2024 Chargers Draft Superthread - Prospect Discussion - Draft Has Started

[dmac_bolt]

We want a better team. The weapon@TE might not even get used much with Keenan on the same field.
Justin Herbert had his best year statistically with Lombardi @OC and Jared Cook @TE. Of course, that was also the year we could run the ball.

We can moan and complain all we want that we drafted QJ instead of Sam LaPorta last year. But we got QJ. He's on the team.
Who is to say that he won't develop...? Maybe they'll start using him correctly. Maybe he'll start hitting the Juggs machine...
He'll never develop sitting on the bench (or as a 4th option)... that for sure.

I liked Jake Ferguson and Dalton Shultz... I feel that there are some 4th-round sleepers in this draft @TE.
I just see CB, DE, and OT as much bigger needs.
How long must we endure bad defense? How long must we endure bad run/pass blocking?

While everyone is searching for unicorns... I'm simply trying to make the team better overall.
I put Bowers in my top-10. But I find 5 or 6 others that make this team better overall.

TJ Hockenson was drafted @#8. He never even made it to the 4th year of his contract before being traded. Statistically he's better than almost every other TE in the NFL (95 receptions this year). Yet, the team that traded him away (Lions) are in the playoffs... and the team he was dealt to (Vikings) are not.

Build a team. Ignore the hype.

The bonus of Brock is he is instantly the best blocking TE on the team. He will always have a use, even on Keenan plays.

[Boltnut]

The bonus of Brock is he is instantly the best blocking TE on the team. He will always have a use, even on Keenan plays.

I completely understand. But... the Steelers made the playoffs with Kenny Picket and Mason Rudolf as their QB's. Their best TE was Pat Freiermuth (32 catches). They made it while playing in the toughest division in football. They made it playing defense. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers just beat the Eagles (and their 30th scoring defense) with Baker Mayfield at QB and Cade Otten as their TE. They won that game with defense.

Defense matters... it just does. We've spent the last 4 years' first-round picks on an offensive player.
Go get the boring defensive player for once.

[Boltjolt]

We want a better team. The weapon@TE might not even get used much with Keenan on the same field.
Justin Herbert had his best year statistically with Lombardi @OC and Jared Cook @TE. Of course, that was also the year we could run the ball.

We can moan and complain all we want that we drafted QJ instead of Sam LaPorta last year. But we got QJ. He's on the team.
Who is to say that he won't develop...? Maybe they'll start using him correctly. Maybe he'll start hitting the Juggs machine...
He'll never develop sitting on the bench (or as a 4th option)... that for sure.

I liked Jake Ferguson and Dalton Shultz... I feel that there are some 4th-round sleepers in this draft @TE.
I just see CB, DE, and OT as much bigger needs.
How long must we endure bad defense? How long must we endure bad run/pass blocking?

While everyone is searching for unicorns... I'm simply trying to make the team better overall.
I put Bowers in my top-10. But I find 5 or 6 others that make this team better overall.

TJ Hockenson was drafted @#8. He never even made it to the 4th year of his contract before being traded. Statistically he's better than almost every other TE in the NFL (95 receptions this year). Yet, the team that traded him away (Lions) are in the playoffs... and the team he was dealt to (Vikings) are not.

Build a team. Ignore the hype.

Pretty sure Detroit wouldn't be either had they lost Goff week 8 like the Vikes did with Cousins. We can play this all day though Bridgewater is a little better than Dodds and Mullins.

So I guess a better team is Everett at TE and Kool Aid at CB? Not buying that either. We need better players all over. TE is a very needy one. We can make a case at several positions for our first rounder and they all would make us better.

[Boltnut]

If we get Harbaugh as HC, don't be surprised if he wants defensive players. His time at SF:

2011: @#7 DE Aldon Smith
2012: @#30 WR AJ Jenkins (bust)
2013: @#18 S Eric Reid
2014: @#30 DB Jimmie Ward

And his teams @Michigan were known for their defense.

[DerwinBosa]

He hardly touched the ball at Georgia. Not sure he proved anything. He's a big guy, but skill wise is very much up in the air. Which is why he is a 3rd stringer.

As the #2 tight end in Georgia's offense, he caught 28 passes for 454 yards (16.2 yards a catch) and two touchdowns during his last year in college. I don't want to trade for him, but that's a lot more than hardly touching the ball.

[AK47]

If we get Harbaugh as HC, don't be surprised if he wants defensive players. His time at SF:

2011: @#7 DE Aldon Smith
2012: @#30 WR AJ Jenkins (bust)
2013: @#18 S Eric Reid
2014: @#30 DB Jimmie Ward

And his teams @Michigan were known for their defense.

His 49ers offense would grind you up. He had a prime Frank Gore at RB built for downhill running in the playoffs behind Pro-Bowler Joe Staley and All-Pro Mike Iupati at his disposal.

I see him using savvy draft capitol to get a bruising RB later and OL talent early.

[Boltnut]

Pretty sure Detroit wouldn't be either had they lost Goff week 8 like the Vikes did with Cousins. We can play this all day though Bridgewater is a little better than Dodds and Mullins.

So I guess a better team is Everett at TE and Kool Aid at CB? Not buying that either. We need better players all over. TE is a very needy one. We can make a case at several positions for our first rounder and they all would make us better.

Goff was dogshit before he got behind Detroit's OL. OT is much more important to an offense than TE. Detroit learned. That's why they drafted Penei @#7 and LaPorta in the 2nd round.

Everett was good enough... probably better than half the TE's still left in the playoffs. Justin rarely looked his away... even when he was wide open. We have offensive weapons as good (if not better) than half the playoff teams left. What we don't have is a functioning OL or a defense. I see 2 OT's, a CB, 3 DE's, and 3 WR's that will help our team more than TE. It doesn't have to be Kool-Aid. It does have to be a premium position @#5 though.

Even the center position is more important than TE. I'd draft a center in Round 2. Harbaugh will want DT and LB too. He had exceptional talent there in SF and Michigan. Again, more important than TE. I would hope for a trade back in order to get an additional 3rd round pick to get Harbaugh's DT and LB.

With so many needs... you have to recognize that TE@#5 is not a good team building strategy... Get a TE in FA (Dalton Shultz cost $6.2 million last year). Draft another in the 4th round.

[Boltnut]

His 49ers offense would grind you up. He had a prime Frank Gore at RB built for downhill running in the playoffs behind Pro-Bowler Joe Staley and All-Pro Mike Iupati at his disposal.

I see him using savvy draft capitol to get a bruising RB later and OL talent early.

Absolutely would endorse that strategy! Trenches4Life. Look at his DL and LB's... other-worldly.

[Boltjolt]

Goff was dogshit before he got behind Detroit's OL. OT is much more important to an offense than TE. Detroit learned. That's why they drafted Penei @#7 and LaPorta in the 2nd round.

Everett was good enough... probably better than half the TE's still left in the playoffs. Justin rarely looked his away... even when he was wide open. We have offensive weapons as good (if not better) than half the playoff teams left. What we don't have is a functioning OL or a defense. I see 2 OT's, a CB, 3 DE's, and 3 WR's that will help our team more than TE. It doesn't have to be Kool-Aid. It does have to be a premium position @#5 though.

Even the center position is more important than TE. I'd draft a center in Round 2. Harbaugh will want DT and LB too. He had exceptional talent there in SF and Michigan. Again, more important than TE. I would hope for a trade back in order to get an additional 3rd round pick to get Harbaugh's DT and LB.

With so many needs... you have to recognize that TE@#5 is not a good team building strategy... Get a TE in FA (Dalton Shultz cost $6.2 million last year). Draft another in the 4th round.

Doesn't change the issue that had Goff gone out in week 8, they probably don't make the playoffs either.

Everett is average at best. With a lot better TE Herb will look his way. It's no accident he looks Keenans way. If Kelce retires( hypothetically )this year, will Mahomes look at the lessor TE as often? It's why QJ didn't get many targets.

And To play the game.....we can probably sign Levi Wallace for 2 years 9 million which is a bit more than the 2 years 8 mil he signed in 2022. Draft a CB round 2 or 3.

There are many ways to build a team. I keep hearing Herbert is the most important guy to get better players for.

[Boltnut]

As the #2 tight end in Georgia's offense, he caught 28 passes for 454 yards (16.2 yards a catch) and two touchdowns during his last year in college. I don't want to trade for him, but that's a lot more than hardly touching the ball.

I encourage everyone to go watch Georgia football games in their entirety. You can simply google it people. Kirby was a guy that had great OL's. You wouldn't believe the OL talent sitting on the bench. His TE's are physical. Washington was used primarily as a blocker. He has the same thing this year @TE in Oscar Delp.

What you'll see is that he has talent all over the offense. Very good WR's. Very good RB's. Guys that can do multiple things in multiple formations. Motion... shifts... run blocking schemes... pass protections... his playcalling is everything we dreamed Kellen Moore would do. Results... the defense can not concentrate on any one offensive player. If you do... they will eat you alive! The only defense that slowed them down was Alabama.

Brock Bowers would get schemed wide open multiple times a game... other times, the defense was so spread out, my grandma could push her walker into space. I'm not saying that Brock Bowers is ordinary. He is a very good blocker. He is fast for a TE. He is good after the catch and will pick up YAC. Most of the time he has good hands. His route running is nothing special, but solid. IMO, his best attribute is finding open space and his football IQ.

Having said that, Georgia's offense didn't skip a beat when he was out injured. The whole offense is just so good. OL went down too... didn't miss a beat. While you're watching Georgia's game tape... make sure to watch the SEC Championship game against Alabama. You'll see a much different offense. One that doesn't create as much space as usual. Brock only has 53 yards receiving in that game. IIRC, he gets about half of that yardage on an early reception. Then doesn't do much the rest of the game. Ask yourself why...

[DerwinBosa]

We want a better team. The weapon@TE might not even get used much with Keenan on the same field.
Justin Herbert had his best year statistically with Lombardi @OC and Jared Cook @TE. Of course, that was also the year we could run the ball.

We can moan and complain all we want that we drafted QJ instead of Sam LaPorta last year. But we got QJ. He's on the team.
Who is to say that he won't develop...? Maybe they'll start using him correctly. Maybe he'll start hitting the Juggs machine...
He'll never develop sitting on the bench (or as a 4th option)... that for sure.

I liked Jake Ferguson and Dalton Shultz... I feel that there are some 4th-round sleepers in this draft @TE.
I just see CB, DE, and OT as much bigger needs.
How long must we endure bad defense? How long must we endure bad run/pass blocking?

While everyone is searching for unicorns... I'm simply trying to make the team better overall.
I put Bowers in my top-10. But I find 5 or 6 others that make this team better overall.

TJ Hockenson was drafted @#8. He never even made it to the 4th year of his contract before being traded. Statistically he's better than almost every other TE in the NFL (95 receptions this year). Yet, the team that traded him away (Lions) are in the playoffs... and the team he was dealt to (Vikings) are not.

Build a team. Ignore the hype.

Too many intriguing prospects at more important positions to pass on for Brock Bowers at the fifth overall pick, in my opinion. Jake Ferguson caught 71 passes for 761 yards and five touchdowns this season. He was drafted in the fourth round. Schultz caught 59 passes for 635 yards and five touchdowns this season. He was also drafted in the fourth round. There are many more examples of mid-round tight ends being that productive, and Herbert can do more than fine with one of them.

This team can't win with Tuli as the only viable pass-rusher once Mack and Bosa are done--or the ugly situations we have at defensive tackle and cornerback. We also need to figure out what we're going to do at right tackle, so if the new front office and coaching staff think taking an offensive tackle with the fifth overall pick is the answer, I'm all for it.

[CanadianBoltFan]

I completely understand. But... the Steelers made the playoffs with Kenny Picket and Mason Rudolf as their QB's. Their best TE was Pat Freiermuth (32 catches). They made it while playing in the toughest division in football. They made it playing defense. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers just beat the Eagles (and their 30th scoring defense) with Baker Mayfield at QB and Cade Otten as their TE. They won that game with defense.

Defense matters... it just does. We've spent the last 4 years' first-round picks on an offensive player.
Go get the boring defensive player for once.

The Steelers made it unexpectedly and never had a hope of winning a playoff game.

Lets worry about the defense after we maximize the most talented player this franchise has ever had, the one that will soon be paid 52 million dollars a year and can win more games than any defensive player with the right weapons