2024 Chargers Draft Superthread - Prospect Discussion - Draft Has Started

[Velo]

When you watch Kool-Aid game tape (forget highlight reels)... you'll notice that opposing coaches mostly stay away from him. That's big! The coaches know more about players than any "expert". When he does get opportunities, he plays his techniques extremely well... especially against those quick-hitting slants towards the middle.

I want to see his Combine 40 time before coming to a conclusion on Mr. Kool-Aid. I've read his time is like 4.6, which is too slow for a 1st rnd CB IMO.

[dmac_bolt]

When you watch Kool-Aid game tape (forget highlight reels)... you'll notice that opposing coaches mostly stay away from him. That's big! The coaches know more about players than any "expert". When he does get opportunities, he plays his techniques extremely well... especially against those quick-hitting slants towards the middle. Those routes will kill a defense... death by a thousand cuts. Receivers like Keenan and Davante will eat those schemes alive. Once those options are shut down, notice what Saban is able to do with the rest of his coverages. So many more options once you eliminate a portion of another team's arsenal. Saban uses Kool-Aid to shut down 1 side of the field. Then he is always able to roll extra protection to the other side. A big problem with zone schemes is they provide open spaces that can be attacked. Saban is allowed to condense those spaces when he only has to defend half of the field.

Along those lines (and to your next point)... redzone defenses become more effective against the pass because of the condensed field of play (the back line). That's where the DL and LB crew must be better. Able to read/react. Thump in the middle... and able to get out in the flats to cover RB's. Able to stay with crossing TE's and read/react to those damn illegal picks. On offense, you have to be able to run the football... and that means an effective offensive line. An offensive line that can power block and move bodies. It was one of my biggest critiques of Joe Lombardi... did not run the ball enough/effectively in the redzone.

Signing a top-tier CB is risky and expensive (see JCJ mistake). Drafting a top-tier CB means spending the draft capital. Sometimes you're lucky enough to find a top-tier CB in the mid/late 1st round... but the class has to be deep in elite CB's (like the last 2 or 3 years). Could have had Joey Porter Jr, Brian Branch, Trent McDuffie, or Tyson Campbell later in the 1st round. This year is not that year IMO. I wouldn't ignore the glaring problem any longer. I get the eye candy allure of Brock Bowers. But IMO, the offensive line is a much bigger concern for me. I think we have the talent (minus Pipkins)... I think we need a better OL coach and blocking scheme. Everyone talks about the complexity of the pass defense schemes... what about the blocking schemes...? What about the blitz protections..? What about route adjustments to account for disguised blitzes...? Work out that stuff... and I believe you help out Herbie exponentially. Shane Steichen figured it out in 2020 and Frank Smith had it figured out in 2021. Since then, it's been downhill for Herbie's development.

A top shut down CB is a great asset for a defense. If KoolAid runs in the 4.4’s, he’s got special skills. But I wouldn’t call Bowers eye candy though, he’s also the bread and butter of an effective well rounded offense that can both attack downfield and dominate LOS - a true all-around TE that is a superior run blocker and elite receiver faster than most defenders that will be assigned to cover him. If you want to be able to run and pass from the same formation/group, he’s a unique player to help do that. He is a more definitive upgrade to the offense than most ideas I see. Do we upgrade O or D … ???

[Velo]

Caleb Williams
Drake Maye
Michael Penix
Jayden Daniels
Bo Nix
JJ McCarthy
Quinn Ewers

There are a lot of QB needy teams in the NFL in this draft. If there is a run on QBs at the top of the draft, the Chargers could be the beneficiary of a generous offer for their top 10 pick. I'm an advocate of trading down to acquire more value picks in the 2nd and 3rd rounds, picks in this year's draft in the value rounds. So often day two picks turn out to be better than 1st round picks. The Chargers have the big things in place, they need quality players to fill out the roster, the kind of players you find in these rounds. I'd like to see the Chargers keep trading down out of the first round to pick up 2 extra picks each in rounds 2-4. I don't know if it's possible, but think of how they could transform the roster in one draft if they had 9 picks in rounds 2-4.

[dmac_bolt]

Caleb Williams
Drake Maye
Michael Penix
Jayden Daniels
Bo Nix
JJ McCarthy
Quinn Ewers

There are a lot of QB needy teams in the NFL in this draft. If there is a run on QBs at the top of the draft, the Chargers could be the beneficiary of a generous offer for their top 10 pick. I'm an advocate of trading down to acquire more value picks in the 2nd and 3rd rounds, picks in this year's draft in the value rounds. So often day two picks turn out to be better than 1st round picks. The Chargers have the big things in place, they need quality players to fill out the roster, the kind of players you find in these rounds. I'd like to see the Chargers keep trading down out of the first round to pick up 2 extra picks each in rounds 2-4. I don't know if it's possible, but think of how they could transform the roster in one draft if they had 9 picks in rounds 2-4.

If the offer is plump, I’m listening. See how it unfolds … I want not just day 2 picks but next year’s #1 thrown in - QBs are that important to the trade-up partner. Then we sit and hope their trade-up overpay fails and impacts their 2024 season and we’re sitting on a top 7 pick on top of our 32nd pick

[Leslie Grossman]

11 vs 11 but I knew what you meant

Basketball only has 12 or 15 players in the entire team. Hec I'm not sure which. I'm not a basketball fan.

11 on O
11 on D
22 against 22
plus special teams

[Velo]

If the offer is plump, I’m listening. See how it unfolds … I want not just day 2 picks but next year’s #1 thrown in - QBs are that important to the trade-up partner. Then we sit and hope their trade-up overpay fails and impacts their 2024 season and we’re sitting on a top 7 pick on top of our 32nd pick

I think the Chargers need to draft two RBs, two CBs, a speed WR, a TE, an OT, a C, a S, and an IDL in this draft, who can either start or be significant contributors as rookies. We are going to find these guys in rounds 2-4.

An option to drafting a TE in one of these rounds is to bring back Hunter Henry, he can probably be had for a $14 mil two year contract. HH was a significant contributor to JH's rookie success. It would be nice to have him back for a couple of seasons in the twilight of his career.

[Boltjolt]

11 on O
11 on D
22 against 22
plus special teams

Then why wouldnt basketball be 10 against 10? lol

Technically Its 11 on O vs 11 on D. and vice versa. Its 22 total, not 22 vs 22.

In practice its called the 7 on 7 drill....no DL or OL. DBs and LBs against QB , 2 RBs, 1 or 2 TE depending on your scheme and 2 or 3 WRs. Its a passing drill. So no it isnt 22 vs 22...and frankly ive never heard it that way.

[Boltjolt]

Since Mark Andrews, an All-Pro tight end drafted in the fourth round, went down to injury, the Ravens have replaced him with Isaiah Likely, another fourth-round pick. In the last five games Likely has caught 22 passes for 282 yards and five touchdowns.

Maybe Bowers is the "generational talent" so many on here are claiming him to be. I doubt it, though. The last "generational tight end" was Kyle Pitts, who this season has only 21 more receptions and two fewer touchdowns than Likely, who was the #2 tight end in the Ravens' offense before Andrews went down to injury in Week 12.

Pitts has been very underutilized since Arthur Smith got there. I didnt consider him a generational TE. He isnt a great blocker but a willing blocker and maybe why Smith doesnt use him as much as he likes to run the ball,...but IDK why he doesnt use him as much. He had a good statistical rookie season.
He was compared to bigger WRs than other TEs. I wont even say Bowers is a generational TE, but he is very good and brings many things to the TE possition we dont have now. Speed and better blocking, YAC ability.

[sonorajim]

I think the Chargers need to draft two RBs, two CBs, a speed WR, a TE, an OT, a C, a S, and an IDL in this draft, who can either start or be significant contributors as rookies. We are going to find these guys in rounds 2-4.

An option to drafting a TE in one of these rounds is to bring back Hunter Henry, he can probably be had for a $14 mil two year contract. HH was a significant contributor to JH's rookie success. It would be nice to have him back for a couple of seasons in the twilight of his career.

Draft "a TE" isn't very appealing Generational TE talent Bowers, yes. A top 1st rd OT, yes. Other guys, meh.
CB, Center, IDL by rd 5.

[sonorajim]

Caleb Williams
Drake Maye
Michael Penix
Jayden Daniels
Bo Nix
JJ McCarthy
Quinn Ewers

There are a lot of QB needy teams in the NFL in this draft. If there is a run on QBs at the top of the draft, the Chargers could be the beneficiary of a generous offer for their top 10 pick. I'm an advocate of trading down to acquire more value picks in the 2nd and 3rd rounds, picks in this year's draft in the value rounds. So often day two picks turn out to be better than 1st round picks. The Chargers have the big things in place, they need quality players to fill out the roster, the kind of players you find in these rounds. I'd like to see the Chargers keep trading down out of the first round to pick up 2 extra picks each in rounds 2-4. I don't know if it's possible, but think of how they could transform the roster in one draft if they had 9 picks in rounds 2-4.

Overpay me. F the trade value chart. Make me WANT what you're offering. We can talk. Throw on a quality vet C, CB, DT, RB?
Otherwise I really like the talent available at pick 6-7.

[wu-dai clan]

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!!?

Gimme the Big Bad Thumper wit schpeeeed !

[CanadianBoltFan]

I want to see his Combine 40 time before coming to a conclusion on Mr. Kool-Aid. I've read his time is like 4.6, which is too slow for a 1st rnd CB IMO.

Kool -Aid is a significant reach at the 6th pick. No thanks

Besides there are good CBs in every single draft. At 6 you take an impact player, a game changer