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There’s little debate the top need for the Pittsburgh Steelers this offseason remains at quarterback. But pundits have predicted a weak incoming quarterback class, and the Steelers don’t select until No. 21 overall.Therefore, the team will likely have to settle for other immediate offensive improvements.It’s also not as though the Steelers don’t have other offensive areas where they need to be better. The team had just one pass-catcher with more than 486 receiving yards during 2025.With that in mind, Pro Football Focus’ Gordon McGuinness projected the Steelers to select Texas A&M wide receiver KC Concepcion. McGuinness made that prediction in his latest 2026 NFL mock draft released Monday.“It’s an offseason of change for the Steelers, with head coach Mike Tomlin stepping down after the team’s wild-card round loss to the Houston Texans. Big questions remain at the quarterback position, but answers are unlikely to come in the first round of the draft,” wrote McGuinness.“Pittsburgh’s other big problem on offense was wide receiver depth. Concepcion earned a 78.2 PFF receiving grade against man coverage in 2025 and would pair nicely with DK Metcalf.”In one season with Texas A&M, Concepcion posted 61 catches for 919 receiving yards and nine touchdowns. He averaged 15.1 yards per catch.Concepcion also returned 25 punts for 456 yards and two scores. He registered 18.2 yards per punt return on his way to All-American honors as an all-purpose player.Over two campaigns with NC State to begin his college career, Concepcion had 124 receptions, 1,299 receiving yards and 16 touchdowns in 25 contests.Steelers Projected to Pair D.K. Metcalf With KC ConcepcionThe Steelers assembled some of the best skilled position talent in the league from 2014-18. But since the departures of Le’Veon Bell and Antonio Brown, the team has struggled to replenish its offense with top talent.In 2025, running back Kenneth Gainwell led the team with 73 catches. With 486 receiving yards, Gainwell and tight end Pat Freiermuth were ranked second for the Steelers in the category behind D.K. Metcalf.Calvin Austin III was second among Steelers receivers in yards with 372.For a short period last offseason, it appeared the Steelers would have both Metcalf and George Pickens as outside receiving threats. But last May, the Steelers traded Pickens to the Dallas Cowboys for a third-round pick.General manager Omar Khan could use that selection to find more receiving talent to replace Pickens. Or, he could take a big swing with Concepcion.It’s obviously very early in the NFL draft process. But in the early going, draft experts seem to consider Concepcion a fringe top-5 receiver in the 2026 class.On December 1, PFF’s Trevor Sikkema ranked Concepcion as the class’s No. 5 wideout. Sikkema also placed the Texas A&M star at No. 35 on his overall big board.When’s the Last Time the Steelers Selected a WR in the First Round of the NFL Draft?The Steelers have a long recent tradition of drafting wide receivers on Day 2 of the NFL Draft. A lot of those wideouts developed into stars and/or great complimentary players.But if the Steelers selected Concepcion in the first round, the franchise would be breaking a 20-year drought of no wideouts picked on Day 1 of the draft.The last time the Steelers picked a receiver in the first round was when they traded up for Santonio Holmes in 2006. Pittsburgh moved up from No. 32 to 25 overall to select the future Super Bowl MVP.The Steelers chose wide receiver Chase Claypool with their first available selection in the 2020 NFL Draft. However, the Steelers didn’t have a first-round pick that year.The 2026 NFL Draft will be a big event for Pittsburgh. Not only will it mark the first draft class for the Steelers’ new head coach, the city will host the event for the first time since 1947.The first-round will take place on Thursday, April 23. Like Heavy Sports's content? Be sure to follow us. This article was originally published on Heavy SportsThe…

The Baltimore Ravens interviewed Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady for their vacant head coaching position. On January 19, the team fired head coach Sean McDermott, potentially leaving Brady’s current job in limbo. However, it also could make him the lead candidate in Buffalo, which could complicate matters for BaltimoreAt 36 years old, Brady could be one of the youngest head coaching candidates in the current cycle. Yet, he does possess a wealth of coaching experience. After his playing days at the College of William and Mary, Brady leapt into coaching. He gained national acclaim and praise as the passing game coordinator for LSU in 2019.The Tigers won the national championship, and Brady headed to Carolina to serve as the Panthers’ offensive coordinator. After his tenure in Charlotte ended, Brady landed with the Bills in 2022 as their quarterbacks coach. On November 14, 2023, Buffalo fired then-coordinator Ken Dorsey, elevating Brady.Ravens Interview Bills OC Joe Brady to Fill Head Coach OpeningBrady ran the offense in Buffalo under a defensive-minded head coach, who gave him free rein. In that time, the team posted a 36-15 regular-season record. In the postseason, the Bills went 4-3. The offense under Brady never finished lower than tenth in yards or points.Moreover, the team excelled in the run game, ranking in the top ten in yards, rushing touchdowns, and yards per attempt. Josh Allen, under Brady’s scheme, saw his completion percentage improve and his interceptions decrease while winning an MVP trophy.If the Ravens did hire Brady, he would inherit a quarterback with a skill set similar to Lamar Jackson’s. Yet, one difference needs to be accounted for. Allen’s running style centers around physicality and the ability to shed tacklers. In contrast, Jackson prefers the open field, where his speed and change of direction help him slide away from defenders, giving him the room to accelerate downfield. GettyBaltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson drops back against the New England Patriots. Brady’s offense relies on a comprehensive approach in which skill-position players play a role in the overall success. In 2024, the coach detailed his thought process.“And so every rep in practice, the individual, there’s such an intention behind what we’re doing and why we’re doing it.”The Bills’ 2023 statistics bear this out. According to Pro Football Reference, the Bills distributed the ball among receivers: seven players had more than 20 receptions, and the offense gained at least 350 yards in 13 games. GettyBuffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen throw a pass against the Denver Broncos during a January 17, 2026 game. In Baltimore, Brady would enjoy a rushing attack behind an offensive line that excels at blocking downhill. Both offenses feature a mobile quarterback around 30 years old. The Ravens hold a slight edge, as wide receiver Zay Flowers is the clear No. 1, proven by his back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons and by averaging at least 14 yards per catch over the past two years. Flowers made his second Pro Bowl. Grade Zay Flowers’ season: 86 Receptions 1,211 Receiving Yards 5 Touchdowns He topped 80+ receiving yards in 4/17 games played. pic.twitter.com/4PuJbzjA7I — SleeperNFL (@SleeperNFL) January 16, 2026https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsWhile no word has circulated on what direction Baltimore is taking, Brady could end up as a viable option. Buffalo’s current coaching opening could force Baltimore’s hand in the hiring process. If they feel Brady is their top candidate, they could conceivably make an offer sooner than later. Like Heavy Sports's content? Be sure to follow us. This article was originally published on Heavy SportsThe post Joe Brady News Could Impact Ravens Amid HC Search appeared first on Heavy Sports.

The Toronto Blue Jays were linked to St. Louis Cardinals‘ reliever Jojo Romero earlier this winter.A lot has happened for the Blue Jays since then. Since that rumor circulated, the Blue Jays have signed Cody Ponce, Tyler Rogers, and Kazuma Okamoto. Toronto has also lost out on Kyle Tucker to the Los Angeles Dodgers and Bo Bichette to the New York Mets. They have been linked to New York Yankees outfielder Cody Bellinger. Recent reports indicate that a reunion with the Yankees is becoming increasingly unlikely.Heavy.com has proposed a trade with the Cardinals that would see them add two key pieces.Blue Jays Acquire: Jojo Romero RP Lars Nootbaar OF Cardinals Acquire: Anthony Santander DH/OF Nathan Lukes OF Bowden Francis SP Johnny King SP (Prospect) In this proposal, the Blue Jays would add both Romero and young outfielder Lars Nootbaar. In exchange, the Cardinals receive several bodies that can help their team now. Anthony Santander and Nathan Lukes can immediately play in the outfield, with Santander able to perform the designated hitter role. Despite a lacklustre 2025 season, some experts are expecting Santander to bounce back in a big way for 2026.Bowden Francis can be added to their starting rotation or long relief to start. Johnny King is a southpaw arm who was primarily a starter in 2025.How Jojo Romero & Lars Nootbaar Help the Blue JaysWhile the Blue Jays could use some infield depth, it’s possible that they have that already with the recent depth addition of Raphael Luntigua. What they could certainly use is another lefty weapon in their bullpen and an upgrade in the outfield.Nootbaar and Romer aren’t the most glamorous options, but they are more than worth exploring.An Upgrade on Jeff Hoffman?Romero has been deployed in a high-leverage role for years. In 2025, he recorded eight saves in nine opportunities in his last 24 games.In the last two years, he has 54 holds and nine saves. That would be a huge addition to the Blue Jays’ bullpen. Especially when you look at the current bullpen options available to the Blue Jays.In 2024 & 2025, Jeff Hoffman had 21 holds and 43 saves, Yimi Garcia had 19 holds and eight saves, Rogers had 64 holds and one save, Louis Varland had 22 holds, and Brendon Little had 37 holds and two saves. Looking at Toronto’s bullpen, one thing is clear: only Hoffman and Rogers had more holds or saves than Romero over the last two years.Looking more closely at Hoffman, in his two years before becoming Toronto’s closer, he recorded 31 holds and 11 saves.Romero is clearly comfortable holding down a lead on the mound. Just like Hoffman made the jump to full-time closer last year, Romero should be a strong consideration this year. Especially if he is traded to the Blue Jays.A Word About Lars NootbaarNootbaar wasn’t the most prolific hitter in 2025. However, there is value in what he brings, given his performance last year.According to Savant, he had the highest Chase rate and Hard Hit percentage on the Cardinals. He recorded 13 home runs, 48 RBIs, 119 hits, and 24 doubles to go along with four stolen bases.Specifically with hits, only Vladimir Guerrero Jr, Bichette, George Springer, Ernie Clement, and Alejandro Kirk had more hits in 2025 than Nootbaar.There is definitely something here that award-winning hitting coach David Popkins can unlock.Anthony Santander & Nathan Lukes Have Been Involved in Trade SpeculationAs for giving up assets, the two main pieces of this proposal for the Cardinals are Santander and Lukes.The Blue Jays would need to make room for Nootbaar, and swapping him in for these two makes the most sense. They have both been brought up as trade chips this offseason, and both could desperately help the Cardinals.In the case of Santander, Ben Nicholson-Smith reported in December that his contract might not be as beneficial to the team as it once was thought.“And speaking of potential trade candidates, Rodriguez wasn’t the only prominent player left off the World Series roster,”…

The New York Knicks have lost three games in a row, and while the mid-season struggles appear to be catching up with the NBA Cup champions, all three of those losses came without Jalen Brunson, but the latest injury update on the star could signal some good news.According to the injury report offered up by the Knicks, Brunson, as well as Josh Hart, are both listed as questionable for New York’s upcoming MLK Day contest against the Dallas Mavericks.Before the team’s latest loss to the Phoenix Suns, Knicks head coach Mike Brown said that Brunson is day-to-day, according to team insider Ian Begley. Brown also said the team was going to be cautious with Hart, but the questionable tag for both could mean good news, considering neither played on Saturday. Mike Brown was asked tonight if there was concern about Jalen Brunson's ankle sprain. "No. He’s day to day." On Josh Hart, Brown said, "He’s just a little sore so we’re just going to be cautious especially this time of year." Hart is out with right ankle soreness. — Ian Begley (@IanBegley) January 17, 2026 Jalen Brunson Injury UpdateBrunson was injured early on in New York’s recent contest against the Sacramento Kings. While there were initially major concerns about his ankle, James L. Edwards of The Athletic quieted some of those worries after reporting that the star guard did not leave the arena with either a walking boot or crutches. Brown has since made it clear that he didn’t expect Brunson to miss major time, but since he’s been gone, it’s clearly taken a toll on the team, as they’ve now lost three games in a row, first the game in which Brunson went out, then to the Golden State Warriors, and most recently to the Suns.In that span, the Knicks’ offense has taken a sharp turn, as they’ve drastically missed Brunson’s 28.2 points per game. While they were previously thought to be top title contenders in the East, Brunson’s absence has shed a big light on major issues around the team, and players have made that clear. But for now, the star being listed as questionable is a good sign for the 25-17 Knicks. They’ve lost eight of their last ten games, but getting back their main scorer could help stop some of the bleeding before the All-Star break. If he can’t return against Dallas on Monday, he’ll have the chance to get back on the court on Wednesday as they take on the Brooklyn Nets.Josh Hart Injury Update Before Mavericks GameLike Brunson, Hart is currently listed as questionable against the Mavericks, currently dealing with an ankle injury of his own. Hart has already missed a decent chunk of the season with several health concerns, and like his teammate and podcast partner, the team has missed his rebounding and defensive versatility.However, as Brown mentioned, New York is taking a cautious approach with Hart and his recovery and playing time. On the season, he is putting up 12.7 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 5.3 assists in 31 games, while being compared to Draymond Green in a ‘do it all’ type role for the Knicks.In what is also good news for the team, there is a massive injury report for the Mavericks ahead of their upcoming contest. Dallas has eight players listed as out, including Anthony Davis, Daniel Gafford, PJ Washington, and obviously, Kyrie Irving and Dereck Lively. Cooper Flagg is listed as questionable. Mavericks Get Major Injury Update On Cooper Flagg Regardless of whether the Knicks can get Brunson and/or Hart back or not, the contest against the Mavericks should be a bounce-back game to put them back on track. Brown, as well as some of the players, have made it clear that they aren’t happy with the team’s recent form, so a win is needed as much as ever as the trade deadline and All-Star break approach. Like Heavy Sports's content? Be sure to follow us. This article was originally published on Heavy SportsThe post Knicks Get Jalen Brunson Injury Update Ahead Of Mavericks Game appeared first on Heavy Sports.