2024 Chargers Draft Superthread - Prospect Discussion - Draft Has Started

[Fouts2herbert]

I pretty much agree with Critty, said weeks ago I had doubts Bowers college game would translate to the pros like so many are saying. Guess we’ll see.

what changed from last year? everyone here was on Bower's jock, is it because of the calf injury? I don't get it, the guy is actually available to us without need to trade up for him or anything like that and now he's not good enough for the pick? I swear if we were picking 15th folks on here would be talking all sorts of shit about trading future draft capital to go up and get him, LOL!

[blueman]

what changed from last year? everyone here was on Bower's jock, is it because of the calf injury? I don't get it, the guy is actually available to us without need to trade up for him or anything like that and now he's not good enough for the pick? I swear if we were picking 15th folks on here would be talking all sorts of shit about trading future draft capital to go up and get him, LOL!

Don’t recall even knowing he was alive last year lol. Just watching tape of him, not sure I see NFL elite. Good, yes. Top ten draft pick? Dunno.

One dude’s opinion.

[Fouts2herbert]

Don’t recall even knowing he was alive last year lol. Just watching tape of him, not sure I see NFL elite. Good, yes. Top ten draft pick? Dunno.

One dude’s opinion.

apparently it's not just your opinion, Critty thinks he's overrated too...I'm not sure what you guys are looking at that you don't like, SEC level competition his whole career and he made folks in that conference look silly, I keep hearing that the offense was tailor made for him, what does that even mean? if other teams knew the offense was being run through him why couldn't they stop it? if anything it just proves that he can carry...the guy is a bonafide offensive weapon on par with the best WRs in this draft, his catch radius, I mean the guy can go get it off the floor while running and maintain his balance, he snaps his hands out with cat like quickness and just snatches the ball out of the air, he can stretch to catch overthrows or he can bend around to catch balls behind him, like a fucking acrobat I've seen him spin around to catch passes thrown behind him then complete the spin and keep going, that type of spatial awareness combined with balance is not normal even for WRs and he has strong hands in contested catch situations...

The biggest issue you guys have with bowers is that he makes it look way too fucking easy so you have a hard time accepting what you are seeing...and let's not pretend he's had elite QB play under center...

[sonorajim]

Don’t recall even knowing he was alive last year lol. Just watching tape of him, not sure I see NFL elite. Good, yes. Top ten draft pick? Dunno.

One dude’s opinion.

During the 2023 draft, when there was a lot of interest in TE for the Chargers, several writers mentioned that the Geo TE that was coming in the '24 draft was much better. "Generational" was a common description.

I'm no expert but it's safe to say Bowers is stand- out good. "Generational" I dunno. Some think so.

[dmac_bolt]

During the 2023 draft, when there was a lot of interest in TE for the Chargers, several writers mentioned that the Geo TE that was coming in the '24 draft was much better. "Generational" was a common description.

I'm no expert but it's safe to say Bowers is stand- out good. "Generational" I dunno. Some think so.

It was posted many times last year, its when I learned the name.

[dmac_bolt]

Bowers is cheaper longterm even if his rookie contract pays him premium TE money, I don't care because I feel confident he can earn it...besides premium TE money is shit compared to premium WR money, he's not going to be a cap liability ever, how is that a bad thing?

i've seen a couple posts today on this angle is about, let me try to explain. In short - its about maximizing the VALUE of #5 pick. Teams have to blend draft picks with FAs to fill out a roster. Draft picks are locked in a fixed and defined contract. If the pick sucks, he got lucky. But if he's a pro-bowl player, he got short-paid for his first 4 years. How much he got short-paid depends on the position as some positions are paid more than others in FA. Looking at WR vs TE:

#5 pick contract will be ~$$9.3M APY - first year has lower cap hit - this is the avg over 4 years - picture below.

The current avg FA contract of the top 5 WRs today is $26.7M APY
The current avg FA contract of the top 5 TEs today is $15.41M APY

For a team to draft a PB WR + sign a FA PB TE = $25M per year
For a team to draft a PB TE + sign a FA PT WR = $36M per year

So a team can save an extra $11M that can be used elsewhere on the roster (available in their cap) by drafting the PB WR and signing the PB FA TE

This is one of those "all other things being equal" type of budgeting argument. If you think Bowers has by far the biggest impact on the team winning - the money debate should go away. But if you think a WR or OT can have as big an impact on the team, they are a better value (the FA OT market is about halfway between WR and TE, fyi)

image.png

[chargeroo]

I think Herbert to Bowers could be as lethal as Mahomes to Kelce. I'd love to se it but like I said before, I think that our first pick will be OT, even if we trade down.

[powderblueboy]

You are spot on about one thing, he definitely played against college players while he was competing in college football, but isn't that true for literally every single player in this draft except for that one Canadian DB that's eligible for the draft? Some might argue that he faced the highest caliber of players outside of the NFL because of the conference he played in but yeah, they were still college athletes, you're right...

I think the argument was that Bower's style of play will not translate well to the NFL because defenders on the 2nd level are too jacked .... Bowers will not run through them as easily, or sustain injuries trying to do so.

Personally, I haven't noticed Bowers trying to go through people any more than say a Gerald Everette.

[Charge!]

I think the argument was that Bower's style of play will not translate well to the NFL because defenders on the 2nd level are too jacked .... Bowers will not run through them as easily, or sustain injuries trying to do so.

Personally, I haven't noticed Bowers trying to go through people any more than say a Gerald Everette.

Many experts are saying Bowers is besrt TE prospect ofall time!..... and youy are comparing him with Everett? ......who has never made a major positive impact in a game.!..... and invisible in most.....

The Chargers have ignored the TE position for so many years...that fans have forgotton the importance of the position..........Henry was ok, but NOT great..... he is a good 2nd TE.....like Seivers was....

Bowers could end up being rookie of the year..... he will our run NFL LBers.... and many secondary players and run over those who can catcxh him.....

He is alreadvey very strong....but our new coaching staff will help him get bigger and stronger.... The best defenses in NFL: could not stop kelsie with no major threats at WR????... even doubling him did not work.....

Great TE's are the biggest mismatch for defenses to try and stop..... too fast and too powerful....

[Ghost of Quacksaw]

The biggest issue you guys have with bowers is that he makes it look way too fucking easy so you have a hard time accepting what you are seeing...and let's not pretend he's had elite QB play under center...

For the record, I am *not* anti-Bowers. In fact, I'd be very happy with the selection of Bowers following a trade down of 4 -5 spots.

His lack of blocking prowess has me raising an eyebrow, especially given the "We're going to out-physical you!" mentality that Jim Harbaugh brings in.

For me? That's it. No other concerns.

I *will* say this, though... Bowers doesn't have the weight room physique that so many NFL players do. So on a subliminal level, I think it's easy to find him less intimidating. What surprises me about Bowers' lack of chiseled-ness is that-- when I covered the Chargers-- there were maybe four or five guys on the entire roster who didn't have 'cut' physiques, and that was all. A guy who isn't especially muscular can *appear* soft, even if he's not.

[Critty]

if the same "point" applies to every player that ever played, than it doesn't apply to any single player in particular. I do agree we've reached the end of this circular argument.

your failed assessment doesn't seem relevant.

Betting on MHJ and Joe Alt are two good bets, has nothing to do with betting on Bowers.

Your post is pointless and literally irrelevant.
Bowers is a consensus top TE prospect no matter what my assessment is. That should be enough for you.

[Berserker76]

For the record, I am *not* anti-Bowers. In fact, I'd be very happy with the selection of Bowers following a trade down of 4 -5 spots.

His lack of blocking prowess has me raising an eyebrow, especially given the "We're going to out-physical you!" mentality that Jim Harbaugh brings in.

For me? That's it. No other concerns.

I *will* say this, though... Bowers doesn't have the weight room physique that so many NFL players do. So on a subliminal level, I think it's easy to find him less intimidating. What surprises me about Bowers' lack of chiseled-ness is that-- when I covered the Chargers-- there were maybe four or five guys on the entire roster who didn't have 'cut' physiques, and that was all. A guy who isn't especially muscular can *appear* soft, even if he's not.

Good point about the blocking prowess, maybe that's something that can be coached provided the player is willing? Regarding the physique, also true. I've known guys that shucked corn a good part of their lives and are stronger than an ox, without the "six-pack" look.