Sports Krunch W/dkrom

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:

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

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

OT Max Mitchell (Lousiana-Lafayette) is one of the hottest OT prospects at the Senior Bowl (currently #50 on Daniel Jeremiah's 2022 NFL Draft Top 50 list). He told me what he thinks sets him apart from the rest of the OT's in this year's draft, whether he likes to run block or pass protect more, what NFL OT's he admires most, and how much he's leaning on his fellow Rajin Cajun (and current 49ers RB) Elijah Mitchell during the pre-draft process

USA Today NFL columnist Mike Jones joined me at the Senior Bowl to give me his thoughts on the NFL head coaching hires so far this cycle, Brian Flores' bombshell lawsuit against the NFL and its potential implications for future minority HC candidates, his guess on how many QB's will get selected in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft, and why he thinks the Rams win Super Bowl LVI

NFL and Lions beat reporter Dave Birkett (Detroit Free Press) joined me at the Senior Bowl to discuss the Lions top priorities in the 2022 NFL Draft, what comes next for their exciting 2021 draft class, the team's plans at QB for 2022 and whether the candidacy of Devin Hester for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2022 could speed up the process for getting specialists enshrined in Canton

Bucs beat reporter Jon Ledyard (Pewter Report) joined me at the 2022 Reese's Senior Bowl to discuss the retirement of Tom Brady, who will likely succeed him at QB in Tampa next season, which of the Bucs' impending free agents are likely to stay or go, and what their plans should be for the draft

Billy Riccette (USA Today Bengals Wire) joined me to discuss which players he has his eyes on the most at the Senior Bowl, give an overall sumary of the 2022 NFL Draft class, and provide his thoughts on the Bengals and their chances in Super Bowl LVI

Dolphins beat reporters Joe Schad (Palm Beach Post) and David Furones (South Florida Sun-Sentinel) joined me at the 2022 Reese's Senior Bowl to give me the latest on the Dolphins head coaching search and how the team should approach the 2022 NFL Draft

ESPN Falcons reporter Michael Rothstein joined us at the 2022 Reese's Senior Bowl to discuss what direction the Falcons could go in the 2022 NFL Draft, the team's salary cap situation, Matt Ryan and the future of the team at QB

During my week at the 2022 Reese's Senior Bowl in Mobile, AL, ESPN Jets reporter Rich Cimini joined me to discuss the Jets plans in the 2022 NFL Draft, the main goals HC Robert Saleh and GM Joe Douglas have for the week, and the team's backup QB situation

1. Divisional Round Takeaways -DKrom: We might have seen the last of Tom Brady -Hal: Next generation of QB’s shine (Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes) 2. Should the NFL change its OT rules, and if so how? -Case for: Of 11 playoff OT games since the current rules were instituted, 10/11 teams that won won the coin toss…and SEVEN of them scored a TD on the opening drive of OT -Case against: Of 163 games since the current rules were instituted (playoffs included), teams that won the coin toss have only won 52.8% of the time 3. Truth or Exaggeration         -Sean Payton will be a serious candidate for the Pro Football Hall of Fame when all is set and done         -Sean Payton will be coaching the Cowboys in 2023         -Dennis Allen will be the next head coach of the New Orleans Saints         -Of the four remaining teams, the Chiefs are the clear favorit

1. Week 18 Takeaways -DKrom: Colts lay an egg at the worst possible time -Hal: Colts live and die by Carson Wentz, Chargers “Charger” again 2. Truth or Exaggeration      -Of the three current GM openings, the Bears are the most attractive position because of Justin Fields      -The winner of Monday night’s Cardinals/Rams Wild Card playoff will lose in the Divisional Round      -The Vikings should make history and hire Eagles VP of Player Personnel Catherine Raiche as their new GM if her qualifications match those of the top male candidates for the job      -The Lions will win 6-7 games in 2022      -The 49ers and Raiders are the teams that NOBODY wants to face in the playoffs      -Long-term, the Chargers will regret hiring Brandon Staley over Brian Daboll      -The New York Giants are currently the worst team in the NFL 3. Coaching Ca

1. Week 17 Takeaways -DKrom: Cardinals with HUGE win after we wrote them off, Bengals with biggest statement win of the season -Hal: Antonio Brown needs help, his release could affect Bucs Super Bowl chances, Las Vegas Raiders stay alive against all the odds 2. Final Awards 3. Truth or Exaggeration         -If they take care of business against the Texans this week, plus considering the likely return of Derrick Henry, the Titans should be considered the favorites in the AFC          -The Browns should do all they can to trade Baker Mayfield to a QB-desperate team in the offseason, and accumulate assets by trading down in the draft to position themselves for a top QB prospect in the 2023 draft         -Patrick Surtain II is already a top-10 cornerback in the NFL         -The injury to Chris Godwin and the looming departure of Antonio Brown will b