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

[blueman]

the picture is not as bleak as you paint it, the OL is a solid center away from being complete, they were one of the best units on the team to start 2023 before linsley went down with the heart thing...there is already enough on OL be competitive and Hortiz being a Baltimore guy you know they are going to beef it up even more during the draft...Keenan is coming back, and I'll say the same about the WR room, it's not as bad as you make it out to be...KA, QJ, JP, DD, and they might bring back guyton and still draft a guy in mid to late rounds in a very deep WR class as well...considering all the issues of last season it is way way beyond premature to give up on QJ already...

based on what Bowers has already put on tape, do honestly think he won't be an issue for opposing defenses? this team is already losing MW and Ekeler and Austin was one of Herbert's favorite go to guys in critical passing situations...they need another guy to help fill that void...The Charger TE room is in shambles, there is almost nothing there...they need to Bowers big time...

You make a good case for drafting WR high to replace MW, and signing SB to replace Ekeler lol.

For the record, I too don’t think the O is that bad, just hampered by injuries/a couple incomplete players/WTF schemes. I also think a lot of TEs in this draft would upgrade our TE room (cuz that cupboard is that bare lol), doesn’t have to be Bowers. I like all the top three WRs better than Bowers cuz I see them as more complete players, just what I see.

I think Harbaugh really likes QJ, won’t draft a WR in the first, and will try to do a trade down and get a D guy plus more picks.

[Bolt4Knob]

You make a good case for drafting WR high to replace MW, and signing SB to replace Ekeler lol.

For the record, I too don’t think the O is that bad, just hampered by injuries/a couple incomplete players/WTF schemes. I also think a lot of TEs in this draft would upgrade our TE room (cuz that cupboard is that bare lol), doesn’t have to be Bowers. I like all the top three WRs better than Bowers cuz I see them as more complete players, just what I see.

I think Harbaugh really likes QJ, won’t draft a WR in the first, and will try to do a trade down and get a D guy plus more picks.

I think the Chargers would sign a RB like Gus Edwards over Barkley - half the cost plus the Ravens connections

Chargers WR - even as they probably move on from Williams is still in better shape than the TE room. I still have Bowers at 5 as I think the WR depth in the draft is better than TE. Granted, if say NE pulls a shocker and doesn't take QB, the Cardinals are probably not taking QB - all of the sudden 5 becomes a prime spot to trade up for maybe the Falcons or Vikings (bears jets and broncos don't have the draft capital this year)

[Chargers8491]

Not getting the argument Bowers coming to us means he’s coming to an established and successful O. Even with Herbert, our O kinda sucked, especially late in games (3rd quarter, anyone?). We also have a big hurdle with not winning one-score games. Could a player like Bowers help with that? Sure I can see the possibilities, maybe, hard telling, but so could a lot of the top talent in this draft, we need help everywhere. 5-12.

Trade down seems most prudent, more picks (especially the first few rounds) means more chances to land some good players.

TT gets a lot of shit for his drafts but to be honest his drafts weren't his problem. His problem was hiring shitty coaches who hired shitty coordinators who didn't develop the talent that was drafted. The point is this team is not lacking the talent the fans think it is. Do they need some upgrades or fills? Yea but it's not depleted. If they don't trade back they will be fine. They could also trade back in the 2nd and 3rd rnds to pick up additional picks which if IIRC, Baltimore did that a lot. Unless they get an offer that blows their socks off just stay put, take Bowers, and don't look back.

[Fouts2herbert]

You make a good case for drafting WR high to replace MW, and signing SB to replace Ekeler lol.

For the record, I too don’t think the O is that bad, just hampered by injuries/a couple incomplete players/WTF schemes. I also think a lot of TEs in this draft would upgrade our TE room (cuz that cupboard is that bare lol), doesn’t have to be Bowers. I like all the top three WRs better than Bowers cuz I see them as more complete players, just what I see.

I think Harbaugh really likes QJ, won’t draft a WR in the first, and will try to do a trade down and get a D guy plus more picks.

If you don't mind me asking, why don't you like Bowers? He looks like a superstar to me, and the though of pairing him up with Herbert just seems too good to pass up...

[blueman]

If you don't mind me asking, why don't you like Bowers? He looks like a superstar to me, and the though of pairing him up with Herbert just seems too good to pass up...

I like Bowers, and if that’s the pick I’m not gonna hate on it at all, definitely addresses a need with a stud. Just think the top 3 WRs project to a higher NFL ceiling. Again, if we pick Bowers and he’s all that and a bag of chips, I’ll be happy to be wrong, I usually am lol.

[Bolt4Knob]

TT gets a lot of shit for his drafts but to be honest his drafts weren't his problem. His problem was hiring shitty coaches who hired shitty coordinators who didn't develop the talent that was drafted. The point is this team is not lacking the talent the fans think it is. Do they need some upgrades or fills? Yea but it's not depleted. If they don't trade back they will be fine. They could also trade back in the 2nd and 3rd rnds to pick up additional picks which if IIRC, Baltimore did that a lot. Unless they get an offer that blows their socks off just stay put, take Bowers, and don't look back.

Fair point about bad coaching hires but his drafts were also the problem. There is a chart that over his 11 years, if you take out the QB and passing game, his teams ranked 3rd worst in the NFL. Only like 4 or 5 of his non first rounders signed a second contract with the team

And maybe John was also helping make the decisions - but by those metrics - he was a bottom tier GM. I wish him similar success with the Raiders - though less playoff wins and less playoff appearances.

[Chargers8491]

Fair point about bad coaching hires but his drafts were also the problem. There is a chart that over his 11 years, if you take out the QB and passing game, his teams ranked 3rd worst in the NFL. Only like 4 or 5 of his non first rounders signed a second contract with the team

And maybe John was also helping make the decisions - but by those metrics - he was a bottom tier GM. I wish him similar success with the Raiders - though less playoff wins and less playoff appearances.

Team rankings is that players or shitty coaching? I believe a majority of that is shitty coaching. Also, if you look at some of the players that moved on different teams they played a lot better than they did here.

[Boltjolt]

I think the Chargers would sign a RB like Gus Edwards over Barkley - half the cost plus the Ravens connections

Chargers WR - even as they probably move on from Williams is still in better shape than the TE room. I still have Bowers at 5 as I think the WR depth in the draft is better than TE. Granted, if say NE pulls a shocker and doesn't take QB, the Cardinals are probably not taking QB - all of the sudden 5 becomes a prime spot to trade up for maybe the Falcons or Vikings (bears jets and broncos don't have the draft capital this year)

I dont want Gus Edwards either lol. He has zero recieving skills and is just a depth guy. He only has been starting in Baltimore because Dobbins keeps getting these devastating injuries. And even then he was splitting time with the rookie Keaton Mitchell til he tore his ACL.

Just me, but i Just draft a RB or two. Even if we sign Swift he will cost 5 mil a year or more. Id rather use that towards a OC or CB. Might be able to get Antonio Gibson for 3-4 mil a year and he is younger at 26, will be 27 when season starts. Gus will be 29.

This offseason we will see some surprises. Cant wait to see what they do.

[Riverwalk]

So Bowers it is.

on to the next round…..

[Steve]

A couple of other things to remember about TE

1). Since so few teams have good pass-catching TE is that the offenses tend to be a bit more prolific. If you take the production from a bunch of TE who are just guys ... it becomes tough to overcome the overall lack of production even if you have 3 top notch WR. A good pass catching RB can help, but we are (probably) going to lose that too. And it is not like our 3rd WR has ever been that productive.

2). Inline TE are kinda hard to double team. You can do it, but it messes up the structure of the D, and that leads to coverage breakdowns and stuff that helps the players around them.

3). Some of the problems we have faced lately offensively is that we simply do not attack defenses in the middle of the field very well. Most good D need to be forced to defend the entire field, and our inconsistency on offense shows because of it.

4). As far as roster building goes, TE are cheaper than WR are. The savings allow us to address other positions at some point, and if we are as successful as we think with a good young TE and HC who likes to use them (both as blockers and receivers), the extra money should help to sustain the roster.

[Steve]

I wouldn't exactly say Bowers has been dinged up all that much. He played all 15 games his first two years, then missed 5 games last year...still played in 10. Better than Bosa...

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https://www.footballdb.com/players/b...wers-bower0037

TE is a contact position. He may not have missed games, but he has been taking hits and those add up over time. I don't worry about the injury thing myself, because basically everyone except K and P have plenty of minor injuries that add up. But given the past discussions on this (and previous versions) of this board, I have been surprised it hasn't come up.

[beachcomber]

am not a Bowers guy, and.... re: his injury thing.... am a proponent/believer in that injuries largely come from a player's mindset, and.... don't think you can question Bowers mindset ??