2024 Chargers Draft Superthread - Prospect Discussion - Draft Has Started

[blueman]

I get the sneaking suspicion that we keep both Bosa and Mack. And draft Nabers at 5.

[Boltgang74]

I honestly believe we will keep Mack and Keenan and draft Bowers if we don't trade down which is fine with me.Having Harbaugh and Hortiz really sets my mind at ease when thinkin about this comin draft.Never felt that way with TT and Staley.Whatever our coach and GMs move is on draft day I feel confident it is the right one.Ahhhhhhh....

[Boltjolt]

The last great TE drafted in the first round was Tony Gonzalez....

Gates - undrafted
Witten - 3rd round
Gronk - 2nd round
Kelce - 3rd round
Andrews - 3rd round
Waller - 6th round
Kittle - 5th round

I'm entirely confused as to why you think we can find a WR in later rounds when all of the best TEs of the last 20 years have not been 1st round picks. The two best TEs drafted in the 1st round since Gonzalez have probably been Hockenson and Shockey and neither were worth their draft position.

There have been tons of great WRs that have been drafted outside the first round, but two who I would consider the best WR at any given instant:

Tyreek Hill - 5th round (lots of character issues)
Devante Adams - 2nd round

There are others who played at an all pro level for several years

Keenan Allen - 3rd round
Stefon Diggs - 5th round
AJ Brown - 2nd round
Cooper Kupp - 3rd round

and many more. But also, let's look at first round receivers since Randy Moss (we'll consider him the Tony Gonzalez comp) who hit:

Fitzgerald
Andre Johnson
Reggie Wayne
Mike Evans
DeAndre Hopkins
AJ Green
Megatron
Julio Jones
Jefferson
Chase

.

Wallers had 2 good years. He was a 6th rounder and had a drinking problem. Same with Crosby. Maybe why they went later.

Hockenson will be a great one in Minnesota and Pitts will elevate again with a new system and if they get a better QB.

Also Evan Engram is having quite the uptick in his career with Lawrence and HC Doug Peterson. All those guys are first round picks.

As for WRs. There are many more recievers in the draft than there are TEs because at least 2 WRs start on every team. Sometimes 3.

WE need a TE or two. We need 1 receiver that doesn't need to be pick #5 with Keenan returning. We aren't bare there. There are some WRs id be happy with in rounds 2 thru 4 that can contribute.

[wu-dai clan]

I get the sneaking suspicion that we keep both Bosa and Mack. And draft Nabers at 5.

I am holding out hope for somerhing similar. Hortiz has sald no "rip off of the bandaid" approach will be undertaken. He wants to compete right away. Here's to some "McGuire Magic."

[dmac_bolt]

The last great TE drafted in the first round was Tony Gonzalez....

Gates - undrafted
Witten - 3rd round
Gronk - 2nd round
Kelce - 3rd round
Andrews - 3rd round
Waller - 6th round
Kittle - 5th round

I'm entirely confused as to why you think we can find a WR in later rounds when all of the best TEs of the last 20 years have not been 1st round picks. The two best TEs drafted in the 1st round since Gonzalez have probably been Hockenson and Shockey and neither were worth their draft position.

There have been tons of great WRs that have been drafted outside the first round, but two who I would consider the best WR at any given instant:

Tyreek Hill - 5th round (lots of character issues)
Devante Adams - 2nd round

There are others who played at an all pro level for several years

Keenan Allen - 3rd round
Stefon Diggs - 5th round
AJ Brown - 2nd round
Cooper Kupp - 3rd round

and many more. But also, let's look at first round receivers since Randy Moss (we'll consider him the Tony Gonzalez comp) who hit:

Fitzgerald
Andre Johnson
Reggie Wayne
Mike Evans
DeAndre Hopkins
AJ Green
Megatron
Julio Jones
Jefferson
Chase

.

This isn't directed at you, it applies to scores of posts by a multitude of well intended posters ... nobody has bad intentions but all of these arguments are inferential and don't prove anything specific today.

the best WR from last year was taken in the 5th round. 20th WR taken. but it was a crap shoot, if we took #19 or #21, not so good. there's nothing magic in #20, just 20/20 hindsight. the "that prior guy was taken here" arguments are not compelling reasons to select Nabers, Bowers, or neither. look at, analyze, and discuss the actual players. or analyze the actual OTHER players later in the draft and why they would be as good, or good enough, or whatever? No limits to actual evaluation of the actual players but just talk about real 2024 players.

we all see the extreme variation in past history for ANY position. Just because a prior #1 TE wasn't great does not prove the next one isn't. Just because in 2011 a team got a great receiver in Rd4 doesn't mean we would get one in Rd 4 this year - who would we actually get? past trends are only true until they are not.

the betting odds are clear that both Nabers and Bowers are considered above the norm and top possible picks. If "you" disagree, talk about why, not about a pick 5 years ago. get into the real deal.

I personally think Nabers and Bowers are head and shoulders above players that may be there later in the draft. Maybe a later player fills the need, maybe not. Analyzing past drafts won't answer that.

[eaterfan]

Wallers had 2 good years. He was a 6th rounder and had a drinking problem. Same with Crosby. Maybe why they went later.

Hockenson will be a great one in Minnesota and Pitts will elevate again with a new system and if they get a better QB.

Also Evan Engram is having quite the uptick in his career with Lawrence and HC Doug Peterson. All those guys are first round picks.

As for WRs. There are many more recievers in the draft than there are TEs because at least 2 WRs start on every team. Sometimes 3.

WE need a TE or two. We need 1 receiver that doesn't need to be pick #5 with Keenan returning. We aren't bare there. There are some WRs id be happy with in rounds 2 thru 4 that can contribute.

Hockenson hasn't broken 1,000 yards in any of his 5 years in the league. He would have done it this year, but got injured. But it still took him a long time to be a contributor along the lines of a top flight WR.

Evan Engram?!?! If Brock Bowers has an Evan Engram like career I'll be pissed we used the number 5 pick on him. I'd be pissed if we used any first round pick on him. Still didn't break 1,000 yards in by far his best season. I would be pissed if we traded down anywhere in the first round, drafted Bowers, and got that type of production from him. This is the first year he's broken 800 receiving yards and he's not on his rookie contract anymore.

How many more seasons you think Keenan has left? One or two? I think we're going to have a lot harder time finding a guy who can replace Keenan Allen than we will finding a guy who can replicate Evan Engram's production. We can sign a TE for reasonable money. Even high end number 2 WRs make more money than the best TEs.

This team isn't going to win the SB next year. We can draft a developmental TE this year and sign a stopgap TE and draft a TE next year if we still need one. WR is a premium position and drafting a guy who could be a top 10 WR is worth a lot more than a guy who could be a top 10 TE in the long term.

[Topcat]

Funny, I have been making this same argument about TEs as a reason to draft Brock Bowers. But I'm coming around on Bowers, and it's because his talents truly are unique. As for "I'm entirely confused as to why you think we can find a WR in later rounds..." Two words: Puka Nacua.

Nacua's 40 time was "only" 4.57, which no doubt pushed his draft stock down. That, and poor shuttle and 3-cone scores...but...the dude has those intagibles that somehow missed the evaluations of most scouts...

https://www.nfldraftbuzz.com/Player/Puka-Nacua-WR-Washington

[Velo]

Nacua's 40 time was "only" 4.57, which no doubt pushed his draft stock down. That, and poor shuttle and 3-cone scores...but...the dude has those intagibles that somehow missed the evaluations of most scouts...

https://www.nfldraftbuzz.com/Player/...-WR-Washington

His game speed is faster than his track time. Happens frequently in athletes. They are faster when the adrenaline is flowing during game action.

[powderblueboy]

Nabers has an INCREDBLE acceleration burst that MW and QJ never had in college and don't have in pros. he may run a 4.4 officially but I see clips he's moving much faster, stutter step and bursts to freeze a DB and blow past him, that is a special god given gift. I think he's a real stud. I like him over Odunze for this specific ability - rapid acceleration / separation underneath. Not knocking O - they are both stellar but I can only pick one.

He's not MW or QJ, I'm pretty sure he's more. too much talk about the talent of our WR room, we do not have this guy in that room. Now what should a #5 be / be worth? that is in the eyes of the beholder, i think.

JH2 have to decide if their OT talent is inadequate? If yes, they take Alt or Fuaga (no Fashanu, please).

IF no - there next target could be a serious skill weapon addition for Herbie.
- There is no RB worthy of first round all the way down to late 20s imo
- That leaves the big 4 we constantly discuss: MH2, Nabers, Bowers, Odunze. Expecting MH2 taken by Az, I narrow it to two.

If they decide to strengthen Defense first, DT and CB are most pressing high value options if they keep Bosa and Mack. I don't see the Top 5 talent for those but thats eye of beholder shit, what do I know. If they don't keep B&M, Edge is top priority.

Fashanu struggles in run blocking - I don't think he's an option in Harbaugh's offense.

[Boltinloudguy]

I keep hearing Bowers might drop. Makes sense because if the Chargers done take him, who will? Let’s go down the picks after Chargers

Giants- Maybe, but they need WR more than anything.
Titans- Definitely Oline
Atlanta- QB or Edge and they have Pitts
Bears- Oline, Edge or WR and the have Kmet
Jets- Definitely Oline
Vikings- QB, Edge and they have Hockenson
Raiders- QB, CB or IDL and they have Meyer
Broncos- QB, I can see him possibly going here.

So the question is, do the Jets want to jump the Titans to get the best Oline? Or do the Vikings want to jump Atlanta for a QB? Or do the Bears want to jump ahead of the Falcons and Titans for an Edge or Oline.

It think it’s very realistic to think Bowers will still be there at 10 or 11. Get as many picks as possible and build build build.

[Ghost of Quacksaw]

His game speed is faster than his track time. Happens frequently in athletes. They are faster when the adrenaline is flowing during game action.

Lol. Fast guys also run faster when the adrenaline kicks in!

By now, I think we've figured out that speed is a great asset for a wideout, but not absolutely necessary. We also know that a guy with blazing speed isn't automatically a good receiver. Ask Reynaldo Nehemiah, (Or was that 'Reymiah Nehenaldo'?!?)

Some guys with marginal speed excel because of some combination of fearlessness, great feel for the game, and great understanding of what the opponent is doing.

[Boltjolt]

Hockenson hasn't broken 1,000 yards in any of his 5 years in the league. He would have done it this year, but got injured. But it still took him a long time to be a contributor along the lines of a top flight WR.

Evan Engram?!?! If Brock Bowers has an Evan Engram like career I'll be pissed we used the number 5 pick on him. I'd be pissed if we used any first round pick on him. Still didn't break 1,000 yards in by far his best season. I would be pissed if we traded down anywhere in the first round, drafted Bowers, and got that type of production from him. This is the first year he's broken 800 receiving yards and he's not on his rookie contract anymore.

How many more seasons you think Keenan has left? One or two? I think we're going to have a lot harder time finding a guy who can replace Keenan Allen than we will finding a guy who can replicate Evan Engram's production. We can sign a TE for reasonable money. Even high end number 2 WRs make more money than the best TEs.

This team isn't going to win the SB next year. We can draft a developmental TE this year and sign a stopgap TE and draft a TE next year if we still need one. WR is a premium position and drafting a guy who could be a top 10 WR is worth a lot more than a guy who could be a top 10 TE in the long term.

Hockenson was in Detroit 3.5 years. Had 187 receptions.
1.5 yrs in Minnesota he has 155. Not sure why they didn't use him more but it Minnesotas gain. They had a good TE and underutilized him. Last season before he got hurt he had 95 for 960 yards.

Gates in all his seasons and a sure HOF er at some point, only had TWO 1000 yard seasons.

Engram.... Dude has been a stud in Jax.

He had shitty QBs in NY. With Jax the past two seasons he had 73 catches in 2022 and 114 last season. He assending his game in a better system like all good players can but if you are stuck with a mediocre QB, well you won't get the stats you can.


No Ravens receiver is going to have big stats with Lamar. dude has never thrown for 4k yards.

With Harbaugh , Herbert will never throw for 5k again and Doubt Keenan sees 100 again. We won't throw enough to see that. Probably gonna see a 100 -150 less pass attempts.

JJ McCarthy threw 25 times or more in 6 games last season. 30 or more in two of those 6,... in 15 games.
332 att for the season.

Now I think Herbert will throw more than that but probably end up in the 500 hundreds somewhere instead of the near 700 he has had.

Seeing that we will run a lot, we don't need 3 first round WRs but we do need a stud TE.....and ,maybe we draft Roman Wilson in round 3 for example. Keenan can probably play 3 more seasons anyway.

We'll see what they do with his contract.