Tag: Jer’Zhan Newton

2024 NFL mock draft roundup: Who experts are projecting Chargers to pick ahead of Week 18

Who could the Chargers look to add to the roster in the first round next year?

The Chargers are currently projected to hold the No. 6 overall selection in the 2024 NFL draft with one week left in the regular season.

Sitting at 5-11, all the attention has been shifted to the general manager and head coaching vacancies and what the team could do to bolster the roster.

With that being said, let’s take a look at who draft experts are pairing with L.A. in the first round ahead of Week 18.

CBS Sports’ Chris Trapasso — DT Jer’Zhan Newton, Illinois

“Newton is a disruptive force at defensive tackle, clearly the best penetrator at the position in the class.”

Bleacher Nation’s Matt Rooney — TE Brock Bowers, Georgia

“There are a lot of different directions the Chargers could go at six, they have a lot of needs to fill and likely will have a lot more by draft time since they’ll have to shed a bunch of salary in the offseason. They need a sure-fire win with this pick. Brock Bowers is as close to that as anyone in this draft. He can be Justin Herbert’s top target, a reliable tight end can be a quarterback’s best friend. Bowers is a hugely helpful pick for Herbert and an offense that will have some new leadership.”

With The First Pick’s Chris McGlynn — OT Joe Alt, Notre Dame

“The board falls nicely for the Chargers here, giving them their pick of the top offensive tackle prospects. Justin Herbert dealt with injuries all season long. Los Angeles needs to invest in protecting him. This comes down to preference, but given that the Chargers are already set at left tackle with Rashawn Slater, I think Alt would be the better fit at right tackle. He has a massive frame, excels at run blocking and has elite length to stymie pass rushers. Whoever is running this front office should make beefing up the offensive line a priority.”

Sports Illustrated’s Luke Easterling — WR Malik Nabers, LSU

“This defense needs plenty of help, but it might be difficult for the Chargers to pass on the elite pass-catching talent still on the board here. Quentin Johnston has shown flashes as a rookie, but Justin Herbert needs more with Keenan Allen and Mike Williams both aging and carrying massive cap numbers. Nabers is smooth and explosive, with big-play ability after the catch.”

33rd Team’s Connor Livesay — TE Brock Bowers, Georgia

The Los Angeles Chargers are a bad football team. Needing help on offense and defense, the Chargers must do the right thing and take the best player available when they get on the clock. While tight end is one of the least valuable positions in the NFL, Brock Bowers’ impact on offense will be felt in more ways than one.

Bleacher Report’s Joe Tansey — OT JC Latham, Alabama

Tankathon — OT Olu Fashanu, Penn State

Bengals get major help in new 2024 NFL mock draft

The Bengals go big in a new mock draft.

While the Cincinnati Bengals attempt to keep the underdog playoff hopes alive, much of the NFL world has turned its attention to the offseason and — of course — mock drafts.

It never hurts to take a brief glance over in that area of things, especially with so much a question mark about how the Bengals might construct their roster in the coming months.

One notable mock draft from Yahoo Sports’ Nate Tice sticks out as interesting because it has the Bengals going big with Illinois defensive tackle Jer’Zhan Newton:

Getting the havoc-wreaking Newton will help create pressure from the inside to give Trey Hendrickson and the other Bengals edge players some help from the interior, while also giving this defense a different flavor than it had since the days of Geno Atkins shooting gaps.

While it will go without saying for Bengals fans, but this is the type of move aimed at replacing DJ Reader over the long-term and giving the team more options than Zach Carter.

While Reader is one of the best nose tackles in football, his season-ending quad injury made it even harder to tell if the Bengals will bring him back this summer. Even if they do, the injury throws his 2024 season into doubt. Next to Reader, the likes of Carter haven’t had big enough impacts, either.

Newton’s disruptive ability and versatility would assist well, especially if paired with a free-agent signing. It’s certainly one idea for a team with big needs up front for a young defense undergoing growing pains.

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2024 NFL draft: Bowl season DT big board

2024 NFL draft: Bowl season defensive tackle big board from Draft Wire’s Jeff Risdon

It’s time to give the big men up front some love. The defensive tackles are always an interesting group to evaluate and ordinate, in part because they come in different sizes and styles of play.

I just dove into a handful of these players in the last week or so, and the more I watch the group, the more I do like the DT class overall. Still need to watch more of most of these guys, as this is more on first impression and preliminary study for all but the top two, who I’ve watched extensively and really like.

Offensive tackles

Wide receivers (via Brennen Rupp)

Cornerbacks

EDGE rushers

Running backs

2024 NFL mock draft roundup: Who experts are projecting Chargers to pick ahead of Week 17

Who could the Chargers look to add to the roster in the first round next year?

The Chargers are currently projected to hold the No. 6 overall selection in the 2024 NFL draft with two weeks left in the season.

Sitting at 5-10, most of the attention has been shifted to the general manager and head coaching vacancies and what the team could do to bolster the roster.

With that being said, let’s take a look at who draft experts are pairing with L.A. in the first round ahead of Week 17.

Yahoo Sports’ Nate Tice — OT Olu Fashanu, Penn State

“Either way, the Chargers’ defense definitely needs help at all three levels. But with this being such an offensive-heavy draft, at least at the top of the first round, keeping the franchise quarterback upright and healthy takes precedence over reaching for a need.”

CBS Sports’ Josh Edwards — TE Brock Bowers, Georgia

“Los Angeles continues stocking the offensive skill talent with the addition of Brock Bowers. Quentin Johnston could not be relied upon as a rookie and Mike Williams is coming back off an injury.”

Pro Football Network’s Adam Caplan — EDGE Jared Verse, Florida State

“This is a tough call as we don’t know what type of defensive scheme the Chargers will run going forward until they hire a new head coach. However, it’s obvious that they are in need of pass-rushing help for the future. Jared Verse, who is one of the top edge rushers available is the call here.”

Sports Illustrated’s Luke Easterling — TE Brock Bowers, Georgia

“This is an odd spot for the Chargers, who have tons of needs on defense, and will be welcoming a new coaching staff. The simple solution is always to take the best player on the board, and that’s Bowers, who would fill arguably the team’s most pressing need on offense. Justin Herbert would take full advantage of his dynamic playmaker.”

33rd Team’s Connor Livesay  — TE Brock Bowers, Georgia

“The 2024 Los Angeles Chargers’ roster will look a lot different than the 2023 Chargers’ roster. With a ton of cap casualties and a new coaching staff, it’s tough to predict which way the Chargers will go with their first-round pick.

One thing is for sure, they need new, young talent. TE Brock Bowers is a versatile offensive weapon who can make an immediate impact for Justin Herbert and Los Angeles’ offense.”

Draft Wire’s Curt Popejoy — TE Brock Bowers, Georgia

“When you have a quarterback as good as Justin Herbert, he needs guys he can trust to catch the football and no tight end does it better than Brock Bowers.”

2024 NFL mock draft roundup: Who experts are projecting Chargers to pick ahead of Week 16

Who could the Chargers look to add to the roster in the first round next year?

The Chargers are currently projected to hold the No. 8 overall selection in the 2024 NFL draft with three weeks left in the season.

Sitting at 5-9, most of the attention has been shifted to the general manager and head coaching vacancies and what the team could do to bolster the roster.

With that being said, let’s take a look at who draft experts are pairing with L.A. in the first round ahead of Week 16.

The 33rd Team’s Connor Livesay — WR Rome Odunze, Washington

“The Los Angeles Chargers will have to make some tough decisions this offseason. Currently sitting way over the salary cap, the Chargers will have to look into moving on from one of, or possibly both, Mike Williams and Keenan Allen. 2023 first-rounder Quentin Johnston has been a significant disappointment so far this season, and relying on him in 2024 would be bad for whoever takes over in Los Angeles.”

Pro Football Network’s A.J. Schulte — WR Malik Nabers, LSU

Yeah, the Chargers have Keenan Allen and Mike Williams and spent a first-round pick on Quentin Johnston last year. Should that change the math here? Not. One. Bit.

Malik Nabers is one of the most explosive receivers to hit the draft in recent years and simply glides across the field. He adds a totally different element to that offense that Justin Herbert really needs.

NFL Mock’s Hunter Haas — OT Taliese Fuaga Oregon State

“The Chargers could go several ways at No. 8 overall, but in today’s mock draft, they choose insurance for Justin Herbert. Taliese Fuaga is a better option at right tackle than Trey Pipkins and will give L.A. building block bookends at offensive tackle.”

Sportskeeda’s Tony Pauline — TE Brock Bowers, Georgia

“Bowers is one of the best players in this draft and will immediately become a favorite target of Justin Herbert.”

Bleav’s Jon DeLeone — CB Nate Wiggins, Clemson

“As the Chargers transition to a new era, they need to look to get younger on the defensive side of the football. With so much being invested in building around Justin Herbert, the defense, and particularly the secondary has been neglected. Nate Wiggins is a long and fluid corner who will capably be able to slow down the talented receivers in the AFC West.

The Draft Countdown’s Travis May — TE Brock Bowers, Georgia

Draft Kings Network’s Nick Simon — Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama

Sports Illustrated’s Luke Easterling — DT Jer’Zhan Newton, Illinois

Vikings land defensive help in Dane Brugler’s first mock draft

Dane Brugler’s first mock draft of the year is out and it goes in a direction that Vikings fans won’t be expecting

The NFL’s regular season still has a handful of weeks left, but it’s never too early to start looking ahead towards the NFL draft. That’s exactly what The Athletic columnist Dane Brugler has done, dropping his first mock draft of the year.

In a departure from most mocks, Brugler has the Minnesota Vikings picking up some help on the defensive side of the ball, rather than sending them a quarterback like most prognosticators have at this point. With the 20th pick, Brugler has the Vikings grabbing Illinois defensive tackle Jer’Zhan Newton.

This pick may be a bit surprising to some who follow the college game and the NFL draft closely, as Newton isn’t necessarily seen as a consensus first-round selection — as Brugler points out in his analysis of the pick. Newton is considered by many to be undersized for the position, listed at just 6’2 and 295 pounds.

That makes the pick more confusing, as an undersized defensive tackle doesn’t necessarily fit what Brian Flores and the Vikings defense want to do in their 3-4 scheme. With that said, Flores has shown a propensity for finding spots for players who have talent, and using that talent to its fullest capability.

Newton would be an interesting fit for the Vikings defense, but if anyone could make it work, it would be Flores.

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Saints draft: 10 early candidates to be New Orleans’ first-round pick in 2024

Top prospects in the 2024 NFL draft are already deciding whether to go pro or stay in school. These 10 names should be on the New Orleans Saints’ radar:

Top prospects in the 2024 NFL draft are already making the tough decision whether to stay in school or turn pro, and the New Orleans Saints could be in a good position to add a difference-maker after losing their last two games — so it’s a great time to brush up on which players might be available.

With the Saints projected to be picking at No. 12 overall after their recent losses, they’ll have their pick of some high-end talent coming up out of the college ranks. And they’ll need the help. They need upgrades along the offensive and defensive lines, at the skills positions, and at quarterback. Derek Carr hasn’t played well enough to keep the Saints from evaluating all of their options.

Top 75 prospects at the end of the college regular season

Top 75 prospects for the 2024 NFL draft at the end of the college regular season from Draft Wire’s Jeff Risdon

Thanksgiving weekend brought the 2023 college football regular season to a close. Rivalry weekend was a great end to an interesting season. It also marks a good time to update the 2024 NFL draft prospect rankings.

Some of the prospects here have played their final college football games. With so many underclassmen, it’s possible some will opt to stay in college for 2024, too.

There is still considerable film work and study to be done even before we get to the postseason all-star bowls, pro days and the scouting combine in Indianapolis. Right now, I’ve gone through about one-fifth of the college game film and All-22 that I’ve accumulated through the year. I’ve seen exactly one FCS game and one D-II game (in person).

In short, changes will happen. But right now, this is how I see the prospects overall. Remember, big board rankings are not predictions of when a player will be drafted. That’s what mock drafts are for…

2024 mock draft: 2-round projections prior to NFL Week 10

The second edition of the 2024 NFL mock draft from Draft Wire’s Jeff Risdon

It’s time to update the two-round mock draft ahead of one of the last big weekends of college football.

My first edition of the 2024 mock draft came out after Week 4. There has been quite a bit of football, both college and NFL, to impact the projections.

The draft order here is based on the current NFL standings entering Week 10. We’re still in the “presenting ideas and possibilities” phase of draft projections, too.

Saints invest top picks on defense in updated 2024 mock draft

Mock Draft Monday: The Saints invested their top picks on defense in these updated 2024 projections, but do they really need another corner?

It’s another week and another Monday, so it’s time to review another mock draft. The latest projections from Curt Popejoy at Draft Wire have the New Orleans Saints investing their top 2024 NFL draft picks on defenders — but do they really need another cornerback?

We’re getting ahead of ourselves. Popejoy’s mock draft starts strong with the Saints landing Illinois defensive tackle Jer’Zhan Newton. “Johnny” Newton would be a dynamic playmaker to pair with Bryan Bresee in the middle of the New Orleans interior line; he’s the best pass-rushing defensive tackle in college football and has the athleticism to line up all over the formation.

NFL teams may question Newton’s length by pro standards (he’s listed at 6-foot-2 with 32-inch arms) but he weighs in at 295 pounds and has enough proven production to outweigh those concerns. The Saints should draft him if they can. Malcolm Roach could be leaving in free agency in the spring and their two veteran pickups this offseason, Nathan Shepherd and Khalen Saunders, haven’t fully met expectations on top of the depth chart.

So what about that second-round pick coming back to the Saints from the Denver Broncos? Popejoy made a curious selection here in linking New Orleans to Iowa State cornerback T.J. Tampa. Now, Tampa is a fine player, making full use of his physical tools to break up a lot of passes — Pro Football Focus charting found he has forced 19 incompletions in two years as a starter, and counting. If anything, he’s a little taller than the Saints usually prefer at 6-foot-2.

But what would a boundary cornerback add to the Saints defense next season? Marshon Lattimore is still in his prime, and though Paulson Adebo will be entering a contract year the team already has Alontae Taylor coming along well. They’ve developed other competent backups like Isaac Yiadom, so spending a top-40 pick on a corner wouldn’t be the best use of resources. It’s arguably the strongest position group on their team. Tampa would be a luxury they can’t really afford given protection issues along the offensive line and poor quarterback performance.

So who could be better options in the second round? Here are the next five players to go off the board in this mock draft:

  • WR Xavier Worthy, Texas
  • WR Johnny Wilson, Florida State
  • LT Jordan Morgan, Arizona
  • DT Kris Jenkins, Michigan
  • DE JT Tuimoloau, Ohio State

We’ve got a long way to go until the 2024 draft kicks off. The Saints are only halfway through their season, and they’re always more active in free agency while working to address team needs before the draft anyway. If they can’t reach the postseason, it’s worth asking whether they’ll have the decision-makers in the building we expect. Dennis Allen’s job should be on the line if he can’t get the Saints into the playoffs, and that’s far more important than any draft picks waiting to be made six months from now.

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