Tag: Chargers draft

2024 NFL draft: Chargers send 3 representatives to Washington pro day

The Chargers sent a strong contingent to UW’s pro day on Thursday, including two position coaches.

The University of Washington held their annual pro day on Thursday. 19 former Huskies worked out for NFL evaluators, headlined by quarterback Michael Penix Jr. and offensive lineman Troy Fautanu. Wide receiver Rome Odunze, a projected top ten pick, was present but did not participate.

Among the 30 teams in attendance in Seattle were three representatives from the Chargers: offensive line coach Mike Devlin, defensive line coach Mike Elston, and west coast area scout Chris Hobbs. (A report that offensive coordinator Greg Roman was in attendance was incorrect.)

Both Devlin and Elston ran positional drills for their respective groups. Elston worked out defensive linemen Bralen Trice, Sekai Asoau-Afoa, and Tuli Letuligasenoa. Edge rusher Zion Tupuola-Fetui did not participate as he recovers from shoulder surgery and defensive lineman MJ Ale was not seen after the 40 yard dash. Devlin worked with Fautanu and offensive tackle Roger Rosengarten during their positional work, along with offensive line coaches from the Jets, Raiders, and Steelers.

The Chargers also showed plenty of interest in a number of Huskies players outside the workout. Devlin spent a few minutes chatting with Odunze as the other players ran the 40, the two seemingly familiar with each other from a previous encounter.

Of note, however: Odunze told the media after the workout that he has met with the Giants and plans to meet with the Cardinals, Bears, and Jets in the coming weeks. He did not mention the Chargers as one of the teams set to host him at their team facility.

On the defensive side, Elston had a lengthy conversation with Trice after the defensive line workout concluded. Trice has been matched with the Chargers in longer mock drafts in the past, as his play style aligns with what Los Angeles is expected to be looking for under new defensive coordinator Jesse Minter. Trice would also not come at a premium draft selection – he’s currently projected to be a late Day 2 or early Day 3 pick.

Trice disappointed in athletic testing at February’s NFL Combine, but looked fluid in positional work and showed plenty of bed during bag drills. He did not seek to improve upon his testing numbers from Indianapolis.

Position coaches attending pro days are generally good indicators of interest around the league, so the fact that Elston and Devlin were present in Seattle on Thursday is notable. Hobbs, meanwhile, was active in timing the drills and was seen debriefing the event with Elston as the two exited the pro day venue.

Chargers get best player available, fill holes in Chad Reuter’s latest 4-round mock draft

Breaking down the Chargers’ picks in Chad Reuter’s latest four-round mock draft.

The Chargers have a smidge bit of leeway heading into the NFL draft after addressing a few positional needs in free agency, but there are still some critical spots on the roster that need to be filled next month.

In NFL Media’s Chad Reuter’s latest four-round mock draft, he sees Los Angeles taking the best player available at a glaring position of need in the first round and building out the depth chart the rest of the way out.

In Round 1, wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. falls in their lap.

The Cardinals, who have the No. 4 overall pick, trade back with the Vikings in this scenario. Minnesota takes their quarterback of the future in J.J. McCarthy, leaving Harrison for the taking.

With Keenan Allen and Mike Williams gone, the Bolts must add to the wideout room in the worst way.

Harrison is a bonafide star skill player with athleticism, speed, route-running savvy and elite ball skills. He would quickly develop close chemistry with Justin Herbert and boost the offense significantly.

In Round 2, L.A. takes defensive tackle Braden Fiske.

Fiske, the 6-foot-4 and 292-pounder, was a standout at the NFL Scouting Combine. He led all defensive tackles in the vertical (33.5″), broad jump (9’9), and 40-yard dash (4.78 seconds).

That immense athleticism shows up on the football field, as Fiske plays with good movement skills and quickness. While he possesses below-average length, Fiske is crafty with his hands and is strong at the point of attack.

The Chargers signed Poona Ford last week, but they still need to fill out the interior part of the defensive line depth chart.

In Round 3, the Chargers select cornerback DJ James.

James has a lot of experience, having spent his final two seasons at Auburn after three with Oregon. He is a great athlete with the desired coverage skills and knack for the football, as evidenced by leading the SEC in forced incompletions (15) in 2023.

With their first pick in the fourth round, Los Angeles selects running back Will Shipley.

Shipley shows the burst, decisiveness, and receiving ability to be a rotational back, which are all traits that the Bolts could use in the backfield as they look to finish building out the group.

With the additional fourth-round pick they got from the Bears in return for Keenan Allen, L.A. takes offensive lineman Sataoa Laumea.

Jim Harbaugh wants to be more physical up front to aid the running game and that means bolstering the offensive line with his guys. Laumea is an experienced player who logged 44 straight games between right tackle and right guard. He is a fleet-footed mover with a nasty streak.

Chargers HC Jim Harbaugh on No. 5 overall selection: ‘It’s an exciting pick’

Jim Harbaugh spoke about the Chargers’ first-round pick in this year’s draft.

Jim Harbaugh spoke to the media at the NFL’s annual owners meetings. Asked about the Chargers’ 5th pick in April, he said:

There’s some real possibilities. Like we’re really super excited about that pick, so we’ll see how it plays out. Pick a great player at 5? There’s going to be a great player at 5. There’s talk of four quarterbacks going in the first four picks. Where if that happens, that pick really becomes like the number one pick. If four quarterbacks go in the first four picks, it’s not like the fifth pick anymore. It’s like the number one pick for teams in the draft that have a great quarterback.

The four-quarterback scenario within the draft’s first four selections has gained steam over the last month, with Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy vaulting into top-five trade-up discussions. Perhaps unintentionally, Harbaugh managed to pump his draft stock during his presser by calling his Michigan pro day “the best I’ve ever seen.”

Perhaps that scenario doesn’t end up playing out despite the intense speculation of the Cardinals trading out of the fourth pick. Harbaugh has a plan for other scenarios as well:

Maybe four quarterbacks don’t go in a row. I mean it’s unprecedented that’s ever happened. Maybe there’s still a quarterback there with the fifth pick. Again, that would be like the number pick. It wouldn’t be like the calculator for the fifth pick anymore. If it comes around to us and we’re on the clock at number five, we know we got a great player that’s going to be there for us. Have to determine who that’s going to be. It’s an exciting pick, well aware we have the fifth pick.

As Harbaugh said, the Chargers potentially maintain optionality in either getting the best non-quarterback available a five or perhaps being able to trade out of five with a quarterback-needy team. For a team entering a roster retool that already has Justin Herbert, it’s hard to ask for a better scenario.

The 2024 NFL draft rapidly approaches for Hortiz, Harbaugh, and LA. We are now less than a month from an exciting night in Detroit.

Daniel Jeremiah’s new mock draft has Chargers trading out of Marvin Harrison Jr.

Daniel Jeremiah chose chaos.

Daniel Jeremiah’s self-proclaimed “chaos” mock draft left some Chargers fans asking questions after he projected the team trading out of the Marvin Harrison Jr. pick at 5.

The compensation, in particular, was a confusing aspect here. Trading up into the top five is historically expensive, yet the Chargers yielded just a 2025 second-rounder. This is partially because the Jets are low on premium draft capital if you’re trying to create a scenario where they trade up into the top five.

It’s not inconceivable that the Chargers could trade out of the fifth pick, even with Harrison Jr. on the board. They have significant roster holes, and as we saw with the Keenan Allen trade, Joe Hortiz is willing to play the long game. But any trade value chart that one could consult suggests that LA gets much more than the compensation projected in this mock.

The Chargers ended up drafting Oregon State offensive tackle Taliese Fuaga at pick 10 after their trade down. Fuaga has been a name that’s been projected to the Bolts before, with his physicality as a blocker and the goal of bulking up their run blocking. Interestingly, Jeremiah has Fuaga starting at right guard in Year 1, with Trey Pipkins presumably keeping his right tackle spot. That would send one of Jamaree Salyer or Zion Johnson to the bench.

The connection between Jim Harbaugh and having trench-built teams with strong offensive lines is understandable. However, I’m not sure this offensive line needs as much uprooting as some draft analysts believe. The Chargers signed Bradley Bozeman to address arguably their biggest weakness on the line. It’s one thing to take Joe Alt or Fuaga if the reasoning is simply that Pipkins is more serviceable than elite. But again, the more chronic need right now is wide receiver, given how they’ve maneuvered.

This draft has a great wide receiver class to Jeremiah’s point. But even with the Chargers’ depth issues, it doesn’t make sense for them to trade out of selecting Harrison, Malik Nabers, or Rome Odunze for this small of a package in return. With needs at linebacker, running back, tight end, cornerback and interior defensive line, I’m also not sure if it’s the best thing to need two wide receivers in the draft going into April.

2024 NFL draft: Chargers awarded one compensatory pick

The Chargers will receive a seventh-round comp pick for their loss of Drue Tranquill.

The Chargers will have an extra pick in the NFL draft.

Los Angeles will receive a seventh-round comp pick for their loss of linebacker Drue Tranquill, who signed with the Chiefs last offseason.

Tranquill appeared in 16 games (eight starts), amassing 78 total tackles, seven tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and a pass deflected.

For his efforts, Tranquill recently re-signed with Kansas City on a three-year, $19 million deal with $13 million guaranteed.

Compensatory picks are awarded to teams who lose out on significant players in free agency and are awarded to those teams the next year.

The pick given to teams is calculated using a formula that includes several qualifiers, including the average per year (APY) of a contract signed, the percentage of snaps a player plays, and their awards and accolades for their performance, such as the AP All-Pro list or PFWA’s list.

The Chargers currently have eight picks for April’s draft.

2024 NFL draft: Chargers had meeting with WR Rome Odunze at Combine

The Chargers met with one of the top wide receiver prospects at the NFL Scouting Combine.

The Chargers met with one of the top wide receiver prospects at the NFL Scouting Combine.

James Odunze, father of Washington WR Rome Odunze, confirmed that he met with Los Angeles this past week in Indianapolis, IN.

Odunze is coming off a terrific performance at Lucas Oil Stadium. He ran a 4.45 40-yard dash and jumped a 39-inch vertical. He posted a 6.88 three-cone drill, but he stayed on the field to try to get a 6.6, which speaks to his strog work ethic.

At 6-foot-2 and 212 pounds, Odunze is a talented receiver with great size, good route running and savvy, strong hands and contested catch ability.

Odunze set a school record this past season with 1,640 receiving yards, the most in the NCAA. His 92 receptions were just two shy of a single-season program record, and he was named a first-team all-American.

Head coach Jim Harbaugh has already had a good look at Odunze when Washington faced Michigan in the National Championship game. Odunze finished with five catches for 87 yards.

Mike Williams could be relieved to clear cap space. Keenan Allen isn’t getting any younger. Quentin Johnston still has to prove himself after an underwhelming rookie season. Odunze would be a solid addition to the position room.

Breaking down Chargers’ pick in Dane Brugler’s latest mock draft

The Chargers trade back in Dane Brugler’s latest mock draft.

The Athletic’s Dane Brugler released his latest mock draft on Tuesday.

Let’s break down what one of the highly touted draft analysts thinks for Los Angeles in the 2024 NFL draft after the NFL Scouting Combine.

Round 1, No. 9, OT Taliese Fuaga, Oregon State (via Bears)

Brugler included a few trades in this mock draft, including the Chargers, who moved back four spots with the Bears. Chicago jumped up to grab Washington wide receiver Rome Odunze. In return, Los Angeles acquired a third-round pick (No. 75 overall) and a 2025 fourth-round pick.

The Bolts selected Fuaga at No. 9 overall to take over as the team’s starting right tackle. Jim Harbaugh has a vision of running the ball, and they need road graders up front to make it come to fruition. Fuaga is a massive man with the power and plus run-blocking skills.

Joe Alt has been the commonly mocked player to the Chargers at No. 5 overall, but I believe that if they want to address the offensive line, they’re better off trading down to get a true right tackle, like Fuaga or Alabama’s JC Latham and acquiring more draft ammo.

PFF lays out ‘best-case scenario’ for Chargers in 2024 NFL draft

How can Joe Hortiz and Jim Harbaugh hit a home run in their first draft together?

Pro Football Focus laid out the best-case scenario for the Chargers in the draft with the goal of finding players who fit Jim Harbaugh’s vision and selecting Georgia tight end Brock Bowers as their first pick. 

The Chargers need to play physical football in all three phases next season. The Bolts want to draft the most talented players, but there is another factor driving those decisions.

One characteristic that Harbaugh is infamous for is his ability to change a program’s culture, and it could be argued that this is also what Los Angeles needs most. 

PFF believes taking Bowers at No. 5 is worth it because Justin Herbert needs a talented tight end to throw to. Additionally, Harbaugh and Greg Roman have coached several elite tight ends throughout the years. 

They also believe that bringing in players Harbaugh is familiar with from coaching at Michigan, and the son of one of his former players when he was the coach of the 49ers, Frank Gore.

Along the way, Harbaugh could look to bring in Michigan graduates, such as running back Blake Corum, wide receiver Roman Wilson and interior defender Kris Jenkins, who all know his habits firsthand. Another name to watch could be Southern Mississippi’s Frank Gore Jr., whose father was coached by Harbaugh when they were both in San Francisco.

I believe that the best-case scenario for Los Angeles involves trading back a few spots to get more draft ammo in the first few rounds while still being able to draft a player like Bowers or a top tackle or cornerback.

Chargers strike gold in latest Lance Zierlein mock draft

The Chargers nab the top prospect in this year’s draft class.

NFL Media’s Lance Zierlein released his latest mock draft on Monday, and he has the Chargers hitting a home run at No. 5 overall with the selection of Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr.

The Chargers need a tackle, and this could be a valuable pick if they decide to trade back. But Harrison Jr. put up 118 and 120 yards against Jim Harbaugh while he coached Michigan, so why not bring the ballyhooed wideout aboard?

So, how was Los Angeles able to do the unthinkable? Simple. Zierlein has the Cardinals passing on Harrison altogether and selecting LSU’s Malik Nabers, who has been commonly mocked to the Bolts during this process.

Zierlein said there is a lack of consensus on the wide receiver pecking order despite most of the general population believing that Harrison is the No. 1 wideout in this year’s class.

Should this actually happen, or if the Cardinals were to trade back with a quarterback-needy team, assuming that the first three picks are QBs, this would be a no-brainer for the Chargers.

Harrison is a bonafide star skill player with athleticism, speed, route-running savvy and elite ball skills. He would quickly develop close chemistry with Justin Herbert and boost the offense significantly.

2024 NFL draft: OT Joe Alt confirms meeting with Chargers

A potential selection for the Chargers has met with team officials.

A potential selection for the Chargers has met with team officials.

Notre Dame offensive tackle Joe Alt spoke to the media at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis on Saturday. When asked if he had met with LA, he confirmed that he had a formal meeting with the Chargers. Alt also confirmed meetings with the Titans, Bears, and Raiders, among others.

Asked about his impressions of new Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh, Alt said:

I did meet with the Chargers. It was a great interview, got to meet coach Harbaugh. It was a good time. For me, it was always ‘I didn’t get recruited by Michigan,’ but getting to meet him on that level was very cool. He’s a great guy, it was a really fun interview.

Alt, who was mocked to the Chargers at No. 5 overall in Daniel Jeremiah’s most recent mock draft on NFL.com, would likely play right tackle for Los Angeles after spending his collegiate career on the left side. Chargers Wire asked him if that switch was something that had come up in interviews with teams and if he had begun preparing:

It definitely has come up. I’ve been preparing for it at the combine. I also played tight end in high school, so I’ve been able to put my hand on both sides of the ball. I did some tackle over this season and then working in the combine training.

The Chargers have been heavily rumored to be considering an offensive tackle in the first round following a disappointing season from right tackle Trey Pipkins, who has two seasons remaining on his contract. But with Alt confirming that he’s been asked about moving to that side, it seems less likely that LA’s consideration of the position would include moving former All-Pro Rashawn Slater to the right, despite his experience on that side from Northwestern.

Alt and the rest of the offensive linemen take the field for testing on Sunday on NFL Network.