Line of succession | Sports Daily Newsletter

The most important thing was that it was a first-round draft pick.

Howie Roseman didn’t net a 2027 first-rounder in the A.J. Brown trade, but the Patriots’ 2028 first-round pick still offers plenty of promise.

That’s because Roseman eventually will have to do something seemingly unthinkable: Draft Jalen Hurts’ successor.

Think about it: Hurts is learning yet another offensive scheme, and there’s no guarantee he’ll adapt. Besides, it’s not like he’s been elite lately, despite two Super Bowl appearances and a Lombardi Trophy. Next year’s draft class of quarterbacks has some huge names, too. So maybe stockpiling draft picks makes sense, Inquirer columnist Marcus Hayes writes.

Sound harsh? Welcome to the NFL.

— Maria McIlwain, @phillysport, sports.daily@inquirer.com.

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❓In your opinion, what’s the craziest trade in sports history and why? Email us back for a chance to be featured in the newsletter.

A week after surpassing the franchise record for a scoreless streak, Phillies pitcher Cristopher Sánchez etched his name into the record books again, when with a scoreless first inning — just 13 pitches, to be exact — he passed Hall of Famer Carl Hubbell (45⅓) to claim the record for the longest scoreless streak by a lefty. His chase of Orel Hershiser’s 59 scoreless innings, the most in MLB history, fell short when he allowed an RBI single in the seventh inning of the Phillies’ 3-2 win over the Padres, ending his streak at 50⅔ innings.

A familiar name was back in the news on Wednesday, as the Padres designated Nick Castellanos for assignment. Manager Craig Stammen says the timing was coincidental, though.

And top prospect Aidan Miller will have back surgery on Friday, but the team hopes he will play again this season.

Next: The Phillies cap their series vs. the Padres with some day baseball today (1:05 p.m., NBC10). Zack Wheeler (4-1, 2.27 ERA) will face veteran righty Lucas Giolito (2-0, 4.97).

The idea of moving an All-Pro player to another position seems wild, but it took just a few practices last season for defensive coordinator Vic Fangio to believe Cooper DeJean was capable of such a shift: “Yeah, he’ll be a good safety if we need him there.”

Could that time be coming?

DeJean is getting reps at safety at OTAs, and it makes sense, considering the Eagles have a clear need at the position and plenty of depth — and resources committed — to cornerbacks. DeJean, for his part, says he’s “excited” about the prospect.

It did not take the goal Sergiño Dest scored against Senegal on Sunday to prove how well he fits the U.S. men’s soccer team’s tactics.

Dest showed the full range of his talents as a wingback. And the game gave him and the team as a whole a big boost of confidence ahead of this summer’s World Cup.

Meanwhile, the “Espresso Line” of Trinity Rodman and new moms Mallory Swanson and Sophia Wilson are back together on the USWNT for the time since the 2024 Olympics, right in time to visit next year’s World Cup hosts, Brazil.

Devout Eagles fan Rob Mac, the co-owner of English soccer club Wrexham, will return to the Philly area later this summer as part of the team’s preseason tour that features a stop at Subaru Park. With the World Cup on American soil this summer, he has plenty to say about the debate of the sport being called soccer or football.

And on Wednesday, the Union announced Wednesday that Ivory Coast men’s national team will play a pre-tournament friendly against Union II at 7 p.m. Monday at Subaru Park.

The Sixers are set to hire Cleveland Cavaliers general manager Mike Gansey as the team’s next president of basketball operations, replacing Daryl Morey after six seasons. But those who knew him best at West Virginia — former teammates, head coach John Beilein, and even the Mountaineers’ bus driver — describe a gritty player with a big heart and explain why he’s the right man to fix the Sixers.

We asked: Who is your favorite local professional athlete to watch right now?

Most of my Philly area favorite athletes are from the past, but right now I would have to list Mike Trout as my favorite. Always wished he would have come to the Phillies in a trade or as a free agent, but it never did happen. He has had a resurgence of late and there is talk of him being traded, but if so, what would the Phillies have to spare to make that happen?

PS — If you can include those from the past and from nearby Reading then it would be Lenny Moore my first football hero. — Everett S.

We compiled today’s newsletter using reporting from Marcus Hayes, Scott Lauber, Jeff Neiburg, Owen Hewitt, Jonathan Tannenwald, Conor Smith, Mia Messina, and Brett Friedlander.

By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer’s Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.

Thanks for reading along! Kerith will be back in your inboxes tomorrow to close out the week. — Maria