Who would Harbaugh Draft from Michigan in 2024?
Considering Chargers current roster and the players from Michigan who have entered the NFL draft, who do you think Harbaugh would draft? None? One impact player? Or multiple?
Some needs on the Chargers roster (based on sites) would include cornerbacks, tight ends, running backs, offensive tackles, linebackers, and defensive ends.
January 25th, 2024 at 2:02 PM ^
Connor Stallions
January 25th, 2024 at 3:34 PM ^
And it's perfectly allowed in the NFL.
January 25th, 2024 at 5:01 PM ^
I don't know why I expect a fan base that already has consistently proven we can't spell
- Beilien
- Rudddock
- Woolfork
- etc
correctly to get Stalions' name right...
oh that's right because we're flipping MICHIGAN that's why
January 25th, 2024 at 6:28 PM ^
We didn't come to watch school.
January 25th, 2024 at 2:03 PM ^
I could see him drafting Mike Barrett, or Sainristil....or both
January 25th, 2024 at 2:56 PM ^
Barrett seems like a great take to me. All the guys. But I am drafting Barrett if I had to take one as a GM.
January 25th, 2024 at 5:59 PM ^
Zinter. Or Keegan.
January 25th, 2024 at 9:05 PM ^
How about all of them???
I know, there are not that many draft picks. The rest will have to be UFA's.
January 26th, 2024 at 6:52 PM ^
As much as I like Z & K, CA says they need tackles, not guards.
January 25th, 2024 at 2:03 PM ^
Xavier Worthy (... ducks)
January 25th, 2024 at 2:58 PM ^
A very big part of me would give anything to have Harbaugh draft Corum and use him as a bell cow and have Herbert throw 8 times a game a la JJ solely for the nationwide meltdown
January 25th, 2024 at 5:10 PM ^
Or better yet: trade Herbert so he could move up and draft JJ to throw 8 times!
January 25th, 2024 at 9:07 PM ^
Trade up...from 5?
January 25th, 2024 at 2:03 PM ^
Corum, Wilson, Barner. Zinter, Sainristil, Jenkins at various points in the draft would help out their depth
January 25th, 2024 at 3:51 PM ^
Zinter won’t be drafted for “depth”. That MF will start as soon as rehab is complete. Jenkins was my first thought but he’s not really a DE, right?
Outside of JJ and the OL, the “can’t miss” pro talent is really in next years draft. Grant, Graham, Loveland and Johnson. And maybe - just maybe - The Don!
That’s not to say Corum (and others) can’t be a star(s) from this years crop…
January 25th, 2024 at 5:17 PM ^
Barner definitely for depth. He won't go high because he's not a modern receiver playing TE a la Kelce. But, he's an incredible run blocker and an effective alternate option receiving. That's Harbaugh's offensive M.O.
And I don't care how much he produced in college Sainristil is dropping far just because of his size and how that projects against NFL receivers. Harbaugh would like to grab him summa dat.
Finally: Keegan or to a lesser degree Jones and Barnhart. Especially the former having started forever and being a culture guy who led the turnaround. A real leader and a captain when all the scouts were only oozing over Zinter. Keegan may not be as tangibly valued by other scouts. Jim knows bringing culture in will be huge in orchestrating a turnaround with the Chargers and if Keegan falls in the draft - or even Barnhart or Jones - he may take a swing at em.
January 25th, 2024 at 8:55 PM ^
Barner had some amazing catches this year.
January 25th, 2024 at 2:04 PM ^
He should try to assemble Michigan West. Draft everyone Michigan, trade for everyone Michigan. Start calling Herbert "JJ".
January 25th, 2024 at 2:11 PM ^
His first name is Justin so he's halfway there.
January 25th, 2024 at 2:20 PM ^
JH Jr. -> JJ
January 25th, 2024 at 3:52 PM ^
You just summarized my next Madden franchise.
January 25th, 2024 at 5:11 PM ^
Don't start calling Herbert JJ, trade Herbert ala Brad Holmes and draft the real JJ.
January 25th, 2024 at 2:05 PM ^
Ekeler is a very good RB but has a lot of miles .. Id love to see Corum go there.
January 25th, 2024 at 2:24 PM ^
He was a good running back. He averaged 3.5/carry this season -- about a full yard less than his previous 3 seasons.
January 25th, 2024 at 2:08 PM ^
Roman Wilson
January 25th, 2024 at 2:09 PM ^
No one - I don't want to root for the Chargers (except if their playing those damn Chiefs).
January 25th, 2024 at 2:10 PM ^
Austin Ekeler was slow, injured and is fast approaching the RB cliff of 30 years old.
I don't know what the odds are that Blake Corum will be on the board for the Chargers second round pick, but it just makes too much sense.
January 25th, 2024 at 2:13 PM ^
"I don't know what the odds are that Blake Corum will be on the board for the Chargers second round pick, but it just makes too much sense."
Or how do I tell you I dont really follow the NFL draft very much without saying it. Corum will most definitely be there in the 2nd round. And the 3rd and maybe even the 4th.
January 25th, 2024 at 2:28 PM ^
I love Blake, but 4th or 5th round pick. Not super explosive and has mileage.
January 25th, 2024 at 2:35 PM ^
Would have agreed through the PSU game. Took him awhile to get back post injury, but he had that explosiveness back vs. OSU, and then definitely in the playoff.
I think they can slim him down 5-7 pounds so he can get some more of that explosiveness back that he had before gaining weight to be an every down back after H2 left.
Blake 2021 was ridiculous when healthy.
January 25th, 2024 at 2:35 PM ^
If he tests well, I think Corum could go in the 2nd.
January 25th, 2024 at 2:42 PM ^
No he won't
January 25th, 2024 at 3:22 PM ^
Love the kid forever, but he'd have to run a 4.3 flat to have a chance at that.
January 25th, 2024 at 3:54 PM ^
Um, I actually do follow the NFL Draft closely, and the problem with your take is:
1) This is a very down year for running backs. Henderson was probably going to be the #1 RB off the board, but he's going back to OSU. Jonathan Brooks tore his ACL late in the year. Ollie Gordon is returning to Oklahoma State. After that, you have Trey Benson, who also had a disappointing year? Dillon Johnson? Audric Esteme?
2) Because of this, Blake Corum will very likely be rated somewhere between the #1-3 running back in the draft due to his patience, cutting ability, and intangibles (pass protection, work ethic, etc)... not his 40-time. Nick Chubb ran a 4.52 and was still an early second-round pick. Kyren Williams ran a 4.65 and was a top-ten RB this year... NFL teams know that long speed is a plus, but a non-essential part of being a competent NFL running back.
3) Need. Despite the lack of long-term value, NFL teams continue to invest resources into the position. Here's a list of the number of running backs who were drafted in the first two rounds (top 64 picks) by year:
2023 – 3
2022 – 3
2021 – 3
2020 – 6
2019 – 2
2018 – 7
2017 – 4
Even if only two running backs are selected (which has happened in every NFL draft since 2000), there's a fairly high chance that Corum is one of them.
January 25th, 2024 at 3:58 PM ^
As a person who has watched every single snap of both Chubb in the NFL and Blake in college, trust me when I say that Nick Chubb is not Blake's NFL comp.
January 25th, 2024 at 4:13 PM ^
It was not a direct comparison of Corum and Chubb, simply an example of a running back who ran a 4.5 or slower who was drafted in the top 64 picks...
You can substitute Chubb with Melvin Gordon, Josh Jacobs or Clyde Edwards-Helaire if that helps you get your mind around the concept in more palatable way
January 25th, 2024 at 11:21 PM ^
There's a pretty good reason each of these examples (and Chubb) would have been rated above Corum had they come out in the same class.
Essentially your point is that Corum could go early because it's a weak draft for his position, which, fair, it may be enough to plot him as a day 2 pick. Otoh there are a ton of quality backs in FA this year. I wouldn't want my team picking corum in round 2. Three or four maybe.
I don't think any team specifically needs a heavily used rookie badly enough to spend a day 2 on him but I guess we'll find out.
January 26th, 2024 at 1:30 PM ^
I was cherry-picking slow running backs who went Round 1, and I don't think anyone here is expecting Blake to go in the first round... but I would suggest looking back at the RBs who have been picked in Rounds 2-3 over the last decade and then contrast Blake's draft profile/resume against players like:
- Jeremy Hill
- Charles Sims
- Tre Mason
- Terrance West
- Duke Johnson
- Matt Jones
- C.J. Prosise
- Kerryon Johnson
- Darrius Guice
- Royce Freeman
- Darrell Henderson
- Devin Singletary
- Damien Harris
- Ke'Shawn Vaughn
- Darrynton Evans
- Kendre Miller
Some of those names are ugly now, but even if you go back in time to their draft profiles, were running backs like Tre Mason or CJ Prosise or Royce Freeman or Devin Singletary actually better pro prospects than Blake will be?
January 25th, 2024 at 3:58 PM ^
It is a down year for running backs in the draft which means teams are likely just going to keep passing on them until late day 2/early day 3. I have seen Corum ranked as high as 3 and while I love the guy and everything he accomplished, I would seriously question any front office that used a 2nd on him.
January 25th, 2024 at 4:36 PM ^
I suppose that's possible, but at the same time, it would be an absolute statistical anomaly (hasn't happened since 2000 and I'd imagine it stretches quite a bit beyond that), and there have been other RB classes just as "down" as this one is shaping up to be.
On the flip side, Corum is one of the few "known quantity" backs available in the draft, which could just as easily elevate his value to teams (knowing that there's a significant drop-off or real questions about the running backs further down the board). If I'm an NFL GM and I come into the draft needing a zone runner who's good in pass protection, I may feel better about Blake Corum in R2 and the value at another position in R3 than vice versa.
Again, we're a long way out from the draft, so trying to speak in absolutes is a lesson in futility. Who would have guessed that Jamhyr Gibbs was going to be a top-15 pick at this time last year? Or the Michigan fans expecting DJ Turner to run in the 4.2s?
Corum is currently in the conversation for RB1 and he's right now in that Round 3 range (in the Top 100 on PFF's board), but if he can sneak into the 4.4s and interviews well, his stock is going to improve.
January 25th, 2024 at 9:13 PM ^
If you’d care to make a wager I’ll give you the first 3 rounds, 96 picks, and I’ll take rounds 4-7.
If he’s picked in round 1 or 2 I’ll pay double. If he’s not drafted at all, you pay double.
Interested?
January 26th, 2024 at 1:31 PM ^
I will not partake in elder abuse
January 26th, 2024 at 3:15 PM ^
Logged in to say: very, very nice.
January 25th, 2024 at 2:15 PM ^
honestly I could see him trying to deal herbert for picks this year. Their cap issues are horrible, They could do what the lions did and go young and rebuild. If he does that could see a pick of JJ with one of the 1st rounds.
January 25th, 2024 at 2:23 PM ^
LMAO, Herbert is one of the main draws of the job. Also he would incur a $100M dead cap hit if they traded him. It is not happening.
January 25th, 2024 at 2:25 PM ^
Don't get caught up in the details
January 25th, 2024 at 2:30 PM ^
same could of been said for Stafford pre-rebuild lions. its extremely hard to rebuild a team with a expensive QB
January 25th, 2024 at 2:41 PM ^
I'm not saying it is a bad idea at some point, I am saying to do it now would be one of the worst decisions in NFL history. Herbert has a no trade clause, would incur a $110m dead cap hit, AND you would lose $88M in cap space this year. Losing that cap space while already being $44M over the cap would mean they could barely field a team next year. It is literally impossible to trade him in 2024 and basically undoable until like 2027 at the earliest.