March 28, 2025 • 36 mins
On this episode of Chargers Weekly, Bolts radio play-by-play announcer Matt “Money” Smith and host Chris Hayre recap the latest news involving LA and the entire NFL. The hosts break down the Bolts’ biggest needs in the 2025 NFL Draft after adding tight end Tyler Conklin in free agency. They break down Conklin’s fit with quarterback Justin Herbert, analyze who General Manager Joe Hortiz could target to fill the running back room, and talk about why the Chargers coaching staff is an X-factor come draft time.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
Late fifteen to ten touchdown.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
What's up?
Speaker 3 (00:11):
Guys?
Speaker 4 (00:11):
Welcome into a brand new episode of Chargers Weekly, as always,
joined by the voice of the Chargers, Matt Muddy Smith.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
We are one month.
Speaker 4 (00:18):
Away from the twenty twenty five NFL Draft, and Buddy,
I was just talking to you about your podcast last
week with Jalil. I think Tyler Cochlan was signed the
second you guys stopped down.
Speaker 2 (00:28):
It seems to be a theme with our podcast, this one.
Speaker 1 (00:31):
Yeah, look, and it's a big one. It was really
the one position that was sort of just blinking, need,
need need. You know, a pass catching tight end. Will
Disley was great last year. I know a lot of people,
you know, look at that through a couple of different lenses.
For me, it's that shows you what Greg Roman can
do with the tight end position, how good this offense
(00:53):
is for a pass catching tight end that you can
make Will Disley you know that viable of a pass
catching tight end ever after having been that for pretty
much the entirety of his career. So now imagine placing
someone that is more geared toward the pass catching side
of things, the receiving side of things, as opposed to
the blocking side. Of things when it comes to their strength.
(01:13):
And I know Conklin's not having Ingram that was who
we were talking about two weeks ago when he was
out for a visit. Ultimately chose the Broncos over the Chargers.
But Tyler Concklin's a good tight end man in terms
of what is asked of him. I went through every
single one of his targets, every single one of his catches,
every single one of his explosives, his first down catches,
his touchdowns, basically half of his routes that he ran. Look,
(01:37):
he is a receiving tight end. That is what he is.
He has got incredible hands. He made a ton of
contested catches. I think I posted one the touchdown he
had against the Pats where he took an absolute lick,
got sandwiched by two different defensive backs as Aaron Rodgers
fit that throw into a very tight window, held on
for the score.
Speaker 3 (01:57):
And there's a whole lot of those.
Speaker 1 (01:59):
When you go through his tape from just last year
and you think about the options and all of the
belly aching out in New York over who was getting
targets and who wasn't. You still have Garrett Wilson out there,
you had Devonte Adams show up. You have you know,
obviously Alan Lazard, who's always been a favorite target of
Aaron Rodgers.
Speaker 3 (02:17):
And here's a tight.
Speaker 1 (02:18):
End that's rolling out with fifty plus catches, with five touchdowns,
with five hundred receiving yards. And those are good numbers, man,
those are good numbers on a team with DeVante Adams,
Garrett Wilson, Alan Lazard when Aaron Rodgers is throwing the football.
So I thought it was a great signing of value signing.
And much like we've seen in years past, Chris, you know,
Jared Cook, Gerald Everett, you know, Tyler Conklin is just
(02:42):
another tight end that we expect to produce and do
great things because justin Herbert's quarterback.
Speaker 4 (02:47):
Yeah, just the inconsistent quarterback play in New York two
over the last four years. To put up those numbers
with a bunch of different guys and money.
Speaker 2 (02:55):
That was probably the last piece.
Speaker 4 (02:57):
In terms of a position that they need.
Speaker 2 (03:00):
To fill before the draft.
Speaker 4 (03:01):
And now I think at twenty two overall, the possibilities
are limitless. You have Najie Harris on a one year deal,
you have Conklin on a one year deal, Makai Beckton
on a two year deal. You added some veteran depth
at defensive tackle in a draft that's loaded at defensive tackle.
So really, I think all moves now at number twenty
(03:22):
two overall or on the table. We could go Teed McMillan.
If he drops, you can go Golden, you can go Hampton,
you could go Loveland, you can go with a talented
offensive center or deffensive.
Speaker 2 (03:35):
Tackle and edge. Really there's I.
Speaker 4 (03:38):
Mean, it would be silly to even speculate who would
even be there at number twenty two overall in a
draft that has so much depth and really there's really
no consensus as to what it's going to look like
from one.
Speaker 2 (03:49):
To twenty two.
Speaker 3 (03:50):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (03:51):
Well, the one thing and we talked about this, how
it benefited them last year you know or not you
last year the year before now great, and they ended
up with Q and all of the players that we
were speculating were, you know, Zay Flowers and Jordan Madison
and Dalton Kincaid and that line. And we were like, man,
I think maybe Bejeon Fallsom. You know, that's what we
(04:11):
were getting into because of all the quarterbacks that we
knew that were going to be drafted.
Speaker 3 (04:14):
Last year, we didn't quite get into it as much.
Speaker 1 (04:16):
Because they had a top five pick and assumed that
they were going to take Joe Alter. Malik neighbors that
that's likely what it came down to.
Speaker 3 (04:24):
This year.
Speaker 1 (04:24):
I think, what you do the exercise, and maybe we
do it down the road a little bit as free
agency continues to shake out. I don't think the signing
of Russell Wilson and Jamis Winston precludes the Giants from
taking a quarterback there if they want. And plus I
don't suspect that shud Or Sanders is going to last
outside of the top ten. So I think, you know,
(04:45):
the quarterback numbers are still two and who knows, maybe three.
You know, you look at some of the mock drafts
that are out there, and they're starting to drop Jackson
Dart into that first round, potentially to the Steelers because
of how their quarterback situation has managed to shake out.
So I bring all that up because, okay, so there's three,
and then you look at really the only other two
positions of need or the other two positions that are
(05:07):
settled that the Chargers I could not see them drafting
a player in the first round. I cannot see them
drafting an offensive tackle, and I cannot see them drafting
an off ball linebacker. When you have two young players
like Henley and Colson, when you have Joe Alton, Rashaun
Slater and Justin Herbert. There are the three positions that
we add to the mix of two possibly three. So
(05:29):
now we're from twenty two. Let's say it's three, because
I do think that another quarterback is going to get
in there. So now you're from twenty two to nineteen.
When I look at the tackles, I'm thinking probably four
to five. I think four to five are going to go.
So now you're moving up eight spots. You know when
you take those players that there is not an off
ball linebacker that I suspect is going to make his
(05:49):
way into that top twenty. You know it's going to
be edge interior lineman. So now we're talking about eight
positions and you've gone from twenty two to fourteen. So
now you can kind of look at those positions of
need and figure out what are these Which of these
fourteen players or how many of these let's say twenty
players do we suspect we'll be sitting there at twenty two,
(06:09):
and I think with the signing of Conklin, like you said,
and with the signing of Andre James and bringing back
Bradley Boseman, is signing of Makai Beckton, you don't have
to freak out. You don't have to worry that Gray's
abel might not be there if it's Tyler book or
that he might not be there if it's you know,
one of the receivers. With bringing in Mike, I still
think wide receivers a big need. But with bringing in Mike,
at least you have an ex and you hope he
(06:30):
stays healthy, so you don't have to freak out if
t Mac is not there. With Tyler Conklin, Okay, do
worries we have time to develop a tight end. We
don't if Colston Lovelin and Tyler Warren are gone. You
can get that second third round tight end and develop
them and give it a year and sprinkle them in.
And that's kind of That's what I think people have
(06:53):
to remember is the depth allows you to maybe to
draft somebody at a position where you can afford to
have some patience and they don't need to be dropped
in like, oh my god, we have this need and
they need to play immediately, and they need to play
at a high level. That's what signing these players and
the way that Joe Ortiz's approach free agency has done
when it comes to how they can approach the draft.
Speaker 2 (07:14):
Yeah, and free agency is not over you.
Speaker 4 (07:16):
You go back to last year, how late in the
game JK Dobbins was signed poona Ford, the one that
everybody was upset about leaving. He was signed later in
free agency. So I also I go back to just
a couple of weeks ago and all the angst over
the first couple of days of free agency. Had Joe
Ortiz signed Mackai Beckton on day one, it would have
(07:37):
been fine, totally fine, right, But what he did was
he got he got a discount, he got a deal.
If all these guys would have been signed the first
couple of days of free agency, I think that in
large part, the consensus would have been, Hey, the charges
did pretty well in free agency. They still have to
pay for Sean Slater. I know it was his birthday.
I think you put up on Instagram a little little gift,
maybe a contract, but those are the those are the
(08:00):
big signings money like Rashaun Slater.
Speaker 2 (08:02):
You got to get him done.
Speaker 4 (08:03):
I'm very confident that'll get done in ample time. But
let's kind of home in on the wide receiver position
because I'm with you. I think that, you know, maybe
there is another veteran that you could add later in
free agency. But the fact that Golden and McMillan, if
one of those guys is in that conversation at twenty two, yeah, yeah, exactly,
(08:26):
or you know Lovelin at twenty two as well, Like,
there are really intriguing options for this team and for
Justin Herbert to maybe get that extra receiver. There's a
lot of like a lot of conversation about McMillan's forty
times and maybe that plays into the Chargers advantage at
(08:46):
number twenty two. Overall, if for some reason he were
to fall to.
Speaker 1 (08:49):
Them, Yeah, I'd be so, I'd be crazy surprised if
he fell. I just again, i'm a bit biased to
have and live you know, up the road and paying
attention to the Trinity League of where he went to
high school. I know I've talked about it before here
and what he was able to do with Servite and
make them a viable threat against modern day and Bosco
They didn't beat him, but they traded punches with him,
(09:11):
and a lot of that was t mac and Fafiita,
and like he was the straw that stirred that drink.
So you've got that Arizona was a nothing program and
he was their best player and helped that team to
upsets across the board in the Pac twelve to a
Bowl win, and never felt the need to take a
bunch of money and leave, you know, was fine staying
(09:33):
there even after his coach left. And so I think
that speaks to the character one. And I think that's
some of the stuff that's been whispered as, oh, does
this guy really love football?
Speaker 3 (09:41):
Is he a little immature? Like I don't. I don't
get where that's coming from.
Speaker 4 (09:45):
Now.
Speaker 1 (09:45):
I don't have the you know, the insight maybe with
some coaches or I don't know what he was doing
at Arizona, But to me from the outside looking in,
I don't I don't see any of that. I see
a competitor that lifted mediocre to pour programs to heights
that they had not experienced in a number of years.
And then I look at a size, legitimate six', five,
(10:08):
legitimate two hundred and fifteen. POUNDS i look at the.
ATHLETICISM i know people you mentioned the. FORTY i thought
he ran a lot faster than he was Gonna the
four or five to five to me is. Fantastic you,
know people were talking about him maybe clocking a four, six,
five four, Seven so four or five to five for
a guy that's that.
Speaker 3 (10:24):
Fast.
Speaker 1 (10:24):
Great and then you put in the, background you know
that he was A division one scholarship volleyball, player and
that ability to high point and leap and be comfortable
leaping and timing and using your hands actively in those
contested catch. Situations like he's a perfect. Fit i've just
spent two minutes talking about a. Guy there is no
chance he's going to be there at twenty Two, chris
(10:46):
there's just NO i just if he, Is Holy, kyle
BUT i JUST i cannot envision him making it that.
Speaker 4 (10:51):
Far you, know money another position in this, draft running
back obviously. Stacked and you look at The Nigi harris,
signing obviously one year, deal his durability In pittsburgh on
display for four. Years SO i know that that's what
Attracted Jim harbaugh And Joe ortiz to getting nause IN.
La BUT i feel like that room is still, incomplete
(11:13):
and whether they get a running back in the, first, second,
third fourth, round that's another position of depth in this
draft THAT i have no doubt The charges will probably
try to.
Speaker 1 (11:22):
Get, Yeah AND i think you know you said it, There.
Chris it's LIKE i could see him drafting a running
back in the, FIRST i could see him drafting a
running back in the second and the third in the
waiting until the. Fourth because of the depth of the,
position there's a number of different directions that they can.
Go you, KNOW i think you look at who's available
in the first, round AND i think there's certainly two
(11:42):
players In Ashtroon genty And amari And, hampton.
Speaker 3 (11:45):
AND i think potentially a.
Speaker 1 (11:46):
THIRD i really Think Traveon henderson is going to find
a way to creep into that third. Round and it's
sort of one of the things that makes the exercise
of SOMETHING i love THE pff Mock draft simulator kind
of so tough to figure out because they still Have
Colston lovelin rated way too low and he's always available
When i'm running through the different options for The, chargers
(12:08):
and they still have these running backs rated way too.
LOW i think Quinch On judkins could sneak into the
back end of that first round because you're talking about
teams that are ready to, win and that's something that
we've talked about when it comes to running. Backs you,
know if you're if you've got, depth if you're a
team that was competing for A Super bowl last, year
(12:30):
like The, chiefs like The eagles who filled their running
back need With Saquon barkley and he gave them two
thousand yards in AN mvp level. Performance if you're The,
commanders The, lions obviously they already did it With Jimir
gibbs with the twelfth overall, pick like Those AND i
say all of that because of the idea that you
could maybe still get one of your guys at fifty.
Speaker 3 (12:51):
Five might not be the.
Speaker 1 (12:52):
Case there's it's the league has shifted a little, bit
and so you, know we were talking about it a
little bit. Earlier you brought up a mari And hampton and,
LIKE i think that's why if he's there at twenty,
TWO i would suspect The chargers will take a long
look at. It and even though it's not Necessarily i'm
using the air quotes for people that are just listening
in a premium. Position it's a position that's a premium
(13:15):
for The chargers because of how they want to. Play
they want to be a physical. Team they want to
be the, bully and the best way to be the
bully is to Have Najee harris And amari And hampton
has a one to two. Punch now that you've Put
mackay becked in next To Joe, walt now that you've
brought in you, Know Andre james to create some depthit
center and you're gonna be able to find centers and
(13:36):
guards later in the. Round tackles you have to find
in the first round centers and. Guards, yeah it's great
to get the number one guy like they did With
zion at. Seventeen still kind of waiting for that to
shake itself, out but you Know Gray's Abel, Tyler, booker
you know some of those and they're talking about some
tackles kicking in to. Guard but you can find interior
offensive lineman a little. Later so to, me it kind
(13:57):
of goes back to your original, Point, chris where.
Speaker 3 (14:00):
This could be.
Speaker 1 (14:00):
Anything it could be anything at twenty, two and you're
going to be able to make sense of it now
if they wait Maybe Quinchahn judkins is there at fifty.
Five maybe It's Camp scataboo at fifty. Five maybe It's
Dylan sampson OR i Mean giddon's like. That the list
is just extensive for which back that could be depending
on which round you want to pick them. In but
to your, point and for this, exercise, yeah Mari inhampton
(14:23):
at twenty two would MAKE i don't think there's any
issue with that whatsoever From charger fans and from people
that are breaking down and giving grades for how you. Did.
Speaker 4 (14:34):
NO i go back to something THAT dj said when
The lions Drafted Jamiir, gibbs and everybody kind of had
their eyebrows raised and, said, wow running back dad, Early,
like what are The lions doing? Well The lions already
took care of everything. Else they took care of their offensive,
line their defensive. Line i'm not sure that The chargers
are quite in the position that The lions were in
(14:54):
when they did Draft Jamir. Gibbs but we're seeing some
of that stuff start to play out here in the
first tear and a half Of hardball And Hortiz and
there's these philosophies like which you draft a running back
in the first. Round some people say no. Way some people, say,
hey if it's a game. Changer if it's a game
changer and you have this timeline Of Jim harball over
(15:14):
the next four years and you get a guy who
you'll know will be A charger for five, YEARS i,
MEAN i think it's absolutely a slam dunk to draft
a running back if you believe that that guy is
going to be the biggest difference maker on your team
and can help you win A Super. Bowl BUT i
do think that all these one year deals in free
(15:35):
agency have really set The chargers up to kind of
do anything on the. Board but If Amarin hampton is,
THERE i don't know if he will be. THERE i
really do think he's going to go in the top
fifteen to twenty just because he's that dynamic of a.
Player he doesn't have to leave the. FIELD i could
see The Denver broncos maybe getting him and adding him
as a kind of a final piece to their. Offense
(15:58):
But Colson lovelin's another one you talk ABOUT. Pas they
have him super super. HIGH dj has him as a
top six, prospect and we're seeing conversations about him being
available at twenty. Two would you trade up for a tight?
End would you trade it for A Tyler warren or
A Coastal loveland if.
Speaker 3 (16:16):
You needed, TO i would trade up For Tyler.
Speaker 1 (16:19):
WARREN i think if he's, sliding AND i just for,
me it's so hard to run through that hypothetical BECAUSE
i just can't envision. IT i Think Tyler warren is
what every single team in the league needs at tight.
End you, know he's just he's that. Good he's a
full service, blocking, catching, bully throwing some of that in
(16:39):
THE usc, game you, know elite level. Player so you,
know to, me that's that's, look if it, Happens, Yeah
i'm not crazy about trading up in the first round
just because of the of the. Cost you, know it's
so expensive to move up in the first, round which
is why the hope is that some of these teams
(16:59):
with extra picks that are you, know that are more
in rebuild mode and view kind of that that group
of defensive tackles or if an offensive tackle is, sliding
or if they do have like a significant separation between
these three wide. Receivers, right you Have Tamac, shoot let
(17:21):
me get this, Square. Toway you have t Mat golden
And eguka, right and then people feel like maybe there's
a little then there's burden is he like just right below?
There and then after that you kind of have Your
Jayden Higgins Trey. HARRIS i on my, ore, like those
are the those are the opportunities that maybe if you're
(17:42):
The chargers and you're at twenty two and you're.
Speaker 3 (17:44):
Like, yeah well we'll kick back and.
Speaker 1 (17:46):
Find our way to thirty two and pick up forty
eight in the, problem you, know like that sort of.
Thing those teams that have those two, two's that's something
that could be. INTERESTING i feel like there's going to
be an elite player available at twenty, two.
Speaker 3 (18:00):
Whether that's that in.
Speaker 1 (18:00):
Tier you, know AS i kind of went through the,
EXERCISE i put in order of, need like so we
talked about the positions that are already, settled, tackle, linebacker,
quarterback and then in order of, NEED i do think
they they need a pass rushing interior defensive lineman.
Speaker 3 (18:14):
Desperately you. Know, NOW i love to your.
Speaker 1 (18:17):
Tart you know THAT i don't feel LIKE i have
to qualify, that BUT i want to point, out, YEAH
i think he can get after. It he can push the,
pocket collapse of pocket and help those edges. Eat BUT
i do think with the depth at this position and
the level of player that could be. Available we've talked
About Kenneth grant already and how Much Jim harball loves
him and why if he's, There i'd be so surprised
if they took a pass on. Him he's called him an,
(18:39):
alien a, freak a, monster all of those. THINGS i
feel Like i'm one of the only guys that Has
Walter nolan as high AS i. DO i JUST i
watch him play AND i look at that body AND
i just envision What Mike elston And Jesse minner could
do with, him AND i get. EXCITED i know a
lot of people Like Derek. Harmon and then the funny
thing is is you kind of go through. That then
(19:00):
you look at pick fifty five and you're, Like, god
you Know Omar Norman lott wasn't asked to do a
lot Of, tennessee but you watch him and, man that
dude has got violence in his hands and body and
the ability to get, upfield and you're, Like, okay what's
the difference between these two players and does it make?
More and then what's the difference Between egbuka Or golden
(19:20):
OR tmac and that next level wide receiver that you're talking,
about and like that's the exercise that they're going to go.
To it's this and this or is it this and
this or does it make more sense to trade out
and you, know get one of those high second round
picks and hope that, hey Here's Quinn Shawn judkins instead
Of omari And hampton and we picked up an extra.
(19:41):
Two so now we have three two's hours and two
others in order to get After, giddons you, Know judkins
and one of the you, Know Tyler williams as your interior,
defense although he's more of a run stuff for big
body guys opposed to a pass. Rush but you know
What i'm, Saying like that's the that's what all of
these sign AND i mean you talked about, It, chris
(20:02):
the one year deals that they've been, Making like that's
that's where you're going to find value in free, agency you,
know taking a huge swing On Milton williams because they
had all this money to, spend that's just not they
had too many holes to fill and to be able
to create this situation where they can draft whoever they
want with whatever pick they want based on how their board,
(20:24):
looks regardless of. Position that's always what they were going to,
do and that's kind of the way they approach for.
It and now we feel good about, It like you,
know AM i. AM i completely and totally settled That
Mike williams is going to be healthy for seventeen games
and be YOUR x. Receiver, no you can't be because
of his, history but feel pretty good about it. TODAY
i feel, like, yeah you know, what you roll out
(20:44):
there With laddin the, Slot mike is your ex and
a couple different options AT z INCLUDING. Q, YEAH i
feel pretty good about. That feel pretty good About Will
disley And Tyler. CONKLIN i feel pretty good about whoever
wins the center job along With Beckton, zion you, Know
slater and. All feel good about. That feel good About Nashie,
harris you. Know and then we get to defensive. Line
(21:06):
and that's that's WHY i bring up interior defensive. Line it's, Like,
okay they got they got to your tart and they
got you, Know DeShawn hand And Nikmon, jones and it's, like,
yeah that's that's something they're gonna need to figure.
Speaker 4 (21:20):
Out, Yeah but the breadcrumbs tell you that they will
get those defensive tackles of the.
Speaker 2 (21:26):
Draft everything every person we talked.
Speaker 4 (21:29):
To last month In indianapolis defensive, tackle defensive, tackle the
deepest defensive tackle draft we've ever. Seen running back in
another deep. Position i'm with. YOU i don't think that
there's gonna be a lot of trade ups in this.
DRAFT i just think that from outside the top, five
top seven, guys there's just too many players that probably
(21:49):
have the same grade and it's kind of your flavor
AND i don't know if it's advantageous to trade, Up
and especially with The chargers. Too you mentioned defensive. Tackle
have about corner, two LIKE i really love How Tar
Heeps still And Cam hart, played but at the end
of the, day you know they don't have a lot
of time on. Task their fifth round guys WHO i
believe will turn themselves into two really good starters in this,
(22:11):
league but you have to have a little more depth
there and maybe some other guys that you can depend.
On and you, know you bring In Dante jackson From,
pittsburgh but quarterback is another position money THAT i don't
feel like they are a complete operation, Yet and and
AGAIN i Guess Dante jackson is just another example Of,
(22:33):
hey these kind of stop gaps for a year or
two while they continue to build through the. Draft that's
that's kind of the theme of free. Agency and by the,
way you have to overpay free. Agency Milton williams was
super overpaid because The patriots had a ton of money
and they were desperate to actually bring some guys into
my railboles. Program Joe ortize has never operated that. Way
(22:56):
The ravens won't operate that. Way so you weren't going
to overpay For Milton. WOYD i think that would have
gotten people, excited but at the end of the, day
he would have made way, way way too much money
when you have other needs you have to.
Speaker 2 (23:07):
Fill, YEAH i.
Speaker 1 (23:08):
Think and one, Thing, look DO i know this to be? Fact,
NO i did not get this from a team, source
BUT i heard enough to believe it to be. True
they were in On DeVante. Adams they were definitely interested
in doing that deal and The rams got. Him they
were in on dk METCALF i did they want to
(23:29):
go to thirty three million in a second their second round?
Pick THAT i don't, know but they were in knowing
that this guy's going to be a thirty million dollar
a year player and that was going to cost you
A day two. Pick so they were in on, that
and they were in On, poona and they tried to
Bring poona. Back so, LIKE i think the thing that
the thing.
Speaker 3 (23:49):
About WHAT.
Speaker 1 (23:52):
I would be excited IF i were A charger fan
about the way That georgie's and his staff approached the
offseason is when they miss stout on what they wanted
that they were willing to take a big swing and
write a big check.
Speaker 3 (24:04):
For they didn't.
Speaker 1 (24:06):
Overcompensate they didn't feel the need to overreact and go
out and and oh we missed On DeVante. Adams well
you know, what all, right here's our two and here's
thirty three million bucks a year for Dk. Metcalf they were, like,
no we've got our. Price we're comfortable with our. Price
it's it's a lot of. Money but if that's not,
(24:26):
right then then. Good Aaron banks seventy seven million. Bucks,
no you, Know Dan moore fifty million dollars for two. Years,
no Not Will fries eighteen million bucks a year, that you,
know coming off a broken. Leg, no you, know like
that's that's. Responsible that's how teams that believe in their
process of drafting and developing and. Coaching that's how they.
(24:50):
Operate they're just not going to get. Hamstrung AND i
think you look at two years ago or was it
three years and it's three years three years ago when
The chargers had all that money to spend and they
had a coach that wanted to go out on a
shopping spree BECAUSE i need, THIS i need, THIS i
need this in order for it to. WORK i need J. C,
JACKSON i Need Sebastian joseph D i Need lynn Bald
JOE'S i need. IT i need, it go get. It
(25:10):
and they spent all this money and it was a
complete and total disaster and it bit them and it
just doesn't you know that that approach rarely works if
you're the.
Speaker 4 (25:22):
It's a temporary high, money it's a temporary. High it's
it For march And april to get excited about and
uh youllo pop of the off. Season but it doesn't
necessarily equate to.
Speaker 3 (25:31):
Wins, yeah, yeah you're exactly, Right.
Speaker 1 (25:34):
Chris and so to to kind of just finish that
point and and and let you get back to. It
they they were always going to add that this was
the way they were going to. Operate we got excited
about T, higgins we got excited About Trey, smith you,
know but it was, like once the numbers beyond Those
once once those two guys got franchised and the numbers
were what they were in a pretty weak free agent,
(25:55):
class you just knew this is the way it was
gonna end.
Speaker 4 (25:57):
Up, yeah and, hey IF dk metcalf was In Powder,
blue would have been a lot of.
Speaker 2 (26:02):
Fun T higgins the same.
Speaker 4 (26:03):
Thing but If Matthew golden is In Powder blue and
he's making a fracture of the cost that he's given
you a similar production with lat McConkey on the other,
side And Mike williams healthy and maybe quit and taking
another step in year, three then we have a whole different.
Operation AND i love the process That joe has gone through.
It i'm fascinated with team building and just philosophies and
(26:25):
from him to come from the school Of Ozzie newsom
and The, ravens AND dj talks about it all the.
TIME i JUST i really have a great deal of
admiration for how they build their, team AND i think
sometimes we forget because they won eleven games last, year
they were in a really bad way with their cap
when they had to make all these decisions With keenan
And mike And joey And. Khalil and now the cap is.
(26:47):
Healthy they are planning, for you, know A Rashaun slater.
Deal they're planning for all the big deals that they're
gonna have to make with some of their current guys
down the. Line you, Know Derwin james may want some
money here in a little it SO i. DO i
do have a great deal of admiration for How Joe
ortiz is building this. Thing and don't let the eleven
(27:09):
wins fool. You they still need to get their cap.
Healthy they still need to draft and develop guys into
bona fhyte. Starters and that's why you're seeing some of
these really good stop. Gaps and we saw a bunch
of them last year that you, know we talked About.
Poona poona got paid because of how he performed with The.
CHARGERS i THOUGHT jk was, like we weren't EXPECTING jk
(27:31):
to do what he did because of his injury, history
and he was. Remarkable SO i can, go you, know
five or six other guys down the line that they
had really good years on one year. Deals Elijah moulden
was rewarded for how well he. Played SO i like
what they did AND i think it just sets them
up very nicely for the. Draft and you, know we
(27:51):
talk about Tar heeb still helping you win a game
In atlanta last, year And Joe alt being one of
the best rookie right tackles we've seen in quite some,
time And ladd McConkey over a thousand yards And hunter.
Catches it's these are rookies that The chargers are gonna
have on their team in a month that will contribute
in twenty twenty five in a very similar.
Speaker 3 (28:12):
Way.
Speaker 1 (28:13):
Yeah, look they're the best exercise to perform if you're
trying to figure, Out, okay what are? They how are
they just go through each position group better or? Worse, better, worse, same, better, worse?
Same you, know what do you? Have how do you
feel about the running back room they need to drive?
Somebody naji feel great about the idea of being a
physical pounding between the tackles or you, know gap power
(28:36):
scheme that's going to fit him offensive line.
Speaker 3 (28:39):
Better there's just no.
Speaker 1 (28:40):
Question you bring In Makai beckton and you bring in
some competition at the center. Position second year From Joe
Walt All pro season First, yeah offensive, line, better running back,
room let's talk about it after the. Draft wide receiver
room better or. WORSE i think you. Can it's better
Because Mike williams is healthy today and he's two years
removed from a.
Speaker 2 (28:58):
Same right now. Almost.
Speaker 1 (29:00):
YEAH i JUST i look at last year AND i think,
about you know, what it Was, quinton it was, lad
it Was Simi, fajoko it was you know WHAT i,
mean LIKE Dj shark never really. Played SO i just
feel like Putting mike in, There i'm comfortable saying that
it's better right. Now it still needs work, Though right
tight End Tyler conklin Will disley's back And Tyler Conklin
(29:21):
Overhyden hurst who barely played last year, better you, know
opposite side of the. Ball edge probably not as. Good
that's why that's the one position THAT i think people are.
Overlooking if one of these edge guys starts to slide
and you're thinking about interior d line or running, back
or if you get one of these edges to, slide
If Mike green, slides If Johad campbell, SLIDE i think
(29:45):
that's the sneaky sort of play Because bud The prison
is last, Year khalil's on a one year, Deal tuley
is going to be a full time starter now with
No Joey. Bosa that's a, premium premium. Position so that's
the one where it's, like, okay edge not as good this. Year,
CORNER i don't. KNOW i think it's probably not as.
(30:06):
GOOD i Thought Christian fulton had a really good year last.
Year so that's where corner comes into. Play If Will
johnson is, sliding If Jade baron is there at twenty, Two,
okay now that makes sense to try to make that better, safety, sane,
Right and so like there's your exercise of sort of
where are they? At and that's where THEN i Circle,
okay edge and then obviously interior defensive line we're gonna
(30:29):
talk about they' nowhere near as good as they were
last year with No Morgan fox and no Pun. Afford
so that's where there's the big sort of like blinking
light of this has to be squared away and what
a great draft to be able to square it away.
In and that's and that's, why And i'll just finish
the point with This chris Quickly that's WHY i WOULD
i think from, now from here you're gonna be in
(30:50):
this weight and see mode with the free agency to
see what they, get and then once you get your
draft squared, away then you figure, Out, okay do we
bring Von miller in on a one year? Deal do
we bring That Jude on in on a one year?
Speaker 3 (31:02):
Deal do we?
Speaker 1 (31:03):
Like that's so if you don't get that, edge then
that's where you can kind of go and, Play oh
we didn't get the, corner all, Right let's go Get Rasul.
Douglas let's let's kind of check the medicals again On
asante and see if we feel good about him coming
back on a one year. Pro that's kind of HOW
i think this is now laying out they got their free,
AGENCY i feel is done, now it's all, draft and
then post draft will be that next wave of free
(31:25):
agents like The Elijah, moldens The Christian, fold things like.
Speaker 4 (31:27):
That, yeah you, know keep in mind To Junior colson
didn't play really last, year you, know and that's a
guy we were expecting big things out of his rookie
year and Luckily denzel And dayon held it. Down but
that's just another impact. Player and you know we talk
about positions, specific but just straight playmakers and guys who
can make a difference on. DEFENSE i Think Junior colson
(31:50):
is going to find his way out of the field
in twenty twenty. Five oh, yeah and make an impact
that maybe we didn't see last, year just In Jesse minter's.
Defense and again you said, it there needs to be
some improvement across the defensive. Line we talked about the
depth in the in the draft and you know, edge
you Know Bud, dupree he came in late last year.
Too so who's to, say like you, said like a
(32:10):
Von miller or another edge guy who who wants to you,
know he feels like he's got a year, left can
make an, impact can make a, difference can come.
Speaker 2 (32:18):
In later in the. Year so it's, fun.
Speaker 4 (32:20):
MAN i think That charger fans should be excited about
the next. Month and you, know going through all these,
exercises obviously it's all this speculation just it makes for
a lot of. Entertainment but when it's all said and,
Done i'm very confident that The chargers are gonna do
what they did last year and really build their team
out with future starters and guys who can contribute right
(32:43):
away in twenty twenty.
Speaker 1 (32:44):
Five, yeah it's a Great i'm glad you brought up the.
LINEBACKERS i forgot that, group SO i was very polite
of you the way you approach that to acknowledge that
it was the one group of players THAT i didn't.
Mention it's arguably at all, they're you, know one of
their strongest position. Groups If junior is who we think he,
is And i'd be very surprised if he wasn't the
fact that he is going to be healthy this year
and out there With, deayon you are talking about incredibly,
(33:05):
athletic incredibly, physical smart players at that level of the.
Speaker 3 (33:10):
Defense you.
Speaker 1 (33:12):
Know for the one thing That i'll also point out
is just kind of think back twelve months and how
you felt about the signings Of Tier Tart Puniford fulton
trading For Elijah, molden like Go Will, disley you, know
is their number one free agent. Signing like think about
(33:32):
all of those moves AND. Jk, dobbins you know and
like and what they ended up. Becoming and that's the
one thing that's always imp THAT i don't think people
put enough stock into is you have a front office
that has been here for a year now and has,
demonstrated based on their first year that they know how
(33:55):
to go find players that fit their system and fit their,
coaches and they have a coaching state aff that can
coach guys. Up and you, know it Got chris o'liria
promotion as safeties. Coach that's why he's no longer there
because of what he was able to do with a
lowie And derwin And Elijah molden and Get elijah that
big money. Extension AND i would suspect that's probably going
to be the same this coming. Year if if Coach
(34:17):
clinkscale does it again with, corners he's gonna find himself
A dc. Gig If Mike elston does it again with
this defensive, line you, know with No Joey bosa and
with a rookie interior defensive lineman to go with Tier
tart And jones in, hand he's going to get a.
Shot Like so that's something to remember is these coaches
are really really Gosanj law With ladd and what end
(34:40):
WITH q and and some of the moments THAT q
had and taking another step in his career like those
are all those are all guys that you.
Speaker 4 (34:48):
Maybe get a head coaching, job, Buddy like we thought
that that's going to happen this past.
Speaker 3 (34:52):
Year you, know, yeah. Exactly so that's the pairing.
Speaker 1 (34:56):
Too it's not just the name on the back of the,
jersey it's who that player is coming. To football is
the ultimate ultimate circumstance based. Sport there are eleven guys
on the side of the field in which you're. Performing
they all need to perform at a certain level for
you to be able to. Excel and you need to
have the right play, call and you need to have
(35:17):
the right technique and coaching throughout the, week and like
that's all a huge part of. It and so that's
AND i think that's one of the reasons why they
like their ten draft picks and they want their comp draft,
picks and a lot of these free agent signings play
into the comp formula because they just feel better about
evaluating guys at that, level dropping them into their system
(35:39):
with their coaches and developing them and not having to
have them break any habits that they learned.
Speaker 2 (35:43):
Elsewhere, yep aimen to that.
Speaker 4 (35:46):
Man anything else before we get out of.
Speaker 1 (35:49):
Here, NO i would just, say you, know whoever they
sign in the next five. Minutes i'll be excited to
talk about them next.
Speaker 2 (35:57):
Week, chris get wait and get.
Speaker 4 (35:59):
Wait this is gonna be a blockbuster trade as soon
as we leave it at. That, UH i appreciate you
guys listening to watching my mic. Is i'm In spokane
for the WOMEN'S ncaa tournament and, uh The wi fi
here at my hotel has been a little, spotty so
you guys probably won't see what we have lived the last, hour.
Speaker 3 (36:19):
So you'll be.
Speaker 1 (36:20):
Great go downstairs and put a bunch of money on
red or black or the double zero and zero whatever
that thing.
Speaker 2 (36:26):
Is, now, yeah all, right we'll get at it here
for buddy, Up. Chris this has been charges. Weekly we'll
see you next, week, guys
Late fifteen to ten touchdown.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
What's up?
Speaker 3 (00:11):
Guys?
Speaker 4 (00:11):
Welcome into a brand new episode of Chargers Weekly, as always,
joined by the voice of the Chargers, Matt Muddy Smith.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
We are one month.
Speaker 4 (00:18):
Away from the twenty twenty five NFL Draft, and Buddy,
I was just talking to you about your podcast last
week with Jalil. I think Tyler Cochlan was signed the
second you guys stopped down.
Speaker 2 (00:28):
It seems to be a theme with our podcast, this one.
Speaker 1 (00:31):
Yeah, look, and it's a big one. It was really
the one position that was sort of just blinking, need,
need need. You know, a pass catching tight end. Will
Disley was great last year. I know a lot of people,
you know, look at that through a couple of different lenses.
For me, it's that shows you what Greg Roman can
do with the tight end position, how good this offense
(00:53):
is for a pass catching tight end that you can
make Will Disley you know that viable of a pass
catching tight end ever after having been that for pretty
much the entirety of his career. So now imagine placing
someone that is more geared toward the pass catching side
of things, the receiving side of things, as opposed to
the blocking side. Of things when it comes to their strength.
(01:13):
And I know Conklin's not having Ingram that was who
we were talking about two weeks ago when he was
out for a visit. Ultimately chose the Broncos over the Chargers.
But Tyler Concklin's a good tight end man in terms
of what is asked of him. I went through every
single one of his targets, every single one of his catches,
every single one of his explosives, his first down catches,
his touchdowns, basically half of his routes that he ran. Look,
(01:37):
he is a receiving tight end. That is what he is.
He has got incredible hands. He made a ton of
contested catches. I think I posted one the touchdown he
had against the Pats where he took an absolute lick,
got sandwiched by two different defensive backs as Aaron Rodgers
fit that throw into a very tight window, held on
for the score.
Speaker 3 (01:57):
And there's a whole lot of those.
Speaker 1 (01:59):
When you go through his tape from just last year
and you think about the options and all of the
belly aching out in New York over who was getting
targets and who wasn't. You still have Garrett Wilson out there,
you had Devonte Adams show up. You have you know,
obviously Alan Lazard, who's always been a favorite target of
Aaron Rodgers.
Speaker 3 (02:17):
And here's a tight.
Speaker 1 (02:18):
End that's rolling out with fifty plus catches, with five touchdowns,
with five hundred receiving yards. And those are good numbers, man,
those are good numbers on a team with DeVante Adams,
Garrett Wilson, Alan Lazard when Aaron Rodgers is throwing the football.
So I thought it was a great signing of value signing.
And much like we've seen in years past, Chris, you know,
Jared Cook, Gerald Everett, you know, Tyler Conklin is just
(02:42):
another tight end that we expect to produce and do
great things because justin Herbert's quarterback.
Speaker 4 (02:47):
Yeah, just the inconsistent quarterback play in New York two
over the last four years. To put up those numbers
with a bunch of different guys and money.
Speaker 2 (02:55):
That was probably the last piece.
Speaker 4 (02:57):
In terms of a position that they need.
Speaker 2 (03:00):
To fill before the draft.
Speaker 4 (03:01):
And now I think at twenty two overall, the possibilities
are limitless. You have Najie Harris on a one year deal,
you have Conklin on a one year deal, Makai Beckton
on a two year deal. You added some veteran depth
at defensive tackle in a draft that's loaded at defensive tackle.
So really, I think all moves now at number twenty
(03:22):
two overall or on the table. We could go Teed McMillan.
If he drops, you can go Golden, you can go Hampton,
you could go Loveland, you can go with a talented
offensive center or deffensive.
Speaker 2 (03:35):
Tackle and edge. Really there's I.
Speaker 4 (03:38):
Mean, it would be silly to even speculate who would
even be there at number twenty two overall in a
draft that has so much depth and really there's really
no consensus as to what it's going to look like
from one.
Speaker 2 (03:49):
To twenty two.
Speaker 3 (03:50):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (03:51):
Well, the one thing and we talked about this, how
it benefited them last year you know or not you
last year the year before now great, and they ended
up with Q and all of the players that we
were speculating were, you know, Zay Flowers and Jordan Madison
and Dalton Kincaid and that line. And we were like, man,
I think maybe Bejeon Fallsom. You know, that's what we
(04:11):
were getting into because of all the quarterbacks that we
knew that were going to be drafted.
Speaker 3 (04:14):
Last year, we didn't quite get into it as much.
Speaker 1 (04:16):
Because they had a top five pick and assumed that
they were going to take Joe Alter. Malik neighbors that
that's likely what it came down to.
Speaker 3 (04:24):
This year.
Speaker 1 (04:24):
I think, what you do the exercise, and maybe we
do it down the road a little bit as free
agency continues to shake out. I don't think the signing
of Russell Wilson and Jamis Winston precludes the Giants from
taking a quarterback there if they want. And plus I
don't suspect that shud Or Sanders is going to last
outside of the top ten. So I think, you know,
(04:45):
the quarterback numbers are still two and who knows, maybe three.
You know, you look at some of the mock drafts
that are out there, and they're starting to drop Jackson
Dart into that first round, potentially to the Steelers because
of how their quarterback situation has managed to shake out.
So I bring all that up because, okay, so there's three,
and then you look at really the only other two
positions of need or the other two positions that are
(05:07):
settled that the Chargers I could not see them drafting
a player in the first round. I cannot see them
drafting an offensive tackle, and I cannot see them drafting
an off ball linebacker. When you have two young players
like Henley and Colson, when you have Joe Alton, Rashaun
Slater and Justin Herbert. There are the three positions that
we add to the mix of two possibly three. So
(05:29):
now we're from twenty two. Let's say it's three, because
I do think that another quarterback is going to get
in there. So now you're from twenty two to nineteen.
When I look at the tackles, I'm thinking probably four
to five. I think four to five are going to go.
So now you're moving up eight spots. You know when
you take those players that there is not an off
ball linebacker that I suspect is going to make his
(05:49):
way into that top twenty. You know it's going to
be edge interior lineman. So now we're talking about eight
positions and you've gone from twenty two to fourteen. So
now you can kind of look at those positions of
need and figure out what are these Which of these
fourteen players or how many of these let's say twenty
players do we suspect we'll be sitting there at twenty two,
(06:09):
and I think with the signing of Conklin, like you said,
and with the signing of Andre James and bringing back
Bradley Boseman, is signing of Makai Beckton, you don't have
to freak out. You don't have to worry that Gray's
abel might not be there if it's Tyler book or
that he might not be there if it's you know,
one of the receivers. With bringing in Mike, I still
think wide receivers a big need. But with bringing in Mike,
at least you have an ex and you hope he
(06:30):
stays healthy, so you don't have to freak out if
t Mac is not there. With Tyler Conklin, Okay, do
worries we have time to develop a tight end. We
don't if Colston Lovelin and Tyler Warren are gone. You
can get that second third round tight end and develop
them and give it a year and sprinkle them in.
And that's kind of That's what I think people have
(06:53):
to remember is the depth allows you to maybe to
draft somebody at a position where you can afford to
have some patience and they don't need to be dropped
in like, oh my god, we have this need and
they need to play immediately, and they need to play
at a high level. That's what signing these players and
the way that Joe Ortiz's approach free agency has done
when it comes to how they can approach the draft.
Speaker 2 (07:14):
Yeah, and free agency is not over you.
Speaker 4 (07:16):
You go back to last year, how late in the
game JK Dobbins was signed poona Ford, the one that
everybody was upset about leaving. He was signed later in
free agency. So I also I go back to just
a couple of weeks ago and all the angst over
the first couple of days of free agency. Had Joe
Ortiz signed Mackai Beckton on day one, it would have
(07:37):
been fine, totally fine, right, But what he did was
he got he got a discount, he got a deal.
If all these guys would have been signed the first
couple of days of free agency, I think that in
large part, the consensus would have been, Hey, the charges
did pretty well in free agency. They still have to
pay for Sean Slater. I know it was his birthday.
I think you put up on Instagram a little little gift,
maybe a contract, but those are the those are the
(08:00):
big signings money like Rashaun Slater.
Speaker 2 (08:02):
You got to get him done.
Speaker 4 (08:03):
I'm very confident that'll get done in ample time. But
let's kind of home in on the wide receiver position
because I'm with you. I think that, you know, maybe
there is another veteran that you could add later in
free agency. But the fact that Golden and McMillan, if
one of those guys is in that conversation at twenty two, yeah, yeah, exactly,
(08:26):
or you know Lovelin at twenty two as well, Like,
there are really intriguing options for this team and for
Justin Herbert to maybe get that extra receiver. There's a
lot of like a lot of conversation about McMillan's forty
times and maybe that plays into the Chargers advantage at
(08:46):
number twenty two. Overall, if for some reason he were
to fall to.
Speaker 1 (08:49):
Them, Yeah, I'd be so, I'd be crazy surprised if
he fell. I just again, i'm a bit biased to
have and live you know, up the road and paying
attention to the Trinity League of where he went to
high school. I know I've talked about it before here
and what he was able to do with Servite and
make them a viable threat against modern day and Bosco
They didn't beat him, but they traded punches with him,
(09:11):
and a lot of that was t mac and Fafiita,
and like he was the straw that stirred that drink.
So you've got that Arizona was a nothing program and
he was their best player and helped that team to
upsets across the board in the Pac twelve to a
Bowl win, and never felt the need to take a
bunch of money and leave, you know, was fine staying
(09:33):
there even after his coach left. And so I think
that speaks to the character one. And I think that's
some of the stuff that's been whispered as, oh, does
this guy really love football?
Speaker 3 (09:41):
Is he a little immature? Like I don't. I don't
get where that's coming from.
Speaker 4 (09:45):
Now.
Speaker 1 (09:45):
I don't have the you know, the insight maybe with
some coaches or I don't know what he was doing
at Arizona, But to me from the outside looking in,
I don't I don't see any of that. I see
a competitor that lifted mediocre to pour programs to heights
that they had not experienced in a number of years.
And then I look at a size, legitimate six', five,
(10:08):
legitimate two hundred and fifteen. POUNDS i look at the.
ATHLETICISM i know people you mentioned the. FORTY i thought
he ran a lot faster than he was Gonna the
four or five to five to me is. Fantastic you,
know people were talking about him maybe clocking a four, six,
five four, Seven so four or five to five for
a guy that's that.
Speaker 3 (10:24):
Fast.
Speaker 1 (10:24):
Great and then you put in the, background you know
that he was A division one scholarship volleyball, player and
that ability to high point and leap and be comfortable
leaping and timing and using your hands actively in those
contested catch. Situations like he's a perfect. Fit i've just
spent two minutes talking about a. Guy there is no
chance he's going to be there at twenty Two, chris
(10:46):
there's just NO i just if he, Is Holy, kyle
BUT i JUST i cannot envision him making it that.
Speaker 4 (10:51):
Far you, know money another position in this, draft running
back obviously. Stacked and you look at The Nigi harris,
signing obviously one year, deal his durability In pittsburgh on
display for four. Years SO i know that that's what
Attracted Jim harbaugh And Joe ortiz to getting nause IN.
La BUT i feel like that room is still, incomplete
(11:13):
and whether they get a running back in the, first, second,
third fourth, round that's another position of depth in this
draft THAT i have no doubt The charges will probably
try to.
Speaker 1 (11:22):
Get, Yeah AND i think you know you said it, There.
Chris it's LIKE i could see him drafting a running
back in the, FIRST i could see him drafting a
running back in the second and the third in the
waiting until the. Fourth because of the depth of the,
position there's a number of different directions that they can.
Go you, KNOW i think you look at who's available
in the first, round AND i think there's certainly two
(11:42):
players In Ashtroon genty And amari And, hampton.
Speaker 3 (11:45):
AND i think potentially a.
Speaker 1 (11:46):
THIRD i really Think Traveon henderson is going to find
a way to creep into that third. Round and it's
sort of one of the things that makes the exercise
of SOMETHING i love THE pff Mock draft simulator kind
of so tough to figure out because they still Have
Colston lovelin rated way too low and he's always available
When i'm running through the different options for The, chargers
(12:08):
and they still have these running backs rated way too.
LOW i think Quinch On judkins could sneak into the
back end of that first round because you're talking about
teams that are ready to, win and that's something that
we've talked about when it comes to running. Backs you,
know if you're if you've got, depth if you're a
team that was competing for A Super bowl last, year
(12:30):
like The, chiefs like The eagles who filled their running
back need With Saquon barkley and he gave them two
thousand yards in AN mvp level. Performance if you're The,
commanders The, lions obviously they already did it With Jimir
gibbs with the twelfth overall, pick like Those AND i
say all of that because of the idea that you
could maybe still get one of your guys at fifty.
Speaker 3 (12:51):
Five might not be the.
Speaker 1 (12:52):
Case there's it's the league has shifted a little, bit
and so you, know we were talking about it a
little bit. Earlier you brought up a mari And hampton and,
LIKE i think that's why if he's there at twenty,
TWO i would suspect The chargers will take a long
look at. It and even though it's not Necessarily i'm
using the air quotes for people that are just listening
in a premium. Position it's a position that's a premium
(13:15):
for The chargers because of how they want to. Play
they want to be a physical. Team they want to
be the, bully and the best way to be the
bully is to Have Najee harris And amari And hampton
has a one to two. Punch now that you've Put
mackay becked in next To Joe, walt now that you've
brought in you, Know Andre james to create some depthit
center and you're gonna be able to find centers and
(13:36):
guards later in the. Round tackles you have to find
in the first round centers and. Guards, yeah it's great
to get the number one guy like they did With
zion at. Seventeen still kind of waiting for that to
shake itself, out but you Know Gray's Abel, Tyler, booker
you know some of those and they're talking about some
tackles kicking in to. Guard but you can find interior
offensive lineman a little. Later so to, me it kind
(13:57):
of goes back to your original, Point, chris where.
Speaker 3 (14:00):
This could be.
Speaker 1 (14:00):
Anything it could be anything at twenty, two and you're
going to be able to make sense of it now
if they wait Maybe Quinchahn judkins is there at fifty.
Five maybe It's Camp scataboo at fifty. Five maybe It's
Dylan sampson OR i Mean giddon's like. That the list
is just extensive for which back that could be depending
on which round you want to pick them. In but
to your, point and for this, exercise, yeah Mari inhampton
(14:23):
at twenty two would MAKE i don't think there's any
issue with that whatsoever From charger fans and from people
that are breaking down and giving grades for how you. Did.
Speaker 4 (14:34):
NO i go back to something THAT dj said when
The lions Drafted Jamiir, gibbs and everybody kind of had
their eyebrows raised and, said, wow running back dad, Early,
like what are The lions doing? Well The lions already
took care of everything. Else they took care of their offensive,
line their defensive. Line i'm not sure that The chargers
are quite in the position that The lions were in
(14:54):
when they did Draft Jamir. Gibbs but we're seeing some
of that stuff start to play out here in the
first tear and a half Of hardball And Hortiz and
there's these philosophies like which you draft a running back
in the first. Round some people say no. Way some people, say,
hey if it's a game. Changer if it's a game
changer and you have this timeline Of Jim harball over
(15:14):
the next four years and you get a guy who
you'll know will be A charger for five, YEARS i,
MEAN i think it's absolutely a slam dunk to draft
a running back if you believe that that guy is
going to be the biggest difference maker on your team
and can help you win A Super. Bowl BUT i
do think that all these one year deals in free
(15:35):
agency have really set The chargers up to kind of
do anything on the. Board but If Amarin hampton is,
THERE i don't know if he will be. THERE i
really do think he's going to go in the top
fifteen to twenty just because he's that dynamic of a.
Player he doesn't have to leave the. FIELD i could
see The Denver broncos maybe getting him and adding him
as a kind of a final piece to their. Offense
(15:58):
But Colson lovelin's another one you talk ABOUT. Pas they
have him super super. HIGH dj has him as a
top six, prospect and we're seeing conversations about him being
available at twenty. Two would you trade up for a tight?
End would you trade it for A Tyler warren or
A Coastal loveland if.
Speaker 3 (16:16):
You needed, TO i would trade up For Tyler.
Speaker 1 (16:19):
WARREN i think if he's, sliding AND i just for,
me it's so hard to run through that hypothetical BECAUSE
i just can't envision. IT i Think Tyler warren is
what every single team in the league needs at tight.
End you, know he's just he's that. Good he's a
full service, blocking, catching, bully throwing some of that in
(16:39):
THE usc, game you, know elite level. Player so you,
know to, me that's that's, look if it, Happens, Yeah
i'm not crazy about trading up in the first round
just because of the of the. Cost you, know it's
so expensive to move up in the first, round which
is why the hope is that some of these teams
(16:59):
with extra picks that are you, know that are more
in rebuild mode and view kind of that that group
of defensive tackles or if an offensive tackle is, sliding
or if they do have like a significant separation between
these three wide. Receivers, right you Have Tamac, shoot let
(17:21):
me get this, Square. Toway you have t Mat golden
And eguka, right and then people feel like maybe there's
a little then there's burden is he like just right below?
There and then after that you kind of have Your
Jayden Higgins Trey. HARRIS i on my, ore, like those
are the those are the opportunities that maybe if you're
(17:42):
The chargers and you're at twenty two and you're.
Speaker 3 (17:44):
Like, yeah well we'll kick back and.
Speaker 1 (17:46):
Find our way to thirty two and pick up forty
eight in the, problem you, know like that sort of.
Thing those teams that have those two, two's that's something
that could be. INTERESTING i feel like there's going to
be an elite player available at twenty, two.
Speaker 3 (18:00):
Whether that's that in.
Speaker 1 (18:00):
Tier you, know AS i kind of went through the,
EXERCISE i put in order of, need like so we
talked about the positions that are already, settled, tackle, linebacker,
quarterback and then in order of, NEED i do think
they they need a pass rushing interior defensive lineman.
Speaker 3 (18:14):
Desperately you. Know, NOW i love to your.
Speaker 1 (18:17):
Tart you know THAT i don't feel LIKE i have
to qualify, that BUT i want to point, out, YEAH
i think he can get after. It he can push the,
pocket collapse of pocket and help those edges. Eat BUT
i do think with the depth at this position and
the level of player that could be. Available we've talked
About Kenneth grant already and how Much Jim harball loves
him and why if he's, There i'd be so surprised
if they took a pass on. Him he's called him an,
(18:39):
alien a, freak a, monster all of those. THINGS i
feel Like i'm one of the only guys that Has
Walter nolan as high AS i. DO i JUST i
watch him play AND i look at that body AND
i just envision What Mike elston And Jesse minner could
do with, him AND i get. EXCITED i know a
lot of people Like Derek. Harmon and then the funny
thing is is you kind of go through. That then
(19:00):
you look at pick fifty five and you're, Like, god
you Know Omar Norman lott wasn't asked to do a
lot Of, tennessee but you watch him and, man that
dude has got violence in his hands and body and
the ability to get, upfield and you're, Like, okay what's
the difference between these two players and does it make?
More and then what's the difference Between egbuka Or golden
(19:20):
OR tmac and that next level wide receiver that you're talking,
about and like that's the exercise that they're going to go.
To it's this and this or is it this and
this or does it make more sense to trade out
and you, know get one of those high second round
picks and hope that, hey Here's Quinn Shawn judkins instead
Of omari And hampton and we picked up an extra.
(19:41):
Two so now we have three two's hours and two
others in order to get After, giddons you, Know judkins
and one of the you, Know Tyler williams as your interior,
defense although he's more of a run stuff for big
body guys opposed to a pass. Rush but you know
What i'm, Saying like that's the that's what all of
these sign AND i mean you talked about, It, chris
(20:02):
the one year deals that they've been, Making like that's
that's where you're going to find value in free, agency you,
know taking a huge swing On Milton williams because they
had all this money to, spend that's just not they
had too many holes to fill and to be able
to create this situation where they can draft whoever they
want with whatever pick they want based on how their board,
(20:24):
looks regardless of. Position that's always what they were going to,
do and that's kind of the way they approach for.
It and now we feel good about, It like you,
know AM i. AM i completely and totally settled That
Mike williams is going to be healthy for seventeen games
and be YOUR x. Receiver, no you can't be because
of his, history but feel pretty good about it. TODAY
i feel, like, yeah you know, what you roll out
(20:44):
there With laddin the, Slot mike is your ex and
a couple different options AT z INCLUDING. Q, YEAH i
feel pretty good about. That feel pretty good About Will
disley And Tyler. CONKLIN i feel pretty good about whoever
wins the center job along With Beckton, zion you, Know
slater and. All feel good about. That feel good About Nashie,
harris you. Know and then we get to defensive. Line
(21:06):
and that's that's WHY i bring up interior defensive. Line it's, Like,
okay they got they got to your tart and they
got you, Know DeShawn hand And Nikmon, jones and it's, like,
yeah that's that's something they're gonna need to figure.
Speaker 4 (21:20):
Out, Yeah but the breadcrumbs tell you that they will
get those defensive tackles of the.
Speaker 2 (21:26):
Draft everything every person we talked.
Speaker 4 (21:29):
To last month In indianapolis defensive, tackle defensive, tackle the
deepest defensive tackle draft we've ever. Seen running back in
another deep. Position i'm with. YOU i don't think that
there's gonna be a lot of trade ups in this.
DRAFT i just think that from outside the top, five
top seven, guys there's just too many players that probably
(21:49):
have the same grade and it's kind of your flavor
AND i don't know if it's advantageous to trade, Up
and especially with The chargers. Too you mentioned defensive. Tackle
have about corner, two LIKE i really love How Tar
Heeps still And Cam hart, played but at the end
of the, day you know they don't have a lot
of time on. Task their fifth round guys WHO i
believe will turn themselves into two really good starters in this,
(22:11):
league but you have to have a little more depth
there and maybe some other guys that you can depend.
On and you, know you bring In Dante jackson From,
pittsburgh but quarterback is another position money THAT i don't
feel like they are a complete operation, Yet and and
AGAIN i Guess Dante jackson is just another example Of,
(22:33):
hey these kind of stop gaps for a year or
two while they continue to build through the. Draft that's
that's kind of the theme of free. Agency and by the,
way you have to overpay free. Agency Milton williams was
super overpaid because The patriots had a ton of money
and they were desperate to actually bring some guys into
my railboles. Program Joe ortize has never operated that. Way
(22:56):
The ravens won't operate that. Way so you weren't going
to overpay For Milton. WOYD i think that would have
gotten people, excited but at the end of the, day
he would have made way, way way too much money
when you have other needs you have to.
Speaker 2 (23:07):
Fill, YEAH i.
Speaker 1 (23:08):
Think and one, Thing, look DO i know this to be? Fact,
NO i did not get this from a team, source
BUT i heard enough to believe it to be. True
they were in On DeVante. Adams they were definitely interested
in doing that deal and The rams got. Him they
were in on dk METCALF i did they want to
(23:29):
go to thirty three million in a second their second round?
Pick THAT i don't, know but they were in knowing
that this guy's going to be a thirty million dollar
a year player and that was going to cost you
A day two. Pick so they were in on, that
and they were in On, poona and they tried to
Bring poona. Back so, LIKE i think the thing that
the thing.
Speaker 3 (23:49):
About WHAT.
Speaker 1 (23:52):
I would be excited IF i were A charger fan
about the way That georgie's and his staff approached the
offseason is when they miss stout on what they wanted
that they were willing to take a big swing and
write a big check.
Speaker 3 (24:04):
For they didn't.
Speaker 1 (24:06):
Overcompensate they didn't feel the need to overreact and go
out and and oh we missed On DeVante. Adams well
you know, what all, right here's our two and here's
thirty three million bucks a year for Dk. Metcalf they were, like,
no we've got our. Price we're comfortable with our. Price
it's it's a lot of. Money but if that's not,
(24:26):
right then then. Good Aaron banks seventy seven million. Bucks,
no you, Know Dan moore fifty million dollars for two. Years,
no Not Will fries eighteen million bucks a year, that you,
know coming off a broken. Leg, no you, know like
that's that's. Responsible that's how teams that believe in their
process of drafting and developing and. Coaching that's how they.
(24:50):
Operate they're just not going to get. Hamstrung AND i
think you look at two years ago or was it
three years and it's three years three years ago when
The chargers had all that money to spend and they
had a coach that wanted to go out on a
shopping spree BECAUSE i need, THIS i need, THIS i
need this in order for it to. WORK i need J. C,
JACKSON i Need Sebastian joseph D i Need lynn Bald
JOE'S i need. IT i need, it go get. It
(25:10):
and they spent all this money and it was a
complete and total disaster and it bit them and it
just doesn't you know that that approach rarely works if
you're the.
Speaker 4 (25:22):
It's a temporary high, money it's a temporary. High it's
it For march And april to get excited about and
uh youllo pop of the off. Season but it doesn't
necessarily equate to.
Speaker 3 (25:31):
Wins, yeah, yeah you're exactly, Right.
Speaker 1 (25:34):
Chris and so to to kind of just finish that
point and and and let you get back to. It
they they were always going to add that this was
the way they were going to. Operate we got excited
about T, higgins we got excited About Trey, smith you,
know but it was, like once the numbers beyond Those
once once those two guys got franchised and the numbers
were what they were in a pretty weak free agent,
(25:55):
class you just knew this is the way it was
gonna end.
Speaker 4 (25:57):
Up, yeah and, hey IF dk metcalf was In Powder,
blue would have been a lot of.
Speaker 2 (26:02):
Fun T higgins the same.
Speaker 4 (26:03):
Thing but If Matthew golden is In Powder blue and
he's making a fracture of the cost that he's given
you a similar production with lat McConkey on the other,
side And Mike williams healthy and maybe quit and taking
another step in year, three then we have a whole different.
Operation AND i love the process That joe has gone through.
It i'm fascinated with team building and just philosophies and
(26:25):
from him to come from the school Of Ozzie newsom
and The, ravens AND dj talks about it all the.
TIME i JUST i really have a great deal of
admiration for how they build their, team AND i think
sometimes we forget because they won eleven games last, year
they were in a really bad way with their cap
when they had to make all these decisions With keenan
And mike And joey And. Khalil and now the cap is.
(26:47):
Healthy they are planning, for you, know A Rashaun slater.
Deal they're planning for all the big deals that they're
gonna have to make with some of their current guys
down the. Line you, Know Derwin james may want some
money here in a little it SO i. DO i
do have a great deal of admiration for How Joe
ortiz is building this. Thing and don't let the eleven
(27:09):
wins fool. You they still need to get their cap.
Healthy they still need to draft and develop guys into
bona fhyte. Starters and that's why you're seeing some of
these really good stop. Gaps and we saw a bunch
of them last year that you, know we talked About.
Poona poona got paid because of how he performed with The.
CHARGERS i THOUGHT jk was, like we weren't EXPECTING jk
(27:31):
to do what he did because of his injury, history
and he was. Remarkable SO i can, go you, know
five or six other guys down the line that they
had really good years on one year. Deals Elijah moulden
was rewarded for how well he. Played SO i like
what they did AND i think it just sets them
up very nicely for the. Draft and you, know we
(27:51):
talk about Tar heeb still helping you win a game
In atlanta last, year And Joe alt being one of
the best rookie right tackles we've seen in quite some,
time And ladd McConkey over a thousand yards And hunter.
Catches it's these are rookies that The chargers are gonna
have on their team in a month that will contribute
in twenty twenty five in a very similar.
Speaker 3 (28:12):
Way.
Speaker 1 (28:13):
Yeah, look they're the best exercise to perform if you're
trying to figure, Out, okay what are? They how are
they just go through each position group better or? Worse, better, worse, same, better, worse?
Same you, know what do you? Have how do you
feel about the running back room they need to drive?
Somebody naji feel great about the idea of being a
physical pounding between the tackles or you, know gap power
(28:36):
scheme that's going to fit him offensive line.
Speaker 3 (28:39):
Better there's just no.
Speaker 1 (28:40):
Question you bring In Makai beckton and you bring in
some competition at the center. Position second year From Joe
Walt All pro season First, yeah offensive, line, better running back,
room let's talk about it after the. Draft wide receiver
room better or. WORSE i think you. Can it's better
Because Mike williams is healthy today and he's two years
removed from a.
Speaker 2 (28:58):
Same right now. Almost.
Speaker 1 (29:00):
YEAH i JUST i look at last year AND i think,
about you know, what it Was, quinton it was, lad
it Was Simi, fajoko it was you know WHAT i,
mean LIKE Dj shark never really. Played SO i just
feel like Putting mike in, There i'm comfortable saying that
it's better right. Now it still needs work, Though right
tight End Tyler conklin Will disley's back And Tyler Conklin
(29:21):
Overhyden hurst who barely played last year, better you, know
opposite side of the. Ball edge probably not as. Good
that's why that's the one position THAT i think people are.
Overlooking if one of these edge guys starts to slide
and you're thinking about interior d line or running, back
or if you get one of these edges to, slide
If Mike green, slides If Johad campbell, SLIDE i think
(29:45):
that's the sneaky sort of play Because bud The prison
is last, Year khalil's on a one year, Deal tuley
is going to be a full time starter now with
No Joey. Bosa that's a, premium premium. Position so that's
the one where it's, like, okay edge not as good this. Year,
CORNER i don't. KNOW i think it's probably not as.
(30:06):
GOOD i Thought Christian fulton had a really good year last.
Year so that's where corner comes into. Play If Will
johnson is, sliding If Jade baron is there at twenty, Two,
okay now that makes sense to try to make that better, safety, sane,
Right and so like there's your exercise of sort of
where are they? At and that's where THEN i Circle,
okay edge and then obviously interior defensive line we're gonna
(30:29):
talk about they' nowhere near as good as they were
last year with No Morgan fox and no Pun. Afford
so that's where there's the big sort of like blinking
light of this has to be squared away and what
a great draft to be able to square it away.
In and that's and that's, why And i'll just finish
the point with This chris Quickly that's WHY i WOULD
i think from, now from here you're gonna be in
(30:50):
this weight and see mode with the free agency to
see what they, get and then once you get your
draft squared, away then you figure, Out, okay do we
bring Von miller in on a one year? Deal do
we bring That Jude on in on a one year?
Speaker 3 (31:02):
Deal do we?
Speaker 1 (31:03):
Like that's so if you don't get that, edge then
that's where you can kind of go and, Play oh
we didn't get the, corner all, Right let's go Get Rasul.
Douglas let's let's kind of check the medicals again On
asante and see if we feel good about him coming
back on a one year. Pro that's kind of HOW
i think this is now laying out they got their free,
AGENCY i feel is done, now it's all, draft and
then post draft will be that next wave of free
(31:25):
agents like The Elijah, moldens The Christian, fold things like.
Speaker 4 (31:27):
That, yeah you, know keep in mind To Junior colson
didn't play really last, year you, know and that's a
guy we were expecting big things out of his rookie
year and Luckily denzel And dayon held it. Down but
that's just another impact. Player and you know we talk
about positions, specific but just straight playmakers and guys who
can make a difference on. DEFENSE i Think Junior colson
(31:50):
is going to find his way out of the field
in twenty twenty. Five oh, yeah and make an impact
that maybe we didn't see last, year just In Jesse minter's.
Defense and again you said, it there needs to be
some improvement across the defensive. Line we talked about the
depth in the in the draft and you know, edge
you Know Bud, dupree he came in late last year.
Too so who's to, say like you, said like a
(32:10):
Von miller or another edge guy who who wants to you,
know he feels like he's got a year, left can
make an, impact can make a, difference can come.
Speaker 2 (32:18):
In later in the. Year so it's, fun.
Speaker 4 (32:20):
MAN i think That charger fans should be excited about
the next. Month and you, know going through all these,
exercises obviously it's all this speculation just it makes for
a lot of. Entertainment but when it's all said and,
Done i'm very confident that The chargers are gonna do
what they did last year and really build their team
out with future starters and guys who can contribute right
(32:43):
away in twenty twenty.
Speaker 1 (32:44):
Five, yeah it's a Great i'm glad you brought up the.
LINEBACKERS i forgot that, group SO i was very polite
of you the way you approach that to acknowledge that
it was the one group of players THAT i didn't.
Mention it's arguably at all, they're you, know one of
their strongest position. Groups If junior is who we think he,
is And i'd be very surprised if he wasn't the
fact that he is going to be healthy this year
and out there With, deayon you are talking about incredibly,
(33:05):
athletic incredibly, physical smart players at that level of the.
Speaker 3 (33:10):
Defense you.
Speaker 1 (33:12):
Know for the one thing That i'll also point out
is just kind of think back twelve months and how
you felt about the signings Of Tier Tart Puniford fulton
trading For Elijah, molden like Go Will, disley you, know
is their number one free agent. Signing like think about
(33:32):
all of those moves AND. Jk, dobbins you know and
like and what they ended up. Becoming and that's the
one thing that's always imp THAT i don't think people
put enough stock into is you have a front office
that has been here for a year now and has,
demonstrated based on their first year that they know how
(33:55):
to go find players that fit their system and fit their,
coaches and they have a coaching state aff that can
coach guys. Up and you, know it Got chris o'liria
promotion as safeties. Coach that's why he's no longer there
because of what he was able to do with a
lowie And derwin And Elijah molden and Get elijah that
big money. Extension AND i would suspect that's probably going
to be the same this coming. Year if if Coach
(34:17):
clinkscale does it again with, corners he's gonna find himself
A dc. Gig If Mike elston does it again with
this defensive, line you, know with No Joey bosa and
with a rookie interior defensive lineman to go with Tier
tart And jones in, hand he's going to get a.
Shot Like so that's something to remember is these coaches
are really really Gosanj law With ladd and what end
(34:40):
WITH q and and some of the moments THAT q
had and taking another step in his career like those
are all those are all guys that you.
Speaker 4 (34:48):
Maybe get a head coaching, job, Buddy like we thought
that that's going to happen this past.
Speaker 3 (34:52):
Year you, know, yeah. Exactly so that's the pairing.
Speaker 1 (34:56):
Too it's not just the name on the back of the,
jersey it's who that player is coming. To football is
the ultimate ultimate circumstance based. Sport there are eleven guys
on the side of the field in which you're. Performing
they all need to perform at a certain level for
you to be able to. Excel and you need to
have the right play, call and you need to have
(35:17):
the right technique and coaching throughout the, week and like
that's all a huge part of. It and so that's
AND i think that's one of the reasons why they
like their ten draft picks and they want their comp draft,
picks and a lot of these free agent signings play
into the comp formula because they just feel better about
evaluating guys at that, level dropping them into their system
(35:39):
with their coaches and developing them and not having to
have them break any habits that they learned.
Speaker 2 (35:43):
Elsewhere, yep aimen to that.
Speaker 4 (35:46):
Man anything else before we get out of.
Speaker 1 (35:49):
Here, NO i would just, say you, know whoever they
sign in the next five. Minutes i'll be excited to
talk about them next.
Speaker 2 (35:57):
Week, chris get wait and get.
Speaker 4 (35:59):
Wait this is gonna be a blockbuster trade as soon
as we leave it at. That, UH i appreciate you
guys listening to watching my mic. Is i'm In spokane
for the WOMEN'S ncaa tournament and, uh The wi fi
here at my hotel has been a little, spotty so
you guys probably won't see what we have lived the last, hour.
Speaker 3 (36:19):
So you'll be.
Speaker 1 (36:20):
Great go downstairs and put a bunch of money on
red or black or the double zero and zero whatever
that thing.
Speaker 2 (36:26):
Is, now, yeah all, right we'll get at it here
for buddy, Up. Chris this has been charges. Weekly we'll
see you next, week, guys
Popular Podcasts
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Special Summer Offer: Exclusively on Apple Podcasts, try our Dateline Premium subscription completely free for one month! With Dateline Premium, you get every episode ad-free plus exclusive bonus content.
The Breakfast Club
The World's Most Dangerous Morning Show, The Breakfast Club, With DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, And Charlamagne Tha God!
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.