And With The 5th Pick Of The NFL Draft Chargers Select....Discussion

[Steve]

Even if we keep an aging Allen, I believe we DO want/need to draft a WR. Apparently they go down to injury quite easily. And I'd LOVE to see a blue chip WR with Justin Herbert. Would open up SO many possibilities.

We REALLY need a TE. We need to use a quality pick on a TE.

Herbert had his best 2 season were his 1st and 2nd. Henry and Cook were his TE, and he was pretty good when he had them. Herbert's slide his 2nd year coincides with Cook's drop in play. And someone else in a thread pointed out how many of the playoff teams have good TE.

I am fine keeping Everret as a 2nd TE or pass-catching FB, but he isn't a starting-caliber TE. He is a more athletic version of Virgil Green. You can scheme him the ball, and once in a great while he will make a play downfield, but he is not much of a route runner. He is better just dumping him the ball behind the line and letting him use his athletic ability to get some yards. But he is not going to develop as a real receiver as a TE.

Parham can fill one roster spot. He is an OK blocker and has his moments as a receiver. But, at best, I don't think he is any better than a solid #2 TE, and he still has to improve to get that far. He is not a horrible player,but he is a spot guy.

The RB situation might be OK, although finding an OC who could use Ekeler would help IF Ekeler is willing to come back (kind of a big if).

Yes, we do need a WR. We still have hope that QJ is going to play well, and if the other pass-catching positions step up, then it would give a young WR time to come on, provided we bring back Allen. If Allen and Williams leave, we have to get a WR with #1.

When I was watching GB and Dallas, I couldn't help but think how much our pass protection needs to improve. Love shredded Dallas, because he had plenty of time to hit his guys on blitzes and destroy Dallas. We need a C and another OG, so we can slide Salyer outside to compete with Pipkins, but RT, both OG and C need to play better. I think Zion can still be a good player, but Slater is our only OL who played well last year, and that was not up to his standard of play.

[Budsman]

We REALLY need a TE. We need to use a quality pick on a TE.

Herbert had his best 2 season were his 1st and 2nd. Henry and Cook were his TE, and he was pretty good when he had them. Herbert's slide his 2nd year coincides with Cook's drop in play. And someone else in a thread pointed out how many of the playoff teams have good TE.

I am fine keeping Everret as a 2nd TE or pass-catching FB, but he isn't a starting-caliber TE. He is a more athletic version of Virgil Green. You can scheme him the ball, and once in a great while he will make a play downfield, but he is not much of a route runner. He is better just dumping him the ball behind the line and letting him use his athletic ability to get some yards. But he is not going to develop as a real receiver as a TE.

Parham can fill one roster spot. He is an OK blocker and has his moments as a receiver. But, at best, I don't think he is any better than a solid #2 TE, and he still has to improve to get that far. He is not a horrible player,but he is a spot guy.

The RB situation might be OK, although finding an OC who could use Ekeler would help IF Ekeler is willing to come back (kind of a big if).

Yes, we do need a WR. We still have hope that QJ is going to play well, and if the other pass-catching positions step up, then it would give a young WR time to come on, provided we bring back Allen. If Allen and Williams leave, we have to get a WR with #1.

When I was watching GB and Dallas, I couldn't help but think how much our pass protection needs to improve. Love shredded Dallas, because he had plenty of time to hit his guys on blitzes and destroy Dallas. We need a C and another OG, so we can slide Salyer outside to compete with Pipkins, but RT, both OG and C need to play better. I think Zion can still be a good player, but Slater is our only OL who played well last year, and that was not up to his standard of play.

I agree with your TE take. I had hopes Parham would step up and take the TE position away from Everett but he didn’t so that says a lot.

I don’t agree with your RB take. We have a very bad RB core and Ekeler is gone, and good riddance. He is a very good third down back who when in a pass first and always Lombardi offense can be really good but he’s on the wrong side of the age scale and we need to get younger or at least bigger. We can get a back in the third round who can come in and give this team more in the running game than Ekeler and Kelly.

I don’t think this team can get rid of Allen, MW is gone but Allen a new offense weapon, Palmer, QJ and Davis aren’t bad. I too think Bowers makes a lot of sense if they trade back a few picks but if they stay where they are the value is WR.

We have a good amount of OL talent it just needs to be coached up. Salyer slater and Johnson should be performing better. Pipkins is what he’s always been mediocre to bad.

[Go Chargers go]

Tayson hill from saints and mo alli cox, njoku, mark anders and even kelce could be on chopping block

hunter henry is a FA

i think Mike Evans will be available, due to his durability and red zone ability, I would pay him over Allen

[dmac_bolt]

He is not a classic burner, or X receiver with ridiculous athleticism no, but he is a baller. But he still put up more yards as a rookie than any receiver in NFL history, including all the flashy thoroughbreds.

The Hines Ward comparison was a very good one. Hines had a pretty significant career, helping his team win.

If being the best rookie in the history of the sport, since the beginning of time, doesn’t show you can play, idunno what will. SMH.

[Boltjolt]

If being the best rookie in the history of the sport, since the beginning of time, doesn’t show you can play, idunno what will. SMH.

With a now 17 game schedule, some records will fall. OJ Simpson for example rushed for the first 2000 yards season in a 14 game schedule. Been done more times since in a 16 game schedule and for more than he had.

We will see another single season passing yards record at some point.

Nacua was just flat good as a rookie. Enough said, but he got an extra game lol.

[Steve]

I agree with your TE take. I had hopes Parham would step up and take the TE position away from Everett but he didn’t so that says a lot.

I don’t agree with your RB take. We have a very bad RB core and Ekeler is gone, and good riddance. He is a very good third down back who when in a pass first and always Lombardi offense can be really good but he’s on the wrong side of the age scale and we need to get younger or at least bigger. We can get a back in the third round who can come in and give this team more in the running game than Ekeler and Kelly.

I don’t think this team can get rid of Allen, MW is gone but Allen a new offense weapon, Palmer, QJ and Davis aren’t bad. I too think Bowers makes a lot of sense if they trade back a few picks but if they stay where they are the value is WR.

We have a good amount of OL talent it just needs to be coached up. Salyer slater and Johnson should be performing better. Pipkins is what he’s always been mediocre to bad.

Our offense is inconsistent and bad at times because of the OL. There is some talent there, but we are held back because of it. I don't know how some guys get passes and some don't, other than just holding a bias (Pipkins). He isn't great, but he is about average. He should be someone that we are looking to improve over, but with both OG and C are playing badly, it is hard for me to be too critical of the guy who is playing better. I agree coaching should help. But the OL performance is non-existent in the run game, and it handcuffs the offensive playcalling.

I don't know what the state of the RB is. I don't know how people can be critical of the RB when they are hit in the backfield so much. Hard for an RB to avoid a defender in close quarters when they have to change direction before they are up to speed. It is hurting the WR too, but not as much as the RB. As far as pass-catching RB goes, if we are going to replace Ekeler, we need to find a back who is quick like him. Quickness is what allows him to make the cuts and get all the yardage. Then, hopefully, good coaching will work, but Ekeler is one of the few RB who can really be used downfield and attack defenses as a receiver. He hasn't been used that way much in the last 2 years, but when he was at his best, that is how he was used. Back under Steichen's offense (2018-2019), he played out of the slot and out wide between 25% and 33% of the time. 3rd down backs typically last a lot longer than most other RB, although he has been used like a classic RB so much, he may be wearing down. I don't think wear and tear will be the issue as much with him staying as is our cap space.

I don't think the TE thing is as much about who we take as it is about adding weapons and capability at that position. There have been a lot of good TE in last years draft, and this year looks good too, but we have to add a TE or two who can be effective. Parham is part of that, but we need a real starter. There are so many WR available while it is a real need, it can probably wait. The TE classes seem to be going back to kinda awful (looking at the 2025 class).

[sonorajim]

Every offensive play starts with OL. Ours was not playing well. We need a C. I'd take a good FA, let the new coaches look over our depth for a potential C they can work with. Draft a C if necessary.
I'm not happy with OL coaching and plays. We need an OC and OL coach that can help our OL win at the LOS. It isn't ALL about talent. It's also training,and plays as a team within a team. Our OL looked lost too often in 2023.

TE Bowers brings some Keenan in a bigger, younger body. A very useful target and a strong, smart blocker. He's my 1A.

We need a #1 RB by @ rd 3. Ek is done. Others- meh.

[blueman]

Every offensive play starts with OL. Ours was not playing well. We need a C. I'd take a good FA, let the new coaches look over our depth for a potential C they can work with. Draft a C if necessary.
I'm not happy with OL coaching and plays. We need an OC and OL coach that can help our OL win at the LOS. It isn't ALL about talent. It's also training,and plays as a team within a team. Our OL looked lost too often in 2023.

TE Bowers brings some Keenan in a bigger, younger body. A very useful target and a strong, smart blocker. He's my 1A.

We need a #1 RB by @ rd 3. Ek is done. Others- meh.

If Ekeler is gone, Bowers makes even more sense for Herbert.

[AK47]

If Ekeler is gone, Bowers makes even more sense for Herbert.

RB production is easier to replace than a starting Center. What's the deal with our Center. Is he retiring or something?

[gzubeck]

RB production is easier to replace than a starting Center. What's the deal with our Center. Is he retiring or something?

Health issues.

[Fouts2herbert]

RB production is easier to replace than a starting Center. What's the deal with our Center. Is he retiring or something?

99% he said, I think it's basically a confirmation that his heart issue is not something that can be risked by playing...

[Fouts2herbert]

unless the chargers think Zion has a future playing at center, I can't imagine that they don't draft a center by round three...at the senior bowl a couple of years ago Johnson put on a show playing center, much will depend on how the new staff evaluates each position...I still think this team has a good young core of players to build around, but they either draft or sign a replacement for Linsley and for Pete's sake! please end the jaimes to center experiment...

I still think that there's enough on the roster to turn this O-line around quickly and I've always said that you have to continually invest on the O-line thru the draft...