2024 Chargers Draft Superthread - Prospect Discussion - Draft Has Started

[CanadianBoltFan]

Plus I think if you have a stronger Front 7, more consistent pass rush, that helps the DBs. So if the Chargers go defense in R1 - I would hope its for Front 7 over DB - all things equal, talent, etc. But the Chargers need to build a Fron t7. I cannot recall the last time they had a really good front 7

Agreed there also.

If we drop to 8 and miss Bowers and go defense i want Newton over Kool-Aid as well.

[electricgold]

Yep Bowers should be considered 1st, Kool aid only if he runs in the 4.3's, Joe Alt if he's willing to play RT or Slater is willing to play RT with Alt taking over LT! I wouldn't go for the DE from UCLA because the injury history and what we just went through with MW's history I'm done gambling on players with major college injuries in the first round! Newton if any of these 3 players are gone!

[Bolt4Knob]

Yep Bowers should be considered 1st, Kool aid only if he runs in the 4.3's, Joe Alt if he's willing to play RT or Slater is willing to play RT with Alt taking over LT! I wouldn't go for the DE from UCLA because the injury history and what we just went through with MW's history I'm done gambling on players with major college injuries in the first round! Newton if any of these 3 players are gone!

Agree about injury history

Don't agree about moving a LT to RT. Draft a RT to play RT. If that is the case, trade back for more players

I don't care what Kool-Aid runs - they still need playmakers on offense and to build the Front 7 more.

One last thing - I have zero idea the philosophy of Tommy and John - with picks like Mager, Woods, etc. But maybe don't try for grand slams. Just try for higher ceiling, maybe lower floors - but players who had productive college football careers. If that means a bunch of singles and doubles, thats fine.

EDIT: lower ceilings, higher floors

[AFboltfan]

Everyone brings up good points about Bowers vs. Kool Aid.

[Lefty2SLO]

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.

But you CAN use this as an example of a group of talent evaluators that have their shit (mostly) together, as compared to ours . . . . . . . . . . . . I agree that Puka most certainly has outperformed the team's expectations, but at least they had the smarts to draft him when they did. We had the option of drafting Nacua, but took McFadden instead. Who would you have rather had?

Smart is good, lucky is good, but smart AND lucky is better . . . . . . . .

[Lone Bolt]

A Koolaid vs Bowers debate still raging? I got the tiebreaker...his name is Justin Herbert. No more dickin' around...you nail the coach, and you field the players, as aggressively as possible, to launch this offense...we will score more points, win more games, we will gain more fans, these players will regain some swagger...and Herbert will evolve in positive fashion, vs stagnating, as he has been.

I would much rather we struggle on defense, than watch Herbert suffer another year of offensive futility...so in most any draft debate? Im gonna side with the offensive prospect.

[21&500]

From the moment Herbert showed to be a great talent and franchise type qb we should have been on a mission to find him compatible weapons.
Instead we've wasted out resources building this stone-soup defense for Staley and aksing Herb to make-do with 1 legitimate weapon in KA and a busted Mike Williams and promising 3rd rounder in palmer (let's not even talk about QJ).
meanwhile Purdy in SF has a full arsenal.

The defense will have to wait, and grow under a good DC with young talent. 2024 will.not be a good defensive year.
what is the priority is Herbert's health, production, protection and growth in a system tailor made for his skill set.
You can not go wrong with getting him an elite talent at TE, period.
Bowers is special, period.

Thw only comfort I have is in knowing that if Bowers is gone by our oick, there will be other great weapons we can select from.
weapons or protection at 1. Period.

[dmac_bolt]

PFF 's draft big board based on who they think the best players are has Brock Bowers at 6, Kool-Aid at 13, Latu at 18, Coleman at 41

Bowers is in most big boards TOP 5 players in this draft. Bowers not your average TE. he is an impact player...a game changer. He has great hands, can get downfield, is hard to cover and is good at YAC. He is also a good blocker which would help the Chargers run game and help protect Herbert.

I have said all along 6th is a reach for Kool-Aid.

I want the unicorn TE talent to pair with Herbert over a good CB who is not even the consensus top CB on every draft board.

Ask your self this question honestly. During the KC Chiefs 8 straight division titles, who has contributed more to their success? Travis Kelce or the selection of CBs that have played there over the past 8 seasons?

Bowers runs a sub-4.5 and is a VERY good blocker. When have we had a TE that was a good blocker that could even run a route without tripping himself? most great fast TEs are lousy blockers, hence signaling tendencies our offensive play limitations when they are on the field. Bowers can be integrated into the entire playbook from end to en. He is unique and the TE talent drops of very fast. I'd also love Odunze (now) or Nabers as a true #1 WR. If KoolAid runs mid-4.4s, i'd like him as lockdown CB is a premium position. But there are other very good CBs in the draft, we could grab one in the 2nd. There won't be a great TE after Bowers - or I think?

If we pick 6 we will have Bowers, Odunze, Nabers, Alt, Newton, Latu, KoolAid, Turner etc. to choose from. Each of these dudes brings a big upgrade to our roster - yea! I trust JH to decide who is most important to build his foundation with.

[Bolt4Knob]

From the moment Herbert showed to be a great talent and franchise type qb we should have been on a mission to find him compatible weapons.
Instead we've wasted out resources building this stone-soup defense for Staley and aksing Herb to make-do with 1 legitimate weapon in KA and a busted Mike Williams and promising 3rd rounder in palmer (let's not even talk about QJ).
meanwhile Purdy in SF has a full arsenal.

The defense will have to wait, and grow under a good DC with young talent. 2024 will.not be a good defensive year.
what is the priority is Herbert's health, production, protection and growth in a system tailor made for his skill set.
You can not go wrong with getting him an elite talent at TE, period.
Bowers is special, period.

Thw only comfort I have is in knowing that if Bowers is gone by our oick, there will be other great weapons we can select from.
weapons or protection at 1. Period.

Bowers at TE and snag one of Purdy's weapons that is a free agent unless he is franchised.

I agree the defense will have growing pains but its all about laying a foundation on defense. Start building it. Get some dirtworkers for the DLine and LB as a bridge - but know the system.

[CanadianBoltFan]

A Koolaid vs Bowers debate still raging? I got the tiebreaker...his name is Justin Herbert. No more dickin' around...you nail the coach, and you field the players, as aggressively as possible, to launch this offense...we will score more points, win more games, we will gain more fans, these players will regain some swagger...and Herbert will evolve in positive fashion, vs stagnating, as he has been.

I would much rather we struggle on defense, than watch Herbert suffer another year of offensive futility...so in most any draft debate? Im gonna side with the offensive prospect.

Well said

There are 262 million reasons for doing so

There is nothing more important, on and off the field for this franchise, than launching Justin Herbert to reach his maximum potential.

[CanadianBoltFan]

From the moment Herbert showed to be a great talent and franchise type qb we should have been on a mission to find him compatible weapons.
Instead we've wasted out resources building this stone-soup defense for Staley and aksing Herb to make-do with 1 legitimate weapon in KA and a busted Mike Williams and promising 3rd rounder in palmer (let's not even talk about QJ).
meanwhile Purdy in SF has a full arsenal.

The defense will have to wait, and grow under a good DC with young talent. 2024 will.not be a good defensive year.
what is the priority is Herbert's health, production, protection and growth in a system tailor made for his skill set.
You can not go wrong with getting him an elite talent at TE, period.
Bowers is special, period.

Thw only comfort I have is in knowing that if Bowers is gone by our oick, there will be other great weapons we can select from.
weapons or protection at 1. Period.

Agreed.

If we don't get Bowers, than Nabors or Alt

[wu-dai clan]

There is a LOT here and it is very advanced, yanno Modern Football.

For starters, I propose moving Derwin to MIKE ala Divine Diablo

This makes two DBs PON.