'Frustration & clarity for Charlton after defeat'

Charlton Athletic's season closed with a familiar mix of frustration and clarity at Swansea City - a game that, in truth, probably meant more to Welshman Nathan Jones than it did to most supporters.

The frustration comes from this - when we abandon our pragmatic approach and try to play more expansively, we become easy to exploit. afrikasportnews.co.za

The 3-1 defeat brings clarity for Jones. The squad needs a major injection of quality for next season.

Swansea, though, offered a glimpse of what a settled Championship side looks like. Along with Norwich City and Sheffield United, they've proved how misleading early-season struggles can be.

Following the sacking of Alan Sheehan in November, there is now a more progressive emphasis under Vitor Matos.

Swansea play with intent - aggressive pressing, forward-thinking football, and a real threat from the flanks and set-pieces. Charlton knew what was coming - and still couldn't cope.

There were positives. We contained them for 75 minutes, which other teams haven't managed.

Miles Leaburn's equalising header and Conor Coady captaining the side felt fitting - perhaps a final contribution in a loan spell that has brought leadership and standards.

You can see why Jones values Coady so highly. The pair feel aligned in mindset, even if a permanent move looks unlikely.

But once the game opened up, the gulf became clear.

Swansea controlled proceedings, carving through Charlton too easily at times. Their third goal, from a set-piece Charlton had been warned about, summed up the afternoon.

Conceding three times in the final 15 minutes exposed a side that, when stretched, lacks the nous and resilience required at this level.

There's a sense Charlton could have ground out a draw had they stayed compact. Instead, once the shackles came off, Swansea sliced through them like a knife through butter. It was uncomfortable viewing, but perhaps necessary.

Because if this match did anything, it sharpened the picture for Jones. Charlton can compete, frustrate, and pick up results, but to control games, to look like a side that expects to win, requires something more.

A ruthless summer now feels inevitable. Often, the team struggles to keep the ball with authority and pass meaningfully, make right decisions and be consistently clinical in front of goal. These are not small fixes.

The bigger question is whether the club can match Jones' ambition. Can Charlton evolve while living within their means? Or does progress demand greater backing?

Either way, by August, this needs to feel like a different side. Because while this defeat stung, it may yet prove useful - a reminder of exactly where Charlton are, and how far they still have to go.

The 2026 NFL Draft has come and gone but the offseason rolls on.

The Buffalo Bills made 10 selections during the draft and have yet to sign those players. On top of that, free agency could pop back up again if the Bills are in the market to maybe more additions this offseason.

With all that work to go, how much salary cap space do the Bills have compared to the rest of the NFL?

According to OverTheCap, here is the salary cap space for all 32 NFL teams right now including the Bills:

32. Dolphins: $1.8M31. Panthers $1.9M30. Chiefs: $5.9M29. Bengals: $7.5M28. Cowboys: $8.2M27. Saints: $10.2M26. Bears: $10.8M25. Steelers: $11.1M24. Jaguars: $11.2M23. Bills: $11.922. Buccaneers: $12.8M21. Texans: $13M20. Vikings: $16.1M19. Giants: $17.8M18. Broncos: $18.8M17. Falcons: $19.1M16. Packers: $20.1M15. Browns: $21.1M14. Lions: $22.6M13. Raiders: $25.8M12. Rams: $25.9M11. Colts: $26.6M10. Ravens: $27.7M9. Eagles: $27.9M8. Seahawks: $32.8M7. Patriots: $35.7M6. Jets: $36M5. Cardinals: $40.1M4. 49ers: $45M3. Chargers: $45.8M2. Commanders: $49.5M1. Titans: $63.1M

This article originally appeared on Bills Wire: How much salary cap space do the Bills have following 2026 NFL Draft?

Everton and Moyes Send Clear Tyler Dibling Message

Moyes Raises Standards at Everton

David Moyes has challenged Tyler Dibling to turn promise into proof after a difficult first season at Everton. The 20-year-old arrived from Southampton for £42million last summer after a long pursuit, with the fee reflecting both his potential and the scale of faith placed in him.

Yet Dibling has started only four league games and has played just one minute since January. With Jack Grealish ruled out for the season at the start of the year, Everton hoped Dibling would force his way forward. Moyes now wants sharper work, greater intensity and a response that can carry into next season.

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‘He’ll have to do better I think,’ said the boss ahead of the Toffees’ home clash against Manchester City on Monday night.

Work Rate Becomes Key Test

Moyes has made the training ground the starting point. Everton need more from a player signed for serious money, especially with competition increasing.

‘He’ll have to do better in his work and in his training. We brought in Tyrique (George, from Chelsea) who is of a similar age and as competition as well to make sure we were covered.

‘I think Tyrique has done well in the moments he’s had in games and shown some bits that we like, so we want Tyler to step up, we really do.’

Dibling’s background offers context. He spent time at Chelsea in 2022 before returning to Southampton after struggling with homesickness, so another major move, this time to Merseyside, was always likely to test him. Everton have not lost belief, although Moyes made clear that patience must lead somewhere.

‘He’s important to us. He’s a player who we put a lot of faith and money into to bring him here so we are looking for a lot more.

‘That’s why we are not panicking about it, because of his age. We want him to step up, we are hoping that he’ll improve and next year will be a big year for him to see if he can do that.’

Barry Also Under Spotlight

BlogMel McShay's Latest NFL Mock Draft PredictionsUnderstanding McShay's NFL Mock Draft ESPN's Mel Kieth McShay Jr., known as McShay, releases an annual mock draft that simulates the NFL draft, predicting which players teams wi...Open →

Thierno Barry is facing his own challenge. The Everton striker enjoyed a productive festive spell, then scored only once in his next 11 league appearances. Moyes sees confidence, age and adaptation as part of the picture.

Moyes added: ‘I am saying a general thing here and it is that football supporters are not having much patience with many things. You might not get two or three years to become that player.

‘There is a bigger emphasis on, “We need things now, we are looking for that to happen quickly”. It is not just here at Everton. I think all clubs are the same.

‘He is young as well, first year in the country, at the moment we have four games to go and if he scores a couple of goals you might say it has not been the worst return for a young centre forward.

‘There are a lot of clubs who have paid a lot of money for centre forwards and you wouldn’t say that has been worth it.

‘We took a chance on a young, up-and-coming striker, we tried to get him in quickly and early to see how he was going. He has not done bad. I actually think he is improving as he is going along. First season in the Premier League, it is not that easy.’

Armstrong Offers Positive Sign

While Dibling and Barry seek momentum, Harrison Armstrong represents progress. The Everton midfielder is in talks over a new contract after a fine breakout campaign and a January recall from Preston.

For Moyes, the message is simple. Everton will invest in young talent, support it and protect it, yet standards remain non-negotiable. Dibling still has time. Next season will show whether he can meet the demand.

Rookie minicamps are underway around the league, and the Los Angeles Rams will soon join the mix with their own this weekend. They’ll welcome their rookies into the building on May 8 and minicamp will run through May 10, getting them acclimated to their new lives in the NFL.

There typically isn't a ton of on-field work involved in the Rams’ rookie minicamp, but they still get to see their new players in a professional setting. One rookie who will be under a microscope all year is Ty Simpson.

ESPN insider Jeremy Fowler spoke to someone within the organization to find out what the Rams want to see from Simpson at rookie minicamp, and it’s mostly the mental side of playing quarterback.

“I checked with somebody with the team about Rams minicamp and what do they want to see from Simpson?” he said. “They said just command of the operation, ability to adjust, process information. Those aspects are going to be his superpowers with the Rams. He’s not the huge Matthew Stafford arm. He wins mentally, so that’s why they like him. Les Snead, the GM, told me he likes Ty Simpson’s central nervous system. He just has the ability to figure out the game with his mind. They want to see that on full display.”

Simpson doesn’t have elite physical traits when it comes to size, athleticism or arm strength. But he’s outstanding in the mental aspect of the game, diagnosing defenses and getting the ball where it needs to go.

Rookie minicamp will be the first step for the former Alabama signal caller, but things will really ramp up during OTAs and mandatory minicamp later this spring, and eventually training camp in July.

This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: NFL insider shares what Rams want to see from Ty Simpson at minicamp