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Giants Eye Off-Ball Linebacker Sonny Styles at Combine
Harbaugh said the off‑ball linebacker position is key to stopping the run, a weakness for the Giants, and that Styles’ coverage skills and athleticism make him a strong candidate for the 2026 draft.
General manager Joe Schoen echoed the priority on run defense, and Styles, a 6‑foot‑3¾, 243‑lb converted safety ranked No. 7 on the Sports Info Solutions board, could be a top‑five pick.
Dallas Cowboys Linked to Big Trade For Perfect Addition to Defense, But There's a Problem
A new report links the Dallas Cowboys to a great addition for their defense in 2026, but there is a key problem with a potential trade.
Dallas’ 2025 campaign was another disappointing one as they followed a 7-10 showing in 2024 that got Mike McCarthy fired by finishing this past season with a 7-9-1 record. However, the offensive side of the ball wasn’t the problem last year.
The addition of George Pickens helped the Cowboys average the second-most yards (391.9) and seventh-most points (27.7) a game in the league this past season. Unfortunately, despite scoring 30 or more points eight times, their defense was a debilitating weakness for them all year.
In 2025, the Cowboys’ defense finished dead last in passing yards given up (251.5) and points (30.1). Their secondary was absolutely putrid as it gave up big plays all the time. Upgrading the secondary in a major way will be a top priority this offseason, and a high-impact option is reportedly available.
Last week, it was revealed that the Miami Dolphins are shopping star safety Minkah Fitzpatrick. On Wednesday, ESPN’s Dan Graziano and Ben Solak took a look at which big-name players could be moved this season, and, of course, the five-time Pro Bowler was on the list.
Dallas Cowboys linked to Minkah Fitzpatrick trade
“He is 29 years old and definitely slowing down, but he has plenty of high-level experience and a reputation as a strong locker room leader,” Graziano wrote. “The Dolphins have a new coaching staff and will be installing a new defense under incoming coach Jeff Hafley.
“It’s possible they’d need to pay down some of the salary to make a deal work, but they also could do the kind of player-for-player deal that brought them Fitzpatrick, last summer.”
Interestingly enough, Graziano and Solak listed the Cowboys among just two “Potential team fits” this offseason. Because of his experience and versatility, Fitzpatrick would be an outstanding addition to Dallas’ secondary. He is certainly on the front office’s radar. But there’s also a big problem.
The Dallas Cowboys have no salary cap space. Whatever they do to free up space, they seem laser-focused on using it to re-sign Pickens. So the only way they may have the space to add Fitzpatrick would be by letting Pickens walk in free agency.
They could also make a trade that means giving up a good player. But that is a risk, and Dallas has to have someone the Dolphins want back in return.
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Lightning get major Victor Hedman injury update for playing status vs. Maple Leafs
Lightning get major Victor Hedman injury update for playing status vs. Maple Leafs originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Tampa Bay Lightning could only watch from afar.
Their superstar defenseman, Victor Hedman, was in Milan playing in the Winter Olympics for Sweden. And in the quarterfinal round, Hedman never came off the bench for a single shift. Turns out, he had been injured in warmups.
That opened up all sorts of concern, but as it turns out, there was nothing to worry about.
Assistant coach Rob Zettler told reporters that Hedman is good to go for Wednesday's game against the Toronto Maple Leafs as the NHL returns from Olympic break.
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The Lightning captain had missed nearly two months earlier this season due to elbow surgery.
He played in Tampa Bay's last three games before the Olympics, then suited up in the three preliminary games for Sweden before that unexpected absence against Team USA.
Hedman has played in 21 games this season for Tampa Bay, and he has 13 points, all assists.
The Lightning got much more good injury news from Zettler in that media appearance. He added that Brayden Point, Charle-Eduouard D'Astous and Emil Martinsen Lilleberg are all ready to play against Toronto, as well.
Point had to miss the Olympics after being chosen for Team Canada due to a knee injury, but evidently he has recovered now.
Lilleberg and D'Astous were both on Injured Reserve heading into the Olympic break but apparently are also good to go.
The Lightning play Toronto on Wednesday and Carolina on Thursday, so it's good timing to return toward full strength.
More NHL news:
- Auston Matthews, Maple Leafs now forced to face tough reality
- Jack Hughes has forever changed his value
- Zach Werenski made 'the play before The Play'
- Connor Hellebuyck has changed his story forever
- Alex Ovechkin has shared an update on his retirement plans
- Evgeni Malkin gets big news on a possible future
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