Sports Krunch w/DKROM

1. Super Bowl LVI Takeaways

-DKrom: In a battle of fatal flaws (Bengals pass protection vs. Rams bare cupboard of pass catchers), the former won

-Hal: Heartbreak for the Bengals, great players like Aaron Donald shined in the biggest moment

2. If Aaron Donald actually DID retire after the Super Bowl, would he be a locked in as a first ballot hall of famer? 

3. Tag or No Tag

-Davante Adams: TAG

-Orlando Brown, Jr.: TAG

-Chris Godwin: NO TAG

-Mike Williams: TAG

-Chandler Jones: NO TAG

-Jessie Bates: TAG

-Tyrann Mathieu: NO TAG

-Harold Landry: TAG

 4. QB CAROUSEL (Best landing spots for QB’s)

-Jimmy Garoppolo: Colts

-Deshaun Watson: Bucs, Steelers

-Mitchell Trubisky: Commanders, Panthers, Saints

-Jameis Winston: Saints

-Marcus Mariota: Broncos, Panthers

-Carson Wentz: Giants (as backup)

5. Were the Cardinals right or wrong to extend the contracts of Kliff Kingsbury and GM Steve Keim through 2027? 

6. Cowboys weapons: Better to keep Cooper or let him go and re-sign Gallup and tag Dalton Schultz?

7. Top-10 Mock Draft

-Jaguars: Ickey Ekwonu

-Lions: Aidan Hutchinson

-Texans: Evan Neal

-Jets: Kayvon Thibodeaux

-Giants: Kyle Hamilton

-Panthers: Sauce Gardner

-Giants [via Bears]: Travon Walker

-Falcons: Garrett Wilson

-Steelers [via Broncos]: Malik Willis

-Jets [via Seahawks]: Kenyon Green

1. Why is Malik Willis your top-rated QB in this class?

2. Why do you think the NFL is apparently not as high on Kayvon Thibodeaux as we thought they’d be?

3. EDGE is arguably the deepest position group in this draft. After Thibodeaux and Aidan Hutchinson, who are your personal favorite EDGE’s in this class and why?

 4. Another deep position group in this class is cornerback. For most of last fall, most thought Derek Stingley, Jr. of LSU would easily be the first corner off the board. Now, that is FAR from certain given the two underwhelming seasons Stingley had since his All-America freshman season in 2019. In your view, what other corners in this class have a solid case to be the first at the position off the board come April 28?

5. Outside of EDGE and CB, what other position groups in this class stand out to you depth-wise?

6. Who helped themselves the most at the Senior Bowl? Who hurt themselves the most?

7. Who has the most to gain at the Combine? Who has the most to lose?

8. Top-10 Mock

-Jaguars: Evan Neal

-Lions: Malik Willis

-Texans: Kyle Hamilton

-Jets: Aidan Hutchinson

-Giants: Ikem Ekwonu

-Panthers: Kayvon Thibodeaux

-Giants (from Bears): David Ojabo

-Falcons: Treylon Burks

-Broncos: George Karlaftis

-Jets (from Seahawks): Sauce Gardner

1. Conference Championship Takeaways

-DKrom: Bengals making it to the Super Bowl a fitting conclusion of the most unpredictable NFL season in recent memory…and OT rules are fine!!!

-Hal: The end of the Jimmy Garoppolo era in San Francisco (third time Kyle Shanahan has blown a double-digit lead in the playoffs), Chiefs offense with an uncharacteristic performance

2. Coaching Carousel (Grading The Hires)

-Giants: Brian Daboll

-Raiders: Josh McDaniels/Dave Ziegler

-Vikings: Kevin O’Connell

-Jaguars: Doug Pederson

-Dolphins: Mike McDaniel

-Texans: Lovie Smith

-Saints: Dennis Allen

3. Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2022

                -DKrom’s Picks: DeMarcus Ware, Devin Hester, Tony Boselli, Richard Seymour, Reggie Wayne

                -Hal’s Picks: DeMarcus Ware, Devin Hester, Richard Seymour, Bryant Young, Jared Allen

 4. Super Bowl LVI Preview

       -Is it right or wrong for Zac Taylor to tell the Bengals that they are not underdogs?

       -Is this THE best chance for the Rams to win a Super Bowl in the Sean McVay era?

                -Rams Biggest X Factor (DKrom: Andrew Whitworth, Hal: Odell Beckham, Jr.)

                -Bengals Biggest X Factor (DKrom: Joe Mixon, Hal: Tyler Boyd and Tee Higgins)

                -Key matchups and picks

5. Bold Predictions

       -DKrom: Evan McPherson (aka “Evan McFEARLESS”) wins the Super Bowl on a last-second, all-time record tying 66-yard FG!!!

       -Hal: Joe Mixon, three second-half TD’s, 200 total yards from scrimmage and gets Super Bowl LVI MVP honors

6. Challenge Flags

       -DKrom: Bengals, do NOT be too predictable on offense by always running the ball on first down. You only risk putting yourself in less advantageous down-and-distance situations on third down, which will make Von Miller and Aaron Donald SALIVATE

       -Hal: Roger Goodell…LISTEN to Brian Flores, do a real investigation of Washington, and come clean on Deflategate!!!! 

Steelers beat reporter Dale Lolley (DK Pittsburgh Sports) joined me at the Senior Bowl to discuss how he thinks the Steelers will try to find a long-term replacement for Ben Roethlisberger these next few months, the other areas of concern they must address via the draft and why he believes a certain offensive playmaker will be getting a contract extension to stay in Pittsburgh

Bills beat writer Mark Gaughan (Buffalo News) joined me at the Senior Bowl to discuss what he believes the Bills should do in the draft, why they were able to retain QB coach Ken Dorsey and promote him to offensive coordinator, and which young players still on rookie deals are likely to receive contract extensions

Eagles beat reporter Mike Kaye (NJ Advance Media) joined me at the Senior Bowl to discuss why the Eagles would go all in to acquire Russell Wilson if he becomes available via trade, the team's plans for free agency and the draft, Jason Kelce's future and his potential successor...and more

Broncos beat reporter Brandon Krisztal (850 KOA Radio) joined me at the Senior Bowl to share his thoughts on what the Broncos could do with the #9 overall pick in the draft (assuming Aaron Rodgers and Russell Wilson do not come to Denver), the hiring of Nathaniel Hackett as head coach, the sale of the team, and which young players may receive contract extensions at some point this year 

Colts beat writer Stephen Holder (The Athletic) joined me at the Senior Bowl to share how he thinks the Colts will try their hardest to upgrade the QB position this offseason, how different the defense will be with the departure of Matt Eberflus (and what kind of guy the Bears are getting in him), positions of need the Colts should address in the draft (there aren't many outside of QB), and whether Quenton Nelson will receive a contract extension before September

I caught up with NFL Draft analyst Chris Burke (The Athletic) at the Senior Bowl. He discussed who stood out (in a good way) on the first day of practices, gave his opinion on what the Jaguars should do with the first pick in the draft, and provided a brief compare/contrast on the top-two OT prospects in the class, Evan Neal and Ikem Ekwonu

Bears beat writer Patrick Finley (Chicago Sun-Times) joined me at the Senior Bowl to share his thoughts on the Bears hiring Ryan Poles as GM and Matt Eberflus as head coach, the scheme new OC Luke Getsy is bringing with him and why it suits Justin Fields well, the top priorities for the Bears to address in free agency and the draft, and whether the Bears are the team to beat in the NFC North IF Aaron Rodgers leaves Green Bay