2024 Chargers Draft Superthread - Prospect Discussion - Draft Has Started

[Formula 21]

I thought we were spending Pick #6 on a shutdown Corner !?!

LOL.

[Formula 21]

I don’t know what’s gonna happen, but I just don’t see us getting a starting C in the draft. Maybe Zion, maybe a FA, hopefully a top OL coach to bring it all together. We have to have better OL play next year. That’s #1 for me.

[Boltinloudguy]

Solid job, brother! Way to step up and snag Kris Jenkins in the 2nd round... big balls! Keep an eye on him in the National Championship game... he does a lot of un-noticed things for that defense. Are you thinking offensive center thru free agency...?

Yes… I’m hoping for either Conner Williams, Tyler Biadasz or Lloyd Cushenberry. I know Williams tore his ACL. Would have to keep an eye on his recovery.

I think they could even trade back a few spots in the 2nd and still get Jenkins. I don’t only want Jenkins from that Dline. At this point Mason Graham is in my 1st round cluster next year.

[Boltnut]

I don’t know what’s gonna happen, but I just don’t see us getting a starting C in the draft. Maybe Zion, maybe a FA, hopefully a top OL coach to bring it all together. We have to have better OL play next year. That’s #1 for me.

Agree. Without someone to fix this OL mess... it won't matter who we have as weapons/playmakers.
As far as center goes... I have been drafting Sedrick Van Pran (2nd round) in my mocks.
We could sign a free agent center... but the cap money will be tight. We probably get out-spent in free agency.
Before his injury, I was promoting my old friend, Connor Williams. Now that sounds kind of risky.

Almost all of my mock drafts start with 1) CB Kool-Aid McKinstry 2) OC Sedrick Van Pran

It's sounding like the Chargers/Harbaugh could actually happen... if not, my choice @coach would be Frank Smith. He worked miracles with the 2021 OL. Herbie had the time to pass (even going deep). And that was with Schofield @RG (after Aboushi went down) and Storm Norton @RT (once Baluga couldn't get off the ground). If Harbaugh is the choice... maybe his current center (Drake Nugent) could be the choice...?

[AFboltfan]

I thought we were spending Pick #6 on a shutdown Corner !?!

I wouldn't necessarily spend #6 on Kool Aid, but if we beat the Chiefs this week... Maybe.

[AFboltfan]

Agree. Without someone to fix this OL mess... it won't matter who we have as weapons/playmakers.
As far as center goes... I have been drafting Sedrick Van Pran (2nd round) in my mocks.
We could sign a free agent center... but the cap money will be tight. We probably get out-spent in free agency.
Before his injury, I was promoting my old friend, Connor Williams. Now that sounds kind of risky.

Almost all of my mock drafts start with 1) CB Kool-Aid McKinstry 2) OC Sedrick Van Pran

It's sounding like the Chargers/Harbaugh could actually happen... if not, my choice @coach would be Frank Smith. He worked miracles with the 2021 OL. Herbie had the time to pass (even going deep). And that was with Schofield @RG (after Aboushi went down) and Storm Norton @RT (once Baluga couldn't get off the ground). If Harbaugh is the choice... maybe his current center (Drake Nugent) could be the choice...?

Are you drafting Kool Aid as high as top 5 or 6? I feel that is a bit of a reach...

[Boltinloudguy]

Agree. Without someone to fix this OL mess... it won't matter who we have as weapons/playmakers.
As far as center goes... I have been drafting Sedrick Van Pran (2nd round) in my mocks.
We could sign a free agent center... but the cap money will be tight. We probably get out-spent in free agency.
Before his injury, I was promoting my old friend, Connor Williams. Now that sounds kind of risky.

Almost all of my mock drafts start with 1) CB Kool-Aid McKinstry 2) OC Sedrick Van Pran

It's sounding like the Chargers/Harbaugh could actually happen... if not, my choice @coach would be Frank Smith. He worked miracles with the 2021 OL. Herbie had the time to pass (even going deep). And that was with Schofield @RG (after Aboushi went down) and Storm Norton @RT (once Baluga couldn't get off the ground). If Harbaugh is the choice... maybe his current center (Drake Nugent) could be the choice...?

What about McFadden to LG and trying out Zion at C? He has the brains for it and been with Linsley the last 2 years. I think with the right HC and Oline coach, this Oline can be much better next year.

[Lefty2SLO]

Seems they can find players in any round.

NT Kobie Turner who they drafted in the 3rd round this year is a rookie. He has 9 sacks, 8 TFL and a lot of QB pressures. He is 6'2", 288 lbs. He has only started 4 games but played in 16.

So he and Donald (who has 8 sacks)are under 290 and playing DT and NT.

Rams just know how to find good players.

Or

They have great coaches as Turner last season at Wake Forest only had 2 sacks & 10 TFL in 13 games.

They have good coaches (teachers) AND their talent evaluators are good at spotting college (or pro) guys who aren't being used to their potential. Puka Nacua anyone?

[Boltnut]

Are you drafting Kool Aid as high as top 5 or 6? I feel that is a bit of a reach...

Yeah, I think he is that good. If his 40-yard dash is 4.50+... then maybe he's not fast enough to be shut-down in the NFL. But his tape suggests that he's at least 4.45. I think his technique (outside and inside) along with his athleticism (fluid hips) make him a true shut-down IMO. Shut-down CB's are valuable. They make the whole defense better. If a DC has a player that condenses the field, it makes coverage schemes so much easier (and less confusing for the rest of the defenders).

We could have an argument about which player is more talented (Bowers v Latu v Fashanu v Odunze v McKinstry)... but IMO that's a hard thing to do given that they play different positions in different schemes. We could use different mock machines (PFF v PFN v Fanspeak) or different "experts" to tout our personal favorites. But in the end, you have to build a total roster and meet your most important needs. Right now, the numbers tell us that pass defense and run offense are our greatest deficiencies. Is TE a need...? Yes. Is RB a need...? Yes. Is RT a need...? Center...? Will the cap be met and how...? Will that create more needs...? Of course.

One of the things to truly consider is the cost of free agents at certain positions. We know that RB can be replaced relatively cheaply. What is your ROI with a 1st round TE vs what you could get with a FA TE...? Is it wise to continually spend your 1st round draft capital on one side of the ball...? I would continually spend my 1st round draft capital on positions that continue to be most expensive in free agency (QB's, OT's, Edges, CB's, and WR's)... even if one identitfied player is perceived to be 3 or 4 draft spots higher than a premium position player. As we've found out... the cap must be managed correctly.

[AFboltfan]

Yeah, I think he is that good. If his 40-yard dash is 4.50+... then maybe he's not fast enough to be shut-down in the NFL. But his tape suggests that he's at least 4.45. I think his technique (outside and inside) along with his athleticism (fluid hips) make him a true shut-down IMO. Shut-down CB's are valuable. They make the whole defense better. If a DC has a player that condenses the field, it makes coverage schemes so much easier (and less confusing for the rest of the defenders).

We could have an argument about which player is more talented (Bowers v Latu v Fashanu v Odunze v McKinstry)... but IMO that's a hard thing to do given that they play different positions in different schemes. We could use different mock machines (PFF v PFN v Fanspeak) or different "experts" to tout our personal favorites. But in the end, you have to build a total roster and meet your most important needs. Right now, the numbers tell us that pass defense and run offense are our greatest deficiencies. Is TE a need...? Yes. Is RB a need...? Yes. Is RT a need...? Center...? Will the cap be met and how...? Will that create more needs...? Of course.

One of the things to truly consider is the cost of free agents at certain positions. We know that RB can be replaced relatively cheaply. What is your ROI with a 1st round TE vs what you could get with a FA TE...? Is it wise to continually spend your 1st round draft capital on one side of the ball...? I would continually spend my 1st round draft capital on positions that continue to be most expensive in free agency (QB's, OT's, Edges, CB's, and WR's)... even if one identitfied player is perceived to be 3 or 4 draft spots higher than a premium position player. As we've found out... the cap must be managed correctly.

I like your post and agree with you. I really want Kool Aid we need secondary help more than alot of positions being thrown around... For me its Bowers Vs. Kool Aid. TE to me seems to be an easier and cheaper way of going via FA, however Bowers is being compared to Kelce, Gronk, and Gates so that should make him fall outside of the typical 1st round TE conversation.

For me, Kool Aid falls out of the top 5, if Bowers and MHjr are gone then Kool Aid is at the top of my board.

[Boltnut]

[/B][/U]

They have good coaches (teachers) AND their talent evaluators are good at spotting college (or pro) guys who aren't being used to their potential. Puka Nacua anyone?

Not a single "expert" had Puka Nacua ranked over Quentin Johnson. If the LAR evaluators had insight on Nacua that suggested he would be so good... then why did they wait until the 5th round to draft him...? Tom Brady went in the 6th round... Mr. Irrelevant outplayed a QB that went #3 (giving up 3 first-rounders to get him)... You just can't use this argument to predict/plan drafts.

[Boltnut]

I like your post and agree with you. I really want Kool Aid we need secondary help more than alot of positions being thrown around... For me its Bowers Vs. Kool Aid. TE to me seems to be an easier and cheaper way of going via FA, however Bowers is being compared to Kelce, Gronk, and Gates so that should make him fall outside of the typical 1st round TE conversation.

For me, Kool Aid falls out of the top 5, if Bowers and MHjr are gone then Kool Aid is at the top of my board.

Bowers may end up being as good as those guys... but none of them was drafted @#6. They all belonged to teams that had rosters that were solid and well-rounded. I think it's crazy that Bowers and MHJ are being ranked so closely together. MHJ is the far superior player. An argument could even be made that Odunze and Nabers could mean more to an offense than Bowers. Have you ever watched a Keon Coleman highlight reel...? Can Bowers do any of those things as well...?

Watching Kool-Aid highlight clips is boring... people mostly stay away from him. That says a lot. I start with highlight tapes (looking for potential) and then look further to condensed game tape... to see what a player does every play. I think it's important to see how consistent Kool-Aid's fundamentals and technique are... even when he's not targeted. I like to see how the rest of the defense plays in response to Kool-Aid's play. Georgia's stacked offense ultimately sputtered against Alabama's defense. I'm waiting for a condensed game tape (as I didn't watch the live game). But I suspect it shows what I've been seeing when watching all of the other Alabama tape... people stay away from the Kool-Aid. Jim Harbaugh certainly did several weeks later. Anybody believe in Jim Harbaugh...?