2024 Chargers Draft Superthread - Prospect Discussion - Draft Has Started

[Boltnut]

LOL, keep your fingers crossed and light some candles so that TT trades for him this offseason, otherwise he'll be starting at RT for the Chargers in 2024...I'm for upgrading RT too, but the holes that need filling will most likely take priority this year...we got nothing at center, and very little at interior running back, defensive line, corner, linebacker, and might need to draft another safety again on account of Gilman being a FA and JT Woods being a bust...there's just too much shit going on to prioritize OT early in the draft...

I like the idea of Hortiz making a small trade down with the first pick and maybe another small trade down with the second to pick up another 3rd and maybe a couple of extra 4rths this year...I do think the team will be competitive but some of that will come from them getting more out the same players that a lot of people on here are ready to give up on...

I know everybody here has become reserved to having crappy players @RT. It's a Chargers tradition. Fortunately, Harbaugh and Hortiz won't settle @RT. It will take a few years for Chargers fans to adjust. But once the playoff wins start rolling in, they'll start to understand the value of the trenches. I doubt anyone will give us anything for Pip. They'll just wait for him to become a free agent and maybe pick him up to compete against other tomato can @RT for depth.

Trust me, I keep hoping he'll take to coaching. There was a glimmer of hope... briefly. But ultimately, he'll have to be replaced if we're really serious about running the ball or protecting Herbie. If they don't replace him in the draft, I'll cross my fingers that the new coaching staff can be successful in resurrecting a flawed player.

Last offseason (before his re-sign) I was hoping Salyer would get a shot @RT and we would move on from Pipkins. Maybe the new coaching staff agrees. It would allow us to focus on getting a starting RG instead of RT (at a better draft slot). Zac Zinter in the 3rd or 4th would sure help.

As far as trade back in the 1st goes... I'd still do it. There would be players available @#11 that are as good as players @#5 IMO. I know everyone is slobbering over Bowers and the WR's... but I see defensive players that would be just as impactful. Everyone somehow forgets how bad our defense was. Our pass defense was #30. Certainly part of that was the scheme and coaching. But do Mack and Bosa even fit Minter's scheme...? And the cupboard is bare @CB. Most NFL teams play nickel as their base. We have 2 of 5 starting DB's (ASJ and Derwin). I would think we need at least 1 more quality CB. Does that CB have to be a 1st rounder...? Not neccessarily... but don't rule it out either.

I am one of the very few posters here that are open to a defensive player @#10 or #11. The extra picks (3rd and 4th) have to be a consideration (which most are coming around to that thinking).

[blueman]

With a trade down, yeah I could see a defender picked round one. If JPJ is gone…

[charger1_sj]

I know everybody here has become reserved to having crappy players @RT. It's a Chargers tradition. Fortunately, Harbaugh and Hortiz won't settle @RT. It will take a few years for Chargers fans to adjust. But once the playoff wins start rolling in, they'll start to understand the value of the trenches. I doubt anyone will give us anything for Pip. They'll just wait for him to become a free agent and maybe pick him up to compete against other tomato can @RT for depth.

Trust me, I keep hoping he'll take to coaching. There was a glimmer of hope... briefly. But ultimately, he'll have to be replaced if we're really serious about running the ball or protecting Herbie. If they don't replace him in the draft, I'll cross my fingers that the new coaching staff can be successful in resurrecting a flawed player.

Last offseason (before his re-sign) I was hoping Salyer would get a shot @RT and we would move on from Pipkins. Maybe the new coaching staff agrees. It would allow us to focus on getting a starting RG instead of RT (at a better draft slot). Zac Zinter in the 3rd or 4th would sure help.

As far as trade back in the 1st goes... I'd still do it. There would be players available @#11 that are as good as players @#5 IMO. I know everyone is slobbering over Bowers and the WR's... but I see defensive players that would be just as impactful. Everyone somehow forgets how bad our defense was. Our pass defense was #30. Certainly part of that was the scheme and coaching. But do Mack and Bosa even fit Minter's scheme...? And the cupboard is bare @CB. Most NFL teams play nickel as their base. We have 2 of 5 starting DB's (ASJ and Derwin). I would think we need at least 1 more quality CB. Does that CB have to be a 1st rounder...? Not neccessarily... but don't rule it out either.

I am one of the very few posters here that are open to a defensive player @#10 or #11. The extra picks (3rd and 4th) have to be a consideration (which most are coming around to that thinking).

Pipkins will not be a free agent until the 2026 season. So the options are trade, keep or cut. Cut doesn't make sense with the cap situation we are in. Trade if you can, but leaves a spot
open on the O line either as starter or backup. And I know this has already been stated but our OG play was worse than how Pipkins played.

Trading back makes sense. But the CB position is not that great this year, maybe two guys with a 1st round grade. Edge or DL are better prospects.

[Critty]

Wow Critty, I was thinking of this exact thing this morning. IOL failure not only caused the Bengals to lose yet another excrutiatingly closely contested Super Bowl, it was also how his knee got blown out later.

This is perfectly relevant in the context of the Chargers in the 2024 Draft.

We can draft a truly elite Chase-level weapon in Nabers, Bowers or Odunze. Or we can blast our IOL with JPJ.

JPJ @ #5 is clearly an overdraft, but it would ignite Zion, Jamaree and Trey, fixing our entire OL with one player. Fellow former wrestler Nick Hardwick would fine tune JPJ.

Herbert's biggest problems are IDL pressure and lack of running attack. I will argue until blue in the face that Mahomes can only be beaten by clock management at the end of games. Think outside the box instead of trying to outscore KC or play winning defense.

I will argue that JPJ is a unique prospect, in his play, and in his impact as a Charger. I am seeing mocks where the Bears take JPJ @ #9.

Several teams, for all the personnel they have accrued, will not get a Lombardi in this decade.
SF.
CIN.
BUF.
DET.
DAL.
MIA.
BAL.

Do the Chargers want to keep saying "almost, almost" ????

I liked Creed. I had him as Rd1 talent.
There were 9 OL drafted in Rd 2 of the 2021 draft. Creed was the 9th. He has outplayed the other 8. But from my perspective, I am not surprised since I already had him ranked better than those 8 and worth a rd1 pick. We drafted Slater that year at #13. I would have been fine with Creed at #13.

Trade down to #14 with Saints for #45 and 2025 1st and then draft JPJ would be a very good move IMV. As they can get top 45 player which will likely be a top 30 player on their list. And then will have an addition top 18 pick next year as I doubt Saints make playoffs. And depending on how bad the Saints record is...could be a top 10 pick or even top 5.

[wu-dai clan]

I liked Creed. I had him as Rd1 talent.
There were 9 OL drafted in Rd 2 of the 2021 draft. Creed was the 9th. He has outplayed the other 8. But from my perspective, I am not surprised since I already had him ranked better than those 8 and worth a rd1 pick. We drafted Slater that year at #13. I would have been fine with Creed at #13.

Trade down to #14 with Saints for #45 and 2025 1st and then draft JPJ would be a very good move IMV. As they can get top 45 player which will likely be a top 30 player on their list. And then will have an addition top 18 pick next year as I doubt Saints make playoffs. And depending on how bad the Saints record is...could be a top 10 pick or even top 5.

Hortiz and his chops/collaborators are going to be crucial.

There are tiers of prospects at our positions of need.

For example, JPJ is significantly better than Frazier.

There is stills lots for us to get dialed in on.

[eaterfan]

Sorry but Jamar Chase as great as he is won't be the reason Bengals ever win Superbowl. When Burrow played Rams and had the opportunity to win game, even with Chase about to break wide open on route.........he could Not get the throw off and they lost because they OL was not good enough to win.
Mahomes SB wins he had better OL play. Didn't even have Hill the most explosive WR in the game. Draft the Ferrari when you have pot holes and crack in the foundation isn't a good way to start the plan. Invest in OL. It helps the entire team. All three phases are helped by OL play. Both Offense and Special team can be more successful and Defense can rest more. And it protects you #1 asset. The franchise QB.
Joe Alt at #5 or trade back for more picks.
And still draft OL with Rd 1.

They got to the Superbowl in a really tough AFC. The alternative, building the line, was taken by Detroit. They haven't even made the Superbowl in a weaker NFC! Neither way works. Clearly, the answer is to not make a 1st round pick like the Rams. That's the key to victory.

[Charge!]

Sorry but Jamar Chase as great as he is won't be the reason Bengals ever win Superbowl. When Burrow played Rams and had the opportunity to win game, even with Chase about to break wide open on route.........he could Not get the throw off and they lost because they OL was not good enough to win.
Mahomes SB wins he had better OL play. Didn't even have Hill the most explosive WR in the game. Draft the Ferrari when you have pot holes and crack in the foundation isn't a good way to start the plan. Invest in OL. It helps the entire team. All three phases are helped by OL play. Both Offense and Special team can be more successful and Defense can rest more. And it protects you #1 asset. The franchise QB.
Joe Alt at #5 or trade back for more picks.
And still draft OL with Rd 1.

agree..... KC has won 2 SB's without Hill...... BUT they have mahomes and Kelsey..... great TE's have more impact to an offense than great WR's..... they can block, catch and run and they are the first to get open....if there is a great pass rush that saves a QB..... they are a great QB's best friend..... Chargers have zero great TE's on roster..... Everett is a good number 2 TE.... and he has availability issues...... adding an elite TE like Bowers would improve every phase of the offense: blocking, running, and receiving.....along wiith adding Harbaugh type of toughness.....

Cheifs got ball off so quick it protected their iffy OT's..... and of course Reid always has a series of plays reserved for last drive of the haklf and game when they really need to score......and they always make it look easy.... even if they struggled at other times during game.....

Hopefully Chargers add some picks by trading most of our expensive guys and we can sign some mid range FA's at RT, C, RB, DT, S, CB too help whilerookies deverlop.... so Chargers casn select the best impact player at 5...... if this team improves, we will never be drafting top 5 again so we need to take advantage and draft an ELITE player that will bwe here for years...

BALT and NE have done alot of trade downs, but that s because they always pick at bottom of first round where most first round sure fire talents are gone..... the rest are still potentially good players but much more iffy......so trading down imprpves chances fo finding a great player. nif you are picking late in first round....

[dmac_bolt]

Wow, don't u think #5 overall is a bit high for JPJ? I might take him at #11-15 or so, though...
(as long as we get a 2nd AND 3rd rounder for trading down...or more...)

I do. I think JH/crew would coach up the 3rd or 4th rated OC on the board just fine. the only OL player I'd take at 5 is a high-grade OT. OC at #11 is still kind of high vs value on the board. We'll see what their evaluation of the current roster leads them to - if they don't think current roster can do it, OT is the pick. If they do, then ... someone else lol.

[Critty]

agree..... KC has won 2 SB's without Hill...... BUT they have mahomes and Kelsey..... great TE's have more impact to an offense than great WR's..... they can block, catch and run and they are the first to get open....if there is a great pass rush that saves a QB..... they are a great QB's best friend..... Chargers have zero great TE's on roster..... Everett is a good number 2 TE.... and he has availability issues...... adding an elite TE like Bowers would improve every phase of the offense: blocking, running, and receiving.....along wiith adding Harbaugh type of toughness.....

Cheifs got ball off so quick it protected their iffy OT's..... and of course Reid always has a series of plays reserved for last drive of the haklf and game when they really need to score......and they always make it look easy.... even if they struggled at other times during game.....

Hopefully Chargers add some picks by trading most of our expensive guys and we can sign some mid range FA's at RT, C, RB, DT, S, CB too help whilerookies deverlop.... so Chargers casn select the best impact player at 5...... if this team improves, we will never be drafting top 5 again so we need to take advantage and draft an ELITE player that will bwe here for years...

BALT and NE have done alot of trade downs, but that s because they always pick at bottom of first round where most first round sure fire talents are gone..... the rest are still potentially good players but much more iffy......so trading down imprpves chances fo finding a great player. nif you are picking late in first round....

At #5 the Elite WR is MHJ.
And I would be shocked if Chargers didn't draft him.

Nabers had some maturity issues and sometimes money doesn't help. I don't think they are as high on him. He is talented. I think Bowers game is more suited to the college level. And once in NFL, he is a good TE but not elite. I'm not so sure Joe Hortiz has Bowers in his top 10 BPA. Odunze seem to have the tools to really succeed at NFL level. But WRs don't play offensive snaps like QB and OL do. Even DL don't play all snaps but elite edge talent should go high.

My current guess at #5 is MHJ, ALT or trade down to get more picks but stay in top 15 to get BPA. Which is a top 10 pick if you eliminate QBs off the 1st Rd board for Chargers.
And even then I think OL should be the pick because that player is a plug and play starter with upside. There are about 5 OL that have that grade IMV and one will be there after trade down.

[SAY OW 55]

All this talk about the Bengals.

We talk about the Ravens and the trenches. They haven’t beaten the Chiefs. They couldn’t score shit on the Chiefs.

The only team to beat the Chiefs three times and in a AFC championship conference championship game are the Bengals. They would’ve beat them in the Burrowhead Conference Championship if Mahomes wasn’t bailed out with a phantom roughing the passer penalty.

You see the Bengals. You know why the Bengals beat the Chiefs they out scored them and the Chiefs had no answers for their skill players Jamar Chase and Tee Higgins. Yeah and that was Sneed.

You better get some skill guys that the Chiefs are going to be thinking about covering.

[SAY OW 55]

BTW when we played them Pimpkins wasn’t the issue.

[Boltjolt]

I think we’re looking wayyyyyyy too much into this.

Why not get a guy right under our nose University Michigan Center Drake Nunget Harbaugh knows him. I told you those elephants were great. All they did was run the ball and destroy Alabama.

We can get him in the 3rd round. Look at the film. Sign Brian Allen and then draft this guy.

All I know is Michigan was effective. All they did was run the ball and did it in the national championship where thier Quarterback didn’t throw the ball.

We can get him in the 5th. He won't go that high. Just try to remember that Michigan is a college team and not all their players will thrive in the NFL. Even from this National championship team there are only about 4 I'd like to have.