Tag: Scott Matlock

Highlights from Day 1 of Chargers rookie minicamp

The Chargers rookies, including first-round pick Quentin Johnston took the field.

Friday marked the first day of Chargers rookie minicamp, which was highlighted by first-round pick Quentin Johnston.

The event will run through the next two days and end on May 14.

This feature will include a collection of tweets from team reporters from the session.

Read on to see a collection of the highlights and top tweets from the Bolts reporters in attendance.

2023 NFL Draft: The best draft steal for every NFL team

Every NFL draft has its selection of steals — those players who could surprise despite their low selections — and here’s one for every NFL team.

One of the many reasons the Kansas City Chiefs won Super Bowl LVII was the job that general manager Brett Veach did outside of the first round of the 2022 draft. Three defensive backs (Bryan Cook in the second round, Joshua Williams in the fourth, and Jaylen Watson in the seventh) were difference-makers all season, and seventh-round running back Isiah Pacheco became the team’s bellcow back down the stretch. Also, second-round receiver Skyy Moore joined Pacheco with touchdowns in that Super Bowl victory over the Eagles.

First-round hits are nice, but it’s almost worse to miss in the first round than it is better to win there from an opportunity cost perspective. If you want to refresh your roster at a championship level, you had better get those picks right on the second and third day. Veach and his staff did that, and it was the difference that made all the difference in the end.

Moving to the 2023 NFL draft, we’ve selected one second- or third-day pick for every NFL team who could have a similar impact on their NFL roaters sooner than mater. Each of these players have reasons for their relatively low picks in line with their tape, stats, and talent, but these are the kinds of finds that can turn a team around over time.

Where each of the Chargers’ draft picks ranked on pre-draft big boards

Looking at the Chargers’ selections and seeing how they stacked up with other draft analysts’ big boards.

Analysts and fans are justifying the team’s picks based on value throughout the draft. Did they get a steal? Was it about right? Did they reach?

So we will look at the Chargers’ selections and how they stacked up with other draft analysts’ big boards.

Draft Wire: Top 150

Pro Football Focus: Top 200

Daniel Jeremiah: Top 150

CBS Sports: NFL Draft Prospect Rankings

The Athletic: Top 300

Todd McShay: Top 350

Mel Kiper Jr: Top 150

2023 NFL draft: Chargers announce rookie jersey numbers

The Los Angeles Chargers rookies have their jersey numbers set in stone.

The Chargers announced the jersey numbers for their 2023 rookie class on Thursday.

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

  • WR Quentin Johnston – 1
  • EDGE Tuli Tuipulotu – 45
  • LB Daiyan Henley – 0
  • WR Derius Davis – 12
  • OL Jordan McFadden – 71
  • DL Scott Matlock – 99
  • QB Max Duggan – 8

1 stat to know about each of Chargers’ draft picks

These numbers should make Chargers fans 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 Los Angeles’ draft picks from their collegiate career. These numbers should make supporters feel even more intrigued about the incoming rookie class.

5 takeaways from the Chargers’ 2023 draft class

Here are some final thoughts on the Los Angeles Chargers’ haul in the 2023 NFL draft.

General manager Tom Telesco, head coach Brandon Staley and company knew that the 2023 NFL draft was a crucial part of their roster reconstruction after a steady approach in free agency.

For the most part, they accomplished that by landing impactful players and some that should be key pieces of the team down the road.

With that, here are five takeaways from Los Angeles’ haul.

Chargers’ 2023 draft class: All 7 players selected by Los Angeles

Meet the Los Angeles Chargers’ 2023 NFL draft class.

The Chargers completed the 2023 NFL draft with seven selections in total, four on offense and three on defense.

Los Angeles opened up the draft in the first round (No. 21) with wide receiver Quentin Johnston and closed it out in the seventh round (No. 239) with quarterback Max Duggan.

Here’s a look at every player the Bolts drafted and the spot where they were taken.

2023 NFL draft: Watch highlights of new Chargers DL Scott Matlock

Get familiar with the newest member of the Chargers, Scott Matlock.

The Los Angeles Chargers continued to stockpile defensive talent by taking

The Chargers needed to continue beefing up their defensive line with low-cost selections in the draft, and Matlock should factor into their depth chart through training camp and the preseason.

Check out some of his best plays as a member of the Boise State football program below to get acquainted with his skillset ahead of the 2023 season:

Instant analysis of the Chargers’ pick of Boise State DL Scott Matlock at No. 200 overall

What the selection of Scott Matlock means for the Los Angeles Chargers.

With two players returning from season-ending injuries on the defensive line, the Chargers have elected to add more depth.

Scott Matlock out of Boise State was the Chargers’ selection at the 200th overall pick. An elite athlete with a 9.65 RAS, Matlock is a quick and agile body on the line with a decent power profile.

An Idaho native, Matlock spent five seasons at Boise State, starting 32 games from 2020 onward. He tied for the Broncos’ lead in quarterback hurries with 7 in 2022 and was named to the All-Mountain West second team in 2021 and 2022.

Given his lighter weight (296 lbs) and elite speed and agility grades, Matlock is another contender at five-technique behind Morgan Fox if second-round pick Tuli Tuipulotu is going to primarily be a traditional edge rusher.

LA struggled to generate interior pass rush beyond Fox a season ago, which is where Matlock will help out in spades. The Chargers now have Austin Johnson and Otito Ogbonnia to primarily stop the run, with Fox and Matlock to rush the passer while Sebastian Joseph-Day plays an all-around role. Given his draft status, he’ll likely only play a small share of the snaps to begin with, but LA needs all the value they can get from a pass rush perspective.

While Matlock benched 225 lbs 29 times, showcasing decent power, his play strength varies from play to play. Boise State primarily played four-man fronts, which left Matlock to play more from a three-technique spot. In LA’s three down fronts, Matlock can move a bit further to the outside, where his quickness will serve him well.

Bottom line: LA adds more pass rush presence from the interior, giving them more flexibility on the defensive line as a whole.

2023 NFL draft: Chargers pick DT Scott Matlock with No. 200 overall selection

The Chargers added depth to the interior part of the defensive line.

The Chargers have taken former Boise State defensive tackle Scott Matlock with the No. 200 overall selection in the 2023 NFL draft.

Matlock started three years for the Broncos, finishing his career with 115 total tackles, 19.5 tackles for loss and 11.5 sacks in 46 games played.

At 6-foot-4 and 296 pounds, Matlock impressed at his Pro Day with a personal record of 29 reps on the bench press and ran a 4.81 in the 40-yard dash. He also touted a 4.27 shuttle time and 29.5 inches on the vertical jump.

Matlock was a participant at the East-West Shrine Bowl, the prestigious all-star game in Las Vegas, NV.