2024 Chargers Draft Superthread - Prospect Discussion - Draft Has Started

[Topcat]

Oh wow......These college players are being paid to transfer to another school? Didn't know that.

Sounds like a potential comedy movie: "Talented but eccentric college quarterback makes a living by collecting fees by transferring from one college to another...until he's 40 years old."

[Topcat]

Boosters will pay for both, don’t worry.

Yep...boosters like the USC ones will do just about anything to win, AND to beat UCLA and Notre Dame...

[Formula 21]

Mock of the day. The 1st 3 picks are day 1 starters. Maason Smith, 6-6, 315, 4.80. Are you joking me? What a freak. I’d love him in the middle of our DL.


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[Boltjolt]

Mock of the day. The 1st 3 picks are day 1 starters. Maason Smith, 6-6, 315, 4.80. Are you joking me? What a freak. I’d love him in the middle of our DL.


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Depends who you believe or what you saw.

CBS has Smith #65 overall and everybody's go to, PFF has him ranked 89.
The huddle report has him #28.
I haven't seen enough of him for me to say.

[Formula 21]

Maason Smith Draft Profile | LSU, DT Scouting Report


Maason Smith is one of the most physically intimidating players in college football. But what does his NFL Draft scouting report look like?



ByDalton Miller
October 14, 2023 | 1:10 PM EDT
If the NFL held a “First Off the Bus” contest, LSU defensive tackle Maason Smith might win among the potential 2024 NFL Draft class. But after missing almost his entire sophomore year at LSU with an injury he suffered on the first drive of the season, what does his scouting report look like? And what kind of range could we see him selected in April?

Maason Smith Draft Profile and Measurements

• Height: 6’6″
• Weight: 315
• Position: DT
• School: LSU
• Current Year: Junior

Smith’s recruiting process was a bit wonky compared to most high-level players coming out of high school. Normally, recruits who are talented enough to be ranked the top recruit in the nation rarely fall from the top 10 in the national rankings at any of the big three recruiting sites.

And Smith was the top-ranked recruit in the nation, according to Rivals. But he was only 30th in 247Sports and 57th on ESPN. He was even a four-star recruit for ESPN.

MORE: FREE Mock Draft Simulator With Trades

Smith was impressive for the Tigers immediately. He played in nine games as a freshman, starting four. His most impressive game was against McNeese State, where it was clear Smith was a superior physical talent compared to the McNeese front line.

But how has the once coveted defensive lineman looked since returning from his devastating injury?
Maason Smith Scouting Report

Strengths

• Rocked-up 310-pound frame with outstanding density throughout
• Impressive anatomical length
• Outrageous strike strength to blow back blockers.
• High-motor player with a good first step and horizontal wiggle. Can flash and cross over blocker’s faces
• Plays with impressive positional leverage despite being a tall player
• Straight-line explosiveness is top-tier — should run and jump out of the gym
• Athletic enough to survive playing as a 4i or 5-technique
• Length and strength can convert speed to power against offensive tackles not used to defending against power players
• Violent spin move and cross-chop and rip through
• Shown significant strength improvements since freshman season

Weaknesses

• While lateral agility is present, he appears still in the lower half. Gets bogged down in the mud when turning and running. Doesn’t have bend to win up the arc
• Inconsistent pass rusher
• Must improve as a processor against the run. Inexperience shows in slow run recognition.
• Can play too high and must improve double-team positioning and leverage.
• Must learn to drop his anchor vs. multiple blockers

Current Draft Projection and Summary


Smith still has a lot to prove as a young player, and there is no guarantee that he will declare for the NFL Draft as a junior. However, his size, power, and explosiveness will be coveted by teams because he is such an alignment-versatile piece.

Smith has the athleticism to play up and down any defensive front, and he already has some nice pass-rush tools at his disposal. If he continues to put out consistent tape over the second half of the college season, he could very well be in play as the top interior defender selected in the 2024 NFL Draft.

[Boltinloudguy]

There was a report that Caleb Williams made $5m this season at SC in NIL money. They said that it was more than the vast majority of Rams players made

And he didn’t even get into the CFP, not even ranked by the end of the year.

[beachcomber]

The huddle report

am more a trenches guy than skill players, and.... looking @their rankings, hard to pass on Odunze and Terrion Arnold first two picks, and.... like Cedric Gray @LB in the third round, and.... they don't have T'Vondre Sweat in the top 100 ??

[beachcomber]

Sikema's PFF Mock 3.0 posted this morning has us taking Jer'Zahn.

perhaps unpopular here in some corners, and.... would take Newton over Keon Coleman, and.... I like him some, and.... Terrion Arnold is climbing.

[beachcomber]

re: MW.... little amazed/befuddled that peoples here don't think he's worth more than a fourth (@least one person thinks/said he doesn't think he'd bring anything in a trade, and.... for all eye know, said poster may be correct ?), and yet.... most of same said peoples were more than happy to pay him his $20 (albeit the some of us thought he was worth maybe 'bout half that much ?)

what gives ?? as still think he's worth a third.... (fingers crossed)

[wu-dai clan]

perhaps unpopular here in some corners, and.... would take Newton over Keon Coleman, and.... I like him some, and.... Terrion Arnold is climbing.

Yes. Yes. And Sikema has us taking your guy Sweat in Round Two.
One Ton Dancing Bear to anchor the Dline.

[OG619FrightninLightnin]

And he didn’t even get into the CFP, not even ranked by the end of the year.

Sander's kid drives a Rolls Royce, it actually got towed by CU campus police recently

[Boltjolt]

am more a trenches guy than skill players, and.... looking @their rankings, hard to pass on Odunze and Terrion Arnold first two picks, and.... like Cedric Gray @LB in the third round, and.... they don't have T'Vondre Sweat in the top 100 ??

THR is updated often and they just released their top 200 value board.

I didn't notice where they had Sweat as I'm haven't looked over their rankings very much yet. But im not a big fan of the big fatties either, you seem to like those types.

I know you are more a trenches guy, everybody should know that and it's not a bad thing at all but we also need some skill guys. CB, RB, TE, WR....wait is TE a skill guy? I'm calling it a skill guy.

Id bet the farm that Vato isnt coming back.

Not sure you have even noticed he has been benched the last 2 games and hasn't played not 1 snap,....and you want to throw 6 mil at him? And we don't utilize Everett enough to throw 6 mil at him. He has 29 receptions.

I'm not being a smartass when I ask, just curious is all......do you watch the Chargers games? You never seem to have any comments on the games or players during the season,.. so I'm just asking.