Tag: Chargers draft class

Which rookie could be surprise gem for Chargers in 2021?

The Los Angeles Chargers have a rookie that could surpass expectations.

While expectations are set high for the Chargers’ early-round picks, there could be someone from the mid- late-rounds that ends up surprising in their rookie season.

Based on talent, upside, the right fit and a legitimate opportunity, Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox listed a first-year player who could end up being a surprise gem for each team in the league.

For Los Angeles, Knox listed third-round pick, tight end Tre’ McKitty as the team’s rookie who could surpass expectations.

The selection of McKitty was largely a traits-based pick, as he only had six receptions for 108 yards in 2020. However, McKitty is a 6’4″, 246-pound pass-catcher with 4.71 speed. Raw and unpolished as a route-runner, McKitty will be a rotational player early in his career. However, he can be a physical mismatch with big-play potential.

Expect McKitty to come on slowly as a rookie but develop into the type of vertical-threat tight end whom Los Angeles lost in Henry.

McKitty was drafted for his blocking skills, where he will have a role is an in-line blocker right off the bat. However, he has true potential to make an impact through the air than most realize.

He has the athleticism, ability to separate at the top of routes, a frame and great hands to reel in everything thrown his way along with impressive power and contact balance to gain yards after the catch.

For Georgia in 2020, McKitty only posted six receptions in four games, which marked a career-low. Before transferring, McKitty had 50 catches in three seasons at Florida State.

It might not be from the get-go that he gets pass-catching snaps since Jared Cook and Donald Parham are ahead of him on the depth chart, but don’t be surprised if McKitty carves up a role sooner than later.

Where Chargers’ 2021 undrafted free agent class ranks among rest of NFL

The Los Angeles Chargers inked 10 undrafted rookies. How do they fare among the rest of the league?

The NFL draft is behind us, and all of the talks have been primarily surrounding around the nine selections made by general manager Tom Telesco. But left out have been the undrafted free agents that he signed.

The Chargers inked 10 undrafted free agents to a contract after the draft. How does the haul stack up to the rest of the league?

NBC Sports’ Thor Nystrom ranked Los Angeles’ UDFA class and reviewed some of the signees, followed by showing how all 32 organization’s signings stacked up against one another.

L.A. ranked No. 9 in the AFC and 19 out of all the teams in the league.

Here is what Nystrom said:

In 2020, five of the top-nine teams in Rick Gosselin’s NFL special teams rankings made the playoffs. The Chargers finished dead last. The Chargers used UDFA to continue fixing the league’s worst special teams unit, work that’s been going on all offseason. The most overt of those signings were K Alex Kessman and LS Ryan Langan.

The Chargers would love for Kessman to put them to a decision on Michael Badgley, who converted just 24-of-33 field goal attempts last season. Badgley can no longer be trusted deep, which means his time as an NFL kicker is running out — all nine of his misses were from beyond 40 yards.

When firing a coach or breaking up with a girl, you always go for the opposite the next time around, and so it was with the Chargers’ signing of Kessman, whose 12-of-18 hit-rate (66.6%) on 50-plus yard field goals set an NCAA record. Kessman will tango with not only Badgley, but offseason signee Tristan Vizciano. With a new staff, it’s best-man-wins.

LAC’s other signings were made primarily with special teams in mind as well. Oklahoma State LB Amen Ogbongbemiga, the team’s most talented UDFA prospect, took over 500 special teams snaps in college (and made almost 200 tackles overall the past two seasons between his defensive and special teams work). He’s going to make the Chargers for the bump he’ll give the coverage unit alone.

Whereas I think Ogbongbemiga is a special-teamer early who could develop into a starter later, S Ben DeLuca and WR Eli Stove are both strictly special-teams propositions. But if you’re hellbent on improving those units, you mine as well bring in hungry kids willing and able to gun, cover and return.

Lastly, the Chargers weren’t able to address a need for iDL depth in the draft. So they took a couple fliers on Forrest Merrill and Jared Goldwire. Merrill is a squatty ‘80s throwback you ain’t movin’, Goldwire is his counterpoint, a long-limbed, stretched-out 6-foot-5, 293-pounder that tries to keep his distance with length.

I recently put out an article that lists the four undrafted free agents that I believe will make the 53-man roster.

Note: Eli Stove was waived by the Chargers.

Los Angeles has had a good amount of success finding diamond in the rough players, so if some of the players that I mention don’t make it, there is still bound to be a couple that do after their showings in training camp and preseason action.

2021 Senior Bowl proved to be important to Chargers’ draft

For Chargers general manager Tom Telesco, the draft starts in Mobile.

The draft starts in Mobile.

For the 32 NFL teams in attendance, the Senior Bowl is a chance to see some of college football’s top players square off in a week of practices and a full game to wrap things up in order to prove to them that they can prepare, practice and compete like pros.

Within all of the action on the football field, this is team’s first opportunity to sit down and get to know the prospects after watching them for years at their perspective school and talking to their coaches to gain more information on them.

However, this year’s Senior Bowl was even more vital to team’s evaluation process than previous ones because of the limited exposure to players during the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which caused a handful of cancelled games and opt outs.

Chargers general manager Tom Telesco already had a track record of drafting players that partook in the event. But him and the evaluators really took advantage of this one in particular, as the team went on to select five players that they had the chance to watch and meet with.

Wide receiver Josh Palmer, tight end Tre’ McKitty, offensive tackle Brenden Jaimes, running back Larry Rountree III and safety Mark Webb all participated in the 2021 Senior Bowl.

That marks 21 Senior Bowl participants that Los Angeles has either signed or drafted since 2017.

The other 16?

G Dan Feeney, Indiana  – 2017

S Rayshawn Jenkins, Miami – 2017

DB Desmond King, Iowa – 2017

DE Isaac Rochell, Notre Dame – 2017

LS Cole Mazza, Alabama  – 2017

DT Justin Jones, NC State – 2018

K Michael Badgley, Miami – 2018

LB Uchenna Nwosu, USC – 2018

C Scott Quessenberry, UCLA – 2018

LB Drue Tranquill, Notre Dame – 2019

S Nasir Adderley, Delaware  – 2019

QB Justin Herbert, Oregon — 2020

RB Joshua Kelley, UCLA — 2020

S Alohi Gilman, Notre Dame — 2020

WR K.J. Hill, Ohio State — 2020

Telesco stuck to his guns this year, bringing in good football players that are also good people, tough, competitive and fit the culture of what he wants them to be both on and off the field.

5 bold predictions for the Chargers’ 2020 rookie class

Chargers Wire’s Gavino Borquez lists five bold predictions for the team’s haul from the 2020 NFL Draft this upcoming season.

The 2020 NFL Draft is officially in the rearview. Now that we’ve been able to get accustomed to the Chargers’ draft class based on their collegiate careers, it’s time to project how they might fare at the professional level.

What better way to do so than making some bold predictions for their rookie campaigns?

Here are five:

QB Justin Herbert doesn’t take a single snap

The Chargers made it clear that Tyrod Taylor is in the driver’s seat to start the season. After drafting Herbert with the No. 6 overall selection, they said that there will be a competition at the quarterback position, but I don’t think his showing in training camp (if there is one still) and preseason will change the minds of the coaching staff. The only way I see Herbert taking over is if Taylor struggles at any point of the season. Given the talent around him (on both sides of the ball) and the familiarity with coach Anthony Lynn’s offensive philosophy from their time spent with the Bills, the chances of Taylor failing to win games are slim. I’m a firm believer that the only way a rookie is going to succeed at the NFL level is to get reps, but Herbert really needs fine-tuning to the mental side of the game before taking the reins. However, learning from new quarterbacks coach Pep Hamilton in Year 1 could do him wonders.

LB Kenneth Murray finishes with 100+ tackles

Murray is the only rookie among the Chargers’ draft haul that I firmly believe will be starting Week 1. Expected to be the starting Will linebacker, Murray should be on the field on all three downs. Murray is a quick-twitch athlete who possesses the sideline-to-sideline speed and range against the run. On top of that, he has a knack for rushing the quarterback. The bottom line is that Murray is always around the football one way or another. His stats from college back that up, as in 42 college games — all of which he started — he totaled 335 tackles. Safety Derwin James surpassed the 100-tackle mark in his rookie season, finishing with 105.

RB Joshua Kelley amasses 8 rushing touchdowns

Kelley is no stranger to the end zone. In both seasons at UCLA, Kelley combined for 25 rushing touchdowns, 13 in 2019 and 12 in 2018. The former Bruin does join a crowded backfield that consists of Austin Ekeler and Justin Jackson which might make it challenging to achieve that type of production, but there’s plenty of reason that believe that Kelley could become the feature back, which would maximize his touches. Ekeler is going to have the lead role, but the Chargers still plan to use him all over the formation — backfield, slot, outside. Jackson has shown flashes the past two seasons, but injuries have kept him off the field. I expect Kelley to receive the football on short-yardage and goal line situations, which could help pad his sheets. But Kelley has a well-rounded skillset to be effective and productive in the main role.

WR Joe Reed finishes top-5 in the league in kick return yards

Reed was drafted for his speed and versatility at the wide receiver position, but also his plus ability to return kicks. The former Virginia product will be in contention for the starting job with Darius Jennings, who was acquired via free agency earlier this offseason. It should be a close competition in camp, but I think Reed has the slight leg up on him. If he wins the job, I could see the rookie finishing top-5 in kick return yards. Last season, the top-5 consisted of Redskins’ Steven Sims (819), Chiefs’ Mecole Hardman (704), Bills’ Andre Roberts (664), Saints’ Deonte Harris (644) and Dolphins’ Jakeem Grant (578). Reed, the 2019 Jet Award winner, which is given to the country’s top kick returner, finished with 3,042 yards on kick returns in 50 career games.

WR K.J. Hill finishes second among team’s receivers in receptions

The top target for the Chargers the past few seasons has been Keenan Allen and despite the change at the quarterback position, I don’t see that changing. Because Mike Williams is listed as WR2, it leads many to think that he will be second in catches, but I believe Ohio State’s all-time reception leader will emerge as one of Tyrod Taylor or Justin Herbert’s favorite targets. Even though he isn’t going to burn defenders with speed, Hill is capable of putting defensive backs on skates with his savvy route-running skills. He also has a knack for finding soft spots in zone coverage, which will make him nearly always an open option. The former Buckeye is bound to catch everything, too. Hill finished his college career with 201 catches. I could see Hill finishing with 45-55 receptions in his rookie season.