Chisholm Jr. aren’t going anywhere, and McMahon is just getting there. That leaves the low-hanging fruit. Anthony Volpe has been at the center of controversy all this season. His 13 errors, many of which had come at make-or-break moments, amount to the second-highest total in the game. In addition, his bat has not been able to compensate, hitting .214/.286/.407 with 14 home runs. There was always a lot to like about Volpe. He won a Gold Glove in his rookie year, his power has always been promising and his speed is nothing to scoff at. Unfortunately, his glove has become a liability and his speed has also produced very few results. Volpe has swiped just 10 bags in 17 attempts. His power is the one thing that still has some upside, but it hasn’t been enough to justify a spot in the lineup. Both Castro and Rosario have been far more productive at the plate this season than Volpe. Kirschner doesn’t clarify how serious the Yankees are in their pursuit of another infielder, but that most likely isn’t available information. Having just turned 24, Volpe could still become the type of player that was expected from him as a top prospect. However, his recent performance has weighed heavily on his team’s efforts and it may be buying him a ticket out of the Bronx — or at least a spot on the bench.

Paula Badosa hints at rocky relationship between ex-boyfriend Stefanos Tsitsipas and father, Apostolos
Tennis

Paula Badosa hints at rocky relationship between ex-boyfriend Stefanos Tsitsipas and father, Apostolos

Having been in an on and off relationship for over two years, Paula Badosa and Stefanos Tsitsipas are quite familiar with each other and their families. It comes as no surprise when the Spanish WTA star appeared to be in agreement with a statement by former player Ivan Ljubicic, where the Croat urged parents of tennis stars to focus less on tennis and more on raising their kids. The high-profile couple made their relationship public in May 2023, and were seen at each other's matches. A year later, they would take to social media to announce they had split ways, only to get back together three weeks later. Known for his volatility on the court, Tsitsipas would engage in a rather heated exchange with his father Apostolos during an opening round loss against Kei Nishikori at the 2024 Canadian Open. The elder Tsitsipas was acting as Stefanos coach at that point, and the Greek star would later take shots at his father in his post-match conference. However, Tsitsipas would later reveal he had apologized to his father soon after the incident. In an interview with SDNA, Tsitsipas stated both men had a long conversation, during which they aired their grievances and the former World No.3 admitted to apologizing to his dad. Badosa co-signs statement by Ljubicic "We discussed it, from my side I had to apologize because it was a big mistake on my part," said Tsitsipas to SDNA. "We have found a new line of communication and a way to talk to each other, so that such things don't happen again and such tensions don't arise again." Ivan Ljubicic, former player who would later coach Roger Federer during the tail end of his career, would chime in on the role of tennis parents, a day after Jannik Sinner dethroned Carlos Alcaraz at the 2025 Wimbledon Championships. "Following last night, second note to parents: your role is CRUCIAL," said Ljubicic. "Your responsibility is to build independent, responsible, strong human beings. Let the professionals do their job, make sure they have all they need. I promise that this is the best formula." Soon after Tsitsipas' interview with SDNA was published, Badosa would return to Ljubicic's post and express her support. "Soooo good ", wrote the Spanish WTA star on Twitter. Although Badosa did not mention Apostolos specifically, the elder Tsitsipas has received backlash for being overbearing towards Stefanos.

Suns reportedly giving Jalen Green a gigantic responsibility
NBA

Suns reportedly giving Jalen Green a gigantic responsibility

The Phoenix Suns might be making one of the most drastic backcourt shifts of the offseason. According to Arizona Sports’ John Gambadoro, the plan is for Jalen Green to become the team’s starting point guard, with Devin Booker sliding over to his more natural role at shooting guard. It sounds good in theory — Booker is a better scorer than primary creator — but it’s a massive role for Green, who has never really been a full-time floor general in the NBA. Booker is clearly more dangerous when he can focus on scoring. Back when he played next to Chris Paul, his numbers reflected that comfort. In 2020-21, their first year together, he averaged 25.6 points per game on nearly 49% shooting from the field. In 2021-22, his scoring number jumped to 26.8. By 2022-23, Booker was at 27.8 points per game with CP3 still around. His efficiency was elite, and the Suns’ offense had flow because Paul took care of the table-setting while Booker focused on punishing defenses. That’s the blueprint they’re trying to replicate again — but now with Green instead of a Hall of Famer. Green is super talented. He just averaged 21 points per game for the Rockets last season, playing all 82 games. He’s electric in transition, has the athleticism to beat defenders off the dribble and can heat up fast. But he’s never been a consistent decision-maker. His career average of 3.4 assists per game doesn’t exactly scream “primary ball handler.” And even with his usage in Houston, Green hasn’t shown elite feel as a pick-and-roll passer or off-ball connector. In fact, per Synergy data, Green ranked only around the 68th percentile as a scorer in pick-and-rolls last season — not bad, but not elite. His shot creation can be dynamic, but the playmaking reads still lag behind. That’s fine if you’re a two-guard, but this new role means he’ll be initiating the offense, setting up Devin Booker, Grayson Allen and others and making sure the ball moves. That’s a steep jump in responsibility. The Suns are clearly banking on upside. At 23, Green still has room to grow. And placing him next to Booker, Allen, Mark Williams, Dillon Brooks, and Ryan Dunn gives him a setting with veteran stability and growing young pieces. He won’t be expected to carry the scoring load — that still falls on Booker — but he will be asked to push the pace, make smart reads, limit turnovers and develop as a true facilitator and efficient scorer. Still, it’s a gamble. Green hasn’t proven he can be that guy yet. And Booker’s not the type of player you want to waste in a stagnant offense with poor ball movement. With the Suns hoping to contend in the West, they can’t afford to have a question mark at point guard every night. There’s also the issue of expectations. Green is playing next to a superstar who’s been deep in the playoffs multiple times. There’s pressure to deliver. And with the Suns’ injury history, Green’s importance could grow even more if the team leans on him for more stability than originally planned. At the end of the day, this move is all about unlocking Booker. Let him go back to his natural game — attacking off the catch, pulling up from midrange and torching switches. That’s the best version of the Suns. Whether or not Green can help bring that out consistently will be one of the biggest storylines of the season in Phoenix.

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