2024 Chargers Draft Superthread - Prospect Discussion - Draft Has Started

[gzubeck]

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

Bowers or Odunze will be there at #8. Pick one and be happy. The question would be are we Happy with the trade.

[Lefty2SLO]

New sheriffs are headed to town. Its a new dawn, lets get up and go get it.

I cannot recall a good trade up, I remember many of those. Trading up is desperation, fear, lack of confidence and belief. you forgot Te’o, a guy way too too slow for the NFL that got completely destroyed and exposed in the Natty game, never mind his weird imaginary GF saga. and then there’s my personal all time favorite chargering trade-up, Jacob Fucking Hester. They traded up for Jacob Hester, smfh!

holy shit - you guys got me to use the term chargering. Fuck, i gotta get out of here!

It's too late for you . . . . . . . . . . .don't fight it - it only makes the pain worse!

[richpjr]

Daniel Jeremiah has us picking Odense:

[Boltjolt]

Jeremiahs mock a bit interesting. He has Kool Aid going 31 and his CB teamate going 12.

Says Arnold is the best CB in this draft.

I like Arnold but maybe now he isn't falling to our 2nd rounder lol.

Id be happy with,..... at #5 or 8....Bowers, Nabers, Odunze or Latu.

https://www.nfl.com/news/daniel-jeremiah-2024-nfl-mock-draft-1-0

[blueman]

Fleet would be happy.

[Leslie Grossman]

This one surprised me: but also screams to the importance of a balanced offense, and obviously most importantly defense.



15. Historic offense does not equal a title: The 49ers were an offensive juggernaut this year, averaging 6.61 yards per play, good for the seventh-best mark by any team in the Super Bowl era. But, did you know … none of the top 12 teams on this list won a Super Bowl!

[Boltnut]

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.

The only time TE's have gone Top-10 recently, they were Kyle Pitts and TJ Hockenson. Pitts went #4 overall... right behind Zach Wilson and Trey Lance (all consensus Top-10 picks). So forgive me if I'm skeptical about experts and their consensus picks. TJ Hokenson is probably the best young TE out there. But he didn't even make it to his 2nd contract before being traded. Pitts went before Ja'Marr Chase, Jaylen Waddle, Penei Sewell, Pat Surtain, Devonte Smith, Micah Parsons, and Rashawn Slater. Again, forgive me if I value OT/DE/CB/WR more.

I like Brock Bowers. But I like a number of OT/DE/CB/WR just as much. Because of all of the attention Brock Bowers was getting, I went and watched 8 or 9 Georgia games. I understand his "unique talents". I also understand that Kirby Smart's offense is loaded with talent across the whole offensive roster. They have the best OL in the nation IMO. They share the ball among offensive playmakers. Often, Bowers benefits from an offense as balanced as Georgia's. Often, he's left uncovered... not unlike Kelce in Reid's schemes. I watched Georgia vs Florida (a game Brock missed)... the offense put up 43 points.

In the SEC Championship game, Georgia only managed 24 points. Brock went for 53 yards...23 of those yards coming from the 1st play of the game. He wasn't dominant against a good defense (with a number of pro players... Turner and Kool-Aid). In fact Kool-Aid was a big part of why Alabama was able to limit Georgia's offense. Kool-Aid spent the day locking down the right side... as he often does. With the right side locked down, the Alabama defense was able to rotate their DB's to the left and condense passing lanes (and dedicate proper attention to Bowers). Kirby stayed away from Kool-Aid all day. Harbaugh did the same thing when Michigan played Alabama in the playoffs. Experts may not recognize Kool-Aid as Top-10... but Smart, Harbaugh, and Saban sure do. I trust in Jim, too.

Does Bowers still make my Top-10...? Yes. Because as you say... he is unique. But I see other unique players, too... whether writers see it or not. This is a great opportunity to trade back and capture an extra 3rd and 4th. Trade Mack and MW away for 3rd and 4th too. You can find starters in the 3rd... and good depth in the 4th. Are you telling me you wouldn't love three 3rd rounders and three 4th rounders.

BTW... the elite teams are running the football and playing championship level defense. The 2 best teams in football faced each other on Christmas. George Kittle went for 126 yards. Isaiah Likely went for 56 yards. Ravens dominated 33-19.

[Boltnut]

This one surprised me: but also screams to the importance of a balanced offense, and obviously most importantly defense.



15. Historic offense does not equal a title: The 49ers were an offensive juggernaut this year, averaging 6.61 yards per play, good for the seventh-best mark by any team in the Super Bowl era. But, did you know … none of the top 12 teams on this list won a Super Bowl!

Yeah, I posted this earlier. Every SB winner (in the last 10 years) has had a top-10 defense. The only exception is the Chiefs (16th best)... last year. Every SB winner for the last 20 years has had a top-10 defense. The other exception was NYG (the 2nd time they beat the Patriots) with the 21st defense. Of course their defense carried them through the playoffs and limited the Patriots to 17 points in the SB. And everybody remembers the Giants beating the 17-0 Patriots several years before that... limiting them to 14 points.

[Boltnut]

Jeremiahs mock a bit interesting. He has Kool Aid going 31 and his CB teamate going 12.

Says Arnold is the best CB in this draft.

I like Arnold but maybe now he isn't falling to our 2nd rounder lol.

Id be happy with,..... at #5 or 8....Bowers, Nabers, Odunze or Latu.

https://www.nfl.com/news/daniel-jere...mock-draft-1-0

Obviously he missed the games against Georgia, Michigan, and LSU.

[blueman]

Obviously he missed the games against Georgia, Michigan, and LSU.

O playmakers are at their very best making big splashy plays. CBs are at their best when their name is never called, cuz zero plays were made against them or even attempted, particularly in championship games were the best O players are on display.

No way Kool Aid is not the best CB coming out, if he’s the pick at #5 I’d be ecstatic and not look back (if we can get him with a slight trade down, even better).

[dmac_bolt]

The only time TE's have gone Top-10 recently, they were Kyle Pitts and TJ Hockenson. Pitts went #4 overall... right behind Zach Wilson and Trey Lance (all consensus Top-10 picks). So forgive me if I'm skeptical about experts and their consensus picks. TJ Hokenson is probably the best young TE out there. But he didn't even make it to his 2nd contract before being traded. Pitts went before Ja'Marr Chase, Jaylen Waddle, Penei Sewell, Pat Surtain, Devonte Smith, Micah Parsons, and Rashawn Slater. Again, forgive me if I value OT/DE/CB/WR more.

I like Brock Bowers. But I like a number of OT/DE/CB/WR just as much. Because of all of the attention Brock Bowers was getting, I went and watched 8 or 9 Georgia games. I understand his "unique talents". I also understand that Kirby Smart's offense is loaded with talent across the whole offensive roster. They have the best OL in the nation IMO. They share the ball among offensive playmakers. Often, Bowers benefits from an offense as balanced as Georgia's. Often, he's left uncovered... not unlike Kelce in Reid's schemes. I watched Georgia vs Florida (a game Brock missed)... the offense put up 43 points.

In the SEC Championship game, Georgia only managed 24 points. Brock went for 53 yards...23 of those yards coming from the 1st play of the game. He wasn't dominant against a good defense (with a number of pro players... Turner and Kool-Aid). In fact Kool-Aid was a big part of why Alabama was able to limit Georgia's offense. Kool-Aid spent the day locking down the right side... as he often does. With the right side locked down, the Alabama defense was able to rotate their DB's to the left and condense passing lanes (and dedicate proper attention to Bowers). Kirby stayed away from Kool-Aid all day. Harbaugh did the same thing when Michigan played Alabama in the playoffs. Experts may not recognize Kool-Aid as Top-10... but Smart, Harbaugh, and Saban sure do. I trust in Jim, too.

Does Bowers still make my Top-10...? Yes. Because as you say... he is unique. But I see other unique players, too... whether writers see it or not. This is a great opportunity to trade back and capture an extra 3rd and 4th. Trade Mack and MW away for 3rd and 4th too. You can find starters in the 3rd... and good depth in the 4th. Are you telling me you wouldn't love three 3rd rounders and three 4th rounders.

BTW... the elite teams are running the football and playing championship level defense. The 2 best teams in football faced each other on Christmas. George Kittle went for 126 yards. Isaiah Likely went for 56 yards. Ravens dominated 33-19.

Maybe you’re right, and I’m ok with a number of top players as I’ve posted many times. I’m also ok with trading back, all depends on the offer of course.

Pitt’s problem in retrospect, my opinion, is he’s not a complete grown up NFL TE. He came into the league as a tweener receiver / TE mismatch that could dominate in college but he’s not a good blocker. They didn’t use him as a pure TE in college, they used him as a tweener. NFL TEs that can’t block are half a player - maybe thats part of why he’s had such limited impact? I don’t know - I don’t watch ATL games. Someone else can break down his NFL experience. Bowers runs just as fast as Pitts (4.5 vs 4.4) buts much more complete and a pure TE that is prepared for NFL.

Bowers is unique - you could go pick a game Kelce didn’t do much in to “prove” he’s not effective. Cherry picking is not good analysis - look at Bowers overall production and numbers, watch him block and contribute on plays he’s not touching the ball. He’s complete, we have not had a complete TE in a long time, and even just looking at receiving he is faster and better than anyone we’ve had in decades.

I’m also down with Nabers, Odunze, of course MH2 who I expect is gone, etc. If Koolaid runs a 4.4 at the combine, I’d put him back into a Top 5 or so pick, absolutely. If he runs the currently reported 4.55+, naw. I think that lack of speed would get exposed at the next level.

One scout just rated his partner CB Arnold above him - the only attribute I see him better is speed and he’s the only one I saw do that. Ive seen other ratings with DeJean and Wiggins rated higher than Koolaid. You talk about GA having a great roster and offense , well Bama has a great defensive roster. Apply your same theory. GA didn’t match Koolaid against the opponent best receiver, they just leave him on one side. So he’s not even against the best receiver every play. Idunno - he’s a very good CB and I would welcome him if thats the decision.

[Boltnut]

O playmakers are at their very best making big splashy plays. CBs are at their best when their name is never called, cuz zero plays were made against them or even attempted, particularly in championship games were the best O players are on display.

No way Kool Aid is not the best CB coming out, if he’s the pick at #5 I’d be ecstatic and not look back (if we can get him with a slight trade down, even better).

100%. Sports writers are looking at highlight clips without context. One of my favorite examples is the 1-handed catch Bowers makes vs (Auburn?). No one realizes that catch didn't count (as Bowers lined up incorrectly) because of illegal formation. Does it take away the great catch? No. But no one notices Brock's brain fart on the same play.

Sports writers will look at Kool-Aid's 2023 highlight reel... and not see anything spectacular. Unless they watch every Alabama game... every play... they won't understand how Alabama's pass defense was transformed by Kool-Aid's contributions. They'll look at Terrion's 2023 highlight clips and see many more plays (ignoring his man v man weaknesses)... ignoring the fact that offenses went after him instead of Kool-Aid. Some will say, "I didn't see Kool-Aid vs elite WR's (like Nabers)"... without realizing that they did go against each other (10+ plays). Now, none of those plays showed up on either's highlight reel (as LSU stayed away from Kool-Aid)... but there is game tape of it happening.

I saw an ESPN mock that had Kool-Aid going to Arizona with the 59th pick! Ay-yay-yay... they had Terrion going 16th (or something).
Some people will go straight to the Alabama v LSU boxscore... and point out that Nabers had 10 catches for 171 yards (he did). But 0 of those yards came against Kool-Aid. All of those yards came against Terrion and the safeties.