February 28, 2025 • 45 mins
On this episode of Chargers Weekly, hosts Chris Hayre and Matt “Money” Smith are onsite at the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis to recap the latest news involving LA and the entire NFL. The hosts sit down with ESPN & The 33rd Team’s Mike Tannenbaum, The Athletic & FOX Sports’ Bruce Feldman, and ESPN’s Matt Miller to break down how the Bolts can ace the 2025 NFL Draft. The guests discuss which University of Michigan players could be headed for a reunion with Chargers Head Coach Jim Harbaugh, why this year’s crop of running back prospects is so exciting, and Feldman gives his eyewitness account of what really happened at Starbucks between Ian Rapoport and Jordan Schultz.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
Late fifteen to ten, touched up. Welcome to Chargers Weekly,
our final day of combine conversations. What a great way
to kick it off, old friend. We spent seven straight
hours on the field together in your maiden voyage of
(00:22):
combine coverage. Longtime front office obviously executive with the Jets,
with the Dolphins as the thirty thirteen. You see him
all over ESPN. He hustled over after just getting off,
get up to be with us. It's Mike ten about
how are you, Mike great?
Speaker 2 (00:35):
Great to be with you, Matt, that's the boy that
was a minute ago, and I appreciate your patience with me.
Speaker 1 (00:40):
Oh hey, we all had to have patients that day.
We used to do every single drill, every single forty
we'd sit on the field, and so let's start there,
like what you know, you know it better than anybody.
What do you take away from the combine? How has
it changed what you think front offices take away from
the combine than when you were in a front office
doing it or even whatever that was seven eight years
ago that we were looking at, you know, kind of
(01:00):
these guys doing everything on the field.
Speaker 2 (01:02):
Well, look, I think the movement skills are still really
important and I you know, a little bit old school,
but I don't think there's any downside to being here
and seeing those drills like and where things change. You know,
less teams are coming, you know, Rams most notably aren't here.
Reportedly Atlanta only sent like their defensive side. And you know,
I think the interviews are still critical obviously the medical
(01:24):
but you want to see the tape match what you
see athletically, and when you can check those boxes, that's
when you feel even better about you know, what you
should do from a draft choice.
Speaker 1 (01:33):
Standpoint, would love to kind of have you share with
the people watching and listening, just sort of the mechanics
or I don't know if that's the right word, just
the timeline of a front office executive when you've got
your own free agents, just kind of speaking in context
of the Chargers, you got Slayter, what are you gonna
do with Joey Bosa, Khalil Mack versus free agency opens?
How do you attack that? And then how does the draft?
How do those three things kind of fall in line? Yeah?
Speaker 2 (01:55):
I thought the Chargers at you know, had a grand
slam last year at April US, Like, you know, they
were sitting there and we had Mike Williams, Keenan Allen
had the two pass rushers. What are we going to
do with some cap challenges? And I thought they did
everything right. You know, I thought keeping the defensive guys
last year, and you know it's funny, I was screaming
for the mountain tops that you know Jim's gonna take.
(02:16):
You know, John all with his first pick. I mean,
that's an ultimate Jim Harbaugh player. And you know they
hit on McConkey, you know, Quentin Johnson. I thought got better.
Still a little bit of a work in progress, and now, yeah,
I think it starts up front, like I think the
Slayers of the World those are that's Jim, like going
back to the University San Diego Stanford obviously what he
did with the forty nine ers in Michigan. It all
(02:37):
starts up front, and I don't think that'll change.
Speaker 1 (02:39):
Yeah, in terms of so let's kind of go there.
So we've had Joe Ortis say maybe move Zion to center,
just kind of what you saw from Zion and how
that might because certainly the interior of the line it
was magnified against Houston in that playoff game, and how
kind of what's the thought there when you start talking
about moving a guy.
Speaker 2 (02:54):
Yeah, so he's a high character, smart player. I think
he could do it. And when you talk to most
quarterbacks they'll tell you, and I had the great fortune
mant of working with guys like Dan Marino in the
front office and been around in my whole life, they'll
tell you that quick interior pressure is the hardest pressure
to deal with. Certainly, Tom Brady felt that way. He
felt like the edge rush. You know, they can kind
(03:16):
of push people by step up in the pocket. And
I think, if I'm trying to defend Justin Herbert, I'm
trying to get in his face as quickly as I
can because he could stretch the play when he gets
to the outside. So I think, having you know, you
look at all those years in New England, they always
had three guys on the interior that could short set,
be really strong and kind of like build a little
(03:37):
bit of a wall. I think that's what they're talking about.
I think Greg Roman, philosophically, that's what he wants to do.
Putting Zion there makes a lot of sense. If you
look at a lot of success Kansasity's had, you'll certainly Creed, Humphrey,
Trey Smith, Joe Toney before they kick them out to tackle,
very similar philosophy.
Speaker 1 (03:54):
So it's just I guess in terms of how, you know,
whatever Zion's issues may be a guard I think kind
of the word is like, hey, it's just tick slow,
like you know to kind of is that Can that
be alleviated by playing center? Is there something that that
goes into that, like, hey, this is kind of what's
going wrong, but maybe this can be the fix.
Speaker 2 (04:10):
Yeah, because you could you also become a little bit
of the quarterback of the offensive line. You know, you're
you're working with the quarterback in terms of where are
we signed the protection, where do we think they're coming from?
Speaker 1 (04:19):
Things like that.
Speaker 2 (04:20):
So you know, sometimes when the ball's in that player's hands,
like they take the next step. I was around great
ones from Mike Pouncy, Kevin Maway, Nick Mangold. I mean,
I was really fortunate in my career, and you know
them in the quarterback touched the ball every single play
and that's a critical position. I don't see any reason
why Zion couldn't do that.
Speaker 1 (04:39):
So let's let's say maybe that it's perfect that you
brought me up that brought that up because now a
lot of people are saying, oh, center center, you know,
like that's that might be the thing. Is it too rich?
Like if you you saw the Senior Bowl, everybody's talking
about Gray's abel coming out of there, you know, or
is it maybe Drew Dolman and excuse me? A free agency?
Like how what the important attacking center with a premium
(05:03):
pick like number twenty two? And your thoughts on that?
Speaker 2 (05:05):
Yeah? Again, I he it's the offensive line. And you
could look at Tampa Bay. They go out and get
a guy like Brentson Bretison, you know, paying about three
million dollars and he holds the fort. He he wasn't
an A. He was probably more of a B. You know,
guys like Dan Moore will be out there from Pittsburgh,
you know, so you can, you know, you could take
incremental steps. It may not be ideal, but I think
from where the Chargers were two three years ago, you know,
their offensive line is a million miles ahead.
Speaker 1 (05:27):
Yeah, so how about Okay, So then let's get to
the draft. And while we're here and at the combine
and picked twenty two, and man, we've seen it all.
Some mocks Hammy Ashton gent and Genty sliding there. I
can't quite envision that. Or t Mac from Arizona the
wide receiver, Colston Loveland, the tight end has been very popular.
And then you mentioned last year you knew it was
gonna be Joe Alt. We all felt the same way.
Jim Harbaugh told us as much. Right, they have like
(05:48):
Tyler Booker and Membo and guys like that kind of
what what do you see if you kind of can
envision a lot of those guys being there, what direction
this team might go?
Speaker 2 (05:56):
Well, I would say, generally speak, I think we're gonna
see a resurrection of the running position, you know, in
part because of what Barkley did, the value and obviously
the success they've had. And we saw Josh Jacobs, you
know it was a little so and Christian McCaffrey not
being forty nine or you know, like you could see
the impact he had, so them adding another running back
like that's such an on brand for Jim. Also, you
(06:19):
know some of the offensive lineman he talked about. And
then yeah, Colson Loveland, you know in the dock connecting
world of like the Michigan to charge your pipeline, you know,
any of those you can't. And in fact, if there's
a running back, let's say it's so Mari and Hampton
on the board. Because Gent's gone and you know there's
a Gray Zabel type, you know there's certainly gonna be
a couple offensive linemen and Loveland. That's when you want
(06:41):
to trade back aget like pick go back four or
five spots, get a third, and just keep adding another,
you know, tough player, front seven player that you know
really fits what they want to do.
Speaker 1 (06:53):
Don't mean, I hope this doesn't come off as me
like taking a shot. But I look back to last
year and what Joe did. Joe Ortiz did trading up
with New England. He goes up three spots, he gets McConkey.
New England ends up taking two receivers with those two
picks they get for sliding back two places. How does
that does that? I don't want to say, does it
hurt a relationship?
Speaker 3 (07:12):
Like?
Speaker 1 (07:12):
How does that factor into future conversation?
Speaker 2 (07:15):
And look, I think they did a masterful job.
Speaker 1 (07:17):
I really do.
Speaker 2 (07:18):
You know, when you look at like those, you go
back to last year's draft, like those are foundational players
when you have an alted conky like they're going to
be there for a long time. And you know, Mike
Rabel's calling shots in New England, so that Tray was
a million years ago.
Speaker 1 (07:34):
In terms of just free agents, big money free agents, yep,
it doesn't seem like they work out a lot. So
Trey Smith, Milton Williams, some of these guys that fit
what the Chargers are looking for. They're gonna have eighty
to ninety million dollars to spend. What was your philosophy
on going out and buying big tickets.
Speaker 2 (07:52):
Yeah, we did a couple of times, like in Dominican
Sue was, you know, and he was a great player,
but you are paying a premium. I'd be shocked if
Tray Smith was out there. I can't imagine they won't
tag them in Kansas City. Bill Williams does make a
ton of sense, you know, building that defense for Jesse
Minner like they're they're that quick interior pressure most teams
can use, including the Chargers. But knowing Jim, I would
(08:12):
think he's gonna want to make sure that we have
enough money to take care of our own first.
Speaker 1 (08:17):
Right, And that's what he said, He say he wanted
to break that is that reality said, Hey man, we
love this group. We want to bring everybody back. Is
that hard to do? Is that a common philosophy? You
like bringing your guys more than pulling other guys in.
Speaker 2 (08:28):
You know, early in my career and I wasn't perfect
at this, but Coach Belichick had a great sort of
like guiding principle was like to the extent you can,
you know, the highest paid player in each room should
be homegrown talent.
Speaker 1 (08:40):
Well, that is something the Chargers are excited about. They've
got all the picks. We certainly appreciate it. Mike. We
know you got a busy day today and very much
looking forward to it. All right, thanks so much. All right,
thanks Mike. So we go from one former front office
individual and Mike Tannebump to what I believe, considering the
way he is operating his youth football football team right now,
(09:01):
a future general manager in Bruce feld He doesn't fox,
he does it for the athletic. It's one of our
favorite conversations. It's one of the best podcasts around, the
one you do with Stu and obviously the Freaks List
is a centerpiece of the combine every year. So Bruce Feldman,
we appreciate you coming by how are you. It is
great to see you. I think grateful for the Chargers.
They've been awesome for our youth. Youth sell share, you
(09:23):
know what, get into that share with the people because
you know a lot of people are watching, are in
the community. It's good to know kind of what they
got going on with you.
Speaker 4 (09:30):
Yeah, I mean I think a year ago money we
talked here and the Chargers had just started their their
league in El Segundo, and so t J. Huschmanzato, who's
been really good. He's kind of one of the faces
of the program. Obviously, you know, it's Snoop and Hush League,
so obviously Snoop Dogg is is uh you know, is
connected to it as well. But it's been really awesome
(09:51):
what they do. And you know, for the I don't know,
this is our third season now because it's the winter season.
We have our championship game on Friday night. They they're
playing and uh at El Camino this winter season. But
it's cool because like we went over there the other
day and and the guy coach with was like, hey,
Harbaugh's over there, because I think Harbaugh's kid is in
one of the divisions. And it's awesome like we had
(10:15):
a game where because of one of the kids on
our team is like family, we had game where like
Jimmy Kimmel's on the sideline with us, and so, you know,
it's cool. I'm curious how many of the kids that
we have will end up becoming Chargers fans because of it,
you know, like I know that. Yeah, so and they've
been good, you know, like how Quentin Johnson came to
(10:36):
our championship game in the in the spring and you know,
spend time with the kids, and I know, oh god,
I'm blanking on Matlock's first name. He went out, Yeah,
he went out to Sorito's for that, for that part
of the league, and so they you know, hats off
to the Chargers. Looks really cool about it.
Speaker 1 (10:54):
Can you envision yourself, with your competitive nature ever having
a little chest bump chin off with Oh Charbaugh like
Pete Carroll did in the What's Your Deal? Game?
Speaker 4 (11:02):
I could not. I would First of all, I would
lose that. I mean he's probably three inches taller and
probably forty pounds heavier. And second of all, my like
my feeling is if I did something like that, the
last thing I would want to do is like become
something where it's like, oh, did you really do that?
(11:22):
That's so embarrassing, you know. And I'm not saying people
get heated in youth sports. I see it all the time,
but man, I hope I don't. Yeah, look, people get
heated in the world of NFL information. At the local Starbucks.
Speaker 1 (11:35):
I saw that.
Speaker 4 (11:36):
I was there for that.
Speaker 1 (11:37):
You were there. I witnessed it.
Speaker 4 (11:39):
I witnessed that. I was like, what what did I
just see? But it's just and then I turned to
one of my former coworkers and I was like, who's
the villain in this, by the way, and he was
kind of like processing, but just the the uh, the
nature of it where you have the son of the
founder of Starbucks. I'm happening there's a home game form
and I'm sitting there thinking like I saw Garifolo there
(12:00):
and I was like, I know he works with Ian
And I was like, does Mike g jump in? And
if he does, do one of the baristas come over
the table and just take out Parafolo? This has this
has like great comedic potential, right It's.
Speaker 1 (12:13):
I think it was like maybe six seven years ago
when when Lock and For and I think Rapaport got
into it right. I think it was the whole keep
keep my name off your lips, killed a little love
back and forth. Hey man, the world of NFL information.
I guess it's a little more competitive than my easy
going style is ready for. So let's get into it. Bruce,
it's awesome again. I didn't say it just to kind of,
(12:34):
you know, try to plug it, but I know how
passionate you are about it and with the youth sports
and what they're doing, and it really is an incredible league.
And as someone who put you know, kids through youth
sports and how important it is and what it means
especially for relationships with dads and and kids, it's it's wonderful.
So freaks list every year it's awesome, Like it truly
is the best article of the year, and it's it
(12:57):
never disappoints. So kind of take us through it and
what went into this shar and what should jump out
to people if they have not, because I know you
did it updated kind of like here's what we're looking
at and that's available at the athletic now.
Speaker 4 (13:06):
Yeah, I think what it's always been is been a
lot of time talking to coaches, a lot of strength coaches,
and I've because I've talked to them and done this
for so long. It's been a thing where you kind
of know who you can who you can really rely on.
Some of the other ones you maybe take take a
little bit of a grain of salt with what they
tell you. And for instance, like Abdu Carter, I know
(13:28):
he's not going to be working out here, but he's
a Penn State guy. And for a long time, the
numbers that I would get from Penn State people are like, Yeah,
that's not real. But then they would come here and
they would match it up, you know, whether it's Mike
Asiki or Saquon you know how these guys they do
it at the Pro days, like Micah Parsons, Chop Robinson,
(13:49):
like they you know, they have really got it down
where they're recruiting and developing elite athletes and they're freak
athletes and there's a lot of them. And so that's
where it kind of started. And then over time when
I started, when I became a sideline reporter for about
eight ten years at Fox, before the Games, I'm out
(14:12):
on the field trying to get ready for the broadcast,
but the other people were out on the field are
the NFL scouts, and so I would have these conversations,
and I was shocked at how many of them really
were enamored with the Freaks List too, and so we
would talk about them.
Speaker 1 (14:27):
You know.
Speaker 4 (14:27):
Over time they became really, you know, great resources for me,
and I expanded it not just to major college football,
but to smaller schools. And I remember when Kyle Dugger
was at a Division two school and then he went
to the obviously the Patriots, like he was I think
the first real real small school guy. And I have
a bunch of them. Yeah, And it's a great way
(14:48):
to spotlight a lot of a lot of teams. It
went from like started out as ten twenty years ago,
and then at some point it was like forty and
now it's one hundred.
Speaker 1 (14:57):
That's Wild's let's start with a small school because Athletic
had a great piece. And I'm sure it's somebody you uncovered,
the kid from Middlebury. Yeah, Thomas Perry like he is.
Does he have a shot to get drafted? Oh?
Speaker 4 (15:08):
I definitely think so. And you know Duke Manweather who's
like Slater obviously big and yeah, and he's a southern
California native and you know. Now he's based in Dallas.
He swears by him. I remember somebody tipped me off
to him late in the spring, and I didn't know
this at the time, but like he spent like a
(15:28):
month or so working with Duke in Texas. And he's
super strong. Now he's not six', five he's Not Tyrone,
smith but he. IS i, MEAN i definitely will think
he will get track or guard or probably a guard.
Speaker 1 (15:41):
Maybe.
Speaker 4 (15:42):
YEAH i don't think he's a. Tackle he did he
he did What shrine game, Right, Yeah and he's like,
he's LIKE i, said he's super. STRONG i think he's
he's pretty. ATHLETIC i don't think he's like gonna gonna
at A pro day run four eight, nine but he.
Is he definitely belongs And i'm surprised he's not.
Speaker 1 (15:59):
Here, yeah That's it's one of those. Things it's kind
of like The hall Of. Fame it's, like you, know
you want to put people in that it becomes a.
Destination this is someone WHO i want to share their
story with my son or Whoever i'm with or. Whatever
perry seems like one of those. Guys it's like so
obvious that that he would be a fixture of. Attention,
YEAH i mean and again tiny Liberal arts school In.
(16:19):
Vermont he's from a small school In. Connecticut he's a brilliant.
STUDENT i think he's on like a four to zero
at some crazy you, know myomical or something like, that
the major that THAT i definitely would not be able
to survive. In so we'll see where he. Goes my
guess is he would probably somewhere end up in the
fifth sixth.
Speaker 4 (16:35):
ROUND. Ok but you, know, again like the people who
a lot of people listen to, around especially when it
comes to, lineman he's got the stamp of. Approval and
so we'll, see we'll see How we'll see who jumps
up and takes.
Speaker 1 (16:49):
Them so let's let's stick with line, then because you
know The chargers are a line. Team talk about you,
Know Joe ortiz Mentioned zion maybe moving to. Center feels
like there's some pretty good. Guards Tyler hooker AND i don't,
know AND i think a couple of tackles getting there
from From missouri and he was a tackle and he's
actually got pretty long, arms but he's about six. Four
(17:11):
he's he's been on The Freaks list for a couple of.
Years he's a really dynamic. ATHLETE i talked to AN
nfl coordinator last night and he still thinks he's a,
guard even though he's he got long. Arms but there's
a bunch of those guys who who end up probably
Like Gray's abel was tremendous at at The Senior bawl all,
(17:32):
week AND i think he's a guy whose stock has really.
ELEVATED i think this is a you, know to go
back to your initial. Question this to, me there's a
ton of, freaks guys who are really defensive, players edge guys,
Especially BUT i think there's there's this is a pretty good,
line a pretty good draft for FOR o. LINE i
just don't, know there's there's probably a lot of guys
(17:54):
who people look at and, go you, KNOW i think
he's better.
Speaker 4 (17:56):
As a guard right as a. Tackle and that's fine
because like you, SAID i think the there's just a
lot of shuffling, around but there will be a, premium
like you, know for your. Listeners Josh simmons started out
his career At San Diego state and then the then
ended up At Ohio, state AND i think he'll get
drafted somewhere late in the first round because he's a trades. Guy,
(18:16):
now he missed half the. Year he got hurt in
The oregon game at mid. Season but he is definitely
a tackle body, type long, arms he's, athletic and it'll
be interesting to, see you, know will he go higher
because of that what we're talking, about where there's just
maybe feels like more more guys look like they're sure
to be, guards then they're sure to be.
Speaker 1 (18:34):
Tackles so let's go to the other side, then because,
man it looks like the freaks list is just littered
with THESE d, linemen even INTERIOR d, linemen like you, Said.
Edges chargers have twenty six free agents their entire basically
interior line, Rotation, Punaford, Morgan, Fox Tier tart all free.
Agents they. Played they were, solid you know what. THAT i,
(18:55):
mean you watch the, games you know what they. Were
BUT i think a lot of people are looking at, going,
man just what if he got a little of That
eagles juice on the inside of that? Line kind of
it feels like this draft has a lot of. That it.
Speaker 4 (19:05):
Does, NOW i don't know if there is A Jalen
carter out there like, that but like you, know, Look Mason, graham,
homegrown you, know he's From. Are, yeah he's he's a
fantastic football. PLAYER i, MEAN i think he'll when he,
does you, know, WORKOUT i think he'll actually test better
than people. Expect The michigan. GUYS i you, know like
there's a bigger freak on THAT d line In Kenneth, grant,
(19:27):
right you, know he's. Three When Kenneth grant, came who
was a three star guy From indiana who ended up
signing With, michigan AND i Saw harbaugh At big ten
media days AND i didn't know anything About Kenneth, grant
and he was like giddy about. It he said he's
at he weighed at three hundred and sixty pounds and
he ran in the four. Nines AND i couldn't believe that.
(19:48):
Yet but then talking to their you know they're some
of their, players and then talking to the strength, COACH i,
MEAN i don't know where he. Goes my guess is
he goes somewhere between twenty and. Thirty so he could
be there at twenty. Two, OH i think. So and
he's you, know six, three probably three. Forty he should
run in the four. Nines he's really. Explosive you want
(20:09):
to see something, Wild they Played Penn state last year
and he ran down one of their you, know outstanding running,
backs like twenty yards. Downfield he's AND i think he
has the potential he could getting better and better and.
Better BUT i definitely think he's a guy that they
could target and keep in. Mind you, know you Got,
elston who's the de line coach who coached him At.
(20:30):
Michigan you Got jesse who who's coached him At. Michigan Obviously,
Jim and AGAIN i go back to the first TIME
i ever heard of. Him it was it WAS i
think it was here At big ten media days And
jim was raving about. Him SO i don't, know it
wouldn't shock. Me so let's let's. Flip let's kind of pair.
That then let's stick with like pick twenty two and
(20:51):
pair that with Another michigan guy that seems to be
Attagan In Colston lovelin and seems like a bit of
a freak as well at the tight end he. Is it's.
FUNNY i have a video on like My instagram of
so they're old. Quarterback he's now going to go TO
Unlv Alex, orgy super freaky, athlete not the most accurate, passer,
right but in the, background the next guy next to
(21:11):
him is Is. Loveland LOVELAND'S i grew up In. Idaho
he can really. Run he's almost like a big receiver
the way he could, run but definitely like a freaky.
Athlete he was hurt late in the, year but they
had no, receivers they had no passing. Game he was.
It so he was he was like a big priority
(21:32):
for the opposing. Defense and then you still make. Plays
they sometimes they'd be creative and throw it to a
to him on first down when you probably wouldn't double
a tight end because you think the runs come. In
BUT i think this is a terrific class of tight.
Ends you, know you certainly Have Tyler WARREN usc fans remember.
Him you, know he had like fifty catches against. Him
but then you Have, loveland WHO i think will be,
really really. GOOD i think there's four really good tight
(21:54):
ends in. There Elijah royo From, miami and Then Taylor Aason,
Taylor Jason taylor's son who's AT. LSU i think all
four of those guys could be like our first round.
Talents but obviously the connection With loveland And, jim you,
know you go back a couple of years ago they.
Played they Played Ohio, state huge, Game michigan's really depleted injury,
(22:18):
wise And loveland had a huge play to kind of
break open the. Game like he is a guy who
can make big plays downfield and he could be a
really good weapon for.
Speaker 1 (22:27):
Them, yes so it feels, like you, know, look that's
always part of the, calculus. Right it kind of was
what we were talking about last year with alt versus.
Neighbors it's, like, hey if you don't take the tackle,
here you're not going to get somebody at. Third but
if you don't take the wide, receiver feels like you
might and it obviously worked Out alton McConkey as opposed
To neighbors and whatever tackle might have been. There does
(22:49):
it feel that way, maybe like hey take that lineman
here at twenty two and then yeah you should be all. Right.
Speaker 4 (22:55):
YEAH i Mean Elijah royo is a really dynamic. Athlete
he's a freakslist. Guy the only issue with him was
until this year he had been injured almost every. Year
but he's almost you, know he's six four and a,
half he's two. Fifty he runs like a wide. RECEIVER
i mean he Is he is a really elite, athlete
and you saw him at The Senior. Bowl people couldn't cover.
(23:16):
Him miami guys raved about. Him this, year he would
BE i think he will be there late in the first.
Round it's just a matter of who likes. What would
he be there at fifty, five you think or, NO
i doubt. IT i think he's gone by. THEN i
think all. FOUR i Think Mason taylor will definitely be
gone by, then unless something like there's some huge character
(23:37):
thing that comes, up or like an old injury that's
people are skittish. ON i don't. THINK i really Doubt
arroyo's there after.
Speaker 1 (23:44):
Forty, Right so THEN i guess you get Into, gunner
Elm fan and those sort of. Guys but let's, go
let's stay with the. Freaks seems like we have some
freaky running backs in here as. Well.
Speaker 4 (23:52):
Yeah, absolutely you know this is a good group of running.
Backs Obviously ashton gent someone Comparatively Danian. Tomlins, yeah you
know what that's, crazy? RIGHT i Mean, Naggie Jim, naggie
you know who ran The senior goal and now going To.
Oklahoma BUT i talked To jim late spring and that
was his comp and he didn't want to put it
(24:13):
out because it's like such a big. Name and then you,
know your Friend petros did a lot of those. Games
and So Dirk cutter was the offensive, coordinator And Dirk
cutter had a had an interesting. Comparison he was like
to a player he had. Coached he was, like he's
like MJ.
Speaker 1 (24:29):
D and.
Speaker 4 (24:33):
Obviously MJ d had a terrific career In, jacksonville you,
know and he was amazing AT. UCLA i think gent's
probably a touch. Taller, yeah most people are, yeah, yeah you,
know Like i'm guessing he's five five eight not five.
Six but so he's really. Good Caleb johnson from From,
iowa like one of the COACHES i talked to. Yesterday
(24:56):
they met with. Him they really liked. Him he is
a punishing hunner and he was a he's a dynamic.
Back omari And. Hampton he'll run really. WELL i mean
he's probably two twenty five and he'll run in the four.
Fours the biggest freak speed guy to me of the
backs is by Shell. Touton he started out his career
(25:16):
As North carolina eight and he transferred To Virginia. TECH
i would not be surprised if he ran four two. Nine,
Here come, on he is a as soon as he
gets the ball and he gets. Increased no one's catching.
Him guy right, NOW i my gut is he is
a the two and a one to two punch because you,
know he's two hundred five. Pounds he's not not that.
Big but then there's you, know he's the he is
(25:39):
the wow GUY i think here in terms of the
backs right, NOW i don't know if he's for everybody
because he's not that. Big but you, know there's some
interesting ones Like i'm curious to see you, know you
have A Donovan edwards in. There jim knows him really.
Well he was a huge. Recruit his career was very
up and, Down like he had a huge game two
years ago against The Ohio state ran for like one
(25:59):
hundred the yards in the fourth quarter. Alone he's a good,
receiver but he didn't really do a lot this. YEAR
i could see his, like you, KNOW i don't know
how far he, sinks but he's also a GUY i
would be, like, YEAH i wouldn't be shocked if he
was like better in THE nfl than he was in.
Speaker 1 (26:14):
College, Yeah and that's and it's, funny like you just
rip off five six, guys and Then i'm thinking Like
Dylan Sampson Cam, Scataboo like it just feels like it's
a REALLY i, mean you saw What marx is really? Good, yeah,
Exact Martin. NEIL i mean they just, say but so
let's stick With scataboo because he's so. Fun like if
there were a freaks list for just it's the fun. List,
(26:35):
LIKE i don't know if there's a PLAYER i liked
watching more in college, football ASS i.
Speaker 4 (26:38):
KNOW i was watching they Played Iowa state in The
big twelve title game And i'm watching him just barrel over,
people AND i Texted. MINOR i was, LIKE i want
to write a story about. Him and so the. Story
the premise of the story was asking people when was
the first time you realize he's way? Different and the
first PERSON i talked to was his, dad and his dad,
had you, know crazy. Stories but THEN i had to
(27:01):
go back to A i, had like there was a
story where he's not yet three and his grandparents get
him a bike and the grandparents the grandfather's putting on
the training wheels and he's, like, no, no, No i'm
not doing. That i'm not and he's like fighting with.
Them and he was, like all, right well he's gonna
like learn the hard. Way he's gonna have to dust
(27:22):
himself off and he's gonna fall on his. Face and
so the dad was, like all of a, sudden he's
riding down the, street no hands and then stands up
on the. Bike AND i was, like this can't be.
True and THEN i talked to his older. Brother he was, like,
yeah all the neighbors saw. It it was like and
(27:42):
it was one story after another of these crazy. Things
he could do much less if you, want like go
on YouTube and google like the him and like the
state championship game he's up From sacramento and he breaks
like thirteen. Tackles, Yeah i've seen that. One it's, insane you.
Know and so do you think it? Translates does? THAT
(28:04):
i think it.
Speaker 1 (28:05):
Does.
Speaker 4 (28:05):
NOW i don't think he turns Into Jim, brown BUT
i think he will be AN nfl running back BECAUSE
i could see him being a situational. Guy he's also really.
Versatile you. Know he COULD i mean you could say,
throw he could. Punt i'm not saying he's going to
be a teams, punter BUT i think he's just a
really good football. PLAYER i don't know how long he
holds up the style he. HAS i mean he's not
(28:28):
he's a squatty guy who's not like he's six. Too
like you, know people compare him to you, know made
The Matt Mike alstock comparisons because he's a punishing white running.
Back you, Know alstott was like sixty. Two, yeah he's not.
That he's five, nine probably two to twenty and he's
not why, yeah, yeah that's exactly like When Marcus arroyo
(28:51):
became the oct At Arizona. State he's friends With Cliff,
kingsbury And kingsbury was you, know they played him AT
usc and In kingsbury's like they got a beast of
a running back who's this soft, off little white, guy
and he was, like are you? Serious he was like,
yeah and he turned out to be way better than
anybody ever. Found.
Speaker 1 (29:07):
It just it seems like a hardball kind of guy for.
Sure and the hell with going out of, Bounds i'm
gonna knock the safety out of the. Game it's just
hilarious to.
Speaker 4 (29:14):
Watch by the, way there was LIKE i HAD i
had a freak a freakslist guy this. Year it's It's
Austin eckler's little. Brother oh, really, Yeah Wyatt, eckler he
was At he's At. Wyoming he's. Here he may jump
forty two inches Like Austin eckler could certainly obviously another
small school guy AND i went on to have a terrific.
Career but like a name for people to, like and
(29:34):
it's like a different spelled. White it's like why w
y e T T, yeah maybe small guy squatty guy,
there squad squatty wide, receivers another survey guy t. Mac
some people are saying he Might why would he? Slid
why do you think he would? Slide if some people
are starting project that is just the question of. SPEED
i think is like and from WHAT i was told last,
(29:56):
night he told people he's not going to run at,
All like he's not going to run here or at
his pro. Day he's got phenomenal ball, skills like like
the best you, know six four sixty, Five like he
was the guy everybody, Knew Noah, fafida his best friend
was going to go to him all the. Time his
timing is, remarkable like the THING i remember talking to him.
(30:18):
About and also Like Jimmy doherty who is like his
old coach At arizona who went up To washington was,
what Like jimmy was, like he probably has a forty
inch vertical and he was, like, no it's only like thirty.
Four people think it's higher than it's just because my
timing is really. Good and he's like a volleyball. Player
you can go on all like The instagram stuff and see,
like you know these volleyball jumpers where it's like the,
(30:40):
timing how they do, it how they you, know the
angle they do it to get so much force into the.
Ground AND i think he's taken that and really utilize
it to become such a. WEAPON i think he's. AWESOME
i think he's the best receiver in this. Draft you,
know whether he run really runs four six one four
(31:00):
or five. ONE i think he's gonna make a ton
of plays in THE. Nfl AND i, think you, know,
again he if he, slides it'll be because people are
gonna have a little bit of hesitation on his. Speed
and this isn't a good receiver draft in terms of
like last year you had four, high high level guys and,
look you, KNOW i live in Southern california and as you,
(31:21):
know mcconkey's you, know been, tremendous, incredible you, know AND
i think there's other guys you, know in the draft,
tour but so this isn't that. Draft like if if
T mack was in this, DRAFT i think he probably
in last year's, DRAFT i think he would have gone
ahead Of Brian. THOMAS i Think Brian thomas is not
quite as, big but he's big and he's definitely. Faster
but you, KNOW i, know he had a really good
(31:42):
year In, jacksonville BUT I i would like t mac
more than. Him but, yeah HE'S i think he's still
like a high level. Guy but after, HIM i think
it drops off a, lot missing. ANYTHING i feel Like
i've kept you way too. Long fastest quarterback who should
run here but probably won't from WHAT i heard last,
Night Jalen. MILROE i mean he could run in the
(32:04):
he should and could RUN i think in the four,
threes but he's not going to do it HERE i.
Heard so that's a little seems like that's a bad,
decision especially if you're really good at, running go do, It,
yeah especially if you're not projected as like people are
talking about Cam ward And. Shador they're not talking about
him in, That And i'm not saying if he ran
four three two then all of a sudden he would
be you, know, somebody go Are i'm going to take
(32:25):
him at eleven instead because he's super. Fast BUT i
think it probably would boost his stock because people are
going to look at it and, go, man that's a
weapon and you can do some stuff with you, know
a package with him if if you think you're going
to develop because he does have a really really strong
arm and he's very. Smart he's just really, inconsistent but
(32:45):
he can definitely.
Speaker 1 (32:46):
Run it's, great. MAN i love. IT i love. It
every year we get to do. It we get to
See bruce out at the training camp as. Well it's
always fun to chop it up with. Him if you
don't have an athletic, subscription get one just for the freaks.
List it's. Awesome make sure you follow all Of bruce's
social media channels as. Well we appreciate, it, man that's.
Fun as the official hospitality provider of THE nfl and
(33:08):
proud partner of The Los Angeles, chargers On location has
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first choice of tickets and bespoke. Experiences all, right so
(33:52):
again big thanks To Bruce Feldman Freaks. List always fun
to suck back prior to a. Combine and we're going
to wrap up Today's Chargers weekly With Matt. Miller does
it over there AT espn got the top fifty prospects
that just posted a couple days. Ago, matt we. Appreciated
how's combine. Going it's going.
Speaker 3 (34:08):
Well i've only had one steak so, far one steak
so the, weeks.
Speaker 1 (34:12):
You, know there you.
Speaker 3 (34:13):
GO i THINK i have four more nights, here so
we'll see how MANY i can.
Speaker 1 (34:15):
Get, in how many any shrimp? Cocktail? One, okay there you?
Go WHICH i?
Speaker 3 (34:19):
Think you, know we talk so much freer here at
cle just resets you every night exactly.
Speaker 1 (34:23):
Right, yeah you, know there's certain things you have to
do In. Indianapolis one expensive steak to, cocktail clean up the.
Sinusys three don't sleep there you, go and four don't
drink too. Much, yeah some of us can attest, to
but you, know you learn that one night and then
you ADJUSTICE i learned early in this. Trip. Matt let's
start with just kind of your top fifty list and
what you, see how you see this draft as a,
(34:44):
whole where the depth is and where you're going to get.
Speaker 3 (34:46):
Value this is a great draft at running, back tight,
end defensive, tackle and defensive. Endedgereshers some mean potatoes, draft,
Right there's not the, quarterbacks which you guys don't. Need
there's not the wide receivers in this, draft even the
Corner it is maybe not the most top heavy draft
that those positions that we have really gotten used to
having dominant draft classes. Of but this is a year
(35:07):
that you build your trenches and you can build that.
Foundation AND i think you know where The chargers are
at back in a round, one like there's gonna be
really good players on the, board BECAUSE i think the
cool thing about this draft is like the player THAT
i have like eleventh, overall and the PLAYER i have. Fortieth,
overall they're pretty much graded the. Same, okay there's a
really strong middle class in this, draft AND i think
(35:29):
that's going to be like the back end Of round
one all the way through round.
Speaker 1 (35:32):
Two there's really good. Depth and you, KNOW i mean
we were talking about it before you threw the headset. On,
look every team is. Different you're getting asked about different
players and how they fit for different. Franchises so you,
know The chargers saw. Him you Know Jim. Harbaugh you
watch a lot Of michigan football and kind of what
he built. There so as you maybe connect the dots of,
hey this player fits here because of the scheme they're,
running or the style of, player the type of football
(35:53):
player they. Want let's start a running. Back you, know
they've Basically jks a free, agent feels like they want
to bring him. Back they draft That kamani By dell
last year didn't get a lot of. Reps and then
you Have Gus edwards and Asan haskins don't know kind
of how that running back room is going to. Look
so as you look at this group of running, backs
kind of is there one that jumps out at you
that that you could Say, yeah that's that's A Jim
Harbaugh Greg roman type of.
Speaker 3 (36:13):
Other Than Ashton Jens because if, so then, yeah Absolutely Ashton.
Gentz what's funny IS i actually think it's one of
the guys From Ohio, state Quin Shawn. Judkins it's, like
will we see An Ohio state player drafted By Jim.
Harball you, know probably it's gonna, happen, Right BUT i
Think judkins fits just because he has that downhill running.
Style he's able to find tough, yards contact balance is really.
Speaker 1 (36:35):
GOOD i like Both Ohio state.
Speaker 3 (36:37):
Guys Tragon henderson would be different because he's going to
give you a little more speed out of the. Backfield
he's a great, receiver he's really really good in pass.
Protection BUT i think With, harball LIKE i always go
back to Those niner days with Like Frank, Gore like
that's the kind of running BACK i think, about like
they want to pound the, ball they want a running
back that you don't want to tackle in the fourth,
quarter and that's That's. JUDKINS i, mean he's he's just
an animal and and he's that a guy in that
(36:58):
round two. Range so, right if we're talking round, one
Like gent's, off let's, Say gents's off the. BOARD i
don't think there's a guy you have to, draft and
one Like hampton's Good Caleb johnson would be a really
good fit out Of, iowa but this is such a
deep running back, CLASS i think you might be able
to find a guy later than round.
Speaker 1 (37:13):
One so the other position that they're tied to a,
lot and it's under, understandable is his tight. End you
know you Had Will disley last. Year you asked him
to do a lot more than maybe you thought you
were going to ask him to do because of just
sort of the lack of pass catching. Options sort of
what do you see when you look at this this
tight end. Group, WELL i think you can go a
couple different. Ways it is a good tight end, Group
BUT i mean it's almost like there's two different tight end. Positions.
Speaker 3 (37:34):
Now you, know you've got the big guys Like Tyler
warren From Penn, State Mason taylor FROM. Lsu then you've
got the athletes Like Colston, lovelin Who harball's obviously very
very familiar with because they're time together At. Michigan SO
i think it's the question, of, like what what do
you want from that position? Group and like you mentioned
With Will disley last. YEAR i don't know that we
know exactly what they're looking for. Yet you, know we
can look at What joe had In. Baltimore those type
(37:55):
Like Mark andrews is more of that, big physical tight
end that's more of a don't want to tackle me
instead of you can't tackle me type of. Player SO
i would, say Like Tyler warren fits that, mold he's
likely going to be off the board by the time
you guys. Pick But Mason taylor from LSU's in That
Terrence ferguson From. OREGON i think it's a round, two
round three player who's kind of means slept on a little.
BIT i can see him having a good week here
(38:16):
and pushing himself up. Boards but he's in that similar
type of. Mold, okay so let's go offensive. Line it
was something That Joe ortiz talked about in his press
for a couple of days ago about potentially Moving zion to,
center that that's something they're maybe going to explore this.
Offseason feels like interior offensive line is another so and
a lot of them are tackles right that we're talking
about being. Guards but it feels like that's a strength
of this.
Speaker 1 (38:36):
Draft.
Speaker 3 (38:36):
Yeah if you look at all the short tackles in
this draft and, say, okay well you're probably a, guard
then the guard group gets real, deep real. Fast so
in even in round, one you, Know Will campbell FROM
lsu is going to come off the word. Early he
might be a. Tackle Kelvin banks From. Texas he was
a three year left tackle for The. Longhorn some teams
like him inside because he's a hair over six foot,
four even though he has longer. ARMS i Think Josh
connery From oregon could play guard and be really good.
(38:58):
THERE i, mean he's a good, tack but he could
be a really good guard as. Well Tyler booker From,
ALABAMA i mean he's a left. Guard he's played one
game at tackling, college but he is the definition of
plug and.
Speaker 1 (39:08):
Play so what do you mean by? That, like, like
what is because it seems Like Tyler booker is the
guy that everybody's talking. About Tyler booker is he's a.
Speaker 3 (39:14):
Maler you, know his ability to control guys in front
of him in the run game is really. Impressive but
then he's athletic enough to like scrape and get to
the second. Level he arrives with, violence WHICH i love
from a, guard but he's also he's so athletic that
he's he gets there and he's under control and then
he just erases. Guys so his agility in space is
really really. Impressive but then he shows up with power
(39:36):
and some bad.
Speaker 1 (39:37):
Intentions, right and then how about later because you know
a lot of times they'll, say, oh premium, position take
a tackle in round, one you, know take your guards
sort of in those later middle. Rounds is it a deep?
Group is? It because we know how important in the
value that the teams are putting on offensive line and
we're seeing more guards and centers go. Early but in
terms of you, know like you, said because you have
a lot of these tackle to guard, potential does it
(39:58):
look like there's value in those MIDDLE i think there will.
Speaker 3 (40:01):
Be AND i like two guys From, Georgia Tate ratledge
And Dylan, fairchild and they're not being talked about as
like top seventy five picks for some. REASON i think
that might be due to. Injury so we'll see if
that gets cleared up this. WEEK i watched the tape
on both, guys especially in twenty twenty. Three they both
look like plug and play starters to. Me, now The
georgia run game wasn't as good this, year and it
was because both those guys were banged, Up but they
(40:21):
have three years of starting tape in THE sec and
they were all conference performers in THE. Sec that's a
pretty good indicator you're gonna be okay at the next.
Level SO i think both those guys have started. Potential
and if you talk about Rat ledge maybe round three
And fairchild could be maybe even early day.
Speaker 1 (40:35):
Three. Okay so we're just rolling through it now With
matt the one, position AND i don't know if it's
a thin position in the draft or just because we
have so much confidence In Steve, klinkscale our defensive backs,
coach that he can make anything. Work you had two
fifth round guys last, year so you, know let's start.
There let's start with kind of where you were at
(40:56):
with tar Heeeb still and Cam hart last. Year because
if you have corner that are capable of starting in THE,
nfl they're not going in the fifth. Round it's preat.
Imposition so what were your thoughts on those two, guys
what you then saw them become in maybe a corner
or two that you would focus on that that seemed
to fit what they.
Speaker 3 (41:12):
DO i THINK i had a seventh round grade On
tarry still real, HONESTLY i was, obvious way way too
low on. Him with Cam, HART i started with a
high grade on, him and IF i, remember he had an,
injury he did and then he ran slowly and it
knocked him down the. Board SO i went from like
round two on him when the season, STARTED i THINK
i ended up in round. Five so BUT i think
that's a great example of how much scheme matters and
(41:33):
understanding how to draft guys for your, scheme because if
they went somewhere, else they might if they went to
The rams instead of The, chargers they might not be
on the field. Right and SO i think being able
to identify that is so great for teams to, say, like,
hey that's.
Speaker 4 (41:45):
Our kind of.
Speaker 3 (41:45):
Guy now moving that, forward who fits that? MOLD i
Think Trey amos From ole miss would fit, that and
he's going to be a guy that goes probably in
the second. Round but he has the, length he's tough
at the line of. SCRIMMAGE i think he has a
little more speed than those guys did coming. Out BUT
i think that that's going to be something to watch
in draft number two for them As, okay what we're
starting to understand what they want of?
Speaker 1 (42:04):
Positions?
Speaker 3 (42:05):
Right how important is a guy who can run a
four to three or four to four?
Speaker 1 (42:08):
Corner is that?
Speaker 3 (42:09):
Important or are they you, know prioritizing, physicality a line
of scrimmage, technique things like.
Speaker 1 (42:14):
That you, Know AND i guess because we have you
and you have the knowledge base to kind of talk
about day, three, fifth, sixth seventh round just kind of
where do you think the depth? Is where where are
the big AND i guess in your, experience what are
kind of the smart? Picks is it? Traits is it?
Production is it, hey small school guy that we're going
to see if he can make that? Leap kind of
(42:34):
what is? It do you have a? Philosophy is there
a right approach in the later?
Speaker 3 (42:37):
Round AND i feel like in my job it, changes
right because we go through the ebbs and. Flows sometimes
it is like, hey on day, three that's when you
take a flyer on athletic ability and you hope you
can develop. It AND i think it depends on your.
Team where your team is at in its in its, process,
right you, know for The. Chargers it's a playoff. Team
you've got a franchise, quarterback you've got two great offensive.
TACKLES i think you can take some of those day
(42:59):
three swings on. Athleticism if you were The Cleveland, BROWNS
i would, say, no you need. Starters you need you,
know you need twenty two guys who can get on
the football. Field let's, go you, know high production from
college guys who are multi year. Starters maybe in THE
sec or The Big, ten they can get out there.
Faster BUT i think with where The chargers are, AT
i would take some flyers on athletes wide, receiver running, back,
(43:20):
corner safety on day three and hope that you hit
on one of. Those and then you, have you, know
a four year starter who's very inexpensive because you got
them on day.
Speaker 1 (43:29):
Three all, right let's finish with, This, matt just because
you know they're going to ask you to grade the.
Drafts we want you to give The chargers AN a
for their. Draft AND i don't mean to put you
on the. Spot i'm sure you have a database that
you'd be able to cross reference to kind of know
sort of needs and players and. Stuff but just off
the top of your, head kind of what do you
what do you think it looks? Like what do you
think they need and what players can you imagine dropping
(43:51):
in what that would give them that a?
Speaker 3 (43:52):
Grade, YEAH i think before free agency and we'll see
what happens with the pass. Rushers right if you can
Get Colston lovelin at twenty, two that's AN a for.
Me that's a stamp it. You i'll write it right.
Now if they draft, him that's AN a for me
because it is what they. NEED i, Mean ladd had
such a great year and, he's you, know a number
one receiver for you. Guys finding more weapons For Justin,
HERBERT i think is something that would be a priority for,
(44:14):
me especially as you now have you, know the play
calling and the development on that side of the. Ball so,
again we'll see what happens with with you, know the pass.
Rushers hopefully Clil mack is, Back hopefully Punt A ford is.
Speaker 4 (44:25):
Back.
Speaker 3 (44:25):
Yeah if they're, not THEN i would like to be
able to change my answer and say we got to
go d. Line BUT i think right, now if you
could Get loveland in the first, round that'd be a slam.
Speaker 1 (44:33):
Dunk but the receiver group is good.
Speaker 3 (44:34):
Too you, know if you could Get Matthew golden From
Texas Mecha abuca From Ohio state would be a really,
good you, know guy doing some of the dirty work,
underneath so improving that underneath passing game.
Speaker 1 (44:43):
Would be, big great. Stuff check him. Out he'll be
here all week burning the midnight. Oil so we appreciate. It,
matt thanks so. Much, yeah you. Bet, thanks all, right
it's gonna do it For Chargers. Weekly As matt makes
his way to another, table we will wrap it up
here From. Indianapolis big thank you to our team, Page, Amen, Will,
brian everybody doing heavy lifting and going out late and
(45:05):
making sure we have a good time while also getting
great content for all of. You so hopefully you all enjoyed.
It we'll be back again next week following the. Combine
as Free agent is the Free agency is upon us
to deliver another episode Of Chargers. Weekly
Late fifteen to ten, touched up. Welcome to Chargers Weekly,
our final day of combine conversations. What a great way
to kick it off, old friend. We spent seven straight
hours on the field together in your maiden voyage of
(00:22):
combine coverage. Longtime front office obviously executive with the Jets,
with the Dolphins as the thirty thirteen. You see him
all over ESPN. He hustled over after just getting off,
get up to be with us. It's Mike ten about
how are you, Mike great?
Speaker 2 (00:35):
Great to be with you, Matt, that's the boy that
was a minute ago, and I appreciate your patience with me.
Speaker 1 (00:40):
Oh hey, we all had to have patients that day.
We used to do every single drill, every single forty
we'd sit on the field, and so let's start there,
like what you know, you know it better than anybody.
What do you take away from the combine? How has
it changed what you think front offices take away from
the combine than when you were in a front office
doing it or even whatever that was seven eight years
ago that we were looking at, you know, kind of
(01:00):
these guys doing everything on the field.
Speaker 2 (01:02):
Well, look, I think the movement skills are still really
important and I you know, a little bit old school,
but I don't think there's any downside to being here
and seeing those drills like and where things change. You know,
less teams are coming, you know, Rams most notably aren't here.
Reportedly Atlanta only sent like their defensive side. And you know,
I think the interviews are still critical obviously the medical
(01:24):
but you want to see the tape match what you
see athletically, and when you can check those boxes, that's
when you feel even better about you know, what you
should do from a draft choice.
Speaker 1 (01:33):
Standpoint, would love to kind of have you share with
the people watching and listening, just sort of the mechanics
or I don't know if that's the right word, just
the timeline of a front office executive when you've got
your own free agents, just kind of speaking in context
of the Chargers, you got Slayter, what are you gonna
do with Joey Bosa, Khalil Mack versus free agency opens?
How do you attack that? And then how does the draft?
How do those three things kind of fall in line? Yeah?
Speaker 2 (01:55):
I thought the Chargers at you know, had a grand
slam last year at April US, Like, you know, they
were sitting there and we had Mike Williams, Keenan Allen
had the two pass rushers. What are we going to
do with some cap challenges? And I thought they did
everything right. You know, I thought keeping the defensive guys
last year, and you know it's funny, I was screaming
for the mountain tops that you know Jim's gonna take.
(02:16):
You know, John all with his first pick. I mean,
that's an ultimate Jim Harbaugh player. And you know they
hit on McConkey, you know, Quentin Johnson. I thought got better.
Still a little bit of a work in progress, and now, yeah,
I think it starts up front, like I think the
Slayers of the World those are that's Jim, like going
back to the University San Diego Stanford obviously what he
did with the forty nine ers in Michigan. It all
(02:37):
starts up front, and I don't think that'll change.
Speaker 1 (02:39):
Yeah, in terms of so let's kind of go there.
So we've had Joe Ortis say maybe move Zion to center,
just kind of what you saw from Zion and how
that might because certainly the interior of the line it
was magnified against Houston in that playoff game, and how
kind of what's the thought there when you start talking
about moving a guy.
Speaker 2 (02:54):
Yeah, so he's a high character, smart player. I think
he could do it. And when you talk to most
quarterbacks they'll tell you, and I had the great fortune
mant of working with guys like Dan Marino in the
front office and been around in my whole life, they'll
tell you that quick interior pressure is the hardest pressure
to deal with. Certainly, Tom Brady felt that way. He
felt like the edge rush. You know, they can kind
(03:16):
of push people by step up in the pocket. And
I think, if I'm trying to defend Justin Herbert, I'm
trying to get in his face as quickly as I
can because he could stretch the play when he gets
to the outside. So I think, having you know, you
look at all those years in New England, they always
had three guys on the interior that could short set,
be really strong and kind of like build a little
(03:37):
bit of a wall. I think that's what they're talking about.
I think Greg Roman, philosophically, that's what he wants to do.
Putting Zion there makes a lot of sense. If you
look at a lot of success Kansasity's had, you'll certainly Creed, Humphrey,
Trey Smith, Joe Toney before they kick them out to tackle,
very similar philosophy.
Speaker 1 (03:54):
So it's just I guess in terms of how, you know,
whatever Zion's issues may be a guard I think kind
of the word is like, hey, it's just tick slow,
like you know to kind of is that Can that
be alleviated by playing center? Is there something that that
goes into that, like, hey, this is kind of what's
going wrong, but maybe this can be the fix.
Speaker 2 (04:10):
Yeah, because you could you also become a little bit
of the quarterback of the offensive line. You know, you're
you're working with the quarterback in terms of where are
we signed the protection, where do we think they're coming from?
Speaker 1 (04:19):
Things like that.
Speaker 2 (04:20):
So you know, sometimes when the ball's in that player's hands,
like they take the next step. I was around great
ones from Mike Pouncy, Kevin Maway, Nick Mangold. I mean,
I was really fortunate in my career, and you know
them in the quarterback touched the ball every single play
and that's a critical position. I don't see any reason
why Zion couldn't do that.
Speaker 1 (04:39):
So let's let's say maybe that it's perfect that you
brought me up that brought that up because now a
lot of people are saying, oh, center center, you know,
like that's that might be the thing. Is it too rich?
Like if you you saw the Senior Bowl, everybody's talking
about Gray's abel coming out of there, you know, or
is it maybe Drew Dolman and excuse me? A free agency?
Like how what the important attacking center with a premium
(05:03):
pick like number twenty two? And your thoughts on that?
Speaker 2 (05:05):
Yeah? Again, I he it's the offensive line. And you
could look at Tampa Bay. They go out and get
a guy like Brentson Bretison, you know, paying about three
million dollars and he holds the fort. He he wasn't
an A. He was probably more of a B. You know,
guys like Dan Moore will be out there from Pittsburgh,
you know, so you can, you know, you could take
incremental steps. It may not be ideal, but I think
from where the Chargers were two three years ago, you know,
their offensive line is a million miles ahead.
Speaker 1 (05:27):
Yeah, so how about Okay, So then let's get to
the draft. And while we're here and at the combine
and picked twenty two, and man, we've seen it all.
Some mocks Hammy Ashton gent and Genty sliding there. I
can't quite envision that. Or t Mac from Arizona the
wide receiver, Colston Loveland, the tight end has been very popular.
And then you mentioned last year you knew it was
gonna be Joe Alt. We all felt the same way.
Jim Harbaugh told us as much. Right, they have like
(05:48):
Tyler Booker and Membo and guys like that kind of
what what do you see if you kind of can
envision a lot of those guys being there, what direction
this team might go?
Speaker 2 (05:56):
Well, I would say, generally speak, I think we're gonna
see a resurrection of the running position, you know, in
part because of what Barkley did, the value and obviously
the success they've had. And we saw Josh Jacobs, you
know it was a little so and Christian McCaffrey not
being forty nine or you know, like you could see
the impact he had, so them adding another running back
like that's such an on brand for Jim. Also, you
(06:19):
know some of the offensive lineman he talked about. And
then yeah, Colson Loveland, you know in the dock connecting
world of like the Michigan to charge your pipeline, you know,
any of those you can't. And in fact, if there's
a running back, let's say it's so Mari and Hampton
on the board. Because Gent's gone and you know there's
a Gray Zabel type, you know there's certainly gonna be
a couple offensive linemen and Loveland. That's when you want
(06:41):
to trade back aget like pick go back four or
five spots, get a third, and just keep adding another,
you know, tough player, front seven player that you know
really fits what they want to do.
Speaker 1 (06:53):
Don't mean, I hope this doesn't come off as me
like taking a shot. But I look back to last
year and what Joe did. Joe Ortiz did trading up
with New England. He goes up three spots, he gets McConkey.
New England ends up taking two receivers with those two
picks they get for sliding back two places. How does
that does that? I don't want to say, does it
hurt a relationship?
Speaker 3 (07:12):
Like?
Speaker 1 (07:12):
How does that factor into future conversation?
Speaker 2 (07:15):
And look, I think they did a masterful job.
Speaker 1 (07:17):
I really do.
Speaker 2 (07:18):
You know, when you look at like those, you go
back to last year's draft, like those are foundational players
when you have an alted conky like they're going to
be there for a long time. And you know, Mike
Rabel's calling shots in New England, so that Tray was
a million years ago.
Speaker 1 (07:34):
In terms of just free agents, big money free agents, yep,
it doesn't seem like they work out a lot. So
Trey Smith, Milton Williams, some of these guys that fit
what the Chargers are looking for. They're gonna have eighty
to ninety million dollars to spend. What was your philosophy
on going out and buying big tickets.
Speaker 2 (07:52):
Yeah, we did a couple of times, like in Dominican
Sue was, you know, and he was a great player,
but you are paying a premium. I'd be shocked if
Tray Smith was out there. I can't imagine they won't
tag them in Kansas City. Bill Williams does make a
ton of sense, you know, building that defense for Jesse
Minner like they're they're that quick interior pressure most teams
can use, including the Chargers. But knowing Jim, I would
(08:12):
think he's gonna want to make sure that we have
enough money to take care of our own first.
Speaker 1 (08:17):
Right, And that's what he said, He say he wanted
to break that is that reality said, Hey man, we
love this group. We want to bring everybody back. Is
that hard to do? Is that a common philosophy? You
like bringing your guys more than pulling other guys in.
Speaker 2 (08:28):
You know, early in my career and I wasn't perfect
at this, but Coach Belichick had a great sort of
like guiding principle was like to the extent you can,
you know, the highest paid player in each room should
be homegrown talent.
Speaker 1 (08:40):
Well, that is something the Chargers are excited about. They've
got all the picks. We certainly appreciate it. Mike. We
know you got a busy day today and very much
looking forward to it. All right, thanks so much. All right,
thanks Mike. So we go from one former front office
individual and Mike Tannebump to what I believe, considering the
way he is operating his youth football football team right now,
(09:01):
a future general manager in Bruce feld He doesn't fox,
he does it for the athletic. It's one of our
favorite conversations. It's one of the best podcasts around, the
one you do with Stu and obviously the Freaks List
is a centerpiece of the combine every year. So Bruce Feldman,
we appreciate you coming by how are you. It is
great to see you. I think grateful for the Chargers.
They've been awesome for our youth. Youth sell share, you
(09:23):
know what, get into that share with the people because
you know a lot of people are watching, are in
the community. It's good to know kind of what they
got going on with you.
Speaker 4 (09:30):
Yeah, I mean I think a year ago money we
talked here and the Chargers had just started their their
league in El Segundo, and so t J. Huschmanzato, who's
been really good. He's kind of one of the faces
of the program. Obviously, you know, it's Snoop and Hush League,
so obviously Snoop Dogg is is uh you know, is
connected to it as well. But it's been really awesome
(09:51):
what they do. And you know, for the I don't know,
this is our third season now because it's the winter season.
We have our championship game on Friday night. They they're
playing and uh at El Camino this winter season. But
it's cool because like we went over there the other
day and and the guy coach with was like, hey,
Harbaugh's over there, because I think Harbaugh's kid is in
one of the divisions. And it's awesome like we had
(10:15):
a game where because of one of the kids on
our team is like family, we had game where like
Jimmy Kimmel's on the sideline with us, and so, you know,
it's cool. I'm curious how many of the kids that
we have will end up becoming Chargers fans because of it,
you know, like I know that. Yeah, so and they've
been good, you know, like how Quentin Johnson came to
(10:36):
our championship game in the in the spring and you know,
spend time with the kids, and I know, oh god,
I'm blanking on Matlock's first name. He went out, Yeah,
he went out to Sorito's for that, for that part
of the league, and so they you know, hats off
to the Chargers. Looks really cool about it.
Speaker 1 (10:54):
Can you envision yourself, with your competitive nature ever having
a little chest bump chin off with Oh Charbaugh like
Pete Carroll did in the What's Your Deal? Game?
Speaker 4 (11:02):
I could not. I would First of all, I would
lose that. I mean he's probably three inches taller and
probably forty pounds heavier. And second of all, my like
my feeling is if I did something like that, the
last thing I would want to do is like become
something where it's like, oh, did you really do that?
(11:22):
That's so embarrassing, you know. And I'm not saying people
get heated in youth sports. I see it all the time,
but man, I hope I don't. Yeah, look, people get
heated in the world of NFL information. At the local Starbucks.
Speaker 1 (11:35):
I saw that.
Speaker 4 (11:36):
I was there for that.
Speaker 1 (11:37):
You were there. I witnessed it.
Speaker 4 (11:39):
I witnessed that. I was like, what what did I
just see? But it's just and then I turned to
one of my former coworkers and I was like, who's
the villain in this, by the way, and he was
kind of like processing, but just the the uh, the
nature of it where you have the son of the
founder of Starbucks. I'm happening there's a home game form
and I'm sitting there thinking like I saw Garifolo there
(12:00):
and I was like, I know he works with Ian
And I was like, does Mike g jump in? And
if he does, do one of the baristas come over
the table and just take out Parafolo? This has this
has like great comedic potential, right It's.
Speaker 1 (12:13):
I think it was like maybe six seven years ago
when when Lock and For and I think Rapaport got
into it right. I think it was the whole keep
keep my name off your lips, killed a little love
back and forth. Hey man, the world of NFL information.
I guess it's a little more competitive than my easy
going style is ready for. So let's get into it. Bruce,
it's awesome again. I didn't say it just to kind of,
(12:34):
you know, try to plug it, but I know how
passionate you are about it and with the youth sports
and what they're doing, and it really is an incredible league.
And as someone who put you know, kids through youth
sports and how important it is and what it means
especially for relationships with dads and and kids, it's it's wonderful.
So freaks list every year it's awesome, Like it truly
is the best article of the year, and it's it
(12:57):
never disappoints. So kind of take us through it and
what went into this shar and what should jump out
to people if they have not, because I know you
did it updated kind of like here's what we're looking
at and that's available at the athletic now.
Speaker 4 (13:06):
Yeah, I think what it's always been is been a
lot of time talking to coaches, a lot of strength coaches,
and I've because I've talked to them and done this
for so long. It's been a thing where you kind
of know who you can who you can really rely on.
Some of the other ones you maybe take take a
little bit of a grain of salt with what they
tell you. And for instance, like Abdu Carter, I know
(13:28):
he's not going to be working out here, but he's
a Penn State guy. And for a long time, the
numbers that I would get from Penn State people are like, Yeah,
that's not real. But then they would come here and
they would match it up, you know, whether it's Mike
Asiki or Saquon you know how these guys they do
it at the Pro days, like Micah Parsons, Chop Robinson,
(13:49):
like they you know, they have really got it down
where they're recruiting and developing elite athletes and they're freak
athletes and there's a lot of them. And so that's
where it kind of started. And then over time when
I started, when I became a sideline reporter for about
eight ten years at Fox, before the Games, I'm out
(14:12):
on the field trying to get ready for the broadcast,
but the other people were out on the field are
the NFL scouts, and so I would have these conversations,
and I was shocked at how many of them really
were enamored with the Freaks List too, and so we
would talk about them.
Speaker 1 (14:27):
You know.
Speaker 4 (14:27):
Over time they became really, you know, great resources for me,
and I expanded it not just to major college football,
but to smaller schools. And I remember when Kyle Dugger
was at a Division two school and then he went
to the obviously the Patriots, like he was I think
the first real real small school guy. And I have
a bunch of them. Yeah, And it's a great way
(14:48):
to spotlight a lot of a lot of teams. It
went from like started out as ten twenty years ago,
and then at some point it was like forty and
now it's one hundred.
Speaker 1 (14:57):
That's Wild's let's start with a small school because Athletic
had a great piece. And I'm sure it's somebody you uncovered,
the kid from Middlebury. Yeah, Thomas Perry like he is.
Does he have a shot to get drafted? Oh?
Speaker 4 (15:08):
I definitely think so. And you know Duke Manweather who's
like Slater obviously big and yeah, and he's a southern
California native and you know. Now he's based in Dallas.
He swears by him. I remember somebody tipped me off
to him late in the spring, and I didn't know
this at the time, but like he spent like a
(15:28):
month or so working with Duke in Texas. And he's
super strong. Now he's not six', five he's Not Tyrone,
smith but he. IS i, MEAN i definitely will think
he will get track or guard or probably a guard.
Speaker 1 (15:41):
Maybe.
Speaker 4 (15:42):
YEAH i don't think he's a. Tackle he did he
he did What shrine game, Right, Yeah and he's like,
he's LIKE i, said he's super. STRONG i think he's
he's pretty. ATHLETIC i don't think he's like gonna gonna
at A pro day run four eight, nine but he.
Is he definitely belongs And i'm surprised he's not.
Speaker 1 (15:59):
Here, yeah That's it's one of those. Things it's kind
of like The hall Of. Fame it's, like you, know
you want to put people in that it becomes a.
Destination this is someone WHO i want to share their
story with my son or Whoever i'm with or. Whatever
perry seems like one of those. Guys it's like so
obvious that that he would be a fixture of. Attention,
YEAH i mean and again tiny Liberal arts school In.
(16:19):
Vermont he's from a small school In. Connecticut he's a brilliant.
STUDENT i think he's on like a four to zero
at some crazy you, know myomical or something like, that
the major that THAT i definitely would not be able
to survive. In so we'll see where he. Goes my
guess is he would probably somewhere end up in the
fifth sixth.
Speaker 4 (16:35):
ROUND. Ok but you, know, again like the people who
a lot of people listen to, around especially when it
comes to, lineman he's got the stamp of. Approval and
so we'll, see we'll see How we'll see who jumps
up and takes.
Speaker 1 (16:49):
Them so let's let's stick with line, then because you
know The chargers are a line. Team talk about you,
Know Joe ortiz Mentioned zion maybe moving to. Center feels
like there's some pretty good. Guards Tyler hooker AND i don't,
know AND i think a couple of tackles getting there
from From missouri and he was a tackle and he's
actually got pretty long, arms but he's about six. Four
(17:11):
he's he's been on The Freaks list for a couple of.
Years he's a really dynamic. ATHLETE i talked to AN
nfl coordinator last night and he still thinks he's a,
guard even though he's he got long. Arms but there's
a bunch of those guys who who end up probably
Like Gray's abel was tremendous at at The Senior bawl all,
(17:32):
week AND i think he's a guy whose stock has really.
ELEVATED i think this is a you, know to go
back to your initial. Question this to, me there's a
ton of, freaks guys who are really defensive, players edge guys,
Especially BUT i think there's there's this is a pretty good,
line a pretty good draft for FOR o. LINE i
just don't, know there's there's probably a lot of guys
(17:54):
who people look at and, go you, KNOW i think
he's better.
Speaker 4 (17:56):
As a guard right as a. Tackle and that's fine
because like you, SAID i think the there's just a
lot of shuffling, around but there will be a, premium
like you, know for your. Listeners Josh simmons started out
his career At San Diego state and then the then
ended up At Ohio, state AND i think he'll get
drafted somewhere late in the first round because he's a trades. Guy,
(18:16):
now he missed half the. Year he got hurt in
The oregon game at mid. Season but he is definitely
a tackle body, type long, arms he's, athletic and it'll
be interesting to, see you, know will he go higher
because of that what we're talking, about where there's just
maybe feels like more more guys look like they're sure
to be, guards then they're sure to be.
Speaker 1 (18:34):
Tackles so let's go to the other side, then because,
man it looks like the freaks list is just littered
with THESE d, linemen even INTERIOR d, linemen like you, Said.
Edges chargers have twenty six free agents their entire basically
interior line, Rotation, Punaford, Morgan, Fox Tier tart all free.
Agents they. Played they were, solid you know what. THAT i,
(18:55):
mean you watch the, games you know what they. Were
BUT i think a lot of people are looking at, going,
man just what if he got a little of That
eagles juice on the inside of that? Line kind of
it feels like this draft has a lot of. That it.
Speaker 4 (19:05):
Does, NOW i don't know if there is A Jalen
carter out there like, that but like you, know, Look Mason, graham,
homegrown you, know he's From. Are, yeah he's he's a
fantastic football. PLAYER i, MEAN i think he'll when he,
does you, know, WORKOUT i think he'll actually test better
than people. Expect The michigan. GUYS i you, know like
there's a bigger freak on THAT d line In Kenneth, grant,
(19:27):
right you, know he's. Three When Kenneth grant, came who
was a three star guy From indiana who ended up
signing With, michigan AND i Saw harbaugh At big ten
media days AND i didn't know anything About Kenneth, grant
and he was like giddy about. It he said he's
at he weighed at three hundred and sixty pounds and
he ran in the four. Nines AND i couldn't believe that.
(19:48):
Yet but then talking to their you know they're some
of their, players and then talking to the strength, COACH i,
MEAN i don't know where he. Goes my guess is
he goes somewhere between twenty and. Thirty so he could
be there at twenty. Two, OH i think. So and
he's you, know six, three probably three. Forty he should
run in the four. Nines he's really. Explosive you want
(20:09):
to see something, Wild they Played Penn state last year
and he ran down one of their you, know outstanding running,
backs like twenty yards. Downfield he's AND i think he
has the potential he could getting better and better and.
Better BUT i definitely think he's a guy that they
could target and keep in. Mind you, know you Got,
elston who's the de line coach who coached him At.
(20:30):
Michigan you Got jesse who who's coached him At. Michigan Obviously,
Jim and AGAIN i go back to the first TIME
i ever heard of. Him it was it WAS i
think it was here At big ten media days And
jim was raving about. Him SO i don't, know it
wouldn't shock. Me so let's let's. Flip let's kind of pair.
That then let's stick with like pick twenty two and
(20:51):
pair that with Another michigan guy that seems to be
Attagan In Colston lovelin and seems like a bit of
a freak as well at the tight end he. Is it's.
FUNNY i have a video on like My instagram of
so they're old. Quarterback he's now going to go TO
Unlv Alex, orgy super freaky, athlete not the most accurate, passer,
right but in the, background the next guy next to
(21:11):
him is Is. Loveland LOVELAND'S i grew up In. Idaho
he can really. Run he's almost like a big receiver
the way he could, run but definitely like a freaky.
Athlete he was hurt late in the, year but they
had no, receivers they had no passing. Game he was.
It so he was he was like a big priority
(21:32):
for the opposing. Defense and then you still make. Plays
they sometimes they'd be creative and throw it to a
to him on first down when you probably wouldn't double
a tight end because you think the runs come. In
BUT i think this is a terrific class of tight.
Ends you, know you certainly Have Tyler WARREN usc fans remember.
Him you, know he had like fifty catches against. Him
but then you Have, loveland WHO i think will be,
really really. GOOD i think there's four really good tight
(21:54):
ends in. There Elijah royo From, miami and Then Taylor Aason,
Taylor Jason taylor's son who's AT. LSU i think all
four of those guys could be like our first round.
Talents but obviously the connection With loveland And, jim you,
know you go back a couple of years ago they.
Played they Played Ohio, state huge, Game michigan's really depleted injury,
(22:18):
wise And loveland had a huge play to kind of
break open the. Game like he is a guy who
can make big plays downfield and he could be a
really good weapon for.
Speaker 1 (22:27):
Them, yes so it feels, like you, know, look that's
always part of the, calculus. Right it kind of was
what we were talking about last year with alt versus.
Neighbors it's, like, hey if you don't take the tackle,
here you're not going to get somebody at. Third but
if you don't take the wide, receiver feels like you
might and it obviously worked Out alton McConkey as opposed
To neighbors and whatever tackle might have been. There does
(22:49):
it feel that way, maybe like hey take that lineman
here at twenty two and then yeah you should be all. Right.
Speaker 4 (22:55):
YEAH i Mean Elijah royo is a really dynamic. Athlete
he's a freakslist. Guy the only issue with him was
until this year he had been injured almost every. Year
but he's almost you, know he's six four and a,
half he's two. Fifty he runs like a wide. RECEIVER
i mean he Is he is a really elite, athlete
and you saw him at The Senior. Bowl people couldn't cover.
(23:16):
Him miami guys raved about. Him this, year he would
BE i think he will be there late in the first.
Round it's just a matter of who likes. What would
he be there at fifty, five you think or, NO
i doubt. IT i think he's gone by. THEN i
think all. FOUR i Think Mason taylor will definitely be
gone by, then unless something like there's some huge character
(23:37):
thing that comes, up or like an old injury that's
people are skittish. ON i don't. THINK i really Doubt
arroyo's there after.
Speaker 1 (23:44):
Forty, Right so THEN i guess you get Into, gunner
Elm fan and those sort of. Guys but let's, go
let's stay with the. Freaks seems like we have some
freaky running backs in here as. Well.
Speaker 4 (23:52):
Yeah, absolutely you know this is a good group of running.
Backs Obviously ashton gent someone Comparatively Danian. Tomlins, yeah you
know what that's, crazy? RIGHT i Mean, Naggie Jim, naggie
you know who ran The senior goal and now going To.
Oklahoma BUT i talked To jim late spring and that
was his comp and he didn't want to put it
(24:13):
out because it's like such a big. Name and then you,
know your Friend petros did a lot of those. Games
and So Dirk cutter was the offensive, coordinator And Dirk
cutter had a had an interesting. Comparison he was like
to a player he had. Coached he was, like he's
like MJ.
Speaker 1 (24:29):
D and.
Speaker 4 (24:33):
Obviously MJ d had a terrific career In, jacksonville you,
know and he was amazing AT. UCLA i think gent's
probably a touch. Taller, yeah most people are, yeah, yeah you,
know Like i'm guessing he's five five eight not five.
Six but so he's really. Good Caleb johnson from From,
iowa like one of the COACHES i talked to. Yesterday
(24:56):
they met with. Him they really liked. Him he is
a punishing hunner and he was a he's a dynamic.
Back omari And. Hampton he'll run really. WELL i mean
he's probably two twenty five and he'll run in the four.
Fours the biggest freak speed guy to me of the
backs is by Shell. Touton he started out his career
(25:16):
As North carolina eight and he transferred To Virginia. TECH
i would not be surprised if he ran four two. Nine,
Here come, on he is a as soon as he
gets the ball and he gets. Increased no one's catching.
Him guy right, NOW i my gut is he is
a the two and a one to two punch because you,
know he's two hundred five. Pounds he's not not that.
Big but then there's you, know he's the he is
(25:39):
the wow GUY i think here in terms of the
backs right, NOW i don't know if he's for everybody
because he's not that. Big but you, know there's some
interesting ones Like i'm curious to see you, know you
have A Donovan edwards in. There jim knows him really.
Well he was a huge. Recruit his career was very
up and, Down like he had a huge game two
years ago against The Ohio state ran for like one
(25:59):
hundred the yards in the fourth quarter. Alone he's a good,
receiver but he didn't really do a lot this. YEAR
i could see his, like you, KNOW i don't know
how far he, sinks but he's also a GUY i
would be, like, YEAH i wouldn't be shocked if he
was like better in THE nfl than he was in.
Speaker 1 (26:14):
College, Yeah and that's and it's, funny like you just
rip off five six, guys and Then i'm thinking Like
Dylan Sampson Cam, Scataboo like it just feels like it's
a REALLY i, mean you saw What marx is really? Good, yeah,
Exact Martin. NEIL i mean they just, say but so
let's stick With scataboo because he's so. Fun like if
there were a freaks list for just it's the fun. List,
(26:35):
LIKE i don't know if there's a PLAYER i liked
watching more in college, football ASS i.
Speaker 4 (26:38):
KNOW i was watching they Played Iowa state in The
big twelve title game And i'm watching him just barrel over,
people AND i Texted. MINOR i was, LIKE i want
to write a story about. Him and so the. Story
the premise of the story was asking people when was
the first time you realize he's way? Different and the
first PERSON i talked to was his, dad and his dad,
had you, know crazy. Stories but THEN i had to
(27:01):
go back to A i, had like there was a
story where he's not yet three and his grandparents get
him a bike and the grandparents the grandfather's putting on
the training wheels and he's, like, no, no, No i'm
not doing. That i'm not and he's like fighting with.
Them and he was, like all, right well he's gonna
like learn the hard. Way he's gonna have to dust
(27:22):
himself off and he's gonna fall on his. Face and
so the dad was, like all of a, sudden he's
riding down the, street no hands and then stands up
on the. Bike AND i was, like this can't be.
True and THEN i talked to his older. Brother he was, like,
yeah all the neighbors saw. It it was like and
(27:42):
it was one story after another of these crazy. Things
he could do much less if you, want like go
on YouTube and google like the him and like the
state championship game he's up From sacramento and he breaks
like thirteen. Tackles, Yeah i've seen that. One it's, insane you.
Know and so do you think it? Translates does? THAT
(28:04):
i think it.
Speaker 1 (28:05):
Does.
Speaker 4 (28:05):
NOW i don't think he turns Into Jim, brown BUT
i think he will be AN nfl running back BECAUSE
i could see him being a situational. Guy he's also really.
Versatile you. Know he COULD i mean you could say,
throw he could. Punt i'm not saying he's going to
be a teams, punter BUT i think he's just a
really good football. PLAYER i don't know how long he
holds up the style he. HAS i mean he's not
(28:28):
he's a squatty guy who's not like he's six. Too
like you, know people compare him to you, know made
The Matt Mike alstock comparisons because he's a punishing white running.
Back you, Know alstott was like sixty. Two, yeah he's not.
That he's five, nine probably two to twenty and he's
not why, yeah, yeah that's exactly like When Marcus arroyo
(28:51):
became the oct At Arizona. State he's friends With Cliff,
kingsbury And kingsbury was you, know they played him AT
usc and In kingsbury's like they got a beast of
a running back who's this soft, off little white, guy
and he was, like are you? Serious he was like,
yeah and he turned out to be way better than
anybody ever. Found.
Speaker 1 (29:07):
It just it seems like a hardball kind of guy for.
Sure and the hell with going out of, Bounds i'm
gonna knock the safety out of the. Game it's just
hilarious to.
Speaker 4 (29:14):
Watch by the, way there was LIKE i HAD i
had a freak a freakslist guy this. Year it's It's
Austin eckler's little. Brother oh, really, Yeah Wyatt, eckler he
was At he's At. Wyoming he's. Here he may jump
forty two inches Like Austin eckler could certainly obviously another
small school guy AND i went on to have a terrific.
Career but like a name for people to, like and
(29:34):
it's like a different spelled. White it's like why w
y e T T, yeah maybe small guy squatty guy,
there squad squatty wide, receivers another survey guy t. Mac
some people are saying he Might why would he? Slid
why do you think he would? Slide if some people
are starting project that is just the question of. SPEED
i think is like and from WHAT i was told last,
(29:56):
night he told people he's not going to run at,
All like he's not going to run here or at
his pro. Day he's got phenomenal ball, skills like like
the best you, know six four sixty, Five like he
was the guy everybody, Knew Noah, fafida his best friend
was going to go to him all the. Time his
timing is, remarkable like the THING i remember talking to him.
(30:18):
About and also Like Jimmy doherty who is like his
old coach At arizona who went up To washington was,
what Like jimmy was, like he probably has a forty
inch vertical and he was, like, no it's only like thirty.
Four people think it's higher than it's just because my
timing is really. Good and he's like a volleyball. Player
you can go on all like The instagram stuff and see,
like you know these volleyball jumpers where it's like the,
(30:40):
timing how they do, it how they you, know the
angle they do it to get so much force into the.
Ground AND i think he's taken that and really utilize
it to become such a. WEAPON i think he's. AWESOME
i think he's the best receiver in this. Draft you,
know whether he run really runs four six one four
(31:00):
or five. ONE i think he's gonna make a ton
of plays in THE. Nfl AND i, think you, know,
again he if he, slides it'll be because people are
gonna have a little bit of hesitation on his. Speed
and this isn't a good receiver draft in terms of
like last year you had four, high high level guys and,
look you, KNOW i live in Southern california and as you,
(31:21):
know mcconkey's you, know been, tremendous, incredible you, know AND
i think there's other guys you, know in the draft,
tour but so this isn't that. Draft like if if
T mack was in this, DRAFT i think he probably
in last year's, DRAFT i think he would have gone
ahead Of Brian. THOMAS i Think Brian thomas is not
quite as, big but he's big and he's definitely. Faster
but you, KNOW i, know he had a really good
(31:42):
year In, jacksonville BUT I i would like t mac
more than. Him but, yeah HE'S i think he's still
like a high level. Guy but after, HIM i think
it drops off a, lot missing. ANYTHING i feel Like
i've kept you way too. Long fastest quarterback who should
run here but probably won't from WHAT i heard last,
Night Jalen. MILROE i mean he could run in the
(32:04):
he should and could RUN i think in the four,
threes but he's not going to do it HERE i.
Heard so that's a little seems like that's a bad,
decision especially if you're really good at, running go do, It,
yeah especially if you're not projected as like people are
talking about Cam ward And. Shador they're not talking about
him in, That And i'm not saying if he ran
four three two then all of a sudden he would
be you, know, somebody go Are i'm going to take
(32:25):
him at eleven instead because he's super. Fast BUT i
think it probably would boost his stock because people are
going to look at it and, go, man that's a
weapon and you can do some stuff with you, know
a package with him if if you think you're going
to develop because he does have a really really strong
arm and he's very. Smart he's just really, inconsistent but
(32:45):
he can definitely.
Speaker 1 (32:46):
Run it's, great. MAN i love. IT i love. It
every year we get to do. It we get to
See bruce out at the training camp as. Well it's
always fun to chop it up with. Him if you
don't have an athletic, subscription get one just for the freaks.
List it's. Awesome make sure you follow all Of bruce's
social media channels as. Well we appreciate, it, man that's.
Fun as the official hospitality provider of THE nfl and
(33:08):
proud partner of The Los Angeles, chargers On location has
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first choice of tickets and bespoke. Experiences all, right so
(33:52):
again big thanks To Bruce Feldman Freaks. List always fun
to suck back prior to a. Combine and we're going
to wrap up Today's Chargers weekly With Matt. Miller does
it over there AT espn got the top fifty prospects
that just posted a couple days. Ago, matt we. Appreciated
how's combine. Going it's going.
Speaker 3 (34:08):
Well i've only had one steak so, far one steak
so the, weeks.
Speaker 1 (34:12):
You, know there you.
Speaker 3 (34:13):
GO i THINK i have four more nights, here so
we'll see how MANY i can.
Speaker 1 (34:15):
Get, in how many any shrimp? Cocktail? One, okay there you?
Go WHICH i?
Speaker 3 (34:19):
Think you, know we talk so much freer here at
cle just resets you every night exactly.
Speaker 1 (34:23):
Right, yeah you, know there's certain things you have to
do In. Indianapolis one expensive steak to, cocktail clean up the.
Sinusys three don't sleep there you, go and four don't
drink too. Much, yeah some of us can attest, to
but you, know you learn that one night and then
you ADJUSTICE i learned early in this. Trip. Matt let's
start with just kind of your top fifty list and
what you, see how you see this draft as a,
(34:44):
whole where the depth is and where you're going to get.
Speaker 3 (34:46):
Value this is a great draft at running, back tight,
end defensive, tackle and defensive. Endedgereshers some mean potatoes, draft,
Right there's not the, quarterbacks which you guys don't. Need
there's not the wide receivers in this, draft even the
Corner it is maybe not the most top heavy draft
that those positions that we have really gotten used to
having dominant draft classes. Of but this is a year
(35:07):
that you build your trenches and you can build that.
Foundation AND i think you know where The chargers are
at back in a round, one like there's gonna be
really good players on the, board BECAUSE i think the
cool thing about this draft is like the player THAT
i have like eleventh, overall and the PLAYER i have. Fortieth,
overall they're pretty much graded the. Same, okay there's a
really strong middle class in this, draft AND i think
(35:29):
that's going to be like the back end Of round
one all the way through round.
Speaker 1 (35:32):
Two there's really good. Depth and you, KNOW i mean
we were talking about it before you threw the headset. On,
look every team is. Different you're getting asked about different
players and how they fit for different. Franchises so you,
know The chargers saw. Him you Know Jim. Harbaugh you
watch a lot Of michigan football and kind of what
he built. There so as you maybe connect the dots of,
hey this player fits here because of the scheme they're,
running or the style of, player the type of football
(35:53):
player they. Want let's start a running. Back you, know
they've Basically jks a free, agent feels like they want
to bring him. Back they draft That kamani By dell
last year didn't get a lot of. Reps and then
you Have Gus edwards and Asan haskins don't know kind
of how that running back room is going to. Look
so as you look at this group of running, backs
kind of is there one that jumps out at you
that that you could Say, yeah that's that's A Jim
Harbaugh Greg roman type of.
Speaker 3 (36:13):
Other Than Ashton Jens because if, so then, yeah Absolutely Ashton.
Gentz what's funny IS i actually think it's one of
the guys From Ohio, state Quin Shawn. Judkins it's, like
will we see An Ohio state player drafted By Jim.
Harball you, know probably it's gonna, happen, Right BUT i
Think judkins fits just because he has that downhill running.
Style he's able to find tough, yards contact balance is really.
Speaker 1 (36:35):
GOOD i like Both Ohio state.
Speaker 3 (36:37):
Guys Tragon henderson would be different because he's going to
give you a little more speed out of the. Backfield
he's a great, receiver he's really really good in pass.
Protection BUT i think With, harball LIKE i always go
back to Those niner days with Like Frank, Gore like
that's the kind of running BACK i think, about like
they want to pound the, ball they want a running
back that you don't want to tackle in the fourth,
quarter and that's That's. JUDKINS i, mean he's he's just
an animal and and he's that a guy in that
(36:58):
round two. Range so, right if we're talking round, one
Like gent's, off let's, Say gents's off the. BOARD i
don't think there's a guy you have to, draft and
one Like hampton's Good Caleb johnson would be a really
good fit out Of, iowa but this is such a
deep running back, CLASS i think you might be able
to find a guy later than round.
Speaker 1 (37:13):
One so the other position that they're tied to a,
lot and it's under, understandable is his tight. End you
know you Had Will disley last. Year you asked him
to do a lot more than maybe you thought you
were going to ask him to do because of just
sort of the lack of pass catching. Options sort of
what do you see when you look at this this
tight end. Group, WELL i think you can go a
couple different. Ways it is a good tight end, Group
BUT i mean it's almost like there's two different tight end. Positions.
Speaker 3 (37:34):
Now you, know you've got the big guys Like Tyler
warren From Penn, State Mason taylor FROM. Lsu then you've
got the athletes Like Colston, lovelin Who harball's obviously very
very familiar with because they're time together At. Michigan SO
i think it's the question, of, like what what do
you want from that position? Group and like you mentioned
With Will disley last. YEAR i don't know that we
know exactly what they're looking for. Yet you, know we
can look at What joe had In. Baltimore those type
(37:55):
Like Mark andrews is more of that, big physical tight
end that's more of a don't want to tackle me
instead of you can't tackle me type of. Player SO
i would, say Like Tyler warren fits that, mold he's
likely going to be off the board by the time
you guys. Pick But Mason taylor from LSU's in That
Terrence ferguson From. OREGON i think it's a round, two
round three player who's kind of means slept on a little.
BIT i can see him having a good week here
(38:16):
and pushing himself up. Boards but he's in that similar
type of. Mold, okay so let's go offensive. Line it
was something That Joe ortiz talked about in his press
for a couple of days ago about potentially Moving zion to,
center that that's something they're maybe going to explore this.
Offseason feels like interior offensive line is another so and
a lot of them are tackles right that we're talking
about being. Guards but it feels like that's a strength
of this.
Speaker 1 (38:36):
Draft.
Speaker 3 (38:36):
Yeah if you look at all the short tackles in
this draft and, say, okay well you're probably a, guard
then the guard group gets real, deep real. Fast so
in even in round, one you, Know Will campbell FROM
lsu is going to come off the word. Early he
might be a. Tackle Kelvin banks From. Texas he was
a three year left tackle for The. Longhorn some teams
like him inside because he's a hair over six foot,
four even though he has longer. ARMS i Think Josh
connery From oregon could play guard and be really good.
(38:58):
THERE i, mean he's a good, tack but he could
be a really good guard as. Well Tyler booker From,
ALABAMA i mean he's a left. Guard he's played one
game at tackling, college but he is the definition of
plug and.
Speaker 1 (39:08):
Play so what do you mean by? That, like, like
what is because it seems Like Tyler booker is the
guy that everybody's talking. About Tyler booker is he's a.
Speaker 3 (39:14):
Maler you, know his ability to control guys in front
of him in the run game is really. Impressive but
then he's athletic enough to like scrape and get to
the second. Level he arrives with, violence WHICH i love
from a, guard but he's also he's so athletic that
he's he gets there and he's under control and then
he just erases. Guys so his agility in space is
really really. Impressive but then he shows up with power
(39:36):
and some bad.
Speaker 1 (39:37):
Intentions, right and then how about later because you know
a lot of times they'll, say, oh premium, position take
a tackle in round, one you, know take your guards
sort of in those later middle. Rounds is it a deep?
Group is? It because we know how important in the
value that the teams are putting on offensive line and
we're seeing more guards and centers go. Early but in
terms of you, know like you, said because you have
a lot of these tackle to guard, potential does it
(39:58):
look like there's value in those MIDDLE i think there will.
Speaker 3 (40:01):
Be AND i like two guys From, Georgia Tate ratledge
And Dylan, fairchild and they're not being talked about as
like top seventy five picks for some. REASON i think
that might be due to. Injury so we'll see if
that gets cleared up this. WEEK i watched the tape
on both, guys especially in twenty twenty. Three they both
look like plug and play starters to. Me, now The
georgia run game wasn't as good this, year and it
was because both those guys were banged, Up but they
(40:21):
have three years of starting tape in THE sec and
they were all conference performers in THE. Sec that's a
pretty good indicator you're gonna be okay at the next.
Level SO i think both those guys have started. Potential
and if you talk about Rat ledge maybe round three
And fairchild could be maybe even early day.
Speaker 1 (40:35):
Three. Okay so we're just rolling through it now With
matt the one, position AND i don't know if it's
a thin position in the draft or just because we
have so much confidence In Steve, klinkscale our defensive backs,
coach that he can make anything. Work you had two
fifth round guys last, year so you, know let's start.
There let's start with kind of where you were at
(40:56):
with tar Heeeb still and Cam hart last. Year because
if you have corner that are capable of starting in THE,
nfl they're not going in the fifth. Round it's preat.
Imposition so what were your thoughts on those two, guys
what you then saw them become in maybe a corner
or two that you would focus on that that seemed
to fit what they.
Speaker 3 (41:12):
DO i THINK i had a seventh round grade On
tarry still real, HONESTLY i was, obvious way way too
low on. Him with Cam, HART i started with a
high grade on, him and IF i, remember he had an,
injury he did and then he ran slowly and it
knocked him down the. Board SO i went from like
round two on him when the season, STARTED i THINK
i ended up in round. Five so BUT i think
that's a great example of how much scheme matters and
(41:33):
understanding how to draft guys for your, scheme because if
they went somewhere, else they might if they went to
The rams instead of The, chargers they might not be
on the field. Right and SO i think being able
to identify that is so great for teams to, say, like,
hey that's.
Speaker 4 (41:45):
Our kind of.
Speaker 3 (41:45):
Guy now moving that, forward who fits that? MOLD i
Think Trey amos From ole miss would fit, that and
he's going to be a guy that goes probably in
the second. Round but he has the, length he's tough
at the line of. SCRIMMAGE i think he has a
little more speed than those guys did coming. Out BUT
i think that that's going to be something to watch
in draft number two for them As, okay what we're
starting to understand what they want of?
Speaker 1 (42:04):
Positions?
Speaker 3 (42:05):
Right how important is a guy who can run a
four to three or four to four?
Speaker 1 (42:08):
Corner is that?
Speaker 3 (42:09):
Important or are they you, know prioritizing, physicality a line
of scrimmage, technique things like.
Speaker 1 (42:14):
That you, Know AND i guess because we have you
and you have the knowledge base to kind of talk
about day, three, fifth, sixth seventh round just kind of
where do you think the depth? Is where where are
the big AND i guess in your, experience what are
kind of the smart? Picks is it? Traits is it?
Production is it, hey small school guy that we're going
to see if he can make that? Leap kind of
(42:34):
what is? It do you have a? Philosophy is there
a right approach in the later?
Speaker 3 (42:37):
Round AND i feel like in my job it, changes
right because we go through the ebbs and. Flows sometimes
it is like, hey on day, three that's when you
take a flyer on athletic ability and you hope you
can develop. It AND i think it depends on your.
Team where your team is at in its in its, process,
right you, know for The. Chargers it's a playoff. Team
you've got a franchise, quarterback you've got two great offensive.
TACKLES i think you can take some of those day
(42:59):
three swings on. Athleticism if you were The Cleveland, BROWNS
i would, say, no you need. Starters you need you,
know you need twenty two guys who can get on
the football. Field let's, go you, know high production from
college guys who are multi year. Starters maybe in THE
sec or The Big, ten they can get out there.
Faster BUT i think with where The chargers are, AT
i would take some flyers on athletes wide, receiver running, back,
(43:20):
corner safety on day three and hope that you hit
on one of. Those and then you, have you, know
a four year starter who's very inexpensive because you got
them on day.
Speaker 1 (43:29):
Three all, right let's finish with, This, matt just because
you know they're going to ask you to grade the.
Drafts we want you to give The chargers AN a
for their. Draft AND i don't mean to put you
on the. Spot i'm sure you have a database that
you'd be able to cross reference to kind of know
sort of needs and players and. Stuff but just off
the top of your, head kind of what do you
what do you think it looks? Like what do you
think they need and what players can you imagine dropping
(43:51):
in what that would give them that a?
Speaker 3 (43:52):
Grade, YEAH i think before free agency and we'll see
what happens with the pass. Rushers right if you can
Get Colston lovelin at twenty, two that's AN a for.
Me that's a stamp it. You i'll write it right.
Now if they draft, him that's AN a for me
because it is what they. NEED i, Mean ladd had
such a great year and, he's you, know a number
one receiver for you. Guys finding more weapons For Justin,
HERBERT i think is something that would be a priority for,
(44:14):
me especially as you now have you, know the play
calling and the development on that side of the. Ball so,
again we'll see what happens with with you, know the pass.
Rushers hopefully Clil mack is, Back hopefully Punt A ford is.
Speaker 4 (44:25):
Back.
Speaker 3 (44:25):
Yeah if they're, not THEN i would like to be
able to change my answer and say we got to
go d. Line BUT i think right, now if you
could Get loveland in the first, round that'd be a slam.
Speaker 1 (44:33):
Dunk but the receiver group is good.
Speaker 3 (44:34):
Too you, know if you could Get Matthew golden From
Texas Mecha abuca From Ohio state would be a really,
good you, know guy doing some of the dirty work,
underneath so improving that underneath passing game.
Speaker 1 (44:43):
Would be, big great. Stuff check him. Out he'll be
here all week burning the midnight. Oil so we appreciate. It,
matt thanks so. Much, yeah you. Bet, thanks all, right
it's gonna do it For Chargers. Weekly As matt makes
his way to another, table we will wrap it up
here From. Indianapolis big thank you to our team, Page, Amen, Will,
brian everybody doing heavy lifting and going out late and
(45:05):
making sure we have a good time while also getting
great content for all of. You so hopefully you all enjoyed.
It we'll be back again next week following the. Combine
as Free agent is the Free agency is upon us
to deliver another episode Of Chargers. Weekly
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