Category: AFC West news

Twitter reacts to Chargers’ selection of WR K.J. Hill

The Los Angeles Chargers got incredible value with the selection of wide receiver K.J. Hill.

The Chargers rounded out their draft class with the selection of former Ohio State wide receiver K.J. Hill.

It’s safe to say that fans of the team were excited when the pick was announced.

Here’s a look at Twitter:

Why Chargers fans should be excited about new WR K.J. Hill

The Los Angeles Chargers got a steal with their seventh-round pick.

The Chargers drafted Joe Reed in the fifth-round, but the additions didn’t stop there.

Los Angeles drafted former Ohio State WR K.J. Hill with their final pick in the draft (No. 220).

Getting Hill in the seventh-round is an absolute steal. He finished as my No. 93 overall player and 14th-ranked wide receiver on my top-100 big board.

Hill is an efficient route runner from the slot who possesses the short-area quickness, hands, and flashes of playmaking ability. His lack of size, strength and speed holds him back, but he knows how to consistently get open to mask the deficiencies.

Along with being a technician in the route-running department, Hill has a knack for making acrobatic catches and plenty of third-down & red zone conversions. In addition to that, he is an outstanding blocker.

Hill and Reed join a wide receiver room that features Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, Andre Patton and Darius Jennings.

Prior to the draft, this position needed attention. The selection of Reed was solid, but getting Hill in the seventh-round is an absolute home run.

Chargers select WR K.J. Hill No. 220 overall

The Los Angeles Chargers rounded out their draft with wide receiver K.J. Hill.

The Chargers selected former Ohio State wide receiver K.J. Hill with the No. 220 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.

After drafting Joe Reed, Los Angeles wasn’t finished adding to the wide receiver corps.

Hill finished as Ohio State’s all-time leader in receptions (201), with 2,332 yards and 20 touchdowns. He had 46 punt returns for 258 yards (5.6 average).

Twitter reacts to Chargers’ selection of safety Alohi Gilman

What did the general population think of the Los Angeles Chargers’ selection of Alohi Gilman?

The Chargers selected former Notre Dame safety with their sixth-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.

Here’s how Twitter reacted to the selection of Gilman:

What Chargers are getting in sixth-round pick safety Alohi Gilman

The Los Angeles Chargers added a disciplined defender with their sixth-round selection.

After addressing the offensive side of the ball with their first two selections on Day 3, the Chargers shifted their attention to the other side in the sixth-round (No. 186 overall) with former Notre Dame safety Alohi Gilman.

Gilman reunites with linebacker Drue Tranquill and defensive tackle Jerry Tillery.

Los Angeles lost a few key special teamers this offseason, including Adrian Phillips and Derek Watt. Gilman will step in as a special teams ace because of his aggressiveness when coming downhill and high-volume as a tackler.

Gilman does his best work closer to the line of scrimmage. There, he shows understanding of pursuit angles and great instincts against the run and in zone coverage. His combination of physicality and all out effort meshes well with defensive coordinator Gus Bradley’s defensive philosophy.

With Phillips gone to the Patriots, it wouldn’t be surprising to eventually see Gilman step in as his replacement as the team’s dime linebacker as early as his rookie season. If not, I expect him to be a major contributor in his second season.

To get more familiar with Gilman, below is my pre-draft scouting report and highlights of the disciplined defender:

40-Yard Dash: 4.60 seconds
Bench Press: 17 reps
Vertical Jump: 32 inches
Broad Jump: 119 inches
3-Cone Drill: 6.81 seconds
20-Yard Shuttle: 4.08 seconds

Career: Transferred from Navy. Compiled 244 tackles, 3 interceptions, and 12 passes defended in 40 games.

Red Flags: N/A

Strengths: Solid defender that shows good plant-and-drive ability. His shuffle-and-drive technique in zone coverage, always keeps him in the play. Motor is always running hot, and it shows when he is in pursuit. Strong at the catch point. Highly aggressive and intelligent in everything he does on the football field. Physical tackler.

Weaknesses: Lack ideal and height and length. Doesn’t possess the range, speed or other worldly athleticism to be a deep single high safety. Struggles to turn and run with slot receivers. Limited in man coverage. Too often guys are able to slip his blocks, takes wild angles to the ball.

Final Word: Gilman has the physicality, instincts, high football IQ and tackling ability around the short and intermediate levels, but his lack of athleticism shows in man coverage and the deeper parts of the field, projecting as a strong safety, sub-package defender and core special teamer.

Fit Likelihood: Medium

Grade: 6th Round

Highlights

Chargers select safety Alohi Gilman No. 186 overall

The Los Angeles Chargers addressed the defensive side of the ball in the sixth-round.

The Chargers selected former Notre Dame safety Alohi Gilman with the No. 186 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.

In two seasons at Notre Dame, Gilman accumulated 169 tackles, six tackles for loss, three interceptions and six forced fumbles in 26 games played. Prior to his playing days there, he was named the ECAC Rookie of the Year and garnered All-AAC honors as a freshman at Navy in 2016.

He’ll need to clean up his tackling technique, but Gilman projects as a high-upside strong safety or dime linebacker. His feel for the game, physicality and leadership skills is what makes him a potential impact player at the next level.

WATCH: Highlights of new Chargers WR Joe Reed

The Los Angeles Chargers are getting a fun player.

The Chargers continued to add pieces to the offensive side of the ball with their fifth-round pick wide receiver Joe Reed.

It remains to be seen if he can thrive on the outside at the next level because of his lack of route-running ability.

But he does have the ability to serve as a gadget player and high-upside return specialist, winning with his yards after the catch ability to turn short gains into big ones.

Take a look at what Los Angeles is getting in Reed:

Grading Chargers’ selection of WR Joe Reed

How do you all feel about the Los Angeles Chargers’ selection of wide receiver Joe Reed?

It’s clear that the Chargers are making the offensive side of the ball the key focal point in this year’s draft.

After the selection of running back Joshua Kelley, Los Angeles selected wide receiver Joe Reed.

At Randolph-Henry High School, Reed played wide receiver, running back and safety at Randolph-Henry High School. He rushed for 2,100 yards and 38 touchdowns as a senior.

Utilized both inside and outside during his three-year stint at Virginia, Reed finished with 4,679 all-purpose yards in 50 career games, including 3,042 on kick returns, 1,465 receiving and 172 rushing.

For the Chargers, Reed will serve as a gadget player – playing as a wide receiver, lining up in the backfield and returning kicks and punts.

I believe Reed adds a unique element to the offense. I give the selection a solid B. What about you guys, Chargers fans?

Vote in the poll below.

[polldaddy poll=10543285]

What Chargers are getting in fifth-round pick WR Joe Reed

The Los Angeles Chargers landed a great receiver in the fifth-round of the 2020 NFL Draft.

Addressing the wide receiver group was an absolute must for the Chargers. Even though they had Keenan Allen and Mike Williams who flourished last season, there was no one else that stepped up and produced.

Travis Benjamin struggled when he was on the field and he had injury issues. The one thing that Benjamin offered that others didn’t have at the position was speed.

The selection of Reed brings the much-needed speed to the position. He is great vertically and dynamic after the catch, showing the ability to turn short gains into big ones. At 6-foot and 224 pounds, Reed uses his size to box out defenders and pull in any ball thrown, displaying his strong hands.

His lack of route savvy and separation skills holds him back from being a complete receiver, but he offers a lot of value as a returner and in yards after the catch situations.

According to The Athletic’s Daniel Popper, the Chargers have told him he’ll play wide receiver, line up in the backfield, return kicks and punts. Reed will push Andre Patton and Darius Jennings for snaps at No. 3 unless the team views him as a gadget type of player.

Twitter reacts to Chargers’ selection of WR Joe Reed

The Los Angeles Chargers upgraded the wide receiver with the addition of Joe Reed.

The Chargers finally addressed the wide receiver position in the fifth-round with former Virginia WR Joe Reed.

Speed was the main focal point with whoever Los Angeles drafted and Reed possesses just that. He is an explosive athlete with great hands who should thrive as a deep threat and return specialist.

Let’s see how Twitter reacted to the Bolts’ selection of Reed: