By: Lucas Kochevar 

Another week, another lack of an Aaron Rodgers trade. The Packers are making sure to hold out for all the picks, while the Jets are likely waiting for the Packers to calm down on their asking price. Speaking trades, there have been a few notable names that have been on the move. The Cowboys have been active on this front and they picked up two very productive guys in Stephon Gilmore and Brandin Cooks. The former defensive player of the year, Gilmore, should add to the Dallas defense a dependable number two cornerback on the other side of Trevon Diggs. Cooks should provide relief for star receiver CeeDee Lamb. I think it definitely will raise the ceiling for the Cowboys. They'll still need Dak Prescott to up his play if they want to go anywhere as he largely underperformed at the end of last season.

Their NFC East foe, the Giants, also added a big time weapon with tight end Darren Waller. Now that they've tied down quarterback Daniel Jones, they decided to really go after some weapons to help him out. Waller was a breakout star over his years with the Raiders, but injuries have held him back. With breakout coach Brian Daboll, Waller looks to capture that magic back. The last big move that happened recently was cornerback Jalen Ramsey finding a new home in Miami. The Rams moved off of the star corner after finally deciding the price tag wasn't worth the dip in quality of play. Ramsey adds on to a defense that was fairly effective last season. They added notable defensive coordinator Vic Fangio over the offseason and he should also help utilize Ramsey. There are still a number of names out there that'll likely be moved, but I'll talk about those when the time comes. In this edition of LK League Notes for volume 20, I wanted to go back to the year 2000 and just remember some fun names from the game. 

The 2000 NFL Season 

I've been a historian of the game for as long as I can remember. I went to the Canton when I was younger to see the NFL Hall of Fame. I corrected the tour guide when he failed to remember that Brett Favre had the record for all-time interceptions. The early 2000's is still a hard time for me to remember because of how random it feels. The Super Bowl champ was the defensive-led Ravens and they blew out a Giants team with Kerry Collins at quarterback. The poster for the Super Bowl featured Kerry Collins vs Trent Dilfer. That seems absurd given the talent in the league at that time. As I stated earlier, the Ravens blew out the Giants 34-7 on the back of a four interception performance from the Ravens defense

Speaking of those Ravens, the defensive player of the year was Ray Lewis. In the prime of his career, Lewis was a force to be reckoned with. The defensive rookie of the year was also a linebacker, who was fairly notable to football, Brian Urlacher. A substantial difference in this season was the importance of certain positions. The offensive rookie of the year was actually someone I've never heard of, running back Mike Anderson. A very fascinating player, Anderson actually enlisted in the military after high school. He played on the contact football team and was seen by a JUCO coach. He was honorably discharged and pursued football at a JUCO school, where the coach I mentioned earlier worked. After a couple seasons, he transferred to Utah, where he played with future star receiver Steve Smith Sr. He was drafted by the Broncos and rushed for 1,487 yards and 15 touchdowns under Mike Shannahan's famous zone-blocking scheme. He only rushed for over 1,000 yards one more time over a seven year career. He was a very intriguing player and I don't want to say it was a failure of a career since he was able to make it in the league after a very non-traditional path. 

He wasn't the only running back to receive big time awards. Marshall Faulk was named the NFL MVP, as well as the offensive player of the year. Faulk seems to be a very deserving candidate for the award as he was in the midst of four straight seasons rushing for over 1,300 yards and receiving around 1,000 yards on top of that. Out of this legendary run, Faulk had his career high 26 total touchdowns, including 18 rushing. Faulk was a star attraction on top of the NFL world as a big time run for running back during the 90's and early 2000's with the year 2000 as his exclamation point. 

The MVP results are also a real treat to look at with names. Donovan McNabb was second in voting and Eddie George was third. The league leader in passing was fifth place in voting. He was some young gun named Peyton Manning with 4,413 yards. Another shocker was Rich Gannon at third place, even though he captured his MVP two years later, I never think of him when I consider early 2000's quarterbacks. Names that come to mind are guys like Brett Favre, Kurt Warner and, to a smaller degree, Daunte Culpepper. These type of names are littered throughout the passing leaders leaderboard. 

The names listed above are some fantastic quarterbacks, but there are some names that have been forgotten through the years. Jeff Garcia was close behind Manning and actually had some good years with the 49ers before turning into a backup in his later years. A name that I wasn't familiar with at all was the third place guy in passing yards, Elvis Grbac. The career backup was a late bloomer as he never truly got off the ground until he was 29 with the Chiefs and in his second year as the full-time starter, he threw for 4,169 yards and made the pro bowl. Other notable guys  on the passing yards list include the late Steve McNair on the Titans, Ryan Leaf on the one-win Chargers and 34-year-old Troy Aikman, who retired after the season. 

Before I get back to naming dudes around the league, the standings also tell an interesting story. Starting from worst to first, the Chargers, who lived in San Diego at the time, had one win. It was the worst in the league as no team was 0-16 in NFL history at that point. The Cardinals, Browns, Bears and Falcons were still just as bad as they are today. The Titans and Giants were the respective one seeds in their conferences, led by the quarterbacks I mentioned earlier. The other teams in the playoffs make sense given the talent they had, but there were two surprises to me. The Dolphins won the AFC East, despite not having legend Dan Marino, who retired the year prior. The Denver Broncos also won 11 games to get a playoff berth under Brian Griese, the son of Super Bowl winning quarterback Bob Griese. This was a year after the Broncos won the Super Bowl and legend John Elway decided to hang it up. 

Looking at the Pro Bowl is the best way to see all the legends that played the game back in this year since it actually mattered compared to todays version of the Pro Bowl. Some big time names on this list include 23-year-old Randy Moss, Tony Gonzalez, Terrell Owens and Orlando Pace. Corey Dillon and Warrick Dunn were notable running backs on the team. Rod Woodson at age 35 made  the Pro Bowl during this second renaissance in his Hall of Fame career. Left guard Bruce Matthews and wide receiver Cris Carter are also older players that managed to make the Pro Bowl during this season. There truly were stars everywhere on the field during this game and countless Hall of Famers. 

The last trip down memory lane I wanted to look at was the NFL draft that followed this season in 2001. This draft featured a strong crop of Pro Bowlers and future Hall of Famers. The first overall pick in this draft was traded by the Chargers to the Falcons. With that pick, the Falcons drafted big name Virginia Tech quarterback Michael Vick. A very noteworthy player, who has remade his image, Vick was a highlight machine during his playing days. The Chargers used their pick on Hall of Famer and one of my favorite players ever, LaDanian Tomlinson. A few other Hall of Famers include defensive end Richard Seymour and offensive lineman Steve Hutchinson. Some future Hall of Famers include Justin Smith, Reggie Wayne, Drew Brees and Steve Smith Sr. It was a fascinating year to look back on and it's always fun to just go back and take a look at all the legends of the game that were in their prime or starting to blossom before our eyes. 

Sources: Image via Baltimore Ravens. Information on Mike Anderson here. Stats and more found here. 

By: Lucas Kochevar

Jets fans, you can finally breathe. Aaron Rodgers finally addressed his future by stating he wants to go to the Jets. Nothing official has happened, but his time in Green Bay is over. The Packers seem to be happy to let him leave and move on with Jordan Love. Rodgers has largely been a headache for the Packers these past two off-seasons and now he'll move on to the Jets, who were missing a quarterback last year as Zach Wilson crumbled. It'll be intriguing to see how both teams play next year, but I'm sure the Jets will be a very popular pick by media pundits to make the Super Bowl. The quarterback landscape in the NFC looks very bare now that Rodgers is gone. It'll be intriguing to see how teams approach this since the NFC looks wide open now. Outside of this whole drama, free agency has been going on and several guys have chosen to leave their teams. In this LK League Notes, I'll pick out some big headline moves and my thoughts on the team moving forward into next months draft along with a 2023 college football look ahead. 

Big Names on the Move...

LT Orlando Brown Jr. to the Bengals
Brown went on the market after Kansas City promptly decided to move forward with RT Jawaan Taylor from the Jaguars. Brown has been insistent on playing left tackle in the league since he played for Baltimore during his first contract. The Bengals decided to roll the dice on Brown after another subpar year for their offensive line. Jonah Williams has been the starter at left tackle for the Bengals, but with this, Williams is likely on the move. Brown is a step up from Williams and will be tied to Cincinnati through his prime years since he's only 26. It's a win-now move for the Bengals, who famously don't hand out big contracts. They've lost a number of players on their defense, but I'll give them benefit of doubt that they can handle these loses since they haven't lost either of their coordinators. The Bengals championship window will remain open as long as they have Joe Burrow and if they can protect him, they'll have a great shot in the playoffs. I think the Bengals understand this, hence the big signing of Brown. A solid move for a contender in the AFC. 

DT Javon Hargrave signs with the 49ers
Another big fella jumps teams to a contender in the NFC. Hargrave was a force in the middle for the Eagles last season as Jordan Davis was learning the ropes and Fletcher Cox is getting up there in age. He played the best ball of his career in a contract year and looks to keep that success up with the 49ers. The 49ers invested draft capital in DT Javon Kinlaw a few years ago, but since he hasn't quite panned out yet, the 49ers were aggressive and signed Hargrave to pair with Kinlaw. It's a risky signing since Hargrave just turned 30, but with their scheme, they look to have him wreak havoc in the middle while Nick Bosa and Arik Armstead are on the outside. An already loaded San Francisco defense manages to get better to compete against the Eagles and more in the NFC. 

S Jessie Bates commits to the Falcons
One of the worst kept secrets during the buildup to free agency was the Bates and Falcons buzz as several players on the Falcons were posting about hanging out with Bates. Now that it's official, Bates is a big time acquisition by Atlanta as he can be a game changer on the back end for Atlanta. The Falcons haven't had a true playmaking safety since the Super Bowl year and Bates will provide that and much more at safety for Atlanta. The Falcons brought over Ryan Nielson from the Saints to be their new DC and he helped several players get paid during his tenure there such as Vonn Bell and Marcus Williams. Bates should plug in and play a big role to bring together the Atlanta secondary, similar to how he did in Cincinnati. The bar is very low for improvement with the Falcons defense, but I do think they can make a big improvement with Bates and the other free agents they brought in. 

A Look Ahead to the 2023 College Football Season

Its never too early to look ahead for college football. It truly is a year-long sport with all the recruiting, transfers, and the season full of games. For this, I want to highlight certain quarterbacks and sleepers to watch for. Of course, Georgia is the big team to highlight coming off back-to-back national titles. They're returning a number of players, including star tight end Brock Bowers. They aren't returning their starting quarterback, however, as he's finally moving on to the NFL. Redshirt junior Carson Beck is the early favorite for the job as he's patiently waiting for his chance, but don't count out underclassmen Brock Vandagriff and Gunner Stockton. 

​The two big names at quarterback around the country are Caleb Williams, the reigning Heisman trophy winner at USC, and Drake Maye, North Carolina standout. Around the SEC outside of Georgia, there will be new starters at Alabama and Tennessee. LSU and Arkansas manage to keep their guys in Jayden Daniels and K.J. Jefferson, both of them are solid dual-threat quarterbacks. Meanwhile, Kentucky brings in Devin Leary, a transfer from North Carolina State that I'm very high on as a pocket passer. South Carolina brings back Spencer Rattler, who had a strong end to last season. Outside of these guys, multiple teams will have question marks at quarterback. 

The Pac-12 will have an interesting group of guys at quarterback with many talented arms coming back. I think Washington is the most underrated team in the conference with Michael Penix Jr. at the helm. He had a tremendous year  and they're also returning their top receiver Romeo Odunze. Oregon has Bo Nix coming back and he was terrific for the Ducks last season. Washington State has a solid dual-threat guy in Cam Ward Jr. and Cam Rising is returning for Utah. A name that's drawing a lot of buzz is Shedeur Sanders at Colorado, who is the son of new head coach Deion Sanders. I'm a bit skeptical on him, but it'll definitely draw my eyes this year. 

A lot of the other conferences are a bit shaky at quarterback, but there are definitely some talented guys. Jordan Travis at Florida State is one of those talented guys and the Seminoles could win the ACC with him. I also like Taulia Tagovailoa at Maryland to put up some big time numbers. For me, there's a breakout guy with Tanner Mordecai at Wisconsin. The transfer from SMU was very good during his time with the Mustangs and will get a shot with new Wisconsin coach Luke Fickell. A few big name places that will bet on their young guys include Ohio State and Clemson. These are just a handful of names that the common fan can point out as noteworthy players for this upcoming year. Of course, I'm sure that there will be some under-the-radar guys that no one saw coming. 

Sources: Image via Chris Petersen, Getty Images

By: Lucas Kochevar

In case you missed it, I made my triumphant return to YouTube and the podcasting world with Koch's Corner State of the Union. Right now, I'm still on the road to recovery with my tonsils, but that doesn't mean I can continue to share my channels of entertainment. Make sure to subscribe to the YouTube to get up to date notifications about the streams, but I'll post the videos here as well! Enjoy!

By: Lucas Kochevar

We have a blockbuster trade! It's not Aaron Rodgers, yet, but it's the Bears finally giving up the first overall pick. Chicago sells the first pick for the ninth pick, 61st pick, a 2024 first round pick and a 2025 second round pick. That's not all! The Panthers also attached star receiver D.J. Moore to the deal as the cherry on top. It's an absolute haul for the Bears as they decided on this deal Friday afternoon. All reports seem to indicate that Ohio State QB C.J. Stroud is the target as he's now the odds-on favorite to be the first pick. Stroud fits a mold that new head coach Frank Reich likes in a big frame and great precision on throws. The big question is how will they build the weapons around whoever they take now as Laviska Shenault is now their number one receiver. The Bears now have more assets than before and can likely snag one of the best offensive lineman at the ninth pick to defend their franchise guy in Justin Fields. It'll be intriguing to see the buzz around this draft with over a month until Carolina makes the pick. Now, I continue to the defensive side of the ball for five more free agents I like. 

Five More Free Agents I Like

Sheldon Rankins, DT
Rankins has had a relatively up and down career so far in the pros, but after one of his best years yet, I think Rankins can be a great bargain bin pickup for a team. The defensive tackle market is one of the better groups in this free agency class, so finding diamonds in the rough should be a relatively easy practice. Rankins is an all-around decent defensive tackle with average run defense and average pass rush, but his well-roundedness is what makes him effective. His biggest weakness would be his missed tackle percentage. The past three seasons, he's posted his worst numbers in that category with double-digit numbers in each of the seasons. Overall, I think he can be an effective tackle that clogs up running lanes. 

Cameron Sutton, CB
Sutton enters free agency as a player that has had an up-and-down career to this point, but steady improvement in each of his last couple seasons and a jump in snap counts makes him a target for teams that are needy for a cornerback. He isn't a true shutdown corner, but he has decent numbers on the perimeter. He's improved his interception numbers each year and finished last season with three. His tackling numbers don't jump off the page, but he is a cornerback so it's hard to hold that against him. At 28, I think he's worth a shot on a deal for a couple years. 

Byron Murphy Jr., CB
Admittedly, Murphy has not had a great showing to this point in his young career, but at 25 years old, I think Murphy has his best ball ahead of him. Last year, he was banged up but posted his best year when he played. I think a change of scenery will do him some good and a return to the slot corner role will help him. In 2021, he played more in the slot and managed to get 4 interceptions. Unlike Sutton, who I mentioned before, Murphy is better at tackling and his run defense. Murphy has to improve his ball skills, but I think there's still a solid player underneath all the struggles he's had so far. 

Juan Thornhill, FS
​There are a number of guys on the Chiefs that are free agents that have been key in their reign over the conference. Thornhill is one of those underrated guys that I think could make another team very happy. Thornhill has been a common fixture for the Chiefs and stepped up big time once Tyrann Mathieu left the team last offseason. Thornhill plays free safety and looks to be hitting the prime of his career as he's been playing much more consistent. Although he was penalized the most in his career last season, he also matched his career high in interceptions with three. Having a reliable performer at safety is hard to find and Thornhill should be sought after by many teams that need postseason experience in the back end. 

Taylor Rapp, SS/FS
Another young free agent hitting the market is Taylor Rapp, whose versatility and performance should make him a highly-demanded player. Rapp has been a good performer for the Rams back end for four seasons and played the best ball of his career last year. Rapp plays free safety primarily, but has lined up at strong safety and in the slot as a cornerback. It's rare to find a player that can play good football at all of those positions and Rapp is that guy. Rapp has great instincts in the run and has good interception numbers over the past couple seasons as well. A spot where he can improve is his ball coverage. During his time in the league, Rapp doesn't have a season with less than 70% completions against him. Despite that, I think his overall play and upside should boost his stock tremendously. 

Sources: Image via Adam Hunger, AP Photo. Stats via PFF premium stats. 

By: Lucas Kochevar

It's NFL news galore with quarterbacks deciding where to play next year and a number of other things happening. The franchise tag deadline was this week with a number of players getting tagged. A couple of players that don't have to worry about their future are Derek Carr and Geno Smith. Carr was featured in length a couple weeks ago in my league notes, now he returns with a new team in the New Orleans Saints. I don't know where New Orleans is finding this cap space, but they sign Carr to a 4-year deal, worth $150 million. It's an intriguing signing as the Saints are now the favorites in the NFC South. Carr has been a volatile quarterback during his time in the league and time will tell if the Saints made a good decision. Smith re-signs in Seattle for a very reasonable 3-year deal for $105 million. Smith is coming off a strong year and looks to keep the positive momentum going for Seattle. With all the buzz going on in Indianapolis, NFL free agency has quietly flown under the radar and it's approaching quickly. In this LK league notes, I'm going to look over the free agent class and find some underrated players I like. 

Five Free Agents I Like

Jamaal Williams, RB 
Williams is a player that I'm very fond of  coming off a fantastic year. Before finding his way over to Detroit, Williams was just a change of pace backup in Green Bay. He always put up a good stat line, but never found consistent carries. Once he was in Detroit, he put up much better number than before and last season was his coming out party. He rushed for over 1,000 yards and 17 touchdowns. It's hard to say that he'll certainly improve upon that number, but the tools are obviously there for him to exceed. He's a true power back that can thrive as a starter when given the opportunity, plus he seems to be loved by teammates and brings together a locker room. All though the age is concerning at 28, I think he has a chance to keep his numbers up for at least another contract. 

Alexander Mattison, RB
​Another running back? Yes, this years free agent running back class is full of starters and Mattison is one of those guys that deserves a chance to start. Mattison has shades of  Jamaal Williams' profile when you look at his previous numbers. As Dalvin Cook's running mate, Mattison hasn't had a shot to take the starting job except for when Cook was hurt. In 2021 Cook missed four games, in those games he averaged 89 yards and had two touchdowns in those starts. His production was down last year due to Cook being healthy and a new system being introduced. The upside with him is that he'll be 25 once the season rolls around and the elements are all there to be a very productive back and I would love to see him get consistent carries. 

Jakobi Meyers, WR
Meyers has been a very consistent and dependable receiver. Outside of a puzzling lateral to Mac Jones last season, he's been very good. Now, he's not a guy that's going to put up flashy, gaudy numbers but he gets the job done and should provide a great compliment to another good receiver. Meyers provides a great understanding of route running and dependable hands. He's not a take-the-top-off kind of receiver but his ability to play within the numbers is his best ability. I think he could help settle down a young quarterback as a safety blanket. He provided this for Mac Jones and I would love to see him play for my Falcons. 

Dalton Schultz, TE
Finding a quality tight end in the NFL is very difficult, however, Schultz is a proven guy hitting the open market. Schultz's time in Dallas is likely over with their cap situation and I think a team would be very happy to take him in. He's had a better career than Evan Engram to this point, but I can see Schultz taking it up a notch similar to Engram's ascent in Jacksonville this past season. Schultz is a strong vertical threat and is surprisingly good in his run blocking. He's an athlete than can provide that safety blanket option for a team. I think he has legitimate double-digit touchdown potential. I think he'll get overpaid, but if utilized correctly, I think he can thrive in a pass-happy attack. 

Dalton Risner, OG
The offensive line is a tricky thing to figure out in free agency. There's a balance in finding a scheme fit and the age factor. Risner is a guy that hasn't quite had a great showing since being drafted in 2019, but he has a big sample size of snaps. He's played over 900 snaps in three out of four seasons and doesn't have a ton of penalties over those four seasons. When it comes to how he plays, he's a good pass blocker, but needs to find a scheme that can help his run blocking. I don't think Risner has hit his prime quite yet and I think a change of scenery could be helpful for the guard looking for a turnaround in his career. 

Next week I'll give out five more guys to look out for on the defensive side of the ball. 

Sources: Image via Tom Pennington, Getty Images. NFL via Youtube

By: Lucas Kochevar

The NFL scouting combine is here as the participants are starting to file into Indianapolis. The combine is something that teams look forward to every year as the teams really get a chance to get up close and personal with the prospects. The most eyes will be on the quarterback position with C.J. Stroud among the guys about to throw this week. The betting favorite for the first overall pick, Bryce Young, will not throw at the combine as he'll be waiting for the Alabama pro day to throw. As we find out every year, there will be some prospects that shine at the combine. Wide receiver John Ross is a perfect example as he broke the 40-yard dash record and shot up draft boards to ninth overall. In this LK League Notes, I'll go over some QBs and other prospects that could pop in Indianapolis this week.

The LK QB Rankings

The film has been reviewed and there have been some player profiles posted on this very site. Even with the combine and pro days, it'll take a lot to change my current rankings. In my opinion, the film doesn't lie and that's the biggest component I look at when evaluating talent. The next qualities to look for are the intangibles, leadership, and the measurements. When players are running drills against the air, it tells me about ten percent of what I need to know. Without further ado, here are my rankings:

1. Bryce Young
2. C.J. Stroud
3. Anthony Richardson
4. Will Levis
5. Hendon Hooker
6. Jake Haener
7. Tanner McKee
8. Stetson Bennett IV
9. Jaren Hall
10. Max Duggan
11. Clayton Tune
12. Aidan O’Connell
13. Tyson Bagent

​The first four seem to be locks in the first round as analysts have them drafted in different spots around the first round. My hot take, which isn't that hot anymore, is Richardson over Levis. Both players had very similar seasons last year and the appeal of both of them is the tools. I like Richardson's tools more than Levis' and I love his potential. Richardson is very young in his career with only thirteen games under his belt and another reason why I think he's growing on me is the similarities to Trey Lance coming out of NDSU. I was a big Lance fan, I still am, and I think Richardson has those similar qualities between the big arm, strong mobility, and lack of experience. Levis is still okay in my eyes, but give me Richardson and his potential. 

The next group of guys are projects that I think need to sit behind starters with experience or rebuilding teams that could take a shot on them. Hooker and Bennett IV are big names because of their previous season, but the fact that they are both 25 years old hurts them tremendously. Jake Haener was potentially the best QB in the country for the last month of the season. He also was the best QB at the Senior Bowl, but I think his lack of competition and no distinct trait could hinder him. He's very similar to Bailey Zappe in my eyes. Tanner McKee reminds me too much of Davis Mills, the last Stanford QB drafted, with a talented arm and no mobility. Jaren Hall is fascinating because he has a lively arm and mobility, but I'm not sure if he can translate well to the speed of the NFL with his processing of defenses.

The last four guys are simply backups in the league to me. Duggan was a great story in college football this year, but I think he's a tad behind when it comes his processing. He also will try and force throws into traffic, but I do really his intangibles and fundamentals. Tune had a solid college career, but who knows what he can be at the next level. Before last season, I thought O'Connell had great potential as a pocket passer. He has a number of great throws on film, but a lack of mobility and consistency takes him down to 12 for me. Bagent is a QB out of Shepherd University, a school I haven't heard of before evaluating him, and the simple fact of the unknown takes him down to last on my board. 

Other Names to Watch For
​
Siaki Ika, DT Baylor : Ika is a mountain of a man that comes from Baylor at a staggering 6'4'', 358 lbs. The defensive tackle came to Baylor two seasons ago from LSU, as he was on the 2019 championship team. As we've seen in the past with Vita Vea and Jordan Davis, giant defensive tackles that can show they're agile enough will shoot up the draft boards to the top 15 picks. 
Andre Carter, LB Army : It's not often that we see a service member enter the NFL draft, but Carter is a special case. Carter has a chance to shoot up draft boards with a strong combine in the drills and interview sections. Standing at 6'7'', Carter measures up in a fantastic way to other edge rushers in the past combines. If his athleticism can match his measurables, he should be a lock for the first round. 
Israel Abanikanda, RB Pittsburgh : Abanikanda was a player I was surprised to see on this list because I remember him exploding onto the scene late last season and I thought he was younger. He scored 20 touchdowns last year and showed many instances of burst when scoring those touchdowns. I think he can benefit big time from a strong combine amongst a talented class of running backs. 
Roschon Johnson, RB Texas : Another running back on the list, Johnson is a pure power back with great height and weight. As Bijan Robinson has all the hype, Johnson was a very effective partner in that backfield for Texas. If Johnson can show different aspects of his game, mainly his agility, I think he can benefit from the combine. 
Darnell Washington, TE Georgia : Washington would often get lost in the shuffle at Georgia, but when he was involved, it was terrifying for opposing defenses. Similar to Ika, Washington is a mountain of a man and is shockingly agile for his size. Washington seems like one of those classic tight ends where he comes over from basketball and has a Hall of Fame career, similar to Antonio Gates and Jimmy Graham. The Georgia Bulldogs tend to have freak-of-nature performances in Indy and I think Washington will be must-watch TV. 
A.T. Perry, Wake Forest WR : The Wake Forest wide receiver made a name for himself quickly with QB Sam Hartman. Perry is a tall 6'5'', but on the skinnier side at 195 lbs. Perry has long arms and those will be big for him at the next level. If Perry can shine as an athlete and show his agility and route running, I think he can find many NFL suitors.
Eli Ricks, CB Alabama : Ricks had a very bumpy college career until his last year at Alabama. Even in his last season, I didn't think he was fantastic. It felt like he was constantly under duress on the back end, however, his status coming out of high school as a top recruit might help his case as a good prospect. A great combine could reinforce the type of talent he was coming out of high school. I think he also needs to nail interviews to rise up draft boards because teams will hold his past over his head. 
Noah Sewell, LB Oregon : The younger brother of RT Penei Sewell, Noah is a completely different build than his brother. Their similarity is in their athleticism as Noah is a fantastic athelete at linebacker. He has a great mix of speed and power and I think that'll be on display at the combine. He's a big time athlete and I love his tools. He should be another guy to show out in Indianapolis. 

As I said earlier, the teams are excited to get to Indianapolis. Although, I think the coaching staffs are more excited to eat steaks at St. Elmo. The combine is important to the evaluation process for many teams to really meet and get to know players. Every year someone shoots up the draft boards with a fantastic combine and I think the athletes are evolving. This year should give us a great crop of young athletes to show out at Lucas Oil Stadium. 

Sources: Image via Joe Robbins, Getty Images. Players found here

By: Lucas Kochevar

Quarterbacks tend to be the biggest topic of conversation for football and it makes complete sense. They're the number one most valuable player on the team, even if they aren't the best. The Los Angeles Rams are a great example for this in regards to their recent success. Despite having the best player on the planet in Aaron Donald, the topic of discussion revolved around the quarterback until they won their Super Bowl. The Vikings have the offensive player of the year with Justin Jefferson, but the discussion leads back to how Kirk Cousins can't win the big one. This offseason will feature a ton of movement with quarterbacks looking to find new homes. Teams will be working to plug-in the best option, even if that option isn't great. Quarterbacks like Derek Carr and Jimmy Garoppolo are guaranteed to find new teams. MVP winners Lamar Jackson and Aaron Rodgers are also possibly on the move. Similar to the first-ever LK League Notes, I'll be looking around the league to see what the QB market is like. 

Aaron Rodgers
​
The veteran quarterback could be on the move this offseason as the Green Bay Packers are reportedly "done with him," per longtime Packers beat reporter Bob McGinn. This is the second consecutive offseason that the Rodgers-Packers relationship has been in question. These type of rumors are troublesome when they come back around for a second time. Despite playing below his standards, the 2021 MVP put up solid stats with 3,695 yards and a 13-6 TD/INT ratio. His age and contract are still a concern for many as he has talked about weighing his options regarding retirement. Rodgers seems like he's still a ways off from that, but with how outspoken he is nowadays it's hard to say whether or not he's bluffing. I believe Rodgers fits best with the New York Jets. His former OC Nathaniel Hackett missed out on getting him when he was with the Broncos. With Hackett on New York's staff, I could see the Jets being in on Rodgers. A dark horse candidate would be the 49ers if Trey Lance and Brock Purdy are still dealing with the long-term injuries. 

Lamar Jackson

The Lamar saga has been equally as interesting as Rodgers in Green Bay. Jackson and the Ravens have been talking out a contract extension for years now. No agreement has come to fruition as it seems like the sides are too far apart on the money, mainly the guaranteed money. One of the biggest reasons for the disparity actually comes from another team in the division. The Cleveland Browns threw a monkey wrench in the QB market when they fully-guaranteed Deshaun Watson's contract. This set the precedent that special, young quarterbacks should demand fully-guaranteed contracts. Another issue about Watson's contract extension is all the baggage he had while still getting that massive deal. Jackson doesn't have those issues following him, so naturally he's asking for more. The Ravens aren't unreasonable on their side of negotiations either. Since his MVP campaign, he's been in and out of the lineup and as a result, his passing numbers have all gone down. With that being said, I would be willing to pay him and I think another team will be as well. The Falcons are the biggest team with buzz around Jackson. If he goes anywhere outside of Baltimore, I also think Atlanta makes a ton of sense. 

Derek Carr

Derek Carr finishes up a long tenure with the Raiders and finds himself on the open market for the first time in his career. The interest in Carr is surprisingly high with the New York Jets pitching a "Hall of Fame career" after they win a Super Bowl together. Seems a bit ambitious for a team that hasn't made the playoffs in over a decade, however I can understand the thinking. The Rams just did a similar thing with Matthew Stafford after they saved him from the Lions. Now it's a completely different situation that Carr would be walking into, but it's still an improvement for both sides. The Jets were missing a quarterback last year as Zach Wilson cemented himself as a bust. If you plug-in Carr to the Jets, they could have made the playoffs last season. Outside of the Jets, Carr would make a ton of sense for teams in the NFC South. The Saints seemed to be out of it as they didn't make a deal with Carr after his visit. Carr fits Frank Reich's mold for a veteran quarterback that needs a new home in Carolina. Ridder isn't solidified as the starter in Atlanta. Lastly, the Buccaneers have Kyle Trask as their starter right now. Any of these spots make sense for Carr, but I really can see him chasing a contract in New York while failing to meet expectations. 

The Rest of the Field

Outside of the three guys above, there are a number of wild card guys for teams to take a chance on. Geno Smith is one of these guys, but the feeling seems to be that he will be franchise-tagged by the Seahawks. Daniel Jones is a strange case. On one hand, he just helped lead his team to a playoff berth and win. Even if you credit Daboll with his production, Jones still showed enough to garner interest from other teams. The tricky part is the price tag because I think the Giants would be willing to meet him somewhere in the middle. If Jones' asking price is goes past $35 million, then I think they'll be okay to let him walk. In the end, I could see Jones being franchise-tagged. The next guy is Jimmy Garoppolo, who is certainly leaving the 49ers this offseason. Garoppolo is a system QB through and through, but sometimes that's all you need. He could play a very solid style of ball for a team on the cusp of the playoffs, maybe the Commanders. Ryan Tannehill is also another name to watch, but I'm not sure he'll be moved this offseason.

The guys listed above are players that I think could start and have some sort of impact. There are some journeyman guys out there as well. Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold come to mind as they both had solid endings to their seasons. Jacoby Brissett and Andy Dalton are some veterans that played in action last year. The last name I want to mention is a fan favorite and I would love to see him get a shot, Gardner Minshew. He came on late in the year for the injured Jalen Hurts and showed flashes. A spot that makes a ton of sense for him is the Colts with former Eagles OC Shane Steichen as the head coach there. The Colts are likely to target a QB in the draft, but if they need a bridge guy to mentor, Minshew is right there. 

Sources: Images via G Fiume, Getty Images. Andrew Graham, On3. Tyler Sullivan, CBS Sports. 

By: Lucas Kochevar

The Kansas City Chiefs are the champions of the world. They conquered the Eagles in route to their second title in five years. An unbelievable game that ended in the final seconds once Eagles cornerback James Bradberry held Juju Smith-Schuster to draw a penalty. Despite the ending, the game did truly live up to expectations as these two teams were the best in league. Patrick Mahomes captures his second MVP, Super Bowl and Super Bowl MVP in the same week and he's quickly jumping up people's all-time list as one of the best quarterbacks ever. I agree with the sentiment as his accomplishments in five years passes by many players entire career. Travis Kelce adds to his resume as an all-time tight end. Lastly, head coach Andy Reid also stamps his ticket as one of the greatest offensive minds ever as he had a masterclass in the second half. Now that the season is over, lets look back at this year and look forward to what happens next in the NFL. 

The 2022 NFL Season In-Review

A bunch of different storylines came out of this year as we saw the beginning of a new era of quarterbacks, first year coaching successes and the failure of living up to expectations for a number of teams. The Eagles took advantage of being underestimated, while the spotlight was far too bright for the Colts. People were too low on the Chiefs coming into the year, while the Rams had one of the worst campaigns for a reigning Super Bowl champion in history. The Bills had a turbulent season, despite boasting a 13-3 record. The adversities they faced throughout the year took a clear emotional toll on them until they ran out of gas against the Bengals. 

The league is sprinkled with young quarterbacks making a name for themselves. A few of the guys around the league turning the corner include Trevor Lawrence, Justin Fields, and Daniel Jones. They're all at different roads in their respective careers, but they all took leaps in their abilities to prove they can stick around. The phrase "Out with the old, in with the new" could very well describe this year and next year's quarterback landscape. Tom Brady retired. Aaron Rodgers and Matt Ryan struggled. Russell Wilson and Derek Carr looked lost among their peers. The era of 2000's and 2010's are nearing an end with these quarterbacks slowing down towards retirement.

Outside of Brady, the other notable players to retire are defensive end J.J. Watt and wide receiver A.J. Green. Watt had an unbelievable career as he won three defensive player of the year awards along with 114.5 career sacks. His peak was one of the most dominant stretches a player has ever had in the NFL. Green was one of the more consistent recievers in the league as he started off his career with seven straight Pro Bowls. Before injuries derailed his career, Green had six seasons over 1,000 yards. One day, I hope to see Green in the Hall of Fame alongside Watt and Brady.

This season also showed the emergence of many young first year coaches. The coach of the year was awarded to one of them in Giants head coach Brian Daboll. Coming over from Buffalo, Daboll immediately rose the level of play for quarterback Daniel Jones and took the Giants to the playoffs, where they defeated the 13-4 Vikings. Speaking of the Vikings, Kevin O'Connell helped Minnesota turn it up a notch. They had a number of flaws, but O'Connell managed to elevate the talent to 13 wins, including 11 one-score wins. They had a some of the most entertaining games with the largest comeback in NFL history and a thriller against the Bills. Mike McDaniel of the Dolphins had a tough year with Tua Tagovailoa being hurt with three concussions, but he still managed to lead his team into the playoffs. Bears coach Matt Eberflus ended up with the worst record in the league, but Chicago showed a lot of promise. The only one that failed was former Broncos head coach Nathaniel Hackett, who didn't even make it to the end of the season.

There were a number of teams that couldn't live up to expectations at all and that included the Packers, Rams and Buccaneers. Even though the Chargers and Buccaneers made the playoffs, I still think their seasons ended in disappointment. On the other side of the spectrum, The Lions, Jaguars and Giants flew past their projections for the year and look to build upon their success. All in all, the season was a blast to watch with some very difficult moments in there. Hopefully, the quality of play will rise up with more young superstars making a name for themselves and a new crop of young rookies. 

What to Look Forward To

With the NFL season over, the common football fan will be scrambling to get their fix of pigskin. The senior bowl in Mobile has already passed and a couple other college all-star games have also been played, but the next slate of draft related events will be coming up in the following weeks. The NFL combine is everyone's favorite workout to watch and it'll be coming up soon towards the end of this month. Starting Feb. 28 held in Indianapolis, the combine will run until March 6 and the combine participants have slowly started to be announced. After that, the college pro days will start happening and players will be working out back at their respective schools. After that one of my favorite times of the year will happen, the NFL draft starts on April 27 and runs through April 29. 

That's all the dates for the NFL draft related events. Outside of this, the NFL free agency will start on March 15. If you're really craving football, there will also be TWO Spring football leagues with the USFL and the XFL continuing their attempts at comebacks. If those are the games you want to put on, make sure to remember there is a significant drop in quality. After the Spring, there'll be the long wait for training camp and the hope for NFL fan bases will build slowly. 

Sources: Image via Abbie Parr, Associated Press. Stats via pro-football-reference.com 

By: Lucas Kochevar 

Twas' the night before the Super Bowl, when all through Arizona
All the fans were stirring, likely drinking, probably Corona;
Half of them in a sea of red, the Chiefs faithful
Eagles fans saw them, their comments were hateful

The players were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of the trophy were in their heads;
Andy Reid is getting cozy about to take his nap,
Nick Sirianni is game planning what buttons to tap. 

The QBs are ready, especially Jalen Hurts
Mahomes will make sure to throw four verts.
Juju Smith-Schuster wants to record a TikTok,
While center Jason Kelce is ready to block

His brother Travis wants to score the big touchdown
He really wants to wear the 'Better Kelce' crown.
The Eagles defense will look to get a sack, 
And the Chiefs want to win with a passing attack.

The M&Ms only left for a Super Bowl ad,
It's crazy that people were actually mad.
Rihanna's halftime show wont be bad,
but people will be outraged, probably your dad

A key player for Philly is 'Big Play' Slay,
In the end, I have the Eagles going all the way
Which players will add to their legacy?
Either way, the winner will drink Hennessey

LK's Super Bowl Prediction: Eagles 34, Chiefs 30

Sources: Image via Tim Nwachukwu, Getty Images

By: Lucas Kochevar

        The Kansas City Chiefs are heading to the Super Bowl! The Chiefs managed to win a game that came down to the wire against the Cincinnati Bengals and find themselves in the big game for the third time in five seasons. Patrick Mahomes still had his fastball, despite the high ankle sprain. He threw for 326 yards and two touchdowns against a Bengals defense that has been playing it's best these past few weeks. The defense for Kansas City also stepped up big time slowing down Joe Burrow. When they needed a crucial stop at the end of the game, Chris Jones stepped up to get his second sack of the game. A Skyy Moore punt return was monumental in setting up the Chiefs for a game-winning drive. After a big third down conversion and critical defensive penalty, Harrison Butker set-up for an easy field goal and he was money with the kick. Now, the Chiefs look to try and cement their place in history as a modern day dynasty against the Eagles. 

The Road to Phoenix: Chiefs Edition
        The Kansas City Chiefs have been wreaking havoc in the AFC for years now. The Andy Reid era of Kansas City has been remarkable with the amount of success in the regular season and postseason, especially since the arrival of Patrick Mahomes. The now two-time MVP single-handedly changed the expectations of the Chiefs and has elevated the franchise to a level they haven't seen before. They suffered a heart-breaking loss to Tom Brady and the Patriots in Mahomes' first year, but they bounced back with the gigantic Super Bowl win over the 49ers. Since then, they lost in the big game to Tampa Bay and they lost to Cincinnati in the AFC championship game last year. The Chiefs are looking to prove they weren't a one-hit wonder and this Sunday will put that claim to the test. 
         The Chiefs underwent an offseason of  change with their most threatening weapon on offense with Tyreek Hill being traded to the Dolphins. He was a cheat code and unlocked a level of explosiveness in the offense. With him gone, the Chiefs decided to pivot to reliable free agent wide receivers in Juju Smith-Schuster and Marquez Valdez-Scantling. They eventually traded for Kadarius Toney, while Jerick McKinnon and Isiah Pacheco became big threats out of the backfield. Meanwhile, the defense was steady, despite one of their big leaders leaving in Tyrann Mathieu. Free agent addition Justin Reid filled in well and Kansas City ended up boasting a 14-3 regular season record. The Chiefs weren't entirely in a good rhythm, but they were still 4-2 after six weeks. The big momentum changer in my opinion was the game against the 49ers, where they won 44-23 on the road. The Chiefs man-handled the 49ers and this sparked a stretch of winning 12 of their last 13 games, including the playoff wins over Jacksonville and Cincinnati. Watching this version of the Chiefs has really put into perspective how critical it is to have a strong upper brass. General manger Brett Veach has done a wonderful job replacing the talent that's left and Andy Reid has done well playing to the strengths of the players Veach brought in. Those two being in lockstep has lead to this consistent success that Kansas City has had. Overall, the Chiefs are one of the best franchises over the past decade and the Super Bowl against Philadelphia could raise their status even higher among all-time dynasties. 

The Key Players in this Game
       The Chiefs have a number of under-the-radar guys that could end up being huge in this game. For the offense, I think the Chiefs offensive line, with center Creed Humphrey in the middle, will be huge. The Chiefs struggled mightily in their Super Bowl matchup versus Tampa Bay a couple years ago because of their offensive line. Now, they face off against a team that recorded the most sacks in the league by a comfortable margin. The Chiefs revamped that entire unit and they're completely different than the one that played in the Super Bowl. According to Shane Haff on twitter, Humphrey and his two other guards have allowed only three sacks this seasons. They've been instrumental in allowing the Chiefs offense to feel comfortable all season long, understanding that Mahomes has the time in the pocket. Humphrey also was the highest graded center per PFF with a grade of 89.9. Humphrey will need to be on his game directing this unit with how dangerous the Eagles defensive line is. Outside of reading the defense for blitzes, he'll have to pay attention to Fletcher Cox and Javon Hargrave in the middle. It'll be a big task, literally, but he'll need to be effective in order to protect Mahomes. 
        The Chiefs defense isn't a star studded defense outside of a few names, however, they have a number of guys that play their role in DC Steve Spagnuolo's defense. I think the Chiefs big impact guy on this side of the ball is rookie edge rusher George Karlaftis. The rookie out of Purdue, somehow, fell down to the Chiefs in the first round. He managed to get six sacks this year, which placed him third out of all rookies. He managed to get a sack in their playoff win against Cincinnati, which was crucial against a guy like Burrow. They'll need that same energy this Sunday against Jalen Hurts and co. Keeping Hurts contained will certainly be a team effort, but it all starts along the D-line. It'll also be a challenge for Karlaftis since he's facing one of the absolute best tackles in the league in Lane Johnson. The stage will be set for the young rookie and the Chiefs will need everyone to contribute on defense to slow down the Eagles

How to Win the Game: Chiefs Edition
       The Chiefs are entering this game as an underdog in the betting market and it's an understandable spread. On paper, the Eagles have a better roster, but the Chiefs have certain guys that turn it on when the spotlight is on. Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes will craft a game plan that can attack the linebackers of the Eagles. I think the running backs I mentioned earlier on with Pacheco and McKinnon will play a huge role in the passing game. The obvious game plan heavily involves tight end Travis Kelce as well. On defense, they have to be able to contain the passing attack, especially Devonta Smith, whose been a breakout player for the Eagles lately. The Eagles run game will be there, no matter what and the Chiefs should try to focus on shutting down one aspect of the Eagles offense. The Chiefs will need to ride Patrick Mahomes to the finish line, even on a tough ankle. He's one of the most talented players I've ever seen with my two eyes and I think he'll show up. Kansas City will have their hands full for 60 minutes on Sunday and they'll need to be guided by their leadership to achieve the goal of winning the Lombardi trophy. 

Photo via Kevin Sabitus, Getty Images, Shane Haff via twitter.com/HAFFnHAFF_TPL/status/1623713337077862404?s=20&t=pD0awH3e1lTrSaKiVdf5tA, PFF via www.pff.com/nfl/grades/position/c