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

[21&500]

This is the diffence between an 3rd round pick and a 1st round pick:

Travis Kelce:
Travis Kelce College Stats, School, Draft, Gamelog, Splits | College Football at Sports-Reference.com

Brock Bowers:
Brock Bowers College Stats, School, Draft, Gamelog, Splits | College Football at Sports-Reference.com

ya and sprinkle in some character concerns for Kelce
and character positives for BB, beyond the garden variety.
We recognize the need for a culture change, that has to be considered when selecting top 5.
Does this prospect embody the characteristics you want your team to be synonymous with?

That's a lesson learned from Dan Campbell when he picked Penei Sewell.

[Boltjolt]

Why does Bowers want to play for the Titans? Has that been established? You'd think if he had a preference it would the 49ers, him being from Napa. Or the Raiders, who used to hold training camp in Napa when they were in Oakland.

Would you rather draft Bowers at No. 5, or trade down with Atlanta for Kyle Pitts and some extra draft picks? Assuming the Falcons want a QB, would they be willing to trade Pitts, who they might see as a vital piece they need to keep if they are going to have a rookie QB.

Personally, I'm not keen on using the No. 5 pick on a TE. The best TE in the league last season was George Kittle, and he was a 5th round draft choice of the 49ers in 2017. OJ Howard, Evan Engram and David Njoku were first round picks that draft. Howard is out of the league. And while Engram and Njoku are good players they are not on Kittles level.

In 2018 the Ravens' 1st round pick was a TE, Hayden Hurst. They drafted another TE in the 3rd round - Mark Andrews, who is head over heels better than Hurst, one of the best TEs in the league.

The Falcons drafted Pitts at No. 4 in 2021. He is probably the best TE of that draft class. But the Steelers got Pat Freiermuth with the 23rd pick of the 2nd round. I'd argue that Freiermuth was the better value. As a rookie, with Ben Roethlisberger as his QB, he scored more TDs (7) than Pitts has in his entire career.

I'm just very hesitant to draft a TE at No. 5 when a guy like Ben Sinnott can be had in the 3rd or 4th round. I'd rather trade down to get more picks in rounds 2-4; a decent draft could turn the Chargers into a Lombardi contender in one season.

I won't hate it if they draft Bowers at No. 5, but I'll be disappointed if it turns out he's not the best TE in the draft.

He didnt really say that. I guess you didnt see the video. He was asked what team he would like to draft him and he first said, idk, it doesnt matter and pushed he said i like the south, maybe the Titans, i like it there in that area. In another video he was asked about if he were drafted by the Chargers and Harbaugh with Herbert. He said that would be awesome to play for coach Harbaugh and Herbert. He also said he is a Niners fan growing up.


I Personally i dont care what he said. He will play hard for whoever drafts him. All these players have a favorite team or preference if pushed for an answer but in the end, whoever is paying them is the where they will go.

Id like to trade down a little if we can still get him but if he is picked at 5, ....fine with that too. Id rather have Bowers than Pitts. The best TE last season was not Kittle. Even Kincaid had more receptions than Kittle, but he had the most yards by around 35 yards.

I saw Bucky Brooks mock yesterday and Alt went #10 to the Jets....so he isnt guaranteed top 5-8 either.

[Velo]

The best qb this century was Tom Brady .... qb hungry teams should jut wait it out until round 6.
Ryan Leif, Jamarcus russell, .....

You are cherry-picking one example.

All of the league's best QBs today were picked in the top half of the first round.

All of the league's best TEs were picked in the 2nd round or later. Kelce (3rd), Kittle (5th), Andrews (3rd), LaPorta (2nd)...

[Critty]

This is the diffence between an 3rd round pick and a 1st round pick:

Travis Kelce:
Travis Kelce College Stats, School, Draft, Gamelog, Splits | College Football at Sports-Reference.com

Brock Bowers:
Brock Bowers College Stats, School, Draft, Gamelog, Splits | College Football at Sports-Reference.com

For their college career. Bowers obviously has the numbers.
However in their final college season before entering draft ....
722yds and 8 TDs on 45 touches for Kelce is a little better production per touch than 742yds and 7 TDs on 62 touches for Bowers.

Travis is also 6'5 250.

Bowers is suppose to be 6'4 230.
He looks a bit smaller to me.

I just don't see Top 5, 10 or even 15 player.
And I know I'm one of the few that have him outside top 10.
But I just don't see special. I see a really good football player who after pick #15 would be worth drafting.

[powderblueboy]

You are cherry-picking one example.

All of the league's best QBs today were picked in the top half of the first round.

All of the league's best TEs were picked in the 2nd round or later. Kelce (3rd), Kittle (5th), Andrews (3rd), LaPorta (2nd)...

Jalen Hurst would have a bone to pick with you.

Tight ends and centers are not valued like many other positions.
The best ones generally fall to the 2nd, or later.

Maybe, analytically disposed people believe that that trend is about to change.
I don't know.

If you say that you (& most people) do not value tight ends as much, ..... that is perfectly fine.

[powderblueboy]

For their college career. Bowers obviously has the numbers.
However in their final college season before entering draft ....
722yds and 8 TDs on 45 touches for Kelce is a little better production per touch than 742yds and 7 TDs on 62 touches for Bowers.

Travis is also 6'5 250.

Bowers is suppose to be 6'4 230.
He looks a bit smaller to me.

I just don't see Top 5, 10 or even 15 player.
And I know I'm one of the few that have him outside top 10.
But I just don't see special. I see a really good football player who after pick #15 would be worth drafting.

Lets wait for the weigh in,
but he looks smaller to me, height wise.
He'll probably add a few combine pounds, but it would be nice to know his playing weight.

Maybe we can get Staley to contact his good, good friend Kirby Smart to find out.
Staley is still under contract, no?

4 million for just hanging around eating hot cheetos and feeling sorry for himself .... well, put him to use!!!

[Chargers8491]

For their college career. Bowers obviously has the numbers.
However in their final college season before entering draft ....
722yds and 8 TDs on 45 touches for Kelce is a little better production per touch than 742yds and 7 TDs on 62 touches for Bowers.

Travis is also 6'5 250.

Bowers is suppose to be 6'4 230.
He looks a bit smaller to me.

I just don't see Top 5, 10 or even 15 player.
And I know I'm one of the few that have him outside top 10.
But I just don't see special. I see a really good football player who after pick #15 would be worth drafting.

Bowers in his last season played in 10 games and Kelce 13. Bowers had ankle surgery last year. 1 inch and 20 lbs isn't that big of deal plus Bowers I'm sure is faster than Kelce but we will see official numbers at the combine.

[Velo]

Bowers in his last season played in 10 games and Kelce 13. Bowers had ankle surgery last year. 1 inch and 20 lbs isn't that big of deal plus Bowers I'm sure is faster than Kelce but we will see official numbers at the combine.

If Bowers is drafted in the top 5, he had better be the best TE in the league by his 2nd season. I think that is too premium of a draft pick to spend on a TE. Chances are he won't even be the best TE in his class. The best TE in the 2023 draft was the 2nd TE picked - Sam LaPorta, with the 2nd pick of the 2nd round.

The Bills made Dalton Kincaid the first TE off the board, at No. 25 overall. Kincaid had a solid rookie season, but he was not as good as LaPorta. Last year at this time, there was a big hard-on on this forum for Michael Mayer in the 1st round. Mayer ended up going one pick after LaPorta, high in the 2nd round, but he was just OK as a rookie. Maybe he takes a leap forward next season if the Raiders draft a QB, but I don't think he's as good as everyone here thought he was in the lead up to last year's draft.

In 2022 the Cardinals made Trey McBride the first TE off the board, at No. 55 in the 2nd round. He was solid in 2023 with more than 100 grabs and 3 TDs. But he is not the best TE in the 2022 draft - the Cowboys' Jake Ferguson is. Ferguson is 6-5, 244 lbs, the Cowboys got him in the 4th round, No. 129 overall.

I'm just saying, again, the first TE drafted does not usually end up being the best TE of his draft class. And if they draft Bowers at No. 5 he'd better be the best TE in the draft, and the best TE in the league by his 2nd season.

I believe the Chargers are better off in this draft trading down with a QB-needy team and stockpile picks in the 2nd, 3rd, 4th rounds and draft a good TE in one of those rounds while filling some other needs as well.

[Critty]

Bowers in his last season played in 10 games and Kelce 13. Bowers had ankle surgery last year. 1 inch and 20 lbs isn't that big of deal plus Bowers I'm sure is faster than Kelce but we will see official numbers at the combine.

10 games. 13 games. You are correct. But shouldn't that favor Kelce for being available. That is one of the best abilities.
I was talking about production of touches. They featured Bowers and gave him plenty of scheme open plays. The stat shows the yards gain on those touches and TDs scored. Kelce was a bit more productive on his touches final college season.
1 inch and 20 pounds isn't that big of a deal. No, but it sure helps. Bowers straight speed is better than Kelce. He should time well in 40 for TE. I'm not so sure his lateral agility is better than Kelce.

I just don't see top 5 pick.
Trade down to pick #14 and take Bowers would seem like a better use of draft picks. I think he could be there. I don't think NFL GMs and HCs are as sold as fans and pundits are. But we shall see how awful my take is. And for me it's not about where he gets pick. It's about how great he becomes in NFL..
I really like Fred Warner in his draft. When he was drafted Rd 3, I thought I overrated him as a top 50 player. But as the years went by, I had actually underrated him. Hindsight he was a top 25 player in that draft

I think Gray and Wilson the LBs of UNC and NC State are top 75 players. They may end up the two best LBs in the draft down the road. At least that is what I see when I watch tape.
Worth drafting and potential to be best LBs in the draft. But currently are not at top of the LB list that I'm seeing from all the news out there.

[Chargers8491]

10 games. 13 games. You are correct. But shouldn't that favor Kelce for being available. That is one of the best abilities.
I was talking about production of touches. They featured Bowers and gave him plenty of scheme open plays. The stat shows the yards gain on those touches and TDs scored. Kelce was a bit more productive on his touches final college season.
1 inch and 20 pounds isn't that big of a deal. No, but it sure helps. Bowers straight speed is better than Kelce. He should time well in 40 for TE. I'm not so sure his lateral agility is better than Kelce.

I just don't see top 5 pick.
Trade down to pick #14 and take Bowers would seem like a better use of draft picks. I think he could be there. I don't think NFL GMs and HCs are as sold as fans and pundits are. But we shall see how awful my take is. And for me it's not about where he gets pick. It's about how great he becomes in NFL..
I really like Fred Warner in his draft. When he was drafted Rd 3, I thought I overrated him as a top 50 player. But as the years went by, I had actually underrated him. Hindsight he was a top 25 player in that draft

I think Gray and Wilson the LBs of UNC and NC State are top 75 players. They may end up the two best LBs in the draft down the road. At least that is what I see when I watch tape.
Worth drafting and potential to be best LBs in the draft. But currently are not at top of the LB list that I'm seeing from all the news out there.

Oh don't get me wrong I'm totally for trading down if it makes sense and if they do trade down and can still get Bowers that is bonus. If they can't find a trade partner, then I wouldn't hesitate to take Bowers @5 and not look back.

[Chargers8491]

If Bowers is drafted in the top 5, he had better be the best TE in the league by his 2nd season. I think that is too premium of a draft pick to spend on a TE. Chances are he won't even be the best TE in his class. The best TE in the 2023 draft was the 2nd TE picked - Sam LaPorta, with the 2nd pick of the 2nd round.

The Bills made Dalton Kincaid the first TE off the board, at No. 25 overall. Kincaid had a solid rookie season, but he was not as good as LaPorta. Last year at this time, there was a big hard-on on this forum for Michael Mayer in the 1st round. Mayer ended up going one pick after LaPorta, high in the 2nd round, but he was just OK as a rookie. Maybe he takes a leap forward next season if the Raiders draft a QB, but I don't think he's as good as everyone here thought he was in the lead up to last year's draft.

In 2022 the Cardinals made Trey McBride the first TE off the board, at No. 55 in the 2nd round. He was solid in 2023 with more than 100 grabs and 3 TDs. But he is not the best TE in the 2022 draft - the Cowboys' Jake Ferguson is. Ferguson is 6-5, 244 lbs, the Cowboys got him in the 4th round, No. 129 overall.

I'm just saying, again, the first TE drafted does not usually end up being the best TE of his draft class. And if they draft Bowers at No. 5 he'd better be the best TE in the draft, and the best TE in the league by his 2nd season.

I believe the Chargers are better off in this draft trading down with a QB-needy team and stockpile picks in the 2nd, 3rd, 4th rounds and draft a good TE in one of those rounds while filling some other needs as well.

The reason I am high on Bowers is that I think he would flourish in the Chargers new offense and could be one of the best TEs in the league. Will he have the same production with the Chargers? I don't know but I sure do believe the potential is there especially if Herbert and Bowers build good chemistry during camp. IMHO, if Herbert gains trust in Bowers and he becomes a consistent outlet (security blanket) I believe the output will be off the charts.

[Velo]

The reason I am high on Bowers is that I think he would flourish in the Chargers new offense and could be one of the best TEs in the league. Will he have the same production with the Chargers? I don't know but I sure do believe the potential is there especially if Herbert and Bowers build good chemistry during camp. IMHO, if Herbert gains trust in Bowers and he becomes a consistent outlet (security blanket) I believe the output will be off the charts.

I'd draft him a second, toward the bottom of the first or in the top 3 picks of the 2nd round.