Chargers Podcast NetworkChargers Weekly: 2025 NFL Free Agency Frenzy Recap
Laid fifteen to ten, touched up.
Welcome to Chargers Weekly with Jaliladi and Matt money Smith here at the Bolt and Jalil today is feeling a lot different than we were last week. And I can say certainly Charger fans, just based on my interaction with them through social media, feeling a lot different. And a lot of that has to do with picking up You know a guy that just won a Super Bowl, that helped block for a two thousand yard season for Saquon Barkley. And it's really just one. I mean, it's more than one player. We'll get into Mike Williams and Ni Kwan and Deshaun and all of those guys. But it felt like the Makai Becton signing just immediately flipped a lot of the belly aching about when is this team gonna make a move that we can get excited about in free agency?
Yeah, that was definitely a splash money.
And he's a guy not only did you see he's a top ten pick in the draft, but you see just his body of work and what he did with the egos this year, obviously hurting his earlier career. Part of his career came back and bounced back with the Eagles and had a tremendous year, creating a lot of lanes for Sain Kwon Barkley. A lot of times when you watch Saint kwaon Barkley's film, he was hitting the second level, third level of the defense without being touched and he was a big, big part of that.
Yeah, that's you know, if you want to dig into the advanced metrics of the Chargers last season, when you kind of look at their run efficiency rates at times, you know, especially with jk out there, you're talking about top ten, but the one that sort of jumps out at you is that, you know, yards before contact and that was really low, specifically when you ran to the right side. And then you kind of think about what he was able to do with Philadelphia and it's, look, it's not a panacea. It's not all you signed Mackay Beckden and all of a sudden that number goes from twenty eight to eight. But if I just you know, closed my eyes and I envision Joe Alt and Mackai Becton and seven hundred pounds of guys that are six seven and six' eight on that, side it certainly feels, Like, yeah that's going to. Work that's that's gonna work in the run.
Game, yeah you just talk about the physical, numbers, right which you just said six.
Seven these guys are.
Monsters it's almost like my kids were Watching Space jam last night and that's what it looks.
Like these guys look like The Space jam.
Monsters and when you walk off the, bus these are the first two that you want off the.
Bus this is an intimidating.
Factor we're coming in here to beat you down for four quarters and not on what we're gonna do it, mentally but we're gonna do it physically as.
Well give us an idea as someone who you know played that box safety role that was asked to stop the. Run does does the hype thing affect you when you have those two towers on the same side and you're trying to identify what, now, look, naw she's a bigger. Back but does that affect you at? All just the sheer size of these guys that are blocking and trying to figure out where is this running back going to be popping through the?
Line, Right and it's just first of, all it's an intimidation, factor and that doesn't matter if you're in The Little, league or if you're in THE, nfl when you see guys who are six seven six eight three hundred plus pounds and you got to go against them for four quarters and you're talking about a safety who maybe five eleven two oh five five six foot two, ten and those the laws of physics says you're going to lose.
Overtime, right it is what it.
Is and then you ask about the, size and you ask, about, hey is it a factor when you're down in the box and you're five to six yards away from the, ball but yet you have to be able to find the running back a lot of times if these guys are not just standing straight up we all know, that, right and they're playing with low center, gravity low pad, level but they're still at low cet of, gravity low pad. Level there's still six three sixty, four, Right and then you have to also put in a factor of these guys are pulling the guards are pulling it like things are, moving so you don't see that running back until he gets up on your, lap and by that time it could be way too. Late so, listen, man this signing was a really really big time. Signing it was a signing that the charges needed and the front office went out there and got it.
Done, yeah and you, know just to kind of build on your plane experience because a lot of has been made about, well you've got to make sure you get the right players for this particular. System and what Coach harbaugh has always done everywhere he's been in his career is run, gap run, power run through. It that's the style of USh attack that he has leaned. Into it's the Bos Sen beckler you know, style run power. Man that's what he did At michigan and that's What harbaugh believes and so share with the people because you, know you look at some of the centers that came off the board before they Signed Andre, james and It's Drew, dolman who's a zone scheme, center And Brad, Barry kevin, O'Connell Kyle shanahan wide zone And Andre. James and you think about what McDaniels was running was gap and that's when he was, great And Josh jacobs was Making Pro bowls and that's what a lot of people are pointing. To so kind of give us an idea of Why james And beckton and why that works for a gap scheme when maybe you know this is the difference between gap and zone and how those things shake.
Out, yeah so most of the time when you're running against his zone, scheme it's more like you have not that these guys on as. Agile but there's a light of guys that they're they're they're well in, space, right they can, move they're a lot, quicker they can reach the defensive. Lineman when you're talking about gap, scheme it's more so it's, listen we're. Straight it's. Power so it's gap. Scheme it's down down and the. Round, right it's down down with a pool and we're gonna smash.
You.
Right so when you talk about the way that they sign these, two these are guys who fit the. System like you, said they're gonna be more. Physical it's gonna be more my, man my. Block, Right so it's gonna be a lot More, listen whoever's in front of me is just we're mauling. You it's more mall ball versus zone. Scheme when you're, moving they're all moving on one. Accord and a lot of times the zone schemes we call it elephants on. Parade it's hard to get a read on if it's passed or if it's, run and coach will, say well is it elephants on. Parade elephants on parade are usually standing a lot more higher and not more. Lateral they're not coming towards you, right so you know that it's a. Pass so you get that advantage in the zone scheme with the power scheme and the gap, scheme and you know What Jim harball likes to. Run you don't get that much elephant on. Parade, look because it's either, look they're firing off the ball or they're coming off the ball. Right and it's not about we're not trying to chick. You we're not trying to be. Fancy we're, saying, listen we're playing, gaps we're playing gap. Scheme we're gonna run, power we're gonna run, zone we're gonna run stretch right down the.
Throat and you know that it's. Coming but can you defeat? It can you beat?
It our six seven r six eight, guys three plus pounds on your defensive lineman and your linebackers and your smaller safeties in the.
Box can you beat? It and we're going to see if you can do, it.
AND i, think you, know so much of the signings come into what fits what we. Do do we feel like we can coach this player up better than maybe he was coached up somewhere. Else look to The eagles And stoutland last, year who's widely regarded as one, of if not the best offensive line coach in the. LEAGUE Mcai beckton has a disappointing first four years in the, league dropped into that. System, granted he's Got Lane johnson next to, him arguably the best right tackle in the, game and he's Got stoutland coaching, him and now he has A Pro bowl caliber. Season SO i bring that up to ask About Najie harris And naji you, know kind OF i think he got frustrated in that last year In pittsburgh and sort of a this isn't really WHAT i do, best you, Know i'm more of a like you just described power runner gap power and now you're sort of asking me to do something. Different so it comes back, Here so give us an idea of how you think that. Fits now you've Got, naji who's not the most explosive, guy he's a career three point nine yards per, carry but you've seen. Him he's a big freaking.
Dude, yeah and that's WHAT i Keep Jim. Harball they want, big they want, physical they want and we've known. That we've talked about that last, year, right we talked about coming in he's gonna for four. Quarters you're gonna get a heavyweight. Fight it's not gonna be. Pretty we're gonna run the. Ball you, Know we're gonna run the. Ball and now they're bringing in the pieces that they believe in fits their scheme the. Best, Listen we're talking about a, big strong offensive line that they just pack packed with and you Have Najie harris who's a, big physical. Back AND i always talk about schemes because people, say, well he didn't do, this and he'd do. That and as a personal you, know just being in THE nfl for ten years playing in different, SCHEMES i know personally that, hey some schemes fit my attribute's way better than.
Others.
Right and some people are, like, well how do you go from this team and that? Team and they revamp their careers because the coaching or it's because of the scheme that's matters that makes or breaks somebody's. Career SO i think the signing Of Naji. Harris he's a first and second down. Back don't get me. Wrong he's not going to be a third down. Back you'll probably have to find that in free agency or in the draft somewhere however they plan to use him or use that third down back or you, know bring him. In But, na he's going to be a really good first and second down back for the for The chargers this. Year AND i think his just his physical, ability him having a physical line in front of him. MONEY i think we'll see him almost re reinvent himself as a top running back in this in THE.
Nfl, yeah you know you talked About mackay and that was a really good. Offense, well it was supposed to be a really good offensive line draft and it panned, out you, Know andre With Thomas, Wills, BECKTON i can't remember who else was in that, group but you, know you get, This you get this sort OF i don't want to say stigma because that almost makes it feel like it's, negative AND i don't mean it to be, that but you, know your draft position is attached to you everywhere you go ever, forever and SO i think the idea That naji was you, know one of the rare first round running the first running back. Taken he comes out Of alabama following a twenty six touchdown fourteen hundred yard, season and everybody knew where he was. Going like it was just like he's gonna be A. Steeler like you watch him, play you know what The steelers. Are that's that kind of. Guy and SO i go back four years to that draft class AND i think about How Greg roman wants to play, football How Jim harball wants to play, football and it's, like, well, yeah that lines. Up is there anything that you've seen in his game that should dissuade you from believing that that he's not that same guy from four years? Ago is there too much evidence on film of like we, said the numbers are great in, volume a thousand, yards the only back to do that four years in a. Row but when you kind of get the wide focus a little, bit there's not a lot of. Explosives the career is three point, nine which suggests with that many, carries it's one of the lower career ard. Averages so kind of, Hot and Then i'm gonna say, that BUT i want to put this other side out there so people don't Think i'm being, negative Because i'm.
Not i'm just asking the.
Question the other side is they've not been able to find a quarterback Since ben ROETHFLES.
I was just going to say, that you took the words out of my.
Mouth, Okay so there we. GO i. Think so that's how you're gonna read.
It, yeah that's and that's What i'm gonna look into.
It as it's, like, okay and we talked about, it talk about defensive backs a, lot and it's, like, okay well this guy had five, interceptions, right, money but how did he get those?
Interceptions did he go get.
Him off the hash or they tips and overthrows and they fell into his lap right? Right and then you can look At nase's his numbers and you can, say, well he hasn't been explosive or hasn't been, this but watch the, film, right is he playing against teams that are stacking the box with eight and nine? Men because Since Ben, roethlisberger if you're playing The Pittsburgh, steelers you're not worried about the explosive, pass, Right you're worried about stopping the. Run and you, know if we going to the game against The, steelers and we load the box and we stopped the, run and we use different, fronts and we use different, slants and we play our linebackers here and our safeties, here and we're. Dropping if we stopped the, run we have a good chance of beating The Pittsburgh steelers because we are not betting that the quarterback is going to beat us with his. Arm AND i think that's the biggest thing With nag and why his numbers were. Down to answer your, Question, NO i don't think that there's been enough evidence on film to say that he's not the running back that came out Of. ALABAMA i think it's all about a new.
Setting we've seen it WITH.
Jkjk got a new setting and he and he flourished in. It Right LIKE i go back to me in my playing, Days i've been in systems where you, KNOW i struggle a, YEAR i struggle a year or, two and THEN i go to a different system and now all of a, sudden my game has.
Revived i'm feeling more. COMFORTABLE i got my confidence, back and that's.
Very very big for a professional. Athlete your confidence and, knowing, hey not only do do they believe THAT i can do. IT i believe THAT i can do, it AND i can go out there On sunday and put that product on the.
Field and you're someone that had to deal with competition for your playing, time for your roster, spot for you, know the depth, chart and like that's that's the thing THAT i kind of take away most from the center, position because, look going under the, OFFSEASON i don't think there was any question that there was one position ahead of all, others right That and maybe the fans thought wide receiver AND i get, That but of, course for what this team said their identity was going to be and then what it ultimately, BECAME i think they needed to figure out a way to, Establish, hey this is we came in and said we were going to be the most physical team in, football and then you were going to feel it after we were done with. You and by the end of the, season it's, like, okay we got to fix that center of the offensive line if that's really going to come to. Fruition SO i figured that would be priority. One SO i look at you, know McKay beckton coming in perfect fits right into what the identity, is, right and THEN i See Andre james come in and even though the. Two and that's the thing to remember is that the centers that were in the free agent market weren't necessarily perfect fits for you, know The Drew, dolmends.
Who got the big who got the, big the big.
Contract like it just wasn't necessarily a perfect. Fit so they Bring boseman, back who's beloved in the offensive line. Room but before they did, that you, Know Joe ortiz at the combine talked to the media when we he was off the, podium talked to The chargers media and talked About zion playing. Center and then they go out and Signed Andre james after he was cut by The raiders after signing that three, year twenty four million dollar. Deal they cut him because they had a bad year last. Year and As i've said on you, know in previous conversations about, him it's a that. Fit it was a disaster in that in that town and on that organization. Anybody but my big takeaway is it's identified it's, hey we're gonna Bring bradley, back but we're gonna Try zion at, center and we're gonna Sign Andre james because he's, affordable because he just got cut and he's a perfect fit for how we want to play because when he was blocking gap For, Josh jacob's guy was a pro bowler and got himself a thirty million dollar deal because of how well he. Ran so what that says to me is the front office and the coaches have, identified, yeah we got to get this right and this is we're gonna throw three different resources at At, Bozeman james and And zion and made the best man come out and. Win SO i throw all that at you and then ask kind of how does that how does that make you feel in training? Camp what does that do for the position and for competition and what we might be able to see at that position that you know had some issues last.
Year, yeah and just you said the money my whole, CAREER i battled in training camp and it's it's a brothers at the end of the, day, right it's your one, family and were all pushing towards one come and. Go but at the end of the, day these guys are fighting to put food on their family's. Plate and competition breeds nothing but, success, Right it brings the best out of every individual who's fighting for that. Job AND i can speak to it that you're on your. Game you're going back to the. Hotel you're not staying up playing with your, buddies talking on the phone. Late you're studying your, playbook you're making sure you're watching your. Film you're, saying, listen because one little slip, up and if this guy has two more practices that are better than, me that alone bumps him up into the on the depth, chart, right that alone puts him in favor in the front office's eyes that he's having a better camp than.
Me so your margin of error is very.
Slim so when you bring in guys from the free agency, pool from outside in and you, say, listen we're going to be very transparent and we're going to tell you that this position is up for, grabs they, said it's not only are the players. Dud the players respect, you. Right they know that they have a fair shot of, playing so they're given. All they're given their. All and then they, say, look this competition is going to make me a better. Player and If i'm a better player because of it AND i don't, START i still came out of the situation better THAN i came in. It SO i think, competition man friendly competition is the BEST i think it drives an organization in a program upward and it's all for the.
Better.
Yeah and in the case Of, TREY i don't know how this affects him moving, forward but to, me it's unless you need that. Money if something pops and becomes available and you have to make it available so you can go get this player and you can sign this, player and you, know whatever that may. Be you, know if it's again post draft player falls into the lap of a team and now they feel, like, okay this that's expendable Post june one, cut and we can go and now you want to go out and get that player at a position of, need let's, say pass catching tight end or something like. That AND i can, see you, know The tray situation maybe, changing but for now it's a big number for a backup at nine million. Bucks But tray can play right, Tackle trey can play. Guard trey's great in the. Room everybody likes. Him he's one of the most beloved players on the. Team like for people that are just, like, oh, WELL i can't wait to get that six point two five million bucks in my, pocket well they don't need, It like they.
Don't need it right.
Now and to me when you have an injury history With Mackay, beckton when you have and their past, rate their their past protection grades were very very. Similar run run blocking was way. Different it's The kai And. TRADE i mean that's like the. Separation but pass blocking they were pretty much dead EVEN i think that's just someone you keep around like it doesn't make sense to just you, know to put it in perspective and not to maybe alienate a portion of the. Audience what's happening in society. Today the idea that you're cutting things just to cut them doesn't always make. Sense you want to hear, them why are we cutting these? Jobs why how are we saving this? Money and that's the thing With, Trey it's, Like, okay, well why would you release him because he's still a very valuable piece of that.
Room, yeah he's a very very valuable piece in that.
ROOM i played With. Trade awesome, guy, right and he's a utility. Guy he can play a lot of different positions and that holds a lot of, weight and not only.
Weight that holds a lot of value because we all know that.
This is one hundred percent injy rate, sport especially with the offensive line and the physicality that it takes to be a offensive, lineman and one guy going down and then having to shuffle everybody can throw off the chemistry of offensive. Line one guy going down and being able to play Plug trey and who's a veteran.
Who's been, there who's been at war.
With these, guys and he can he can perform like nothing happened this and that goes a long. Way and that's the difference between wins and.
Losses, yeah so you, KNOW i wish it were done. ALREADY i wish we were reporting on A slater. Extension hasn't happened, yet BUT i would be absolutely floored if it didn't get. Done So i'm gonna assume that's gonna, happen and that you know now today on what is, It march, Twentieth Slater Zion james Slash. BOSEMAN i Think james maybe has the lead going. In you, Know beckton and. All you feel pretty good about, That.
No really?
Good, yeah that left side you're talking about five yards per carry when they ran to the. Left so now you've got that right side that mirrors that left. Side and Again, james who played really well in a couple previous, seasons blocking For Josh jacobs In Las. Vegas feel pretty good about. That so and what that then, does of, course is at twenty, two and it's so hard to project the remainder of the. Draft i'm just talking about the first. Round don't feel, like, hey we've got the number two guard on the board or the number one, center we've got to take him here because we don't have an answer at that. Position that's what that does is If Gray's abel's, there, great you, know and you feel, like let's just grab, them you, know let's we believe in offensive line so, bit but you don't feel LIKE i have. To and that's that's what those two signings In james And beckton suggest to, me is you don't have to Grab Tyler booker at. Guard you don't have who improved his ten time at his pro day because the one at the combine was. Ridiculous so happy for him that he was able to do, that and you don't feel that. Need and so that's that's something that. Helps all, right second, thing we got to get.
To it so so.
Money so with that being, said just a quick pick at twenty, two what do you like to?
See, WELL i think that's it now frees you, up, Right so what are, like what are the two needs or what are the needs that maybe haven't been filled one tight end past catching tight end right will awesome last year and for people that like want to see, that LIKE i view that as a, positive, RIGHT i view that As, Wow, greg you, Know Greg roman has always done great things with tight. Ends you bring in one of the best blocking tight ends in the league and he ends up having career highs and catches and yards after catching touchdowns and all of that because that's Of Greg roman can do with tight. End so the idea of pairing him with any elite tight end Like Tyler warren Or Colston, LOVELIN i mean it's salivate thinking about.
THAT i Mean, tyler BUT i don't know IF i don't know they will be.
THERE i don't think either of them will be. There so that's the.
Thing, like so that's, one, right and that's something that's going to have to get figured. OUT i think they're still you, know especially With stone smart leaving is that project of an athletic tight. End TWO i think wide, receiver you, Know AND i say that just Because mike's on a one year. DEAL i do want to get to you With, mike so just as we kind of do this exercise. Though So mike's on a one year deal AND i, think you, know c'es going into year three and you, know you're talking about year four after this, year and then you have to start thinking about picking up a fifty year. Option and don't forget the fift year. Options top five average salaries in the. Position wide receivers make a lot of, money so that's a huge decision to make ON. C so that's where wide RECEIVER i think comes into. Play and then you're talking About Agbuka golden and t mac And ted, McMillan you, know those three, GUYS i would guess that one of them will be there for. SURE i think those that comes into. Play and then for, ME i think you look at the way they attack defensive, line you, know and it Wasn't Milton, williams but it, was you, know it was very similar to what they did last year With poona And. Tierra It's Akwon jones and It's Deshan hand and it's, like, hey we see flashes from these. Guys Mike elston's one of the BEST d line coaches in the, league and what Jesse minner.
Does SO i, say all of that all, right there it, is there's the back.
Drop to, ME i love the idea of pairing an elite player with that sort of, coach. RIGHT i love the idea of If Kenneth grant is, there If Walter nolan is. There Like nolan to me is fascinating just because he's former number one recruit in the, nation went to a and m got a little weird in sideways and kind of had some issues with the coaching, staff and then they call him out for being immature and things like. That but he goes To Ole miss and becomes one of the best defenders in THE sec and is crushing seco lineman and and he's just a freak. Man he is a freak of. Nature and SO i kind of view a guy that's that, young that's that, raw but has that kind of ceiling With Jesse minter And Mike, Elson i'm, like you could end up turning this guy into like a top, three top five player in the draft kind of. Thing SO i kind of lean a little bit toward the defensive tackle side of the.
But you know your.
Thoughts, MAYBE i, MEAN i can't disagree with. YOU i, mean you laid it out there for, everybody but obviously in free agency we. Would last week we're talking about wide. Receiver BUT i think The Mike williams pick up it softens that, blow, Right it softens That, YES i, truly truly think it softens that.
Blow.
Right running back is not will not be a need at twenty. Two naj just you don't do, that right when you bring a guy in Like Nijie, harrison you. Don't you don't do that at twenty. Two i'm looking at the defensive line side as. Well if not defensive, Line i'm thinking tight. End we've talked tight end for for a while, now and don't take nothing away From Will will had a really good year last. Year But i'm talking a tight end that defenses have to game plan, for, right because we all know that a tight end is a quarterback's best. Friend and if those guys are being covered at the on the, outside if they're getting, coverage roll to. Them If FLA's gonna get gainst to double team this, year you need a guy that can win his one on one VERSUS a strong safety technically is not the best cover guy in the in the, secondary, Right So i'm thinking a leap. Past i'm thinking elite past catching tight, end and Then i'm agreeing with you going and tear your defensive line to push that.
Pocket, Yeah i'm glad you mentioned you know that because it's sort of a counter to WHERE i, was and you, know it gives me an opportunity to illustrate this and that is that you, know and you have to do the exercise that they did last, year, right which is and we've talked about this, repeatedly if you don't Draft Joe alt at five and you Draft Elik neighbors at, five the offensive tackle that you're getting at thirty, four where you Drafted lad McConkie is nowhere near the level Of joelt and nowhere near the level Of lad. McConkie it was a deep wide receiver, draft. Right we knew that last year going In it's, like, Yeah malik And Roma dounce And Marvin Harrison junior are. Seen is this this start of this sort of triumph for it that's here and everything else is down? Here you take a giant step, back and clearly that wasn't the. Case everybody felt, Like, EH i don't, Know Brian Thomas junior is pretty he's in, good And goad McConkey is pretty freaking.
Good so that's the EXERCISE i think you have to.
Do let's just, say for whatever reason That Colston loveland And Walter nolan And Kenneth grant Or harmon are all, there THEN i.
Think you do that.
Well if we don't Take loveland, here, like there's a pretty good drop between that and, Title if you don't Take Walter nolan here and Or Kenneth grant, here there's a lot of d tackles and you're going to be able to get a very good one at fifty. Five SO i think if if that's how it plays, out if Somehow Colston loveland makes it to them at twenty, two that that ultimately to be the.
Pick that would BE i.
Guess so let's get Into mike And Big mike coming, back former, teammateers just your initial thoughts and how he fits in, now BECAUSE i would assume it's going to Be MIKE x you, KNOW qz and And ladd in the.
Slot, yeah that's.
It that's day one right when you look at it right, now that's exactly what it's going to. Be in former teammate Of. Mike great. Guy first of, all locker room, guy works his tail, off and we all know what kind of guy he is with the fifty to fifty a seventy thirty, balls, Right we all know just Watching mike over his career in THE. Nfl he puts his body on the, line something that you really love about his. Game and anytime That justin is in, need this guy is a big body on the outside that he can throw the ball up single, coverage double, coverage and you're looking, like, hey look this can actually be a, completion, Right so you have that in the, offense you have some familiarity there With justin And, mike AND i Know justin's ecstatic about. It, obviously we talked about other RECEIVERS dk And davante and we didn't get. Them but LIKE i said, previously this softens the. Blow we have a familiar, face so we know who's very. Productive he can take the top off the defense as. Well a jump ball, guy he can catch the intermediate, passes he can run the whole route. Tree he had keenan wise not, so but he can get it done if you needed to get. DONE i think it was a, really really good pickup and there was no jersey swap needed to be done and bring them on.
Home the thing With mike to, remember have you did you ever have a big injury in your?
Career?
No, Okay, so like you're talking about a position where explosiveness is imperative and a guy that was twenty nine years old when he blew out HIS acl in week three last you, know in twenty twenty. Three so as you point to last year and kind OF i think about twenty twenty two and what a great season that was a start that he was off to in twenty twenty three before the knee, injury and it's sort of, EASY i, think to push twenty twenty four, aside but kind of for you to share with people someone who played a position where explosiveness is important defensive. Back as you get to that age thirty year and sort of you've had a couple you, know nicks and bruises and sort of how you feel out, There like what do you think should we expect to see the Same Mike williams of twenty twenty two when you're talking a thousand plus yards and double digit touchdowns or like what do you think there? After pretty much taken all of last year to try to get right following that.
INJURY i think we.
DO i Think mike's a freak.
MAN i think he's he's still one of one in THE nfl when you talk about a guy who can go up there and make those big time catches in tough, coverage just being a performer athlete and playing the. Game, listen once you get to, thirty your body just feels. Different you got to have a warm. Up you gotta have a warm up. Regimen there's a certain. REGIMEN i did every practice before every, game BEFORE i even started running, right just to get my body, phoned just to get my muscles. Firing and the thing about With, mike he got Hurt week three that, season and if you know A, ACL acl takes typically, fast it's eight to nine, months typically nine to, eleven nine to twelve. Months, right and then even when you get, back talking to guys who have played with the A, cl it's not really you're not comfortable with. It it's almost like you have to gain that confidence. Back AND i even remember what listening To Aaron rodgers, talking he Mentioned Mike. Williams he was just, Saying, Hey mike is still, getting you, know comfortable with his. Knee he's still you, know figuring out how to you, know plant cut and it takes, time, Right it's It's it's like WHEN i broke my collar bone in twenty sixteen AND i had a plate and screws put in. IT i miss eight, games BUT i came back AND i had to hit. THIS i had to hit the, SLED i had to hit the bag to get that confidence knowing THAT i can go into the game and still use his. SHOULDER i Think mike's issue was more so that he wasn't he didn't really really fully recover and at the position that he, plays when he's, stopping he's, going he's cutting at such a high, speed high. Level he's a big body. GUY i think he was playing probably seventy five eighty percent out, there AND i think he'd be back to one. HUNDRED i think the charges know he'll be back to one hundred and you'll still get that same Explosive.
Mike that's my.
Opinion, Yeah AND i think also you Mentioned Aaron. RODGERS i don't know if you noticed that a little bit of a gag reflex when you. Did sorry to bother, you BUT i think it's, also you, know you think about the crap That aaron put on him for the whole red line, thing and you, know, ridiculous and then you think, about you, know it seemed to be fine With Justin. Herbert it didn't seem to be an issue of him straying off a route and not being able to go up and get a very well thrown fifty. Fifty With Justin, herbert how far does that?
Go do you?
Think just the fact that you Drop mike and it's a new, offense new offensive, coordinator new, Terminology but outside of, that it's the same guy who's been who threw you all those fifty to fifty balls that you won over and over.
AGAIN i think that's the. SPLASH i think that's why they went and made that. SPLASH i truly. Do it's somebody that they, said, Listen Justin you're very familiar with, him, Right you know his. Game he knows, you he knows if you're in trouble and you guys make eye, contact he knows you're going to him with the. Ball and time and time and time and time again In mike's career he. Wins he'll land on his neck he'll land on his, Back he'll land on his. Butt he's coming up with the ball and he's gonna get. Up he's gonna give you the first down symbol and it's gonna be on moving the.
Change.
Right we've seen it for time and time and ten time again after being A charger, fan being a, Player mike's really reliable and like you, said it doesn't matter about too much scheme Because Mike's mike will fit in any scheme.
Right he's a big, receiver he can, catch he's.
Fast but it's more so that down the red, line like you, explain fifty to fifty, ball we need a big.
Play we're going to, You.
Mike everybody in the stadium knows that we're going to, you and you're gonna come down with the. BALL i think that was a really really good, pickup not only for the organization but for Just. Herbert we talked about like a security blanket in a tight. End mike william is Justin herbert security.
Blanket, yeah just kind of going back to what you asked about the about the first. Pick right at twenty, two SO dj posted his new mock as updated, mock and he had ted. McMillan you know at twenty two sliding and you know he ran a four to five to. Three depending on who you, ASK i think this pro. Day some had it at like a four four, Eight some had it at LIKE i think a four five nine or. SOMETHING i think that The scouts sort of agreed on a four to five. Three and he's a big. Dude he's six,' four he's. Two twenty.
He's a.
LOCAL kid i watched him play highchool Football, at surveyed a team that was getting Punked by Bosco And modern day year in and year out until He and fafita. Got there as like that little group. Of friends there were five of them that went there together and, next thing, you know surviv'es trading blows With modern Day With Saint. John BOSS so i just Think of so that's that's.
Level one. Level two he Goes.
To arizona University of arizona had been a punching bag of. A program even when They Hire, jed fish, they're, like eugh this is like a best friend of the president of. The university what a. Terrible hire and what happens if They didn't team att go there and they light it up and he is is trading blows with the best receivers In the, pac twelve and He makes arizona relevant and they're Taking down titans in. The pectel, to me there's something, To, that like there's just here's a guy that didn't take the, easy path that didn't Go To modern Day, or bosco that didn't go to sc or one OF the sec schools when they, all recruiter and we want his best Friend to arizona to do a quarterback wide receiver combo and they made. It work, one yeah no. Transfer portal, so like, to me that's worth something number one and two the idea that what's?
He do he wins fifty to. Fifty balls he's.
Really GOOD so i kind of lay that out to ask you how much value is there in drafting that guy And Having mike williams in the ranization as someone that he can now sort of follow around and see how he does it and how he can sort of mirror the career and the skill Set That mike.
Williams, has yeah they're, Very, similar matt like, you said but it's almost more. So too does the front office see him as a value to bring him in at twenty two let him Learn, from mike similar type, of players similar type, of body or do you go get somebody that you know Different, From mike, because yeah We have mike, right now and we do know he's a one year but is there more value?
Going?
Elsewhere right so it's all up to what the front. Office thinks it's all up to what the front office wants. To do I've watched i've Watched t mac play really really really big, time, guy right big time wide receiver at.
TWENTY two I wike, Evans.
ASK yes i would not be.
Against it it's just more so what they see as in value right for this year and for this, year's draft and what they have already at receiver, right now there's a big receiver Room, Besides, lad right YOU, have q he's a, big, time big. Big, body right You have mike who's a, big body and then You. HAVE led i don't know if they go big, body again that's the, only, Thing.
RIGHT yeah. I, guess look well we've talked, about, It right the idea of a starting five of a basketball team is what you want your wide receiver room to. Look, Like yeah guka ends up running a. Nice number We know golden ran that four two nine at, The combine, so yeah that probably drop that, in there and that helps a. Lot more that's going to help take the top off of things and open it up for nause and open it up in the middle for lad and open up those fifty to fifty balls to be one.
On Ones with mike will think you need.
A burner so, that's yeah and that makes sense, and plus to, BE honest i don't think there's any.
Way he slides to. TWENTY two I just i just don't.
SEE it i don't think you can have, those measurables, that production that sort of quality of an individual and is. Exactly sliding so although some people are questioning, his CHARACTER which i, don't get That's not i've not heard. That, something yeah it's, spring man, you know it's. The spring, all right let's get to, the position, you know, very well, defensive back so very similar to to sort of what they've done at, other, positions right and it's let's. Find production let's. Find traits you Know they tarheb was production competitiveness And cam hart. Was traits look at, this guy, body beautiful, you know let's get him With our and it worked both ways with that coaching with, That room so what are they doing? Free Agency dante, jack's production all, those interceptions high, Draft Pick, benjamin saint just let's see six to three massive. Wing span you kind of bring those two. GUYS in i like both signings just because the idea of just kind of handing a starting job to two second. Year guys i'm not saying they didn't. EARN it i think they played well enough to, Earn that but these are two guys that you could end up seeing being the starters ahead of either of those guys if it all goes well with this coaching.
And you talked. About it we talked about. It earlier it's all, about.
Competition right so you got two guys who came in and obviously they weren't first round.
Draft picks so if you're a first round draft.
Pick and you have the productivity that they, both had they're slated at starting and for coming. Into, Camp right but you have a fifth fifth round draft picks who, played really really really well for really. Good football but like, you said you're not gonna give the keys right over to the.
Young guys.
Just now we're, gonna, say listen you had a really. Good year we want to make sure it wasn't. A fluke we want you to. Earn it we want you to not. Be complacent and we're gonna bring in some veterans who have played really, good ball who are very productive and our starters can be a starter on any thirty two OF these, nfl teams and we're gonna make you guys go out and. Battle IT and i think it will be really good for that position group because when you look at the, position group there's not, just yes we have two really good, young corners but there's not really just one guy who, you, say listen if you just ask anybody in, the country who's going to be the, number two the one and two at the, corner spot, you know no one, really.
Knows right do we know that we.
Have some upside in those young guys apps a positively little what we. Do RIGHT but i think bringing in these, veterans also you're bringing, in depth you're bringing, in competition and that just, breeds winners and that, brings, better better better for. The GROUP so i think it's a really good.
Pick.
UP yeah i think in the case Of the chargers is, you know this is just one of the better coaching staffs in. The league and so when You and i'm not saying that it's a front office that doesn't trust, their coaches but when, you know you go out And Sign carlton davis or when you go out AND Sign dj reid, and like, you know you were getting a high level player that's. COMING in i think when you look at that defensive back room and you See coach clink and You See, jesse mintter, YOU'RE like i know what these guys can do, with CORNERS and i know you know what they Did at michigan and how, you know you Look At, will johnson he's going to be a top twenty picks in, the draft and what they did in, developing him what they did In developing sandr's still like they know what they're doing, with corners and so you can. Do this you can save money by giving traits or production to that particular, coaching staff trusting, that yeah they're gonna they're gonna maximize this and it's going to be as valuable as maybe paying double or triple.
And it'll be. Spread, out yeah it'll be.
Spread out AND like, i said it, brings, depth, yeah right which, is very very very big with the seventeen, week, Season right so like you bring depth and you bring.
Experience and cam hartmss, some games.
It happens so let's see if we have anything else to kind of. GET to i think we already kind of went through the draft and projecting, the draft and look that stuff's going to change week in and. Week out are there any other moves? OUT there i think. They've been, you know The Whole mark andrews thing was a rumor about them Trading For, mark andrews and they picked up his roster bonus on This past monday for four. Million bucks so that looks like. That's Out dallas goddard is still rumored to maybe be on. The MOVE as, i said you might see somebody drop out based on, you know if a Team Drafts Colston loveland high Or Tar orkie Slides Or tyler warren slides a, little bit you might have another team that makes a tight end available as of right now with the money they. HAVE left i think what you're probably looking at based on who's available is a trade for a, tight End the, slater extension and then continuing to just kind of take advantage of the market that's. OUT there, i know a lot of people are Asking about KEENAN, and JK and i don't know if we addressed this last week. Or not. To me if You're Giving naji harris five million bucks with four and a half million dollars, IN incentives i think there's an understanding there that you're the. Lead back, of course know we may drive somebody that's going to come in and spell to make sure. You don't, you know you've got a lot of carries on. Your, resume man let's make sure we keep you fresh all year for. The postseason BUT and i could see them take if a Mari and hampton slips to, TWENTY two i could see that being.
The paper, of course he's, The FUTURE but i think.
In terms of BRINGING, BACK jk i don't quite know how that would line up FOR what jk needs and for what they've kind of Delivered to naji in terms of KEEN and I just i don't want to take any slot reps Away from. Lad mccacky like that's just kind Of where i'm at on.
That, Front yeah and it's, you know everyone's been talking, about it, you know and you hear, the rumors and Especially when mike, gets signed It's, like okay now bring his band or brother back, with, Him, Right keenan, And right keenan will be in the. Slot position that's what it's going. To be he's going to be in the slot and that's where they have. Lad slotted so it'd. Be, Tough right it's obviously we would love To have. Keenan, back right he's very very productive still that you know what.
A good back end of the.
Year WITH but i think then you're just.
You're almost putting money where we're already have somebody who's very established and we feel.
Good, About yeah i'm just kind of going through who's available because you know it. Changes hourly so when we're, doing this WHO could, I, say look might they Bring Us Sante samuel? Junior back if you can't find a? DEAL possible i could, see that, you know there may be. Some help there's another guard, Out There. Tavin jenkins i've talked. About him you can give him an incentive laden contract if you can't. Find Anything kalais campbell is still playing at a, high level remarkably for how old. He is it doesn't, Make right that does not make.
Any sense YOU got i don't think that's really.
A Fit There. Matt judon, you know an edge could be something. That's interesting, you know you think about when They Got. Bud debris that's a possibility out there, As well so that would be sort of the things That that i'd be. Looking at and some of those guys may have signed by the time that this. Thing posts so if that's, The, case sorry didn't mean to lead you down a road where somebody's, Already SIGNED but i THINK that's i think we're kind of, YOU know i think we've kind of, hit everything, you know the Big News Mike andre james McKay beck then obviously the biggest one from the, last week and how that now frees them up to do sort of whatever they want at. Twenty two whether it's a wide Receiver, like Egbuca t Mak, or golden whether it's a tight End if, loveland falls whether it's one of these great interior. Defensive linemen, You know hardball's Former Player, kenneth grant THE guy i like an awful Lot In walter nolan Out of ole Miss Or. DEREK harmon i know a lot of people like after he Got With dan Lanning at oregon and kind of the way he's played at a lighter weight and a much more effective interior. Defensive lineman there's just there's. So much it's such a sweet spot there where they are where kind of all THESE players i would Assume For joe ortiz and his staff are going to be graded so evenly that they just probably feel pretty good about getting a guy THAT'S gonna i. Forget man, last year you got two fifth round players that have an impact on a team that won. Eleven games your first round pick is one of the five best right tackles on. Football already your second round Pick, in ladd if there was a redraft would probably be the fourth or fifth receiver taken instead of. The tenth like, That's, dog yeah that's dog what you put and we forget there's two picks in back to back rounds that are going to be like having extra picks. This Year And junior colston because he couldn't get healthy and we know what we expect out. Of him and justin A boyd bee who was drafted in the fourth and was, said, specifically yeah he's not going to get a lot. Of reps he's got, the tools he's got. The traits it's going to be a slower process for him and they totally believe that he's going to make an impact.
This year so so do you Think The denzel pairman signing, just Quickly The denzel pairman signing is more so of A, Veteran obviously denzel's a.
Dog, still yeah we.
Forced in, the, middle right But with junior, behind him and you would think that this would be the Year that junior is taking that step to.
Possibly, start yeah is it more so.
A, you Know bringing denzel, for security we know what we're going to get out of him and create more competition between Him and junior or how do you?
SEE that i.
Look at it as, you know awesome in.
The, room yeah coach on, the field, of course, You know deyon, loves HIM and i think you got two, young guys, you know one in his, third year one in, his Second and denzel's an incredibly positive influence. On him and in the Case, of denzel you know how, it. Is man you can hear those hits in the in the in the top, deck man and so, it's hey if we can limit it and just, give him, you know some sprinkles when we got to, you know send the send the big baseball bat. Out there to let everybody know what's. Going on, you know you get a couple of, those REPS and i think. That WORKS and, i look let it be a lesson. To, you man whatever you do, in life whatever job, you have don't don't be a squeaky. Wheel man be a positive influence and good. Things HAPPEN and i think that's the case Of den like if you Watch the chargers, social media who's got the biggest smile?
On?
There Man mike.
Williams when he, was here he was always. On there just always in a great. Mood man and same Thing, with denzel just always in a. Great mood and people that are like that make you feel better and make the room better and make the. Vibe around, you know if you got someone that's coming in and they're just they've always got that that face, on him, it's like h here. They come, but man You've seen mike walk In and denzel walk in with. That smile, it's, like, oh yeah we.
Are, stay hydrated and WHERE'S The dp? Stay hydrated?
Stay hydrated. You know LIKE so i think that goes into it. A lot so, all right so that will we? Miss anything we? Got it all? All right will wants to get out, of Here will he's got lunch waiting for. Him downstairs he put his order, in already.
So uh. That'll.
Do yeah and by, The Way josh palmer. Congratulates him awesome to see him get that kind. OF money i hope nothing but success for Him. In buffalo same Thing With, stone smart, you Know FORMER riverside. Jc quarterback maybe gonna get a little bit more opportunity There In. New york and Same With. Morgan fox one of our favorites gets a bunch of money With. The falcons and that's one where it's like if you were To Draft kenneth grant and You've Got morgan fox right next, to him like that's what, You want like those are that's a pair. Of tackles That just You've Got kenneth grant at three hundred and forty pounds taken On The morgan fox just flying up The field like that's the sort of THING that i. Had Envisioned but tierre. Tarts back he's that upfield get off guy, As well so it'll still. Work there but, all right that. Does it thanks everybody. Appreciate it be sure to comment if you're watching this on the on the YouTube rate. The podcast we always. Appreciate it we'll be back again, next week likely with even more clarity as we're coming up on just a MONTH Out nfl draft FIRST drund i Think is april, twenty FOURTH if i.
Remember right is? THAT right i.
Don't know you're the one Going To, green bay will so figure it. Out man, all right we'll be back. Next week thanks, everybody cool
