2021 Draft Discussion - Bolts Pick 13th

[wu-dai clan]

It’s LT in the first or second since Okung was not resigned. Remember that Greg Little was a big enough disappointment that they traded for Okung last year. It was a great example of a no win trade lol.

Little was not ready then.
What young Olineman can develop with virtual football practices during Covid ?
They like Moton on the right side.
I expect Little to be given his shot this year.
Sam will feel like he never left NY.
Meanwhile, Carolina guy Horn, at a PON for the Panthers, will be on the board.

I see this working to our advantage.
Someone else will draft a QB before 13.
We are inching our way closer to Penei.

[Topcat]

Panthers move is a blow...that was a QB needy team...wanted 5 to go in top 10, but didn't want Darnold to be one of them!!

Panthers are also a threat to take a tackle.

Best scenario....a QB hungry team, maybe NE, trades up with the Panthers...we don't want them picking, regardless of position....whether we are contemplating a trade up for Sewell, or letting the board come to us, we want them outta there!

Yep...we could see an early run on OT's...ugh...

[Fleet]

[Topcat]

maybe ninja’s onto something...

Falcons open to trading No. 4 pick and have discussed deals with other teams, per report

https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/n...er-report/amp/

And one of the teams rumored to be moving up to #4 is the Lions, who just traded for Goff. Weird, but maybe they're hedging their bets:

According to Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer in his "Monday Morning Quarterback" column, the Falcons are open to the idea of trading the No. 4 pick and have had talks with teams about that coveted spot. Breer mentioned the Detroit Lions were a team to "keep an eye on" as they could move well ahead of the Carolina Panthers (No. 8) and Denver Broncos (No. 9) -- two teams who are quarterback needy in this draft. Moving up to No. 4 would take Carolina and Denver out of play to draft one of the top four quarterbacks in the draft, forcing them to find another trade partner or stick around and select another player with their respective picks.

Now why would Detroit need a quarterback when the Lions just traded for Jared Goff this offseason? Goff has four years and $104.1 million left on his contract, but the Lions can get out of the deal after the 2022 season. By then, Detroit will have an evaluation of Goff and whether he's worth keeping around as the quarterback of the team for the next several years. Keep in mind the Lions could develop a young quarterback at No. 4 (Lance?) in the meantime while head coach Dan Campbell and offensive coordinator Anthony Lynn evaluate Goff.

Yep...Lynn should work wonders for helping Goff...imagine how Goff will like working under Unimaginative Lynn, after all those years with Genius Gase...talk about a letdown...

[Formula 21]

Chargers draft plans: OT, CB and 2 different approaches for their first 2 picks




By Daniel Popper Apr 5, 2021 42




With the NFL Draft less than a month away, the Chargers still have two pressing needs to fill: starting left tackle and third cornerback.
They are unlikely to make another starter-level signing in free agency. Any additions they make moving forward will trend toward depth contributors and bottom-of-the-roster pieces.
So general manager Tom Telesco should be looking to address these two remaining holes with his premium picks in the draft: No. 13 in the first round and No. 47 in the second round. The Chargers can target their other needs, including safety, tight end, defensive line, interior offensive line and edge rusher, with their seven other picks, including their two third-round selections that fall in the top 100 (No. 77 and No. 97).
I believe the Chargers should take a left tackle in the first round. Trey Pipkins, a 2019 third-round pick, is the current starter, and while there is hope he will take a developmental step as he enters his third season, relying on him as the first-string blindside protector is a sizable risk. Beyond that, right tackle Bryan Bulaga just turned 32 in March and played fewer than 40 percent of the snaps last year because of injuries. They do not have a right tackle replacement on the roster right now. They need tackle talent, and there is no way around that. The most talented tackle they can find will be at pick No. 13.
However, there is room for discussion on this point. This is a notably deep tackle class. The Athletic’s draft expert Dane Brugler has 12 tackles in his top 100 players. NFL Network draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah has seven tackles in his top 50 players. An argument can be made for taking a cornerback at No. 13 and waiting until No. 47 to draft an offensive tackle. This would allow the Chargers to take advantage of a position of depth while still addressing their two most glaring needs.
I think this option for the Chargers — going corner in the first and tackle in the second — is firmly on the table.
Michael Davis re-signed with the team in March on a three-year deal and is clearly in head coach Brandon Staley’s plans. Behind Davis, not much is set in stone. Chris Harris Jr. is scheduled to hit free agency next offseason. He only played in 54 percent of the team’s defensive snaps in 2020 because of a severe foot injury and will turn 33 in June 2022. It seems unlikely the Chargers would bring him back. If he plays well this year, that outlook could change. But the Chargers need a succession plan if they decide to move on.
Harris, of course, is the Chargers’ primary slot corner. Last year, when Harris was on the field, he played outside in base packages and moved to the slot when the Chargers went to their nickel (five DBs) and dime (six) packages. He figures to play a similar role this season in Staley’s defense. The Chargers will need to find a third cornerback to play on the outside when Harris moves to the slot. For the long term, with Desmond King gone, they need a replacement in the slot.
Finding a cornerback who can play both positions — slot and outside — capably is difficult. Harris has done both in his career. But he is better in the slot.
Staley moves a lot of different players into that slot position depending on the package he puts on the field. Troy Hill was the Rams’ primary slot corner in 2020. But safety John Johnson III also defended the slot as a big nickel. And Jalen Ramsey even moved into the slot at times. Staley will work with the personnel he has and adjust accordingly. Still, having a functional nickel corner on the roster is essential in the modern NFL. It’s worth noting that the Chargers think Nasir Adderley has the flexibility and physicality to play nickel, as well.
Tackle then corner? Or corner then tackle? Let’s dive into these two scenarios and see what the Chargers’ options might be.
OT in Round 1, CB in Round 2

If one of the top two tackles in this draft — either Oregon’s Penei Sewell or Northwestern’s Rashawn Slater — is available, the decision is easy. The Chargers should take that player and look for their corner in the second round.
The situation gets a little blurry if both Sewell and Slater are off the board. Brugler has Virginia Tech’s Christian Darrisaw as his third-ranked offensive tackle and 17th overall player. But this is not necessarily a consensus opinion. Grades on Darrisaw vary. Jeremiah, for instance, has Darrisaw as his fifth-ranked left tackle and 36th overall player. Darrisaw could be viewed as a reach at 13. There are concerns, which Brugler cites from his tape study: “Darrisaw shows efficient slide quickness in pass protection and is a bulldozer in the run game while unlocking his hips to create movement or seal block. He shows the ability to manhandle defenders once he locks on, but he doesn’t always play with a stout anchor or killer instinct.”
Oklahoma’s Teven Jenkins is another potential tackle option at 13. Brugler has him as his fourth-ranked tackle and 20th overall player. Offensive and defensive line analyst Brandon Thorn, who writes the Trench Warefare newsletter, is higher on Jenkins and has him ranked as his No. 2 offensive tackle, ahead of Slater. Jenkins was primarily a right tackle in college. Brugler writes that Jenkins “must improve his consistency, especially vs. arc speed, but he is competitive and uniquely powerful with light feet for his size.”
If Slater and Sewell are off the board, then the Chargers have a decision to make, and that decision will rely heavily on how they grade Darrisaw and Jenkins. If they view one of those players as worthy of the 13th pick, then this would be a happy marriage of value and need. But if they do not, then the second scenario comes into play.
If the Chargers take a tackle in the first round, they will have some corner options in the second round. It will likely come down to four players: Georgia’s Eric Stokes, Kentucky’s Kelvin Joseph, Georgia’s Tyson Campbell and Florida State’s Asante Samuel Jr. The Chargers also could consider Washington’s Elijah Molden, who is a true nickel corner, if they are more comfortable with their existing outside corner depth. They signed Ryan Smith to a one-year deal. Smith was primarily a special teams player for the Bucs, but he will compete some at corner. They also re-signed Brandon Facyson and tendered Tevaughn Campbell.
Assuming they are seeking an outside corner, though, Stokes, Joseph and Tyson Campbell present enticing athletic traits and high upside. All three are 6-foot-1.
Brugler on Stokes, his sixth-ranked CB: “Stokes must correct his play recognition and transition flaws, but his size, speed and budding ball awareness are undeniable and scheme-versatile traits that will help him compete for starting reps early in his NFL career.”
Brugler on Joseph, his seventh-ranked CB: “Joseph won’t be a fit for every organization due to his immaturity, but he has first-round physical talent and the athleticism to blanket any type of receiver, which is why a team will likely roll the dice on him in the top 50 picks.”
Brugler on Campbell, his eighth-ranked CB: “Campbell has a rare (and raw) combination of high-end traits to develop into an NFL starting press-man corner, but his struggles to consistently find and make plays on the football are a glaring hole. He will require patience at the next level and projects as a high-risk, high-reward prospect.”
Samuel, meanwhile, is interesting for the Chargers because he can play both in the slot and outside, according to Brugler. But he is only 5-10, 185 pounds, and that small frame could be a drawback. He could be a better fit for a zone-heavy scheme. The Chargers will be playing more man in Staley’s system. Samuel is Brugler’s ninth-ranked corner.
If the Chargers go tackle in the first round, Stokes is the player they should be hoping falls to them at 47.
But they would be able to get a more talented corner prospect at 13.
CB in Round 1, OT in Round 2

Before he underwent back surgery last month, Caleb Farley was Brugler’s top-ranked cornerback. Now there are two clear frontrunners at that position: Alabama’s Patrick Surtain II and South Carolina’s Jaycee Horn.
Horn helped his draft stock with an outstanding pro day performance. He ran a 4.39 40-yard dash, measured in at just under 6-1, and posted a vertical leap of 41.5 inches.
Both Surtain and Horn would be enticing options for the Chargers as projected starter-level press-man corners. Staley coordinated one of the best defenses in football last year with perhaps the top cornerback in the NFL in Ramsey, who thrives in press man.
If both Surtain and Horn are gone, would the Chargers take a chance on the 6-2 Farley? He first suffered the back injury lifting weights in 2019 before electing to have the recent surgery. He did not have a pro day and opted out of 2020, but the talent is undeniable. As Brugler writes, “Farley might have some rough patches early on, but he has outstanding physical tools with the instincts and ball skills to consistently stay in phase and make plays on the ball. He projects as a press-man starter with Pro Bowl upside.”
Northwestern’s Greg Newsome is a fourth corner to watch at 13.
The Chargers could then look for a tackle at 47. Or they could look to trade back into the first round, as they did in 2020 to take linebacker Kenneth Murray, if a player they like is there. Maybe they could trade back in and take Notre Dame’s Liam Eichenberg. Maybe Darrisaw and/or Jenkins fall, though that is unlikely.
If the Chargers stay at 47, there are two primary names to watch: Texas’ Sam Cosmi and Stanford’s Walker Little.
Brugler on Cosmi: “Cosmi lacks overwhelming traits, but he wins with lateral positioning and strong hands to cover up edge speed and execute in the run game. He projects as a solid NFL starter.”
Brugler on Little, who missed nearly all of 2019 with a knee injury and opted out of 2020: “Little’s balanced athleticism and smarts are attractive foundation traits, but he lost two years of development, and his core strength and timing issues need to be addressed before he is ready for regular NFL snaps.”
There is no perfect solution. The Chargers will have to prioritize. But it is clear, at this point, that the team must address these two positions — left tackle and corner — in the first two rounds in some order.

[Bolt Dude]

I guess this also indicates that the Falcons aren’t thirsty for one of the remaining QBs.

[Topcat]

Either way- will be ready for the draft to know who the LT and CB are.

I truly am against trading up but if Telesco feels his job is on the line -- he might just do it.

TT is in the hot seat...and he knows it...also, TT has been known to trade up many times in the past...wouldn't surprise me at all...

[Topcat]

I guess this also indicates that the Falcons aren’t thirsty for one of the remaining QBs.

Matt Ryan is signed through the 2023 season...maybe their plan is to draft QB next year to groom under Matty Boy...or maybe the Falcons think Ryan will keep playing into his 40's like Brady...

[Fleet]

I guess this also indicates that the Falcons aren’t thirsty for one of the remaining QBs.

I dont know. I just know they are taking calls. Be pretty expensive to get to 4. Really have to rely on Free Agency during Herberts rookie contract. Which wont be that difficult if the cap goes up big in 2022.

Is a trade for Orlando better for a long term draft roster build? You make that trade its likely less draft capital...but he gets the big contract. Trading up for Sewell would be massive draft capital. 2 #1's is the base of that deal obviously. But that wont be enough. Do you trade 3 1's to get to 4? Take another 2 at least.

[Fleet]

TT is in the hot seat...and he knows it...also, TT has been known to trade up many times in the past...wouldn't surprise me at all...

He would finally get an OL pick right. But imagine the cost to get to 4. Then add in all the other OL picks/ufas that have failed. Man its too bad we dont have more to show for it.

[Topcat]

Chargers draft plans: OT, CB and 2 different approaches for their first 2 picks




By Daniel Popper Apr 5, 2021 42




With the NFL Draft less than a month away, the Chargers still have two pressing needs to fill: starting left tackle and third cornerback.
They are unlikely to make another starter-level signing in free agency. Any additions they make moving forward will trend toward depth contributors and bottom-of-the-roster pieces.
So general manager Tom Telesco should be looking to address these two remaining holes with his premium picks in the draft: No. 13 in the first round and No. 47 in the second round. The Chargers can target their other needs, including safety, tight end, defensive line, interior offensive line and edge rusher, with their seven other picks, including their two third-round selections that fall in the top 100 (No. 77 and No. 97).
I believe the Chargers should take a left tackle in the first round. Trey Pipkins, a 2019 third-round pick, is the current starter, and while there is hope he will take a developmental step as he enters his third season, relying on him as the first-string blindside protector is a sizable risk. Beyond that, right tackle Bryan Bulaga just turned 32 in March and played fewer than 40 percent of the snaps last year because of injuries. They do not have a right tackle replacement on the roster right now. They need tackle talent, and there is no way around that. The most talented tackle they can find will be at pick No. 13.
However, there is room for discussion on this point. This is a notably deep tackle class. The Athletic’s draft expert Dane Brugler has 12 tackles in his top 100 players. NFL Network draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah has seven tackles in his top 50 players. An argument can be made for taking a cornerback at No. 13 and waiting until No. 47 to draft an offensive tackle. This would allow the Chargers to take advantage of a position of depth while still addressing their two most glaring needs.
I think this option for the Chargers — going corner in the first and tackle in the second — is firmly on the table.
Michael Davis re-signed with the team in March on a three-year deal and is clearly in head coach Brandon Staley’s plans. Behind Davis, not much is set in stone. Chris Harris Jr. is scheduled to hit free agency next offseason. He only played in 54 percent of the team’s defensive snaps in 2020 because of a severe foot injury and will turn 33 in June 2022. It seems unlikely the Chargers would bring him back. If he plays well this year, that outlook could change. But the Chargers need a succession plan if they decide to move on.
Harris, of course, is the Chargers’ primary slot corner. Last year, when Harris was on the field, he played outside in base packages and moved to the slot when the Chargers went to their nickel (five DBs) and dime (six) packages. He figures to play a similar role this season in Staley’s defense. The Chargers will need to find a third cornerback to play on the outside when Harris moves to the slot. For the long term, with Desmond King gone, they need a replacement in the slot.
Finding a cornerback who can play both positions — slot and outside — capably is difficult. Harris has done both in his career. But he is better in the slot.
Staley moves a lot of different players into that slot position depending on the package he puts on the field. Troy Hill was the Rams’ primary slot corner in 2020. But safety John Johnson III also defended the slot as a big nickel. And Jalen Ramsey even moved into the slot at times. Staley will work with the personnel he has and adjust accordingly. Still, having a functional nickel corner on the roster is essential in the modern NFL. It’s worth noting that the Chargers think Nasir Adderley has the flexibility and physicality to play nickel, as well.
Tackle then corner? Or corner then tackle? Let’s dive into these two scenarios and see what the Chargers’ options might be.
OT in Round 1, CB in Round 2

If one of the top two tackles in this draft — either Oregon’s Penei Sewell or Northwestern’s Rashawn Slater — is available, the decision is easy. The Chargers should take that player and look for their corner in the second round.
The situation gets a little blurry if both Sewell and Slater are off the board. Brugler has Virginia Tech’s Christian Darrisaw as his third-ranked offensive tackle and 17th overall player. But this is not necessarily a consensus opinion. Grades on Darrisaw vary. Jeremiah, for instance, has Darrisaw as his fifth-ranked left tackle and 36th overall player. Darrisaw could be viewed as a reach at 13. There are concerns, which Brugler cites from his tape study: “Darrisaw shows efficient slide quickness in pass protection and is a bulldozer in the run game while unlocking his hips to create movement or seal block. He shows the ability to manhandle defenders once he locks on, but he doesn’t always play with a stout anchor or killer instinct.”
Oklahoma’s Teven Jenkins is another potential tackle option at 13. Brugler has him as his fourth-ranked tackle and 20th overall player. Offensive and defensive line analyst Brandon Thorn, who writes the Trench Warefare newsletter, is higher on Jenkins and has him ranked as his No. 2 offensive tackle, ahead of Slater. Jenkins was primarily a right tackle in college. Brugler writes that Jenkins “must improve his consistency, especially vs. arc speed, but he is competitive and uniquely powerful with light feet for his size.”
If Slater and Sewell are off the board, then the Chargers have a decision to make, and that decision will rely heavily on how they grade Darrisaw and Jenkins. If they view one of those players as worthy of the 13th pick, then this would be a happy marriage of value and need. But if they do not, then the second scenario comes into play.
If the Chargers take a tackle in the first round, they will have some corner options in the second round. It will likely come down to four players: Georgia’s Eric Stokes, Kentucky’s Kelvin Joseph, Georgia’s Tyson Campbell and Florida State’s Asante Samuel Jr. The Chargers also could consider Washington’s Elijah Molden, who is a true nickel corner, if they are more comfortable with their existing outside corner depth. They signed Ryan Smith to a one-year deal. Smith was primarily a special teams player for the Bucs, but he will compete some at corner. They also re-signed Brandon Facyson and tendered Tevaughn Campbell.
Assuming they are seeking an outside corner, though, Stokes, Joseph and Tyson Campbell present enticing athletic traits and high upside. All three are 6-foot-1.
Brugler on Stokes, his sixth-ranked CB: “Stokes must correct his play recognition and transition flaws, but his size, speed and budding ball awareness are undeniable and scheme-versatile traits that will help him compete for starting reps early in his NFL career.”
Brugler on Joseph, his seventh-ranked CB: “Joseph won’t be a fit for every organization due to his immaturity, but he has first-round physical talent and the athleticism to blanket any type of receiver, which is why a team will likely roll the dice on him in the top 50 picks.”
Brugler on Campbell, his eighth-ranked CB: “Campbell has a rare (and raw) combination of high-end traits to develop into an NFL starting press-man corner, but his struggles to consistently find and make plays on the football are a glaring hole. He will require patience at the next level and projects as a high-risk, high-reward prospect.”
Samuel, meanwhile, is interesting for the Chargers because he can play both in the slot and outside, according to Brugler. But he is only 5-10, 185 pounds, and that small frame could be a drawback. He could be a better fit for a zone-heavy scheme. The Chargers will be playing more man in Staley’s system. Samuel is Brugler’s ninth-ranked corner.
If the Chargers go tackle in the first round, Stokes is the player they should be hoping falls to them at 47.
But they would be able to get a more talented corner prospect at 13.
CB in Round 1, OT in Round 2

Before he underwent back surgery last month, Caleb Farley was Brugler’s top-ranked cornerback. Now there are two clear frontrunners at that position: Alabama’s Patrick Surtain II and South Carolina’s Jaycee Horn.
Horn helped his draft stock with an outstanding pro day performance. He ran a 4.39 40-yard dash, measured in at just under 6-1, and posted a vertical leap of 41.5 inches.
Both Surtain and Horn would be enticing options for the Chargers as projected starter-level press-man corners. Staley coordinated one of the best defenses in football last year with perhaps the top cornerback in the NFL in Ramsey, who thrives in press man.
If both Surtain and Horn are gone, would the Chargers take a chance on the 6-2 Farley? He first suffered the back injury lifting weights in 2019 before electing to have the recent surgery. He did not have a pro day and opted out of 2020, but the talent is undeniable. As Brugler writes, “Farley might have some rough patches early on, but he has outstanding physical tools with the instincts and ball skills to consistently stay in phase and make plays on the ball. He projects as a press-man starter with Pro Bowl upside.”
Northwestern’s Greg Newsome is a fourth corner to watch at 13.
The Chargers could then look for a tackle at 47. Or they could look to trade back into the first round, as they did in 2020 to take linebacker Kenneth Murray, if a player they like is there. Maybe they could trade back in and take Notre Dame’s Liam Eichenberg. Maybe Darrisaw and/or Jenkins fall, though that is unlikely.
If the Chargers stay at 47, there are two primary names to watch: Texas’ Sam Cosmi and Stanford’s Walker Little.
Brugler on Cosmi: “Cosmi lacks overwhelming traits, but he wins with lateral positioning and strong hands to cover up edge speed and execute in the run game. He projects as a solid NFL starter.”
Brugler on Little, who missed nearly all of 2019 with a knee injury and opted out of 2020: “Little’s balanced athleticism and smarts are attractive foundation traits, but he lost two years of development, and his core strength and timing issues need to be addressed before he is ready for regular NFL snaps.”
There is no perfect solution. The Chargers will have to prioritize. But it is clear, at this point, that the team must address these two positions — left tackle and corner — in the first two rounds in some order.

Popper sounded pretty spot-on until the Eich trade-up idea...

[Topcat]

I dont know. I just know they are taking calls. Be pretty expensive to get to 4. Really have to rely on Free Agency during Herberts rookie contract. Which wont be that difficult if the cap goes up big in 2022.

Is a trade for Orlando better for a long term draft roster build? You make that trade its likely less draft capital...but he gets the big contract. Trading up for Sewell would be massive draft capital. 2 #1's is the base of that deal obviously. But that wont be enough. Do you trade 3 1's to get to 4? Take another 2 at least.

As I mentioned in an earlier comment, I would modify Ninja's proposal and try to get at LEAST a 3rd rounder in 2022 to partially offset giving them our 2022 1st rounder...in addition to our #13, #47 and maybe one of our 6th rounders...