Tag: Chargers draft

Mel Kiper gives Chargers quarterback of the future in first mock draft

ESPN’s Mel Kiper released his first mock draft on Friday.

NFL Media’s Daniel Jeremiah released his first mock draft a couple days ago, where he gave the Los Angeles Chargers former Alabama offensive tackle Jedrick Wills with the No. 6 overall selection.

Two days later, ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. put out his first mock draft, but he elected to go in a different direction. Kiper gave the Bolts former Oregon quarterback Justin Herbert with their first-round selection.

Here is what Kiper had to say about Herbert to Los Angeles:

The Chargers have some big decisions to make over the next few months. Will they bring back free-agent quarterback Philip Rivers? Will they pay up to keep tight end Hunter Henry and running back Melvin Gordon? Rivers showed some decline in 2019, throwing 20 interceptions. It could be time to start fresh with the 6-foot-6 Herbert, who has the highest ceiling of any of the quarterbacks in this class. His inconsistency can be maddening and his decision-making must improve, but you can’t doubt his talent, and a team in the top 10 could fall in love. L.A. has some issues; its defense produced just 30 sacks (despite Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram III combining for 18.5), and quarterbacks completed 70.7% of passes against it, highest in the league. The Chargers also got almost nothing from top 2019 picks Jerry Tillery and Nasir Adderley. This also could be a spot to watch for defense.

Herbert, the 6-foot-6 and 227 pound signal-caller, has been commonly mocked to the Chargers, and it’s unlikely to come to an end anytime soon. The team needs to start planning for the future even if they decide to bring back veteran Philip Rivers for another season or two.

Los Angeles is in a prime position to snag one, considering how high they’re picking and Herbert would be a solid option. The opinions are mixed on the Eugene native because of his inconsistencies, but the talent and potential to become a premiere NFL quarterback is there.

Herbert is coming off a great week of practices at the Reese’s Senior Bowl, where he displayed his maculate arm strength, terrific ball placement, athleticism and he checked off boxes that might’ve been questioned by some including his decision-making and working through his reads in team drills.

Another thing that a lot of teams want to know is if he is capable of leading an offense. Herbert said in an interview that he is vocal as opposed to being an introvert like many people label him. He displayed that on the field, and all of his receivers responded really well to him.

The former Oregon product will play in a live game setting to conclude his week down in Mobile, AL on Saturday. The game will start at 11:30 a.m. PT and will be televised on NFL Network.

4 potential Chargers who stood out during Day 3 of Senior Bowl practices

Chargers Wire’s Gavino Borquez lays out the four potential Los Angeles Chargers who stood out during Day 3 of Senior Bowl practices.

The third and final day of Senior Bowl practices concluded on Thursday.

Here are four potential Chargers who stood out on Day 3:

Justin Herbert | QB | Oregon

Herbert finished practices with a very productive day for the South Team on Thursday. During the red zone drills, he was dropping dimes in the corner of end zone. In the two-minute drill, Herbert looked composed, he was accurate with nearly all of his throws and each one had pop, displaying his arm talent that he is coveted for. Even when facing pressure, he was quick to diagnose  it, never panicked, rolled out and found his targets each time. He didn’t really take any shots downfield, but his decision-making was precise and he showed great vision to efficiently work through his reads, which is something that he needs to do a better job at. For his phenomenal week, Herbert was named Practice Player of the Week.

Pages: Page 1, Page 2, Page 3, Page 4

4 potential Chargers who stood out during Day 2 of Senior Bowl practices

Chargers Wire’s Gavino Borquez highlights four potential Los Angeles Chargers who stood out during Day 2 of Senior Bowl practices.

The second day of Senior Bowl practices concluded on Wednesday.

Here are four potential Chargers who stood out on Day 2:

Jordan Love | QB | Utah State

On Tuesday, it was Justin Herbert that had the best day out of all the quarterbacks. A day after, it was Love who had the better day, raising some eyebrows during the North Team’s practice.

Love was flashing arm talent, throwing dimes downfield, including a beauty to wide receiver Denzel Mims down the sideline. During the seven-on-sevens, he was making good decisions throughout the course of the drill, which is something that scouts are looking to see out of him this week.

Love’s evaluation is a tough one because of his poor campaign in 2019, but he has the opportunity for evaluators to overlook that year with a strong showing the rest of the week.

Pages: Page 1, Page 2, Page 3, Page 4

Chargers add beast offensive tackle in Daniel Jeremiah’s first mock draft

The Los Angeles Chargers upgrade the trenches in Daniel Jeremiah’s first mock draft.

With the offseason in full gear this means that mock draft season is as well. We’ve seen a handful of mock drafts throughout the past few months, but for the first time we got to see NFL Media’s Daniel Jeremiah first mock draft, which was released on Tuesday.

Jeremiah addresses the offensive side of the ball, but it’s not the quarterback position. He goes with the other position of need by mocking Alabama offensive tackle Jedrick Wills to the Chargers with the No. 6 overall selection.

The Chargers are in the QB market, but they also have a desperate need to upgrade the OL. Wills is a rock-solid player, and he’ll start from Day 1 at right tackle for the Bolts.

Jeremiah is very self explanatory with the pairing of Wills and the Bolts. He acknowledges that the team will be seeking a future franchise quarterback early on, but protection is an absolute need for unit that struggled to be consistent in that area this past season.

Wills, the 6-foot-5 and 320 pounder, is touted as one of the top tackles in this class to some. He took a big leap in his junior season where he started all 15 games, and dominated defenders on a weekly basis. Wills was a monster in the run blocking department, but he turned it on in pass protection in 2019.

The former five-star recruit would be an instant plug-and-play right tackle entering the 2020 regular season with the ability to kick to the left side when Russell Okung is no longer with the team.

QB Justin Herbert headlines potential Chargers who shined on Day 1 of 2020 Senior Bowl practices

Quarterback Justin Herbert was one of many players that should’ve drew the attention of the Los Angeles Chargers.

Day 1 of the 2020 Reese’s Senior Bowl is officially in the rearview.

This morning kicked off with the annual weigh-ins, which was followed up with media day where analysts, reporters and writers got the opportunity to speak with players before they took the field for the first day of practice.

The South Team made their way out to the big room first, and after about 20 minutes, out came Oregon quarterback Justin Herbert. The 6-foot-6 and 227 pound signal-caller was immediately bombarded by the media, where he was hit with a slew of questions.

One of the questions that Herbert was asked really stood out. He was asked what NFL teams told him they wanted to see this week. There was no mention of polishing things when it comes to his play on the field. Instead, Herbert said one word: “Leadership.”

“I think people are worried about leadership and me being a pretty quiet guy. But I would say that I’m not too quiet. Unfortunately, I’ll talk your ear off. There are these things that I want to be transparent with and give a good representation of myself.

I’m not an introvert. I think that’s one of the things that I don’t think people have the right idea about me and I would say that it’s not fairly accurate and when I get into the huddle, when I get around the team it’s a little bit different and the guys would say that, the coaches would say that and I think they’d agree with me on that.

I think I’m somewhere in the middle (of introvert and extrovert) and there’s shades of both in me. That’s something I’ve really worked on and the coaches have done a great job of pulling that out of me,” Herbert told reporters.

Scouts and general managers know that he has all the physical traits, tools and talent to become a successful NFL quarterback, but teams want to see Herbert command a huddle and take charge on the field because many believe that he isn’t capable of leading a team.

When we got into Ladd-Peebles Stadium where the practice took place, it wasn’t long until Herbert flashed. The Eugene native looked phenomenal on Tuesday, displaying all the physical tools and most importantly, the leadership skills that were being desired.

Herbert was right on the money with nearly all of his throws.  He made plays in and out of the pocket, showcasing his strong arm and athleticism. His most notable pass was a beautiful vertical toss to wide receiver Austin Mack down the sideline where it landed perfectly in his hands.

After Mack reeled in the pass, Herbert scampered down the field fired up to give his teammate the recognition that he deserved.

Herbert’s incomplete passes were more about drops by receivers rather than missed throws on his part. And when his receivers dropped a pass, they made sure to hear about it from Herbert, showing the vocalness that evaluators are wanting out of him this week.

The Chargers’ biggest draft needs other than quarterback center around the offensive line, wide receiver and cornerback position, and there were a few standouts from those groups.

Houston offensive tackle Josh Jones, who is a candidate for Los Angeles’ second-round pick, had a great day. His previous basketball skills were evident in one-on-ones as he was an easy mover with flexible hips and agile feet to stay between the rusher and quarterback.

There was a small-school standout by the name of Ben Bartch who raised some eyebrows. Bartch, the 6-foot-5 and 308 pound tackle, did a fantastic job in pass protection, moving effortlessly and using his 33-inch arms to slow down speed rushers. He played tackle the entire afternoon, but he has the versatility to play inside, too.

As for interior offensive linemen, Michigan guard Ben Bredeson had himself a solid day. Bredeson was quick to leverage the point of attack and achieve body position, latching with his strong hands, and moving with a coordinated lower body to slide and mirror defenders.

A wideout that should’ve garnered the attention of the Chargers scouts was Ohio State’s K.J. Hill. Hill showed off a plethora of route-running skills and techniques to get open during multiple one-on-one reps.

Across from the wide receivers was Oklahoma State cornerback A.J. Green, who showed off some top-notch technique from zone coverage, ball skills and competitiveness during the seven-on-seven drill.

Why Chargers could fall in love with Jordan Love at Senior Bowl

Jordan Love should be on the Los Angeles Chargers radar this week at the Senior Bowl.

Former Oregon quarterback Justin Herbert has been the go-to pairing for the Los Angeles Chargers to this point. But there’s another signal-caller who will be under their microscope during the Senior Bowl week.

Even though he hasn’t gotten the same amount of publicity that Herbert has gotten when it comes to being a viable option, former Utah State quarterback Jordan Love has been mocked to the Bolts before – and there’s plenty of reason to believe that he would be a great fit.

So who is Jordan Love?

Love started his football career in high school as a wide receiver, but would eventually move to quarterback and was named offensive player of the year and Most Valuable Player as a senior at Liberty High School in Bakersfield, CA. He led them to their first ever division championship.

Prior to the major accomplishment, Love, who was 14 at the time, went through some personal trauma as his father took his own life away. Following the tragic event, he utilized the football field as a coping method and would use his father’s passing and his mother and three sisters as a sense of motivation.

Despite being named California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) Conference Offensive Player of the Year during his final year, Love was graded as a two-star recruit and his only FBS offer came from Utah State – which is where he would end up spending the next three years.

Love redshirted his freshman year in college, but went on to play all 12 games in 2017, starting five of them where he set a new school-high 1,631 passing yards for a freshman at Utah State, while adding eight touchdowns to six interceptions.

The following season, the Bakersfield native raised a lot of eyebrows after throwing for 3,567 yards with 32 touchdowns and six interceptions in 2018. With high standards set the year after, he failed to meet them, finishing with 3,402 yards for 20 touchdowns and 17 interceptions.

It’s easy to judge him based on the stat sheet, but his statistical decline isn’t necessarily an indicator of a regression in skill.

Love lost his head coach Matt Wells, who took a job at Texas Tech, which had an affect on the offensive system that he chimed with so well a year prior. Along with that, he didn’t benefit from losing all but one starter on the offensive side of the ball.

Instead of going back for his senior season or transferring to Texas Tech to reunite with his former coach, Love decided to take the leap to the NFL, which stirred up a mixed bag of opinions because many thought he would help himself by playing another year.

“He’s the guy that could really jump up through the process because coming out of the summer I thought he was going to be a first-round pick for sure and most teams had him in the first round.

They had the coaching change out there and just I think the combination of turnover, new system and then just feeling the pressure of a lot of that first-round talk in the summer in the media and all the hype. He looked like he was trying to do way too much,” Senior Bowl executive Jim Nagy said.

Nagy said he sees similarities between Love and Bills quarterback Josh Allen, who was on the fence for many throughout the process, but he solidified himself as a top-10 pick with a strong Senior Bowl week in 2018.

Love’s showing this past season has drawn some pause for many, and those who have their concerns fail to see past what the box score shows from the 2019 season.

That is why this entire week will be critical for his evaluation.

“Jordan Love’s a guy that’s got as much to gain from the Senior Bowl as anybody in our game this year. Physically, he has everything. He’s big, he’s athletic, he can move. He’s got a strong arm. He’s a really natural thrower. That’s what gets you excited about him.”

What makes Love such a polarizing prospect, and what are some boxes that he will have to check to prove to NFL evaluators that he’s worth the high draft selection?

His explosive arm is the most notable thing to his game that immediately pops, where every throw that comes out of his hand has an intention.

[wpvideo 6n6MLSAx]

Even though he isn’t much of a notorious scrambler, Love’s athletic ability mixed with his escapability allows him to make some poetic plays on the move.

[wpvideo hPHP7h51]

[wpvideo 6Btf2z1w]

Love can successfully make throws in-between defenders or near the sideline, showing no fear testing tight spots.

[wpvideo Ceu3fWEh]

He excels at locating passes on the money and manipulating velocities, where he delivers passes with beautiful touch.

[wpvideo 7AaFXOY3]

[wpvideo G2GiqJng]

Love can quickly get the ball into the hands of his weapons as quickly as possible and accurately, which allows them to gain yards after the catch in a hurry.

[wpvideo lPi8u9tt]

When being pressured, Love will remain calm and stand tall, letting his arm do all the work where he can deliver the ball with just the flick of his wrist and core strength.

[wpvideo ndjmnlA0]

He also has a good sense of pressure from the outside, where he will climb the pocket and deliver a strike.

[wpvideo ygbQnZYi]

When sensing pressure from the interior, Love does a fantastic job using his escapability skills to evade it and often you still see money throws like this into a tight window.

[wpvideo f2EabRDz]

Losing all but one starter on the offensive side of the ball did him no favors as they managed to drop a combined total of 50 passes.

[wpvideo OrUUXqxt]

[wpvideo sQT1HvjD]

Love looks fun, right? He kind of looks like a player that the Chargers are familiar with by the name of Patrick Mahomes, who some NFL scouts have compared Love’s style to. Even though there are some noted similarities, they aren’t on the same level, and there are still areas to Love’s game that need to be cleaned up.

His vision points can also be locked onto one read, which notes to the defense where he is going to go with the football.

[wpvideo 1Yxim5gQ]

Love’s decision-making can run cold, where he will look to rely on his arm to make plays happen, even when he can see there’s defenders in the vicinity that are likely to contest the pass.

[wpvideo rUuVaeOz]

These are the type of throws that were frequent in 2019, which Love wishes he could have back. He would disregard the coverage rotation and just let it rip, where underneath defenders would feast.

[wpvideo aGL8o3Ou]

The bottom line is that his ability to make any throw on the field from multiple set points is exceedingly impressive, but Love needs to improve his decision-making process and accuracy in order to correct some of the big misses that are there.

Scouts know that he can make the unthinkable happen with his off-balance, across-the-field tosses, but this will be an opportunity to show he can make notable strides from the plays this past season that had many scratching their heads when watching him.

The Chargers, who possess the No. 6 overall selection, will be watching Love closely. Should he continue to do what he does best, as well as clean up those areas of concern this week, he could very well raise his projected mid to late first-round stock to near the top-10, drawing some intrigue when Los Angeles is on the board.

If Los Angeles felt like Love was their guy, he would benefit from being able to sit behind Tyrod Taylor or Philip Rivers (if he’s re-signed) in Year 1. Coach Anthony Lynn, who maximized Taylor’s potential when they were in Buffalo together, would be able to do the same for Love.

With the polish from Lynn, offensive coordinator Shane Steichen’s soon-to-be new offensive scheme and the weapons that feature wide receivers Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, tight end Hunter Henry and running back Austin Ekeler, Love could reach his high ceiling with the Bolts.

6 potential Chargers to watch during Senior Bowl week: Defense

Chargers Wire’s Gavino Borquez lays out six defensive players to watch in this week’s Reese’s Senior Bowl.

The pre-draft process leading up into the 2020 NFL draft is headed to Mobile, AL, for the Senior Bowl. This event is one of the biggest college football all-star games that will feature the most prolific prospects in the country.

This week will draw the attention of many Chargers’ scouts, coach Anthony Lynn, and general manager Tom Telesco to do their homework on players that could potentially be suitors for Los Angeles come April.

Last year this event brought in safety Nasir Adderley and linebacker Drue Tranquill. The year before that the team found linebacker Uchenna Nwosu, defensive tackle Justin Jones, linebacker Kyzir White and center Scott Quessenberry in the game.

It all starts tomorrow with weigh-ins/measurements, three days of practices and finally, the game on Saturday. I’ll be in attendance, constantly giving updates throughout the week.

With that being said, here are six players to keep an eye out on the defensive side of the ball.

CB A.J. Green, Oklahoma State – South Team

Adding another talented corner opposite of Casey Hayward should be a must for the Chargers this offseason. Green, the 6-foot-1 and 190 pound corner, finished the 2019 season with 49 total tackles, one interception (returned for a TD), and five passes defensed. The lean, yet lengthy corner played in different styles of coverage, but he is best in zone at the next level. Green shows good awareness of routes developing around him and trusts his instincts, often heading towards the ball before it arrives. He has a quick, tight backpedal with good lateral agility to make sharp diagonal cuts, and is a smooth transitioner from his backpedal to run vertically with above average top-end speed. The one thing that I’d like to see him to do a better job this week is efficiently playing the ball when it’s in the air.

CB Michael Ojemudia, Iowa – North Team

Ojemudia was a big piece to the Hawkeyes’ defense this past year. Ojemudia recorded 52 total tackles, one forced fumble, three interceptions, and had nine passes defensed. The rocked up 6-foot-1 and 200 pound corner played in different styles of coverages like Green, but he is adept in zone coverage, where he has great awareness of underneath routes, demonstrating the quick downhill burst to break up passes in front of him. He has a natural tracking ability which allows him to high point the football. Ojemudia also has the necessary athleticism you want to see out of a bigger corner, as he has the play speed to stay with most receivers. Another strong suit to his game is that he doesn’t lack for physicality in the run game, showing a willingness to blow up blockers and lower his shoulder into ball carriers.

DT Leki Fotu, Utah – North Team

The Chargers need to add more beef up front, and they will have a few different guys that are worth a hard look, starting with Fotu. Not many people of Fotu’s size can move like him. The 6-foot-5 and 335 pound defensive tackle has the speed, power, length, body control and mismatch ability to cause fits for NFL interior offensive linemen, where he would supply a huge boost in the pass rush and run defense department. The former Ute finished his collegiate career with 82 tackles, 17 tackles for loss, four sacks and three passes defensed.

DT Davon Hamilton, Ohio State – North Team

Buried on the depth chart, Hamilton didn’t get the opportunity to unleash his full potential until this past season when he became a full-time starter. Hamilton recorded 28 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss and six sacks. The 6-foot-4 and 310 pound Hamilton excels at his job and that’s to take on double teams to allow other members from the front seven to roam freely. Along with the strength and balance against double teams, he has the first-step explosion and hands to get in the backfield.

LB Cameron Brown, Penn State – South Team

The Chargers need to add more talent to the linebacker room, and they could benefit from someone that’s equally as talented against the run and pass. The 6-foot-5 and 233 pound linebacker is balanced, coordinated athlete who changes direction and accelerates smoothly. He eases into his zone in pass coverage, showing a nice downhill burst to the ball on underneath routes, as well as the range and agility to handle man-to-man duties against running backs and tight ends. Brown is active and aggressive in run support, slicing past would-be blockers to attack the line of scrimmage. He is a physical, competitive tackler with legitimate stopping power.

LB Logan Wilson, Wyoming – North Team

If you are anticipating a riser in this year’s class, Wilson is that guy that’s bound to skyrocket up draft boards. Wilson is a smart, tough, athletic backer who relies on his read and react instincts to get the job done. He possesses tremendous vision and is known to be highly competitive, showing up every play with maximum effort—a lunch bucket guy. He doesn’t have the length to blow up blockers, but he will avoid them with pure speed. Wilson is also strong in coverage, as he finished his senior season with four interceptions and seven passes defensed.

12 potential Chargers to watch during Senior Bowl week: Offense

Chargers Wire’s Gavino Borquez lays out 12 potential Los Angeles Chargers on the offense to watch during Senior Bowl week.

The pre-draft process leading up into the 2020 NFL draft is headed to Mobile, AL, for the Senior Bowl. This event is one of the biggest college football all-star games that will feature the most prolific prospects in the country.

This week will draw the attention of many Chargers’ scouts, coach Anthony Lynn, and general manager Tom Telesco to do their homework on players that could potentially be suitors for Los Angeles come April.

Last year this event brought in safety Nasir Adderley and linebacker Drue Tranquill. The year before that the team found linebacker Uchenna Nwosu, defensive tackle Justin Jones, linebacker Kyzir White and center Scott Quessenberry in the game.

It all starts tomorrow with weigh-ins/measurements, three days of practices and finally, the game on Saturday. I’ll be in attendance, constantly giving updates throughout the week.

With that being said, here are 12 players to keep an eye out on the offensive side of the ball.

QB Justin Herbert, Oregon – South Team

Herbert is the most polarizing prospect going into this week. The 6-foot-5 and 237 pounder has all the physical traits that you would want in an NFL quarterback. Herbert’s arm talent is special. Not only can he deliver a beautiful deep ball, but he is sound when throwing outside the pocket, where he will move around, set his feet and deliver a dime. Though it wasn’t on display that much this past season, Herbert can beat defenses with his legs. Consistency and accuracy is the knock on him. While Herbert can make big plays at any given moment, some of the easy ones are missed. The former Oregon product should benefit from a strong wide receiver group this week, where he could unlock what he’s truly capable of doing at the next level.

QB Jordan Love, Utah State – North Team

After an outstanding 2018 season, the production dropped dramatically for Love. While some questioning the box score, the upside is there. The 6-foot-4 and 225 quarterback has the arm strength, talent, athleticism and physical traits that easily translates to the next level. According to the Athletic’s Dane Brugler, one scout even used the term “Mahomes-like” to describe his skill set. Currently being stamped as a mid-late first-round option, Love could skyrocket up the draft board with a strong showing this week.

RB Joshua Kelly, UCLA – North Team

If the Chargers move on from Melvin Gordon, finding another back to compliment Austin Ekeler and Justin Jackson – but they could afford to do so on Day 3, given how deep the position is in this year’s class. Kelly finished his stint with the Bruins with 2,303 yards and 24 touchdowns on 454 attempts. Kelly, the 5-foot-11 and 219 pounder, is a physical, downhill runner with good vision, contact balance and burst when he gets in the open field.

RB Lamical Perine, Florida – South Team

This marks a homecoming for the Mobile native. At 5-foot-11 and 221 pounds, Perine, the cousin of former Oklahoma and current Redskins running back Samaje Perine, is a tough downhill runner that wins with his pure physicality, vision and balance. Another plus is that he is a solid blocker who can protect on third down, and he can contribute in the short area passing game, as he hauled in 40 passes and five touchdowns through the air this past season.

WR Devin Duvernay, Texas – South Team

A high school track star in the state of Texas, Duvernay is a deep threat and an effective short area receiver. Built like a running back, Duvernay possesses the explosiveness and long speed to beat defenders, sticky hands, vision, and blue-collar toughness. In four seasons for the Longhorns, Duvernay posted 176 receptions for 2,468 yards (14 yards per catch) and 16 touchdowns. The 5-foot-10 and 210 pounder also offers special teams value because of his runaway speed and tackle-breaking ability.

WR Quartney Davis, Texas A&M – North Team

Davis came on the map after an impressive campaign for the Aggies this past season. The 6-foot-2 and 202 pounder caught 54 passes for 616 yards and four touchdowns in 2019. Davis possesses very good speed, quickness and acceleration, where he gets open with ease and is an absolute terror in the open space. He competes in his routes and plays tough, projecting as a solid No. 3 receiver at the next level with No. 2 WR upside.

OT Josh Jones, Houston – North Team

Jones, a four-year starter for the Cougars, is a former basketball star whose traits from that sport are very visible on the football field. He has the footwork, flexibility and knee bend to flourish in pass protection, as well as the strength to move defenders in the run game. Jones played at both left and right tackle in his four-year stint, so he has the ability to man the right side for Los Angeles and kick over to the other side when Russell Okung’s time is up.

OT Matt Peart, UConn – North Team

Peart, the 6-foot-7 and 302 pound offensive tackle, also has a basketball background. Peart, the Jamaica native, possesses the movement skills, footwork, and agility where he blocks with terrific leverage for a man of his height. He shows the ability to hit a moving target or adjust to knock speed rushers from their angle. Peart uses his long 35.25-inch arms to keep opponents away, and his strong and powerful hands to gain inside leverage – even though he can tend to be grabby. The former UConn product could land within the top-75 with a strong outing in Mobile.

OG Ben Bredeson, Michigan – North Team

The interior part of the offensive line is likely to get revamped. Guard Michael Schofield is an unrestricted free agent after this season, the future of Forrest Lamp is unknown after struggling to stay healthy and Dan Feeney has been up-and-down. Bredeson has plug-and-play traits. He looks the part at 6-foot-4 and 329 pounds and checks the necessary NFL boxes with his size athleticism, strength, intelligence, where he shines both as a pass protector and a run blocker.

OT Prince Tega Wanogho, Auburn – South Team

Wanogho left Nigeria when he was 16 years old with NBA and Olympic swimmer aspirations, but he made an impact playing high school football. Wanogho, the 6-foot-7 and 305 pound offensive tackle, is still raw, given the fact that he’s been playing football for only five years. But he is athletically gifted and he possesses the physical traits to develop into a solid starting tackle at the next level in Year 1.

OG John Simpson, Clemson – South Team

Simpson, the 6-foot-4 and 336 pound guard, possesses the competitiveness and character that the Chargers should covet. The former high school state wrestler has extremely strong hands and does whatever it takes to finish his blocks as a run blocker. He has a really powerful anchor and sound technique in pass protection.

OG Logan Stenberg, Kentucky – South Team

Stenberg, the 6-foot-6 and 322 pound guard, is physical interior blocker with heavy hands, body control in the run game, and solid mirror skills in the pass game. He is an aggressive player who competes at a high level, plays with good toughness and grit, and shows an ability to finish blocks with a mauler temperament.

8 prospects the Chargers should target from East-West Shrine Game

The Los Angeles Chargers selected three players who played in the East-West Shrine Game in 2019.

The annual East-West Shrine Game will kick off this afternoon. This all-star showcase will feature several prospects that the Los Angeles Chargers should target in the 2020 NFL draft.

Last year, general manager Tom Telesco selected three players – Trey Pipkins, Easton Stick, Cortez Broughton – that played in the game, so it’s safe to say that he covets it as an outlet to find talent.

With that, here are eight players that the Bolts should target from the East-West Shrine Game:

RB James Robinson, Illinois State

With there being uncertainty regarding the future of Melvin Gordon, the Chargers could look to bring in another back to solidify the positional group if they move on from. Robinson, the 5-foot-10 and 220 pounder, is a powerful, downhill runner who possesses the burst, elusiveness, vision and contact balance needed at the next level.

OL Calvin Throckmorton, Oregon

The Chargers need to add more depth along the offensive line, and Throckmorton, the experienced and versatile lineman would help to fulfill that. Throckmorton played nearly every single position except left guard for the Ducks. He is a powerful player who has solid pass protection technique, a strong anchor and the toughness to be a consistent starter in the league by Year 2 or 3.

OG Kevin Dotson, Louisiana-Lafayette

Dotson, the AP first-team All American, has good toughness and is sufficient in sustaining blocks by showing exceptional power and hand placement. He is a very strong finisher and regularly takes opponents to the ground through the whistle. The 6-foot-4 and 323 pounder has the opportunity to rise up with a strong showing and at the Combine, where has sneaky athleticism will be on display.

OT Cameron Clark, Charlotte

Clark, Charlotte’s team captain and two-time All-Conference-USA member, is an aggressive player in the run blocking department, and prefers to take the game to his opponents. He has good athletic traits and decent movement skills in pass protection to keep defenders at bay.

WR John Hightower, Boise State

Hightower, the 6-foot-2 and 185 pound wideout, caught 82 passes for 1,447 yards (17.6 yards per catch) and 14 touchdowns in two seasons at Boise State. With the Chargers needing speed at the position, Hightower has good, quick footwork and short strides with high end acceleration skills to beat defensive backs.

WR Johnathan Johnson, Missouri

Johnson, the big play-maker, averaged 18.1 yards per catch and 17.7 yards per catch as a freshman and sophomore, respectively, and finished his career with 14.3 yards per catch. Though he is undersized at 5-foot-8 and 179 pounds, he has elite quickness, and he is an explosive athlete in space with the ball in his hands.

DT John Penisini, Utah

Penisini, the 6-foot-1 and 324 pound defensive tackle, had 14 tackles for loss and four sacks over the past two seasons for the Utes. Penisini is a good athlete for his size with good play speed, balance, and quickness. He has sufficient strength, always gets his hands on the lineman first and will battle through the whistle. He gives phenomenal chase when he’s on the field.

CB Nevelle Clarke, UCF

In his last two seasons at UCF, Clarke has amassed four interceptions, 24 pass deflections and one touchdown. Clarke, the 6-foot-1 and 187 pound corner, is a long and rangy corner who is extremely competitive. Best in zone coverage, is quick and agile with very good mirroring skills, long speed and reactive athleticism.

Chargers get quarterback of the future in latest USA Today mock draft

Justin Herbert becomes the Los Angeles Chargers future face of the franchise in USA Today’s latest mock draft.

The Chargers have a slew of positions that need to be fulfilled including the offensive line, wide receiver and cornerback group – but there’s a glaring hole at the most important position on the field: quarterback.

We still don’t know if Philip Rivers is going to be brought back for Year 17, but even if the front office chooses to re-sign him, Los Angeles needs to start planning for the future, and possessing the No. 6 overall selection in this year’s draft means that they are in a prime position to grab a signal-caller.

That’s exactly why in USA Today’s latest mock draft, the Chargers selected Oregon quarterback Justin Herbert.

As arguably the top prospect at the Senior Bowl this week, Herbert could amplify the buzz surrounding him by showing off his considerable physical tools. The Chargers have to be thinking about their future at quarterback —be it in the near or long term —as they move into their new digs, and the 6-6, 237-pound signal-caller has the downfield throwing aptitude to take advantage of Keenan Allen and Mike Williams.

Herbert has been commonly mocked to the Bolts, and while it’s a mixed bag on how fans feel about it, it would be the most ideal direction they could possibly go.

Los Angeles could select an offensive tackle with this pick, but it is the deepest positional group with starting caliber options that’ll still be available in Round 2. Plus, I expect general manager Tom Telesco to look to add one using the free agency pool.

Herbert is a physical specimen, who has the skillset, traits and tools to become a solid NFL quarterback for years to come. The area of his game that gets scrutinized the most is primarily mental, which is something that could quickly be addressed when he gets to the league.

[wpvideo lvjCkuTd]

Another thing to note is that Herbert didn’t benefit from Oregon’s scheme that required a lot of screens and one reads, nor did he have the type of dynamic playmakers that LSU’s Joe Burrow or Alabama’s Tua Tagovailoa possessed.

With the Chargers, he would be put into a system where he would be able to utilize his skills in the short passing game, use his legs and, his big arm to let it rip to wide receivers Keenan Allen, Mike Williams and tight end Hunter Henry.

Herbert is already being projected to be a top-10 selection, but with a strong showing at the Senior Bowl in Mobile, AL next week, he can really stamp his landing spot there, and have the team sold on him during the interviews that the scouts will have with him during the week.