The Sportsletter - Bears On The Clock ⏱️

BY JEFF YODER

APR. 25, 2024 | SUBSCRIBE | WEB VIEW

Happy Draft Day 🙌

One of the most emotional nights on the sports calendar is here. From green-room walkouts to realized dreams, 32 prospects become NFL pros tonight in a franchise-altering spectacle. We’ve got all the info to help you feel like a Draft Day expert during tonight’s first round.

Plus, Reggie Bush is back in the Heisman House. Tyler Herro had a heat check. The Oilers-Kings series is goal-tacular. And much more.

Letter Rip!

NFL DRAFT

The Bears Are On The Clock ⏱️

Photo: Tom Pennington / Getty Images

Everything You Need to Know for Tonight’s NFL Draft (8:00 pm ET, ESPN/NFLN)

It’s finally here. The 2024 NFL Draft gets underway tonight with Round 1. It kicks off a three-day, seven-round weekend where more than 200 picks will be made. Lifelong pursuits and hard work will culminate in tears and realized dreams. The draft is almost exactly the halfway point in the NFL’s offseason — 2.5 months removed from Super Bowl LVIII and 2.5 months away from training camps. It’s also the big moment where your favorite franchise’s GM and scouts can make or break your team’s future. Busts lurk around every pick. So, too, do future Hall of Famers. The Chicago Bears are on the clock…

Read Yesterday’s Mock Draft

NFL Draft Tracker (Live Updates Tonight)

3 QBs in the Top 3

The first three picks are expected to be three quarterbacks based on the team needs in those three positions. The Bears (#1), Commanders (#2), and Patriots (#3) all need QBs. USC QB Caleb Williams — the 2022 Heisman Trophy winner — is expected to go to Chicago at No. 1. Most experts think LSU QB Jayden Daniels — the 2023 Heisman Trophy winner — will go to the Commanders with the No. 2 pick. The draft begins at No. 3. Will the Patriots draft UNC QB Drake Maye, Michigan QB J.J. McCarthy, or trade out of the pick? Other potential first-round quarterbacks include Michael Penix Jr. (Washington) and Bo Nix (Oregon).

A Receiver-Heavy Round 1

The most receivers ever taken in Round 1 was seven (2004), but this year’s draft could match that. I see six wideouts with first-round potential: WR Marvin Harrison Jr. (OSU), WR Rome Odunze (Washington), WR Malik Nabers (LSU), WR Brian Thomas Jr. (LSU), WR Xavier Worthy (Texas), WR Adonai Mitchell (Texas). There are three or four other projected second-round picks who could jump into Round 1.

RBs? LBs? Expect None of These...

In our mock draft, and most of the ones we sourced, running backs and linebackers couldn’t be found in Round 1. That’s somewhat typical of the recent value placed on those positions. Edge rushers are still in high demand, and they’ve largely transformed from linebacker prototypes, but don’t expect a running back to come off the board tonight.

School Pride: Which Program Reigns?

Draft aficionados know the history. Ohio State (90), USC (85), and Alabama (79) have produced the most first-round picks of all collegiate programs. The Buckeyes and Trojans will each add one to that tally tonight, but the Crimson Tide should take the award for most Round 1 picks once again. Expected 1st-Rounders by School: Alabama (4), Texas (3), LSU (3) & Washington (3).

Teams to Watch (Multiple Picks)

Three teams have multiple picks in the first round (tonight) — the Bears (1 & 9), Cardinals (4 & 27), and Vikings (11 & 23). Over all three days, it’s the Cardinals, Packers, and Rams who own the most total picks (11 each). The Panthers, Browns, and Texans do not have first-round picks, so they'll be sitting out tonight unless they trade in.

That’ll do it. Dreams will be realized shortly. Ready for draft night? The picks begin at 8:00 pm ET (ESPN/NFLN).

PFF: One NFL Draft Prediction for All 32 Teams

B/R: The Top-5 Non-QB Game-Breakers in the 2024 NFL Draft Class

ESPN: 2024 NFL Draft: Prospects, Picks, Rankings, Stats, Mocks & More

CFB

Returned to Reggie

Photo: Michael Cohen / Getty Images

Reggie Bush Gets His 2005 Heisman Trophy Back 14 Years After Forfeiture

After 14 years, Reggie Bush has his Heisman Trophy back where it belongs. The 2005 Heisman winner received his formal “reinstatement” to the Heisman Trust yesterday after “enormous changes in the college football landscape.” For those who don’t know the backstory, the exciting and dynamic running back for USC and 11-year NFL pro was forced to forfeit his Heisman Trophy in 2010 after significant sanctions against USC. Bush received benefits while at USC, an asterisk that now feels trivial under the current NCAA guidelines.

"Personally, I'm thrilled to reunite with my fellow Heisman winners and be a part of the storied legacy of the Heisman Trophy, and I'm honored to return to the Heisman family. I also look forward to working together with the Heisman Trust to advance the values and mission of the organization.” — Reggie Bush (Statement to ESPN)

Bush amassed over 9,000 yards and 54 TDs in his 11-year career with the Saints, Lions, 49ers, and Bills. He re-received his trophy at a Heisman Trust meeting in Jacksonville, Florida on Wednesday morning. A group of past winners were there to celebrate with him. Congrats, Reggie. About time.

AP: Organizers Cite NIL Rule Changes as Reason for Reggie Bush’s Reinstatement as 2005 Heisman Trophy Winner

NBA PLAYOFFS

Herro's Heat Stroke 🔥

Photo: Winslow Townson / Getty Images

Heat Shock Celtics in Game 2 (111-101) & Thunder Storm the Pelicans by 30+ (124-92)

On a night when Jimmy Butler was hurt and the 8-seed Miami Heat were on the road against the NBA’s best team, they reminded us who they are. Miami knocked down 23 3s (23-for-43, 53.5%) to shock Boston (111-101), and Tyler Herro was simply heroic in Butler’s absence. Herro (24 pts, 14 asts, 5 rebs) hit six 3s and notched a career-high 14 dimes. Somehow, the 1-vs-8 series is all square heading back to South Beach. Wednesday’s other Game 2 was an obliteration in OKC. The Thunder stormed the Pelicans by 32 (124-92) thanks to 33 points from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and 26 points from Chet Holmgren. No Zion Williamson is hurting New Orleans. More action tonight.

NBA 1st-Round Highlights

Gm 2: Heat def. Celtics (111-101)

Series Tied (1-1)

Gm 2: Thunder def. Pelicans (124-92)

OKC Leads Series (2-0)

Tonight’s Schedule

Gm 3: Cavaliers at Magic (7:00 pm ET, NBATV)

Gm 3: Knicks at 76ers (7:30 pm ET, TNT)

Gm 3: Nuggets at Lakers (10:00 pm ET, TNT)

B/R: Thunder’s Chet Holmgren Grabs Mic Post-Game to Hype SGA as NBA MVP

NHL PLAYOFFS

King Kopi 👑

Photo: Andy Devlin / Getty Images

Kings’ Anze Kopitar Scores OT Winner to Beat Oilers (5-4, OT); Bruins & Golden Knights Also Winners

Three more first-round games in the Stanley Cup Playoffs hit the ice on Wednesday. The Bruins downed the Leafs (4-2) behind a pair of goals from Brad Marchand, and the Golden Knights extended their lead over the Stars with a 3-1 lockdown, but the Kings-Oilers series is must-see TV. Following an 11-goal Game 1 that went Edmonton’s way, the Kings fired back with Anze Kopitar’s breakaway OT winner late last night (5-4, OT). Kopitar had that goal and two assists. That’s 20 combined goals in the series’ first two contests. The record for the most combined goals in a seven-game series is 61 (Sharks-Flames, 1995). We’re a long way from that mark, but it’s worth watching. King Kopitar, your headline crown!

Stanley Cup Playoffs (Round 1)

Gm 2: Kings def. Oilers (5-4, OT)

Series Tied (1-1)

Gm 2: Golden Knights def. Stars (3-1)

VGK Leads Series (2-0)

Gm 3: Bruins def. Maple Leafs (4-2)

BOS Leads Series (2-1)

Tonight’s Schedule

Gm 3: Panthers at Lightning (7:00 pm ET, TBS)

Gm 3: Hurricanes at Islanders (7:30 pm ET, ESPN2)

Yahoo! Sports: Last-Place San Jose Sharks Fire Head Coach David Quinn

HIGHLIGHTS 🎥

⚾️ MLB

Red Sox def. Guardians (8-0)

Shutout Ends Cleveland’s 5-Game Win Streak

Dodgers def. Nationals (11-2)

Shohei Ohtani (3 Doubles), Dodgers Get 20 Hits

Braves def. Marlins (4-3, 10 Innings)

Michael Harris II Hits Walk-Off Double

Yankees def. A’s (7-3)

1st Time Aaron Judge & Juan Soto Hit HRs in Same Game

⚽️ Soccer

EPL: Everton def. Liverpool (2-0)

Loss Effectively Ends Liverpool’s Title Chances

CCC: Columbus Crew def. Monterrey (2-1)

Cucho & Russell-Rowe Lead Crew to 1st Leg Win

FRA: PSG def. Lorient (4-1)

Kylian Mbappe (2G) Sets Record for Most Goals With Single Club (255) in History of French Football

STORYLINES

⛳️ Loyalty Payouts

The two most popular players on the PGA Tour will be made whole this week after turning down overtures from LIV Golf. Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy are set to receive loyalty payouts from the PGA Tour after equity investment. (CBS Sports)

⚾️ Enshrining Pete Rose

Two Ohio lawmakers are once again pushing Major League Baseball to lift the ban on Pete Rose from entering the Hall of Fame. The latest push comes alongside a wave of legal sports betting that makes Rose’s past inequities seem futile. (USA Today)

🏁 MJ’s NASCAR Era

Michael Jordan is more than just another NASCAR celebrity owner. The ‘GOAT’ owns 23XIRacing, and his team celebrated a victory at Talladega for driver Tyler Reddick last weekend. It’s safe to say MJ is all in on NASCAR. (FOX Sports)

NEWS 📰

🏈 Chicago Bears Unveil Video Rendering for New $5 Billion Lakefront Stadium Proposal (B/R)

🏈 Lions & WR Amon-Ra St. Brown Agree to Record-Setting 4-Year, $120 Million Extension (NBC Sports)

🏀 Timberwolves’ Naz Reid Named NBA Sixth Man of the Year (NBA)

⛳️ Greg Norman Says LIV Golf is Open to Idea of 72-Hole Format (SI)

⚾️ Giants Place Blake Snell on IL Just Hours Before Expected Start (ESPN)

🏀 UNC’s RJ Davis, First Team All-American, Returns to Tar Heels for 5th Season (CBS Sports)

🎾 Rafael Nadal Still Not Fully Committed to Playing 2024 French Open (SI)

🏈 Bill Belichick Lands Recurring Role on ESPN’s ‘Manningcast,’ Will Also Write Leadership Book (Yahoo! Sports)

SCHEDULE 🗓️

Tonight's Must-Watch List

🏈 NFL Draft