2024 NCAA Season and Bowl Games - 2025 NFL Draft Prospect Discussion

[Leslie Grossman]

Conner Williams retires. That leaves Dalman, Myers, and Kelly as the free agent centers as possible upgrades?
Not seeing any mocked higher than 3rd round.

[wu-dai clan]

One of the Chargers biggest needs will be an upgrade at OL, especially IOL, over Mustapher, Jaimes, McFadden, Sarell.

Grey Zabel, N Dakota State, late round two or mid round three will be our answer. The comp is Ethan Pocic.

Zabel is a taller prospect but has sufficient anchor, leverage and pad level. He will project as Center #1, and can develop behind Bozeman.

Every year there is a value offensive lineman who gets taken midrounds, who immediately starts and just kills it. This year it is ORG Dominick Puni of the 49ers.

Jeremiah, I think it was, touted Puni, talking about unrecognized functional strength. That can be Zabel.

Let's find one this year for us, TPB super scouts.

[powderblueboy]

One of the Chargers biggest needs will be an upgrade at OL, especially IOL, over Mustapher, Jaimes, McFadden, Sarell.

Grey Zabel, N Dakota State, late round two or mid round three will be our answer. The comp is Ethan Pocic.

Zabel is a taller prospect but has sufficient anchor, leverage and pad level. He will project as Center #1, and can develop behind Bozeman.

Every year there is a value offensive lineman who gets taken midrounds, who immediately starts and just kills it. This year it is ORG Dominick Puni of the 49ers.

Jeremiah, I think it was, touted Puni, talking about unrecognized functional strength. That can be Zabel.

Let's find one this year for us, TPB super scouts.

That's probably what is going to happen: bring back Bozeman and a 3rd round rook to develop behind him for a year.

Bring in a Kelly let's say .... you'll have to outbid other center hungry teams, he'll get way more than he's worth, and you'll be stuck with him for 3 years.

Go out and get a very solid RG or LG in free agency to help Bozeman.

[Boltnut]

One of the Chargers biggest needs will be an upgrade at OL, especially IOL, over Mustapher, Jaimes, McFadden, Sarell.

Grey Zabel, N Dakota State, late round two or mid round three will be our answer. The comp is Ethan Pocic.

Zabel is a taller prospect but has sufficient anchor, leverage and pad level. He will project as Center #1, and can develop behind Bozeman.

Every year there is a value offensive lineman who gets taken midrounds, who immediately starts and just kills it. This year it is ORG Dominick Puni of the 49ers.

Jeremiah, I think it was, touted Puni, talking about unrecognized functional strength. That can be Zabel.

Let's find one this year for us, TPB super scouts.

Cody Mauch, Cordell Volson, and, Dillon Radunz are the recent NDSU o-linemen I've watched tape on the last few years. They seem to do a good job of developing OL. I think all 3 of those guys started at guard, moved to tackle, then got drafted as guards. Did Zabel play some center...? Is that why they project him @center?

Kinda bummed Connor is hanging up the cleats...

[Lone Bolt]

That's probably what is going to happen: bring back Bozeman and a 3rd round rook to develop behind him for a year.

Bring in a Kelly let's say .... you'll have to outbid other center hungry teams, he'll get way more than he's worth, and you'll be stuck with him for 3 years.

Go out and get a very solid RG or LG in free agency to help Bozeman.

In that scenario, I like Bryce Foster...hoping Bozman can be at least solid the rest of the year, show improvment, so that will at least be an option for us...it would be nice if we can hit Edge, TE, and C...in any order...but tougher to get great Edge in the third, than a C...

[wu-dai clan]

In round two/three slotting, I prefer Zabel over Monheim of USC...better run blocker. They both have some position flexibility. Monheim has an interesting matchup today.

[Steve]

A couple of things:

If the thought is that we have to fill the need at IOL:
1). If the draft depth is better at OT than interior, why not sign an OT and play them inside? clearly Harbaugh was willing to put Pipkins and Salyer inside, so I don't think it is out of the question. Some tall linear guys can't make the move inside, but most OT can play inside. It's the same fundamentals. We could also slide Slater inside if needed, he would be an elite OG, on top of being an elite OT.

2). Overpaying for an OG in FA is not out of the question. What is it worth to get Smith from KC? Certainly he would cost a lot for any team, but if it weakens KC too, isn't there some extra value added from the delta (losing value in KC, adding value to LAC)? But given the lack of depth in the draft isn't going to make OL in FA any cheaper.

TE thoughts
3). As far as the adding Loveland of the kid from Miami, I think both have great upside as receivers, but is that what we are looking for at TE? I like Stone Smart, and maybe he sticks too, but I think he would be a guy who is mostly a ST guy who gets the occasional snap at TE/FB/Hback. I don't think he is a answer to give us a receiving option. I think we are looking for an inline guy who can run block, catch, and maybe play some FB, or at least pull and lead across a formation. I don't necessarily think we are looking for a Travis Kelce type who is just a pass catcher and doesn't add much as a blocker.

[powderblueboy]

In that scenario, I like Bryce Foster...hoping Bozman can be at least solid the rest of the year, show improvment, so that will at least be an option for us...it would be nice if we can hit Edge, TE, and C...in any order...but tougher to get great Edge in the third, than a C...

I kind of like him too. He's a big, rugged center (like Bozeman), but has athleticism, moves well and is raw.
He's a top NCAA shot putter - those guys are strong as hell. Anyone remember Michael Carter, or how Brian Oldfield wowed football players with his strength?
Of course, football players back then encountered nothing near the strength and conditioning that they do now.

His tape is nothing extraordinary, just kind of gets the job done. Needs a good coaching staff to progress towards being a solid NFL center.
TT should not draft the guy.

[DerwinBosa]

Arkansas is competitive with Texas right now, down only 13-7 in the third quarter. Landon Jackson has a sack against Kelvin Banks.

[powderblueboy]

A couple of things:

If the thought is that we have to fill the need at IOL:
1). If the draft depth is better at OT than interior, why not sign an OT and play them inside? clearly Harbaugh was willing to put Pipkins and Salyer inside, so I don't think it is out of the question. Some tall linear guys can't make the move inside, but most OT can play inside. It's the same fundamentals. We could also slide Slater inside if needed, he would be an elite OG, on top of being an elite OT.

2). Overpaying for an OG in FA is not out of the question. What is it worth to get Smith from KC? Certainly he would cost a lot for any team, but if it weakens KC too, isn't there some extra value added from the delta (losing value in KC, adding value to LAC)? But given the lack of depth in the draft isn't going to make OL in FA any cheaper.

TE thoughts
3). As far as the adding Loveland of the kid from Miami, I think both have great upside as receivers, but is that what we are looking for at TE? I like Stone Smart, and maybe he sticks too, but I think he would be a guy who is mostly a ST guy who gets the occasional snap at TE/FB/Hback. I don't think he is a answer to give us a receiving option. I think we are looking for an inline guy who can run block, catch, and maybe play some FB, or at least pull and lead across a formation. I don't necessarily think we are looking for a Travis Kelce type who is just a pass catcher and doesn't add much as a blocker.

Kelce is/was an excellent blocker when pulling.

[Chargers8491]

Early guess is the Chargers 1st rnd pick will either be IDL or TE. CB/S is a dark horse for me.

[CanadianBoltFan]

A couple of things:

If the thought is that we have to fill the need at IOL:
1). If the draft depth is better at OT than interior, why not sign an OT and play them inside? clearly Harbaugh was willing to put Pipkins and Salyer inside, so I don't think it is out of the question. Some tall linear guys can't make the move inside, but most OT can play inside. It's the same fundamentals. We could also slide Slater inside if needed, he would be an elite OG, on top of being an elite OT.

2). Overpaying for an OG in FA is not out of the question. What is it worth to get Smith from KC? Certainly he would cost a lot for any team, but if it weakens KC too, isn't there some extra value added from the delta (losing value in KC, adding value to LAC)? But given the lack of depth in the draft isn't going to make OL in FA any cheaper.

TE thoughts
3). As far as the adding Loveland of the kid from Miami, I think both have great upside as receivers, but is that what we are looking for at TE? I like Stone Smart, and maybe he sticks too, but I think he would be a guy who is mostly a ST guy who gets the occasional snap at TE/FB/Hback. I don't think he is a answer to give us a receiving option. I think we are looking for an inline guy who can run block, catch, and maybe play some FB, or at least pull and lead across a formation. I don't necessarily think we are looking for a Travis Kelce type who is just a pass catcher and doesn't add much as a blocker.

3) Then Tyler Warren is our guy! He can do it all, including block