2024 Chargers Draft Superthread - Prospect Discussion - Draft Has Started

[charger1_sj]

And how do you get 2 legit CB's...? Are you sure the 2nd round CB's are legit this draft...? Right now, we have one 2nd round CB on the roster (ASJ). I like ASJ... I really do. But he's not a #1CB. After that, we have Leonard and Ja'Sir... Even if we had cap money, legit CB's aren't available in free agency. They cost too much (see JCJ). I don't trust the 2nd/3rd round CB's this year. Terrion Arnold looked pedestrian yesterday.

What if we don't land the Magical Harbaugh...? Do we really believe Harbaugh would turn the slop we currently have in the secondary into gold...? That's a lot of Hopium!!!

If you want to fix the defense first then we can trade down and get a #1 CB, LB and #2 CB, done. However I still think the priority should be the offense. It's going to
take more than one year to fix both the D and O. Upgrading the D is not going to make it a top 10 unit. As we likely still need help on the D line, pass rush. and safety.
But it will improve with a couple of legit CBs and LB.

You can make arguments for both sides, but with Herbert it would be best to get the O into gear. A lot of work to be done, but with the right GM and HC the ship can
be righted. A lot also depends on the cap and who we let go. It could free up enough space to bring in some badly needed help on both sides of the ball.

[Boltjolt]

[Boltnut]

Having said that, I agree... another edge rusher should be a priority.
I believe either Bosa or Mack will be cut/traded. It's the quickest way under the cap.

Another cap casualty will be either KA or MW.

If I were the GM... I'd trade 2 of them (whoever fetches better trade value) and extend/restructure 2 of them.
Then I'd cut Linsley (most likely retiring) and use the cap saving to sign a quality free agent center.
IMO, the center position is one of the most important positions on the whole team. I wouldn't screw around there.

We'll have to see what we get (via trade) for 1 or 2 of the players with cap issues (KA, MW, KM, and JB). My hope would be for a 3rd and a 4th. We won't fill all needs even then. This is probably a 2-year rebuild.

1st CB McKinstry or DE Latu Laiatu
2nd Edge Bralen Trice or CB Terrion Arnold
3rd TE Bell/Stover/Sinnott
3rd (via trade)DL Kris Jenkins
4th RB Devin Neal
4th (via trade) BPA
5th-7th BPA

[blueman]

Don’t get the two year build bit, with better health this team can threaten for a wild card spot, at least. With a new HC/culture change/draft picks, and looking at the teams in our division under-achieving, don’t see why we can’t be on top of this dog pile. If Harbaugh/whomever new HC can get us on the W side of even half the one-score games we kept losing under Staley, that’s really all we need. There’s been way too much hubris-inspired ineptitude, these players just need the right HC/assistants to stop losing games we can win.

[wu-dai clan]

Why does every highlight clip of Brock Bowers start off with nothing but green in the frame...? Like Kelce, is this a "I forgot to cover him issue"...? Is this a scheming thing... or a TE that runs a sub-4.27 thing...? I don't see particularly sharp cuts... or sneaky speed... If we get one more knucklehead OC, will Brock Bowers still be a save-the-ship kind of player...?

I always commence the arm wrestling over prospects Senior Bowl Week. There are now Underclassmen there.

One big point is that we really need to assess talent level finely in these very high picks. That is tantamount over Position of Need.

[OG619FrightninLightnin]

Having said that, I agree... another edge rusher should be a priority.
I believe either Bosa or Mack will be cut/traded. It's the quickest way under the cap.

Another cap casualty will be either KA or MW.

If I were the GM... I'd trade 2 of them (whoever fetches better trade value) and extend/restructure 2 of them.
Then I'd cut Linsley (most likely retiring) and use the cap saving to sign a quality free agent center.
IMO, the center position is one of the most important positions on the whole team. I wouldn't screw around there.

We'll have to see what we get (via trade) for 1 or 2 of the players with cap issues (KA, MW, KM, and JB). My hope would be for a 3rd and a 4th. We won't fill all needs even then. This is probably a 2-year rebuild.

1st CB McKinstry or DE Latu Laiatu
2nd Edge Bralen Trice or CB Terrion Arnold
3rd TE Bell/Stover/Sinnott
3rd (via trade)DL Kris Jenkins
4th RB Devin Neal
4th (via trade) BPA
5th-7th BPA

The FA crop of Centers is razor thin, might have to be a high pick..

[dmac_bolt]

I would be very surprised if he ran over 4.50
He looks fast on the field... that matters.
The best CB's are running between 4.41 and 4.48. If he falls in that range... there is no speed issue.

We had plenty of pass rush this year... top-5 in sacks IIRC. We still sucked covering anyone. 30th in the NFL is terrible.

Agree, under 4.46

[Leslie Grossman]

It’s the only number out there on the internet for him. I agree we need to see what he can run but since when is a CB rated a top 5 pick and nobody in the world can even figure out how fast he runs?

If he’s a 4.4 or less - great. If he’s really the 4.54 that is posted on the web, I’m starting to worry about the jump from college to pros and need to analyze it a lot closer. I expect he’s probably faster than 4.54, but I need to see it.

As to what helps the defense most - if our roster plan is to dump Joey … I wonder if an elite edge player will have greater impact? A great pass rush makes all DBs better, one great CB won’t save a defense that can’t pressure the QB. Not in the NFL.

I prioritize edge because they have a bigger impact against the run and deliver bigger hits on the QB.
Give me Myles Garrett over Deon Sanders all day.

[dmac_bolt]

I always commence the arm wrestling over prospects Senior Bowl Week. There are now Underclassmen there.

One big point is that we really need to assess talent level finely in these very high picks. That is tantamount over Position of Need.

We have enough PON options that this should be mandatory (and easy) - check both boxes of Elite Pro Bowl Talent and Day 1 starter (e.g. need).

[dmac_bolt]

I prioritize edge because they have a bigger impact against the run and deliver bigger hits on the QB.
Give me Myles Garrett over Deon Sanders all day.

Which guys in this drat are the next Myles?

[sonorajim]

The #26 run offense and #30 pass defense are the biggest concerns for me.

Other than Pipkins, the OL seems to have the required talent. Maybe it's the scheme? Maybe it's the coaching? Maybe it's the RB's?
The injury to Linsley was a big blow to the OL. Center is a priority. 2nd round draft pick or a quality (pricey) free agent.
@RT it seems the Chargers have made their bed (assume that upper management signed off on Pipkins re-sign).
For the record, I was one of the few that were focussing on RT (drafting) before Pipkins was re-signed. I didn't want him.
But here we are... Newly re-signed RT and a 1st round WR selection last year.
I find it hard to believe that upper management is already giving up on those two players.
If Herbert can't get it done with (KA/MW), Joshua Palmer, Quentin Johnson, Derius Davis (who has been completely under-used), and a later round draft pick... then maybe we have bigger problems than WR, OT, and TE....

#30 passing defense is glaring us all in the face. It was a problem 2 years ago when I was banging the table for Trent McDuffie. Then we signed JCJ and everyone forgot about the secondary. Well, I didn't. I knew Vato has been up and down his whole career. I knew JCJ's patellar was an issue (and even suspected that the scheme fit was all wrong). I kept banging the table for CB last draft (Joey Porter Jr. please).... And now we are trying to convince ourselves that "culture change" will convert Ja'Sir and Leonard from lumps of coal to diamonds... or that more mid/late round graded CB's will suffice. It won't. We know this to be true. TT knew it. Even Staley knew it. Please, let's make this happen already.

We had a top-5 offense not too long ago. We've had them in the past, too. They're nice to have... they're fun to watch. They just don't get you far if you can't defend against the pass. Go look at Harbaugh's defenses he had in SF. They were loaded with talent. Go look at Harbaugh's defenses at Michigan... ditto! Coaching matters... but so does talent.

The totally unacceptable #30 pass D needs to be fixed. Staley leaving was a huge step forward.We should be average with no other changes.
Our #21 Offense is even more unacceptable with Herbert at QB. We have a S load of O talent on paper. One top receiver played most of the season, KA and he's getting old.
No top RB or TE. OL is spotty. Slater is solid. Zion and Salyer were inconsistent, Linsley is done, Pipkins is consistently mediocre. Center has to be fixed. Top vet or 2nd- 3rd round.
I want a decent young RB. Rd 3-4? OC Moore and OL coach Nugent need to be replaced, among others.
HC 1st. He and his staff will have their own thoughts.
Me? I want the damn O to dominate lesser opponents and go toe to toe with the best.
Have I mentioned Bowers?

[CanadianBoltFan]

Having said that, I agree... another edge rusher should be a priority.
I believe either Bosa or Mack will be cut/traded. It's the quickest way under the cap.

Another cap casualty will be either KA or MW.

If I were the GM... I'd trade 2 of them (whoever fetches better trade value) and extend/restructure 2 of them.
Then I'd cut Linsley (most likely retiring) and use the cap saving to sign a quality free agent center.
IMO, the center position is one of the most important positions on the whole team. I wouldn't screw around there.

We'll have to see what we get (via trade) for 1 or 2 of the players with cap issues (KA, MW, KM, and JB). My hope would be for a 3rd and a 4th. We won't fill all needs even then. This is probably a 2-year rebuild.

1st CB McKinstry or DE Latu Laiatu
2nd Edge Bralen Trice or CB Terrion Arnold
3rd TE Bell/Stover/Sinnott
3rd (via trade)DL Kris Jenkins
4th RB Devin Neal
4th (via trade) BPA
5th-7th BPA

6 is way too early for Kool Aid. I am seeing mocks with him regularly going in the 20s. Some with him as the 3rd CB taken.