Tag: Josh Palmer

Look: Chargers’ top draft picks receive jerseys

Rashawn Slater, Asante Samuel Jr. and Josh Palmer have arrived to Chargers headquarters.

The Chargers are gearing up for rookie minicamp, which begins on May 17.

The first-year players are starting to arrive in Los Angeles, including the team’s top three draft selections, Rashawn Slater, Asante Samuel Jr. and Josh Palmer.

The team’s official Twitter account posted a video of them holding up the jerseys with their numbers that they will be donning this upcoming season.

Check it out:

How athletic is the Chargers’ 2021 draft class?

Athleticism has been coveted by the Los Angeles Chargers in recent years.

Teams draft player that they believe will help put them in the best positions to win football games.

However, one of the key traits that has been highly coveted as of late when determining who is brought in is athleticism.

For the Chargers, it has been a priority in recent years.

How did they fare with this year’s haul?

According to Relative Athletic Score (RAS), a measure created by Kent Lee Platte, Los Angeles’ draft class averaged a RAS of 6.94 (out of 10).

RAS uses a combination of size and athletic testing numbers to produce a composite score for each player.

A player must have a total of six recorded metrics from any of the following: Height, Weight, Forty yard dash, Twenty yard split, Ten yard split, Bench Press, Vertical Jump, Broad Jump, Short Shuttle, 3-Cone.

Note: These numbers were recorded from each player’s perspective pro days because the 2021 NFL Scouting Combine was cancelled due to COVID-19.

Of the past three draft hauls, this year’s RAS was the lowest. The 2019 draft class averaged a RAS of 8.63 while the 2020 class averaged a RAS of 7.38.

Offensive tackle Rashawn Slater, tackle Brenden Jaimes and linebacker Nick Niemann were the only three players that had great RAS scores. The rest of the class had average scores, with the exception of running back Larry Rountree III who had a poor score.

The higher the RAS score does not mean the player will have better chances of being successful in the NFL, but the athleticism does come in handy as the game is only getting faster by the year.

Fantasy Football: Initial projection for Chargers WR Josh Palmer in 2021

ESPN’s Mike Clay gives an early outlook for Chargers wide receiver Josh Palmer.

The Chargers brought in another weapon for quarterback Justin Herbert with the selection of former Tennessee wide receiver Josh Palmer in the third-round of the 2021 NFL draft.

Palmer will be joining a crowded wideout group that features Keenan Allen and Mike Williams, but he still presents excellent value in his rookie season, enough that he’s worth taking in your fantasy football leagues.

ESPN’s Mike Clay reacted to the first three rounds from a fantasy football perspective, where he made some initial projections and analysis for all skill players that were taken.

For Palmer, Clay’s initial projection sees him receive 37 targets for 23 receptions, 274 yards, two touchdowns in 2021.

He’s not a threat to Keenan Allen or Mike Williams in the short term, but could overtake Jalen Guyton and Tyron Johnson for No. 3 duties very quickly. That would make him a fantasy sleeper considering how good Justin Herbert looked as a rookie. Palmer will be a fine later flier in deeper leagues.

When you look at Palmer’s stat sheet from college, it’s easy to be swayed away from him as a potential target, as he failed to surpass 34 targets and 500 yards.

The reality is that the numbers don’t do the justice to reflect the type of player he is and can be at the next level.

Palmer never produced eye-popping production at Tennessee due to the fact that he played alongside two current NFL wide receivers for two seasons and the team’s ongoing quarterback problems.

Palmer, the 6-foot-1 and 210 pounder, ran mostly vertical routes in the Vol’s offense and rarely got targeted because of it. On top of that, 31% of his targets were uncatchable.

However, when he was targeted with a catchable ball, he shined against some elite college corners, including Jaycee Horn, Patrick Surtain II, Tyson Campbell, Eric Stokes and Kelvin Joseph.

Palmer was 14-of-14 in catching the “catchable balls” in those matchups, 11 of which went for first downs, four touchdowns, and 16 yards per reception, according to Pro Football Focus.

At the Senior Bowl, defensive backs had no answer for Palmer, defeating them with violent route-running and the speed to create separation. His 81% win rate was the highest of any outside receiver.

Now on a team with a competent quarterback in Herbert, Palmer should definitely be more productive in the NFL than he was in college.

In Year 1, he will be in the mix for snaps with Jalen Guyton and Tyron Johnson. But given the fact that offensive coordinator Joe Lombard goes through a lot of different personnel packages, Palmer will have his opportunities.

With his ability to separate at all levels of the field, especially vertically, Palmer could quickly become one of Herbert’s go-to targets this upcoming season and beyond.

The bottom line is take Palmer in the later rounds of your upcoming drafts and you could have yourself a diamond in the rough.

POLL: Who was your favorite pick of the Chargers 2021 draft class?

The Los Angeles Chargers strung together an impressive haul. Who was your favorite player selected?

The Chargers made nine selections in the 2021 NFL draft.

Five were spent on the offensive side of the ball, while the other four were on the defensive side of the ball.

Another look at Los Angeles’ haul:

Round 1 – OT Rashawn Slater

Round 2 – CB Asante Samuel, Jr.

Round 3 – WR Josh Palmer & TE Tre’ McKitty

Round 4 – EDGE Chris Rumph II

Round 5 – OT Brenden Jaimes

Round 6 – LB Nick Niemann & RB Larry Rountree III

Round 7 – S Mark Webb

We felt like L.A. brought in players that could make an impact right away as well as others that will be key pieces down the road.

We want to hear who your favorite selection was. Vote in the poll below to let your opinion be known.

[crowdsignal poll=10827424]

1 stat to know about each of Chargers’ draft picks

These numbers should make supporters of the Chargers feel even more intrigued about the incoming rookie class.

The Chargers came away with an impressive haul of draft picks last weekend.

We picked out one stat to know about each of the Bolts’ draft picks from their collegiate career. These numbers should make supporters feel even more intrigued about the incoming rookie class.

OT Rashawn Slater

355 snaps, 5 quarterback pressures, 0 sacks allowed in 2019

Slater didn’t play in 2020 since he opted out prior to the season, but the year before that was all he needed to solidify himself as a first-round talent. In his first season protecting the blindside, Slater was a wall against elite competition, with the likes of Chase Young (Football Team), Zack Baun (Saints), AJ Epenesa (Bills) and Kenny Willekes (Vikings).

CB Asante Samuel, Jr.

More passes defended (33) than games played (32) in college

There are a ton of cornerbacks that went drafted this year and are already in the league with more of an immense physical profile than Samuel Jr. but very few have the same caliber of cover skills, instincts and ball awareness to fill up the stat sheet like he does.

WR Josh Palmer

14-of-14 in catching the “catchable balls” against elite competition

The Vol’s offense did not do Palmer any favors and he rarely got targeted because of it. But when he was targeted, he made the most of his opportunities, showing up against some elite cornerback prospects, including Jaycee Horn, Patrick Surtain II, Tyson Campbell, Eric Stokes and Kelvin Joseph. Out of the 14, 11 went for first downs, four touchdowns, and 16 yards per reception.

TE Tre’ McKitty

Never surpassed 70 yards receiving in any of his 42 career games

Go ahead and label McKitty strictly as a blocker all you want, but the lack production in the receiving game should not reflect how he’s going to be in the pros. He has shown glimpses of becoming a receiving threat, given his athleticism, ability to separate at the top of routes, a frame and great hands to reel in everything thrown his way along with impressive power and contact balance to gain yards after the catch.

EDGE Chris Rumph II

20% pressure rate

Whenever Rumph was on the field, one out five times he was either hurrying, hitting, knocking down or sacking the quarterback. While he will need to get into an weight room to add strength to hold up against NFL offensive linemen and benefit in the run game, Rumph has the athleticism, bend, range and motor to be a top-notch pass rusher in this league.

OT Brenden Jaimes

40 games started

Starting a school-record 40 games for the Cornhuskers, Jaimes saw the field for 473 snaps this past season without allowing a single sack or hit, and just four hurries. Durability is key and Jaimes exemplified that in college. If he keeps that same kind of consistency in the NFL, he could eventually become a starter, most likely inside at guard.

LB Nick Niemann

Averaged 9.6 tackles per game in 2020

This ranked fifth in the Big Ten in tackles per game. At his best against the run, rarely would you ever see a ball carrier get past Niemann as he possesses a strong upper-body to keep everything in front of him. That will carry over well on special teams, where he projects to be an asset early on.

RB Larry Rountree III

1.4 touchdowns per game

If Missouri was playing, Rountree was scoring. In 48 games, he rushed for 3,720 yards and 40 touchdowns, averaging five yards per carry. Not only is he going to be a contributor in pass protection, Rountree should help pick up first downs and win at the goal line due to his toughness and body control to bounce off defenders.

S Mark Webb

82% of snaps came in slot

This marked the most out of any other safeties this past season. Webb had responsibilities of the “STAR” position for Georgia, where he lined up over the slot receiver – which is a spot that Brandon Staley covets.

Chargers announce rookie jersey numbers for 2021 season

The Los Angeles Chargers rookies have their numbers set in stone for the 2021 season.

The Chargers announced the jersey numbers for their 2021 rookie class on Thursday night.

Here’s a look at the first-year players and the numbers they will be sporting:

  • OT Rashawn Slater – 70
  • CB Asante Samuel, Jr. – 26
  • WR Josh Palmer – 5
  • TE Tre’ McKitty – 88
  • EDGE Chris Rumph II – 94
  • OT Brenden Jaimes – 64
  • LB Nick Niemann – 31
  • RB Larry Rountree III – 35
  • S Mark Webb – 29

Handing out awards for Chargers’ 2021 NFL draft class

Chargers Wire’s Gavino Borquez neglects the draft grades and gives out some awards to some of the players selected.

The Chargers took nine players in the 2021 NFL draft.

There are many who believe draft grades are foolish because if the player that received a “D” turns out to be an All-Pro player, then it doesn’t necessarily correlate to the letter grade given.

So rather than going through all of that, why not hand out some awards in a different fashion?

Best bang for the buck: OT Brenden Jaimes

I figured that the Chargers would address depth along the offensive line with one of their two third-round picks, given the pool of talent still available. But even though the team passed up on the position altogether when many were projecting them to, Los Angeles still got a high-upside lineman in Round 5.

Having started 40 games at Nebraska, Jaimes is a battle-tested lineman who is an excellent technician in pass protection. He gives L.A. much-needed depth and versatility on the line. It wouldn’t be surprising to see him carve up a starting role next year.

The eyebrow-raiser: OT Rashawn Slater

Turn on any Northwestern tape dating back to 2017 when Slater was a freshman and he will have you in complete awe with his play on the field. But if you really want a clinic, go watch the 2019 tape against Ohio State, where he stymied Chase Young through all four quarters.

Slater is a menace up front. He is technically sound with his upper and lower body, very intelligent, physical and consistent which shows both in the pass and run-blocking department. It’s rare that a defender is getting by him or he’s consistently generating movement in the run game.

Best fit: CB Asante Samuel, Jr.

Prior to the draft, the player who was viewed as the ideal fit for the Chargers was Jaycee Horn, but Samuel Jr. also fell in the same conversations.

Samuel Jr. can play outside and defend the slot. He flourishes in man coverage, where he’s smooth at flipping his hips and running with receivers as well as in zone coverage, where he shines when reading route concepts and making plays on the football.

Samuel Jr. can do it all and him having a skillset tailor-made for what head Brandon Staley requires at the position will go a long way.

Most enticing: EDGE Chris Rumph II

Rumph enters the NFL with not a lot of sand in his pants but the guy is an energizer bunny when he is on the field.

He will need to get into an weight room to add strength to hold up against NFL offensive linemen and make an impact in the run game, but Rumph has the athleticism, bend, range and motor to be a top-notch pass rusher in this league.

Plus, it’s exciting to think what Staley can do with him after he contributed to the career year that Rams’ Leonard Floyd had in 2020.

Best phone call: WR Josh Palmer

It doesn’t happen that often that a player is asking for the team to send them the playbook already when he receives the draft phone call. Well, Palmer might have been the first.

1 thing to love about every Chargers rookie from 2021 NFL draft

The Los Angeles Chargers struck gold in the 2021 NFL draft. But what’s the main trait that makes the players so great?

The Chargers’ haul from the 2021 NFL draft continues to receive high praise from the general population.

While very few have mixed feelings, I wanted to give you one thing to love about every prospect that Los Angeles drafted.

2021 Senior Bowl proved to be important to Chargers’ draft

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

The draft starts in Mobile.

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

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

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

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

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

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

The other 16?

G Dan Feeney, Indiana  – 2017

S Rayshawn Jenkins, Miami – 2017

DB Desmond King, Iowa – 2017

DE Isaac Rochell, Notre Dame – 2017

LS Cole Mazza, Alabama  – 2017

DT Justin Jones, NC State – 2018

K Michael Badgley, Miami – 2018

LB Uchenna Nwosu, USC – 2018

C Scott Quessenberry, UCLA – 2018

LB Drue Tranquill, Notre Dame – 2019

S Nasir Adderley, Delaware  – 2019

QB Justin Herbert, Oregon — 2020

RB Joshua Kelley, UCLA — 2020

S Alohi Gilman, Notre Dame — 2020

WR K.J. Hill, Ohio State — 2020

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

2021 NFL draft grades: Analysts give Chargers’ haul highest praise

The Los Angeles Chargers 2021 NFL draft class received nothing but great remarks.

The 2021 NFL draft is officially in the books.

The Chargers got better on both sides of the ball, all while bringing in players that upgrade the special teams department.

In the eyes of national writers and analysts, this was by far one of Tom Telesco’s best haul since he has held the role of general manager.

A look at the experts’ grades and overall review of Los Angeles’ selections:

NFL Media’s Chad Reuter: A

“Slater only lasted to No. 13 overall because of his average length for the tackle position. But he’ll more than overcome that, and find success in the NFL, because of his athleticism and toughness. Samuel’s slight frame (5-10, 180) also cost him draft position, but again GM Tom Telesco found value by selecting the future starter midway through Round 2. Palmer and McKitty give Justin Herbert needed depth at pass catcher and will help negate some of the production lost by Hunter Henry’s exit in free agency.

Adding Rumph’s Gumby-like bend off the edge should bolster the Chargers’ pass rush, while James’ positional versatility should give the team’s O-line more flexibility. Rountree looked like a third-round pick at times at Missouri; he could be a Justin Jackson-type value pick for the Bolts.”

Yahoo Sports’ Nick Goss: A-

“The Chargers got a left tackle for franchise QB Justin Herbert with the selection of Northwestern offensive lineman Rashawn Slater in the first round. They also added a talented wide receiver for Herbert’s passing attack in Tennessee star Josh Palmer.

One of the best picks in the second round was Los Angeles drafting Florida State cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. at No. 47 overall. He has great instincts and athleticism, just like his father.”

ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr.: A

The Chargers’ top two needs headed into this draft were clearly defined: a left tackle to protect Justin Herbert and a starting-caliber corner. General manager Tom Telesco hit both of those early, and he didn’t have to reach.

Rashawn Slater (13) was a popular fit for mock drafts, and there were some teams that had a higher grade on him than Penei Sewell. He has the potential to be an All-Pro left tackle. Now, with the additions in free agency of Corey Linsley and Matt Feiler, this offensive line is suddenly one of the league’s 10 best. Herbert was pressured a whopping 217 times last season. I said it on Thursday — this pick is a dream come true for the Chargers. I thought cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. (47) would go earlier than he did, but he could play in the slot or outside as a rookie. L.A. upgraded with both of these picks.

Wideout Josh Palmer (77) averaged 21 yards per catch in 2018, and his numbers would have been better if he had consistent quarterbacks throwing to him. Tight end Tre’ McKitty (97) wasn’t used much as a receiver in his lone season at Georgia, but he can block a little bit. Versatile linebacker Chris Rumph II (118) was one of my top available prospects for Day 3, and I’m curious where he’ll fit in Brandon Staley’s defense. Larry Rountree III (198), my eighth-ranked running back, put up 3,720 career rushing yards at Missouri.

Again, Telesco didn’t reach to fill two big voids, and so this class is one of the best of the year. This team absolutely got better.

USA Today’s Nate Davis: A-

“It fell pretty nicely to the Bolts, but their top two choices, OT Rashawn Slater in Round 1 and CB Asante Samuel Jr. in Round 2, have a chance to be franchise cornerstones – Slater the bodyguard this offense needed to get for offensive rookie of the year Justin Herbert. Pass rusher Chris Rumph II (Round 4) could blossom under new coach Brandon Staley.”

The Ringer’s Danny Kelly: A-

“I love what the Chargers did this weekend, especially in the early rounds. Los Angeles nabbed its long-term solution at left tackle, offering reliable protection for second-year quarterback Justin Herbert, and added depth and playmaking talent to an already strong defensive backs group. Plus, I really like Palmer, who offers big-play potential and has the skill set to be the eventual replacement for Mike Williams, who will play this season on his fifth-year option.”

Draft Wire’s Luke Easterling: B+

“After their first two picks, anything else was just gravy. Rashawn Slater was a steal outside the top 10, and gives Justin Herbert the franchise left tackle he needs. Asante Samuel Jr. was another bargain, and filled their biggest need on defense. Josh Palmer and Tre’ McKitty both bring tons of athleticism and potential to the passing game, while Chris Rumph II has tons of upside as a pass rusher. Brenden Jaimes and Larry Rountree II were their best picks on Day 3.”