Audacity Sports

Skill guys may get all the glory, but there’s a price to be paid for neglecting the unsung heroes controlling the line of scrimmage. Football is a blood sport, won and lost by physical marvels who crave contact, imposing their will with rare strength and determination. We all like cake and frosting, but without eggs, flour and a bowl to mix it in, what are we left to eat? With more dead ends and misdirects than a murder mystery (think Knives Out with chin straps and shoulder pads), this year’s first round carries an unusual amount of intrigue, the sole reason being that even the plugged-in likes of Adam Schefter and Ian Rapoport have no earthy clue what’s about to happen. Smoke screens and deceit are in full bloom this time of year, so forgive me if my final mock turns out to be more miss than hit. Still, this should serve as a helpful primer, identifying team needs and motivations 72 hours before Roger Goodell goes in front of the Bellagio fountain to announce the first pick of the 2022 NFL Draft.