2024 Chargers Draft Superthread - Prospect Discussion - Draft Has Started

[richpjr]

Along the OL. We know how good Slater and Linsley are/were. Both earned a Pro Bowl start at one point in their career. I know that Zion is good @LG. His sophmore tape @BC is remarkable. I have no doubt he will be good once someone develops him properly. Salyer did an amazing job (@LT no less) when Slater went down. Pip is Pip. I'd let Salyer have a shot @RT. In the end, your OC and OL coach have to do a better job of teaching. Throw the complicated blocking schemes in the trash. Let these guys play. I have my doubts that the Spanii can land Harbaugh... but if they can, I'd love to see some of his Michigan players in powder blues. I think he'd build a better defense and pay more attention to the trenches.

Upgrading the offensive line coach with someone other than Nugent and I suspect Johnson and Salyer show marked improvement. Clearly we need a center. Pip is a mediocre to at best average at RT that could be upgraded, but at the expense of plugging other, bigger holes on the roster.

[QuiteFrankly]

I read this on a mock-draft site:

"On paper, the Chargers have one of the more impressive wide receiver groups in the league. But Keenan Allen and Mike Williams are both aging players who have struggled with injuries,
and also happen to carry two of the biggest cap numbers at their position for next season. Nabers is a big-play machine who would pair well with 2023 first-rounder Quentin Johnston."

Quentin Johnston? Jezzus...he is a bust. Dump him. Along with Ekeler.

No receivers. The guys we have can do the job. A superstar would be nice...but we seem to have no luck in that area.

Possibly take some chances on some of those smaller unknown guys that can run a 4.3 or 4.2 and catch the ball like they have flypaper on their hands.

Pass rusher.

I like that running back from Michigan...Corum.....just do...I think he can be productive.

[Boltnut]

Upgrading the offensive line coach with someone other than Nugent and I suspect Johnson and Salter show marked improvement. Clearly we need a center. Pip is a mediocre to at best average at RT that could be upgraded, but at the expense of plugging other, bigger holes on the roster.

I said this, before Pipkins was re-signed... we have a RT already. His name is Jamaree Salyer. Jamaree struggled mightily @RG. He did a surprisingly good job @LT when Slater went down. Getting a better OL coach is paramount. If you can find a quality RG in the draft, you can save your higher draft picks for premium players at premium positions (DE/CB). We will need a quality center and need to rebuild the IDL position.

[Boltnut]

I read this on a mock-draft site:

"On paper, the Chargers have one of the more impressive wide receiver groups in the league. But Keenan Allen and Mike Williams are both aging players who have struggled with injuries,
and also happen to carry two of the biggest cap numbers at their position for next season. Nabers is a big-play machine who would pair well with 2023 first-rounder Quentin Johnston."

Quentin Johnston? Jezzus...he is a bust. Dump him. Along with Ekeler.

No receivers. The guys we have can do the job. A superstar would be nice...but we seem to have no luck in that area.

Possibly take some chances on some of those smaller unknown guys that can run a 4.3 or 4.2 and catch the ball like they have flypaper on their hands.

Pass rusher.

I like that running back from Michigan...Corum.....just do...I think he can be productive.

The biggest cap numbers exist @WR and DE (you are exactly correct). 2 of the 4 will have to go. Those 2 should be traded for what you can get... it's a re-build and it won't be completely accomplished in one draft (no matter how many draft picks you pick up via trade or moving back in the draft).

Keenan may be aging, but he stays at an elite level. Money can be saved by extending him. IMO, Mike Williams is the one you move via trade. You can't dump QJ... he can be developed. Use him correctly (vertically) to give others room underneath. If we want to utilize JH's arm strength, we have to have a deep target... as you point out, MW is frequently injured. It's the nature of his physical play.

Mack was by far the most productive player on defense. At times, he was the only productive player on defense. Problem is... his contract is structured so that he was a 2-year signing. His advocate (Staley) is gone. He may fetch the best trade value of the Big Four. As frustrating as Joey Bosa's play (injuries) have been, the contract structure shows that he was meant to be on the roster for 2024. While extending Keenan seems wise, extending Joey does not... but his remaining 2 years can be restructured to save some cap room in 2024.

[blueman]

I said this, before Pipkins was re-signed... we have a RT already. His name is Jamaree Salyer. Jamaree struggled mightily @RG. He did a surprisingly good job @LT when Slater went down. Getting a better OL coach is paramount. If you can find a quality RG in the draft, you can save your higher draft picks for premium players at premium positions (DE/CB). We will need a quality center and need to rebuild the IDL position.

Agree about Salyer. Hey, can Pip play OG?

[sonorajim]

I said this, before Pipkins was re-signed... we have a RT already. His name is Jamaree Salyer. Jamaree struggled mightily @RG. He did a surprisingly good job @LT when Slater went down. Getting a better OL coach is paramount. If you can find a quality RG in the draft, you can save your higher draft picks for premium players at premium positions (DE/CB). We will need a quality center and need to rebuild the IDL position.

Salyer did a commendable job at LT. Pip at RT helped. Pip, who was an improvement over Norton, nothing special, drew the best rushers.
Salyer is strong and smart. Quick to adjust, not so much. If we can get a long armed, long legged OT that can dance? They're rare and valuable. Definitely a difficult pass. I'm not in the crowd that believes one good OT is plenty.
For that matter, IOL, LG-C-RG are also very important.
I want our new HC and staff in place to set priorities when draft and FA are decided. We're in too good a spot (#5) in a good draft. Choices have to fit.
I like the O players at 5 but a trade down and D might make me happy in the long run. Eventually.

[QuiteFrankly]

Talking about receivers...look at the KC game last nite...the guy was drafted in the 2nd round

"Rashee Rice is a ball-winner. Though he isn't quite a giant at 6'2" and 203 pounds, he plays with great strength and fascinating coordination both in his upper and lower body."

He was the 55th overall pick.

To me...the ideal size and speed and overall. Back to my argument...don't need "Mile Williams" or Quentin Johnston type receivers.... I am more impressed if they can just catch the ball under pressure. And of course an accurate QB helps a lot.

Marvin Harrison? Not needed.

[Boltnut]

Salyer did a commendable job at LT. Pip at RT helped. Pip, who was an improvement over Norton, nothing special, drew the best rushers.
Salyer is strong and smart. Quick to adjust, not so much. If we can get a long armed, long legged OT that can dance? They're rare and valuable. Definitely a difficult pass. I'm not in the crowd that believes one good OT is plenty.
For that matter, IOL, LG-C-RG are also very important.
I want our new HC and staff in place to set priorities when draft and FA are decided. We're in too good a spot (#5) in a good draft. Choices have to fit.
I like the O players at 5 but a trade down and D might make me happy in the long run. Eventually.

If you go back and watch 2022, after Slater went down, you'll see that the pass protection slid Salyers way most of the time. As the season went on, and Salyer began to prove himself, the protection started rolling Pipkins way. Pipkins had his best year... but a lot of that must be attributed to the extra help Pipkins was getting.

If you go back to 2020, when Steichen was letting JH go vertical more, you'll see that Sam Tevi was getting protection rolled his way. Bryan Bulaga was @RT that year. If you have an OT that is sub-par, you almost always need help that direction... especially when you ask your QB/WR to go vertical.

But the most interesting year to look at is 2021. Herbert threw for over 5,000 yards and had 38 TD tosses (both career bests)... even though Lombardi was the OC and tended towards a horizontal passing attack... rather than Steichen's vertical attack philosophy. The biggest difference was their effectiveness running the ball under Frank Smith (his only year with the Chargers).

Teams can use different personnel and different philosophies. But if they want to be truly effective, their run/pass blocking schemes better be top-notch. The OL coach is under-recognized IMO. Remember how great the Patriots were with Scar as their OL coach... and how terrible they were without him...?

[Boltnut]

Talking about receivers...look at the KC game last nite...the guy was drafted in the 2nd round

"Rashee Rice is a ball-winner. Though he isn't quite a giant at 6'2" and 203 pounds, he plays with great strength and fascinating coordination both in his upper and lower body."

He was the 55th overall pick.

To me...the ideal size and speed and overall. Back to my argument...don't need "Mile Williams" or Quentin Johnston type receivers.... I am more impressed if they can just catch the ball under pressure. And of course an accurate QB helps a lot.

Marvin Harrison? Not needed.

We can talk about WR's all we want... but the most impressive part of KC's win was that they held Miami's offense (with all of it's offensive playmakers) to 7 points last night. Don't look now... but KC's defense is stout with Bolton back. KC has been stacking defensive players the last few drafts.

[sonorajim]

We can talk about WR's all we want... but the most impressive part of KC's win was that they held Miami's offense (with all of it's offensive playmakers) to 7 points last night. Don't look now... but KC's defense is stout with Bolton back. KC has been stacking defensive players the last few drafts.

KC won primarily with D.. and cold. Mia was WAY out of their element.
That aside, KC's D is their best in recent years.
"Defense wins Championships"..Or so they say.
KC has already proven that Offense does. Repeatedly. Why be one sided?

[NOrvMeNow]

I said this, before Pipkins was re-signed... we have a RT already. His name is Jamaree Salyer. Jamaree struggled mightily @RG. He did a surprisingly good job @LT when Slater went down. Getting a better OL coach is paramount. If you can find a quality RG in the draft, you can save your higher draft picks for premium players at premium positions (DE/CB). We will need a quality center and need to rebuild the IDL position.

If the plan is to move Salyer to RT, i'd be fine with that.

It should be easier to get a good guard through the draft or free agency.
Maybe, McFadden is a keeper.

Baltimore just drafts guys that fall.

In retrospect, Tyler Lindbaum should have been the Charger choice over Zion Johnson.
I was curious if he could play guard for a year or two before moving to center.

[Boltnut]

If the plan is to move Salyer to RT, i'd be fine with that.

It should be easier to get a good guard through the draft or free agency.
Maybe, McFadden is a keeper.

Baltimore just drafts guys that fall.

In retrospect, Tyler Lindbaum should have been the Charger choice over Zion Johnson.
I was curious if he could play guard for a year or two before moving to center.

Very good take!