Lucas Ramirez, Joseph Contreras – sons of ex-MLB stars – steal WBC spotlight

HOUSTON — Baseball is rarely easy to predict, and so Lucas Ramirez has made a habit of the next best thing.

In the months leading up to hisWorld Baseball Classicdebut forTeam Brazil against Team USA, the outfielder ritually practiced affirmations and visualizations to prepare for his entry onto baseball's international scene.

"Ever since the (WBC) qualifiers, I was envisioning that first at-bat bomb," Ramirez said. "And it's crazy that it actually happened. For five months, I've been – every time before I go to bed after I pray, I visualize it. And it happened."

So when Ramirez rounded the bases at Daikin Park on Friday night after he delivered a leadoff home run in Brazil's first at-bat of the tournament – one of two solo home runs he hit in the game – he screamed, "I told you!"

"I say go out there with confidence (and) you can do anything you speak," Ramirez said later. "If you say it out loud, it'll happen. I'm telling you. It will happen."

Although Team USA broke the game open in the late innings for a 15-5 win over Brazil, two of Brazil's youngest players provided the team's brightest moments.

At 20 years and 49 days old, Ramirez is the youngest player in WBC history with a multi-homer game. His teammate, Brazil pitcher Joseph Contreras, the youngest player in the tournament at 17 years and 291 days old, got USA captain Aaron Judge toground into an inning-ending double playwith the bases loaded.

All the electric moments from USA-Brazil World Baseball Classic game

When asked how that moment ranked in his career, Contreras, a senior at Blessed Trinity Catholic High School in the Atlanta suburbs, said, "That has to be up there. That's definitely like a top two moment. I would say the first one obviously was winning the state championship back home. There's nothing better than winning it all."

Both players represent Brazil because of their mothers' heritage and are the sons of MLB legends. Ramirez's father Manny won two World Series titles with the Red Sox and was a 12-time All-Star. Contreras' father José was a World Series champion with the White Sox in 2005 and an All-Star in 2006.

Both fathers were in the stands at Daikin Park on Friday to watch their sons' WBC debuts. The performances the sons delivered were proof that they can create their own legacies.

"Having Manny Ramirez as my father is obviously a good thing and a bad thing," Lucas Ramirez said. "It's a little hard. Everybody expects so much. That's why, maybe, I visualize and say things, I guess – because I got to paint my own picture. I got to be Lucas Ramirez, and I got my own path."

He wasted little time. Judge's two-run shot in the top of the first inning gave the USA an early 2-0 lead that was halved a short time later.

Leading off the game for Brazil against San Francisco Giants ace Logan Webb, Ramirez deposited a low inside-corner fastball over the wall in right-center field. Feet from where the ball landed, the Brazilian contingent in the home bullpen went berserk, with one reliever even hanging over the fence.

Besides thinking about hitting a bomb, Ramirez said another thought crossed his mind right before he went up to the plate.

"I'm gonna go out there and give it my all, and I'm just gonna have fun," he said. "Too many people work on the field and they make baseball their whole life. They have a bad game, and they're going to have a bad attitude the whole rest of their day. Like, this is temporary. We're here temporarily, and we're gonna go out there and have fun and be in life."

In the top of the second inning, Contreras took over for Brazil starter Bo Takahashi and exacted revenge against Judge, but not before getting into a jam.

After retiring the first batter he faced, Contreras gave up a hard-hit double to Brice Turang and surrendered back-to-back walks to Bobby Witt Jr. and Bryce Harper to load the bases for Team USA's captain.

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Contreras got to a 1-1 count against Judge and threw a two-seamer on the inside of the plate. Judge grounded into a 5-4-3 double play to end the inning. Osvaldo Carvalho, Brazil's first baseman, pumped his fist wildly while Contreras walked to the dugout and collected high-fives and pats on the back.

"It was just a surreal experience," Contreras said. "I tried to visualize on that and make sure keep breathing, but as soon as the lights came on and I was on the mound, it was like 'Alright, now you got to face Byron Buxton. OK, now it's real.' Game sped up on me a little bit but now I know for the next time."

Following his scoreless frame, Contreras allowed two of the next three batters he faced to reach base before Kyle Schwarber scored on a wild pitch and knocked the teenager out of the game with Brazil trailing 3-1. Still, Team USA came away impressed by Contreras' outing.

"Impressive. I know I wasn't doing that at that age, that's for sure," Judge said. "Just great stuff. I know he had some poise on the mound. He's throwing up to 100 miles an hour. He's facing Team USA, a lot of guys he has seen on TV or different things like that. It was just impressive seeing him control himself out there and get out of a big jam."

In the eighth inning, Ramirez blasted another home run on a one-out pitch from USA reliever Gabe Speier, making the score 8-5.

When Ramirez and Team Brazil manager Yuichi Matsumoto exited the interview room after the game, a Team USA contingent was waiting in the hallway for their turn. USA manager Mark DeRosa told Ramirez, "Way to swing the bat!" Judge shook hands with Ramirez, who in turn asked the three-time American League MVP to take a selfie with him.

Ramirez plays in the Los Angeles Angels organization and spent the 2025 season at the High-A level. Contreras will graduate from high school this spring and is committed to play college ball at Vanderbilt, if he is not drafted by an MLB organization.

Neither has made it to the majors yet, though each inherited certain traits from their dads.

Ramirez mirrors his father's swing mechanics, though he was taught to hit lefty instead of righthanded. The 20-year-old was drafted in the 17th round in 2024 and last March helped Brazil qualify for the WBC.

The first pitch Contreras learned how to throw was his father's infamous forkball. The son is 6-foot-4, tall and lanky like his father, and possesses the same quiet confidence.

"Oh man, that kid is something special," Ramirez said. "Obviously, he comes from a father who plays baseball as well, so that's been great. That kid's going to be lights out one day."

Ramirez regularly takes Christmastime trips to Brazil to visit his grandmother and grandfather, who own a livestock farm there. He said playing for Team Brazil has only strengthened his connection to the country. Ramirez, who speaks fluent Spanish as well as some Portuguese, has asked older players about Brazil's lone prior WBC appearance in 2013 and been taught by some teammates how to dance to Brazilian funk music.

Friday night's loss to the USA in pool play left Brazil still searching for its first WBC win after going 0-3 in the 2013 tournament. Brazil is scheduled to play remaining pool games against Italy, Mexico and Great Britain in Houston.

The final scoreline could have been worse, but Team USA's offense was more junk than juggernaut. Despite Brazil's pitchers walking 17 batters, hitting two more batters and incurring three pitch clock violations, the Americans hit 5-for-21 with runners in scoring position and stranded 13 baserunners.

What most fans will remember about the night, however, is how two burgeoning stars stole the spotlight from the tournament favorite.

Certainly, Ramirez and Contreras will never forget it. And next time Ramirez goes to visualize his success, he can close his eyes and picture those moments again and again.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Manny Ramirez's son a star for Brazil in WBC game vs USA

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March 07, 2026

Lucas Ramirez, Joseph Contreras – sons of ex-MLB stars – steal WBC spotlight

HOUSTON — Baseball is rarely easy to predict, and so Lucas Ramirez has made a habit of the next best thing. In...

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Alex Ovechkin calls Capitals' trade of John Carlson 'the toughest day in my career'

The Washington Capitals made one of the most surprising moves of the NHL trade deadline bydealing defenseman John Carlson, the second-longest tenured player on the team, to the Anaheim Ducks.

Their longest-tenured player has some thoughts on that.

Speaking with reporters the day after the Capitals announced the move,which will net them a conditional first-round pick and a 2027 third-round pick, all-time NHL leading goal-scorer Alex Ovechkin went beyond calling it a sad day:

"Obviously a sad day. Probably the toughest day in my career, talking personal-wise. It sucks. It's sad."

Ovechkin and Carlson had been teammates for 17 years, going back to the defenseman's NHL debut in 2010. Along with other franchise staples like Nicklas Backstrom, the pair presided over an era of Capitals history defined by regular playoff appearances and their Stanley Cup title in 2017-18.

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Carlson ranks behind only Ovechkin in games played for the Capitals and behind only Backstrom and Ovechkin on the franchise's all-time assists leaderboard. Ovechkin believes the franchise has never had a better blueliner:

"He's obviously the best defenseman in this franchise's whole history, leader. Obviously, an unbelievable man and a great friend for all of us. It's hard. It's a hard day."

The move answers one question for the franchise, making clear general manager Brian MacLellan is prioritizing the future over the 2025-26 season, but makes another question even more pressing.

Ovechkin is a free agent after this season, in which he holds an $8 million cap hit, andhe's been fairly mum on what he's planning to do.There are indications he'd like to return to his native Russia and play in the KHL before retirement,but he's going to have options regardless.

Asked about his future with the Capitals on Friday, he basically just shrugged:

"I don't know. I'm still here, so we'll see. We'll see what's going to happen, but yeah, it's a hard one."

The Capitals traded another of their most tenured players on Friday as well, sending longtime fourth-line center Nic Dowd to the Vegas Golden Knights. Ovechkin and Tom Wilson are now the only active Capitals players who made their debuts with the team before 2019.

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March 07, 2026

Alex Ovechkin calls Capitals' trade of John Carlson 'the toughest day in my career'

The Washington Capitals made one of the most surprising moves of the NHL trade deadline bydealing defenseman John Carlson...

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What to know: Downtown Anchorage braces for a canine takeover as the Iditarod’s 54th run begins

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — Hundreds of barking dogs will take over downtown Anchorage on Saturday for the ceremonial start of the world's most famous sled dog race. The event, catered to fans who hope to see and cheer on their favorite mushers, takes place a day before the competitive start.

Iditarod What to Know Racing

Here's what to know about the 54th running of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, which features a new amateur category and financial support from a Norwegian billionaire.

What is the Iditarod?

The Iditarod was conceived by co-founders Dorothy Page and Joe Redington Sr. as a long-distance sled dog race to honor both Alaska's mushing tradition and the Iditarod Trail. That was a 938-mile (1,510-kilometer) freight and mail route that ran from Seward on Alaska's southern coast to Nome, on the Bering Sea on Alaska's western coast.

The start of the race was placed in the Anchorage area to energize residents of the state's largest city. The lateHoward Farleywas instrumental in making Nome, about 1,000 miles (1,610 kilometers) away, the finish line.

Thirty-four mushers started the 1973 race, but only 22 finished.

Dick Wilmarth won it in 20 days. He never raced again. When asked why, he once said, "Cause I won."

Since then, mushers have become faster and faster, with winners reaching the finish line a block off the Bering Sea in about 10 days.

It's a small field of competitive mushers

The number of mushers jostling to be the first to Nome has varied over the years, but the retirements of many longtime mushers and thehigh cost of supplies, such as dog food, have kept the fields small this decade.

The largest field was 96 mushers starting the race in 2008. Over the race's first five decades, about 60 competed on average. Just 33 started the race in 2023 and 2025 — the fewest ever.

This year, 34 mushers are competing, matching the number who started in 1973. They will glide their sleds over 11 miles (18 kilometers) of trails in Anchorage past cheering fans on Saturday. The competitive 1,000-mile (1,610-kilometer) race starts Sunday on a frozen lake about 75 miles (120 kilometers) north of Anchorage.

A Norwegian billionaire provides financial backing

There actually are 37 mushers in this year's race, but three are not eligible for the championship or prize money. The Iditarod has started a new Iditarod Expedition Musher Program, which allows people to race in the honorary category.

Participating this year will be Norwegian billionaire Kjell Rokke, who now lives in Switzerland, and Canadian entrepreneur Steve Curtis. Unlike Iditarod contestants, they are allowed outside help.

Norwegian musher Thomas Waerner, whowon the 2020 Iditarodand then famously was stuck in Alaska for three months because of the COVID-19 pandemic, will provide support for Rokke running a dog team. Four-time champion Jeff King will aid Curtis on a snowmachine.

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Rokke is providing financial support to the race, including boosting the race purse by $100,000 to a total of $650,000 and providing $170,000 in support for the 17 Alaska Native villages that serve as checkpoints.

Iditarod CEO Rob Urbach said Rokke's donation to the purse should raise the payouts to competitors, with the winner getting about $80,000, well above the nearly $57,000 paid to the top musher last year.

"I believe it is healthy for the sport to evolve and look at new opportunities," Waerner told The Associated Press in an interview conducted by private message. "The cost of running a competitive kennel has increased significantly over the years, and this initiative is an attempt to explore more sustainable ways to finance both a racing kennel and the race itself — while maintaining high standards for dog care, training, competition, and overall quality."

Curtis, whose addition was only announced three days before the ceremonial start, was also expected to provide financial support to the Iditarod, but details were not immediately available.

This year's field includes four competitive mushers from other countries: two from Canada, one from Norway and one from Denmark.

Three former champions

Even though Waerner is ineligible to win, the field includes three other former champions all looking for their second title:defending champion Jessie Holmes, 2023 championRyan Redingtonand 2019 winnerPete Kaiser.

Holmes, a former reality television star on National Geographic's "Life Below Zero," is trying to join former champions Susan Butcher andLance Mackeyas the only mushers to win their second title the year after winning their first.

Both Butcher and Mackey went on to win four championships apiece. Each died from cancer, Butcher in 2006 and Mackey in 2022.

Redington is the grandson of Joe Redington Sr., the race's co-founder, and Kaiser was the fist Yup'ik to win the race.

Over the mountains and through the snow

Deep snow should greet mushers along much of the 1,000-mile (1,610-kilometer) trek to the state's western coast.

The route takes mushers over two mountain ranges, the frozen Yukon River and treacherous Bering Sea ice before ending on Front Street in Nome.

The finish line is near City Hall, built on the former site of The Dexter, a bar that was owned by Wyatt Earp — he of the Gunfight-at-the-OK-Corral fame — during Nome's heady gold rush days.

The winner is expected to reach Nome early the week of March 16.

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March 07, 2026

What to know: Downtown Anchorage braces for a canine takeover as the Iditarod’s 54th run begins

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — Hundreds of barking dogs will take over downtown Anchorage on Saturday for the ceremonial start ...

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High schooler retires three-time MVP in stunning World Baseball Classic moment

HOUSTON — So, what did you do during your spring break in high school?

Joseph Contreras, the 17-year-old son of former All-Star pitcher Jose Contreras, just spent Friday night dazzling the baseball world forTeam Brazil against USA, pitching so well that he can brag about it to his buddies at Blessed Trinity Catholic High School in Roswell, Georgia.

Contreras, stepping on the same mound where his father won the 2005 World Series championship with theChicago White Soxin Houston, faced the greatest hitters in the world and excelled.

He came into the game in the second inning, and retired Byron Buxton on a fly ball to right field, and then ran into trouble by giving up a double off the left-field wall to Brice Turang, and then issued back-to-back walks to Bobby Witt Jr and Bryce Harper to load the bases.

Next up, Aaron Judge, who just clobbered a home run in the first inning.

Contreras threw a 97-mph fastball past Judge for strike one. He missed with a 80-mph changeup. And came back with a 94.4-mph sinker that Judge hit to third baseman Leonardo Reginatto, who started an inning-ending double play.

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Contreras danced to the dugout, his teammates all stood to congratulate him, and the professional scouts in the stands scribbled frantically.

If this kid was projected to be a second-round draft pick before the WBC, his stock just soared.

He may be committed to Vanderbilt, but after this night, well, they better come up with a whole lot more NIL money to make sure they get him.

"Can you imagine how much his stock will rise if he pitches well?'' said FOX announcer A.J. Pierznyski, who introduced himself to Contreras, telling him that he used to catch his father.

The youngster struggled a bit in his second inning by giving up a single to Kyle Schwarber, who eventually scored on Contreras' second wild pitch of the frame, and issued a walk to Cal Raleigh, knocking him out of the game. But the impression was made.

The kid just had a memory he'll cherish forever.

And, oh, how his high school teammates can't wait to hear all about that magical evening deep in the heart of Texas.

All the electric moments from USA-Brazil World Baseball Classic game

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Joseph Contreras, high school pitcher, gets Aaron Judge out in WBC

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March 06, 2026

High schooler retires three-time MVP in stunning World Baseball Classic moment

HOUSTON — So, what did you do during your spring break in high school? Joseph Contreras, the 17-year-old son o...

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Geno Smith skewers Wendy's after fast-food chain offers him job on social media

Geno Smith may have made his most accurate throw of the year after reports circulated on Friday that the Las Vegas Raiders are expected torelease the quarterbackwhen the new NFL year begins next week.

The social media account of fast-food chain Wendy's responded to the news by tagging Smith on X and offering him future employment.

"In case things don't work out in free agency we're looking for a Chief Tasting Officer,"the post said.

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Smith responded with a rather sharp quip, perhaps implying that he didn't think Wendy's teasing was very funny. Or maybe he appreciated the dig and just came back stronger than anyone might have anticipated.

"Get ya cheese up 1st," Smith replied, telling Wendy's to make more money. But the post was accompanied by a screenshot of a February Restaurant Business article with the headline "Wendy's sales plunged last quarter."

The fast-food chain's sales dropped 11% last year,according to Restaurant Business. As a result, Wendy's will likely close approximately 300 to 350 of its locations (5-6% of its total restaurants) across the United States. The company is also looking for a new CEO.

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If Smith wasn't a professional football player, he might not scoff at the Wendy's offer, which comes with a $100,000 salary,according to USA Today. But the 12-year NFL veteran stands to make much, much more on the free-agent market. (The Raiders are reportedly exploring possible trades, but other teams likely won't want to pay Smiththe $26.5 million salaryon his current contract.)

Among the teams reported to be interested are the Minnesota Vikings, Pittsburgh Steelers and New York Jets. Even if he signs a minimum contract, he'll likely make at least $1.3 million.

Smith didn't leave it at that reply, either. He followed up with two more posts taking shots at Wendy's.

"Out here selling poison trying to get jokes off on twitter," he said inthe first one. "Society in shambles."

Responding to a fan saying there was "beef" between Smith and Wendy's,the QB responded, "This beef is about as real as the beef in those patties they're selling."

Is it safe to say that Wendy's missed while Smith hit his target several times? He's a career 65.2% percent passer, after all, and is two seasons removed from completing 70.4% of his throws for the Seattle Seahawks.

So Wendy's will probably have to look elsewhere for its Chief Tasting Officer. Although if he was willing to sample products on camera, Smith surely couldn't do worse than McDonald's CEO Chris Kempczinski, whowent viral this weekfor appearing less than enthused while tasting the chain's new "Big Arch" burger.

That prompted CEOs from competing fast-food chains,including Wendy's, to respond. Perhaps that had the Wendy's social media account feeling emboldened enough to tag Smith and get smacked online in return.

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March 06, 2026

Geno Smith skewers Wendy's after fast-food chain offers him job on social media

Geno Smith may have made his most accurate throw of the year after reports circulated on Friday that the Las Vegas Raider...

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Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs rally from 25 points down to beat the Clippers 117-112

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Victor Wembanyama had 27 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks as the San Antonio Spurs rallied from a 25-point deficit to beat the Los Angeles Clippers 117-112 on Friday night.

Clippers Spurs Basketball

Kawhi Leonard had 30 points and nine rebounds for Los Angeles, which had a three-game winning streak snapped.

San Antonio (46-17) has won 14 of 15 and is second in the Western Conference.

After defending a missed 3-pointer by Leonard, Wembanyamabroke free for an uncontested dunkthat gave the Spurs a 113-112 lead with 16 seconds left. Clippers forward Nicolas Batum turned the ball over on the ensuing possession when his foot crossed the boundary while inbounding the ball. Stephon Castle closed out the win by rebounding his own missed free throw and converting a layup with 1 second remaining.

After trailing 75-50 in the third quarter, the Spurs opened the fourth with an 18-5 run to take their first lead since the opening minutes.

Wembanyama blocked Kris Dunn's reverse layup, creating a fast break that ended with an alley-oop dunk by Carter Bryant. Devin Vassell followed with a 3-pointer for a 99-97 lead.

Julian Champagnie finished with 20 points and nine rebounds for the Spurs, and De'Aaron Fox had 19 points and nine rebounds.

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Brook Lopez had 26 points for the Clippers.

Lopez had nine points in the first quarter on a series of floaters, fadeaways and step-back jumpers.

The Clippers took a 56-39 lead with 4 1/2 minutes left in the first half. The lead stretched to 22 points over the next four minutes.

San Antonio shot 38% from the field and 30% on 3-pointers in the first half to trail 66-46 at the break, its biggest halftime deficit of the season. The Spurs have led at the half in 42 of their 63 games.

Up next

Clippers: At Memphis on Saturday.

Spurs: Host Houston on Sunday.

AP NBA:https://apnews.com/hub/NBA

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March 06, 2026

Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs rally from 25 points down to beat the Clippers 117-112

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Victor Wembanyama had 27 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks as the San Antonio Spurs rallied from a 2...

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Bears trade for Patriots C Garrett Bradbury. Here's why they did it now.

TheChicago Bearsdid not waste any time in finding a new anchor for their offensive line.

On the same day theBearstransferred center Drew Dalman to thereserve/retired list, they agreed to terms with theNew England Patriotson a trade to acquire centerGarrett Bradbury. In return, thePatriotswill receive a fifth-round pick in the 2027 NFL Draft.

The trade cannot be officially processed until the new league year begins on March 11.

NFL Media'sIan Rapoportwas the first to report news of the trade. ESPN'sAdam Schefterwas first with the report of compensation.

Bradbury will reunite with North Carolina State teammate Joe Thuney on the Bears' offensive line.

NFL NEWS, TAKES, FANTASY ADVICE:USA TODAY Sports has you covered with our NFL vodcast

2. New York Jets – OLB/DE David Bailey, Texas Tech

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 3. Arizona Cardinals – OLB/DE Arvell Reese, Ohio State

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 4. Tennessee Titans – RB Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 5. New York Giants – LB Sonny Styles, Ohio State

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 6. Cleveland Browns – OL Francis Mauigoa, Miami (Fla.)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 7. Washington Commanders – S Caleb Downs, Ohio State

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 8. New Orleans Saints – WR Carnell Tate, Ohio State

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 9. Kansas City Chiefs – CB Mansoor Delane, LSU

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 10. Cincinnati Bengals – DE Rueben Bain Jr., Miami (Fla.)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 11. Miami Dolphins – OT Spencer Fano, Utah

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 12. Dallas Cowboys – CB Jermod McCoy, Tennessee

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 13. Los Angeles Rams (from Atlanta Falcons) – WR Denzel Boston, Washington

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 14. Baltimore Ravens – DL Caleb Banks, Florida

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – TE Kenyon Sadiq, Oregon

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 16. New York Jets (from Indianapolis Colts) – WR Makai Lemon, USC

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 17. Detroit Lions – OT Monroe Freeling, Georgia

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 18. Minnesota Vikings – S Dillon Thieneman, Oregon

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 19. Carolina Panthers – DT Peter Woods, Clemson

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 20. Dallas Cowboys (from Green Bay Packers) – OLB/DE T.J. Parker, Clemson

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 21. Pittsburgh Steelers – WR Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 22. Los Angeles Chargers – G Olaivavega Ioane, Penn State

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 23. Philadelphia Eagles – DE/OLB Akheem Mesidor, Miami (Fla.)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 24. Cleveland Browns (from Jacksonville Jaguars) – WR Omar Cooper Jr., Indiana

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 25. Chicago Bears – S Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, Toledo

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 30. Denver Broncos – WR KC Concepcion, Texas A&M

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 31. New England Patriots – DE Keldric Faulk, Auburn

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />

NFL mock draft: First-round projection after Trent McDuffie trade

Dalman informed the Bears on March 3 that he intended to retire at 27 years old. In his one year with Chicago, Dalman started all 17 games and earned his first career Pro Bowl nod.

Bradbury, 30, lands with his third team in three years – as well as the third of his career. The former first-round pick with theMinnesota Vikingsin the 2019 NFL Draft signed a two-year deal with the Patriots last year in free agency, following a six-year stint in Minnesota. After starting all 17 games for New England in 2025 – plus all four postseason games, including Super Bowl 60 – Bradbury will play out the second and final year of his deal in the Windy City.

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New England will head into free agency next week with second-year offensive lineman Jared Wilson as its presumptive starter at center. Wilson exclusively played left guard in all 13 starts he made as a rookie in 2025, but he was the starting center at Georgia in 2024.

Garrett Bradbury trade details

Full trade compensation has been determined, according to ESPN. Here's what each team receives in the trade:

Bears receive:

• C Garrett Bradbury

Patriots receive:

• 2027 fifth-round pick

BEARS NEWS:Pro Bowl center Drew Dalman retiring at age 27, per reports

Garrett Bradbury contract

• Length: Two years

• Value: $9.5 million

• AAV: $4.75 million

According to Spotrac, Bradbury's two-year deal, which he signed with the Patriots last offseason, is worth $9.5 million total. Of that money, $3.8 million was guaranteed in the form of a signing bonus and Bradbury's 2025 salary.

New England will save $5.7 million against the cap by trading Bradbury while eating $1.2 million in dead cap, according to OverTheCap. Chicago will take on the $5.7 million cap hit from Bradbury's contract in 2026.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Garrett Bradbury trade lands Bears new center, Patriots get draft pick

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March 06, 2026

Bears trade for Patriots C Garrett Bradbury. Here's why they did it now.

TheChicago Bearsdid not waste any time in finding a new anchor for their offensive line. On the same day theBe...

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