Tag: Joshua Kelly

Handing out awards for Chargers’ 2020 NFL draft class

Best fit? Best bang for the buck? Best draft call? Chargers Wire hands out some awards for the Los Angeles Chargers’ draft class.

The Chargers took six players in the 2020 NFL Draft, addressing primarily the offensive side of the ball.

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

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

Best Bang for the buck

K.J. Hill, WR

The fact that Hill was still on the board in the seventh-round is still mind-blowing. You would think that teams would get the idea that Ohio State is churning out solid wide receivers, with the most recent being Redskins’ Terry McLaurin.

Following the footsteps of McLaurin is Hill. Even though he was in a crowded wideout group, Hill still produced, displaying the technical finesse and route-running skills that had been coached up by Buckeyes wide receiver coach Brian Hartline. He was a standout at the Senior Bowl, too.

It wouldn’t be a surprise to see Hill win the WR3 role this upcoming season – even over fifth-round pick Joe Reed. Hill’s combination of route-running and ball skills will make out to be quarterback Justin Herbert’s best friend for the long haul.

The eyebrow-raiser

Kenneth Murray, LB

Go watch any of Murray’s games on YouTube and witness what a hunter in the middle of the field looks like. Arguably one of the most explosive linebackers from this year’s draft class, everything that Murray does looks like he was shot out of a cannon and you can feel the impact when he tackles a position player.

Whether it’s shutting down the screen game, stopping running backs behind the line of scrimmage or chasing after the quarterback, Murray’s name of the game is instincts, range and closing speed. Combine that with Drue Tranquill’s skillset, and you’re looking at one of the better linebacker tandems in the league moving forward.

Best fit

Justin Herbert, QB

Whether you liked the pick or not when it was announced, it made sense for a variety of reasons, with one of the main ones being that the Chargers needed a future at the most important position on the field. But Herbert fits like a glove with what they were looking for.

Back in January, I wrote a piece talking about why Herbert would be the perfect replacement for Philip Rivers, which can be found here. The bottom line is that his skillset is the most ideal for Los Angeles’ revamped offense and he possesses the talent and intangibles to lead the team moving forward.

Is he perfect? Absolutely not. There are things that he needs to improve upon getting to camp, primarily all mental. But with time and being able to sit behind Tyrod Taylor for a bit, he could really unlock his true potential as an NFL quarterback.

Best draft call

Alohi Gilman, S

I dare you to watch this video and not shed a tear or two. Gilman, the sixth-round pick from Notre Dame shared an emotional moment with his father after receiving the phone call from general manager Tom Telesco. “My pops gave me everything! Wouldn’t be here without him,” Gilman said in a quote tweet later on.

Should’ve been a Charger

Ben Bartch, OT

The Chargers failed to address the offensive line, which had many fans scratching their heads. Since they didn’t have a Day 2 selection, I thought they were going to select a tackle at the start of Day 3. What better way to address the position by taking the guy I’ve been vouching for since January, right?

Surprisingly, Bartch was still on the board when pick No. 112 rolled around. Instead, Telesco went with running back Joshua Kelley, which I thought was still a great pick. But Bartch would’ve been another small-school stud who would have offered competition at left tackle with the ability to play some guard.

Telesco said there was an offensive lineman that was available at one of their draft picks but they went in a different direction, which leads me to believe that he was their guy because the Chargers were one of four teams that met with him at the combine and he is the perfect model of a lineman that James Campen could develop into a stud at the next level.

Ultimately, Bartch went four picks later to the Jaguars.

Who could the Bills target from Draft Wire’s All-Senior Bowl team?

Potential 2020 NFL Draft targets for the Buffalo Bills from Draft Wire’s 2020 All-Senior Bowl team.

Our friends at Draft Wire broke down the 2020 Senior Bowl in a second-to-none fashion (even though we may be biased).

Regardless, this year’s event for upperclassmen is in the books. Following the game last weekend, Draft Wire’s Luke Easterling tabbed his full 2020 All-Senior Bowl squad.

Of those, there are a few guys that might have caught the attention of the Bills.

Here’s a rundown of players from Draft Wire’s 2020 All-Senior Bowl squad and who could interest the Bills:

North running back Joshua Kelley of UCLA. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)

RB Joshua Kelley| UCLA

Joshua Kelley finished with a game-high 105 yards on 15 carries. Memphis rusher Antonio Gibson was the next closest running back to his totals with 68 yards on 11 carries. Buffalo head coach Sean McDermott already said this offseason he wants a one-two punch in his running game. Could that be Devin Singletary and Kelley?

Here’s how Draft Wire discussed Kelly’s output in the game:

This year’s running back group was less than inspiring on both squads, but Kelley looked the most impressive. He showed off a well-rounded skill set, and displayed the patience and vision NFL teams want to see from their backs. Kelley boosted his draft stock as much as any runner we saw in Mobile this week.

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5 standouts from the 2020 Senior Bowl for the Bills

5 standouts from the 2020 Senior Bowl.

A week of practice for more than 100 college seniors from across the nation culminated on Saturday with the 2020 Senior Bowl, where the North had a dominating 34-17 victory over the South team. The North won the game with a strong run game, and a great front-four that was rotated throughout the game.

Could the Bills be interested in any standouts from the game?

Let’s look at who stood out during the Senior Bowl and helped their draft stock before the NFL combine:

North defensive lineman Alton Robinson. Credit: Vasha Hunt-USA TODAY Sports

EDGE Alton Robinson, Syracuse

This is the beginning of the edge rushers that will be discussed because the North created consistent pressure with just four men. Not many people outside of Central New York saw Alton Robinson play during his time at Cuse but he had 19.5 sacks in his career, who has a variety of moves and a great motor.

During the Senior Bowl he had two sacks, the first was against the elusive Jalen Hurts where Robinson bullied his matchup and dragged Hurts down. His second was against Steven Montez where Montez escaped the initial pressure but, Robinson tracked him down and finish the sack.

The Buffalo Bills need more players who can pressure the quarterback, and Robinson is projected as a Day 3 pick, so he should be on the radar of Brandon Beane and Sean McDermott.

 

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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.