LA Chargers Preview: Jim Harbaugh and the 2024 NFL Draft!

we're talking La Chargers football on the prime Sports Network YouTube channel and don't forget we just uh finished uh putting together a very short video that you can find on the ourlads football network we'll have a link in the description we did the top three draft needs and Alex insdorf is our special guest covering the charges for the Chargers wire and also you can find out about his podcast on YouTube and streaming of course on Apple and so forth guilty is charge podcast and heic specifically holds bolts bolt break breakdowns on that channel so Alex good to have you on here for the very first time talking charges football yeah excited to get into it draft is nine days away so uh we'll talk about the depth chart now and then in nine days that might be a completely different story but uh certainly certainly depth chart that uh is a little bit of an eyesore right now after free agency but hopefully we can get it to where it needs to be well let's talk about the wide receiver position first it's a great way to start uh because it's the top need everybody I think is there's a consensus on that um and we've done the mock drafts here on the show and I haven't had the opportunity to pick for the Chargers on any of our mock drafts but what I've done is is I've kind of uh taken the other side being and we didn't I didn't even mention this but being even though I've got the ruter probably shouldn't see this too so when you were a ruter fan and you grew up in New Jersey back in the 60s 70s there's not a lot of ruter football on TV so you had to uh anybody uh had to uh even if you were no matter what kind of fan you were uh you had to go for those big programs and I and I I went with Michigan so I grew up when harau was the quarterback there so I have a lot of ties to the to to Michigan and the harau so I'll be rooting for him no question with the Chargers but I I also wanted to bring that up because like I said I had a point that I I thought was valid which was it's obvious they need a receiver they're GNA be able to draft either the first or second receiver it's a done deal I don't know about that and be I don't know about that because of two reasons one I really believe he's GNA trade down I think the Chargers need some more um because you just talked about it they need a lot more ammunition on that depth chart up and down number two um I think that just as much as having a really good receiver especially in the NFL and Quinton Johnson wow that's what everybody's looking for and Jim harbar he's no different but I also know that harbar is about building especially on offense building the line of scrimmage uh he still needs to have an athletic tight end he's got a really good uh uh blocking tight end but he needs an athletic pass catching tight end and um and and and getting Gus Edwards obviously is the first step in building the power running game but that's just the first step so um so so the long way of putting it is is I I don't know I think if they don't trade down I'm still looking at them as possibly drafting a tackle but that's why I think they'll probably trade down um Maybe I'm Wrong maybe it's a Dun if Harrison goes before that or uh um or again I know because most people believe of course uh that uh harison will go in the top four but if he's still available I think that's the only way that I could see him taking a receiver if somehow Harris that is still there at five but maybe I'm wrong yeah I think the position they're in is that they kind of are at the mercy of what the Cardinals decide to do uh a little bit because the Cardinals are at four there's been a lot of tradeback talk with them uh potentially trading back with either teams like the Vikings Giants teams that are going to be angling for whoever that fourth quarterback is ever since the combine there's been that four quarterbacks going in the top four smoke um how much of it is real you know we'll find out in about a week or so uh but I do think the Chargers if they had the four spot I think there would be kind of almost a no-brainer that they Oh you mean if they moved up to four no no no I'm saying because there there was actually a game where the Chargers the Chargers were had lost to Kansas City in week okay yeah in week 18 week 18 and uh the Cardinals missed a field goal basic basically you know uh I don't want to say it was intentional that they missed the fial he never misses those yeah yeah yeah Matt Prader misses two field goals I think in that game and then he misses the one at the buzzer that would have given them the win over Seattle Chargers would have gotten the fourth so saying that I'm not saying that uh Jonathan Ganon Cardinals coach told him the shank it I'm just I'm just imply I'm asking the question um but anyway I think if they you know controlled their own destiny in that sense with with the fourth pick then the situation would be a little bit different but obviously they are kind of like I said at the mercy of what the Cardinals decide to do um now if they if one of the quarterbacks does slide to five and let's say the Cardinals stick and pick Marvin Harrison Jr then I think the trade down scenario becomes very likely um but it's just kind of Uncertain in the air um my my take in terms of what I would do is I think you have to stick and pick the Blue Chip receiver um I just think when I go back through these last you know four drafts that I've covered uh on the podcast I think Marvin Harrison Jr and Mal neighbors and even o dun is about as strong as a top three um at wide receiver that there's ever been and you know in replacing Keenan Allen replacing Mike Williams those guys I just think you need to have Justin Herbert have you know a cost controlled you know wide receiver that has the potential to be a top five guy in the league uh and that's really what those players can bring to you over the next four years uh five years of their rookie contract with the your options so um that who do you think be leaning towards adun or neighbors NE um personally I lean towards neighbors um and I know the Chargers uh met with him they had an official top 30 visit with him they met with Odun I think at the combine also uh and then hortiz was at Joe hortiz the GM was at LSU's prod day so take that for what it's worth in terms of trying to like read between the lines and all that stuff but uh personally I lean towards neighbors and just the you know ways that he creates um explosive plays I think Odun will be viewed by some to be the more higher floor Prospect um to some extent compared to neighbors but I also think the cealing of what neighbors can do in the league um with his athletic profile is something that we really haven't you know seen in a while uh in the draft uh with as complete of a package as as he can bring maybe since uh somebody like you know Jamar chase at the top of the draft certainly kind of you know reminiscent of that um OD beckam Jr you know when he was coming out the draft that's kind those are kind of the players that I think neighbors is pretty comparable to um athletically so that would be my preference kind of if Marv is off the board Marv is if Marv is on the board oh yeah you don't you I I and I could feel that the Chargers would have this thing we got to trade back we have to fill the roster bit different yeah yeah if Marv is on the board I I think that you run that pick in as fast as you as fast as you can personally that could happen if they if they get the right offer like you said for somebody wants to move up and grab McCarthy say uh yeah that makes a lot of sense yeah really really depends in my opinion on how much smoke there is about the Cardinals trading back because I think if the Cardinals trade back that kind of diminishes the offer of what the Chargers could get to then trade back uh you know the fourth quarterback kind of being off the board by that point and then I think they stick and pick but if they are able to execute you know the McCarthy uh trade back or the May tradeback whoever is on the board at that point then I think you're probably looking at them getting you know the Vikings offer let's say hypothetically of 11 and 23 and a future pick uh for five or something along those lines and then you're talking about getting a tackle at 11 and then you're talking about maybe getting uh a wide receiver or a corner or some something like that defensive tackle maybe at uh 23 so I think there's a lot of options uh for what they could do there but again they're not necessarily in control of their own destiny would you also add Brock Bowers into that equation if they trade down yeah I I think Brock Bowers could be there if they trade down trading down to 11 is a little tough for Bowers though because I think there is a lot of smoke about him going to the Jets at 10 yeah I I I'm a Jet fan and uh honestly I'd be shocked I know why everybody's saying it because of the way that the board's falling yeah but the Jets are so I don't care what they say about They just added offensive lineman they're one-year guys they're prone to injury he Joe Douglas will not allow that to happen again and he's gonna draft an offensive lineman yeah I I I wouldn't be surprised if that was the case and I certainly think you have guys uh like fanu leam fashanu who are going to be uh in that range once you know Joe alal probably goes off the board at some point uh either to the Chargers or to the Titans so I I wouldn't I I could see them definitely going for offensive linemen I think Bowers to me the only reason I think about him particularly to the Jets is that they need you know I think weapons as much as possible like in this year uh you know I I mean it's it's sure a decision time to some extent on like Joe Douglas Robert Salah Aaron Rogers and you know this whole um era that they've been building you know who knows what Aaron Rogers decides to do after after 24 um so I I think that that would be the reason that I think Bowers might be the pick there but you know Bowers is there at 11 uh you know maybe maybe people being spooked by the positional value of tight end in the first round based on maybe how some of those other picks have historically pent out um then I certainly think that the Chargers could uh go in that direction I think they would lean offensive tackle or defensive playmaker uh personally I I wouldn't write off the you know chance that they could get uh premium defensive tackle or premium uh Corner uh that selection too but I I think they would probably go offensive tackle if they were to like trade back to 11 yeah and and by the way the Jets are another team that could could very well trade down too if they trade down a few spots because they don't have a second round draft pick and they could definitely use uh a few more premium picks so um should be real wild uh and and that's what we love about the draft about all these possible trades that could occur um and so let's by the way how many picks do the Chargers have they have nine okay and it is they have a all their seven picks and then they have the fourth rounder from the Keenan Allen trade and then they have the seventh rounder that they got as a comp pick all right so basically they really only have the the double four so yeah yeah okay so that's uh again I mean it's a good good amount of picks uh but uh you know if if if they need as many additional uh picks as I think we agree that they probably look to get yeah um we we'll we'll see but uh a lot can happen and we just went over all those scenarios okay so um let's now move on to uh we'll stick with offense and talk about that Al line because we talk about some people will look and they'll see pipkins and okay contract wise and player he is well he's probably G to be here for another year um and he's been serviceable at Best But in reality uh this line what do they need what do they need to do like let's just take a look at the top 2025 or 2026 offensive line for the charges and Harbaugh has had two off Seasons to reshape it uh who's still there and what spots do you think will have new and improved players yeah I think ran play ran Slater is certainly the player that to me is still there um I think if you are talking about the three like Untouchable players in the Chargers organization right now it's him it's Derwin James and it's uh Justin Herbert like to me if you're talking about retooling this roster it is around those three players and you have a a very you know stud left tackle you know you don't uh let go of those guys and I'm sure at some point they'll come to some kind of extension with him um I think the really big question when you look long-term two three years in the future kind of like you were saying is cor uh Cory Lindley you know is on this depth chart he's going to you know presumably retire um as you know he's had his you know battles with health concerns and heart issues um they've signed Bradley Boseman from Carolina who right now is the presumptive starter um bosan is also 30 and coming off of you know from a pass protection standpoint one of his worst seasons um you know he had lowed 32 pressures last year I think at the center position um so I think really and you even go back to the 23 Chargers like the season really fell apart when Cory Lindley went down uh in in week four and didn't play another St for the rest of the year and you look at the numbers of the Kell Moore offense uh before Corey Lindley got hurt and after you know uh his his removal from the lineup it they're really you know jarring uh from the first three weeks to what the rest of the season was and I think that was part of the reason the running game fell apart after they had a couple good weeks to start the season so I think in terms of you know ball establishing the trenches I I think the first you know Domino to fall there is honestly who's going to be kind of the long-term Center okay in this draft they've given themselves you know uh with the signing of Boseman some you know room to see okay which guy do we like who who is you know in the draft for sure Drake nuden is another Michigan player who would be available uh potentially in the later rounds uh there at Center but um yeah to me I think the conversation all starts there at Center and then uh second thing I would say is Zion Johnson and and Jamari saller um because those were two players that I think the previous regime last year when they switched positions uh Jamari kicked out from tackle he went inside after Slater was healthy again uh Zion essentially flipped sides of the line as well I think they had a better feeling about that that you know in the preseason with Corey Lindley healthy um you know so what positions those guys are playing I I think in 2024 is very up in the air do do you think that their their quality guards that have a potential future here do you think that they might get lucky enough where Johnson and sawer could be part of the future a card I I think they can I mean saler has shown you know a lot of uh you know Bona fights particularly a tackle when he filled in yeah for ran Slater when he was healthy um last year wasn't as good for him but he was still certainly service Zion had a very promising rookie year and then last year following Cory Lindley you know it all kind of fell apart in terms of you know pressures he was giving up but he's still a former first round pick and I think we've just seen the trend around the league that like teams when someone does have that first round you know kind of bonafide grade so to speak they you know give them a bunch of chances to get back to where they were uh and so I think Zion is one of those guys that you know is due for you know bounceback as well and uh mcfaden and so what do you and again we have to all look at this as this Harbaugh but it's also you know there's a new GM so there's really two new uh faces to the franchise regarding what kind of prospects and players they're going to want they did not draft these guys so it'll be interesting to see who they like and who they don't but what about mcfaden um mcf showing up last year uh he he played in a couple games towards the end of the season because the offensive line was banged up so he he had got a couple snaps towards the end of the year um Harbaugh actually mentioned him I think in one of his uh press conferences as a guy who could potentially uh you know kick into Center and be versatile as like a sort of because he actually played uh some he's played tackle he's played guard uh and so he's a guy that could potentially be a center candidate and haral specifically talk about his versatility I don't think he would be like starting center this year but that's one of those like down the road things potentially um you know how much of that is real versus Harbaugh complimenting everybody on the roster I don't know okay um but that's the first time we really heard's name potentially mentioned uh as you know Center candidate uh which is something I didn't really expect to hear so that kind of depends on again what they do in the draft um but if they value his versatility that much yeah I can certainly see him uh playing a role so if everything were to go uh best case scenario it is possible that all right definitely need to find a future Center and a future right tackle at the very least those are the two spots that if they can fill those in with really good players we know Slater is a good player then you know what maybe the offensive line could be looking pretty good within a year or two but again that's if Zion Johnson and so were to work out um would you agree with that Center and right tackle yeah I think those are certainly the natural natural needs coming into this draft um I I think if the value is right um in this class I wouldn't be surprised if they looked at uh you know filling Right Guard and left guard as well uh and just getting you know bodies in that trans y you know later on day three absolutely that kind of thing um so yeah I would say Center and right tackle uh depending on the kind of prospect that they're able to get because I think the Trey pipkins watch to some extent really is the first round uh in terms of are they going to get a joal a Troy fanu a JC leam somebody who they would put at right tackle year one or you because once you get to round two and let's say hypothetically they don't take the tackle and they take the best receiver on the board at five then I think Trey pipkins is probably still starting next year and then they'll probably take someone in round two round three because I I think round one is kind of where like the immediate day one starters in this draft ATT tackle uh and and by the way you talked about ex-michigan players we as we know they're just littered with offensive linemen in this year's draft so not necessarily guys that g to go early but guys that are G to be available late it'll be I mean you and you also know that any of these players that end up in free agency I mean come on I I I mean I can't imagine how many guys if they make it the free agency aren't all going to just gravitate towards uh the Chargers before anywhere else so yeah uh Trent Jones is one of those guys who played tackle uh Michigan so I I wouldn't be surprised if they went after him Zack zinter is a guy who probably goes in like the middle of day three at guard after his injury last year but I think you know uh he's healing up and rehabbing uh so far so I think those are kind of the alignment to look for uh who else am I thinking of oh L larius yeah so those are probably like the day three guys maybe if they don't uh necessarily go tackle or some of those guys like you said maybe uh fall undrafted then I think you could certainly see harball yeah picking them up in under after free agency uh have you used this like as a contest yet like how many like with the over and under on how many Michigan player how many rookies from Michigan end up on the roster have you done that yet no but I've been thinking of like betting odds in my head and I'm like because a month ago I was like you know I'll put the over under and one a half and and maybe h no well like as as like wait a second we're not talking dra are we talking draft or overall uh we're talking overall there's yeah draft that's good draft is I was like over you know a month ago I think it over under one and a half and then uh I've been keeping up with the top 30 visits of people who've been at the Chargers facility and it's it's Blake Corum it's Junior Coulson it's uh you know pretty much everyone they just met with uh Chris Jenkins today I think so you know it's a you know who's who have names there uh Roman Wilson like you mentioned earlier uh could be that pick if they don't go wide receiver in round one so um and maybe cor Johnson becomes a free agent that comes in wide corus Johnson I think he's probably gonna be the guy that gets drafted just because of how well he tested combine yeah um but yeah no I certainly think you go down the list and there's probably going to be a whole litter of you know Michigan play is probably on this roster I don't think it's going to be you know four or five like Roman Wilson said in his in his quote I don't think so no drafted drafted yeah I think I think you'll probably my BET right now would be if I had to say I'd think two from from the draft I I think you get one in that like rounds two to four range whether that's a Mike sandr still Junior Coulson uh Blake Corum and then I think you'll get one maybe who is in that uh date brief range so that could be um a couple guys we mentioned already as lineman but then you also have AJ Barner tight end you also have um Jaylen harell who is pretty good on the edge as well uh so definitely a couple guys I could see them going there but right now my gut tells me two I could certainly see that being three on that on on draft day and if they trade down and they all of a sudden go from nine to 12 picks then maybe three so right exactly possible yeah and what not also and and it could be other guys too like Eric all you know ex Michigan yeah that players yep uh I think I think Brock Bowers that's another interesting one because he was another I think he originally committed to Michigan and then flipped to flipped to Georgia so there's definitely a couple guys who have been offered by Michigan uh you know yeah plenty of guys that Hara done recruiting visits on and his homework on that didn't even go maybe to Michigan uh for sure yeah so uh should be interesting and also for the next couple years this is not going to end because uh he these are the years that they need to take advantage of his experience in college like you said recruiting these kids he knows these kids that are coming out of the draft in the next couple years so three years from now that's gon to change but take advantage of these next two to three drafts I'm sure they're going to do that okay um now at running back you mentioned Gus Edwards makes a lot of sense Baltimore balls power running game okay great but right now and I'll be honest with you I'm not a big Isaiah Spiller fan really hav not been don't really consider that to be anything more than just he's still there that's just me um so I think that there's no doubt that they've got to add a premium running back at some point now look this is the draft that doesn't mean you can't get one of these guys in the third round the fourth round the fifth round uh and still come in and be a big-time contributor so um is there anyone specific a type of player uh or again a specific player that you think uh might work best here besides Blake Corum yeah um I'm a little lower on Blake Corum than the consensus and I know a bunch of people want to put him in round two round three oh that's too early no yeah and or you know you get to round four but Blake Corum is you know 24 he's one of the older running backs in this class uh he also did suffer the knee injury the year prior and I I wonder what part of Harbaugh kind of goes man you know we we ran a lot of miles on that guy in Michigan right and so the history of you know running back would suggest that you know and certainly the way that draft Trends work is that age does have an inverse correlation with production um so I am a little bit lower on Korum I look at uh some of the guys like Jaylen Wright uh in this class out of Tennessee I think think if you put him uh in a Back Field kind of with Gus Edwards maybe as your PowerBack I think Jaylen Wright is a great instant contributor and also change a pace back because they don't really have a running back with a lot of you know home run speed who also uh has that Vision in between tackles that Jaylen Reich does um so I look at him I think if you're going more for that like physical downhill nature certainly a guy uh like brillan Allen makes a lot of sense uh in a Greg Roman type of Run game out of Wisconsin uh I know Jordan Reed from ESPN mentioned that on my show he's you know potentially a perfect you know fit uh a lot of different contrasting Styles I think of running backs in this class you have your more physical guys um certainly more of your like Speedster types as well like right who I just mentioned so um lot of interesting possibilities but I think if we're talking like of the top of the running backs that are going to go in the top 100 I think think Jaylen Wright would be like kind of my favorite fit in that round three range yeah and he's actually right now our lad's number two running back out of the entire class yeah that that you know it's kind of interesting because there's not like a true consensus number one right now uh a lot of people value Brooks but then there's obviously the questions about the knee injury from last year um and so then you have like Trey Benson who is my personal I like Trey Benson a lot he's my personal rb1 when I Scout these guys I watch the tape so um I would rank him as my favorite but I think he might go a little too early before the Chargers in round three uh because I think I think that run at running backs that's going to happen in the draft really starts after 50 I think you're going to start to see those running back picks come off the board fast with maybe like six seven uh that come in that period from yeah 50 to pick 100 I think you're going to see them start to fly off the board even though this has kind of been like a a panned running back class by a lot of people and like it's not that good you know and that's why maybe saquon Barkley and some of these other bigger free agents kind of got more favorable uh contracts but I still do think this is a running back class where you can get some of those absolutely day three guys even though it is a little bit of an older group a little bit more injured but I still think I do think the Chargers probably take one with especially considering that extra fourth round pick that they have from the Keenan Allen trade I would bet on one of their first five certainly to be used on a running back before yeah pick 110 is kind of the lower end of the picks there um but I would definitely think that they take one yeah I think there I think most of the criticism comes because there isn't the top 10 running back in this class so they pan it when that doesn't make a running back class what makes the running back class is the depth and and it does have good quality depth like you said there's a bunch of Dave cyberon our lead Scout at our Lads and he matter of fact has Bens his number one and he talked about how once you get past Benson he goes my number two and my seven there's like basically you can you can swap them that's how close they are uh as far as how he grades them so I exactly what you're saying so yeah I think there's definitely going to be more than enough running backs to choose from once you get past the first and probably even the second but like you said somewhere in the middle of that second round uh once it starts uh once they start coming off the clock okay um uh by the way uh Ben Mason is an interesting pickup and I know he might just be well again he was on the practice squad Harbaugh and we need a fullback let's see but I remember when he came out he just had so he was like a he was I I I remember saying oh he's got Baltimore Ravens written all over him and so he actually went to the Ravens I know he hasn't done anything yet but right um I still think that you know he's a no-name right now but he's an intriguing player and I know nobody nobody uses fullbacks very often anymore but um I just thought that was very interesting that I just remember him coming out of college thought he was the perfect fit for what the Ravens wanted to do and now that's definitely the same uh that holds true for the Chargers so um I'm intrigued to see if uh this kid actually sticks yeah I think if there's two teams that you're trying to make a roster spot as as a fullback the two most teams are probably the ners and the Ravens with usuk uh in in San Francisco and then Pat rard in Baltimore so that's ultimately why there wasn't a role for for Ben Mason to play on that team with amount of roster spots but you know he's he's an intriguing pickup um I know the Chargers tight ends coach talked last week that they kind of view him as uh what they call an F which is a you know hybrid between tight end and fullback um so you know I'll kind of be curious to see his usage throughout training camp throughout the preseason um and see how they want to utilize him and I think they've also used kind of that F terminology and how they like look at how the Ravens look at Isaiah likele sort of as like the hybrid uh kind of player as well so I I think Ben Mason is somebody that can certainly make the roster if they end up utilizing the fullbacks in Greg Roman's offense um it just depends I think on how they fill out the rest of the roster and then they obviously have Donald parm and ston smart still competing for uh spots a tight end uh and are they going to take a tight end in this draft and then certainly you know disly inured I think our roster locks and then after that if you throw a tight end in there um it would make uh that fourth spot if there is going to be a fourth tight end fullback spot on the roster pretty pretty competitive I think between uh parum smart Mason and they do draft a tight end uh whoever that player is uh from what you've seen out of by the way before we move on to the defense for what you've seen out of uh that quarterback room stick been getting chances to play uh finally but do you think stick is a do you think Harbo I don't know if's talked about him yet but do they Envision him as a quality number two um you know I I think the way that they've viewed stick is just he's been in the quarterback room with Herbert for a while I think they're comfortable with him playing that and I think the reality is like Herbert goes down like you're kind of you're kind of done anyway right um stick is someone who got valuable reps towards the end of the season I don't know if I foresee them making like a premium quarterback investment yeah maybe there could be like a day three pick but I don't even think this is the draft to do that again with the amount of needs that they have on this roster they drafted um max Dugen at a TCU last year who as we see is still on this roster um who maybe has some future qb2 potential but I I think stick holding that job for as long as he has as a credit to you know his performance under you know circumstances the last year which was a team you know unfortunately going you know right down the gutter he he played some quality games I think for what it's worth at the end of it um and I think him and Justin have always kind of had that connection in the quarterback room so I think that's why he's he's stuck around for a while um as you see he's drafted in 2019 he's been in a quarterback room with Philip Rivers with Tyron Taylor with Justin Herbert uh really everyone um so I think that's a testament to uh what what he does as kind of a you know someone who's vocal in the quarterback room and then also can step in there if need be all right let's move on to defense and uh the one spot that I actually thought they would lean towards first on defense was kind of where you went with your number three overall need on our other video um and that was the defensive line um because yeah they added Puna Ford but other than that there's just not a lot of matter of fact there really isn't any wow players on the defensive line and so that has to change so um which players do you think are part of the future um if anybody that's an interesting question I I think they they like what otito Bona has shown at points but obviously he just came back from a pretty devastating knee injury last year so we really haven't gotten to um see him kind of in this defense um outside of that they drafted Scott Matlock last year but as you said like a lot of the previous draft class you know members as part of this new regime like who knows who's GNA stick and who won't um Chris Hinton does have the the Michigan uh connection that I I do think it's kind of interesting and he's he's played um he's played some pretty significant snaps with the Chargers over the last uh two years you know as as they weathered a lot of defensive tackle injuries and then put forward I think is a big question mark um you know obviously the guy from Seattle a couple of years ago who was really solid for that defensive line but it's been a few years since he's been kind of in that form and then unfortunately didn't get a lot of playing time in Buffalo so I think this is kind of a Prov it year for him uh so to speak and I think he's happy to take this opportunity with the Chargers so I hope that works out um but yeah they they really just need that premium pass rusher I think somewhere in those first four rounds uh in particular and this is the class to do that obviously we mentioned Chris Jenkins but there's there's a number of guys I think in that four round range uh who could you know be instant contributors uh for the Chargers and so and that means that in in this draft would you think that it's uh more likely or um a question whether or not they add two pieces one being just you know regular defensive lineman for their base another being maybe a nose tackle do you think that's more than likely or um or you know a big question uh too yeah I would say less likely only because I think I think the position if there if there is one that they double dip on uh might actually be Corner um I think this is a really talented uh quarterback group and I think you can get some guys who you know if you make that round two pick a corner or even if they trade back for a corner round one you have one there and then you know round four round five or all along I still think there's some playable guys in that range uh defensive tackle I think certainly is like a possibility um but if I had to bet on one I think it probably would be Corner because right now like as you see on the depth chart um they have JN Taylor in the slot was all right um Asante Samuel Jr in the last year of his rookie contract uh and then they have Christian fton from Tennessee who's kind of a you know by low candidate to see if they can turn him into something uh in this Jesse ventor scheme but certainly there's nothing kind of guaranteed there um and I think you look at how set you know the safety room is with Derwin James and alohi Gilman um and the edge room with Joey Bosa and and KH Mack this year uh I I think that corner is kind of the one that sticks out to me more but I do still think defensive tackle yeah they they definitely have to get some bodies in there whether that's you know one in the draft maybe one in uh free agency post-draft and undrafted free agency I definitely think they'll find out a way to kind of fill that room is the most important thing in the secondary to find a nickel Corner more than anything uh nickel corner but also I mean outside like I I think they need an outside long-term corner there too um which is why you think they're gonna have multiple picks there you're gonna have to have an outside guy and and but Folton do you look at if they did that is fton then used more all right we'll go to Camp we've got our outside young pick and we've got fton and we're going them compete and go from there and then the other guy we draft is more than likely going to end up starting ahead of Taylor yeah probably um I think for example if if they were to do the tradeback scenario and and let's say they wind up with um one of the Alabama Corners right they terion Arnold and and KOA mckinstry there Cooper de jeene right if they can wind up with that type of Corner in round one tradeback let's say with the Vikings then I think you're looking at that player you know playing outside um maybe with theant Samuel Jr and they can kind of you know have foldon kind of compete um but yeah I think it really depends on how many corners they take but I think if you get that outside corner in the early rounds then um depending on which round they're taken then they'll compete with Folton but if you if they take a corner I think in the first two rounds then that player is an automatic starter I actually think if there's one Michigan player that I can see horri uh like if he had like a a list aboard all right here's my preference of the guys all my Michigan guys in pref of who I want I think who might be at the top might be s r still I really I I you know I think we've seen the value of slot Corner uh increase around the league uh in recent years and Sr still is a lockdown guy um from that position he would be an immediate day one starter um you know the the only the only thing is I really think it comes down to how much they value having an outside corner uh in particular and like someone who can play both because s still obviously is really good at what he does in the slot but obviously with the size concerns he's not a guy that is going to play outside in the league but I I love him as a prospect and you get him in round two I think that makes a whole lot of sense uh for the way this defense can run and ultimately you know I thought about this also with um Junior Coulson uh potential linebacker candidate they need someone who is going to be the Green Dot defensive play caller and I think if they take one of those Michigan guys then that player has kind of that instant chemistry uh with Minter uh can do a lot there and you know potentially is the signal caller uh for the defense so I think that's something to watch here um Derwin James obviously has called the plays in the past um but Minter kind of spoke about not wanting to like overwhelm him with you know responsibility uh so I wouldn't surprised that one of those Michigan guys they drafted particularly Coulson if he were to end up being the pick winds up being the signal caller for the Chargers on defense interesting okay so uh before we move over to linebacker to wrap up there the uh Gilman where did he come from I mean he really were you surprised about the breakout or did you see that coming he's a guy that I think for a couple years has just you know been really really smart at playing in the right positions he's come around with a few critical turnovers that you know earlier on his career 2122 actually won the Chargers some games um and then I think last year was just a a buildup of the work he's done uh certainly from previous seasons and I think he really saw him uh take off from there particularly just his his instincts uh and how he approaches you know coverages uh particularly when he's playing kind of in that free safety role um I I think have just gone you know kind of through the roof um and that's ultimately why he got the contract that he did and when you have a young safety like that I think even I I think it speaks to the kind of season that Gilman had that this new regime came in here you know no real previous connection to Gilman and he earned that uh two-year $10 million deal uh for the team so I think that uh speaks to how much they wanted to keep him around uh how uh maybe desired he was throughout the league uh in free agency uh with with the season he had and so I think they made the right decision to keep him around uh what about uh Samuel and James uh specific maybe more so of course James because he's older but um are these guys do do you expect them to be around for a while I mean sell's gonna get a new deal right yeah yeah I I um I don't I I think it would be interesting to see whether he gets New Deal or not okay um only because I wonder whether he's like the ideal Mentor system you know Corner um and I think towards the end of last season he had certainly some some rough games but the whole defense did as a whole um I would be curious to see again and this kind of depends on the type of corner they draft whether asant Samuel Jr is a part of their future um so I think about that and potentially letting walk for comp pick uh which is something Joe Ortiz is big on um and I you know there's just there's no way of knowing until we see I guess how the season plays out um but he certainly going to be a starter this year and I think has a chance to earn a contract extension but they also you know have to worry about what they're going to do in for agency next year uh prioritizing you know player like ran Slater as well um you know in terms of a contract extension so I would say I don't think he gets one right now but I think that is something that could change throughout the season and and Derwin as you mentioned I think is a guy who is going to be around for a long time he just signed a contract extension two years ago I can't remember but he you know became the highest paid safety in the league uh parau has talked ad nauseum about you know him and you know there's not many safeties like him in the league and has talked about him in that way too uh and I think Jesse Minter will certainly love to to use him so I see Derwin James like I said I think there's three players that definitely have roles on his team within the next two or three years and that's that's Herbert I think that's Slater and I think that's Derwin James as well okay and uh are there any of those other DBS you got will Cox Finley Leonard henkins and the highest drafted JT Woods any of those guys that you think could you know be part of the future could be ready to you know take it the next step JT Woods is interesting uh only because I mean he had a really high athletic profile coming out of college um but you know he just hasn't gotten the chance to really play significant snaps particularly in year one was behind alohi and Derwin uh and then in year two he dealt uh with a lot of health issues uh was kind of off the field really uh pretty much the last three quarters of the Season okay um and so I don't really know what the future holds for for Woods uh and General it was never like totally disclosed kind of what um he was dealing with but I think that uh it'll be interesting to see kind of what this new staff if they see something in him uh just because coming out of Bor he did have a lot of those you know project safety type traits you know we talked about kind of him needing to work on tackling but the the speed the instincts uh were certainly there for somebody who could be a weapon at the safety position so um I'm not necessarily like betting on a break out but if there's a guy who I think is a little bit interesting I I certainly think it could be JT Woods were they actually thinking when when they drafted him so high was the thought at that point that he was going to be the starting free safety and then all of a sudden Gilman started to up his game um I think when he was drafted they always viewed him as a little bit of a project but I think the previous regime uh always bet on some of those guys who had those like athletic traits uh in particular I don't know if I I don't think they expected Gilman to quite develop the way he did um certainly at the time that they made that pick back in 2022 yeah um but I would say that uh yeah Woods was certainly supposed to be um kind of a a real like Staley uh safety where you know I I think the the ultimate Vision was probably him playing with Derwin and and getting to work on those traits but obviously with um Tom Tesco and Brandon sty fire they never really to work with him the way that I think they ultimately wanted to and that obviously coincides with you know his his uh Health battles uh you know last year to try to stay on the field so uh I think that that you know is just kind of an incomplete project right now but we'll see whether Harbaugh um M I think there's some overlap uh from safeties coach uh Chris ly who was also a Notre Dame so sorry no no I'm thinking of thinking of Gilman uh I don't think there's really anyone who's uh I was thinking of Gilman but there's no one who over yeah that there's no one who really overlaps with JT Woods on the coaching staff um okay but just be curious if they view him as kind of a athletic weapon maybe there's some potential there but I I think absolutely Derwin Derwin and Gilman is certainly the future right now all right and uh wrapping up uh at linebacker so you you mentioned the fact that maybe keep an eye on someone coming in there uh especially Coulson um but you take a look and they added a couple of guys partman the most notable um uh Henley being a third round pick last year again new coaching staff and all that but I would think that when you draft the guy into third round the idea was was he was going to be a big time part of their defense this year do you still think that's possible yeah I I think right now he's he's pegged in to be a starter along with Denzel Perman those would be the two um as we you know enter the draft we'll see what happens but uh I think the goal for him last year because he's actually uh safety that was converted to linebacker so again he was kind of a a project pick a little bit of the old regime um but you know he played for Ryan fickin special teams last year Ryan fickin still here from the old staff uh still as the Special Teams coordinator so I think there's you know he's still pretty high on Dion and I think um Dion actually has lot of coverage instincts that I think that you know an older linebacker like Denzel Perman who's more of a uh hitstick artist he more of a you know just you know run to the ball run Defender um I think he could make up for some of his deficiency as in coverage so that's why I kind of look towards somebody like Junior Coulson who actually you know is one of the higher uh graded linebackers in coverage in this class and I think they maybe want to add that to kind of uh certainly offset peramal a little bit who I think is still a really you know quality NFL starter um but I think is going to have his struggles certainly in coverage so I think Dion and whichever linebacker that they uh take in the draft would certainly contribute towards uh offsetting some of those you know deficiencies of having you know an older starting linebacker okay and then at edge of course there's Bosa and Mack can't get much better than that but fact is is these guys aren't getting any younger especially Mac it's amazing that he was so productive last year it's all those things that you just as a fan you're like man you have to waste such a great year right last year especially at his age but you got to keep your fingers crossed that he's got a couple more years left but um we know how good they are but the question then becomes the depth and besides those two do they what does the future look like uh from their second round pick last year who statistically did not do that bad uh for rookie yeah they they loved what Tulie brought last year and I think he certainly stepped up um particularly in some games early in the season when uh Joey boso you know wasn't on the field and you know they I think there's a stat that Joey Bosa khil Mack and Tuli Tu Pou were on the field for 40 plays last season which kind of just you know comments uh on you know unfortunately Botha being unable to stay healthy last year but on those 40 plays uh the Chargers recorded 10 sacks you know so I think there is you know a very a very small sample size um but you know they they got you know some pretty serious pass trust pressures when you know all three of those guys were on the field uh you know either having Tuli on the edge or kicking Bosa inside uh so there's a lot of different Maneuvers that they can kind of do there um and so I think Tuli is definitely part of the future um BOS and Mack are on these oneye pay cut deals that they renegotiated to be able to come back um before they ended up Trading Keenan Allen so they decided to keep those two out of the big four restructures of Mike Williams Keenan Allen uh and then those two so they ended up keeping those for Jesse minter's uh defense so uh I think they're you know very valued there in terms of what they'll bring to the team this year and depending on how many years that like you mentioned they have producing at a high level um then I I think they their futures for the team are a little bit uh tenuous based on that and and how long they can stay healthy and does the new regime want to bring in any guys but I certainly think Tuli is part of that future and I think Bosa and Mac are kind of on a Chargers basis playing a little bit year to year now depending on uh what the new regime kind of wants to go for so it also wouldn't surprise me and you know you mentioned this with tackle that Trey pipkins is not going to be uh I guess a block towards them taking tackle it's not like okay we're paying him $9 million so that means we can't draft the attack and I kind of view Edge a little bit the same way I don't think they're going to make a first round premium investment in a guy like Dallas Turner or anything like that um but I do see them at some point in this draft if the value is right maybe fourth fifth round I think they could take an edge because I think this is a team that you know may not have Joey BOS and K Mack next year uh depending on how the chips fall for their 2024 Seasons uh and Tuli is really the only player who is locked in here long term uh for the next you know uh two years after this one okay so I would say uh I wouldn't be shocked if they draft an edge maybe a little earlier than people anticipate only because I think that like you mentioned with tackle this is not a draft that they're viewing like you know kind of almost in a Jets way of like we have to compete this year I think with the job security of being a new GM and having Harbaugh here as coach um I think Joe Ortiz will exercise a little bit of thinking two three years down the road uh with some of these picks as well all right and then uh how did the Special Teams Fair uh for the uh program last year yeah uh Ryan ficken who came in two years ago uh as special teams coordinator he's had top 10 special teams uh both years uh and special teams for the Chargers was for a long time pretty pretty maligned uh before they kind of got their stuff together and uh Ryan ficken is the only member of the previous coaching staff who uh is on this new Harbaugh coaching staff in the same role as special teams coordinator so I think that speaks to uh again you know how much they value him and and what he's done for that you know whole group of uh guys and core special teamers uh that they have there and he sort of you know really revitalized the charger special teams and as the new special teams rules change with the new kickoff and things like that I think they trust Ryan ficken dar's Davis who was their draft pick at a TCU last year who was their kick returner pun Turner um Cameron Dicker was one of the most accurate kickers in the league last season uh so I I think they're happy to keep that structure in place uh right now you know uh do they do they need a punter or are they satisfied there as well uh I think right now they're scheduled they're they're they like what they get out of JK Scott and uh we'll see maybe if there's a guy that comes in and like undrafted for agency I wouldn't be shocked if they had like a competition or something like that but ultimately I think JK Scott that special teams group with uh him Josh Harris their Long Snapper Darius Davis their returner and Cameron Dicker I think that group uh kind of stays intact but I I do give a lot of credit to to ficken who was the coordinator there there was a lot of rumors you know when they were kind of in negotiations with harau about uh Jay Harbaugh his son uh who was the Special Teams coordinator of Michigan potentially coming over so I think almost um you know not that he his own son but it you know does speak to the a lot of the work that he did and then Jay Harbaugh Jay Harbaugh ended up going to Seattle he's the Special Teams coordinator with the Seahawks now um but yeah I think uh I think the Special Teams is probably the most set part of the team which is awesome but that's not how you become a contender in the NFL obviously they have a lot of moves to make on offens and defense uh by the way there gonna be anybody that you would see that may be back as far as the ufas uh out of the current like list right now trying to trying to think I mean the names that uh Josh Kelly is he gonna be back I don't think so no okay yeah most of these names don't really uh yeah I think they when they brought Gilman back um that was really the one that was kind of the debatable one they let Michael Davis and Austin Eckler walk to to Washington so um no not really any high-profile like names may maybe if there's like a injury or something and they have you know previous connections with you know one of these players I could that happening um right now I think they're pretty moved on and settled for current free agency uh I know that they had in terms of free agency some interest in some of the wide receivers so this will kind of depend on um what they do in the draft coming up but they were interested I think in Tyler Boyd who's still a free agent Marcus Val scl still a free agent as well um so I think depending on how the draft goes you know you mentioned there's a possibility they take one two receivers depending on how things play out uh I think if maybe they only take one then they could certainly call a couple guys who are still free agents including the two I mentioned o oo be Jor is still available um so there's certainly a couple names that they could do there but I would look at you know wide receiver there's still a lot of you know premium Talent out there actually uh in this free agent Market guys that haven't gotten deals yet so I think a lot of them wait until after the draft now to see which teams still need to fill some holes and cap space is okay no problem picking someone up yeah yeah um they've you know the Keenan Allen trade as as unexpected as it was kind of fixed a lot of their cap issues for for the time being and then they open up they open up a lot of cap room next season but certainly if they wanted to sign a guy to a you know somewhere between like a three seven million doll deal like that's not something that's going to concern them based on their you know uh current Camp situation so I think that they're going to be a team uh you know after the draft depending on what holes they still have can certainly still make some moves all right Alex give me your prediction are they going to trade their pick or are they going to keep their pick and draft what say Harrison's gone who what do you think they do they draft or they trade out what what's your what's your what are you leaning towards right now well if you're if you're giving me the situation that Harrison's gone to the Cardinals then I think the Chargers will trade out um that if that is how board ends up playing out I think they'll trade out uh to maybe 11 with the Vikings um um six with the Giants is another possibility uh that would keep them high on the board I know there's been uh Peter Sher had his mock draft this morning that he had the Giants trading up with the Cardinals uh to go get one of the quarterbacks in in in uh McCarthy I think so um that you know really I think there are two scenarios I think I think if the Cardinals make the trade at four uh for the quarterback then I think the Chargers will stick at five uh and pick Marvin Harrison Jr I think if they if the Cardinals pick Marvin Harrison Jr then the Chargers will trade out to 11 or to whatever team or you know better deal between the Giants Vikings and some of the other teams that are gonna be fighting for quarterbacks yeah because if the Vikings uh if they trade down at the Vikings they better give them a better deal because they're GNA be moving down what five six extra spot five extra spots so yeah it's got gota be my favorite my favorite scenario is getting Marvin Harrison J that's yeah I think if the Cardinals if the Cardinal trade out I think that is what the Chargers will do um and then you know the backup is obviously you can get two first round picks potentially from a team like the Vikings for that spot that could trade up so I think really the Chargers can't lose this draft um I think I think they do uh they will make out with either a blue chip premium wide receiver in the first round or you know establish kind of the hard ball you know ground game and then get another first round Prospect later in the draft so uh those are kind of the options so kind of a can't lose situation obviously say that going into the draft and we'll look back in two years and different depending on you know what actually happens but you know right now I I think they're in a very advantageous position yeah and again because like I said before because Harbaugh knows these these kids that he's recruited for that are still going to be around for two or three years pre as they can just build as many of those picks as possible so he can get his hands on as many of those players as possible then that's what I see happening so I I agree I think they're going to wind up trading down because I do think Arizona is going to take Harrison um but we'll see should be a lot of fun and you're G to be talking about it on uh the guilty as charge podcast your show is Bolt breakdowns and how often do you do the show yeah I do the show once a week um we on the channel are going to be having a live stream uh event of the draft I think all three days so I'll be on there for some of that uh you know so we'll see what happens pick or if they decide to trade down uh so you know check out that live stream Thursday Friday and Saturday I think we'll be uh doing that stuff and I'll be doing you know my videos once a week throughout the throughout the off season certainly after the draft as well you know reacting to each of their picks uh keep up when they work on Chargers wire as well um but yeah a lot of fun stuff coming up in the next uh two weeks when do you record or post the show uh uh I don't have a set day every week dep any yeah yeah once a week depends depends on other people's schedules if I have them on the show so you know you know great about it's not radio so that's that's that's a great thing about podcasting just kind to schedule interviews and get people to do it and hunt them down so I I know the feeling all right Alex uh thank you great job filling a s with what's going on with the charger should be a lot of fun following the organization with Jim Harbaugh there I'm sure the fan base is ecstatic uh they've got the coach they've got the quarterback and now they just got to go ahead and uh watch it all unfold so um appreciate it and I hope we can do this again some other time especially right after the draft yeah thanks for having me on and I'd be happy to come on again you got it take care Alex thanks