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

[gzubeck]

I dont. Everyone saying we should trade back for Osunze. Havnt even had a combine yet. lol Thats always moves the needle. He has moved up into the top 7 now by many. Everyone just going off rankings. Its sad. Watch the tape. Pay attention to the details. Nobody tracks the ball better on deep routes. He is Mike Williams on contested balls and Justin the king of throwing them.

You have stated your lack of desire for Rome. So at this point i get it. You and i will always disagree on this. Im not sure why so many butt heads with me regarding my draft obsessions. Honestly i hate to sound like a cocky asshole...but the record speaks for itself. I love Rome. And players i love have a hgh rate of success. Im proud of myself for how much i have learned over the years. I put a lot of time into it.

I don't see him as some kind of failure. Drafting someone 10 picks before we took QJ is not a failure. I just don't see him as a true #1. He will help any team he goes to...No Doubts there...we are just splitting hairs here as I see it...But I certainly would not take him over MH2 or Nabers...

[Fleet 1]

I don't see him as some kind of failure. Drafting someone 10 picks before we took QJ is not a failure. I just don't see him as a true #1. He will help any team he goes to...No Doubts there...we are just splitting hairs here as I see it...But I certainly would not take him over MH2 or Nabers...

Crazy speak i tell ya. he is a legit ace my man. Agree to disagree brother.

[gzubeck]

Crazy speak i tell ya. he is a legit ace my man. Agree to disagree brother.

Regardless...out of our hands really as the new GM and Head coach will decide which direction we go...There could be some crazy wheeling and dealing going on before our pick and the staff has to be prepared. So if we trade down because of a killer situation and draft him at #8 I would not flip out. You like a player great...I'm just being objective in what we can accomplish based on what other teams might do and I think we could easily get him at the 8-11 draft spot.

[blueman]

I’d be happy with any of the top 3 WRs. (moreso than Bowers, but you didn’t hear that from me).

[el_jefe999]

My ideal scenario is that a QB falls and atlanta or tennessee want to move up allowing us to get at least an extra day 2 pick if not more and still have a top ten selection. We may miss out on Nabors, Alt and Bowers but I would be ok with BPA at corner, wr, edge and OL that are left. We have significant needs at all so we need to start stacking the talent.

[blueman]

Safe to assume, MW is gone. That leaves Allen (restructured), Palmer, QJ, and DD…and all are complimentary type WRs, not an alpha among them. I really like all four of them, but that’s like saying you really like your James Bond film collection, but you don’t own any of the Connery classics.

Where’s the alpha? And no, I doubt we find one in later rounds, only more complimentary types. Full up on those. IMHO we need that alpha WR more than Bowers, get Herbie a sure-handed TE in later rounds.

That said, I’ll do the happy dance if it’s Bowers, just cuz.

[Budsman]

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).

I can answer some of your questions at least pertaining to how I view things:

I don't know how some guys get passes and some don't, other than just holding a bias (Pipkins).

I don’t get why someone like Pipkins get the leash he gets. Johnson gets the leash because he’s still on a rookie contract. Salyer was very good last year and deserves another shot and Slater was good the year before. Imho Salyer and Slater should be our bookends and pipkins the swing tackle but pipkins is a very expensive swing tackle. on a side note I think changing blocking schemes could have negatively effected the line as well this year and next year it might again so here’s hoping…

I don't know how people can be critical of the RB when they are hit in the backfield so much.

That’s clearly a problem but the bigger problem in my opinion is that when hit in the backfield Ekeler and to a lesser extent Kelly can’t break a tackle and get a yard or two when it counts. Ekeler gets arm tackled too often to run between the tackles. He’s not meant to be that but we use him like that for some reason, maybe because we pay him like an every down back…

I’m critical of all the arm tackles Ekler gets rekt with between the tackles give him space and he’s a difference maker and can break tackles vs dbs and some linebackers but not vs 300 lb lineman.

If Ekeler came back at a market value deal and took on that gadget role that he does so well I would love him back on a 1-2 year deal but not for what I’m sure he’s going to demand.

On a side note maybe Lombardi understood the offensive pieces we had better than we thought. We have some Olineman who can’t run block and a passcatching back who can’t run between the tackles. So let’s pass 60+% of the time to maximize our effectiveness. It makes you wonder if he wasn’t a scape goat…


I agree with the TE needing weapons, right now no defense game plans for any of our TEs. We need someone who can make a team pay for mismatching them and Everett while solid is not that guy. I agree that it’s a deep WR class and I hope we trade back and get bowers and some ol and we help. But if that doesn’t happen the value of the draft spot is going to be OL and WR imho.

[Budsman]

Safe to assume, MW is gone. That leaves Allen (restructured), Palmer, QJ, and DD…and all are complimentary type WRs, not an alpha among them. I really like all four of them, but that’s like saying you really like your James Bond film collection, but you don’t own any of the Connery classics.

Where’s the alpha? And no, I doubt we find one in later rounds, only more complimentary types. Full up on those. IMHO we need that alpha WR more than Bowers, get Herbie a sure-handed TE in later rounds.

That said, I’ll do the happy dance if it’s Bowers, just cuz.

Love your Connery quote

I agree with you to a point but I think it was quite obvious that Allen is still an alpha, the problem is we don’t have anyone who can stretch a field to make teams pay for overcommitting to takijg him out. DD could be that guy but we need a reciever who can threaten over the top and that doesn’t have to be an alpha, that could be an 2nd or third rounder.

Also Just having a weapon like Bowers could do that for Allen as well but it would be good to have a true deep threat as well.

[Boltgang74]

Basically we need alot on both sides of the ball.

[AK47]

Safe to assume, MW is gone. That leaves Allen (restructured), Palmer, QJ, and DD…and all are complimentary type WRs, not an alpha among them. I really like all four of them, but that’s like saying you really like your James Bond film collection, but you don’t own any of the Connery classics.

Where’s the alpha? And no, I doubt we find one in later rounds, only more complimentary types. Full up on those. IMHO we need that alpha WR more than Bowers, get Herbie a sure-handed TE in later rounds.

That said, I’ll do the happy dance if it’s Bowers, just cuz.

Yeah I think we need to move on from MW. This was his 3rd "out for the season" season now. 2 good seasons out of 7.

[el_jefe999]

I'm definitely looking foward to the combine which can change a lot but Odunze gives me AJ brown vibes. Similar if not more size and great ball skills as well as having YAC ability including at least one punt return TD in his college career. A trade down and picking up a 2nd plus Odunze or Bowers sure seems nice.

[Chargers8491]

I feel like Bowers round 1 still gives us a chance at a stud WR in the high 2nd. But man im so hard on for Odunze. Nabers right there also. Harrison obviously. If i knew Sanders would be there in the 2nd? Im all over one of the elite WRs. All 3 guys are elite. But i have been a massive Odunze guy for a while now. Shorter Mike Evans.

Would not be shocked if Terion Arnold has a monster combine. And skyrockets. Does he overtake McKinstry? His teammate? The ceiling on Arnold is immense.

FWIW, Jeremiah has us taking Odunze in his first mock. He said Odunze is his favorite player in the draft.

Daniel Jeremiah 2024 NFL mock draft 1.0: Bears, Commanders, Patriots, Saints pick quarterbacks