Tag: third round pick

Chargers 2023 roster review: WR Joshua Palmer

Joshua Palmer put together an impressive 2022 campaign, but will be pushed for playing time in 2023.

The 2023 season is just a month away, and with weeks of dead time during the quietest part of the NFL offseason, Chargers Wire is endeavoring to document each of Los Angeles’ players before the start of the team’s training camp.

The Chargers spent a good chunk of time without Keenan Allen and Mike Williams with their respective injuries last season. That led to Justin Herbert relying on lesser-known targets, highlighted by Joshua Palmer.

Palmer finished with 72 receptions for 769 yards. Weeks 9 and 11 were his biggest games, amassing 106 receiving yards in each contest. He established himself as a reliable target for Herbert.

This season, Palmer’s target share will take a dip with the addition of Quentin Johnston. But he is one injury away from resuming a more prominent role. Looking beyond 2023, if Allen or Williams isn’t back, Palmer should be a starter.

Contract (2023): $1,117,460 base salary, $254,919 prorated bonus, $1,372,379 cap hit.

Acquired: Palmer was taken in the third round with the 77th overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft after playing collegiately at the University of Tennessee.

Quote: Wide receivers coach Chris Beatty on Palmer:

“He had 70-plus catches last year and really played every position. If Keenan was out, he was Keenan. If Mike was out, he was Mike. If both were in, then he had to adjust his game that way. He had some huge games, I think he had three 100-yard games for us last year and I think he made some big plays and really carried us in the second Kansas City game here at home. He’s got the ability to be fluid because he does have some Mike in his game with his size, but he’s got some Keenan with his twitchiness.”

Highlight:

Green Bay Packers 2023 third-round pick: TE Tucker Kraft

The Green Bay Packers selected South Dakota State tight end Tucker Kraft with the 78th overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft.

The Green Bay Packers selected South Dakota State tight end Tucker Kraft with the 78th overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft.

Height: 6-5
Weight: 254
Age: 22
From: Timber Lake, SD

Breakdown: Dual-threat pass-catcher and blocker who did a little bit of everything at SDSU. Looks the part at 6-5 and over 250 pounds. Nearly as athletic as Luke Musgrave. Caught 99 passes and was a two-time All-American. Tough, aggressive player whether he’s blocking or running after the catch. Legitimate Y tight end potential at the next level.

Unpacking Future Packers: No. 10, SDSU TE Tucker Kraft

Brugler’s scouting report: “A three-year starter at South Dakota State, Kraft was a hybrid tight end (inline, wing and slot) in the Jackrabbits’ balanced offense. After passing on lucrative NIL offers from programs like Alabama, he returned to Brookings in 2022 for what NFL scouts expected to be his breakout season, but an ankle injury in the first quarter of the opener vs. Iowa curtailed that plan (he still returned and helped the program win the 2022 FCS National Championship). As a pass catcher, Kraft is an outstanding catch-and-go creator with fluid adjustment skills and balanced feet. As a blocker, he might not be polished, but he gets after it with the body control and desire to sustain and finish blocks. Since 1976, South Dakota State has only produced two top-100 draft picks and both were tight ends (Dallas Goedert No. 49 overall in 2018 and Steve Heiden No. 69 in 1999) – Kraft should be the third. Overall, Kraft needs development time to refine his route running and blocking techniques, but he is big, strong and athletic with the ball skills and blocking tenacity to evolve into an NFL starter. His play style and talent are reminiscent of Foster Moreau.”

Zierlein’s scouting report: “Combination tight end with the projectable skill set to handle pass-catching and run-blocking duties at the next level. Currently, he’s a more effective blocker in space than in-line, but that is correctable with better hand usage and proper angles of entry into his base blocks. Kraft provides formational versatility that will be appealing for teams that make heavy use of 12 personnel (two tight ends). He has the body control and catch toughness to be more than just a traditional Y tight end. Kraft has Day 2 talent and should see the field early with a chance to become a TE1.”

They said it: “Tucker is very good with the ball in his hands after the catch…I think he has really good balance and strength to break tackles and keep himself alive. I think these guys can do everything you ask a tight end to do in the NFL.” — GM Brian Gutekunst

South Dakota State profile

New uniform

Packers.com

RAS card

Highlights

[lawrence-related id=93452,93450,93429]

Questioning running back Rashaad Penny’s future in Seattle

The Lions had expressed interest in running back Rashaad Penny before the trade deadline but the Seattle Seahawks opted not to deal him.

[jwplayer CyWAa1YN-ThvAeFxT]

The Seattle Seahawks have not utilized running back Rashaad Penny much since the trade deadline when he was speculated to be a potential trade candidate. In the two games the Seahawks played since the deadline passed, Penny rushed a combined six times for 14 yards and a lost fumble.

The Lions had expressed interest in Penny before the trade deadline, according to a report from Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. The Lions were 3-3-1 at the time and were looking to bolster their stable of running backs, but apparently did not think Penny was worth anything more than a third-round pick.

If this report is true, it prompts an abundance of questions and speculation.

What more would Detroit have had to offer for the Seahawks to trade Penny? Is Seattle still confident that Penny can develop into something great at his position and just has a longer learning curve? How is Penny specifically going to be used in the future with Chris Carson soaking up all the carries despite a few mistakes over the course of the season? Did his 55 rushing yards on eight carries against Atlanta make the Seahawks’ decision for them?

Penny has shown flashes of success over his young career thus far, especially with the ball in open space. However, he has some noticeable issues, particularly regarding running between the tackles. He still has potential, as he is only in his second season in the NFL. However, Seattle may soon find out if it regrets not dealing Penny sooner, or if he breaks out and becomes a consistently favorable complement to Carson.

[lawrence-related id=51148]