Good morning, Chargers enthusiasts!
For those seeking the ideal quote from the Combine, a delightful melody for the Bolt Fam, look no further:
Mr. Morris, your observation is spot-on – it’s high time to enhance that QB room.
The Falcons present an intriguing trade partner, constituting a slight drop in the draft order for the Chargers but a crucial ascent for the Falcons, enabling them to surpass the QB-needy New York Giants. This sets the stage for bidding wars, significantly favoring Joe Hortiz’s negotiating position.
A noteworthy aspect to keep an eye on is whether the Falcons opt to exercise their fifth-year option on Kyle Pitts. While Pitts had an impressive rookie season, a setback occurred when he tore his MCL in Week 11 of the 2022 season, hindering the anticipated impact since his selection as the 4th overall pick in 2021.
New #Falcons HC Raheem Morris on the team’s QB situation: “If we had better quarterback play, I probably will not be standing here at this podium.” pic.twitter.com/iD8qcJ6rsj
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) February 27, 2024
Activating the fifth-year option on Pitts comes with a cap hit of $10,878,000. Initially seen as a perfect fit for both parties, especially after the Falcons acquired Jonnu Smith last year, who essentially functioned as TE1b, the release of Smith by Atlanta yesterday adds a twist. This development might catch Joe Hortiz’s attention, as Jonnu Smith could fulfill a need on the Chargers’ roster without affecting the compensatory formula.
In this trade-down scenario, Hortiz might explore the intriguing potential of Kyle Pitts as another post-hype player. Drawing inspiration from the Bears’ strategy last year, acquiring a dynamic playmaker in D.J. Moore while also securing additional draft assets, including a skilled veteran in a trade down mitigates the risk of the trade being perceived as a loss. In this proposed situation, Atlanta could offer #8, #74, and Pitts to the Chargers in exchange for #5. This would effectively enable the Chargers to address two starting positions in their lineup using the #5 pick, potentially more if they decide to trade down again.
