Tag: NFL draft Chargers

2023 NFL draft: 3 potential backup quarterbacks to Justin Herbert for Chargers to watch at Combine

Here are a few quarterbacks expected to test well at the Combine who the Los Angeles Chargers could target to back up Justin Herbert.

The on-field portion of the NFL Combine begins on Thursday, marking the start of the testing circuit that propels some prospects into the stratosphere while ruining the stock of others. To prepare, we at Chargers Wire are previewing players from every position.

With the quarterback position, Los Angeles, obviously, will not be in the market until maybe later in the draft. Justin Herbert is unquestionably the face of the franchise, but both of last year’s backup options are pending free agents.

2023 NFL draft: Princeton WR Andrei Iosivas a name to watch for Chargers

The Chargers have the need for speed this upcoming offseason.

It’s no secret that the Chargers need speed at wide receiver. Justin Herbert’s average depth of target this season is a career-low 6.4, nearly a yard and a half lower than any other season of his career. Even with speedster Jalen Guyton in the lineup before he tore his ACL in Week 3, defenses were able to key in on the deep shot or quick pass: three of his four targets in 2022 came more than 20 yards down the field, and 34 of his 46 targets last season came either 20+ yards downfield or within 9 yards of the line of scrimmage.

Oh, and every other wide receiver on the team has also been injured at some point this season.

In short, LA needs to find another speedster to unlock their own creativity. Preferably, they’d have the jets to burn DBs while still possessing the ability to win at intermediate levels of the field.

Why not get creative in pursuing creativity?

Meet Andrei Iosivas:

Princeton is, admittedly, not an NFL hotbed. While the Ivy League school has produced 36 NFL players dating back an entire century, only four Tigers have been drafted since 2001. In fact, Princeton has never had a wide receiver drafted. The closest they’ve gotten are a tight end (Seth DeValve in 2016) and three running backs (Cosmo Iacavazzi in 1965, Hank Bjorklund in 1972, and Judd Garrett in 1990).

But Iosivas is different for one key reason: speed. The Hawaiian senior also competes for Princeton’s track team as a heptathlete, finishing fourth at the NCAA Indoor Championships last season after setting a meet record in the 60 meters with a time of 6.71 seconds. Iosivas is a decorated track athlete: he’s won Ivy League Most Outstanding Field Performer twice and was named an All-American in the heptathlon last season.

Oh, and in case you’re curious: a 6.71 60-meter dash translates to about a 4.22 40, which would tie John Ross’ combine record.

Iosivas isn’t just a straight-line burner, however. The senior has flashes of brilliance, making catches outside his frame:

Tracking the ball downfield for contested catches also presents little to no issue:

This is because Iosivas is 6-foot-3 and 200 pound. Consider that wide receivers who have run 4.3 or faster since 1999 are, on average, 5’11” and 186 pounds. Of the 16 receivers in that group, only Breshad Perriman and Darrius Heyward-Bey tipped the scales over 200 pounds. Both were first-round picks. Iosivas also boasts a vertical jump of 39 inches, higher than all but three members of this speedy group: Henry Ruggs III, Mike Wallace, and Mike Thomas.

Iosivas has already been visited by nearly 30 NFL teams on Princeton’s campus, so he’s no sleeper around the league, even if this is the first you’re hearing of him. Dane Brugler of The Athletic reported in October that scouts everywhere are bullish on Iosivas’ potential once football is his full-time focus, rather than pausing his football regimen to focus on track in winter and spring.

Whether you want to manufacture touches for Iosivas at the line, hit him on crossing routes over the middle, or hit the deep shot, the senior has shown he can win at every level – albeit against Ivy League competition. As of right now, I’d expect him to be a Day 2 pick, making him an exciting option for the Chargers if they miss out on a top target earlier in the draft.

However, Iosivas has accepted a Senior Bowl invite. If he shows the same level of ability he did at Princeton against the best of the best in Mobile, there’s no reason to think he can’t become the Tigers’ highest-drafted player since kicker Charlie Gogolak went in the first round in 1966. I thought Patriots rookie speedster Tyquan Thornton would be available much later than the second round, which is where New England ended up taking him after he ran a 4.28 and performed well at the Shrine Bowl. Who’s to say Iosivas won’t end up on the same path?

We won’t have those answers until late April, but one thing is clear this early in the process: Iosivas is not someone to sleep on.

Chris Olave could bolster Chargers’ wide receiver corps

Chris Olave makes a lot of sense for the Chargers if they decide to take a wide receiver early on in the 2022 NFL draft.

With the fifth-year option on Mike Williams’ contract expiring at the conclusion of the NFL season, the wide receiver position aims to be one of the positions the Chargers will certainly need to address in the offseason.

If Williams departs, a fairly obvious hole opens up in the offense. Even if the brass decides Williams flashed enough in his first year in Brandon Staley’s scheme, adding another weapon to Herbert’s arsenal would not hurt. Regardless of what the future will bring, it is likely the Chargers could gravitate toward a pass-catcher in the 2022 NFL draft, which boasts another strong class of prospects at the position.

Enter Chris Olave, a projected first-round pick that was one of the star components of Ohio State’s aerial attack over the last three years and an early favorite to be ranked the best wideout in the class. The former three-star recruit out of San Ysidro, Calif., caught 176 passes for 2,711 yards and 35 touchdowns over his four seasons with the Buckeyes. As a junior, he helped propel the team to its second National Championship berth while finishing as a top 10 finalist for the Biletnikoff Award. Olave also became Ohio State’s all-time leader for receiving touchdowns earlier this season as he helped punch the program’s ticket to the Rose Bowl, which he eventually chose to opt-out of in order to focus on preparations for the next stages of his career.

With four months and counting until the draft opens, would Olave be a good fit for the Chargers?

For years, viewers have awed over Keenan Allen’s nuance and savviness as a route runner to create separation and make himself available to the quarterback. Olave resembles the same creative technician that has mastered the finer points of the route running craft. He implements deception throughout his route before leaving defenders behind due to the explosion he generates as he breaks.

Olave often finds himself alone at the top of his route for easy completions and deep touchdowns. He frequently distances himself from defensive backs in man coverage and is difficult to reign in once free. He is comfortable running the entire route tree and understands how to leverage patience, tempo, and quickness to turn routine plays into large gains.

A good example of Olave’s advanced skillset in this area is this 36-yard touchdown against Maryland. Olave ran a post against a Cover 4 look and became free over the top for an effortless heave from Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud. Olave ate up ground with a straight-shot release before he cut hard on the safety’s backside, who was late helping the cornerback in coverage as he identified the location of the ball through motion in the backfield. Olave sped through the angle and quickly left both opponents trailing behind.

Olave can be a playmaker after the catch as well. While he isn’t an exotic juke artist, Olave is more than serviceable with the ball in his hands and processes the field in front of him rapidly. He is spry enough to make tacklers miss consistently and dangerous when allowed to reach his top downhill speed. He protects the football well and competes in the face of contact.

On this catch-and-run against Minnesota, Olave is able to get open on the deep out route in a Flood concept as a parallel option o a rolling Stroud. After securing the catch, Olave’s hips and eyes immediately survey the pursuing action and formulate a plan for evasion. The awareness pays off; Olave slowed up a pace and allowed the tight end to get out in front to block the rotating safety. He turned on the jets from there, slid into the lane, and burst away from any player that could have given him trouble from behind.

While Olave is coveted for his premier separation tactics, don’t underestimate his prowess at the catch point. Olave is a physical going up for contested opportunities and his excellent tracking abilities put him in a good position to come down with the reception. He can fluidly adjust and adapt to the ball in the air, flashing confident and sturdy hands in traffic as he does here in double coverage against Penn State.

In terms of weaknesses, Olave’s strengths are primarily tailored to the Z wide receiver position or slot. Most of his time was spent at those two spots and he shined in either role. He likely would not translate to an X role that demands a bigger and taller frame. While Olave challenges with the size he does possess, he has below-average play strength and can struggle to box out larger players for the ball. However, this has typically not been too much an issue because of how much space he creates.

If the Chargers make Olave an option on the day of the draft, he would likely fit in best as their speedy new slot man. Combining his route sharpness with the proven expertise of Allen and running back Austin Ekeler could undoubtedly increase the potency of the passing attack and make game-planning exhaustive for the rest of the AFC West.

2021 NFL draft: Ranking 5 best options for Chargers in Round 1

Chargers Wire’s Gavino Borquez lays out the five best options for Los Angeles in the first-round.

The Chargers enter the 2021 NFL draft, looking to put together the most optimal roster under first-year head coach Brandon Staley.

With the No. 13 overall pick, Los Angeles could go a variety of ways but would be the best-scenarios for the team?

Let’s take a look at five of them, starting with the one that would be the biggest splash of the night.

1. Trade up for Penei Sewell

Quarterback Justin Herbert practically saved general manager Tom Telesco’s job, and the best way to reward him is by going up and getting him a premiere blindside blocker, one who he happens to be very familiar with and happens to be lobbying for.

However, the only way a trade-up for Sewell would occur is if he gets past the Bengals, who will be thinking long and hard about getting their young signal-caller, Joe Burrow, some much-needed protection.

If Sewell gets to No. 6 (Dolphins) or No. 7 (Lions), Telesco should be on the phone with those team’s perspective general managers, inquiring to swap picks, even if it means giving up next year’s first rounder.

Sewell, who blocked for Herbert for two seasons, is an elite pass protector and physically imposing run-blocker, who would give the Bolts immediate and long-term help at the left tackle position.

2. Rashawn Slater takes a tumble

While the Bengals are considering taking LSU wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase, it wouldn’t surprise me if Sewell ultimately ends up being the pick. If that’s the case, the Chargers’ attention turns to Slater, likely the next best tackle on their board.

Like Sewell, there’s a good chance that Slater could go in the top-10, with the Panthers being the likely destination spot, given the need for protection for quarterback Sam Darnold. However, Carolina is also in need of a cornerback, and could elect to take Alabama’s Patrick Surtain.

Teams picking before Los Angeles – Cowboys, Giants and Eagles could be interested in Slater, as well. But if the former Northwestern product does experience a bit of a slide, Telesco should fill out the draft card and not think twice.

Forget about his measurements. Even though he doesn’t have the height or length that meets NFL thresholds for the tackle position, Slater is a powerful and mobile lineman with an iron grip who has dominated elite competition like Chase Young.

3. Jaycee Horn falls into their lap

Addressing the tackle position should be priority No. 1 for the Chargers, but if both Sewell and Slater are gone, taking a dynamic defensive back that fits into head coach Brandon Staley’s defense like a glove would go a long way.

Horn is the type of matchup eraser who can be used inside or outside and against any receiver or tight end, similar to the way Jalen Ramsey was used. Due to his combination of size, athleticism, competitiveness, football IQ, smoothness, ball skills and versatility, Horn has All-Pro upside.

Horn has been in contact with Los Angeles a couple of times, according to Chargers Brawl Podcast. He said that he has a connection with defensive backs coach Derrick Ansley and shares the same agency (Athletes First) as safety Derwin James.

4. Trade back and acquire more picks

I know exactly what you’re thinking. Why isn’t drafting Virginia Tech offensive tackle Christian Darrisaw considered the fourth-best option for the Chargers? While I don’t think taking Darrisaw at No. 13 would be a reach, I believe there are other tackles that aren’t far off from him.

Well, why not try to acquire another pick in the top-100 while still getting your left tackle of the future or a valuable piece on defense with picks No. 19 (Football Team) or Bears (No. 20), teams who could be looking to move up to draft a quarterback?

The only issue is that Telesco has never traded back in his eight years as general manager. I laid out a few options if Los Angeles was to trade back. You can also throw in Oklahoma State’s Teven Jenkins and Texas’ Samuel Cosmi into the mix.

5. Draft Christian Darrisaw

Here it is. The most likely scenario out of them all. Like I mentioned, drafting Darrisaw would not be a bad pick or a reach by any means. I just have him ranked in the mix of tackles likely to go in the back end of the first-round.

Darrisaw does have a good resume with 35 starts at left tackle. He only allowed six pressures and no sacks, finishing with a 95.6 overall grade by Pro Football Focus and earning second-team Associated Press All-American and first-team All-ACC accolades in 2020.

On the field, the 6-foot-5 and 314 pounder is smooth in pass pro, showing anchor ability, strength, body control, proper hand technique and awareness to shut down a variety of pass rushers.

In the run game, he flashes strength to move defenders. He shows solid ability to reach and has the athletic traits and movement skills when getting to the second level to pave the way for ball carriers.

Now, there are times when it looks like he is in cruise control a little bit, lacking overall quickness and a sense of urgency, both things that he will need to gain a sense for at the next level.

The bottom line is that while Darrisaw isn’t my first preference, his capability in pass protection, physicality in the run game, size and length and overall experience at the position are all quality traits to be a starting left tackle in this league.