2024 Chargers Draft Superthread - Prospect Discussion - Draft Has Started

[jamrock]

HOUSTON -- Jim Harbaugh batted away any questions about his future at Saturday's media day session for the College Football Playoff National Championship, instead using his time to advocate for revenue sharing for college athletes.

The Michigan coach said coaches, administrators and television networks are all "robbing the same train" in making money off unpaid college players and he hopes the rapid pace of change in the sport can finally make revenue sharing a reality, not just in football, but in all collegiate athletics.

"We've seen a whole conference go into a portal," Harbaugh said of the Pac-12. "If those kind of things can happen overnight ... I don't know how the sausage gets made completely, but there's a lot of smart people that do, that know a lot about revenue sharing, know a lot about how those algorithms and economics work. And the real issue is there's no voice for the players."

Harbaugh routinely deflected questions about his future -- "Future, I'd like to have one," he said -- and snuffed out any NFL questions, dismissing them quickly, such as when he was asked what the difference was in time management between coaching in college and the NFL.

"I don't have that list in front of me," he said.

He’s been advocating for college players to get paid as the NIL and transfer portal are wreaking havoc in the NCAA. I think it’s one of the reasons the NCAA wants him out.

[sonorajim]

How’s their pass rush? Of course better corners are better, but in a capped league, more expensive corners mean less expensive something else. And I’d rather have a top pass rusher than a top corner. Corners can be helped by scheme, pass rushers need more one on one skills.

Always a team sport. 2 of the top 5 pass Ds made the 5 fewest PPG list. KC 3 and Dal 5.
It takes balance, leadership and coaching. A rd 1 CB doesn't make a slam dunk top pass D or more importantly, scoring D.
I would shop CB day 2, early 3 though.
My goal would be Top 5 scoring O, avg or better scoring D in '24.
We are #21 O, #25 D today.

[Charge!]

How’s their pass rush? Of course better corners are better, but in a capped league, more expensive corners mean less expensive something else. And I’d rather have a top pass rusher than a top corner. Corners can be helped by scheme, pass rushers need more one on one skills.

I think it used to be that way..... long ago when Fouts was a QB, passing games were about throwing downfield.....alowing enough time for outside pass rush to get to QB...

most passing games today have the QB getting rid of ball so quickly that only great pass rushing DT's can get to QB quick enough.....

Today, also you are not allowed to touch receivers so, without holding, you really really need a blazing fast agile athlete who can keep up with these quick WR's who cannot be touched...... if you cannot grab and hold, it is difficult to legally affect the pattern of receiver, so you have to make up for it with crazy extreme athleticism.....

today, you NEED explosive, atheletic CB's to match fast receivers who know where they are going.....pass rushers have a dificult time getting to QB before pass leaves his hand..... both jobs are very difficult and require special atheletes.....

Great CB's can at least take away the quick short pass..... allowing pass rushers a chance to get to QB before deeper routes are open...... this is why great shutdown CB's are taken in first round and usually mid to high.....

Elite pass rushers and OT's are even rarer so they are usually taken really high if there is one......

Chargers need both.... but we have a couple of pass rushers but have ZERO shut down CB's......

[wu-dai clan]

At CB/DB rapid processing, tackling, help over the top, team defense are factors in play.

And this thing called pattern matching, used by coaches from Staley to Hoodie. Maybe our guys will now get it.

See Kyle Hamilton..famously slow in Indy...now DROY candidate.

[sonorajim]

I dunno, we have a lot of talent, guys that know football and can play at a high level, on the Oline. Coaching/scheme let them down IMHO. Sure, I would replace Pipkins, but that’s not a top ten pick we need to burn on that position, not with new coaches/other players coming in.

Do we have as much talent in the TE room?

If we go OL round 1, I’ll understand, but doubt we pass on a top needed skill guy for beef, few teams would (ie if they already have a stud at that skill position, that’s when they go beef).

Bowers is projected as a generational talent by some. We've all seen great TEs take over a game. It's a roll of the dice I'd probably make.

[Chargers8491]

Bowers is projected as a generational talent by some. We've all seen great TEs take over a game. It's a roll of the dice I'd probably make.

That's basically the draft in a nutshell. They are all a roll of the dice. All you can do is assess their talent at the college level and hope it translates to the NFL. Bower has proven over is career at Georgia that he has talent but does that translate to the NFL? Who knows but I do believe he is just as worthy of the pick than any other top draft pick in this year. I would definitely roll the dice on him.

[Formula 21]

I think it used to be that way..... long ago when Fouts was a QB, passing games were about throwing downfield.....alowing enough time for outside pass rush to get to QB...

most passing games today have the QB getting rid of ball so quickly that only great pass rushing DT's can get to QB quick enough.....

Today, also you are not allowed to touch receivers so, without holding, you really really need a blazing fast agile athlete who can keep up with these quick WR's who cannot be touched...... if you cannot grab and hold, it is difficult to legally affect the pattern of receiver, so you have to make up for it with crazy extreme athleticism.....

today, you NEED explosive, atheletic CB's to match fast receivers who know where they are going.....pass rushers have a dificult time getting to QB before pass leaves his hand..... both jobs are very difficult and require special atheletes.....

Great CB's can at least take away the quick short pass..... allowing pass rushers a chance to get to QB before deeper routes are open...... this is why great shutdown CB's are taken in first round and usually mid to high.....

Elite pass rushers and OT's are even rarer so they are usually taken really high if there is one......

Chargers need both.... but we have a couple of pass rushers but have ZERO shut down CB's......

Interesting video posted earlier in this thread. Modern defenses funnel the O to throw the quick outlet pass to the flat. Then they use team speed to get to the receiver early and tackle them for minimal yardage gain. They flood the downfield areas with speedy guys who can get to the receiver/ball before they can gain too many yards. A shutdown corner is great, but scheme can make up for it if you have speed and tackling.

[Boltnut]

How’s their pass rush? Of course better corners are better, but in a capped league, more expensive corners mean less expensive something else. And I’d rather have a top pass rusher than a top corner. Corners can be helped by scheme, pass rushers need more one on one skills.

Theoretically, that's very nice. The Chargers currently are 6th in the NFL in sacks... after spending most of the year @#3. Yet, we've consistently been in the Bottom 3 vs the pass this year. Certainly some of that can be blamed on Staley schemes. But the lack of talent @CB deserves most of the blame... and maybe it led Staley to rely on those schemes in the first place. When he has a lock-down in LAR... the hair-brain schemes didn't seem so hair-brained.

Why were Staley/TT so desperate to sign JCJ...? Next to the Pipkins re-sign, it was the biggest waste of money. Get your pass rushers, pass blockers, and pass defenders early and often. Then you don't have those problems. Personally, I'd like at least one of each on my roster at all times... specifically guys on rookie contracts. Make the cap work every year. Don't waste your 1st round picks on TE's... not 1 of those guys has made it to their 2nd contract with original drafting teams in the last 10 years.

Signing a free agent TE is a hell of a lot easier on your cap than signing a FA pass rusher, offensive tackle, or cornerback... if they're even available in free agency.

[CanadianBoltFan]

Here is some tape on RB Braelon Allen! He's 6'2 245 with 4.40 speed! Looks like the kind of RB Jim Harbaugh may like!!?

245 lbs and he moves like that?

Sign me up!

[wu-dai clan]

Pats still played good team defense,
AFTER Christian Gonzalez went down with a season ending injury.
Maybe we should spotlight Safeties and Big Nickel.

[Boltjolt]

You're looking in the wrong place.
Look up pass defenses that are currently giving up less than 200 yards per game.
You'll find 7 teams: Cleveland, Kansas City, Carolina, NYJ, Dallas, Baltimore, and Buffalo.
You'll find that each have shut down CB's (some of them have 2) and a lot of 1st round CB's.

https://www.teamrankings.com/nfl/stat/opponent-passing-yards-per-game

Bland is not a shutdown CB and has been burned many times this season, though he does have 5 pic 6's to amie up for it....and thats great but he dosnt shut down recievers.
He was a 5th round pick.

But they do have Gilmore.

Also all those teams are top in sack leaders.

The Ravens, Chiefs and Bills are #'s 1, 2 & 3 in that catagory. Browns are tied for 6th, Dallas is tied for 9th and the Jets have 1 less sack than them.

Carolina is the only one mentioned that hasnt been a good sack defense as they are last in the league.

I agree we need good CBs but again a good front 7 and a good pass rush will help any secondary.
And getting rid of Staleys playcalling. I can't fathom why he went zone defense in an entire half against Mahomes after saying you can't do that against them lol. What an idiot. My God they shredded us.

Carolinas best CB, Donte Jackson was a 2nd round pick and Jaycee Horn has only played in 5 games this season and only 3 games as a rookie.

So while he is good when healthy he has only had 1 healthy season in 2022 when he played in 13 games.

I liked Jaycee for us and again it's hard to tell who will be injury prone and who won't. I don't recall his injury history in college.

Bills CBs are 3rd and 4th rounders. Their two first round CBs have only played in 3 and 4 games early in the season.

[Boltnut]

The premier spots:

OT: You have Slater @LT. Pipkins is the problem... but you can't cut him (actually more expensive to cut than to keep because of the stupid-money re-sign). There are some nice LT prospects in Alt and Fanashu. But knowing this is a 2-year build anyways, I target a solid RT prospect next year. This year, you'll have to slide pass-protect his way... just like I told everyone last off-season. Cut Pip next year. Why not try Salyer @RT next year...?

Pass rusher: The cap situation dictates that we cut/trade either Bosa or Mack. Mack saves you more ($23 million) even though he's more productive than the oft-injured Bosa. Tuli has shown that he is a quality NFL starter. I've been convinced by another poster that the only way to keep Mack is to extend him and hope he takes a dramatic cut in pay. Coming off of a career year, that will be a hard sell to Mack and his agent. How much could he return in trade to a team with lots of cap space and a dire need at pass rusher...? Bears... I'm looking your way. You could restructure Bosa if you think he'll hold up for the next 2 years. Big risk... but it's a desperate position we're in. Either way, a 3rd pass rusher should be taken in this draft. I wouldn't wait any longer than the 3rd round.

Receiver: The cap situation again deals us a blow here. It's either Keenan or MW getting cut or traded. My preference is extending Keenan and trading MW. Old-Man-Allen just finished up his best year ever. I don't buy the "He's Too Old" argument. I didn't buy it last year either. NFL offenses need a wise receiver to destroy their new-fangled zone pass concepts. There is no one better than Keenan. Herbert loves him. Joshua Palmer stepped up last year when the receiving group was devastated by injury. Solid #2 WR IMO. JP and KA are quality WR's that can get it done on short or mid-routes... JP occasionally gets behind a defense. The biggest question mark is Quentin Johnston. IMO, he was drafted as a development player with physical traits. He will need to be in the lineup in order to develop. He was forced into the lineup early when MW went down. The drops are an issue. But liked seeing Easton Stick getting him the ball deep. The physical traits are there... you don't give up on a 1st round pick after a half year. Why has the fastest player in the NFL run exactly zero deep routes. Does that make any sense at all...?

CB's: There is nothing in the shed. Vato is gone through free agency. ASJ is a good CB with zone capabilities. He doesn't have the physical traits for man-coverage. He's a bit sporadic in zone coverage... maybe the scheme change will help. But after him, there are no starting quality CB's. Ja'Sir and Leonard could be used in nickel and dime situations... where their assignments are reduced. With NFL defenses playing more and more nickel/dime... we have 1 starting quality CB... ONE! I hear all about the Front-7. Front-7 no longer exists. In the infrequent event that teams play with only 2 CB's... those CB's are exceptional at man-coverage. We... are not. Get the CB people. And get a really good one... settling for mid/late round talent @CB makes you the 30th NFL pass defense. Fantasize all you want about a "generational" TE... just don't be disappointed if your defense gives up another winning drive (and another late loss) when it happens.