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Outside of Omarion Hampton at RB, does it really feel like the Chargers got that much better this year?
Donte Jackson might be a slight upgrade over Kristian Fulton at CB, but we're not talking much there, and they got older and smaller with it. Ben St-Juste probably upgrades the depth a bit but that's really due to Samuel Jr getting injured last year. He'll have to battle to beat out Hart for the other spot.
Feels like Da'Shawn Hand is a slight downgrade from Morgan Fox. Gaining Naquan Jones and losing Poona Ford is probably a slight downgrade.
None of their draft picks on defense really move the needle. Caldwell is a backup NT and Kennard might be a situational pass rusher early on in his career but doesn't look like a great pro prospect. The DBs they took late, Bridges and Mickens, may never be more than STs guys.
Offensively, Mike Williams is back, but he's old and always injured. How much of an impact that can make over letting Palmer, who they criminally underused, is probably a net zero at best.
Mekhi Becton is a clear upgrade at RG if he can stay healthy again. He might be the only other guy who I thought might make a real impact.
They addressed a huge weakness at TE by signing a very average Tyler Conklin in FA and then drafting an undersized F TE in Gadsden in the 5th. It sure doesn't move me to call it a drastic improvement. Conklin is a nice pass blocker and a medium threat in the passing game. I don't see how that helps a running team get better at running, nor be more efficient throwing to the middle of the field. Gadsden, for this team, is a mystery, and I think he has a significant growth curve in the pros.
It seemed like they could have used more explosive elements at WR with McConkey in the slot and Johnston and Williams being bigger body types, but they took Tre Harris in the 2nd who is another possession/YAC guy with no burners. Keandre Lambert-Smith is a speed guy but he's all straight line and can't get out of his cuts. I don't think they got any more dangerous than they were at WR. Like Denver, they probably should have taken Golden in round 1 and looked at an RB later.
Overall, I see a team that spun its wheels and stayed exactly as good as they were. In the NFL, if you aren't improving, you're usually going backwards. How anyone can believe they'll unseat the Chiefs, outside of Greaseball Schlereth, is a mystery.
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