2024 Chargers Draft Superthread - Prospect Discussion - Draft Has Started

[Fleet 1]

I am absolutely on board with Harrison or Nabers. But this guy is evolving fast. The work ethic it takes to produce the year he had over the year prior is just something else. It shows in his abilities. Not just because the QB had a big year. When i watch him i think of Herberts skillset. The vertical stuff. The need to be able to track on the outside shoulder. This guy has eyes on the back of his head. And he is the perfect Mike replacement. But much more complete.

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Odunze put up perhaps the most statistically dominant season by a wide receiver in college football this season. Along with his 1,640 yards that led the nation, he grabbed 13 touchdown passes and had 10 games of 100 or more yards. He teamed up with fellow receivers Ja'Lynn Polk and Jalen McMillan for the country's best trio.

Odunze thrived in advanced receiving metrics. He led the nation with 80% of his catches going for a first down or a touchdown. Odunze also led the FBS with 21 catches thrown more than 20 yards down the field, 10 of which were contested catches.

While Ohio State's Marvin Harrison Jr. is ahead of Odunze in nearly every draft projection, Odunze did rank ahead of him in key advanced statistical metrics, per ESPN Stats & Information. Odunze's 44% contested catch rate was tied for fifth among players with at least 40 contested targets, well ahead of Harrison's 32%. Odunze's 20 forced missed tackles were well ahead of Harrison's six.

Odunze acknowledged that being in the race for the draft's top wide receiver with players like Harrison and LSU's Malik Nabers is "awesome."

He added: "I think it's a real honor to be up there with some of those guys. All of us are going to be compared to one another, and it's not about tearing other guys down. It's about making yourself the best possible option and putting out the best possible numbers and statistics. Of course, I want to be the No. 1 wide receiver. I think I'm the best wide receiver in college football."

[dmac_bolt]

Nope. Need to add a weapon, IMHO the OL can be coached up plenty, talent is there.

I don’t see Alt or Fashanu as generational tackles. They are simply good. I’d be ok with either, but don’t see all pro in either of them. The OT class this year is flatter than usual - they don’t stand out that much from the next tier imo.

Bowes, Nabers, MHJ are different. Bowers is a generational TE, he has the best skillset of any TE in the league today and he’s a hungry power dog when he plays - the exact tone to change our culture. Nabers should be a bonafide star, official time is mid 4.4s but watch his tape and he plays faster and has an acceleration burst to create separation almost any time he needs it. He plays fast annd also strong, he’s complete. I’ve watched tape of him and Odunze. I think Odunze will be a very good player and a good pick in a trade down to 8 or 9 but Nabers has a quicker acceleration burst that we need. Odunze has long speed, but not the same acceleration. Or i think - still not sure. He is really good too, just 4th in my list of these 4.

MH2 will be a superstar, but I still expect AZ takes him to try and help save Murray after that crazy contract they gave him. If he was there, you take him. Otherwise I’m Bowers then Nabers.

These rare elite weapons have an elite talent difference that just makes more sense to me. We need some OL bodies, C in particular, but you don’t spend the #5 pick in the draft on a center. I agree OL was miscoached and poorly schemed and just a better staff will get better results from them.

[Boltnut]

Among the last 10 SB Winners, 70% were among top 5 scoring offenses. 90% were top 10. Only 1 ( 2015 Denver) was lower.
Any team without a top scoring O is seriously bucking the odds.

Based solely on best scoring O:
Bal, SF, Det, Buf win their next playoff games.

Among the last 10 SB winners, 0% were among the bottom 5 scoring defenses. 0% were among the bottom 10. Only 1 SB winner (2022 Chiefs) has been lower than a Top-10 defense.

Among the last 20 SB winners, 0% were among the bottom 10 scoring defenses. Only 1 has dropped below #20... the 2011 Giants. Of course, their defense came together at the end of the season and they beat the 3rd scoring offense (Patriots) with solid defense. An overwhelming 90% of SB winners have finished in the top-10 scoring defense.

We have been a bottom 10 scoring defense ever since Justin Herbert has been here.
We have drafted an offensive player in the 1st round the last 4 years...

[sonorajim]

I agree. I just don't think the OL is that bad. We do need a Center, but the rest are young and getting better.

Agree @ C. Could be an early draft pick or a vet FA, it's needed. Pipkins is usable, could be upgraded. OC and OL coach need to do a better job. The young OGs got lost too often. RB, TE pass pro wasn't much help.
Work is needed. Pass pro and run blocking have to get better.

[OG619FrightninLightnin]

To me Bowers is a no brainer because he addresses TWO significant needs.

Receiving AND blocking.

[Boltnut]

To me, trade back is a no-brainer.

You have a franchise QB. Protect him with a quality OL. Run the ball efficiently. Surround him with enough talent (does not have to be 1st round WR's and TE's). And build a Top-10 defense.

That takes multiple drafts and multiple players. I certainly wouldn't obsess over 1 player to bypass an opportunity to pick up extra draft picks. Especially if it's only a few spots back. IMO, there about 11 or 12 top players (with very little separation in overall talent). We have multiple needs at multiple positions. Top 10 picks have to be on premium positions (QB, OT, DE, CB, WR). Every other position can be addressed in the 2nd round or later... and 90% of the time are.

Brock Bowers is very good. But better than the other Top-10 players...? No. If another team believes he is... use that to your advantage. Trade back a few spots, still get a premium player... along with another pick. Build the whole roster. Not a single team gets a SB ring without a solid defense.

[dmac_bolt]

To me, trade back is a no-brainer.

You have a franchise QB. Protect him with a quality OL. Run the ball efficiently. Surround him with enough talent (does not have to be 1st round WR's and TE's). And build a Top-10 defense.

That takes multiple drafts and multiple players. I certainly wouldn't obsess over 1 player to bypass an opportunity to pick up extra draft picks. Especially if it's only a few spots back. IMO, there about 11 or 12 top players (with very little separation in overall talent). We have multiple needs at multiple positions. Top 10 picks have to be on premium positions (QB, OT, DE, CB, WR). Every other position can be addressed in the 2nd round or later... and 90% of the time are.

Brock Bowers is very good. But better than the other Top-10 players...? No. If another team believes he is... use that to your advantage. Trade back a few spots, still get a premium player... along with another pick. Build the whole roster. Not a single team gets a SB ring without a solid defense.

Brock is unique and would be a great pick at 5 if we don't trade back. I disagree - he is better than some names in the Top 10 list. I also disagree with an arbitrary stipulation that no TE is worth a #5 Bowers is not a consensus Top 5 pick because the entire community of experts is wrong. Noting they are sometimes/often wrong applies to every pick and every position - there is nothing uniquely wrong in their assessment of Bowers. Note they did not rate any TE last year in the Top 10, the first TE on their boards was usually very late teens and the rest fell into the 20s and beyond. Thats why everyone here though we should grab a TE at 21 - thats where we expected they could fall. And we were largely right. The universe of experts are not just a bunch of perpetually TE-obsessed boobs - Bowers really is unique and they all have identified how much different and better he is.

TE has become a critical position for elite teams - we do not have an elite TE. Everett is unsigned and will cost $$. He was average good as a receiver and sub-average as a blocker. Bowers is better at both and not just by a little. Bowers also is a warrior - a tone-setting bruiser that will help instill toughness in the team. Everett isnt that guy.

The strategic question is do the Chargers go for an elite player at 5 that they project will dominate, if yes they go Bowers, Nabers, etc.. Or do they trade to acquire more good but less elite players. the question is always trade back how far and get how much. I never say never, lets see the deal. I think the bigger question they have to answer first is what is their 2024 objective - manipulate roster and cap to win in 2024, maybe get into the playoffs; or do a wholesale rebuild and completely clean out the bad cap and roster decisions BS and TT selfishly made in their pathetic quest to save their jobs and start the complete transformation of Chargers to Jim's vision.

I trust in Jim - he knows how to build winners.

[Boltjolt]

To me, trade back is a no-brainer.

You have a franchise QB. Protect him with a quality OL. Run the ball efficiently. Surround him with enough talent (does not have to be 1st round WR's and TE's). And build a Top-10 defense.

That takes multiple drafts and multiple players. I certainly wouldn't obsess over 1 player to bypass an opportunity to pick up extra draft picks. Especially if it's only a few spots back. IMO, there about 11 or 12 top players (with very little separation in overall talent). We have multiple needs at multiple positions. Top 10 picks have to be on premium positions (QB, OT, DE, CB, WR). Every other position can be addressed in the 2nd round or later... and 90% of the time are.

Brock Bowers is very good. But better than the other Top-10 players...? No. If another team believes he is... use that to your advantage. Trade back a few spots, still get a premium player... along with another pick. Build the whole roster. Not a single team gets a SB ring without a solid defense.

Trade back to 8 and draft Bowers.

[Maniaque 6]

Bowers still there at 8 ?

[sonorajim]

To me, trade back is a no-brainer.

You have a franchise QB. Protect him with a quality OL. Run the ball efficiently. Surround him with enough talent (does not have to be 1st round WR's and TE's). And build a Top-10 defense.

That takes multiple drafts and multiple players. I certainly wouldn't obsess over 1 player to bypass an opportunity to pick up extra draft picks. Especially if it's only a few spots back. IMO, there about 11 or 12 top players (with very little separation in overall talent). We have multiple needs at multiple positions. Top 10 picks have to be on premium positions (QB, OT, DE, CB, WR). Every other position can be addressed in the 2nd round or later... and 90% of the time are.

Brock Bowers is very good. But better than the other Top-10 players...? No. If another team believes he is... use that to your advantage. Trade back a few spots, still get a premium player... along with another pick. Build the whole roster. Not a single team gets a SB ring without a solid defense.

Top 5 offense, average D wins SBs more often than not. At least recently.
Regards 2024 Chargers some choices have to be made. Obviously. We're not going to be the same O or D.
I'm inclined to emphasize our O strength, build that and give the D more bench time, dictate how opponents have to play offense.
On the other hand, we need the new coaches in place, letting the players know what is coming in LAC's clubhouse.

[sonorajim]

Bowers still there at 8 ?

Maybe. Don't count on it. Last year's TEs are making a difference and Bowers is a better player.

[blueman]

Top 5 offense, average D wins SBs more often than not. At least recently.
Regards 2024 Chargers some choices have to be made. Obviously. We're not going to be the same O or D.
I'm inclined to emphasize our O strength, build that and give the D more bench time, dictate how opponents have to play offense.
On the other hand, we need the new coaches in place, letting the players know what is coming in LAC's clubhouse.

Top 5 offense, average D loses SBs, all of them I would bet. Those top games are all about identifying the rare weaknesses and exploiting them better than the other guy exploits yours. Bowers, Nabers, Rome are all guys built to exploit weaknesses.