2024 Chargers Draft Superthread - Prospect Discussion - Draft Has Started

[dmac_bolt]

1) Nabers, Odunze, Brock, Fuaga, Latu, Dallas Turner, Verse, Jer'Zhan, Byron Murphy, Kool Aid, Terrion Arnold, Jackson Powers Johnson, Cooper DeJean, Bralen Trice, Kamari Lassiter

2) Ladd McConkey, Kris Jenkins, T'Vondre Sweat, Junior Colson, Sedrick Van Pran Granger, Cooper Beebe, Blake Corum, Trey Benson, Jonathan Brooks

3) Cade Stover, Mike Sainristil, Audric Estime, Zak Zinter, Mar'Keise Irving, Braelon Allen, Cedric Gray, Cole Bishop

4) Ray Davis, Ty'Ron Hopper, Ben Sinnott, Gabe Hall
5) Joe Milton, Dillon Johnson, Dallin Holker
6) AJ Barner, Frank Gore Jr., Brevyn Spann Ford, Miyan Williams
7) Daijan Edwards, Eric Gentry, Cody Simon, Keilan Robinson

SB reports are all saying JPJ is dominating the day every day. One observer was unsure if he’s even lost a single 1x1 all week. That’d be a trade-back only though, nobody takes C at 5.

[Topcat]

What I see @5-13 are players that play their positions at a high level. Whether that is TE, OT, EDGE, or CB.
I've watched all of them... multiple times, multiple games. The only exception is Quinyon Mitchell... but I'll guarantee you, I'll find some game tape before the draft. Now, I know you guys like your "experts". But experts miss all the time. They are rarely any better than you or I. Most of their rankings are based on inside chatter... which may be real or fake. But tape is tape. Anyone can watch it. Anyone can interpret it the way they see fit.

I'll give you a couple of examples... one expert and one player evaluation.

I love to tell a story about Daniel Jeremiah. Everybody loves DJ. But I met DJ when I was 16 years old. I played HS football at the high school that DJ's father was the school's chaplain (Christian HS in El Cajon). DJ was only 5 years old at the time. But you could already see that he thought pretty highly of himself. Maybe it was the status of being the preacher's kid at a private religious school... IDK. But everyday, while old Nutty was bleeding on the practice field, you could hear this little snot-nosed kid bragging to his friends about football this and football that. Yet, even then he knew 1/100th about what he was talking about. Now I'm sure he's learned a lot since then. But are we 100% sure that we don't know as much as him... what if his confidence is what he gets by on...? I can't help seeing that little snot-nosed know-it-all everytime I read something he writes...

A few years ago, I got into an un-winable debate about Louis Nix vs David Andrews. I think it was with a reputable poster named Kemp. I argued that taking Nix was a huge risk as he was coming off of a knee injury. I was also going on about how I thought David Andrews could be a year-1 starter. Kemp went on-and-on about the experts. Andrews is projected in the 6th round... Nix is projected late 1st/early 2nd. How could all the experts be so wrong...? he'd say. I'd tell him, well I just like his tape... I like his traits... Well, you can imagine how it went when David Andrews went undrafted... Now I don't think David Andrews has been elected to any Pro Bowls... but he's exactly the player I thought he'd be. Solid player that makes a team stronger.

I can tell you exactly why I like certain players. And I'm fine if no one agrees with me. We've all been right/wrong about players. But "there are no defensive players that are worth a top-8 or top-10 pick"...? Nah, I don't believe that. You like your 1 guy...? Fine. But don't discount others just to build an argument.

And for the record... I'm not a Kool-Aid Only guy. I put him in the top-12 (with others)... Brock Bowers is there too, BTW. I'm more of a "Our team has so many needs we should trade back" guy. You want to tell me Nabers is top-10 and Kool-Aid is the 3rd or 4th best CB...? Fine... but I've watched tape that suggests otherwise.

How Kool would that be if we traded down to #8 with the Falcons and Kool-Aid is right there! Grab him, then address O-line with our EXTRA round 2-3 picks...we absolutely need a lock-down corner, and the good ones are usually gone by mid-round 1...

[Boltnut]

How Kool would that be if we traded down to #8 with the Falcons and Kool-Aid is right there! Grab him, then address O-line with our EXTRA round 2-3 picks...we absolutely need a lock-down corner, and the good ones are usually gone by mid-round 1...

Trading to #10 gets you a 3rd and two 4th's.
A center in the 2nd. Jim's boy (Zac Zinter) is mocking in the 4th round. I don't know where he'll actually go. But if you get a guy that is familiar with the scheme... maybe immediate starter and move Jamaree out to RT. O-line could be solid for years to come.
And you still have picks to address defense... with a lock-down corner already in your pocket.

[CanadianBoltFan]

How Kool would that be if we traded down to #8 with the Falcons and Kool-Aid is right there! Grab him, then address O-line with our EXTRA round 2-3 picks...we absolutely need a lock-down corner, and the good ones are usually gone by mid-round 1...

I am going to predict Kool-Aid is drafted after Mitchell, Wiggins, Arnold at CB.

[Lone Bolt]

What I see @5-13 are players that play their positions at a high level. Whether that is TE, OT, EDGE, or CB.
I've watched all of them... multiple times, multiple games. The only exception is Quinyon Mitchell... but I'll guarantee you, I'll find some game tape before the draft. Now, I know you guys like your "experts". But experts miss all the time. They are rarely any better than you or I. Most of their rankings are based on inside chatter... which may be real or fake. But tape is tape. Anyone can watch it. Anyone can interpret it the way they see fit.

I'll give you a couple of examples... one expert and one player evaluation.

I love to tell a story about Daniel Jeremiah. Everybody loves DJ. But I met DJ when I was 16 years old. I played HS football at the high school that DJ's father was the school's chaplain (Christian HS in El Cajon). DJ was only 5 years old at the time. But you could already see that he thought pretty highly of himself. Maybe it was the status of being the preacher's kid at a private religious school... IDK. But everyday, while old Nutty was bleeding on the practice field, you could hear this little snot-nosed kid bragging to his friends about football this and football that. Yet, even then he knew 1/100th about what he was talking about. Now I'm sure he's learned a lot since then. But are we 100% sure that we don't know as much as him... what if his confidence is what he gets by on...? I can't help seeing that little snot-nosed know-it-all everytime I read something he writes...

A few years ago, I got into an un-winable debate about Louis Nix vs David Andrews. I think it was with a reputable poster named Kemp. I argued that taking Nix was a huge risk as he was coming off of a knee injury. I was also going on about how I thought David Andrews could be a year-1 starter. Kemp went on-and-on about the experts. Andrews is projected in the 6th round... Nix is projected late 1st/early 2nd. How could all the experts be so wrong...? he'd say. I'd tell him, well I just like his tape... I like his traits... Well, you can imagine how it went when David Andrews went undrafted... Now I don't think David Andrews has been elected to any Pro Bowls... but he's exactly the player I thought he'd be. Solid player that makes a team stronger.

I can tell you exactly why I like certain players. And I'm fine if no one agrees with me. We've all been right/wrong about players. But "there are no defensive players that are worth a top-8 or top-10 pick"...? Nah, I don't believe that. You like your 1 guy...? Fine. But don't discount others just to build an argument.

And for the record... I'm not a Kool-Aid Only guy. I put him in the top-12 (with others)... Brock Bowers is there too, BTW. I'm more of a "Our team has so many needs we should trade back" guy. You want to tell me Nabers is top-10 and Kool-Aid is the 3rd or 4th best CB...? Fine... but I've watched tape that suggests otherwise.

Funny story bout DJ...I like him ok, but just another pundit to me...I dont hang it all on talking heads...

Although my fav is Bowers, I dont have 1 guy...I have a vision of jumpstarting this offense...trade back, nab Fuaga, then RB, TE, OC on day 2? Awesome draft. My opinion. My philosophy.

Build a defense, but have a 3 and out offense? The D will flag, get worn out. Build a chain moving offense that scores? You give your less than stellar D an edge, especially if you build a lead...and Harbaugh wont likely squander those leads trying not to lose.

If there was a Will Anderson in this draft, or a Sauce Gardner, I would be more amenable...some players you just cant pass on...just isnt the case this year on D. Top 10, there are TE, WR, and OT that fit the bill.

But hey...maybe Jim will see it your way...keep Everett, Slayer, coach up the oline, get Johnston ironed out, sign a center, draft D with a RB and TE thrown in...if so, Im all in...just not how I would do it...but Im just a pipefitter, lol.

[gzubeck]

Funny story bout DJ...I like him ok, but just another pundit to me...I dont hang it all on talking heads...

Although my fav is Bowers, I dont have 1 guy...I have a vision of jumpstarting this offense...trade back, nab Fuaga, then RB, TE, OC on day 2? Awesome draft. My opinion. My philosophy.

Build a defense, but have a 3 and out offense? The D will flag, get worn out. Build a chain moving offense that scores? You give your less than stellar D an edge, especially if you build a lead...and Harbaugh wont likely squander those leads trying not to lose.

If there was a Will Anderson in this draft, or a Sauce Gardner, I would be more amenable...some players you just cant pass on...just isnt the case this year on D. Top 10, there are TE, WR, and OT that fit the bill.

But hey...maybe Jim will see it your way...keep Everett, Slayer, coach up the oline, get Johnston ironed out, sign a center, draft D with a RB and TE thrown in...if so, Im all in...just not how I would do it...but Im just a pipefitter, lol.

When Mike Williams went down so did our offensive potency two seasons in a row. We pick #5 with 3 very good receivers there. We can't replace every premium player we lose this year in the draft but we certainly can shore up our team a bit better than we've had the past 5 years.

[wu-dai clan]

When Mike Williams went down so did our offensive potency two seasons in a row. We pick #5 with 3 very good receivers there. We can't replace every premium player we lose this year in the draft but we certainly can shore up our team up a bit better than we've had the past 5 years.

Jim H. is aware that, no matter how much weight training we do, players will get banged up, due to style of play.

A realistic trade down and a build up of depth is in play.

Who will fall into our laps.

Machine mocks and trade value charts must be taken with a grain of salt.

I hope us geeked out draft nerds will find good fits and late round nuggets as part of our exercise.

Free agency, the Combine, Pro Days and private workouts will shake up our big boards.

[gzubeck]

Jim H. is aware that, no matter how much weight training we do, players will get banged up, due to style of play.

A realistic trade down and a build up of depth is in play.

Who will fall into our laps.

Machine mocks and trade value charts must be taken with a grain of salt.

I hope us geeked out draft nerds will find good fits and late round nuggets as part of our exercise.

Free agency, the Combine, Pro Days and private workouts will shake up our big boards.

I just want our rocket launcher QB to actually have players who can actually catch his launches 3 out of 4 times. Superstar WR or pass rusher for me please!

[Boltnut]

Funny story bout DJ...I like him ok, but just another pundit to me...I dont hang it all on talking heads...

Although my fav is Bowers, I dont have 1 guy...I have a vision of jumpstarting this offense...trade back, nab Fuaga, then RB, TE, OC on day 2? Awesome draft. My opinion. My philosophy.

Build a defense, but have a 3 and out offense? The D will flag, get worn out. Build a chain moving offense that scores? You give your less than stellar D an edge, especially if you build a lead...and Harbaugh wont likely squander those leads trying not to lose.

If there was a Will Anderson in this draft, or a Sauce Gardner, I would be more amenable...some players you just cant pass on...just isnt the case this year on D. Top 10, there are TE, WR, and OT that fit the bill.

But hey...maybe Jim will see it your way...keep Everett, Slayer, coach up the oline, get Johnston ironed out, sign a center, draft D with a RB and TE thrown in...if so, Im all in...just not how I would do it...but Im just a pipefitter, lol.

And I respect that philosophy. I get controlling the ball on offense. I think Jim will do that. I think getting the OL to gel will be a big part of that. I think having a more balanced approach will help that. I think our blocking schemes have sucked. And that puts more pressure on Herbert and his receivers. When one or two get dinged, the wheels fall off... and there is no way for the defense to sustain... stop the bleeding. Look at the Chiefs. They lost most of their playmakers on offense. Even with MaHommes and Kelce, they were only 15th best scoring offense this year. But their investment in their defense the last 3 drafts has paid dividends. And here they are again... in the Super Bowl. IMO, the Chargers need to build a complimentary defense for Herbert. Even Montana and Brady needed Top-10 defenses to win SB's... often Top-5.

[Lone Bolt]

And I respect that philosophy. I get controlling the ball on offense. I think Jim will do that. I think getting the OL to gel will be a big part of that. I think having a more balanced approach will help that. I think our blocking schemes have sucked. And that puts more pressure on Herbert and his receivers. When one or two get dinged, the wheels fall off... and there is no way for the defense to sustain... stop the bleeding. Look at the Chiefs. They lost most of their playmakers on offense. Even with MaHommes and Kelce, they were only 15th best scoring offense this year. But their investment in their defense the last 3 drafts has paid dividends. And here they are again... in the Super Bowl. IMO, the Chargers need to build a complimentary defense for Herbert. Even Montana and Brady needed Top-10 defenses to win SB's... often Top-5.

Lol...complementory defense...gotta have an actual offense to complement...otherwise your just putting lipstick, dress, and heels on a pig...

You say balance? I like my sig mock...you have playmaking, physicality, smarts...offense and defense...balance...

Pah...Im enjoying the debate, but I wont bust your chops any longer...Jim goes Koolaid and Jenkins 1st and 2nd, I dont really care, both good players...all Im doing is stumping for my Favs, and my philosophy.. but find the real fun this year will be seeing how Jim drafts...might be very interesting.

[Icebolt]

I just want our rocket launcher QB to actually have players who can actually catch his launches 3 out of 4 times. Superstar WR or pass rusher for me please!

Doesn't really matter how many stud Offensive players you have if your QB is running for his life. Harbaugh is a trench guy and will want a OL in rd. 1 or 2.

[Boltjolt]

When Mike Williams went down so did our offensive potency two seasons in a row. We pick #5 with 3 very good receivers there. We can't replace every premium player we lose this year in the draft but we certainly can shore up our team a bit better than we've had the past 5 years.

Because our TE is mediocre. We had Keenan and Palmer was injured a couple different times.

Mahomes dont have great WRs. He has a great TE. The Rooke reciver Rice made big strides as the season went on and may be their best WR going forward while Toney is on his way out.

The thing about Harbaugh is , we wont be teh same offense. We will run more so the days of Herbert throwing 650 to 700 passes is over. That will drop that by 100-125 with a better run game. Maybe we will be a 60-40 pass to run team, but we will run.