2024 Chargers Draft Superthread - Prospect Discussion - Draft Has Started

[Fouts2herbert]

Beating the Chiefs does not involving trying to do what they do, only better.

The way to beat the Chiefs is to do something different than what they do, namely run the football and manage the clock, tempo.

It says it right there in the Jim Harbaugh Experience users manual..."impose our will".

Don't pay attention to the draft grades you get at PFF or NFL Mock Draft Database or the Buzz.

Think of what we are turning into, and that is where our personnel challenge begins.

If you are not confident that we can find a replacement for MW, or an OT that makes Pipkins hear footsteps, or a Center that succeeds Linsley, on day three, then you are not paying enough attention to details.

Why aren't we focused on defensive prospects in this draft? I think beating the chiefs will require a better defense than the one we've had, at least a top ten defense will be needed to take the division away from them...this should be a defensive heavy draft, Edge, CB, and IDL take priority but LB and S have issues too...

I'm completely sold on trading down but no further than #11, then draft either Jared Verse or Dallas Turner, then with the extra picks address Center, Corner, and IDL in Day two...Or if you guys are okay with the centers that the Rams and Steelers cut, they don't count against the compensatory pick formula and both have a lot of starting experience, Allen I think started the Super Bowl for the Rams, correct? if center is off the board by draft time then take one of the tackles in round 2 instead at #37 I wold love it if we could pick up a guy like Kingsley if he's still on the board then take the CB with the very next pick...

something like this
trade down get that extra 2nd rounder
draft Turner or Verse between 8-11
draft OL with the 37th pick either best available center or tackle...guys like Frazier or Suamataia
draft best available corner with the extra pick...guys that fall or rise in the draft like (i.e.Mckinstry or a Melton) could be available in the mid to late second round
draft best available DT with the very next pick, maybe Jenkins, maybe Fiske, or perhaps Orhorhoro

so my ideal first four picks IF we trade down would be Edge, OL, CB, DT but different combinations of those 4 picks would work too, like CB, OL, Edge, and DT...to me the first order is the one where you get the best possible value in this specific draft from studying the guys that should be available in those clusters...prioratize Edge and it's not like we don't need to rebuild that room...

[electricgold]

The entire league runs on mid and late round OL. With a sprinkling of rare first rounders. If we start three rookies out of five, so be it and fuck you TT.

We should be looking at Graham Barton, Zach Frazier, Patrick Paul, Zak Zinter, Cooper Beebe, Dominick Puni, Christian Jones, Kingsley Suamataia, Sataoa Lumea, Javon Foster, Matt Gonclaves, Christian Haynes, Christian Mahogany, Sedrick Van Pran then!!!!!

[blueman]

This is a JH2 draft:

We will trade down, maybe twice (Horitz is already selling the smokescreen to increase our haul and it’s not even Liar’s Month!). Dmac is right about our D needs, our first three picks will be IDL, CB, IDL. Later rounds we’ll find a C/TE/RB etc., maybe a LB and more OL. Who and in what order, dunno, but trust the JH2 plan.

[ChargerTrader]

Anybody see the Mina Kimes interview the other day...? Mina was trying to talk Chris and Money down off the ledge about picking a WR or TE @#5. Smart girl.

The IOL is having trouble with issues that can be corrected by coaching. Recognition, stunts, passing players off to others. But Trey's issues go beyond coaching. Hell, he's had an OL guru working with him the last 2 off-seasons. His issue is foot speed. His issues are balance and body stiffness once he got heavier.

If I'm holding out hope on players/positions... it would be @WR with QJ. Or @OG with Zion and Jamaree. Or @safety with JT Woods... @RB w/Spiller... @LB w/Henly... @DT w/Tito... @WR w/DD... All of those players are younger and haven't gotten the playing time necessary for evaluation purposes.

Nobody is seriously talking about potential defensive players in the 1st round.
Everyone admits that a trade back is most desirable... so many needs.
So if we land @#10-15 with a trade back... there will be some players/positions that become viable.
I attempted to have a conversation about CB and Edge earlier. That was shut down pretty quickly.
Anyone ready to talk about it now...? IMO, there are 4 or 5 defensive players that make sense @#8-15.

Almost every team that beat the Chiefs last year created turn-overs on defense. How do we do that? How would Minter do that? Do we have the players @DT @CB @LB. Either Bosa or Mack will be gone next season. Maybe both. Are we so fixated on offense that we can't have a conversation about defense...? It aint sexy. But the #2 and #3 defenses were in the Super Bowl. The #1 defense was the Ravens... whose assistant GM is now our GM. How can this conversation be ignored? Slobbering over WR's and TE @#5 was fun for a while.

I don't think we will fix all of our holes in one year. This is a two year refresh of the roster. A two year roadmap may justify a super skilled WR in this draft, if they have a plan to address other needs.

But yes, our RT, IOL, LB and DL all need upgrades.

[gzubeck]

This is a JH2 draft:

We will trade down, maybe twice (Horitz is already selling the smokescreen to increase our haul and it’s not even Liar’s Month!). Dmac is right about our D needs, our first three picks will be IDL, CB, IDL. Later rounds we’ll find a C/TE/RB etc., maybe a LB and more OL. Who and in what order, dunno, but trust the JH2 plan.

I don't know about this. This is a draft that's offensive oriented in players available in the first round. Second round and beyond I could believe taking defensive players. The best defense is a dominating offense that can move the ball at will and keep their offense off the field.

[Boltnut]

Arjun Menon had some information yesterday after Pipkins. Arjun blames a lot of Pipkin on not getting the help from the coaching staff as they put him in some tough positions. So, agree, it doesn't have to be the 5th pick of the draft. I would feel much better about RT with pick 8 and even better with pick 11 in Round 1 and get some extra draft picks. Build a deep roster

This is a two draft rebuild. They will be able to use free agency to fill in with guys on cheap one year prove it deals but the team needs to be built via the draft for longer term success.

Cincinnati Reds GM - I think it was him said it - "this isn't about being competitive, this is about winning."

And for me winning is not the 7th seed and losing WC week end. Winning is winning the division, getting to the AFC Title game and eventually the Super Bowl.

I have no arguments there. Trade back and build the roster. @#10-15 there are a number of players that look very good. The Chiefs, Ravens, 49ers have been drafting from the back of rounds regularly and continue to build quality rosters.

Blaming coaching and schemes for Pipkins' struggles ignores the fact that there are physical limitations (foot quickness being foremost). The same argument (coaching) could be applied to every player/position on the team. The biggest question comes down to this... is Trey a guy that fits Harbaugh/Hortiz/Roman...? Does Trey enable them to do what they want to do on offense... run the ball and protect the QB? If not, is dedicating a second player (TE or RB) to helping Trey @RT a smart idea...? People claim that Harbaugh uses 2 TE's (1 receiving, 1 blocking) in this fashion. But I'm not sure Harbaugh wants to dedicate a receiving TE to pass blocking. I'm not sure Harbaugh wants to dedicate a run blocking TE to Trey's assignment when the TE could be releasing and getting to a LB or safety.

It's not outrageous to want both of your OT's to be good/great. There are teams that do this on a regular basis. Harbaugh had that kind of team in SF. Hortiz helped build that kind of team in Baltimore. I will accept any decision they make along the OL. Unlike us in the past, they have proven to be better at that build.

This is a two-draft re-build. Specifically, the defense needs a lot of help. Certainly coaching/scheme change will help. The decision makers will have to decide if the DT rotation is good enough. Henly is your only LB. Ja'Sir and Leonard are your starting CB's. JT Woods is the starting FS right now. Will they use/need another safety when they bring Derwin forward more? Bosa or Mack (or both) will be gone. Does Tuli even fit the Minter scheme...? The defense is by far a bigger question than the offense. Nobody is talking about that. No one has wanted to talk about that for the last 2 years. We spent like drunken sailors @DL, LB, CB in free agency to fill holes left open by poor, or unwilling, decisions in the draft. Under Hortiz, we will be letting free agents go... much more than bringing them on (especially big-names). So, we'll be drafting there more often. Fans and LA media will have to get ready for this mindset change.

[Boltnut]

Chargers need to fix the OLine, Interior DL and LB. And this is based on I think Mack will be back with Tuli.

STart at those areas - build the infrastructure and the base of the house

And I don't think Mack will be back. It's not the player... it's the contract structure and age.
It's also about what Mack brings in trade value. It's the cap and the draft picks.

If they can turn Mack's trade into a starting Minter-type DT or LB... I think they'll do it.

[CanadianBoltFan]

How can anyone not love Odunze? The highest rated player who mannned up and did every drill at the combine while showing his great personality. He actually stayed in the stadium after it was empty and did more on his own because he wasnt happy with his 3 cone drill. This is a Harbaugh player.

https://ca.yahoo.com/sports/news/rome-odunze-put-on-a-show-at-nfl-combine-then-did-something-rarely-ever-seen-043036778.html

[Boltnut]

Okay then with the 5th pick in the 2024 draft the Los Angeles Chargers select Linebacker Dallas Turner from Alabama!

There you go we now have our version of Micah Parsons...

Although I'd rather trade back (extra picks) I would have no problem drafting Dallas Turner. I said this months ago and got blasted. He does everything. Run support... pass rush... drops into coverage. He is the perfect Jesse Minter edge player.

Comparing him to Parsons is unfair. I'm not a fan of projecting players to be other players. In this case, I don't think their skillsets are a good comp.

[Boltinloudguy]

WR Bub Means is a late round pick that could develop into a good player. He was projected to go undrafted. I think his combine might have pushed him into late round discussion.

I also think MarShawn Loyd is now fighting to be the 1st RB off the board in the 2nd round.

[Bolt4Knob]

And I don't think Mack will be back. It's not the player... it's the contract structure and age.
It's also about what Mack brings in trade value. It's the cap and the draft picks.

If they can turn Mack's trade into a starting Minter-type DT or LB... I think they'll do it.

And I think one thing about Mack - you trade him and you get cap space and a draft pick, maybe two

Most people think Mack might have two good years left --- but if you get a good draft pick - they might have 4, 6 or 8 on the roster. Thats what this is about - building a strong roster that is sustainable

Sure the Chargers can bring back Mack and Allen (pushing cap) - while moving on from Bosa, MW and Kendricks. AJ smith tried to win in free agency, didn't work; the Eagles many years ago, tried to build a "dream team" - didn't work; Telesco and Staley tried it - didn't work

Now I know Harbaugh is better than Staley and I think Hortiz will be strong - but this is a long term rebuild. You don't invest in the coaches for this to be a one and done type deal,m push a bunch of chips (cap space) and in two years, have to cut players for cap space. Want to be signing players that are the final pieces of the puzzle in Spring 2026.

[Bolt4Knob]

How can anyone not love Odunze? The highest rated player who mannned up and did every drill at the combine while showing his great personality. He actually stayed in the stadium after it was empty and did more on his own because he wasnt happy with his 3 cone drill. This is a Harbaugh player.

https://ca.yahoo.com/sports/news/rom...043036778.html

He really did well at the combine. Like you said, he might be in the mix at 5