First-round picks get all the glory this time of year, but team building is truly done on days two and three of the draft. According to the NFL Network’s Next Gen Stats Analytics Team, the Los Angeles Chargers nabbed one of the best day two picks of the draft.
The Next Gen Stats Team used its draft model to identify the five best value picks from Day 2 (Rounds 2-3) of the 2024 NFL Draft. Making the list was the Chargers 3rd round pick (69 overall), Junior Colson from Michigan. The other four that made the list were Jer’Zhan Newton (36), Cooper DeJean (40), Adonai Mitchell (52), and Cooper Beebe (73).
Los Angeles Chargers Draft Pick Earns High Praise From Leading Analytics Firm
Here is the analysis the team provided;
- Production Score: 71
- Athleticism Score: 85
- OVERALL DRAFT SCORE: 79
“Heading into the draft, it was reasonable to speculate that new Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh would favor players he coached during his nine-season tenure at the University of Michigan. But when it came time to select a Wolverine, the Bolts didn’t have to reach. With the 69th overall pick, Harbaugh secured one of the leaders of his Michigan defense — who also happened to be one of the best players available.”
“Colson has the potential to immediately step in as a three-down starter to lead the Chargers’ linebacker corps following the departures of Kenneth Murray and Eric Kendricks this offseason, particularly given his familiarity with new coordinator (and ex-Michigan DC) Jesse Minter’s defense.”
“Colson was Co-Defensive Player of the Year for Minter’s top-ranked defense in his final season, leading the team in tackles while earning the Lott IMPACT Trophy, awarded to the nation’s most impactful player of the year — both on and off the field. A constant presence in Harbaugh’s defense during his time in Ann Arbor, Colson played in all 43 games of his college career, persevering through injuries that required him to play with casts on both hands during the latter half of Michigan’s national championship run.”
Colson’s Rookie Season Expectation
Chargers linebacker coach NaVorro Bowman talked to the media after the team’s first day of OTA’s and spoke to whether or not Colson was currently ready to take on a starting role.
“I think it’s a little too early. We haven’t put pads on and he hasn’t really got a chance to experiencea a NFL blocking tackle or NFL blocking guard or NFL running back. All those things to come but he definitely has a has a step forward with learning the scheme. But, like I said, no one’s going to make the team right now in shirts and shorts. I think he understands that and he’s done a great job with doing the little things and just trying to get better in any way that he can.”
