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Day 1: Some draft analysts had Rashawn Slater as the No. 1 offensive tackle on their boards. A player who had outstanding performances against Chase Young in college, Slater allowed only five total pressures on over 350 pass-blocking snaps in 2019 before opting out of the 2020 season. The Chargers have done a fantastic job of rebuilding their offensive line since the end of the season. Slater completes that job for quarterback Justin Herbert.
Day 2: The Chargers stand out as one of the early winners in this draft with the selection of Slater in the first round and Samuel in Round 2. Samuel’s instincts and quicks make him an ideal fit in his projected off-ball zone role in Brandon Staley’s new defense in Los Angeles. He recorded a forced incompletion rate above 20% over the course of his career at Florida State.
Palmer was one of the few wide receivers in this Day 2 range who fit the bill as a seemingly well-rounded player on the outside. Don’t be swayed by his lackluster production over the past few seasons at Tennessee. The quarterback situation there did Palmer no favors. He can create separation underneath and in the intermediate range with sudden routes and was one of the few receivers to beat new Broncos cornerback Patrick Surtain II deep this past season. He is a legitimate third option at the position beyond Keenan Allen and Mike Williams.
This is a big reach for the Chargers. If they had to take a player who struggled to produce in college, you’d at least like to see them take someone who either has size or athleticism. Instead, they take a player who has neither. McKitty’s one trait is his hand size, which is in the 99th percentile, but his 14.3% drop rate tells you that it might not matter much. A head-scratching pick for a player ranked 246th on our board.
Day 3: Rumph is one of the most interesting Day 3 prospects. His pass-rush toolbox is as good as anyone’s in the draft, but he is extremely undersized. It didn’t stop him from being one of the most productive pass-rushers in college football over the past couple of years, with pass-rush grades of 92.7 and 78.1 and 92 total pressures on just over 440 pass-rushes. Play strength is a different story in the NFL, though. He’s a candidate to move to off-ball linebacker.
Draft Grade: A+
Now, if you excuse me, I have some Charger memories to suppress.
The Wasted Decade is done.
Build Back Better.
This was a really strong draft for the Los Angeles Chargers. Essentially every single pick hit the mark across the board and has the potential to upgrade this roster. The Chargers are sitting in a great position heading into 2021. If Justin Herbert continues to develop, this roster could quickly challenge the Chiefs.
Grade: A-
Now, if you excuse me, I have some Charger memories to suppress.
The Wasted Decade is done.
Build Back Better.
Key Picks: Rashawn Slater (OT, Northwestern), Asante Samuel Jr. (CB, Florida State), Josh Palmer (WR, Tennessee), Tre McKitty (TE, Georgia)
Analysis: Where value meets need. Slater (No. 13) and Samuel (No. 47) filled big needs and were picked lower than expected. No one would have blamed the Chargers for trading up for either. Palmer is an aspiring actor who will be living in L.A.
Now, if you excuse me, I have some Charger memories to suppress.
The Wasted Decade is done.
Build Back Better.
Day 1: Some draft analysts had Rashawn Slater as the No. 1 offensive tackle on their boards. A player who had outstanding performances against Chase Young in college, Slater allowed only five total pressures on over 350 pass-blocking snaps in 2019 before opting out of the 2020 season. The Chargers have done a fantastic job of rebuilding their offensive line since the end of the season. Slater completes that job for quarterback Justin Herbert.
Day 2: The Chargers stand out as one of the early winners in this draft with the selection of Slater in the first round and Samuel in Round 2. Samuel’s instincts and quicks make him an ideal fit in his projected off-ball zone role in Brandon Staley’s new defense in Los Angeles. He recorded a forced incompletion rate above 20% over the course of his career at Florida State.
Palmer was one of the few wide receivers in this Day 2 range who fit the bill as a seemingly well-rounded player on the outside. Don’t be swayed by his lackluster production over the past few seasons at Tennessee. The quarterback situation there did Palmer no favors. He can create separation underneath and in the intermediate range with sudden routes and was one of the few receivers to beat new Broncos cornerback Patrick Surtain II deep this past season. He is a legitimate third option at the position beyond Keenan Allen and Mike Williams.
This is a big reach for the Chargers. If they had to take a player who struggled to produce in college, you’d at least like to see them take someone who either has size or athleticism. Instead, they take a player who has neither. McKitty’s one trait is his hand size, which is in the 99th percentile, but his 14.3% drop rate tells you that it might not matter much. A head-scratching pick for a player ranked 246th on our board.
Day 3: Rumph is one of the most interesting Day 3 prospects. His pass-rush toolbox is as good as anyone’s in the draft, but he is extremely undersized. It didn’t stop him from being one of the most productive pass-rushers in college football over the past couple of years, with pass-rush grades of 92.7 and 78.1 and 92 total pressures on just over 440 pass-rushes. Play strength is a different story in the NFL, though. He’s a candidate to move to off-ball linebacker.
Draft Grade: A+
Has Staley explained his rationale behind the McKitty pick?
Justin Herbert should be pleased. The second-year QB was the prime beneficiary when the Chargers were able to get T Rashawn Slater at No. 13. Herbert was a record-breaking passer as a rookie, and now he will have his blind side protected by a marquee left tackle. Getting CB Asante Samuel Jr. 15 picks into Round 2 also was a very sound move for the Chargers.
Now, if you excuse me, I have some Charger memories to suppress.
The Wasted Decade is done.
Build Back Better.
few random observations ‘bout the rest of the draft….
003) SF * QB Trey Lance * if we hadn’t nabbed Herbert, this is the guy I’d be raising the flag for us 015) NE * QB Mac Jones * will keep on eye on this guy to see if he can beat out the ham sandwich there 016) Az * LB Zaven Collins * he’s the Star Lotulelei of this draft for me 020) Giants * WR Kadarius Toney * will he be better than DeVonta 029) Pack * CB Eric Stokes * PFF is screaming an overdraft, and plenty o’ peoples are panning the pick/reach 035) Denver * RB Javonte Williams * how good is he gonna be, and are we going to suffer for it 038) NE * DT Christian Barmore * near predictable move by NE, and prolly not a bad one either 039) Bears * RT Teven Jenkins * great value if he’s as good a first rounder as many believed 049) Az * SR Rondale Moore * one guy who eye think might be really good value here 062) Pack * OC Josh Myers * better than Creed Humphrey ?? better than Billy Price…. ?? 072) Lions * NT Alim McNeill * time tested method to building winner, double up on DTs 075) Dallas * DT Osa Odighizuwa * went earlier than many had him slotted for, but may be worth it 080) Vegas * SS Divine Deablo * Ninjadamus said he’d be off the board before Nasirildeen, and he was spot on 088) SF * RB Trey Sermon * his last game def boosted his stock a bit 093) Bills * RT Spencer Brown * think this guy got overdrafted some, albeit hope he pans out 102) SF * CB Ambry Thomas * Ahkello Witherspoon replacement 106) Jax * DT Jay Tufele * bit of a surprise that he fell to day three 116) Giants * DE Elerson Smith * gotta lotta love on this board, remains to be seen what he’s got 122) Cincy * NT Tyler Shelvin * woulnd’t’ve minded this guy backing up Linval 134) Vikes * DE Janarius Robinson * don’t know much ‘bout him, but he looks the part 138) Dallas * LT Josh Ball * makes sense that Jerry would turn the other cheek here 158) Carolina * DT Daviyon Nixon * came outta the gates hard, but fell off as season wore on 160) Ravens * SCB Shaun Wade * once upon a time was slotted in the first round 164) Denver * FS Jamar Johnson * ‘nother guy w/a lotta love from this forum, who apparently likes the herb 179) Dallas * WR Simi Fehoko * board fave w/the measurables 186) Jets * SS Hamsah Nasirildeen * was it the injury, or is there more to the story here 193) Carolina * OG Deonte Brown * went pretty late, but still suspect he’s a starter somewhere
226) KC * Trey Smith * really thought this guy coulda been Marcus McNeill 2.0 for us
RT Taliese Fuaga, DT Jer'Zhan Newton, NT T'Vondre Sweat, LB Cedric Gray, TE Ben Sinnott, RB Daijun Edwards, FS Cole Bishop, QB Joe Milton
looking over the different teams' drafts, would venture that Jax, Giants, Dallas, Carolina and SF got the best of things.... ??
Jax - very good Giants - not sure what you're seeing about a good draft here
Dallas - see the Giants. I don't think they did a good job of addressing their needs. Went pretty strong online backer which is one of the strongest position groups. Where is the oline help? No safeties either.
Carolina - horn is a good player but they play too much zone any struggles in zone coverage. Can everyone else switch to press man to suit his strengths? Not too big on the rest of their draft either
S.F. - did a pretty good draft. They're entire draft hinges on whether Lance pans out or not.
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