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

[Bolt4Knob]

agree with this. if we can pick up an extra pick, but still get one of the premium players, let's do it.

i think it will depend on what the draft team sees, if Bowers, Nabers, etc. blows them away, then it might be stay at 5 and make the pick. we can't get too cute for a 3rd round pick (that is what the Bosa trade is for).

Agree that Bosa &/or Mack could get you say a 4th and 5th (just to be conservative)..

But the Chargers can also trade back in the 2nd or 3rd round too. Giving up a top 5 pick - you better damn well be sure you are getting value. Trading down in the second round even from 37 to 50 - get your extra 4th - my guess, the gap between the players between 35 and 50 are probably much closer than between 5 and 10 in the first round. Thats where the talent is

So not opposed to trading back to maybe Atlanta - but thats it.

Get a 4th for Bosa, trade back in the 2nd for another 4th, get your 7th for Dru as a Comp pick
now you have 10 picks -- 6 by the 4th round - thats pretty good way to start

[Fouts2herbert]

To me, this illustrates the whole point, trade-down wise, is who you'll have access to drafting AFTER trading down.

If the Bolts trade down to, say, #20, there's virtually no doubt they completely miss out on this particular draft class's top tier talent.

If they trade down to... #9? There will STILL be a top tier guy there. Could still be Brock. But if it's not Brock, then it's Nabers. Possibly Odunze. Maybe Alt.

Because this trade down to #9 scenario nets a 3rd round pick, minimum-- and you're a team beginning a youth movement-- you make this move, if you can find the trade partner you need.

Maybe you CAN'T find the trade partner that ensures you a coveted top tier guy. But if you can? You do it, IMO.

Trading OUT of Blue Chip territory? No, I wouldn't recommend *that*.

Joe Hortiz is not trading down from #5 all the way to #9 for a 3rd rounder, besides, why would the Bears trade up? they already have the top pick and are probably trading down from there too, a big trade like that is going to involve a 2nd or 3rd in 2024 and probably a 1st or 2nd in 2025...I'd have to consult the draft chart for the right combination, but the only way that happens is if one of those teams in the lower part of the top ten goes after a QB...NY at #6 and ATL at #8 are the only teams in that part of the draft that need a QB...

The biggest trade partner will probably end up being the vikings at #11 and that would be a huge haul that would involve them targeting one of the top 3 QBs...with that move the Chargers could stilll get one of the top guys at either CB, Edge, DT, or OT...my thinking is they only make that trade down if they are targeting a CB in round #1, maybe the kid from Toledo at #11?

[gzubeck]

Joe Hortiz is not trading down from #5 all the way to #9 for a 3rd rounder, besides, why would the Bears trade up? they already have the top pick and are probably trading down from there too, a big trade like that is going to involve a 2nd or 3rd in 2024 and probably a 1st or 2nd in 2025...I'd have to consult the draft chart for the right combination, but the only way that happens is if one of those teams in the lower part of the top ten goes after a QB...NY at #6 and ATL at #8 are the only teams in that part of the draft that need a QB...

The biggest trade partner will probably end up being the vikings at #11 and that would be a huge haul that would involve them targeting one of the top 3 QBs...with that move the Chargers could stilll get one of the top guys at either CB, Edge, DT, or OT...my thinking is they only make that trade down if they are targeting a CB in round #1, maybe the kid from Toledo at #11?

The million dollar question is what will chicago do with Justin Fields? I think Chicago will eventually turn their team around just with the plethora of picks they have this year and maybe getting another second rounder for fields.

[Bolt4Knob]

The million dollar question is what will chicago do with Justin Fields? I think Chicago will eventually turn their team around just with the plethora of picks they have this year and maybe getting another second rounder for fields.

Justin Fields to Atlanta for a 2nd round pick and a 2025 conditional

Granted, that would take the Falcons out of trading up but also the cost is much cheaper both in terms of draft capital and contract unless Fields has a very good year

[Fouts2herbert]

The million dollar question is what will chicago do with Justin Fields? I think Chicago will eventually turn their team around just with the plethora of picks they have this year and maybe getting another second rounder for fields.

I have a feeling that they will be trading Fields to ATL and then draft williams #1, that will probably involve a swap of #7 pick for the #9 and maybe another pick next year like a #3 from ATL going to Chi in 2025...

I have Chicago drafting Williams #1 and then drafting the best available player at either #7 or #9...depending on if they deal Fields to ATL...Poles has manipulated the draft masterfully, I'm not crazy about his coaching choices but he has turned that roster around rather quickly...

[Boltx]

If Bowers is the starting TE, then yes, he will get plenty of snaps as a blocker. The same way our TE did this year.

Bowers is a good blocker. He is a better blocker than any TE we have on the roster the last few years. He is an upgrade there.

Bowers is a better receiver than blocker, but that doesn't mean he can't do some of both. If you look at the highlights of the GA RB, especially James Cook last year, Bowers is frequently pulling and leading him across the formation. While Bowers may lack bulk inside, he is a good lead blocker in space, and there just aren't a lot of those guys around at any position (OL,FB or TE).

As far as the clip (https://www.thepowderblues.com/forum...56#post1629956), the bigger issue *might* be that you have a TE - (ANY) TE - blocking a DE who has leverage. The days where NFL TE can block DE on their own are pretty much over. Most NFL teams don't try, or at least not very much. MOST TE coming out of college these days are not very good blockers, which is partly why Bowers is considered such a talent. He can't throw every block, but he can pull and lead, and he is not horrible blocking LB and S inline (or as part of a double vs a DE).

Pitts for all his ability was drafted more for his potential than his skill. He has a lot of talent and won a lot of deep balls in college. But he is not an NFL-caliber blocker and can't run routes (still). He has to beat people by running past them, or with his size. Bowers is a big receiver who can run routes, win with size and win contested catches. Bowers is a better (more skillful) route runner than Pitts. Pitts has more upside (talent) but he is not as refined or physical as Bowers. I don't think he is as smart either.

Steve - who would you go with at #5? Seems like you are a big Bowers fan?

I will say this for Pitts, he put up a very impressive rookie year going for over 1000 yards with an impressive 15 ypc (impressive for a TE). He then got hurt in 2022 and was kinda slowly recovering still from that injury this year, but put up respectable numbers despite Atlanta's QB situation. He hasn't exploded for a ton of TDs yet.

If Bowers is already a better prospect than Pitts, AND he's being inserted into a situation with an established QB/system, then he should hopefully flourish here.

[Fouts2herbert]

Steve - who would you go with at #5? Seems like you are a big Bowers fan?

I will say this for Pitts, he put up a very impressive rookie year going for over 1000 yards with an impressive 15 ypc (impressive for a TE). He then got hurt in 2022 and was kinda slowly recovering still from that injury this year, but put up respectable numbers despite Atlanta's QB situation. He hasn't exploded for a ton of TDs yet.

If Bowers is already a better prospect than Pitts, AND he's being inserted into a situation with an established QB/system, then he should hopefully flourish here.

why would Pitt's production even factor into the equation? ATL has not exactly been the kind of landing spot to showcase his vast potential, us drafting bowers at #5 would be a completely different situation than ATL drafting Pitts at #4, Bowers would be coming to team with one of the best QBs in the NFL who now also features one of the best coaches in the NFL...two COMPLETELY different situations and what happened in ATL has zero bearing on what would happen with Bowers in LA...

[Boltx]

why would Pitt's production even factor into the equation? ATL has not exactly been the kind of landing spot to showcase his vast potential, us drafting bowers at #5 would be a completely different situation than ATL drafting Pitts at #4, Bowers would be coming to team with one of the best QBs in the NFL who now also features one of the best coaches in the NFL...two COMPLETELY different situations and what happened in ATL has zero bearing on what would happen with Bowers in LA...

That was exactly my point.

But if you compare them as college players entering the draft...if you liked Pitts' potential, then you should LOVE Bowers. Especially coming here.

[Fouts2herbert]

That was exactly my point.

But if you compare them as college players entering the draft...if you liked Pitts' potential, then you should LOVE Bowers. Especially coming here.

Bowers is definitely my pick at this point, unless the vikings offer the chargers a crazy haul to move up from #11 to take a QB, I think they will stay put and take Bowers...if either a Vikings or ATL deal happen then the Chargers will probably go after the best defender on the board...I'm not crazy about either the Edge or IDL guys available at the top, I think the move in that case would have to be for one of the top CBs, I think there is more value there than on D-line at the top of the draft...but I need to do more research on the top defensive line guys this year...

[Boltjolt]

Kyle Pitts went #4

Kellen Winslow II the rapist went 6

[Boltjolt]

The Falcons also passed on Penei Sewell, Micah Parsons, and Rashawn Slater to take the "generational talent" at tight end in that draft.

I dont like that word generational. Its thrown around too often.

Pitts was not that. Pitts was a bigger Mike Wiliiams with more speed. He wasnt and isnt that good a blocker but he has talent. He had over 1000 yards as a rookie with Matt Ryan then he was shackled with rookie QBs that arent that good. He will put up better numbers but he isnt a true in line TE.

[CanadianBoltFan]

They wouldn't have drafted Jahmyr Gibbs over Penei Sewell. I doubt they would have drafted Brock Bowers over Penei Sewell, either.

Bengals at drafted a stud WR at #5 that changed their offense and made Joe Burrow better over Sewell. That would be taking Nabers over Alt.