Sports Krunch w/DKROM

1. The first big move of the Texans off-season occurred the week before the Super Bowl as they were able to retain both offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik (who was a hot head coaching candidate) and QB's coach Jerrod Johnson (who was a hot OC candidate) on revised contracts. Does this move suggest to you that Jerrod Johnson will replace Bobby Slowik at offensive coordinator should Slowik get a head coaching job in 2025?

2. Which positions do the Texans need to address the most in both free agency and the draft in order to take another massive step forward next season?

3. A key player entering the final year of his rookie deal is WR Nico Collins. Do you think locking him up to a long-term extension before Week 1 is a very high priority for the Texans?

4. In his first three seasons as GM, Nick Caserio has approached free agency by avoiding "Tiffany's" signings as much as possible and primarily shopping at The Dollar Tree if you know what I mean. However, with a star QB on a rookie deal in C.J. Stroud and north of $50 million in effective cap space, it may be wise for the Texans to reel in a big fish off the free agent market. One such player expected to hit the open market is Chiefs All Pro DT Chris Jones. If Jones and his agent are taking other teams calls on March 11, how aggressively do you think the Texans will be eyeballing him?

5. ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported early this week that there's buzz across the entire NFL that the Texans may try to upgrade the running back position to help take the offense to an even higher level. The crop of running backs in the 2024 NFL Draft is considered underwhelming, thus the Texans may look to free agency to make such an investment in their running game. Which one of prospective free agent RB's Saquon Barkley, Josh Jacobs and Derrick Henry would make the most sense for the Texans and why?

6. Before the free agent market even opens, it is a safe bet that Nick Caserio and the Texans front office will keep close tabs on their in-house free agents, especially DE Jonathan Greenard, TE Dalton Schultz, CB Steven Nelson, DT Sheldon Rankins and LB Blake Cashman. Which one of those five do you believe the Texans are most likely to re-sign, and which one do you believe is most likely headed elsewhere?

7. What would a realistic, yet ideal free agent haul for the Texans look like in your view?

8. Seven-Round Texans Mock Draft

1. Based on what you've seen from their tape thus far, do you think Caleb Williams, Drake Maye, or even Jayden Daniels would be an automatic upgrade over Justin Fields and why?

2. If you're Ryan Poles, do you commit to trading Justin Fields by mid-March, or would you be willing to hold on to him until April, especially if neither Caleb Williams nor Drake Maye impress in interviews at the Combine?

3. According to NFL insider Brad Spielberger of PFF, the Bears would probably be able to receive picks 2 and 40 this year plus Washington's 2025 first to move down one spot. If you're Ryan Poles and you see little to no gap between Caleb Williams and Drake Maye, would you accept such an offer?

4. What are you thoughts on the Bears hire of Shane Waldron as OC and why would Caleb Williams, Drake Maye or even Justin Fields benefit from working with him?

5. Starting February 20, NFL clubs will have until 4 PM ET on March 5 to apply franchise tags to certain players. If a deal doesn't seem it is within reach by then, should the Bears use the franchise tag on All Pro CB Jaylon Johnson?

6. If the Bears release S Eddie Jackson, the Bears will save an additional $12.56 million in 2024 cap space and if they release G/C (and friend of the pod) Cody Whitehair, they will save an additional $9.15 million in cap space. Should the Bears release one or both of those players?

7. When it comes to free agency this spring, should the Bears be far more frugal compared to last year and save their next big shopping spree for 2025? Or would you go all in to build the best team possible around your rookie QB right now?

8. Three-round mock draft

1. Biggest Takeaways From Conference Championship Weekend

-DKrom: A win on Sunday officially cements the Chiefs as the next great NFL dynasty

-Hal: Dan Campbell learned that sometimes you just have to take the points, especially in the playoffs

2. Weekly Honors

-GOAT Of The Week (DKrom: L'Jarius Sneed, Hal: Travis Kelce)

-Dunce Of The Week (DKrom: Todd Monken, Hal: John Harbaugh)

3. Coaching Carousel Latest

-GRADING THE HIRES

(1). Seahawks HC Mike Macdonald (DKrom: A+, Hal: A+)

(2): Commanders HC Dan Quinn (DKrom: C, Hal: D)

(3): Chargers GM Joe Hortiz (DKrom: A, Hal: A)

(4). Steelers OC Arthur Smith (DKrom: C, Hal: C-)

(5). Commanders OC Kliff Kingsbury (DKrom: B-, Hal: C-)

(6). Raiders OC Luke Getsy (DKrom: C+, Hal: C+)

(7). Patriots OC Alex Van Pelt (DKrom: B+, Hal: A)

(8). Chargers OC Greg Roman (DKrom: C-, Hal: C)

(9). Bucs OC Liam Coen (DKrom: C, Hal: B-)

(10). Saints OC Klint Kubiak (DKrom: B, Hal: B)

(11). Falcons OC Zac Robinson (DKrom: B, Hal: B+/A-)

(12). Dolphins DC Anthony Weaver (DKrom: A+, Hal: A)

(13). Titans DC Dennard Wilson (DKrom: A-, Hal: A-)

(14). Chargers DC Jesse Minter (DKrom: A, Hal: A)

(15). Packers DC Jeff Hafley (DKrom: B+, Hal: B+)

(16). Giants DC Shane Bowen (DKrom, A, Hal: A)

(17). Ravens DC Zach Orr (DKrom: A, Hal: A-)

4. Simpatico Or No Simpatico

-The Ravens blew their best chance to win a Super Bowl with Lamar Jackson

-The Packers will be playing in the NFC Championship game next season

-The Texans will be kings of the AFC South for the foreseeable future

-The Cardinals will trade down from the #4 overall pick if Marvin Harrison, Jr. is off the board

-Ben Johnson and Bobby Slowik will be the two hottest head coaching candidates in 2025

-Because of the historically low number of underclassmen in the 2024 NFL Draft, the first round will be an unprecedented buyer's market

-The Chiefs will bring back Eric Bieniemy for the 2024 season

-Due to the losses of Ran Carthon and Adam Peters, the 49ers roster will take a step back in 2024

5. Super Bowl LVIII Game Preview

6. Bold Predictions

-DKrom: L'Jarius Sneed intercepts 2 passes and comes up with the play of the game to help seal the win for the Chiefs. With 2:30 left in the 4th, and the Chiefs leading 21-17, he strip-sacks Brock Purdy on a third-down blitz and the Chiefs recover the fumble inside the 49ers 20. That sets up the game-clinching TD...and cements MVP honors for Sneed

-Hal: Patrick Mahomes throws three interceptions, including one to former Chief Charvarius Ward on the final drive of the game to seal the win for the 49ers

7. Challenge Flags

-Hal: NFL fans everywhere...cherish this game and the players...and may SBLVIII be the best Super Bowl ever!!!

-DKrom: 49ers....stay ahead of the sticks!!!!

Our good friend Mark Gaughan, Bills beat reporter for The Buffalo News, joined us at the Senior Bowl to discuss how he sees the Bills navigating their 2024 salary cap crunch, whether or not he believes head coach Sean McDermott and GM Brandon Beane are on the hot seat headed into 2024, and which positions he believes the Bills will be eyeballing in the draft

Former NFL TE Clay Harbor, who played nine seasons in the league and who currently works for various media outlets including The 33rd Team, joined us for a fun conversation at the Senior Bowl. He lists the players who stood out to him the most (in both good ways and bad) during the week of practices down in Mobile, shares his thoughts on what the Bears should do with the #1 overall pick and how they should approach the decision-making process, gives his assessments on what went wrong for the Jaguars in 2023 plus the Eagles OC and DC hirings, and explains why he believes the Texans are going to dominate the AFC South for years to come

Tyler Forness, who covers the Vikings for the USA Today Vikings Wire, joined us at the Senior Bowl to discuss whether or not we've seen the last of Kirk Cousins in Minnesota, how the Vikings will address the QB position should Cousins depart, why he believes star pass rusher and impending free agent Danielle Hunter will re-sign with the Vikings, when to expect new contract extensions for WR Justin Jefferson and LT Christian Darrisaw, and which position groups to expect the Vikings to target in the draft

Clarence Hill, Jr., legendary Cowboys beat reporter for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, joined us at the Senior Bowl to discuss the real possibility of 2024 being Dak Prescott's final season in a Cowboys uniform, what he sees happening with impending Cowboys free agent LT Tyron Smith, the team's options to replace Dan Quinn at defensive coordinator, and which positions he believes Dallas will prioritize in the draft

Parker Gabriel, who is the Broncos beat reporter for the Denver Post, joined us at the Senior Bowl to discuss likely cap casualty, restructure, extension or trade candidates for the Broncos this spring, why trading back from 12 overall makes a lot of sense, Denver's free agency options at QB, and what the team's performance in 2023 says about head coach Sean Payton

Matt Matera, who covers the Bucs for PewterReport.com, joined us at the Senior Bowl where he shared his predictions on what will likely happen with impending Bucs free agents Baker Mayfield, Mike Evans, and Antoine Winfield, Jr., plus the latest on the Bucs search for a new offensive coordinator and which positions he believes the Bucs should prioritize early in the draft

ESPN NFL insider Jeremy Fowler joined us at the Senior Bowl to share the latest intel he's hearing on the Commanders head coaching search, potential timetables for the Bears to make their decision at QB, possible free agency destinations for QB's Kirk Cousins, Justin Fields and Russell Wilson, plus his thoughts on which team currently picking in the top-three of the draft is most likely to trade back