NFL 22-23 season comes to close, Draft up next

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photo courtesy of All-Pro Reels

SUPER BOWL QB : Quarterback Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs wins against the Philadelphia Eagles during Super Bowl LVII

As the NFL season came to a close, this was an exciting season from exhilaration to tragedy; It’s been an interesting season to say the least. I’d have to say, some things this year are definitely surprising, and other things have been expected and not surprising at all.

One thing this season that fans had definitely been caught off guard, was the late success of the Jacksonville Jaguars. They had a surge in the second half really picking it up and putting it together behind the second year. Trevor Lawrence who made great progress this year after a dreadful start to his career. Who can blame him?

Urban Meyer as a NFL head coach was a miserable idea. After hiring Doug Pederson, in Jacksonville, things seemed to turn around finishing off 9-8 to get a division title, and even a playoff win managing to make the AFC championship game. Which is impressive for a team that wasn’t being expected to be anything this year.

I have to say, a team that this year also surprised me was the San Francisco 49ers. Managing to make it all the way to the NFC championship game with their third string QB; that alone, is impressive. This team just never gave up and they never disappointed any fans. However, fans of the San Francisco 49ers were disappointed with their performance in the NFC championship game. However, I have to give it to them for having to use their fourth string QB and never waving the white flag. The question for San Francisco next year is who’s the QB?

Let’s talk about the playoffs as a whole. I gotta say, the Super Bowl was disappointing for me. Although, I should say it was a good game and I had a lot of fun watching it with some of my friends. The Philadelphia Eagles fought hard. Both teams played well and the Chiefs won by only three points, finishing with a score of 38-35. Both teams finished the regular season with a league best of 14-3. This was the Chiefs’ fifth Superbowl appearance over the last four seasons, and this was also the Eagles fifth appearance and second win at the Superbowl.

Next up, the 2023 NFL draft which begins Thursday, April 27, and ends on Saturday, April 29. All three days of the event will be located in Kansas City, Missouri, at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.

One of the big questions people are asking is will the Chicago Bears trade their number one pick or keep it? A few athletes people are expecting to get drafted early include quarterbacks Bryce Young from Alabama and Will Levis from Kentucky, Defensive tackle Jalen Carter from Georgia and defensive lineman Will Anderson, Jr. from Alabama will also likely be drafted early on. Don’t count out, however, local cornerback Devon Witherspoon from Illinois and tackle Peter Skoronski from Northwestern.