Category: Chargers NFL Draft

Analysis of Chargers’ pick of Jamaree Salyer with No. 195 overall selection

What the selection of Jamaree Salyer means for the Los Angeles Chargers.

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The Chargers continue to build on the offensive line, taking former Georgia lineman Jamaree Salyer with the No. 195 overall selection.

Salyer started 20 games at left tackle, two at right tackle, and one at left guard during his time as a Bulldog. While he didn’t start any games at center or right guard, he has also worked at those positions in a reserve role in Athens. He was credited with just two hurries allowed with no sacks given up.

The former five-star recruit who cut his teeth against Aidan Hutchinson at the high school Army Bowl will likely be a guard in the NFL due to average arm length and mobility that will preclude him from sticking on the perimeter long term. He’s a balanced player who has a finishing mentality as a run blocker and plus awareness as a pass protector. With a certification in combo blocks from Georgia’s power-heavy run game, Salyer profiles as a potential starter at guard.

To be honest, I have no idea why Salyer made it this far. I had him graded as a Day 2 pick who could compete for a starting job as a rookie. As a Charger, he’ll be a quality depth piece behind the core three of Matt Feiler, Corey Linsley, and first-round pick Zion Johnson. With experience at all five offensive line positions, Salyer will be an invaluable sixth offensive lineman as a rookie. Beyond that, it’s possible that he grows into a starter at guard with the flexibility to slide to tackle in-game if an injury occurs.

It’s also possible that if Salyer comes along quicker than expected that he claims the left guard spot, with Feiler kicking to right tackle, a position LA has continued to neglect in the draft. Brandon Staley and Tom Telesco were adamant that Feiler will stay at guard after the Zion Johnson selection, but playing the best five linemen on the team is the most important. With the versatility Salyer brings to the table, all options are open.

2022 NFL draft: Chargers pick OL Jamaree Salyer with No. 195 overall selection

The Los Angeles Chargers addressed the offensive line at No. 195 overall.

The Chargers have taken former Georgia offensive lineman Jamaree Salyer with the No. 195 overall selection in the 2022 NFL draft.

Salyer was the Bulldogs’ starting left tackle this past season. He played in 47 games, starting in 23 with 20 starts at left tackle, two at right tackle, and one at left guard.

Salyer had the lowest pressure rate allowed out of any tackle in the country last year and allowed just one sack to top 2023 prospect Will Anderson throughout his career.

At 6-foot-3 and 321 pounds, Salyer has the size, length, hand usage, and play strength to be a starting guard from the get-go, with the ability to play tackle in a pinch.

Analysis of Chargers’ pick of Otito Ogbonnia with No. 160 overall selection

What the selection of Otito Ogbonnia means for the Los Angeles Chargers.

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The Chargers stayed local with their fifth-round selection, opting to draft defensive lineman Otito Ogbonnia from UCLA.

Ogbonnia logged 76 total tackles with 8.5 for loss and 4.5 sacks, as well as six pass deflections and two forced fumbles. While he started at times in all four seasons as a Bruin, 2021 was his only year as a full-time starter. Nevertheless, with a full complement of reps under his belt, Ogbonnia performed well enough to be selected for the Reese’s Senior Bowl.

The 6’3”, 324-pound Ogbonnia has lined up everywhere from shaded nose tackle to 5-technique, versatility that will be welcomed in LA. He’s also primarily a run defender, which will be music to Chargers fans’ ears after watching the defense get shredded on the ground in 2021. Ogbonnia’s plus-sized frame is near impossible to move off the line of scrimmage, which allows him to swallow opposing runners.

As a pass rusher, Ogbonnia doesn’t have a ton of juice. UCLA used him on a lot of loops and stunts, on which he’s able to generate some pressure, but not at a consistent level. He’s also not much of a gap shooter, as his poor 40 time (5.31) and lack of explosiveness in the film suggests.

Brandon Staley has said all offseason that improving the defensive line would be a top priority. He and Tom Telesco backed up those words by signing Sebastian Joseph-Day and Austin Johnson in free agency. They back it up in the draft by adding Ogbonnia, who should see time on early downs as an effective run stopper before rotating out for linemen with better pass-rush tools.

2022 NFL draft: Chargers pick DT Otito Ogbonnia with No. 160 overall selection

The Chargers bolstered the interior part of the defensive line at pick No. 160 overall.

The Chargers have taken former UCLA defensive tackle Otito Ogbonnia with their No. 160 overall selection in the 2022 NFL draft.

Ogbonnia tallied 76 total tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, and six passes defended in his four seasons with the Bruins.

At 6-foot-4 and 324 pounds, Ogbonnia’s time as a former shot putter shows up on the football field as he wins with brute strength and heavy hands to control and move defenders off the line of the scrimmage.

Ogbonnia was primarily a nose tackle in the Bruins’ defense, but he occasionally bounced out to a 3-tech. At the next level, he projects best as a nose tackle, where he would see the field on run downs.

2022 NFL draft: Chargers pick RB Isaiah Spiller with No. 123 overall selection

The Los Angeles Chargers add to their backfield with the No. 123 overall selection.

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The Chargers have taken former Texas A&M running back Isaiah Spiller with the No. 123 overall selection in the 2022 NFL draft.

Spiller rushed for more than 1,000 yards each of the past two seasons and made 74 receptions over this three-year tenure with the Aggies.

At 6-foot and 217 pounds, Spiller has the vision, speed, and change-of-direction ability to become an all-down player at the next level.

Given the need to find a reliable running mate for Austin Ekeler, the selection of Spiller makes a lot of sense.

 

2022 NFL draft: Watch highlights of new Chargers RB Isaiah Spiller

Get familiar with the newest member of the Los Angeles Chargers, RB Isaiah Spiller.

The Chargers got their presumed complement to Austin Ekeler with the pick of former Texas A&M running back Isaiah Spiller at No. 123 overall.

The first thing that stands out with Spiller is his vision. He has the eyes to find the holes and his footwork allows him to get between them quickly.

Spiller has smooth and fluid feet when changing directions.

He may not be a bruiser, but Spiller has the toughness and the ability to easily run through arm tackles and grind out extra yardage on contact.

He ran screens, flats, swings, and wheels out of the backfield, where he showed good hands and catching ability.

Spiller does lack long speed and fumbles can be an issue, as he put the ball on the ground nearly 10 times in just three seasons.

The bottom line is that the Chargers got a solid running back in the fourth round who is capable of coming in and making an early impact for them and freeing up some of Ekeler’s workload.

2022 NFL draft: What JT Woods brings to the Chargers

Chargers Wire’s Cole Topham breaks down the newest member of the Bolts, JT Woods.

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The Los Angeles Chargers were expected to add to their secondary in the draft. 

After using their first-round selection on offensive lineman Zion Johnson and being left waiting without a pick through the second round, the Chargers eventually took Baylor safety J.T. Woods at No. 79 overall.

Woods fits Brandon Staley’s preference for defensive playmakers. He stands at 6’2” and weighs 195 pounds with 32 ⅜” arms. However, his athleticism is likely what won the Chargers over. Woods, a track star in addition to his football duties for the Bears, blazed through the 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine with a 4.36-second time. He also recorded a 39.5” vertical and 128” broad jump.

The movement skills pop on tape. Woods surges to the football with forward momentum and trigger. He charges downhill with ferocious intent when assisting in run support and is able to coast with receivers to eliminate vertical threats. If Woods does manage to get beat, his gears shift rapidly to make up lost ground and vacuum up gaps of separation.

Take this tackle in open space against TCU in 2021, for example. Woods was a little late reacting to the ball carrier with his initial first step backward, but his superb athleticism made up for the error as he flew downfield to stop the running back for a tackle for loss. Woods was able to close the 12 yards of space quickly with minimal strain.

Woods’ speed and reactiveness show up in short passing game situations as well. He flows to routes entering into his zone over the and is able to multitask well with eyes on the quarterback. While he isn’t the most comfortable diagramming route concepts before they develop, Woods has an uncanny sense to be in the right place at a fortuitous time to turn errant throws or muffed caches into punishing takeaways and stellar field position for the offense.

Those attributes were on display during his interception against the Texas Longhorns last season, where Woods corralled a glancing pass and zoomed down the field to put Baylor in field goal position before halftime. As Woods closed in on the intended target, he was able to secure the ball in stride and immediately reach top speed. This ensured he would not only gain yards on the interception but also put him in a prime position to step out of bounds and preserve the clock.

Woods was aptly nicknamed “The Heartbreak Kid” by the Baylor coaching staff because of his knack for picking off quarterbacks and ending promising drives for the offense. He is excellent at tracking throw trajectories and is aggressive going up for the ball. On this interception against Ole Miss quarterback Matt Corral, Woods outjumps everybody on the field to high point the ball and hang on through incidental contact. 

Woods has several areas to work on in order to become a consistent defensive piece for the Chargers. He needs to improve his reliability as a tackler and refine his technique as well as his approach in coverage. Woods tends to frequently rely on his traits and instincts, so building up his football IQ and overall anticipation will be key. Sometimes, he arrives at the ball with too much heat, which can lead to missed tackles or blown plays if faced with adjustment. 

However, Woods is a great fit for Staley’s scheme and the type of defense the Chargers like to play. His athleticism can wear many hats for the unit, prey on quarterbacks, and create game-changing turnovers. Along with Derwin James, J.C. Jackson, and Asante Samuel, Woods joins a Chargers secondary loaded to the brim with lockdown potential and explosive playmaking ability. 

2022 NFL draft: Watch highlights of new Chargers safety JT Woods

Get familiar with the newest member of the Los Angeles Chargers, JT Woods.

The Chargers addressed the secondary with their pick of former Baylor safety JT Woods at No. 79 overall.

At 6-foot-1 and 188 pounds, Woods posted elite testing numbers of a 4.36 40 and 39.5-inch vertical jump.

Woods recorded six interceptions last season for the Bears, showing just how much he can do with his hands.

These highlights exemplify his good ball skills and play-making ability:

Woods is an incredible rangy safety who can cover a lot of ground in a hurry.

While he isn’t known for his tackling prowess, Woods comes downhill, puts his pads down, and crushes receivers over the middle.

He had 57 tackles and eight passes defended to go with all those picks last season.

Woods has concerns as a tackler, as he falls off too many but there are plenty of positives to his game.

– Explosive and lengthy athlete with speed & range to erase the entire field

– Ball skills to pluck passes out of the air

– Could match up against tight ends

– Good pre-snap communicator

– Eyes to play through traffic

He could be a cornerback convert if he can’t improve as a tackler, but I trust the development from the coaches. If everything clicks, Woods has the potential to be a good one to play single-high and lock down the deep parts of the field in this league.

Analysis of Chargers’ pick of JT Woods with No. 79 overall selection

What the selection of JT Woods means for the Los Angeles Chargers.

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Chargers fans’ long wait for another pick is finally over, as Los Angeles selected safety JT Woods at No. 79 overall.

The 6’2”, 195 lbs safety started all 23 games across 2020 and 2021 and was named to the Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll in all five years at Baylor. His play in 2021 was enough to garner a Reese’s Senior Bowl invite, where Woods showcased his plus coverage abilities against the draft’s top receivers and tight ends.

Woods clocked a 9.43 RAS score, with elite testing numbers in the 40 (4.36), vertical (39.5”), and broad jump (10’8”).

Woods will be best utilized as a two-high deep safety, where he can rely on his elite closing speed and hit power to decimate opposing receivers. That’s good news for the Chargers, who figure to kick Derwin James down into the box as a true playmaker type and have Woods and Nasir Adderley clean things up on the backend. With six career interceptions, Woods has unusually proficient ball skills for a late bloomer in the Power 5.

Football IQ is still inconsistent with Woods, who has his share of mental lapses on the backend. Hopefully, the coaching of Derrick Ansley and mentoring of James gets Woods into a better spot by the season opener, as he should be in contention for a big role along with Alohi Gilman and Mark Webb. Safety depth was a huge issue for the Chargers in 2021, but Woods provides some insurance should one of James or Adderley miss time.

Woods will also contribute on special teams from the jump, as his natural speed and willingness to collide with ball carriers will be a valuable asset as a punt gunner and kickoff coverage man. So even if he’s slow to see the field as a true safety, he’ll still contribute from day one as a Charger.

2022 NFL draft: Chargers pick DB JT Woods with No. 79 overall selection

The Los Angeles Chargers added a piece to their secondary.

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The Chargers have taken former Baylor safety JT Woods with the No. 79 overall selection in the 2022 NFL draft.

Woods registered 57 tackles, 4.5 tackles for a loss, two passes defended, five interceptions, and a touchdown through 14 game appearances as a senior in 2021.

He recorded 157 tackles, eight tackles for a loss, two sacks, five passes defended, eight interceptions, and a touchdown through his four collegiate seasons.

At the NFL Scouting Combine, the 6-foot-2 and 195-pound Woods had an impressive 40-time of 4.36 seconds and vertical jump of 39.5 inches, some of the best among the defensive backs.

At Baylor, Woods did a little bit of everything, but he was at his best dropping and covering into the deep half of the field.