It sounds like the Los Angeles Chargers are a team willing to deal out of the number five overall pick in next Thursday night’s first round of the NFL Draft.
And it sounds like they’re wanting everyone and their brother to know it.
In an ESPN story dated Thursday by Kris Rhim, Chargers General Manager Joe Hortiz said his team needed to be blown away to trade away the pick. (Chargers GM: Need an ‘attractive’ offer to trade No. 5 pick)
In NFL speak, that’s “We’re dealing this pick. Make us a great offer.”
“We believe we have the first pick of the draft. I know there’s going to be four picks that go before us, but we believe that,” Hortiz said. “We know it’s the fifth pick and people are going to be trading on that scope, but it’s got to be a good value for us. And does it have to be blown away? What is blown away? I don’t know the answer to that.”
How does Hortiz believe he’s holding the first pick of the draft?
Well, because he’s using the justification utilized by his head coach, Jim Harbaugh, who said last week that the team had the top pick in the draft because it’s likely that all four teams ahead of the Chargers – the Chicago Bears, the Washington Commanders, the New England Patriots and a team that will trade up with the current No. 4-pick-holding Arizona Cardinals – will all select quarterbacks.
Obviously, if that scenario happened, then the Chargers are, indeed, sitting on a gold mine.
Wide receivers Marvin Harrison Jr. and Malik Nabers? Tight end Brock Bowers? Pass rusher Dallas Turner? Left tackle Joe Alt? Cornerback Terrion Arnold? All would still be there if the top four picks are quarterbacks.
Does anyone REALLY believe the top four picks in the draft will ALL be quarterbacks?
Bueller? Bueller? Anybody?
Even though the New England Patriots traded Mac Jones to the Jacksonville Jaguars, it’s highly possible that the team will opt to stick with Bailey Zappe and Jacoby Brissett, and take ol’ BPA (Best Player Available) at that No. 3 slot. It’s doubtful that Bowers would be taken that high, but what player does Bowers make most people think of? Would that be Rob Gronkowski?
Yes, it would.
Think of what Turner would do for the Patriots’ pass rush, or what Bowers, Harrison or Nabers could do for Zappe and the passing game.
It’s also possible, likely, even, that the Cardinals DON’T trade out of that pick. In that event, quarterback Kyler Murray needs a few weapons. And any of those three would look great in Cardinals’ red and white. For that matter, any of the above players mentioned would contribute quite nicely for the Cards in the NFC West.
Back to the Chargers. Rhim brings up a great question in his story.
When Harbaugh left the 49ers, part of it was over a power struggle between himself and then-Niners GM Trent Baalke.
Who exactly is drafting players for the Chargers?
Well, according to Hortiz, it’s him.
“I’m the one who picks the player,” Hortiz said, “but it is, when I tell you it’s a collaborative process, it’s a collaborative process. I put the list together based on what we do as a group and that’s scouting, that’s coaching, that’s talking to Jim — Jim’s input, his evaluation on players. I’m the one who ranks them and ultimately the one that calls them.”
Hmmm.
