2026 NFL Free Agency: Who Should Sign The Biggest Names Left On The M…

With NFL offseason programs well underway, including OTAs for teams with new head coaches, several big-name players remain available in free agency. Where will they land? I take on the role of matchmaker, pairing 10 of the highest-profile names still on the market with teams that make the most sense. Alec Pierce has been elevated to the Colts’ WR1 slot, but they could still use more depth at wide receiver after trading Michael Pittman Jr. to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Colts GM Chris Ballard said in April that Pierce could miss three months following offseason ankle surgery. The second-best wide receiver on Indianapolis’ roster is currently Josh Downs, who had a career-low 566 receiving yards last season. Diggs had a comeback season last year with the New England Patriots, catching 85 passes for 1,013 yards. Yes, he's 32 and has a lot of wear and tear, but he didn't miss a game in 2025 and played in his first Super Bowl. While Myles Garrett broke the NFL’s single-season sack record last season (23.0), the Browns didn’t have another edge rusher who reached six. So there’s an opportunity to add more playmaking on what’s already a strong defense. The 30-year-old Bosa, a five-time Pro Bowler with the Chargers, had five sacks and a league-high five forced fumbles with the Buffalo Bills in 2025. The Seahawks shouldn’t rule out more depth at wide receiver. Given that he’ll have a full year with Seattle in 2026, midseason acquisition Rashid Shaheed should naturally step into the WR2 role alongside Offensive Player of the Year Jaxon Smith-Njigba. But Cooper Kupp is entering his age-33 season. New Seahawks offensive coordinator Brian Fleury and the 30-year-old Samuel overlapped in San Francisco from 2019-24, including for Samuel’s first-team All-Pro season in 2021. At 35 years old, Wagner is well past his prime. But he remains a very cerebral and effective player in the run game, coming off his 10th straight season with at least 130 tackles. It’s why he makes sense as a top backup option for the 49ers, who have injury concerns at both inside linebacker positions — former All-Pro Fred Warner is coming off a season-ending ankle injury, and Dre Greenlaw has played in just 10 games over the past two seasons combined. Wagner’s longtime Seahawks teammate, KJ Wright, is also San Francisco’s linebackers coach. The Texans don’t have reliable pass-catching tight end behind starter Dalton Schultz, so that’s a void Smith can fill. Houston offensive coordinator Nick Caley was also Smith’s position coach with the Patriots from 2021-22. Hill’s status for 2026 remains unclear after dislocating his left knee and tearing multiple ligaments, including his ACL, last September. But after an unceremonious end to his Miami Dolphins’ tenure, a return to the Chiefs makes sense, health-enabling. He would provide much-needed veteran depth for a wide receiver room that’s seen uneven play since his departure from Kansas City in 2022. Following the draft, the Bears could still use more depth at edge rusher behind Montez Sweat. The 36-year-old Jordan, who had 10.5 sacks last season with the Saints, spent a decade with Chicago defensive coordinator Dennis Allen in New Orleans (2015-24). The Niners could use some insurance behind star edge rusher Nick Bosa (coming off a torn ACL), as their pass rush struggled in 2025 with Bosa missing 14 games. The 33-year-old Clowney, the first pick of the 2014 NFL Draft who's now played for seven teams, has had at least 8.5 sacks in two of his past three seasons. With Aaron Rodgers returning to Pittsburgh, it’s not the worst idea for the Steelers to load up on bodyguards for the 42-year-old quarterback. Starting left tackle Broderick Jones is coming off a season-ending neck injury. The Steelers drafted former Arizona State offensive tackle Max Iheanachor in the first round, but it’s not uncommon for rookie offensive linemen to struggle. Decker, a longtime starter for the Detroit Lions, would give Pittsburgh veteran depth. [2026 NFL Free Agency Tracker] Bitonio’s former offensive line coach with the Browns, Bill Callahan, now has the same position with the Falcons, so Atlanta is a natural landing spot for him. The Falcons have starting guards in place with Chris Lindstrom and Matthew Bergeron, but offensive line depth is never a bad thing. Atlanta just saw Kaleb McGary, its starting right tackle from 2019-24, retire in April. mwafrika.life

Carlo Ancelotti has apologized to Joao Pedro after leaving the Chelsea striker out of Brazil's World Cup squad. The Italian admitted several players deserved selection as the Seleção boss opted for experience, including the return of Neymar. Ancelotti addresses difficult Brazil squad decisions Despite Pedro’s impressive campaign in the Premier League, Ancelotti opted for more experienced options for Brazil national team squad for the upcoming World Cup. One of the most notable selections was the return of Neymar, who has struggled with fitness over the past three years. Ancelotti acknowledged that several players would feel disappointed by the final squad list, with Pedro widely viewed as one of the most unfortunate omissions following his strong form in England. 'I'm sorry' Speaking after announcing the squad, Ancelotti admitted the selection process left some players unlucky. The Brazil boss publicly apologised to Pedro after leaving him for the upcoming World Cup. "Some of the players who were with us this year won't be happy with this list," Ancelotti told reporters. "I'm sorry, and I want ‌to thank everyone who was with us. Of course, we are sad for Joao Pedro. For the season he had in Europe, he probably deserved to be on this list, but unfortunately, with all possible awareness and respect, we chose another player. I feel very sorry for Joao Pedro and all the others." Bittersweet Player of the Season Honor Just hours after the disappointment of the international snub, Chelsea confirmed that Pedro had been voted the club's Player of the Season. The former Brighton man, who arrived in a £60 million deal last summer, dominated the fan vote, securing over 60 per cent of the total to finish ahead of midfielders Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo. The 24-year-old has been a revelation for the Blues, recording 15 goals and five assists in the Premier League alone. In doing so, he became only the sixth player in Chelsea history — following legends like Eden Hazard and Diego Costa — to reach 20 goal involvements in his debut top-flight campaign for the club. Across all competitions, that tally rises to an impressive 25 goal involvements. Focus shifts back to club football Pedro will now finish the season with Chelsea before the summer break, having been left out of Brazil’s World Cup plans. The Blues are now preparing for their final two Premier League games, starting against Tottenham, and then a trip to Sunderland as they look to qualify for European competition next season.

This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports. The run line is baseball's version of the point spread, and it is one of the three main bet types you will find on every MLB game alongside the moneyline and the total. Understanding how it works opens up more strategic options than betting the moneyline alone. Unlike football or basketball spreads, the run line in baseball is almost always set at 1.5 runs. That fixed number keeps things simple, but the odds attached to each side can shift significantly depending on how well-matched the teams are. This guide explains how run line bets are structured, how payouts are calculated, and when the run line gives you better value than the moneyline. What Is the Run Line in Baseball Betting? The run line is a spread bet applied to baseball. Instead of picking which team wins outright, you are betting on whether the favorite wins by 2 or more runs, or whether the underdog loses by 1 run or wins the game. The favorite is always listed at -1.5 and the underdog at +1.5. These numbers do not change the way a football spread would. What changes are the odds attached to each side, which the sportsbook adjusts to reflect the actual gap between the two teams. How Does the Run Line Work? When you place a run line bet, you are adding a margin to the result. A -1.5 favorite needs to cover that margin; a +1.5 underdog gets a cushion. The odds determine how much you win relative to your stake. Run line odds follow the same format as moneyline odds. A negative number shows how much you must bet to win $100. A positive number shows how much a $100 bet returns in profit. Run Line Favorite Example Say the New York Yankees are -1.5 at -130 against the Boston Red Sox. That means the Yankees must win by 2 or more runs for your bet to cash. If the Yankees win 5-3, you win. If they win 5-4, you lose, because they only won by 1. Run Line Underdog Example Now take the Red Sox at +1.5 (+110) in the same game. Your bet wins if Boston wins outright or loses by exactly 1 run. You get some insurance on a close loss, and if Boston pulls the upset, you profit. What Happens in Extra Innings? Extra innings count toward the final run line result. If a game goes to extras and the favorite wins 6-5, that is still a 1-run margin. A bet on the favorite at -1.5 would lose. The run line is always graded on the official final score regardless of how many innings were played. Run Line vs. Moneyline The moneyline and run line are closely related, but they reward different outcomes. On the moneyline, a win by 1 run counts the same as a win by 10. On the run line, only the margin of victory matters. The key tradeoff is between risk and payout. Taking a heavy favorite on the moneyline often means risking a lot to win a little. Backing that same team at -1.5 requires them to win more convincingly, but the odds are usually more attractive. How Are Run Line Payouts Calculated? Run line payouts use standard American odds math. For negative odds (favorites), divide 100 by the absolute value of the odds, then multiply by your stake. For positive odds (underdogs), divide the odds by 100, then multiply by your stake. Favorite Payout Example Underdog Payout Example The odds on run line bets shift considerably based on the matchup. A close game between evenly-matched teams might see the favorite at -1.5 (-115) and the underdog at +1.5 (-105). A lopsided matchup could push those numbers to -1.5 (-150) and +1.5 (+130). Always check the specific odds before placing your bet. When Does the Run Line Make Sense? The run line is not always the better choice. It depends on the specific game, the odds available, and how confident you are in the margin of victory. When the Run Line Makes Sense When the Moneyline Makes More Sense How to Place a Run Line Bet Run line bets are available on every MLB game at major sportsbooks. You can find them quickly by browsing to the baseball section of apps like FanDuel, DraftKings, and BetMGM. Here is how to place the bet. Most sportsbooks display moneyline, run line, and total on the same row for each game. The run line column is typically the middle option between the moneyline on the left and the total on the right. Common Run Line Mistakes For more on how spreads and odds work across sports, see our guides on how to bet on moneylines and parlay betting. Responsible Gambling Sports betting should be enjoyable. Set limits, bet within your means, and reach out for help if gambling stops being fun. Run Line Betting FAQ What does run line mean in baseball betting? The run line is a spread of 1.5 runs applied to a baseball game. The favorite must win by 2 or more runs to cover. The underdog covers if they win the game or lose by exactly 1 run. Is the run line always 1.5 in baseball? Yes. Unlike football or basketball, where the spread varies by matchup, the baseball run line is almost always fixed at 1.5. The sportsbook adjusts the odds rather than the number itself to reflect how evenly matched the teams are. What happens if a game goes to extra innings on the run line? Extra innings count. The run line is graded on the official final score regardless of how many innings are played. If the game ends 4-3 in 11 innings, that is a 1-run margin and the -1.5 favorite does not cover. Is it better to bet the moneyline or run line? It depends on the matchup and the odds. The run line offers better returns on heavy favorites but requires the team to win more convincingly. The moneyline is simpler and pays off on any winning margin. Compare the juice on both sides before deciding. Can you include run line bets in a parlay? Yes. Run line bets can be added to parlays the same as any other bet type. Each leg still requires the team to cover the 1.5-run margin, so parlays increase both the payout potential and the risk. What does +1.5 run line mean? A +1.5 run line means you are backing the underdog with a 1.5-run advantage. Your bet wins if the underdog wins the game outright or loses by exactly 1 run. You lose only if the underdog loses by 2 or more runs. Do all baseball sportsbooks offer the run line? Yes. The run line is a standard offering on every MLB game at all major sportsbooks. You can compare lines and odds across apps by visiting our list of the best MLB betting sites.