The 2019 first round of NFL Draft is in the books, but I still need to get this off my chest.

Yes, I worked Thursday night during the draft, but seemingly all of my best friends (not sure about you, Shane) went to see “Avengers: Endgame” instead. Look, I like The Avengers just fine, but I wanted someone to text with during the draft!

Speaking of The Avengers, we start off this week’s Mailbag with a question about that ragtag bunch of superheroes:

Michael:

If The Avengers were eligible for the NFL Draft, who would you take first?

I put way more thought into this than I expected, but I think I have the right answer. It’s tempting to go with the Hulk, as he would be an absolute force on the defensive line. However, when I thought about it some more, Hulk spends an awful lot of his time as mild-mannered Bruce Banner. That’s a guy I don’t want anywhere near my team.

Iron Man is also an interesting choice, but since he derives his power from his suit, I don’t want Tony Stark running around out there. Thor would be a good option, but he’s less impressive without his hammer. And, as far as I know, hammers are not allowed in the NFL (clubs, on the other hand …).

My answer is Captain America. Thanks to the super-soldier serum, he can bench press more than 1,000 pounds, run a mile in under a minute and do other incredible things. Plug him in at receiver or running back and he’s going to be the best player in NFL history.

I’m not sure if he’ll be able to pass an NFL drug test because of that serum, but I’m willing to take a chance on him.

@DarbonneScot:

What are your thoughts on this week’s college basketball bribery trial, where government witness Marty Blazer testified that he delivered several thousand dollars to football players from universities including Michigan, Northwestern, Notre Dame, North Carolina and … Alabama?

My initial reaction was like many people’s — indifference. Who cares at this point if players are getting paid? However, rules are rules for a reason (no matter how dumb) and must be followed if you want to keep your eligibility.

For example, I’m not a fan of the NFL’s insistence on keeping marijuana as a banned substance, but I don’t get upset when players get suspended for it. You violated a dumb league rule, but you still are in the wrong, so you have to take your punishment.

What do I expect to come of this news? In a word … nothing. Maybe there will be some wins vacated, but unless we want to wipe out every school’s wins from 2000 to 2018, what’s even the point? Punish the people who were paying these athletes, but leave the schools and players alone.

@SChinni12:

What are the top 5 summer BBQ side dishes?

Normally, when you’re cooking meat, you want that meat to be the star. At cookouts, that’s certainly the case for whatever you’re barbecuing, but the side dishes are equally important.

Fortunately, there are so many side dishes to choose from that you can’t go wrong. Here’s how I’d rank the top 5 sides for your summer cookout:

  1. Potato salad — a good potato salad makes barbecued meat even better. It’s a nice, cold complement to the meat and I can eat it by the gallon.
  2. Chips and dip — doesn’t matter what kind of chip or what kind of dip (with a few exceptions). It’s all good.
  3. Baked beans — a classic for a reason. Throw some bacon chunks in there and it’s even better.
  4. Mac and cheese — hey, here’s another thing you can add bacon to! I also love jalapeno mac and cheese for a little extra kick.
  5. Coleslaw — I don’t personally like coleslaw, but I understand why a lot of people do. It can be put right on top of the meat in certain situations, too, so it’s a must-have.

If you try to give me a salad, I’m sending it back.

@Dobbe8:

Do you eat a cinnamon roll in layers, bite right in, or cut it in half?

It would be interesting to get Rick Barnes’ opinion on this, as the Tennessee coach was offered free cinnamon rolls for life to stay in Knoxville. As for me, I just go for it.

I don’t want to waste any time trying to find the right spot to peel back the first layer. However, if I take a big bite and then a layer flakes off, I’ll eat that next.

Basically, as someone whose dad makes a magnificent cinnamon roll, the only wrong way to eat a cinnamon roll is to not eat one at all.

Have a question for next week’s Mailbag? Tweet at us using #SDSMailbag or email me at ASpencer@SaturdayDownSouth.com.