The Big-10 kicks off their 2020 season today, which means there will be a handful of prospects on display to show their worth to NFL clubs.
Tonight, at 5:25 p.m. PT, Minnesota and Michigan are set to battle in primetime. There will be a few notable players from both teams that could be on the Chargers’ radar.
Michigan
OT Jalen Mayfield
The Wolverines have done a fine job at producing NFL offensive linemen throughout the years. Next in line is Mayfield, the 6-foot-5 and 320 pounder, mans the right tackle position but he is capable of being a blindside blocker. The redshirt sophomore struggles with speed at times, but he has the length and strength to neutralize power and control the point of attack as well as the athleticism and movement skills to flourish against the run and in motion.
EDGE Kwity Paye
You can never have too many pass rushers in this league, and with Melvin Ingram set to hit free agency after this season, the Chargers could be looking to add another dominate force to pair with Joey Bosa and Uchenna Nwosu. Paye, the 6-foot-3 and 271 pounder, is an explosive and speedy pass-rusher who wreaks havoc in opposing backfields. He needs to add more counters to the bag of tricks and continue to get stronger, but he has the skillset to be productive at the next level.
TE Nick Eubanks
The tight end position could be addressed at some point in the draft because the future of Hunter Henry remains to be seen, Virgil Green is a free agent after this season and the usage of Donald Parham has been minimal this season. Assuming the Chargers keep Henry, Eubanks is an ideal compliment that could develop a role with the team. Eubanks isn’t used in the passing game often, but he has the ability to thrive in one-on-one situations against linebackers as well as the length and understanding of angles to get the job done in the run-blocking department.
WR Ronnie Bell
With Nico Collins, a projected Day 2 pick option out of the 2020 season, Bell will have his opportunity to shine as the No. 1 wideout. Bell, the 6-foot and 184 pounder, finished 2019 with 49 receptions, 758 yards and a touchdown. Bell is an exciting open-field athlete with speed and the twitched-up ability to be elusive. He is outstanding at tracking and going and getting it, but he does have lapses in concentration and dropped passes that need to be cleaned up this season.
Minnesota
WR Rashod Bateman
The Chargers could afford to bring an explosive element to the wide receiver position. Bateman, the 6-foot-2 and 210 pounder, led the Big Ten in receiving yards per catch (20.3) last season. A savvy route runner, Bateman has good play speed, strong balance and reliable hands to be a threat at all levels of the field.
OT Daniel Faalele
Even if Faalele wasn’t a prospect, you wouldn’t go without recognizing this man. Standing at 6-foot-9 and 400 pounds, Faalele is a giant human being. While he has a large stature, he is quite athletic and agile. He has the long arms, strong hands, and the mental and physical toughness that has been profoundly tested. He will have to keep that up against Paye.
OL Conner Olson
The Chargers need more depth along the interior part of the offensive line, and Olson would supply that since he has the versatility to play both center and guard. Olson, the 6-foot-5 and 310 pounder, is the ultimate lunch-pail worker with the competitive grit, base strength and IQ that translates well to the pro game.
CB Benjamin St-Juste
St-Juste is one of the more underrated corners in college football who could see a rise in his draft stock as the season goes on. The 6-foot-2 and 210 pounder has size, length, ball skills and aggressiveness to disrupt and be a playmaker at any given moment. In 2019, he recorded a 26.2% forced incompletion rate in 2019 — the eighth-best mark in the FBS, per Pro Football Focus.