2023 Official Charger Draft - Post Draft Discussion (Daily Links In OP)

[jamrock]

Good question. Ask me who I think will have more completions and throw more TD passes.

My guess is Herbert!

but the gist of your post was about height and a guy of Herbert’s height should be able to do better at getting passes over the DL

[Formula 21]

I’m very happy we’re not in the market for a qb this year. These are not top of the draft guys IMO.

[sonorajim]

We have 7 picks, we can draft for both sides of the ball. Take the BPA in each round.

Balance.
Find help, upgrades / depth on both sides.
Day 1 - 2, One O, two D or vice versa.
Day 3 - UDFA similar
I'm hoping for raging dominant O this year. Average or better D.
Top scoring offense makes Staley's defense better day one.
Top TE- WR- RB and / or DB- IDL- Edge please.
Telesco tells us that the new OC and DC will be involved in the draft process.
I'm looking forward to it.

[SuperCharged]

Nice little write up on my darkhorse over at NFL.com.

Jalin Hyatt

If you don't touch him off the line of scrimmage -- and Josh Heupel's Tennessee attack routinely schemed this into existence, consistently keeping Hyatt away from press-man coverage -- it's really hard to stop him. His computer-vision burst ranks in the top 15 percent of my 10-year sample of prospect WRs, but it's his speed in the open field that's truly video game-esque. CV shows that when he's targeted on passes of 10-plus air yards and a defender is at least 3 yards away from him, it's curtains. That speed is in the top FIVE percent of my 10-year sample. This also helps explain his average of 18.9 yards per reception and 15 touchdowns, two figures that helped him win the 2022 Biletnikoff Award. He was used on vertical routes a whole lot in Knoxville, and for good reason. Also, I don't remember the last time I saw someone put up 207 yards and five TDs on Alabama -- on just six receptions! Hyatt boasted a 156.5 passer rating when targeted last season, the second-highest figure since PFF began tracking college players in 2014, trailing only Jaylen Waddle's 158.3 mark at Alabama in 2019. Hyatt's 3.27 yards per route run ranked second among qualified FBS receivers last year. He also owns the highest Next Gen Stats prospect score (87) among wideouts in this class.

[gzubeck]

This podcast by Joel Klatt pretty much sums up my feelings about most of the draft and the S2 controversy...must watch and one of the best pre draft analysis out there!

[Formula 21]

NFL DRAFT INJURY IMPACT: GEORGIA TE DARNELL WASHINGTON


Kyle Trimble
04/19/2023

One of the stalwarts of the back-to-back National Champion Georgia Bulldogs, gargantuan tight end Darnell Washington brings with him traits that appear to have been created in a laboratory. Standing tall at 6’7”, 265 lbs, he brings outstanding blocking ability and power to create mismatches not only as a target in the passing game but also in the run game.

At times underutilized in Georgia’s offense, Washington shows a lot of potential at the NFL level, but also some concerns. While he did not miss many games, several lower body injuries are worth a closer look to identify whether there are concerns moving forward. Injury History


2020

Undisclosed injury, missed zero games.

Washington went through testing during pregame working out an unknown injury. He suited up but did not record any stats.

2021

Foot surgery, side not specified, missed four games.

While practicing during the preseason, Washington suffered a minor fracture in his foot, requiring surgery.

It was reported that he would miss four-to-six weeks at the time of the injury. He missed six weeks total including the first four games, returning in early October.

There was not any additional information on the exact specifics of the procedure.

2022

Foot injury, side not specified, missed spring practice.

During spring practices, he sustained another foot injury, keeping him out for the rest of the scheduled sessions. It’s not clear whether this was the same side from 2021 or if he required surgery.

2023

Left ankle injury, missed zero games.

Washington suffered a left ankle injury in the semi-final game against Ohio State initially reported as a high-ankle sprain. It was later clarified as an ankle strain and soft tissue contusion.

He was able to return in the National Championship, securing one reception for 28 yards. Injury Concerns


The big issues are the foot and ankle injuries as noted above. His foot injury that required surgery may have been as simple as a metatarsal fracture that required a small plate and screws to stabilize the area to ensure healing.



The ankle injury during the college playoffs appears unlucky and only highlighted because of the stage he was on at the time.

However, the other foot injury has some cause for concern due to the lack of information. To miss all of the spring practice is notable and not knowing if he required surgery then or if this was even the same foot should give teams pause.

They have done their homework on him regarding the medicals at the NFL Combine, but how does he project out? The big unknown is whether these were one-off injuries or if this is the trend of something more.

Looking at the research, most of the foot injuries in the NFL that warranted detailed analysis have involved Lisfranc sprains/fractures along with Jones’ and navicular fractures. Considering he returned in six weeks from his foot fracture in 2021, that ruled out a Lisfranc or Jones fracture as those carry longer time frames. NFL Comparables


When I look at Washington, he compares very similarly to former first-round pick OJ Howard (Howard 6’6”, 250 lbs, Washington 6’7”, 265 lbs.). While there are plenty of players who have similar measurables, Howard’s injuries once he hit the NFL have been a mess.

Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports

Looking at Howard’s injury history after signing with Buffalo last offseason, it is littered with foot and ankle issues. Howard became a liability due to his availability despite being productive when he was healthy. One could make the argument that he has not lived up to his first-round selection.

While the details of Washington’s injuries are not as extensive as Howard’s, I can’t help but notice the resemblance. Howard is still playing and contributing, but he has lost a lot of the quickness he once had in his feet due to the injuries.

Will Washington exhibit similar issues due to being so big, and having difficulty getting his feet under him during blocking? Will the increased speed and demand of the game lead to further injury risk? How will his body respond to an increase in workload?

Considering the Bills once signed Howard, it suggests they would also be intrigued by Washington’s size.

Body Composition Comparables


Another consideration, once Washington is drafted, he will be among the largest tight ends in both height and weight. Looking at some of the injury histories of both of those types of players, he matches up height-wise with Donald Parham, 6’8” (Chargers), Zach Gentry, 6’8” (Steelers), Colby Parkinson, 6’7” (Seahawks), and Jelani Woods, 6’7” (Colts).

Weight-wise, he is similar to CJ Uzomah, 271 lbs. (Jets), Marcedes Lewis, 267 lbs. (Packers), Mo-Alie Cox, 267 lbs. (Colts), and Trevon Wesco, 267 lbs. (Bears).

Looking at these players, most of them have had some lower-body injury that has forced them to miss extensive time. Parkinson suffered a broken foot back in 2021 and Parham missed 11 total games due to a hamstring strain in 2022.

Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Uzomah suffered an Achilles tear that cost him most of the 2020 season and a calf injury in 2016 that cost him five games. Gentry had a significant knee sprain that cost him seven games in 2020. Wesco had an ankle injury that cost him four games in 2020.

Even Marcedes Lewis, battling Father Time since 2006 has been incredibly durable, appearing in at least 15 games each season but three. During those seasons, he suffered ankle and calf injuries costing him 19 games over four years between 2013-2016.

Of the group of players mentioned above, Cox and Woods have shown to be the most durable, missing minimal time with minor injuries, costing them no more than three games at a time.

When looking at the smaller and lighter players listed in the article, the worst of the injuries include Josiah Deguara suffering a torn ACL in 2020, and Taysom Hill sustaining a variety of injuries due to his positional versatility.

Additionally, Dan Arnold suffered an MCL sprain that cost him four games in 2021. Finally, MyCole Pruitt had a nasty ankle fracture dislocation in 2021 toward the end of the season. Injuries happen to everyone, but it appears there is a greater frequency with taller and heavier tight ends, at least from a missed time standpoint.

Though there are offensive linemen that are bigger than Washington and suffered injuries, they do not have to move athletically like a tight end.

It’s not guaranteed he will suffer further injury, but if he does, I anticipate that he could miss extended time, stunting his development and productivity. It’s important to note that every player listed above with the exception of Woods and Parham has been able to play a full season at some point in their career, but when the injuries hit, they hit hard. Bills Outlook


The one unknown from looking from the outside is the exact details of the foot injuries.

Looking at other players including OJ Howard and body composition comparables, the injury concerns can’t be ignored. I view Washington as a boom-or-bust prospect. If he can stay healthy, the sky’s the limit. If injuries occur, they could really derail things. This has to be considered especially with how slow development is at the tight end position in the NFL.

Bigger, faster, and stronger may not be ideal in this instance.

While he is discussed as a first-round pick, I don’t see the value due to the concerns above. If he is there in the second round for Buffalo, it would be hard for him to pass up as long as the medicals check out. His prior medical history would not rule them out from selecting him in the second round based on prior trends, but there may be a better fit at a different position elsewhere.

Whenever and wherever Washington is selected, the hope would be that these are one-off injuries and he has a productive, healthy career.

[Formula 21]

Interesting article on injuries for big TEs. Bigger, stronger, faster may make these guys vulnerable to lower leg injuries.

My big issue with Hunter Henry, who I loved as a player, was that defenders always attacked his legs. And it diminished his athleticism and availability over time. And Washington is bigger. Defenders will go after his thighs and knees also when they try to tackle him. You’d be crazy to try to tackle him high.

[Velo]

My guess is Herbert!

but the gist of your post was about height and a guy of Herbert’s height should be able to do better at getting passes over the DL

Yeah, but Herbert has a lot of passes knocked down. And I think it's because his arm is so strong he doesn't have to loft the ball and a lot of his passes are low trajectory. Hopefully the new OC/QB coach can work on that with him.

[dmac_bolt]

Yeah, but Herbert has a lot of passes knocked down. And I think it's because his arm is so strong he doesn't have to loft the ball and a lot of his passes are low trajectory. Hopefully the new OC/QB coach can work on that with him.

His delivery is a bit lower than most, though not as low as Rivers who just threw weird (effectively, noted). Not sure how or if it can be changed much, we’ll see. I wouldn’t over-emphasize it though - If the few passes he gets batted down rises to the top of our list of offensive worries, we’re golden.

[AK47]

Nice little write up on my darkhorse over at NFL.com.

Jalin Hyatt

Nice read. 1.50 10-yard split.

For reference Desean Jackson had a 1.53 10-yard split.

Use your imagination .

[SuperCharged]

Nice read. 1.50 10-yard split.

For reference Desean Jackson had a 1.53 10-yard split.

Use your imagination .

Here's more

Innovative NFL offensive architects have embraced a fundamental principle: speed creates space, and space creates opportunities. Hyatt, perhaps the top field-stretcher in the draft, exemplifies this principle. The reigning Biletnikoff Award winner burst onto the scene as a junior, topping the SEC in receiving yards (1,267) and touchdowns (15), including a historic five-touchdown performance against Alabama. PFF reveals that over half of his receiving yards (677) and touchdowns (8) came from deep targets. However, concerns remain about whether his impressive college production will translate to the NFL, given the opportunities provided by playing in a super-spread offense under Josh Heupel.




Despite these concerns, Hyatt's athletic profile suggests an innate ability to stretch the field for any offense. Going beyond his 4.40-second time in the 40-yard dash, Hyatt's top speed of 24.29 mph during his 40 run (as recorded by NGS tracking data) placed him as the third-fastest player at the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine. Further solidifying his explosiveness, Hyatt registered a 1.50 10-yard split, an 11-foot-3 broad jump and a 40-inch vertical, with those latter two numbers placing him in the top 10th percentile of wide receivers since 2003.




This blend of speed potential (86 athleticism score) and peak performance (88 production) has earned Hyatt the top spot (87 overall) in the NGS draft score among wide receivers. With such tremendous upside, Hyatt is a prime Day 2 target for a speed-needy team that decides to pass on a receiver in Round 1.

I WANT HYATT. BAD

[AK47]

Here's more

Innovative NFL offensive architects have embraced a fundamental principle: speed creates space, and space creates opportunities. Hyatt, perhaps the top field-stretcher in the draft, exemplifies this principle. The reigning Biletnikoff Award winner burst onto the scene as a junior, topping the SEC in receiving yards (1,267) and touchdowns (15), including a historic five-touchdown performance against Alabama. PFF reveals that over half of his receiving yards (677) and touchdowns (8) came from deep targets. However, concerns remain about whether his impressive college production will translate to the NFL, given the opportunities provided by playing in a super-spread offense under Josh Heupel.




Despite these concerns, Hyatt's athletic profile suggests an innate ability to stretch the field for any offense. Going beyond his 4.40-second time in the 40-yard dash, Hyatt's top speed of 24.29 mph during his 40 run (as recorded by NGS tracking data) placed him as the third-fastest player at the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine. Further solidifying his explosiveness, Hyatt registered a 1.50 10-yard split, an 11-foot-3 broad jump and a 40-inch vertical, with those latter two numbers placing him in the top 10th percentile of wide receivers since 2003.




This blend of speed potential (86 athleticism score) and peak performance (88 production) has earned Hyatt the top spot (87 overall) in the NGS draft score among wide receivers. With such tremendous upside, Hyatt is a prime Day 2 target for a speed-needy team that decides to pass on a receiver in Round 1.

I WANT HYATT. BAD

Hyatt's 40 time is very very deceiving given the other times (10-yard split / broad jump / top trap speed).

His 40 time could've easily been in the high 4.3's. The above stats blows away Guyton's imho. https://nflcombineresults.com/playerpage.php?i=27677

He doesn't have to rely on just pure speed as he's got more explosion than Guyton at the LOS.

Oh that 10-yard split of 1.50.......it matched Tyreek Hill's time.