7 potential Chargers that should blow up NFL Scouting Combine

Chargers Wire lays out who Los Angeles Chargers fans should watch at the NFL Scouting Combine.

The 2020 NFL Combine is just around the corner. The event is a useful tool for player evaluation, and some teams put more stock in it than others.

It is a big opportunity for prospects to showcase their athleticism and skillset through a series of tests, including the 40-yard dash, vertical jump, broad jump and on-field drills.

With that, we have compiled a list of seven prospects all Chargers fans must watch in Indianapolis next weekend, in addition to a handful of others Los Angeles could be targeting in the 2020 NFL Draft.

Below are the players to keep an eye on:

QB Justin Herbert, Oregon

Herbert has been commonly linked to the Chargers since the start of the pre-draft process. The 6-foot-6 and 227 pound quarterback’s tape shows a lot of good things, but two things stand out: arm strength and mobility.

I believe Herbert is going to run a 4.7 second 40-yard dash and his polarizing arm will be on display during the on-field drills, where he will make all the throws to all parts of the field, especially on the deep ball.

The interview process will be the most important for Herbert. This will be his opportunity to show that he can lead a team and impress the coaches when they put him on the whiteboard.

OT Josh Jones, Houston

The offensive tackle position is a glaring need for the Chargers, and Jones should be at the top of their board in the second-round (if he’s already not taken). With his basketball background, the athleticism is evident. He plays with long arms, coordinated feet and lower body movement skills in pass protection. Jones should do really well in the agility drills, but he should light up the on-field drills.

LB/S Isaiah Simmons, Clemson

Like safety Derwin James, Simmons is a true chess piece on the defensive side of the ball. He can blitz, play the run, cover in the slot and play special teams. Think about that for a second, two James on the field at the same time.

Everyone is familiar with the 6-foot-4 and 230-pound hybrid defender after putting together such a polished resume for the Tigers. But the Combine is going remind people how much of a freakish athlete he is.

Simmons has a vertical jump of 40 inches and a broad jump of 11-0. He routinely jumps onto a 52-inch box for single-response jump work. He also has run a sub-4.4 40 this off-season, per The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman.

WR Jalen Reagor, TCU

The Chargers are in need of another deep threat, given the underwhelming production from Travis Benjamin and the guys behind him on the depth chart this past season. If they choose to go that route early on in the draft, Reagor should be on their radar.

Reagor is one of the fastest receivers in this year’s class. The 5-foot-11 and 195-pounder showed breakaway speed to burn corners week in and week out. This past offseason, he clocked a 4.29 40-yard, and his strength numbers are also eye-popping: a 620-pound squat, a 380-pound bench and a 380-pound clean, per Feldman.

CB Troy Pride, Jr., Notre Dame

The Chargers will be in the market for a cornerback. Pride Jr. got on my radar at the Senior Bowl, but it won’t be long until he catches the attention of others that aren’t familiar with him.

At the 2018 ACC Indoor Track and Field Championships he ran a personal-best 6.73 seconds in the 60-meter dash. His 10.50 100 time is one of the fastest in school history. This past offseason he ran a 4.32 40-yard dash, per Feldman.

The 5-foot-11 and 193 pounder would be a perfect zone defender for the Chargers since he has a knack for reading and getting a feel for route concepts before making a play on the ball. His speed, mirroring ability and spatial awareness are all plus traits of his.

OT Matt Peart, UConn

Peart, a four-year starter at UConn, is a good athlete that boasts terrific length. The 6-foot-5 and 310 pound tackle doesn’t have overwhelming power to dominate his opponents, but he quickly finds his landmarks and uses his natural movement skills, base and length to keep rushers busy. His quick feet will be evident during the on-field drills.

OT Ben Bartch, St. John’s

The 6-6, 308-pound Bartch is coming off a stellar Senior Bowl week, where he showed that he could hang with some of the best pass-rushers in the nation. Now, he is bound to stamp himself as the first Division III player to be drafted since Buccaneers’ Ali Marpet, who has turned into a quality starter.

Bartch, the former tight end, is likely to run under five seconds in the 40-yard dash. But the on-field drills will be a major plus for him because on tape he showcases a silky smooth set in pass protection with beautiful footwork, lateral range and quickness in his kick slide to protect the edge.

10 prospects who should light up the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine

These 10 prospects should show off their rare athleticism at the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine

The NFL Scouting Combine is both a useful tool for evaluating prospects, but also a chance to get overly excited to drills and numbers that can have little impact on how well a player will actually perform on the field at the next level.

While all combine performances should be taken with a grain of salt (or a brick, in some cases), here are 10 talented athletes who should impress at this year’s event.

Henry Ruggs III | WR | Alabama

Listed at 6-0, 190 pounds, Ruggs might possess the best pure speed in the entire 2020 class. Ruggs is a receiver with acceleration that’s truly rare. Most collegiate cornerbacks simply could not match his steps. In fact, he recently put that speed on tape when he absolutely destroyed some of his Alabama teammates in a 4×100 relay.

Ruggs reportedly ran a 4.25 as a junior at Alabama, and is the favorite to be the fastest player in this year’s 40 yard dash. The only question that remains is whether or not he could break John Ross’ record of 4.22 seconds. We’re excited to find out.

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8 LB’s the Eagles can target to replace Nigel Bradham

Here are eight linebackers that the Eagles could target to replace Nigel Bradham

The Philadelphia Eagles had a looming decision to make on Nigel Bradham and according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com, Bradham will enter free agency after not having his team option picked up.

With the Eagles set for changes on both sides of the ball, here are 8 linebackers via the draft or free agency that the Eagles could target or pursue.

***

1. Isaiah Simmons — Clemson

Howie Roseman could decide to look around on the draft day, breathe in all the success that Minkah Fitzpatrick and Tyrann Mathieu have had and finally decides to trade up for a gamechanger on defense who can disrupt an offense’s flow from any position.

The Eagles don’t normally put a ton of value into the linebacker position, but Simmons isn’t your typical linebacker. A versatile hybrid, Simmons can play linebacker or safety, Philadelphia to be one of the most versatile teams in the league.

In this new era of spread offenses and mobile quarterbacks, having a guy like Simmons who can go from elite pass rusher to locking down the middle on a pass play makes him extremely valuable for any style of defense.

isaiah simmons 👀 pic.twitter.com/Us8rFIb3uA

— josh houtz (@houtz) January 14, 2020

Simmons has lined up at linebacker, cornerback and edge rusher, thus still allowing T.J. Edwards and Nate Gerry to get snaps.

It would take the Eagles trading far up in the draft, but it’s a move Roseman should consider.

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2020 NFL draft: Isaiah Simmons scouting report

Everything NFL draft fans need to know about Clemson linebacker/safety Isaiah Simmons

Isaiah Simmons | LB/S | Clemson

Height | 6-4

Weight | 230

College Bio Page

Career Stats

Strengths

If you’re looking for physical tools, you’ll find plenty of them with Simmons.

A lengthy defender with the height of an edge rusher, the speed of a defensive back and the physicality of a linebacker, Simmons is a mismatch wherever you put him on the field. He has fantastic straight-line speed for the linebacker position, as well as the fluidity in space to beat ball-carriers to the edge on outside-zone runs and excel in coverage. His sideline-to-sideline range as a tackler is arguably the best in the 2020 draft class, and when he plays at full speed, he’s essentially unstoppable.

NFL teams will love coming up with ways to utilize Simmons in their defensive scheme. Having taken significant snaps as a linebacker, deep safety, nickel cornerback and an edge rusher in Clemson’s defense, he has experience almost everywhere on the field. He can accelerate very well coming out of his breaks in coverage, and he has the deep speed to keep up with most offensive players when lined up in man. His size-speed combination will make him a tough player for opposing offenses to plan for in the pros.

Weaknesses

As athletic as Simmons is, there are times where he doesn’t get full use out of that athleticism because of developing processing abilities.

His instincts could use some improvement, as he can look lost when playing up on the line of scrimmage at times. He can also be a bit too aggressive on option plays, and he can be a split second too late on reading the quarterback’s eyes and making a jump on the ball in zone coverage.

Simmons can also get a little bit better at disengaging from blocks as a blitzer, and his form as a tackler can slip away from the acceptable norm at times. Otherwise, there aren’t many pressing needs in his skill set.

Bottom Line

An athletic freak of nature with unparalleled versatility and a sky-high ceiling, Simmons is a special prospect who differs from essentially every other top linebacker prospect to enter the draft in recent years. He should be one of the first defenders drafted come April.

Projection: Top 10

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2020 NFL draft: Updated prospect rankings for every position

Draft Wire’s Luke Easterling updates his prospect rankings for every position group in the 2020 NFL draft

The predraft process is rolling on, as the Senior Bowl is in the books and the NFL Scouting Combine is next on the horizon.

As teams and prospects alike continue to prepare for Indy and beyond, here’s an updated look at my prospect rankings for every position group in the 2020 NFL draft class:

Interior Offensive Line

Edge Defender

Interior Defensive Line

Linebacker

Cornerback

Safety

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Lions mock draft roundup: Chase Young becoming a real possibility

Another week examining the most recent 2020 mock drafts and the same three prospects continue to be mocked to the Lions.

Another week examining the most recent 2020 mock drafts and while the majority of analysts are still connecting the Detroit Lions to Jeffrey Okudah, Derrick Brown, and Isaiah Simmons, a new name is showing up with more frequency — Chase Young.

Let’s take a closer look at what has changed this week.

EDGE Chase Young, OSU (6-5, 265)

Currently being mocked by Kyle Meinke (MLive) and Jeff Risdon (Lions Wire, Real GM), and Fansided Mock Draft Staff.

Meinke: “Nobody stands to benefit from a run on quarterbacks more than Detroit, which already has a franchise quarterback playing at a high level. Of course, it still lost 12 games last year because of a near-historically bad defense. There was no bigger reason for that than their pass rush, which was among the league’s worst. This defense won’t work without better performances up front, and Young just so happens to be the best pass rusher in this draft. Hell, he might be the best defensive prospect overall. As long as you have a quarterback in place, you don’t pass up the opportunity to lock in a playmaking pass rusher on a cost-controlled contract like this. Detroit won’t.”

CB Jeffrey Okudah, OSU (6-1, 200)

Currently being mocked by, Maurice Jones-Drew (NFL),

Eric Edholm (Yahoo), John McClain and Aaron Wilson (Houston Chronicle), Jon Ledyard (Pewter Report), Clint Lamb (Roll Tide Wire), Will Brinson (CBS Sports), Joe Tansey (Bleacher Report), Zach Buckley (BR), Kristopher Knox (BR), Draft Tek Staff, among others, that you can find at NFL Mock Database

Edholm: “In our previous mock, we had Auburn DT Derrick Brown at this spot. Our estimation is that the Lions have three options right now: trade down (for a Tua team), or stay put and take either Okudah or Brown. And depending on how far they move down, the Lions might be able to have their cake and eat it, too. But in this scenario, the Lions nab the best cover man in the draft. With Darius Slay’s future in Detroit unclear, it would make a lot of sense.”

Ledyard: “I’m not doing trades in this mock draft, but even if I was, the Lions might want to stay put. The long-armed and rangy Okudah is exceptionally talented and fills a huge need for Detroit opposite Darius Slay. Moving back even two spots could mean missing out on this young, talented cornerback.”

DT Derrick Brown, Auburn (6-5, 325)

Currently being mocked by RJ White (CBS Sports), Matthew Tabeek (Atlanta Falcons), Charlie Campbell (Walter Football), Eddie Brown (San Diego Union-Tribune), and Brad Weiss (NFL Mock Draft)

White: “The Lions can use help at a lot of positions, and could even consider going QB here. But Brown gets the edge over Jeff Okudah due to the completeness of his game, and the Lions are losing a lot of snaps at DT to free agency.”

LB Isaiah Simmons, Clemson (6-3, 228)

Currently being mocked by A.J. Fagerlin (NFL Mocks)

Fagerlin: “Sure, the Lions could use another corner to pair with Darius Slay, but Simmons brings so much more to the table. Simmons fits extremely will in Patricia’s scheme as the extra safety/linebacker on the field in sort of a nickel role. He can play defensive end, MIKE linebacker, outside corner and everything in between. The versatility and proven production that Simmons offers are too much to pass up for a defensive head coach that is firmly on the hot seat heading into the season.”

Trades

Luke Easterling (Draft Wire): Lions trade pick No. 3 to the Miami Dolphins for picks No. 5 and No. 26 overall. The Lions selected Jeffrey Okudah, CB, OSU at five and Yetur Gross-Matos, EDGE, LSU at 26.

Dan Kadar (SB Nation): Lions trade pick No. 3 to the Miami Dolphins for picks No. 5 and No. 19 overall. The Lions selected Jeffrey Okudah, CB, OSU at five and K’Lavon Chaisson, EDGE, LSU at 19.

Ryan Wilson (CBS Sports): Lions trade pick No. 3 to the Miami Dolphins for picks No. 5 and No. 39 overall. Then they trade pick No. 5 to the Indianapolis Colts for picks No. 13 and No. 34. The Lions selected K’Lavon Chaisson, EDGE, LSU at 13 and enter Round 2 with picks 34, 35, and 39.

Chris Trapasso (CBS Sports): Lions trade pick No. 3 to the Miami Dolphins for picks No. 5 and undisclosed additional picks. The Lions selected Jeffrey Okudah, CB, OSU at pick No. 5.

Josh Edwards (CBS Sports): Lions trade pick No. 3 to the Miami Dolphins for picks No. 5 and undisclosed additional picks. The Lions selected Jeffrey Okudah, CB, OSU at pick No. 5.

Neal Driscoll (PFN): Lions trade pick No. 3 to the Miami Dolphins for picks No. 5 and No. 56 overall, as well as a 2021 2nd round pick. The Lions selected Jeffrey Okudah, CB, OSU at five and Julian Okwara, EDGE, Notre Dame at 56.

Ian Wharton (Sportsbook review): Lions trade pick No. 3 to the Miami Dolphins for picks No. 5 and “a second-rounder”. The Lions selected Derrick Brown, DT, Auburn at five.

Panthers 2020 NFL mock draft: The all-defense edition

The Panthers have a lot of needs to address this offseason. Depending on how free agency plays out, most of them are likely to be on defense.

If the team decides to keep Cam Newton and they’re confident the offensive line (specifically Matt Paradis and Greg Little) will rebound under new coach Pat Meyer, then there’s a case to make for them to go all-defense with their draft picks this year.

Our latest seven-round 2020 mock is an attempt at what that might look like.

No. 7: Clemson “LB” Isaiah Simmons

Rebuilding Carolina’s defense without Luke Kuechly in the middle of it will be Marty Hurney’s greatest challenge this year. Adding a piece like Simmons (6-foot-4, 230 pounds) who can wear so many hats might make a huge difference. In college, Simmons lined up just about everywhere. According to Pro Football Focus, he put in over 100 snaps at five different spots: inside linebacker, outside linebacker, slot corner, strong safety and free safety. Auburn iDL Derrick Brown is a strong prospect worth considering at No. 7, but no other defender in this class can match Simmons’ value and versatility.

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2020 NFL draft: Lions face many options at No. 3 overall

The 2020 NFL draft could go in many different directions after the first two picks, and the Detroit Lions hold the key at No. 3

Many people will say that the 2020 NFL draft will not truly begin until the No. 3 overall selection.

LSU quarterback Joe Burrow is a foregone conclusion to go first overall to the Cincinnati Bengals, as is the Washington Redskins taking edge rusher Chase Young out of Ohio State with the second pick. Barring an unforeseen trade within the first two selections, the real drama will begin when the Detroit Lions are on the clock with the No. 3 pick.

The Lions started off their season relatively well, starting off at 2-0-1 and still carrying a respectable 3-3-1 record heading into November. It all went south from there, though, as they failed to capture a single win for the rest of the season. Matthew Stafford missed the final 8 games of the year with spinal fractures, and the team failed to generate any sort of momentum from that point on.

Detroit has more talent on their roster than their draft positioning indicates, but they still have their fair share of needs. Here are five routes they can go down with their third overall pick.

Jeff Okudah | CB | Ohio State

Seen by many as the most likely pick for the Lions if they stay at No. 3, Jeff Okudah is yet another stud to come from the Ohio State factory for defensive backs.

Okudah is a lengthy cornerback at 6-foot-1 who has the size to match up with bigger receivers on the boundary. He’s physical and can jam the opposition at the line of scrimmage in press coverage, and he doesn’t shy away from contact when attacking the ball.

He is also an incredible athlete for his size, as his hip fluidity and ability to seamlessly accelerate coming out of his breaks are among the best in the class. Okudah, who had 3 interceptions and 9 deflections in 2019, has impressive ball skills and can box out receivers in jump-ball situations.

With no real answer at cornerback alongside Darius Slay – and the Pro Bowler’s future with the team in question – Okudah would be a slam-dunk pick for the Lions at No. 3. Regardless of whether or not Slay sticks around, the Ohio State standout would give them another cornerback with All-Pro potential.

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Chargers take dynamic defender in Draft Wire’s latest mock draft

The Los Angeles Chargers select former Clemson linebacker Isaiah Simmons in Draft Wire’s latest mock draft.

Quarterbacks and offensive tackles have been the commonly mocked positions to the Los Angeles Chargers. But group that hasn’t been projected as often, yet could be the route they go is upgrading the linebacker corps.

That’s why Draft Wire’s Luke Easterling pegged former Clemson product Isaiah Simmons to the Bolts with the No. 6 overall selection in his latest mock draft.

Here is what he had to say about the pick:

With the top three quarterbacks already off the board, the Bolts switch gears here and opt for the best available player over their biggest position of need. Simmons is a rare defender who can line up anywhere on the field and make a huge impact, and the Chargers would do well to maximize his versatility instead of trying to pigeonhole him into one specific position.

It’s officially Isaiah Simmons szn

pic.twitter.com/dBlYEQ0iyt

— Austin Gayle (@PFF_AustinGayle) January 18, 2020

Even though finding the future face of the franchise might be more of a priority, Joe Burrow, Tua Tagovailoa and Justin Herbert were gone before the Chargers were on the clock in this scenario. If this actually happens in April, this could be the direction that L.A. goes.

Simmons developed into one of the most impactful defenders in college football during his time for the Tigers. His production increased each year, finishing with 104 tackles, 16.5 tackles for loss, eight sacks, and three interceptions during the 2019 season.

Like safety Derwin James, Simmons is a true chess piece on the defensive side of the ball. He can blitz, play the run, cover in the slot and play special teams. Putting both play-makers on the field at the same would make out to be one of the most lethal combos in the league for years to come.

Lions mock draft roundup: Is a Top-3 prospect pool emerging?

Another week examining the most recent 2020 mock drafts and the same three prospects continue to be mocked to the Lions: Jeffrey Okudah, Derrick Brown, and Isaiah Simmons.

Writers are beginning to incorporate trades into their mock drafts, which shakes things up a bit, but if the Lions stay at pick No. 3, the general consensus seems to be that they’ll grab one of the three players mentioned above.

Let’s take a closer look at what has changed this week.

CB Jeffrey Okudah, OSU (6-1, 200)

Currently being mocked by, USA Today’s Nate Davis, ESPN’s Todd McShay, NFL.com’s Chad Reuter, CBS Sports’ Ryan Wilson, Bleacher Report’s Matt Miller, Kristopher Knox, Scott Polacek, and Joe Tansey, Pro Football Network’s Nick Farabaugh, Fantasy Pros’ Bobby Sylvester, Baltimore Sun’s C.J. Doon, NJ.com’s Darryl Slater, Bleeding Green Nation’s Ben Natan, NFL Mocks’ Branden Peplowski, With the First Pick’s Nicholas Perlich, among others, that you can find at NFL Mock Database

Reuter: “Okudah’s speed, size and length offer a rare combination at the position. The Lions allowed a league-worst 284.4 pass yards a game in 2019 and tied for the fewest interceptions in the league (seven).”

Wilson: “Okudah’s effort vs. Clemson in the Fiesta Bowl last month was the closest thing we’ve seen to a shutdown corner during the ’19 season; he put the clamps on Tee Higgins and Justyn Ross for most of the night and solidified his place as the No. 1 cornerback in this draft class.”

Miller: “The Lions have several needs, most on defense, and could also look at auctioning off this selection to a team like the Miami Dolphins who want to trade up for a quarterback. In a mock draft without trade predictions, what makes the most sense is drafting a shutdown cornerback prospect who is solid on and off the field with excellent size (6’1″, 200 lbs), instincts, toughness and character.”

DT Derrick Brown, Auburn (6-5, 325)

Currently being mocked by Detroit News’ Justin Rogers, SB Nation’s Dan Kadar, and Cover 1’s Russell Brown

Rogers: “Ideally, the Lions are able to trade down from this spot, pick up some extra draft equity and still get one of the top defenders on their board. Staying put, the polished and productive interior lineman fills one of Detroit’s biggest needs, which only becomes more glaring if “Snacks” Harrison retires.”

Kadar: “For as easy as it is to predict Young to Washington, it’s still difficult to get a grasp on what the Lions could do with the third overall pick. This could be a spot for a trade up if Miami gets anxious about missing out on Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. The Lions could also go a few different directions if they make the pick. This week, it’s Brown, the brutish defensive lineman who pushes blockers around with ease.”

Brown: “Truly, the Lions should trade back regardless of what offer presents itself. By the time we get to April, defensive tackle could be their biggest need. Brown is the most disruptive interior defensive lineman in this class and he’d be a perfect fit in Patricia’s multiple front defense.”

LB Isaiah Simmons, Clemson (6-3, 228)

Currently being mocked by CBS Sports’ Josh Edwards, Cover 1’s Christian Page, NFL Draft Lounge’s Eric Kirschbaum, and Blogging the Boys’ David Howman

Edwards: “Detroit is an interesting team early in the draft. They could trade the pick to a team looking to trade up for a quarterback or could take the best player on their board. Simmons is a defensive chess piece that will elevate everyone’s play.

Page: “Simmons would be an ideal candidate to play matchup-specific coverage similar to how Matt Patricia used Patrick Chung in New England, among others.”

Trades

Draft Wire’s Luke Easterling: Lions trade pick No. 3 to the Miami Dolphins for picks No. 5 and No. 26 overall. The Lions selected Jeffrey Okudah, CB, OSU at five and Yetur Gross-Matos, EDGE, Penn State at 26.

PFF’s Mike Renner: Lions trade pick No. 3 to the Miami Dolphins for picks No. 5 and No. 26 overall. The Lions selected Jeffrey Okudah, CB, OSU at five and Utah State’s Jordan Love at 26.

With the First Pick’s Randy Gurzi: Lions trade pick No. 3 to the Miami Dolphins for picks No. 5 and No. 26 overall. The Lions selected Isaiah Simmons, S/LB, Clemson at five and K’Lavon Chaisson, EDGE, LSU at 26.

Mockout’s Micky McKeon: Lions trade pick No. 3 to the Las Vegas Raiders for picks No. 12 and 19 in the first round. Lions grab K’Lavon Chaisson, JACK, LSU at 12 and Kristian Fulton, CB, LSU at 19.