Justin Herbert is of course the exception. He is probably the best player of the entire 2020 draft, and looks to be the best of the 3 QBs who went in the top of the draft, even though he was the third one taken. But he was a no-brainer pick, and a bit of a stroke of luck for Telesco that he appears to be better than everyone thought.
However beyond Herbert, the picks in the last two drafts are underwhelming and this is contributing to the Chargers' struggles this season.
The best player in the 2019 draft appears to be 4th rounder Drue Tranquill and he is not playing this season. Tillery is a decent situational player, but his best role appears as a part-time pass rusher or as a backup to Joey Bosa, not the 3-down interior anchor DL he was drafted to be. Adderly is just a guy right now, and I'm not sure what Pipkins is. Stick, Egbule and Broughton are non-factors.
Evaluating below the Herbert pick in this year's, Kenneth Murray is not the impact player we were expecting. He's just a guy too at this point, he hasn't flashed any playmaking ability and for this Telesco gave up high picks in the 2nd & 3rd rounds. There are UDFAs who are better RBs than Joshua Kelley. With the two RBs ahead of him on the depth chart at the beginning of the season out with injuries, Kelley has not stepped up and is backing up a guy signed off the street (Ballage). At this point, I think Pope brings more pop to the running game than Kelley. Reed, Gillman and Hill are pretty much non-factors at this point. Reed has at least scored once, but neither he nor Hill are contributors in the passing game, and two UDFAs are getting more playing time and make more plays than either. Gillman was supposed to be the answer for AP leaving, but I don't think he's played a single snap.
It's too early to speculate on a redo for either draft, but I will point out that some damn good WRs went in the 2nd round last year (Deebo Samuel, Mercole Hardman, AJ Brown, DK Metcalf). Metcalf came off the board a few picks after Adderly. Given the rather sizeable drop-off at WR after Mike Williams since Ty Will's departure, it's a damn shame we didn't nab one of those guys. Chase Claypool was available in the 2nd round this year. There was some decent OL talent available high in the 2nd round in last year's draft as well.
When you compare the last two drafts to the 2018 draft, you see a big difference. Derwin James was a no-brainer pick too, a stroke of luck that he fell so far into Telesco's lap. Even with his injuries, at this point I would not want to have drafted anyone else. When you evaluate past James in the 2018 draft, you see players who are contributing: Nwosu, Justin Jones, Kyzir White, QBerry, Justin Jackson. The only bust in the draft was Cantrell, with Justin Jackson on the injury bust bubble.
This team needs more from the 2018 and 2019's rookies, and Telesco can't afford to have another lackluster draft in 2021.
However beyond Herbert, the picks in the last two drafts are underwhelming and this is contributing to the Chargers' struggles this season.
The best player in the 2019 draft appears to be 4th rounder Drue Tranquill and he is not playing this season. Tillery is a decent situational player, but his best role appears as a part-time pass rusher or as a backup to Joey Bosa, not the 3-down interior anchor DL he was drafted to be. Adderly is just a guy right now, and I'm not sure what Pipkins is. Stick, Egbule and Broughton are non-factors.
Evaluating below the Herbert pick in this year's, Kenneth Murray is not the impact player we were expecting. He's just a guy too at this point, he hasn't flashed any playmaking ability and for this Telesco gave up high picks in the 2nd & 3rd rounds. There are UDFAs who are better RBs than Joshua Kelley. With the two RBs ahead of him on the depth chart at the beginning of the season out with injuries, Kelley has not stepped up and is backing up a guy signed off the street (Ballage). At this point, I think Pope brings more pop to the running game than Kelley. Reed, Gillman and Hill are pretty much non-factors at this point. Reed has at least scored once, but neither he nor Hill are contributors in the passing game, and two UDFAs are getting more playing time and make more plays than either. Gillman was supposed to be the answer for AP leaving, but I don't think he's played a single snap.
It's too early to speculate on a redo for either draft, but I will point out that some damn good WRs went in the 2nd round last year (Deebo Samuel, Mercole Hardman, AJ Brown, DK Metcalf). Metcalf came off the board a few picks after Adderly. Given the rather sizeable drop-off at WR after Mike Williams since Ty Will's departure, it's a damn shame we didn't nab one of those guys. Chase Claypool was available in the 2nd round this year. There was some decent OL talent available high in the 2nd round in last year's draft as well.
When you compare the last two drafts to the 2018 draft, you see a big difference. Derwin James was a no-brainer pick too, a stroke of luck that he fell so far into Telesco's lap. Even with his injuries, at this point I would not want to have drafted anyone else. When you evaluate past James in the 2018 draft, you see players who are contributing: Nwosu, Justin Jones, Kyzir White, QBerry, Justin Jackson. The only bust in the draft was Cantrell, with Justin Jackson on the injury bust bubble.
This team needs more from the 2018 and 2019's rookies, and Telesco can't afford to have another lackluster draft in 2021.
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