PITTSBURGH — As the Milwaukee Brewers rallied for runs in the 10th and 11th innings Friday night for an eventual victory over the visiting New York Yankees, Bryse Wilson walked back and forth between the dugout and home clubhouse at American Family Field, keeping tabs on the NFL draft.

Wilson's younger brother Payton, a talented and ...Read more

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — Atlanta has a fond history with southpaws, from Tom Glavine to Michael Vick to Max Fried. In due time, Michael Penix Jr. will have the chance to join them.

The NFL draft is known for its unpredictability, but his selection left some folks perplexed even by its standards. The Falcons, fresh off giving veteran quarterback ...Read more

BOSTON — The Patriots selected Tennessee quarterback Joe Milton III with the 193rd overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft.

Milton is now the fifth quarterback on the roster and the second passer the Patriots have drafted this year. UNC’s Drake Maye was the Patriots’ first-round pick, selected third overall in the draft.

According to a scout,...Read more

DETROIT — The shakeup in college football is having an impact on the NFL draft.

Now that college players can make money on their name, image and likeness, without losing their eligibility, there isn't the same urgency to leave for the pros.

Many NFL evaluators say that has impacted the draft, which wrapped up Saturday, in some cases diluting...Read more

North Carolina, which had quarterback Drake Maye taken with the third pick of the 2024 NFL draft, had two of his former teammates selected Saturday in the fourth round.

Linebacker Cedric Gray was taken 106th overall by the Tennessee Titans, and wide receiver Tez Walker went 113th to the Baltimore Ravens.

Gray earned first-team All-ACC honors ...Read more

NEW YORK — Giants first-round pick Malik Nabers was asked what he makes of Daniel Jones as a quarterback on Thursday.

It was a standard question that 99 times out of 100 results elicits an answer like ‘he’s a great player.’ That is not how Nabers responded.

“I’ll wait until I get here to see all of that,” he said. “I’m just ...Read more

PHILADELPHIA — After trading back in the fourth round twice, the Eagles selected Clemson running back Will Shipley with the No. 127 overall pick on Saturday.

Shipley, who turns 22 in August, was a three-year starter for the Tigers and a former five-star recruit out of Weddington (N.C.). The 5-foot-11, 206-pound Shipley proved himself as a ...Read more

COLUMBIA, S.C. — After a longer-than-expected wait, South Carolina quarterback Spencer Rattler was selected with the 150th overall pick in the fifth round of the 2024 NFL draft by the New Orleans Saints on Saturday.

NFL analysts and mock drafts generally had Rattler slotted as a second- or third-round selection as the draft neared. Then ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — Rams general manager Les Snead and coach Sean McVay on Friday confirmed a report that quarterback Matthew Stafford wants his contract adjusted to include guaranteed salary beyond this season.

NFL.com reported Friday that Stafford was seeking the adjustment.

“We’ve discussed those things,” McVay said after the second day ...Read more

ATLANTA — Full disclosure: On Monday, having read ESPN’s report that the Falcons might draft Michael Penix, I forwarded it to esteemed colleague D. Orlando Ledbetter with this comment: “Not sure I believe it.”

Full disclosure: On Thursday night, when the Falcons drafted Penix, I gasped.

Full disclosure: The first email I saw Friday ...Read more

PITTSBURGH — If the Steelers were looking for a narrative, some fairytale story that had heads spinning and tears flowing on the other side of the country, they certainly got one by selecting tackle Troy Fautanu out of Washington with the No. 20 overall pick late Thursday night.

Not only has Fautanu, throughout the leadup to the NFL draft, ...Read more

HERMOSA BEACH, Calif. — The Rams selected Michigan running back Blake Corum in the third round of the NFL draft on Friday night.

Using the 83rd overall pick, the Rams addressed a need that head coach Sean McVay had spoken about since the owners’ meeting in March. The Rams needed a dependable backup for starting running back Kyren Williams ...Read more

CHICAGO — Caleb Williams arrived at Halas Hall on Friday, his first full day as the new Chicago Bears quarterback, with the same level of excitement and self-assuredness he has been channeling through most of his football life. Williams is nothing if not confident. His ambition is spoken by design. And his undeniable presence is, quite frankly...Read more

BOSTON — The Patriots got new quarterback Drake Maye an offensive weapon.

The Patriots traded down to No. 37 overall to select Washington wide receiver Ja’Lynn Polk in the second round of the 2024 NFL draft. The Patriots traded down from No. 34 and gave up the 137th overall pick in the fifth round to move down to No. 37 and added the 110th ...Read more

ST. LOUIS — Add another player with area college ties to the list of new NFL pros.

Illinois’ Johnny Newton was picked in the second round of the 2024 NFL draft Friday evening. The Washington Commanders took Newton, a defensive tackle, with the 36th overall pick.

The Commanders need Newton's pass-rushing prowess, having finished near the ...Read more

Florida State wide receiver Keon Coleman became Mike Norvell’s latest skill player to be drafted and didn’t have to wait long on Day 2. The Buffalo Bills took him with the first pick of the second round (No. 33 overall) Friday in the NFL draft.

Six picks later, the Rams took their second former Seminole of the draft, plucking defensive ...Read more

PHILADELPHIA — The Eagles continued revamping their secondary on Friday, trading up 10 spots to take Iowa defensive back Cooper DeJean with the 40th overall pick to start the second day of the NFL draft.

DeJean, widely considered a first-round prospect going into the draft, played primarily as an outside cornerback with the Hawkeyes but has ...Read more

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Carolina Panthers selected a promising running back prospect with the 46th overall pick following a pair of second-round trades.

On Friday, the Panthers traded the 39th overall pick to the Los Angeles Rams for the 52nd and 155th overall picks in 2024, and a 2025 second-round pick. The Panthers then traded back up to the ...Read more