Evan Kaplan

Research Producer, Sunday NFL Countdown, Monday Night Countdown & NFL Draft @ESPNStatsInfo...all thoughts are my own

[Houston Stressans @TexansCommenter]

Myles Garrett & Will Anderson Jr. on @chasing10fishin w/ Randy Moss on tackles that give them trouble:

“First person to give me problems in my career was David Bakhtiari. Last time I felt like I was frustrated w/ somebody was probably Laremy [Tunsil].” -MG

“I go against him this year. I’m excited about that matchup. I got a ton of respect for him. The Jaguars, my guy at the Jaguars [Anton Harrison]. He kinda remind me of LT a little bit. Same size, athletic build, he uhh *nods head*. Always a good matchup.” -WAJ

[Evan Kaplan @EpKap]

The Seahawks won Super Bowl LX and the division rival Rams are the favorites to win SB LXI.

The last time different teams from the same division won the Super Bowl in consecutive seasons was the NFC East from the 1990-92 seasons:

1990 Giants
1991 Washington
1992 Cowboys

[Evan Kaplan @EpKap]

With all respect to the Thunder, a worthy champion who gave it a great run at another title, Spurs-Knicks is far more compelling.

Wemby, NYC, rematch of ‘99 Finals. All the makings for a great series.

[Evan Kaplan @EpKap]

The Killers absolutely crushing the Champions League Final pregame. Hit after hit

[Evan Kaplan @EpKap]

From the mind of my incredible wife:

Why do people refer to New Jersey as “Jersey” but not New Hampshire as “Hampshire” or New York as “York”?

[Evan Kaplan @EpKap]

Aaron Rodgers enters this season 13 touchdown passes away from moving ahead of Peyton Manning for the 3rd most all-time.

Brady - 649
Brees - 571
Peyton - 539
Rodgers - 527

[Evan Kaplan @EpKap]

Aaron Rodgers is expected to be the first Steelers QB to start consecutive season openers since Ben Roethlisberger started 11 straight from 2011-21.

2026 Rodgers
2025 Rodgers
2024 Fields
2023 Pickett
2022 Trubisky
2021 Roethlisberger

[Adam Schefter @AdamSchefter]

Sources: Aaron Rodgers and the Steelers now have reached agreement on a one-year deal. Rodgers officially is reuniting with the Steelers and their new head coach Mike McCarthy for the 2026 season.

[Evan Kaplan @EpKap]

The Giants beat the Cowboys 34-17 in Week 18 last season but Dak Prescott only played the 1st half.

The last time New York beat Dallas when Dak played the entire game was December 11, 2016...Giants won 10-7 thanks to a 61-yard TD from Eli Manning to Odell Beckham Jr.

[Adam Schefter @AdamSchefter]

First Sunday night game of the season, Sept. 13, will be the Cowboys at the Giants.

[Evan Kaplan @EpKap]

5 AFC teams have missed the playoffs in each of the last 3 seasons:

Jets
Raiders
Titans
Colts
Bengals

Cincy feels most likely to end that drought, and they only play 4 teams in 2026 that made the playoffs last season:

Steelers (2x), Jaguars, Texans, Panthers

[Evan Kaplan @EpKap]

Breece Hall has 1,642 receiving yards in his career.

The only running backs with more over the last 4 seasons are Christian McCaffrey, Bijan Robinson and Alvin Kamara.

A true dual threat in the Jets backfield.

[Adam Schefter @AdamSchefter]

The Jets 2026 offense:

🏈QB: Geno Smith
🏈RB: Breece Hall
🏈WR: Garrett Wilson
🏈WR: Omar Cooper Jr.
🏈WR: AD Mitchell
🏈TE: Kenyon Sadiq
🏈TE: Mason Taylor

[Evan Kaplan @EpKap]

Thank you @bhofheimer_espn. Working on the NFL Draft is truly a team effort, and there’s no one I’d rather be working with than our talented group.

A labor of love because of the people, Draft number 13 in the books.

[bill hofheimer @bhofheimer_espn]

With the volumes of research materials that our @ESPNInsights and production team preps for #NFLDraft each year, great to see ESPN's lead NFL Research Producer @EpKap get some airtime during the telecast today. Evan and team are behind the scenes all-stars.

[Evan Kaplan @EpKap]

In this era of college basketball there may never be another player like Alex Karaban.

2 National Championships, 3 title games and most uniquely…4 seasons at the same school. Forever a Husky.

[Evan Kaplan @EpKap]

Took 19:59 for the first correct no-call of this game.

[Evan Kaplan @EpKap]

Rivalries are part of what make sports great.

Did Geno Auriemma handle the end of the game the right way? Not at all.

Did Dawn Staley outcoach him and have the better team last night? Absolutely.

But everyone doesn’t need to be best friends.

[Evan Kaplan @EpKap]

Great day to be a UConn Husky…that’s the heart of a champion right there!

[Evan Kaplan @EpKap]

Illinois reminds me of the 2022-23 UConn team, a 4 seed that won the first of back-to-back titles.

Ton of talent and the Illini could easily cut down the nets.

[Evan Kaplan @EpKap]

There will be at least 640 minutes of NCAA Tournament basketball over the next 13 hours (plus any OT).

Let the madness begin.

[Evan Kaplan @EpKap]

Jaylen Waddle and Bo Nix faced each other once in college in the 2019 Iron Bowl when Auburn beat Alabama 48-45 in a classic. Waddle had 230 all-purpose yards and 4 TD in the loss.

Now he and Nix will be teammates in Denver.

[Adam Schefter @AdamSchefter]

Broncos are trading for Miami WR Jaylen Waddle, per source.

Denver receives: Waddle and Dolphins’ 4th-round pick (11th in round) in this year’s draft.

Miami receives: Broncos’ 1st round pick (30th overall) along with their late 3rd and 4th round picks (30th in each round) in this year’s draft.

[Adam Schefter @AdamSchefter]

Kyler Murray has played in 87 games and he has 20,000+ pass yards & 3,000+ rush yards.

Josh Allen and Cam Newton are the only other QBs all-time with those numbers through that point in their career, per @EpKap.

[Evan Kaplan @EpKap]

Lamar Jackson and the Ravens lost their last 2 games against the Raiders going back to 2021, and Maxx Crosby had 2 sacks of Lamar in each of those games.

Now they’re teammates in Baltimore.