2024 Chargers Draft Superthread - Prospect Discussion - Draft Has Started

[beachcomber]

which teams have good GMs and are consistently effective in building winning rosters.... ??

Eagles, Ravens, Lions, Pack, Chiefs, 49ers.... anyone else ??

some of these teams have an embarrassment of riches on their Dline, and some even into their front 7.... as many as a handful of No. 1's on their Dline, and plenty of day twos in the front 7 as well.

still think we need to make sure our Dline is taken care of first, as we lack talent to start with, and face a fair bit of attrition ahead, and before the draft/FA.

[beachcomber]

Taliese Fuaga, Oregon State (6-6, 334)

Oregon State's offensive line was named a semifinalist for the Joe Moore Award, annually presented to college football's top OL unit. The most consistent player on that front was Fuaga, who pushed around defenders as both a run blocker and pass protector. The right tackle's outstanding lateral agility and hulking frame could push him up NFL draft boards. Don't be surprised if the AP second-team All-American is drafted very early, just like former Tennessee Volunteer and 2023 top-10 pick Darnell Wright.

Cooper Beebe, Kansas State (6-4, 335)*

The two-time Big 12 Offensive Lineman of the Year, 2023 Outland Trophy finalist and AP first-team All-American is a stout blocker at the point of attack, halting defensive tackles and blitzers before they get into the backfield. Beebe, a William V. Campbell Trophy finalist, displayed the adaptability to start at left and right tackle during his career (and shift to either spot during his senior year when needed away from his normal left guard spot). The thick build belies his foot quickness, which linebackers and safeties experienced firsthand when Beebe took them out on the move in the run game.

EDGE RUSHER

Laiatu Latu, UCLA (6-5, 265)*

Latu began his career at Washington, but suffered a neck injury that kept him off the field in 2020 and 2021. He's been a force since UCLA team doctors gave him clearance to play, earning first-team All-Pac-12 honors the past two seasons and ranking in the top 10 nationally in sacks both years (tied for eighth with 10.5 in 2022, tied for third with 13 after the 2023 regular season). The 2023 AP first-team All-American and Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year leads the FBS with 21.5 tackles for loss, as well, using his combination of strength and quickness to attack runs and quick passes on the edge.

DEFENSIVE TACKLE

Jer'Zhan Newton, Illinois (6-2, 295)

Newton's value to the Illinois defense was proven during the team's loss to Wisconsin, as the Badgers came back to win in the fourth quarter after the senior defender was ejected for targeting. The Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and AP first-team All-American finished among the top DTs in the country with 7.5 sacks and accumulated 22.5 tackles for loss over the past two seasons, beating blockers with a quick first step and hustle. While not a massive interior defender, Newton's quickness off the snap and low center of gravity allow him to play with leverage at the line of scrimmage. He even blocked an FBS-best four kicks (two field goals, two extra points).

T'Vondre Sweat, Texas (6-4, 362)*

The colossal Sweat (42 tackles, eight tackles for loss, two sacks in 2023) leads a talented group of Longhorn defensive tackles responsible for the third-best rushing defense in the country (80.8 yards per game). He was named the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year by league coaches because of the way he bullies offensive linemen and strikes fear into ball carriers while chasing with that massive frame. If Sweat's athletic testing is as exceptional as the offerings of fellow big men Derrick Brown and Jordan Davis at recent NFL Scouting Combines, he'll be picked earlier than most have anticipated.

Cedric Gray, North Carolina (6-2 1/2, 235)*

Teams looking for a physical presence in the middle of the defense should go for Gray on Day 2. The two-time first-team All-ACC selection averaged 10.1 tackles per game this season, finishing second to Payton Wilson in the conference. He's a downhill player who attacks gaps and can get to the outside in a hurry. Gray isn't shy taking on linemen and routinely sheds to find ball carriers, but he also handles zone-coverage responsibilities in the middle of the field. In today's NFL, the Tar Heel generally would be considered a "thumper," but he's more than just an in-the-box defender.

[gzubeck]

Really good take on edge rushers...Verse Highest floor (Mack replacement), Dallas Turner showing signs of being next Micah Parsons, Latu needs the combine to prove he's #1 according to tape...

Honorable mentions to Trice...

[beachcomber]

sounds like Caleb Williams is going No. 1 to Chi Town.... Fields getting shipped out to the likes of Pittsburgh, Atlanta, or.... ??

think our cluster is four.... Latu, Jer'Zhan, Kool Aid or Fuaga.... sorry, but suspect Brock is gonna be otb ??

[Fouts2herbert]

sounds like Caleb Williams is going No. 1 to Chi Town.... Fields getting shipped out to the likes of Pittsburgh, Atlanta, or.... ??

think our cluster is four.... Latu, Jer'Zhan, Kool Aid or Fuaga.... sorry, but suspect Brock is gonna be otb ??

It's never good to get fixated on a particular player because if Bowers is there whenever the chargers pick and they pass him up for someone else this forum is going to lose it's fucking mind...I wasn't posting on here yet but I was reading along when most of the posters here where obsessed with Tua or Simmons before the 2020 draft...I was very confused by the Herbert hate and his getting drafted motivated me to start posting again after years of not joining or posting on a charger forum since the old Charger board days like 20 years ago...

[gzubeck]

It's never good to get fixated on a particular player because if Bowers is there whenever the chargers pick and they pass him up for someone else this forum is going to lose it's fucking mind...I wasn't posting on here yet but I was reading along when most of the posters here where obsessed with Tua or Simmons before the 2020 draft...I was very confused by the Herbert hate and his getting drafted motivated me to start posting again after years of not joining or posting on a charger forum since the old Charger board days like 20 years ago...

Not me...I'm expecting they will pass on a TE before drafting edge rusher that's close to being a day 1 starter for us as well as the top two receivers or even the top rated CB. These are all $20 million dollar players that we can replace.

[sonorajim]

Not me...I'm expecting they will pass on a TE before drafting edge rusher that's close to being a day 1 starter for us as well as the top two receivers or even the top rated CB. These are all $20 million dollar players that we can replace.

I'll say it again. BPA over PON with a high 1st rd pick every time. If a top QB is on the board for us, check out trades. Otherwise, pull the trigger.
As it gets closer, the new GM - HC can evaluate top 10 picks. It currently looks like there will be early 1st value in WR (2), QB(2), TE (1), OT(3), edge (2), DT (1). This may be a good time to trade down a few spots but no way if there's an elite player available when we're on the board. I'll never get over Polamalu.
Lots of work ahead.

[Boltgang74]

Watchin the Ravens Niners game shows to me just how important a top notch O line is to winning.We have GOT to beef up Herbs protection.No more broken bones for Herb.Build the wall and a Trophy will come.

[beachcomber]

day two clusters.... ??

OG Cooper Beebe
NT T'Vondre Sweat

LB Cedric Gray

edit: taking the all of Kingsley Suamataia, Jackson Powers Johnson, and Audric Estime outta my clusters, and.... OG Donovan Jackson is a round four guy atm.

[Fouts2herbert]

Not me...I'm expecting they will pass on a TE before drafting edge rusher that's close to being a day 1 starter for us as well as the top two receivers or even the top rated CB. These are all $20 million dollar players that we can replace.

well, it seems that there is some nice talent at the top of this draft class, anything in the top ten could potentially net a day one starter type of player...

[dmac_bolt]

I have a very hard time thinking we will go OT there. Yes we need to somehow lose Pipkins and we need a OT and a OC (the latter hopefully a FA signing)but thats an expensive OL. Maybe we get a couple of picks for trades and we get one round 2 or 3. Its a pretty good OT class.

Maybe Salyer is best suited for RT and we draft a OG like Beebe.

#5 for a top OT isn’t unusual at all. I would be a tad surprised if they did too but not shocked.

[Topcat]

#5 for a top OT isn’t unusual at all. I would be a tad surprised if they did too but not shocked.

Yep...the year we drafted Fluke at #11, there were THREE O-linemen drafted in the top 10...then TT reached for a leftover...