2023 Official Roster Build Thread - The Initial 53 / Practice Squad

[Velo]

Spiller fooled me too. Of course, I have been called things like "brain dead" a few times. I saw him rip off a 60+ TD in a game last year and another for 70+. But, if he's unable to play in the NFL I won't have room to complain since I was impressed by his highlight film. I liked K9 at OK too and I was happy when they picked him. Now I wonder why they let Drue go and kept him?

Spiller is still under contract. Tranquil had played out his rookie contract and was a free agent.

https://www.nfldraftbuzz.com/Player/...-RB-TexasAANDM

I still have hopes for Spiller developing into a solid NFL RB. I've read that his problem last season was that his youth and perhaps immaturity caused him to be overwhelmed at the NFL level. He may just need more time to develop. He was only 21 when he was drafted. This draft website that I follow had Spiller ranked as the #2 RB in the 2022 draft. They had him ranked below Breece Hall and just ahead of Kenneth Walker and Damion Pierce. Hall, Walker and Pierce each had great rookie seasons for the Jets, Seahawks and Texans (Hall tore up his knee in Week 7, but was averaging 5.8 ypc until then), the three best RBs in the draft. So I think their rating on Spiller was solid, meaning they know what they are talking about. So, I'm not totally giving up on Spiller yet. I'd love to see him develop into a Joe-Mixon-type of RB for the Chargers.

[chargeroo]

"Spiller is still under contract. Tranquil had played out his rookie contract and was a free agent."

I knew that, but they certainly could have let K9 go and used those dollar savings to keep Tranquill.

[Boltnut]

Spiller also spent time in Texas... and we all know thems folks is a lil slower than the rest.

[beachcomber]

the prognostication version, and.... not a well thought out strategem, and rather more the usual ramble....

Owner * am more and more of the mind that Dean is going to sell. why would he favor his one son and not give his other offspring equal billing ?? and is he really a football guy, and hasn't he had enough @his age ?? would seem like he is ready to retire, if not yesterday. makes alotta sense to me to follow thru on his word, and put the team up for sale. my best guess is that Drew Brees is involved in some way shape or form, and that they are more LA/SoCal guys, and not so much any Diego ties, and that his group would be well vested by the League, as seem to recall they want the NFL epicenter to be in SoCal/LA ?? think he sells in the 2025 offseason, and w/Herbert already under contract, and w/a new HC in the mix ??

son of Dean * he's had a good run, and how could he not have enjoyed himself ?? and not sure he'll be back somewhere in the NFL, but he's not going hungry. he's got himself a resume. thank you young John. he did and is doing his best.

GM * nice guy. perfect guy to follow AJ. has had his moments, has his fans. a rather avg GM. tough act to follow w/LT, Gates, PR & friends. we had a run w/AJ. not so much w/Tom. think he stays in the League. prolly not as GM nor in anyone's scouting dept, albeit he has a good bit of experience in an NFL FO or coupla few, and guessing he'll land in some capacity therein. thank you Mr. Telesco.

HC * the Head Duck in waiting seems to have a brilliant football mind, and can prolly go toe 2 toe w/the best of 'em in that arena, and.... personally suspect that the main reason he is still gainfully employed is that he has two more years on his contract, and of which Dean is not so willing to pay a Brand Off @HC. do think we're going to enjoy a near bang up season this next season, and guessing plenty of peoples will be riding the high and then some, and then.... there will be others who see the writing on the wall: we will have to/end up paying Justin the offseason after this one, and @that point in time, the wheels will come off, relatively speaking. lotta our big name guys will no longer be Chargers, and our lack of drafting prowess and some questionable personnel moves will be left exposed and rather seen for what they have become. Mr. Staley will have four years of HC experience under his belt, which will serve him well. my suspicion is that just like Major Tom is no General, young Brandon is more a Lieutenant rather than Head Captain of any ship. do think he ends up as a DC again somewhere, which seems to be more his level ?? ps. do think Harbaugh is coming, as wasn't in favor of him before, but given his San Diego and Chargers historicals, does seem like he's the prodigal son in this equation ?? and not next year, but in the '025, and earlier than later.

QB * it's his ship, and the better we get under his sail, the sooner our ride will be up to speed. think Burrow is the Tom Brady successor to things, and that Mahomes is the King Homie for the foreseeable future, and.... other than the thought that Justin will have his day, just not sure how soon that may come upon us ?? but do think come upon us it will, and that young Justin will bring that ever so evasive/elusive Lombardi to LA, and.... he might even do it twice, and for good measure. best move of the team Tommy John tenure. well done gentlemen. ps. it's Stick and maybe someone on the ps for this season.

RB * really think Ek is coming back, and on relatively good terms, and despite how some here like to twist things in the wind. he def deserves to be paid double what he is scheduled to make this year, or @least 8 figures.... he is no MG3. and sorry, as do think Kelley is just as good or better than Charbonnet, and just don't see any crazy infusion of talent back there, unless of course the unthinkable happens and the Bijanaise makes it to LA. otherwise Telesco's record is pretty well rutted in the road, as he is likely to stick w/Spiller 'til the cows come home, and don't think Stalesco is gonna run Rountree outta town neither. Horvath am not so sure 'bout, as do think we bring in someone, but prolly more likely a day three gambit, or even an UDFA, as our RB5 ??

WR * after the dust settles (in 2025) still really see Keenan remaining a Charger, and while some of the other ballyhooed ballers, might be more likely as party to the forecasted fallout. think Brandon made it pretty clear that we are happy w/MW 'n Palmer as well, for now, and given that Carter has signed somewhere else, and that Jalen has yet to resign, it does look like we will go wideout in the draft, but contrary to alotta folks here, my suspicion is that the such will be more an afterthought than any draft day priority. will also not be surprised if Deandre Hopkins is a Charger before too very long, and somehow some way ?? didn't we have another pretty good receiver when we had JJ 'n Joiner together ?? don't see any reason we can't repeat history there again.

TE * thought the Gerald Everett signing was fairly prudent and reasonably productive as well. his contract ends after this season, and guessing we might find someone to spell him outta this draft. and am sure team Tommy John loves the thought of bringing on Mayer there, and would guess that the Darnell Washington meets Kellen Moore has gotten some run as well, and.... haven't seen a guy that says Chargers more than Kincaid, since the dawning of Ryan Ramczyk. and counting on Parham for his durability or McKitty for his pass catching is just straight irresponsible atm. and we do have a roster spot as vacated by Richard Rodgers, and of which thought was another reasonable enough signing last year, and/or @least better than leaving the TE4 spot vacant. TE2 incoming and TE1 2B. ps. and for the if and when we are fortunate enough to land Dalton @21, do think we could well go TE again next offseason after Everett's contract expires, as think we will move on from him then.

OT * thank you Daniel Jeremiah for Rashawn Slater, and a little bit amazing that he "fell" to us in the draft. and still of the mind that Jamaree is the better tackle than Trey, and that Pips is more a swing tackle and "better than avg backup" than starter, albeit that's just what he'll be as long as Major Tom is @the helm, and hopefully we will subsist w/Pips in charge of the rush from the Far Left. and don't think we're gonna bother/finagle w/anything there 'til Tom 'n John are on their good ways. and not so sure that Foster is gonna be an NFL starter, but wouldn't be surprised if he's a serviceable swing tackle/backup for us before too long. all that said, we are more than likely better off w/Pips signed than not, and ditto for the remaining tenure of Tom.

OG * love me some Zion, and am a believer in Jamaree as well, as think the latter is gonna be a "plus starter" for us. and Jaimes could suffer the same fate as Horvath for all eye know, and there does seem to be some day three talent worth mining from the draft, to buoy/refortify our interior here. Henry Bainivalu and/or Antoni Mafi seem to be the two most likely candidates there ??

OC * am hopeful that Corey makes it thru this season relatively well, and which would be a major factor w/us making a run into and thru the playoffs, and.... that said, and if eye were him, I would certainly think about making this year my last, and which would mandate that we would be looking OC and early in next year's draft (along w/RB this go 'round, my suspicion is that we won't be looking for a Linsley replacement nor hedge, and rather just a rather capable backup that could spell Clapp for the if and when might be.

[beachcomber]

NT * know most everyone recalls Jamal, and.... do we recall that we had two pretty good/decent nose's post Williams, and that w/Ron Rivera we managed to maintain a pretty good D throughout his run. and how many good Ds have we had since, and without having a real NT ?? obviously am in favor of bringing in a real NT, and given that many drafts prior, the premiere NTs have been out of our range and off the board come our slotting, this year may be different. do think Mazi Smith has enough ?s to keep him @bay from being selected by team Tommy John, and also not convinced Keanu Benton is as much to merit an early s******** neither, albeit and as oft mentioned, am a believer in "Apu" aka Siaki Ika, and if he is still on the board come day two, am hopeful that some way somehow he is a Bolt. not sure that AJ is a vintage nose, and ditto even for Otito, albeit they are both a little heavier than not. Brandon def seems intent on shoring up our run D, and so hopefully wisdom will prevail here.

DT * we seem to be ok here w/the both of Bash 'n Fox, albeit there is the obvious vacancy left by Jerry and Covington. there is also some talent in the draft by way of Bryan Bresee and Calijah Kancey. am guessing it is a consideration and maybe even a concern, but not sure it's gonna be a draft day priority neither, as we do have the bodies here, and given that both AJ and Otito can go 3T as well.

DE * oh Joe, if only he had some Jack Youngblood/Leslie O'Neal to him. personal suspicion is that he plays in about 2/3s of the games, and that we could well use someone to spell him for the season, and even when he is "healthy." is Tuli Tuipulotu that guy, or is this a higher priority than we know, and someone like Lukas Van Ness somehow slips to 21 ?? or can Bresee play outside as a 5T ?? otherwise am not so sure we have that guy on the roster, as don't think Tuszka nor Van Noy are really that guy, let alone Rumph. or should we just play Joey @3T and call it a day ??

ED * Khalil was a near revelation last year, and didn't think he nor his foot would hold up for much if any of the season, and.... he did and for the duration. if he can do it again, 'twill go a long way toward a playoff berth and run. and not unhappy w/the either of Van Noy or even Tuszka here, and we have Rumph as well, of course, and so don't think we have much to do here, @ED/OLB.

ILB * if Kendricks stays healthy, gonna give this a pretty substantial upgrade, as personally don't think Drue is/was better than K9, and that that will bear itself out over this next season. that said, we could be without the both of EK 'n K9 by next year sometime, and given the such, do think LB is gonna be a pretty heavy consideration this go 'round and next. Drew Sanders has gotten some run, and do think he's a fit for the LAC, and.... again personally, prefer an MLB type, such as Jack Campbell or Noah Sewell for this year's input @ILB, and as don't think we're running any off ball LBs shortage, and that the emphasis needs to be on a player that will be a central figure in/to our (run) defense. so not sure which personality is a better fit for us, Campbell or Sewell, and.... am fairly certain that's part of the equation @MLB.... someone that can inject a bit of an identity on defense. and just like TE, do see us following up w/another draft pick @LB in the '024.

CB * what 2 do, what 2 do.... again, am fairly certain that Telesco keeps his wagon hitched to JC Jack, unless something really upsetting/impeding comes along, and won't be surprised to see Bryce Callahan back in Bolts either. all that said, there is def some talent @DB in this draft, and might be a little okule hurt if so, and.... we might just happen upon someone we really like day two and/or three. am a little alarmed that we haven't extended Mike D., albeit much like Austin, am guessing his numbers are a little high, and for an outfit that left him as the odd man out last go 'round. if I'm Mike D., I might not be so quick to forget my demotion, and may hence and in turn have little regard for any said hometown/team discount, and am more than willing to go out on the open market when time comes. don't think the either of Ja'Sir nor Deane are imminent starters for us, but again won't be overly surprised if we get some more run than most of us are expecting, from the trio of Asante, JC Jack and Bryce Callahan.... not exactly chopped liver neither. my suspicion is that we get another day three prospect, and more to hedge any bets, rather than getting after someone as a future starter ??

S * not gonna be surprised if Derwin is part of the 2025 financial exodus, albeit 'til then, hopeful that he can be one of the ones that helps lead us to higher ground this next season. also think we are fortunate to have Alohi as a solid @present, and as we are all hopeful for any JT Woods dividends to be paid out. and the health of Mark Webb is certainly on our minds as well, and.... given the all of that, am sure one could make a case for adding a safety here, and.... we only have so many picks and payouts available, and so would not be surprised to see us adding a CBD rather than safety valve.

[Blue Thunder]

Spiller also spent time in Texas... and we all know thems folks is a lil slower than the rest.

It's not that we're slower, it's just that everything is so spread out here in the Lone Star state that it just SEEMS that we're moving slower ... or something like that. :shrug:

[sonorajim]

"Spiller is still under contract. Tranquil had played out his rookie contract and was a free agent."

I knew that, but they certainly could have let K9 go and used those dollar savings to keep Tranquill.

True and I liked Drue. That said, they may see more upside in K9 working with Kendricks. Tranquill was fast, smart and made a lot of downfield tackles.
He wasn't much vs run at or near the LOS.

[Bolt4Knob]

True and I liked Drue. That said, they may see more upside in K9 working with Kendricks. Tranquill was fast, smart and made a lot of downfield tackles.
He wasn't much vs run at or near the LOS.

And the run game and line of scrimmage was a big weakness for the Chargers defense. So probably losing a bit in pass coverage - but gaining on early downs and rushing downs.

[Boltnut]

It's not that we're slower, it's just that everything is so spread out here in the Lone Star state that it just SEEMS that we're moving slower ... or something like that. :shrug:

LOL! I'm jesting with you...
Letting some of the anti-Cali group have some of their own medicine.
It's all in fun...

[chargeroo]

It seems the coaches expect bigger and better things from K9 than we do. Maybe they don't realize how knowledgeable the members of TPB are? I don't know how they can miss it?

[Topcat]

HC * the Head Duck in waiting seems to have a brilliant football mind, and can prolly go toe 2 toe w/the best of 'em in that arena, and.... personally suspect that the main reason he is still gainfully employed is that he has two more years on his contract, and of which Dean is not so willing to pay a Brand Off @HC. do think we're going to enjoy a near bang up season this next season, and guessing plenty of peoples will be riding the high and then some, and then.... there will be others who see the writing on the wall: we will have to/end up paying Justin the offseason after this one, and @that point in time, the wheels will come off, relatively speaking. lotta our big name guys will no longer be Chargers, and our lack of drafting prowess and some questionable personnel moves will be left exposed and rather seen for what they have become. Mr. Staley will have four years of HC experience under his belt, which will serve him well. my suspicion is that just like Major Tom is no General, young Brandon is more a Lieutenant rather than Head Captain of any ship. do think he ends up as a DC again somewhere, which seems to be more his level ?? ps. do think Harbaugh is coming, as wasn't in favor of him before, but given his San Diego and Chargers historicals, does seem like he's the prodigal son in this equation ?? and not next year, but in the '025, and earlier than later.

Beach, if the Spani unload Staley after this season, do u think they promote Moore to HC?

[QSmokey]

It seems the coaches expect bigger and better things from K9 than we do. Maybe they don't realize how knowledgeable the members of TPB are? I don't know how they can miss it?

That's really the question: WHAT do the coaches see in Murray? The guy has been pretty much a total bust for 3 years, given his draft position. It's a reasonable question. I mean the stats don't lie. The guy has shown very little in his time here.