2024 Chargers Draft Superthread - Prospect Discussion - Draft Has Started

[Chargers8491]

My 3 round mock is looking something like this:

1) Bowers TE
2a) Martin DT
2b) Colson LB
3) Allen RB

This is assuming the Chargers trade down and pick up an extra 2nd which I think will happen. I'm hoping they can pick up an extra 3rd. The middle of the draft is going to have a lot of good players.

[CanadianBoltFan]

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

Seems like a more solid dude than Nabers, love his personality. I will not be shocked if he ends up better than Nabers. I think it was Velo who suggested trading to 8 and getting Odunze. I will be fully on board with that.

Rome Odunze, WR, Washington:

Odunze was a masterful technician in position drills and showed why he's my No. 2 wide receiver in this class. During the gauntlet drill, when receivers need to hold the line while sprinting horizontally across the field and catching alternating passes, Odunze showcased body control, balance and concentration. During testing, he was equally impressive at 6-3 and 212 pounds with a 4.45-second run in the 40-yard dash, a 39-inch vertical and a 10-4 broad jump. Odunze looks the part of a future All-Pro and backed up my pro player comparison of Ja'Marr Chase with his workout. -- Miller ESPN

[powderblueboy]

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...

Too complicated.

Trade down - fine.

But I wouldn't pigeon hole myself into whom I should draft each round: side of the ball and position.

Against the Chiefs, the Charger interior needs to be fixed first and foremost, and they need to bring more pressure.
The Chargers actually have the pieces to bring pressure - attacking the Chiefs tackles, but one of them can't stay healthy
and they might get rid of two of them.

Sorry Boltnut, but getting a stud corner to take away Justin Watson or Rashee Rice doesn't do it for me.
The Bengal D gives the Chiefs fits and their corners suck.

[powderblueboy]

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

At 6'3", his 3 cone drill was very good.

Talking about the Chiefs and their midget corners - he might be an excellent choice.
Mdub gave the Chiefs fits, but he never could stay healthy ... banged up playing or sitting.

[Chargers8491]

Didn't see this posted:

2024 NFL draft: OT Joe Alt confirms meeting with Chargers (msn.com)

[powderblueboy]

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.

How did you trade Mack for 8 players again? And would any of these players be any good?

A 4rth round pick is a project ..... even the Ravens more often miss than hit on those.

[DerwinBosa]

If you wanna count trades we should probably add the big ticket FA's like Linsley and Bulaga.

point is Reid hasn't invested more in OL. He's just a better coach and they have been better evaluators. Rashee Rice turned out better than QJ. Tyreek was 1st round talent but had personal issues. They also found Pacheco in the 7th. What Reid has done is drafted defensive players well.

hopefully we have a coach and staff that can maximize our guys

Uh, yes he has. When you're spending higher picks and more money on the offensive line than you are on skill players, you're investing more in the offensive line.

[CanadianBoltFan]

At 6'3", his 3 cone drill was very good.

Talking about the Chiefs and their midget corners - he might be an excellent choice.
Mdub gave the Chiefs fits, but he never could stay healthy ... banged up playing or sitting.

Yes his cone drill was very good, but the article said he still wasnt happy because he slightly nickd a cone. Guy is a committed baller. Was in an empty stadium after the combine working on his own. Compare that to Nabers not doing a thing. I am starting to lean Odunze of the two.

[Fouts2herbert]

Too complicated.

Trade down - fine.

But I wouldn't pigeon hole myself into whom I should draft each round: side of the ball and position.

Against the Chiefs, the Charger interior needs to be fixed first and foremost, and they need to bring more pressure.
The Chargers actually have the pieces to bring pressure - attacking the Chiefs tackles, but one of them can't stay healthy
and they might get rid of two of them.

Sorry Boltnut, but getting a stud corner to take away Justin Watson or Rashee Rice doesn't do it for me.
The Bengal D gives the Chiefs fits and their corners suck.

It's not a pigeon hole, it's an analysis of where the talent clusters fall in this draft, there are discernible patterns in the top 100 players available in the draft, identifying those patterns and having a plan to capitalize on them to maximize value is not a bad thing...

[powderblueboy]

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.

You have no arguments about what Arjun says about Pipkins - that the coaching staff put him in more tough assignments than most OTs, and then you backtrack, claiming that tight ends are chipping to help out Pip pretty much every pass play, and that his feet are sluggish.

Which is it?

[blueman]

Corollary:

We will draft a lot of Michigan boys, especially late. Scheme-ready warriors the coaches will trust.

[Fouts2herbert]

I can't tell you guys the difference from last year to this year, the excitement for this offseason despite all the issues at the top of the roster with cap hits and such, there is a level of anticipation I haven't felt in a very long time...so excited right now, the next week or so should reveal more as to how they will attack this draft...

This year is different, I'm not setting my sights on specific guys as much as in years past because I'm experiencing a level of confidence in the FO that I haven't felt in a very long time...so although my instincts tell me it's going to be a defensive prospect heavy draft, I feel like it could also go completely the opposite way and still make the team a lot better than it was...one thing is painfully obvious, this roster is no where near as good as what most of the pundits think...