2024 Chargers Draft Superthread - Prospect Discussion - Draft Has Started

[Boltjolt]

Penix is the best deep ball thrower in the country. And Rome has had ample time and opportunity to really hone the deep ball awareness. Penix also throws beams so i look at WRs who are easy fits with Justin. You have to think about Justin and his skillset when bringing in a new weapon for him. Justin has said it many times over..."I knew you would be exactly where you are supposed to be" Thats likely some of the QJ issue. Not just the hands..but Justin throws hard. He bounces em off Keenan sometimes. Give me a guy that handle those passes. Im going over WRs this season and looking at the way they catch. The velocity of the balls thrown. I am extra critical of these things since we have a QB that is pretty special. Its not just one size fits all. Herbert has to be part of a pass catcher draft pick. Id let him watch the film with me. I would try and get these players in front of Juggs machines at the highest setting and get me the tape.

And with that...a guy like Bowers who is almost always open...like Gates was....would be Henry on steroids for Justin. And Henry was quite the 3rd down specialist. He had a knack for 1st downs and i think to some extent Herbs misses him. Im a back end round 1 guy myself. Top of round 2. Same with RBs for the most part. But if i see HR hitting potential? At RB or TE? I take that swing. I felt that with Gibbs and Kincaid. Kincaid is just a huge WR+. He is starting to really emerge as one of Allens favorite players. Bowers is a much more polished prospect. I think he is a 1K yard receiver with Herbs. A series extender. A better 1st and 2nd down chain mover than many of our runs. I really like what he does as a safety valve. Pitts was all freak no football IQ. Its easy to dominate in college and then not get it at the next level if you dont have the mentals. I liked Pitts a lot...but there have been so many players who catch passes at a high level in college...not able to make it on just pure athleticism alone when they get to the pros. So im extra critical of those guys now. LIke QJ. I dont feel that way about Bowers.

My only concern with Bowers is health.

Well said...I knew i wanted us to draft Bowers as a freshman. We would have to really suck out to get him. Sanders is a nice consolation but a step down too.
I'm like Penix. Hard throwing lefty......side arm style lol.

Seems when there is a deep WR class, we pass. We ended up with Hill ....I forget who else in late rounds. Then again ended up with Joe Reed late round the next year. Not a deep class this year, we end up with QJ and pass on Flowers,and Kincaid, both who are gonna be very good players...and Addison.

Don't see us going WR early in this one but who knows.
Man i really want another GM for this team...which means, new HC. Just wish it wasn't Dean or JB picking the GM.

[Boltnut]

The following players are first round tight end selections from previous NFl Drafts within the last fifteen seasons:

• Kyle Pitts, Falcons (2021)
• T.J. Hockenson, Lions (2019)
• Noah Fant, Broncos (2019)
• Hayden Hurst, Ravens (2018)
• O.J. Howard, Buccaneers (2017)
• Evan Engram, Giants (2017)
• David Njoku, Browns (2017)
• Eric Ebron, Lions (2014)
• Tyler Eifert, Bengals (2013)
• Jermaine Gresham, Bengals (2010)

While this list provides evidence that talent can be had in the first round at the tight end position, it is fair to say most of these names are subpar relative to cost. At a dying position, is it really their fault?

This is kind of the way I feel about TE's in the 1st round. Of all these guys, Hockenson might be the only one worthy of his draft spot. Even then, his impact on the Lions wasn't what they thought. Lions ended up trading him to the Vikings in 2022. In fact, a lot of the 1st round TE's have been traded away before a 2nd contract.

[Lone Bolt]

This is kind of the way I feel about TE's in the 1st round. Of all these guys, Hockenson might be the only one worthy of his draft spot. Even then, his impact on the Lions wasn't what they thought. Lions ended up trading him to the Vikings in 2022. In fact, a lot of the 1st round TE's have been traded away before a 2nd contract.

Not sure if that is an article, or a quoted post, but..."dying position"? Kelce and Kittle would disagree...Andrews and Goedert are also very valuable pieces in their offenses, and this years crop yields young La Porta and Kincaid...both looking real good, and having an impact.

Im back peddling on the notion we trade a ton to go get Bowers...but I would trade up 4 or 5 slots, and definitely nab him if we suck enough he is actually there when we pick.

Always believed an effective passing offense...which is what we should be aiming for, needs a good pass catching back, at least one killa at WR...and a true recieving TE. Its all about matchups at all 3 levels of the defense...

Im totally in, and understanding, if we snag a corner or edge...but with the young gunslinger we have, Im always gonna be looking to add a Travis Kelce or Jamarr Chase to create something special...and willing to part with a pick or 2 to make it happen.

[AFboltfan]

I'm officially in the "tank for kool aid" camp... I don't even care either. Tank for Kool Aid and tank for new management/coaching. Lose out, burn it down.

[dmac_bolt]

Exactly how I feel about Odunze and Harrison.

Whether Staley is gone or not... a team (especially ours) could always use CB and pass rushers.
My first round cluster is full of CB's and OLB's... then Odunze. I'm probably the only one that would pass on Bowers. TE's just don't make my Round 1 clusters... ever. Kyle Pitts didn't even make it. I'm just Nutty that way.

Odense looks bigger stronger faster Keenan, if that is a reasonable comparison. He’s excellent. He dominates college CBs. MH2.0 is in a separate league above but he’ll be gone by pick #3.

Pitts has really underwhelmed in his career so far - or I think has. Bowers would be an excellent piece of pie for a Herbie Feast too, I’m not fully aligned with you there.

i agree with your CB comment - need legit CB1s to play tight press, I have thought as I watched this defense play this year that CB is their first pick if a legit CB1 is on the board.

[Boltnut]

I'm officially in the "tank for kool aid" camp... I don't even care either. Tank for Kool Aid and tank for new management/coaching. Lose out, burn it down.

Absolutely! Kool Aid would have the biggest total impact on the overall team. The pass defense is the glaring biggest need (dead last in the NFL). There will be $21 million of wasted cap space sitting there on the 2024 cap. All because we didn't address the team's biggest need (CB) through the draft.

1st round picks are for premium positions. These positions effect the modern day game exponentially more than other positions. It's a passing league... that's why QB is the ultimate position. We have that in JH. After QB, protecting said QB is priority 2. That's why left tackle is 2nd most important position IMO. We have a left tackle in Rashawn Slater. I'd prefer we have a better RT. I've never been a Pipkins fan. I was one of the only posters that was unhappy about his re-signing. It is what it is, though. You can't cut him until after 2024 (cap hit too large). After the OT position, you have to have a guy (preferable 2) that can harass the QB. We have 2 (actually 3 when glass Bosa gets on the field.). After QB, OT, DE comes WR and CB, IMO. Again, it's a passing league. Keenan Allen is #1 in receptions (84), 3 yards away from being #2 in reception yards, and tied for 3rd in TD's. We got receiver covered! Moving forward, Palmer is a good #2 WR. QJ is what he is... a development project. And DD is unrealized deep potential and completely under-utilized at this point. Everett is a good TE that hasn't gotten the number of looks he should be getting.

I like the TE position... I really do. But I also realize that Kelce (3rd round) and Kittle (5th round) are being used correctly by clever play-callers within cleverly designed plays. How many times are Kelce and/or Kittle wide open...? Waaaay too often! When I watch Brock Bowers, I see the same thing (wide open too many times). I'd rather spend a 4th round pick on a solid TE... then use him correctly. Dalton Schultz is another perfect example.

Get the one premium position (CB) we're obviously lacking.

[Formula 21]

For me, Mack isn’t coming back at his current salary, and Bosa is gone after next year. So I’m taking my first rounder from the deep set of EDs that look to be available this year. I never want to run out of pass rushers on this team.

[AFboltfan]

For me, Mack isn’t coming back at his current salary, and Bosa is gone after next year. So I’m taking my first rounder from the deep set of EDs that look to be available this year. I never want to run out of pass rushers on this team.

Pass rush is not what's wrong with the defense, its the secondary. Replace Mack's sacks this year with a rookie 1st rounder next year and its the same story. Bottom tier defense because the secondary sucks...

[Formula 21]

Pass rush is not what's wrong with the defense, its the secondary. Replace Mack's sacks this year with a rookie 1st rounder next year and its the same story. Bottom tier defense because the secondary sucks...

With Staley’s Cover None schemes, we don’t need expensive coverage CBs, we need cheaper CBs that can tackle. No coverage skills are required.

[Boltnut]

With Staley’s Cover None schemes, we don’t need expensive coverage CBs, we need cheaper CBs that can tackle. No coverage skills are required.

Staley has a Cover None scheme because NONE of them can COVER.
Coverage skills are needed if you wnt to get out of this 8-yard cushion with safeties deep.
All of the AFC playoff teams have WR's that need good coverage CB's.

[dmac_bolt]

Well said...I knew i wanted us to draft Bowers as a freshman. We would have to really suck out to get him. Sanders is a nice consolation but a step down too.
I'm like Penix. Hard throwing lefty......side arm style lol.

Seems when there is a deep WR class, we pass. We ended up with Hill ....I forget who else in late rounds. Then again ended up with Joe Reed late round the next year. Not a deep class this year, we end up with QJ and pass on Flowers,and Kincaid, both who are gonna be very good players...and Addison.

Don't see us going WR early in this one but who knows.
Man i really want another GM for this team...which means, new HC. Just wish it wasn't Dean or JB picking the GM.

We got both Hill and Reed in the same draft. YEAR OF THE WR, all exclaimed. TT drafted not one but two busts. Fire him already.

[AFboltfan]

Staley has a Cover None scheme because NONE of them can COVER.
Coverage skills are needed if you wnt to get out of this 8-yard cushion with safeties deep.
All of the AFC playoff teams have WR's that need good coverage CB's.

Exactly... We need Kool Aid... We don't need another pass rusher, at least a first rounder. If we feel like we need to replace Mack AND Bosa then get one in the 2nd or 3rd.