#defensive-line

#defensive-line

The No. 13 pick in 2022, Davis was entering his fifth-year option season worth nearly $13 million. Davis has started 56 regular season games for Philadelphia over the last four seasons and was a key member of the vaunted defensive line that helped the Eagles win the Super Bowl in 2024.

Christian Parker may be the coach who changes the narrative. When I went back and looked at Parker's coaching history, from the Green Bay Packers (2019-2020) to the Denver Broncos (2021-2023) and the Philadelphia Eagles (2024-2025), I don't just see the schemes. The thing that stood out to me the most was the types of players these defenses deployed throughout the front seven. I see a consistent blueprint that could shape the Dallas Cowboys defense in 2026.

The thinking is two-fold. You can't have too much talent at most of those positions, and you don't have nearly enough talent at any of those positions. The Dolphins had a decent, although not necessarily strong 2025 draft class despite the fact all seven draftees got playing time last season, and five made at least one start. None of those rookies seems on a path toward stardom or even a Pro Bowl.

The Senior Bowl is an invite-only showcase of upperclassmen prospects and an important step toward forming a plan for the 2026 NFL draft. You can check out practice coverage Wednesday at 2:30 p.m. ET on ESPN2/ESPN App, and then at 5 p.m. ET on ESPNU/ESPN App. Thursday's practices will air at 2:30 p.m. ET on ESPNU/ESPN App, and then at 5 p.m. ET on ESPNNews. (There will be a re-airing on ESPN2 at 10 p.m. ET.)

The Super Bowl is set, which also means picks 1-30 are locked in, with only the Seahawks' and Patriots' selection spots yet to be decided. In my latest 2026 NFL Mock Draft, Fernando Mendoza is locked in at number one, but how many QBs will go in Round 1? Plus, the Bears will look to add to their defensive line. Will they get that help at 25th overall?

Because of that, a player like DT Milton Williams can return as soon as this week against the Jets, and according to Mike Vrabel, there's a good possibility that will happen. The defensive tackle suffered an injury last month that landed him on IR, and he has now missed four games, meaning his return window can finally be opened this week. Vrabel intends on doing that ahead of their Week 17 matchup, and Williams' return couldn't be happening at a better time.

If you want an individual who has been reaching peak form in the postseason, that would be junior defensive lineman Isaia Vandermade of Santa Margarita High. He has recorded eight of his nine sacks in his last three games after becoming healthy and gaining confidence. The 6-foot-2, 270-pound junior is the son of Santa Margarita offensive coordinator Lenny Vandermade, who played at Mater Dei and USC.

Barcelona have found clean sheets hard to come by so far this season and it was the same story on Wednesday night against Club Brugge in the Champions League. The hosts needed less than six minutes to open the scoring against Hansi Flick's side and then added a second on 17 minutes following another quick break. The goal means that Barcelona are now on their worst run without a clean sheet for over a decade.

When I first got here, it felt like home. There's a lot of new people in the house, but the cooking is still the same.