*** Official Chargers 2023 Thread - Ekeler extension incentive clause 73: "Must draft himself in FF" *** (1 Viewer)

[Maurile Tremblay]

I'm very happy about the Pipkins signing for under $8 million/year. I was expecting him to cost more than that.

 

[Maurile Tremblay]

I can't judge the Eric Kendricks signing, but many seem to think that, at the same price, he's a better short-term (1-2 years) prospect than Tranquill. And he's probably cheaper. (We'll see what Tranquill signs for.)

 

[Maurile Tremblay]

Denzel Perryman (🤢)

Perryman is good now!

 

[Just Win Baby]

I'm assuming none of Stick's contract is guaranteed? So he could just be a training camp body with an outside shot at a roster spot...

I read at BFTB that he got a $152.5K signing bonus and $1M guaranteed. Not sure that was in addition to the bonus or inclusive of the bonus. Probably the latter.

Seems to me that they see him as the QB2.

 

[Just Win Baby]

I don't blame Ekeler for wanting a market-price extension. (Rumor is he wants at least $12 million per year?) I also don't blame the Chargers for not wanting to spend that much at the RB position. It'd be great to get a second-rounder for him. Otherwise, I think the best strategy is to let him play out his contract and become an unrestricted free agent in 2024. (Maybe they could promise not to tag him in 2024 in exchange for not holding in.)

I very seriously doubt any team would trade a 2nd for him and then give him a top 5 RB contract. I don’t think him having permission to seek a trade is going to yield the result he seems to be hoping for.

 

[Gr00vus]

Busy couple of days (as it is for all teams).

Pipkins gets a 3 year deal. What a turnaround he completed last season. I hope that he can maintain and improve his play level, and that he's not getting paid for one anomalous season.

Filer released. He wasn't a plus last year, so I think it'll be an upgrade letting Salyer move in to that spot (assuming Slater is healthy and can resume at LT). With that, the starting OL should be good.

Sarrell re-signed, he needs to improve, but it's a good price for a backup with some upside.

Dicker re-signed, he earned it. Again, I hope he can sustain his play level (and improve on it in terms of playoff performance), and this isn't an anomalous season reward. I'd imagine this means the end of Hopkins on the Chargers at some point. Tough break for him, he didn't do anything to lose the job besides getting hurt and opening the door for Dicker.

Morgan Fox re-signed, he was a good part of the interior line rotation, again I hope he can maintain the level he rose to last season.

Adderly retires after 4 seasons. Not sure how easy he'll be to replace - I suppose the plan is for an internal promotion. What does this do to the cap, and does it make it any more likely that they can keep Tranquill, or does Adderly's money have to go to another DB to keep that unit in shape?

 

[Just Win Baby]

I'd imagine this means the end of Hopkins on the Chargers at some point.

$1.1M of Hopkins' 2023 salary becomes guaranteed tomorrow. If they don't release him before that, I would have to assume they are going to keep him and release Dicker at some point. It doesn't make sense to waste $1.1M+ on a "competition" based on what we saw last season. Plus, Hopkins has a $5.5M cap hit in 2024, whereas Dicker will still be under team control for much less. I will be annoyed if they don't release Hopkins within the next 24 hours.

Adderly retires after 4 seasons. Not sure how easy he'll be to replace - I suppose the plan is for an internal promotion.

IMO it was a given that Adderley wasn't going to be back, given the cap challenge and the fact that he never really played up to expectations. There has been a lot of speculation that the Chargers will sign John Johnson, who was just released by the Browns and started for Staley on the 2020 Rams. I assume it depends on his price tag.

What does this do to the cap, and does it make it any more likely that they can keep Tranquill

I think Tranquill is gone unless he gets humbled by the market and is willing to come back for less than Kendricks, and I don't see that happening.

 

[Nick Vermeil]

I'd imagine this means the end of Hopkins on the Chargers at some point.

$1.1M of Hopkins' 2023 salary becomes guaranteed tomorrow. If they don't release him before that, I would have to assume they are going to keep him and release Dicker at some point. It doesn't make sense to waste $1.1M+ on a "competition" based on what we saw last season. Plus, Hopkins has a $5.5M cap hit in 2024, whereas Dicker will still be under team control for much less. I will be annoyed if they don't release Hopkins within the next 24 hours.

Adderly retires after 4 seasons. Not sure how easy he'll be to replace - I suppose the plan is for an internal promotion.

IMO it was a given that Adderley wasn't going to be back, given the cap challenge and the fact that he never really played up to expectations. There has been a lot of speculation that the Chargers will sign John Johnson, who was just released by the Browns and started for Staley on the 2020 Rams. I assume it depends on his price tag.

What does this do to the cap, and does it make it any more likely that they can keep Tranquill

I think Tranquill is gone unless he gets humbled by the market and is willing to come back for less than Kendricks, and I don't see that happening.

Was Dicker locked in or can another team still poach him?

 

[Just Win Baby]

I'd imagine this means the end of Hopkins on the Chargers at some point.

$1.1M of Hopkins' 2023 salary becomes guaranteed tomorrow. If they don't release him before that, I would have to assume they are going to keep him and release Dicker at some point. It doesn't make sense to waste $1.1M+ on a "competition" based on what we saw last season. Plus, Hopkins has a $5.5M cap hit in 2024, whereas Dicker will still be under team control for much less. I will be annoyed if they don't release Hopkins within the next 24 hours.

Adderly retires after 4 seasons. Not sure how easy he'll be to replace - I suppose the plan is for an internal promotion.

IMO it was a given that Adderley wasn't going to be back, given the cap challenge and the fact that he never really played up to expectations. There has been a lot of speculation that the Chargers will sign John Johnson, who was just released by the Browns and started for Staley on the 2020 Rams. I assume it depends on his price tag.

What does this do to the cap, and does it make it any more likely that they can keep Tranquill

I think Tranquill is gone unless he gets humbled by the market and is willing to come back for less than Kendricks, and I don't see that happening.

Was Dicker locked in or can another team still poach him?

He was an ERFA, and the Chargers signed him. They could release him with zero or minimal dead cap, so that part would be fine. But IMO the combination of price and performance means they should be keeping Dicker, not Hopkins.

 

[Doug B]

So … anything at all to see with OT Storm Norton? Camp body, or something more?

 

[Maurile Tremblay]

Norton is a big, strong, tough guy who can be a fine (though inconsistent) run-blocker. He'll never be a good pass-blocker. No team should want him as a starter, but he can be worth a roster spot for a cap-strapped team as an aspirationally average backup.

 

[Gr00vus]

Storm Norton signed by the Saints. Oh no.

I guess whatever blackmail materials he had on whoever in the front office have expired.

 

[Gr00vus]

Parham, Scott re-sign with the Chargers.

Tranquill signs with the Chiefs, 1 year $5M. Something seems off there.

 

[Hot Sauce Guy]

I’d still like to see the reunion with Dalton Schultz. Herbert would love him, and he’s a good fit. Better than Parham & Everett. Not the quickest, but runs good routes, finds holes in the zone & consistently presents the QB with a big sure-handed target.

Makeitso.gif

 

[Just Win Baby]

I’d still like to see the reunion with Dalton Schultz. Herbert would love him, and he’s a good fit. Better than Parham & Everett. Not the quickest, but runs good routes, finds holes in the zone & consistently presents the QB with a big sure-handed target.

Makeitso.gif

They don't have the cap space for it, and this is a deep draft for TEs. I expect them to draft a TE within the first 3 rounds, probably in round 2.

 

[Gr00vus]

Fehoko signs with Pittsburgh. Interior DL seems thin again, and it wasn't spectacular to start with. Will they use draft picks on this position?

 

[Gr00vus]

DeAndre Carter signs with the Raiders. Lotta holes opening up on the fringes of this team. I don't think it can all be addressed via the draft.

 

[Just Win Baby]

Chargers 2023 Roster Thoughts: Post-Free Agency, Pre-Draft

Needs​

Seeing that position breakdown makes it easy to identify how the 12 combined roster spots for draft picks and free agents should be allocated. In no particular order, the team needs the following:

• 0-1 QB - I assume they will roster 3 QBs
• 2-3 WRs - will they keep 5 or 6? if they roster a QB3, probably only 5
• 1 TE
• 1 depth IOL, who needs to be able to play center
• 1 depth OT
• 1 Edge
• 2 IDL
• 1 ILB
• 1 CB
• 1 S

Action Plan​

Here is a possible action plan:

1. Use 1.21 to draft Edge
2. Use 2.23 to draft TE
3. Use 3.22 to draft WR with speed
4. Use 4.23 to draft IDL
5. Use 5.22 to draft IOL who can play center
6. Use 6.23 to draft CB
7. Use 7.22 to draft QB3
8. Re-sign Guyton to complete the WR group
9. Sign John Johnson to start at safety
10. Sign veteran free agent IDL
11. Sign veteran free agent OT
12. Sign best UDFA ILB available

If it were me, I would also release or trade Murray to clear ~$2.3M in cap space, which I would use to sign KVN. But I don't think the team is going to do that.

As for my list, this is obviously just one possible plan out of a huge number of possibilities. To comment on a couple variations:

• If they wanted to bring Callahan back, I would be in favor of that, and would switch the 6.23 pick to IDL or OT, eliminating one of the free agent needs.
• If they wanted to bring KVN back even without releasing Murray, I would be in favor of that, and it would replace my #12 item in this list.

I posted that just before the news that the Chargers re-signed Clapp. So take away one roster spot and one need and use 5.22 on IDL or OT.

 

[Gr00vus]

Might they need to consider taking a shot at another RB?

 

[Just Win Baby]

Might they need to consider taking a shot at another RB?

If they can (a) draft Bijan at #21 AND (b) make a draft day 1 trade of Ekeler for a 3rd or high 4th round pick, then yes. Otherwise, NO.

They have spent 4 picks in the past 3 drafts on Kelley, Spiller, Rountree, and Horvath. They cannot keep burning draft capital on RBs... it is one reason they have such a challenge with depth right now.... and they haven't even given Spiller a chance yet. They should trust Moore and a healthier OL to improve the running game without needing different RBs.

 

[Just Win Baby]

Editing this post throughout the draft, will wrap up with day 3 results later today/tonight: 2023 Draft Rankings/Discussion

Through 5 rounds, I don't think this has been a very good draft.

 

[eighsse2]

Has any NFL team ever drafted 2 players of the same position from the same school within the first 4 rounds before?

 

[Nick Vermeil]

Has any NFL team ever drafted 2 players of the same position from the same school within the first 4 rounds before?

Chargers scouts are really hoping nobody realizes they only attended one college game.

 

[higgins]

I’m surprised you guys haven’t drafted a TE yet — are you going to re-sign Everett? Is Parham gonna be his replacement?

 

[Gr00vus]

It's like Telesco and Staley are trolling us from an unfireable position or something.

 

[Nick Vermeil]

Editing this post throughout the draft, will wrap up with day 3 results later today/tonight: 2023 Draft Rankings/Discussion

Through 5 rounds, I don't think this has been a very good draft.

Always appreciate your analysis GB. I hate the Davis pick and can't believe we didn't draft a TE. Given that it was Moore who won the battle of which WR to choose in round 1, I think it's confirmed that Staley better take this team deep into the playoffs or he's going to be looking for a job.

 

[Gr00vus]

I really don't understand about half the picks they did. It's hard to know anything at this point, all speculation, but I do like the Tuli, McFadden, and Matlock picks at least.

Any feelings about the UDFA crop?

 

[Gr00vus]

Tough schedule. Unlikely they can back their way into the playoffs, they'll actually have to play consistently good/great football to be successful this year. Good test for this squad.

 

[Gr00vus]

Ekeler in camp. Will be interesting to see what Moore does with him, and what this offensive line achieves in terms of giving him room to run.

 

[Gr00vus]

@Just Win Baby put up a great fan post at Bolts From the Blue on the Chargers' 2024 (yes 2024) cap situation (it's not good). I highly recommend.

 

[Just Win Baby]

@Just Win Baby put up a great fan post at Bolts From the Blue on the Chargers' 2024 (yes 2024) cap situation (it's not good). I highly recommend.

Thanks, GB. I should have posted the link here, but forgot to do it.