2023 NFL draft: 4 running backs for Chargers to watch at Combine

Here are a few running backs expected to test well at the NFL Scouting Combine that the Los Angeles Chargers could target in the draft.

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.

Los Angeles’ running backs are in a bit of a limbo right now. Austin Ekeler is the unquestioned feature back, but younger players like Joshua Kelley and Isaiah Spiller have yet to break out. With the pressure to contend looming, the Chargers could opt to add yet another body to the room to get more production out of the position.

2023 NFL draft: 3 defensive tackles for Chargers to watch at Combine

Here are a few defensive tackles at the NFL Scouting Combine that the Los Angeles Chargers could target in the draft.

The NFL Scouting Combine kicks off this week, which will bring the 2023 draft class fully into focus, as this is the week of athletic testing, evaluations, and interviews for over 300 prospects.

With the combine ready to set the stage before free agency and the draft, we look at players worth monitoring for the Chargers.

Whether it be players who are options at pick No. 21 or later in the draft, we will pick out some at each position who should test well and generate buzz.

Here are a few interior defensive linemen worth keeping an eye on.

2023 NFL draft: 4 edge defenders for Chargers to watch at Combine

Here are a few edge defenders expected to test well at the Combine who the Los Angeles Chargers could target in the 2023 NFL draft.

The NFL Scouting Combine kicks off this week, which will bring the 2023 draft class fully into focus, as this is the week of athletic testing, evaluations, and interviews for over 300 prospects.

With the combine ready to set the stage before free agency and the draft, we look at players worth monitoring for the Chargers.

Whether it be players who are options at pick No. 21 or later in the draft, we will pick out some at each position who should test well and generate buzz.

Here are a few edge defenders worth keeping an eye on.

Texas RB Bijan Robinson named one of most intriguing prospects in 2023 NFL draft

USA TODAY Sports recently ranked the 10 most intriguing prospects in the 2023 NFL draft.

The 2023 NFL draft is roughly two months away. Continue reading “Texas RB Bijan Robinson named one of most intriguing prospects in 2023 NFL draft”

PFF identifies perfect early/late-round fits for Chargers in 2023 NFL draft

Pro Football Focus suggests a wide receiver and a linebacker for the Chargers.

With the 2022 season in the rearview, all attention has shifted to what the Chargers can do to their roster this offseason to be as competitive as possible to dethrone AFC West rivals and Super Bowl 57 champions, the Chiefs.

The 2023 NFL draft should be where the Bolts can pull out a slew of young talent.

Pro Football Focus recently identified the perfect fits for every team in the early and late rounds.

Given the huge need to address the wide receiver position, PFF has Boston College’s Zay Flowers as the perfect fit for the early round.

The Chargers’ offense could take the next step with some extra speed infused into it, and that’s the kind of player Zay Flowers is.

The Chargers head into the season with a new offensive coordinator in Kellen Moore, who is expected to unlock the true potential of Justin Herbert. But, to do so, they need to find the missing piece to the puzzle, which is a speed element. And Flowers could be that.

While undersized at 5-foot-9 and 182 pounds, Flowers is a very experienced and dynamic receiver, with not just deep speed but the quickness and twitchiness in space, making him a threat with the ball in his hands, as evident from leading the ACC with 503 yards after the catch.

The perfect late-round fit for the Chargers that PFF identified is Tulane linebacker Dorian Williams.

As for their defense, they could use some extra linebacker help, and Dorian Williams brings high-ceiling athleticism for the position as a mid-round pick.

The Chargers have to make a decision on Drue Tranquill, who is slated to be a free agent in March. If they let him walk, the linebacker corps will need additional players.

Williams is instinctual and physical in run defense and has plenty of downhill speed to make an impact as a blizter. Additionally, Williams has a natural feel for coverage with an understanding of route concepts to make plays.

Williams was productive in college, finishing his career with 316 tackles, 27 for a loss, 9.5 sacks, 44 quarterback pressures, eight passes defended, and two interceptions and two forced fumbles.

Full list of 2023 NFL draft prospects invited to combine

See which players have been invited to the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine

The NFL has released its full list of college football prospects invited to this year’s Scouting Combine, one of the most important events leading up to the 2023 NFL draft.

The combine gives players an opportunity to be tested through a wide range of drills and exercises while accurate physical measurements and medical evaluations are also taken.

This year’s event will take place in Indianapolis during the first week of March.

 

Texas RB Bijan Robinson lands within the top 10 of Matt Miller’s latest NFL mock draft

ESPN’s Matt Miller has Texas running back Bijan Robinson taken off the board early in the first round.

Where Texas running back Bijan Robinson could land in the 2023 NFL draft has been a popular debate over the last few weeks. Continue reading “Texas RB Bijan Robinson lands within the top 10 of Matt Miller’s latest NFL mock draft”

2023 Senior Bowl: Biggest winners at every position

Here are the guys who helped their stock the most after a week of Senior Bowl practice.

Senior Bowl practices are officially in the books, and just like every other installment, this year’s week of festivities saw a handful of NFL draft prospects send their stock in the right direction with impressive performances.

Here are my picks for the biggest winners at every position from the 2023 Senior Bowl:

Where Bijan Robinson lands in Todd McShay’s updated 2023 NFL draft rankings

Todd McShay recently released his updated 2023 NFL Draft rankings of the top 32 prospects. Texas’ Bijan Robinson lands within the top 10.

With just two regular-season games left on the schedule, many fans are shifting their attention to the 2023 NFL draft. Continue reading “Where Bijan Robinson lands in Todd McShay’s updated 2023 NFL draft rankings”

Chargers 2023 NFL draft watch: Prospects to watch for Week 6

A look at a handful of prospects that could be on the Chargers’ radar in Week 6.

The sixth week of college football is here, which means we are back with another edition of the Scouting Notebook.

The Scouting Notebook will feature prospects to watch throughout the day. While some may think it’s too early to start talking about the 2023 NFL draft, there’s never a bad time to talk about the future of the Chargers.

Let’s dive in.

Texas @ Oklahoma

The annual Red River Showdown will have its fair share of NFL prospects, as it always does. Oklahoma left tackle Anton Harrison has played well this season, perhaps launching his draft stock outside a range where Los Angeles would feel comfortable pulling the trigger. Right tackle Wanya Morris, however, is a Chargers possibility if Trey Pipkins can’t continue his early-season momentum. Wide receiver Marvin Mims is a likely 4.4s sprinter who could fill the role of a deep threat.

On the Texas side, national attention will be on running back Bijan Robinson, a likely top-ten pick and someone worth watching as a potential opponent scouting report. Los Angeles will likely focus more on players like linebacker DeMarvion Overshown, a slim 224 lb linebacker with smooth coverage skills. The Longhorns also have a plethora of late-round style defensive linemen and corner/kick returner D’Shawn Jamison.

Utah @ UCLA

Tight end Brant Kuithe tore his ACL at the end of September, but Utah still has another very good player at the position in Dalton Kincaid, an all-around tight end who’s a slightly better receiver than blocker. Cornerback Clark Phillips III is a defensive back Brandon Staley will love, but whether Los Angeles is willing to spend a first-round pick on the position with how Asante Samuel Jr. has performed, plus the money tied up in J.C. Jackson, is an interesting question. Quarterback Cameron Rising is a solid decision-maker who could be a nice backup to Justin Herbert.

Speaking of potential backup QBs, I think Dorian Thompson-Robinson will likely be drafted, given his development this season. The Chargers seem to like having a playmaker-style QB on the roster, given Easton Stick’s tenure with the team, making DTR an intriguing name to keep an eye on. Wide receiver Jake Bobo is coming off his best game as a Bruin and brings a fascinating blend of route running and size that may be worth a Day 3 pick. Guard Jon Gaines is a Senior Bowl watchlist member and potential swing guard if Jamaree Salyer moves into more of an everyman role next season.

Washington State @ USC

Sticking in the Pac-12, the Cougars have a nice team gelling early this season. Quarterback Cameron Ward is likely outside the Chargers’ range, but he’s someone worth keeping an eye on. Left tackle Jarrett Kingston is another potential target as a guard revert after playing on the interior early in his college career. Defense is where this team shines, though, led by pass rusher Brennan Jackson, a 255-pounder on the Senior Bowl watchlist who profiles as a late-round pick. Linebacker Daiyan Henley was a multi-time All-Mountain West selection at Nevada before transferring to Pullman and could be another name on the radar for LA.

Down the street from SoFi Stadium, USC has guys you probably already know all about. Jordan Addison is the headliner. Last year’s Biletnikoff winner is probably only a realistic option if the Chargers severely disappoint this season, but it’s worth keeping an eye on and fantasizing about here and there. Guard Andrew Vorhees might be one of the top interior linemen in the draft but needs to work on his hand usage and keeping his upper and lower bodies in sync. Corner Mekhi Blackmon is one of the few interesting prospects on an Alex Grinch defense that plays like, well, an Alex Grinch defense.

BYU vs. Notre Dame

Jaren Hall leads the Cougars into a neutral site game with Notre Dame as one of the 2023 QBs gaining the most draft steam, but it’s perhaps worth noting that he’ll be 25 in March. Do the Chargers want a paradoxically seasoned rookie behind Herbert? Tight end Isaac Rex has been on my radar for a while now, and it’ll be interesting to see what kind of impact he makes against the Irish. Left tackle Blake Freeland is another popular player in media circles, which could carry him out of LA’s range. BYU also has a trio of linebackers worth watching: Keenan Pili, Max Tooley, and Payton Wilgar.

Notre Dame has had its ups and downs in Marcus Freeman’s first season, but there’s still an abundance of talent on their roster. Tight end Michael Mayer has been heralded as this season’s top man at the position as a classic Midwestern-style player, but I’m not sure that’s what Los Angeles wants at the position. Jarrett Patterson might be this draft’s top center and could be a plug-and-play replacement for Corey Linsley as the latter continues to age. We know Tom Telesco loves his Fighting Irish defenders, and all powder blue-tinted eyes should be focused on edge rusher Isaiah Foskey. Perhaps a bit of a luxury pick with Joey Bosa, Khalil Mack, and Chris Rumph under contract, Foskey is an absurdly explosive rusher with adequate bend and mass (260 lbs) to hang tough in the run game.

WR Nathaniel “Tank” Dell, Houston

The Chargers experienced early in the season the offensive woes of playing without star wide receiver Keenan Allen. The team needs the proper depth to keep Justin Herbert firing on all cylinders. Tank Dell has great vision in the open field and big plays are naturally magnetic to him. The explosive 5-10, 165-pound receiver understands what it means to be a target hog – Dell has 43 catches, 534 yards, and six touchdowns in six games.

LB Drake Thomas, North Carolina State

The Chargers are doing fine against the run this season with the league’s 14th-best unit and averaging 125.0 yards per game to opposing ball carriers. However, there has been a run of 50 or more yards in each of the last three weeks. Each one has been along the perimeter of the front seven. Drake Thomas, a fourth-year junior for North Carolina State, is a reliable tackler with an 82.2 PFF grade against the run last year. Thomas has 32 tackles this season and is a large reason for the Wolfpack’s No. 14 ranking in the AP Top 25 poll.