Is The WR Corps Better in 2024?

[sonorajim]

is the 4rth TE also playing the FB role? there are 3 specialists, so that just leaves 50 spots for the offense and the defense, your calculations would leave 24 spots for the defense, what is your breakdown there?

something like 4 Edge, 5 D-line, 5 LB, 5 CB and 5 Safety?

5 X 5 ( DL, OLB, ILB, CB, S). + 25 O, 3 Sp. = 53

Is FB confusing you? If we keep one he'll be incl w/ RB OR TE in my breakdown. Probably TE.

Just a guess but I follow this every year and know it's close.

[Craig440]

I'm real interested in the WR room this year. One or maybe two of these guys could be a fantasy football gem in the late rounds. Shhhhhhhhh Don't tell Fleet.

[sonorajim]

We signed the IPP track star WR. Praise Olatoke.

[BlazingBolt]

We signed the IPP track star WR. Praise Olatoke.

https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/chargers-sign-nigerian-scottish-sprinter-praise-olatoke-to-play-wide-receiver/

Chargers sign Nigerian-Scottish sprinter Praise Olatoke to play wide receiver

Olatoke is part of the NFL's International Pathway Program



By Tyler Sullivan

2 hrs ago•1 min read
The Los Angeles Chargers have gone outside the box to help deepen their wide receiver room. On Friday, the team announced that they have signed Praise Olatoke to a deal. The specific financial terms were not immediately disclosed, but Olatoke comes to L.A. via the NFL's International Pathway Program.

Olatoke, who was born in Nigeria and raised in Scotland, ran track at Ohio State. As you might imagine given his collegiate background, the 6-foot-2, 205-pounder does possess intriguing speed. During the Big Ten Outdoor Championship in 2022, Olatoke ran the 100-meter dash in 10.27 seconds for the Buckeyes. That year, he earned first-team All-Big Ten honors.

Olatoke does have some, albeit minor, experience playing football as he first got started with the sport by playing on the Ohio State club team.

Because he is part of the International Pathway Program, Olatoke will not count toward the Chargers' 90-man offseason roster during training camp. He would also not count toward their practice squad limit if he were to land a spot.





Los Angeles has gone through quite the overhaul at wide receiver this offseason. While signing Olatoke is more of an intriguing back-end-of-the-depth chart move, the top of the position group saw Keenan Allen traded to the Bears and Mike Williams cut over the course of the offseason. Now, Josh Palmer, Quentin Johnston and rookie Ladd McConkey headline the wideout room.

[Velo]

Praise for the Practice Squad.

[sonorajim]

WR average long speed is better for sure. Younger, fewer injuries, much lower cap are good things. Production in a more run heavy offense will be hard to judge. Keenan and Mike had little run support.

I'll just be looking for the WRs to carry their weight, help move the ball and score in team wins. Winning will be better than any other stat..

[21&500]

Olatoke is symbolic of the classic experiment trying to turn a track guy to a football player.
not super hopeful but there's virtually no risk.

[HK55]

Makes little sense. We're all pulling for Johnson and Rice to at the very least make the practice squad. No need for camp fodder. Let them get as many reps as possible. If the staff is intent on moving on from Palmer or Johnston, Olatoke ain't the answer. His best time is 10.27. That is fast, but. That time didn't make the NCAA seasonal best Top 50 list. Nor did his 200 time.

Other than Bob Hayes, an Olympic champion, very few elite track guys cross over. Not talking about the Bo Jackson's or Deion Sanders types who were primarily football players but participated in other sports. Neither were primarily sprinters on their college teams, both also played baseball. Pretty sure some elite shot putters crossed over. But again talking about elite speed. Olatoke doesn't posses it. In addition to lack of football experience.

The only track guy that comes to mind making a somewhat cross over was Renaldo Nehemiah. He was elite. 4 time national champ. World record holder. Would have won the 1980 Olympics, he's was in his window of prime. But alas, the US boycotted. Those pesky Russians.

Nehemiah did not play football at Maryland. Signed a FA deal with the 49ers. Played 3 seasons . 40 games. 43 receptions , 17.4 ypc 4 Tds Not too shabby. I'm sure there were others.

[Steve]

I think it is a good move. He is a longshot to make the roster, but he has some time to do it. He is a freebee this season. Next season, he has to produce, but he has some time. There is no risk to it, not even a roster spot.

As far as his speed goes, it is a elite as far as football goes. Yes, there are a lot of fast guys in track and field, but do they have the potential or size to make the move? Not too many have ever made the attempt to transition to football, so it remains to see if he can do it. But most college track guys are small for football WR. And a lot of them are too "straightline". If they don't have the athletic ability to make cuts at full speed and retain his speed, they won't make it, and that is what happens to a lot.

But who cares? The main point is that eventually, if you take enough shots in the dark, you will hit on one. What you don't want to do is to take random shots with guys who have almost no chance of making it, but using draft capital or spending money on FA contract. That isn't what we are doing, so it doesn't matter.

We have added a lot of speed in the new player. Any football guy who adds a 4.4 or better can help to stretch the field. Sub 4.3 is better, but again, we see fast guys every season. JUST having speed won't do it. But maybe Olatoke can learn enough and develop. I don't know anything about him, but the point is that he is low risk, and we can have him till next year before he counts as a roster spot. Even then, he can be a camp body next year, so one of the 90 or so guys who can be in the offseason program. It's not like we sacrificed a draft pick to get his rights.

Just don't get your heart set on him being our #1 WR. I hope it happens, but it is probably not going to.

[Bolt-O]

Yeah, no issues to sign an IPP prospect for me. The worst that could happen is that a better IPP guy was overlooked. I'm intrigued with hearing an interview with a Nigerian-born Scotsman who hasn't played more than a club game, but still earns a shot with a mini-camp workout.

[HK55]

Yes, this would make a cool story. The International Pathway is a interesting program. But I'd like to see all available reps to go guys like C Johnson and Rice. Not to mention Derius Davis and even Simi Fehoko.

I live in Fort Worth. While Fehoko was with the Cowboys in training camp, the beat writers raved about his athleticism and work ethic. I almost forgot he's still on our roster.

Our other IPP player is in his make or break season. Okoye Wish him well. DL needs as many bodies as possible. Not so much WRs.

[Boltjolt]

Makes little sense. We're all pulling for Johnson and Rice to at the very least make the practice squad. No need for camp fodder. Let them get as many reps as possible. If the staff is intent on moving on from Palmer or Johnston, Olatoke ain't the answer. His best time is 10.27. That is fast, but. That time didn't make the NCAA seasonal best Top 50 list. Nor did his 200 time.

Other than Bob Hayes, an Olympic champion, very few elite track guys cross over. Not talking about the Bo Jackson's or Deion Sanders types who were primarily football players but participated in other sports. Neither were primarily sprinters on their college teams, both also played baseball. Pretty sure some elite shot putters crossed over. But again talking about elite speed. Olatoke doesn't posses it. In addition to lack of football experience.

The only track guy that comes to mind making a somewhat cross over was Renaldo Nehemiah. He was elite. 4 time national champ. World record holder. Would have won the 1980 Olympics, he's was in his window of prime. But alas, the US boycotted. Those pesky Russians.

Nehemiah did not play football at Maryland. Signed a FA deal with the 49ers. Played 3 seasons . 40 games. 43 receptions , 17.4 ypc 4 Tds Not too shabby. I'm sure there were others.

If this kid ran a 10.27 100 Meyers that's pretty damn fast. But I doubt he makes the team anytime soon and It don't hurt to let him try out and grow for 3 years.

IDK about Deion but Bo Jackson ran track at Auburn. He was a sprinter, hurdler and did decathlon.
Track was his first love.

His best 100 meter was 10.39 and we know how fast he was on a football filed.
He allegedly ran a 4.13 electronic time at his pro day

Wikipedia:

College track and field. His best 100-meter time in high school was 10.44 seconds, but he would later run a 10.39 at Auburn. He also ran the 100-yard dash in 9.54 seconds. As a hurdler, he recorded times of 7.29 seconds in the 55m hurdles and 13.81 seconds in the 110m hurdles. In decathlon, he reached 8340 points.


When asked if he ran a 4.12 40-yard dash at the 1986 NFL Scouting Combine, the fastest time ever recorded in NFL Combine history and a time that has been rumored from several sources,^[21] Jackson claimed some of the coaches hand-timed him at 3.9 and 4.0, but that he actually ran a 4.13 electronic-timed 40-yard dash at a pro day at Auburn University.^[22]

He also stated he did not attend the 1986 Scouting Combine: "I did not go because I was already picked to be the first person to go in the draft," Jackson said. "If you're going to be the first person to go in the draft, why should you go to a combine and do all of that?"^[21