The Los Angeles Chargers’ 2024 draft class kicked off a new regime’s vision for the future. With the stakes of setting the tone for this team, Joe Hortiz and Jim Harbaugh had all the media on their side when the 2024 draft class initially happened.
With the media, including myself, giving a plethora of predictions on the class, an expectation was set. A year later, how did these predictions fare? Did the Chargers’ 2024 draft class succeed its already high expectations? Or did it fall below what was expected?
Revisiting The Chargers’ 2024 Draft Class Predictions
Round 1, Pick 5: OT Joe Alt (Notre Dame)
2024 Draft Prediction:
- 15 Starts (two games missed due to injury)
- Pro Bowl alternate as a rookie
- This offensive line finally gels, and Alt is a major part of that
2024 Actual Statline:
- 16 Starts
- Pro Bowl snub, at one point top three in fan voting
- Offensive Line improved, yet IOL was still an issue
The Chargers made a major swing to get Joe Alt in the first round of their very first draft. This selection was frowned upon by many as the want was Malik Nabers. Chargers kept to their guns and selected Alt fifth overall and got a home run. Alt is on an All-Pro caliber trajectory, and his rookie season was as good as predicted.
Round 2, Pick 34: WR Ladd McConkey (Georgia)
2024 Draft Prediction:
- 72 Catches
- 839 Yards
- 6 Touchdowns
- 14 Games played
2024 Actual Statline:
- 82 Catches
- 1,149 Yards
- 7 Touchdowns
- 16 Games Played, 14 Starts
Ladd McConkey was able to completely blow the predictions out of the water, as well as the conversations around his selection. The argument of Alt-McConkey vs Nabers-Second Round Tackle seems to lean in the favor of the Chargers, as McConkey was also a complete success for Hortiz and Harbaugh. His basic statline is only one part of the impact that McConkey made to this Chargers 2024 roster. Without him, this playoff team would likely have been unable to even sniff the chance of making it.
Round 3, Pick 69: LB Junior Colson (Michigan)
2024 Draft Prediction:
- 114 Tackles
- 9 TFLs
- 2.5 Sacks
- 2 Interceptions
- 1 Forced Fumble
- 1 Fumble Recovery
- 35% Special Teams Snaps
2024 Actual Statline:
- 29 Tackles
- 0 TFLs
- 0 Sacks
- 0 Interceptions
- 0 Forced Fumbles
- 0 Fumble Recoveries
- 31% Special Teams Snaps
I was quite bullish on Junior Colson with my 2024 Chargers Draft Class predictions, however, Colson struggled mightily in his first season. The expectations for Colson stemmed from his familiarity and talent, but unfortunately, injuries took away his chance to show that in his first NFL season; Appendicitis in training camp, struggled with a hamstring injury early in the season, and then an ankle injury that landed him on in-season injured reserve. Hopefully, year two will yield closer to the results we initially expected from the 2024 Chargers draftee.
Round 4, Pick 105: DL Justin Eboigbe (Alabama)
2024 Draft Prediction:
- 45 Tackles
- 5 TFLs
- 2.5 Sacks
- 15 Pressures
- 1 Forced Fumble
2024 Actual Statline:
- 2 Tackles
- 0 TFLs
- 0 Sacks
- 0 Pressures
- 0 Forced Fumbles
The Chargers surprised some by drafting Justin Eboigbe in the fourth round, as he was viewed as a later-round draft pick by many. That said, he was still expected to have a large role on this team as Poona Ford and Teair Tart were not as settled in their roles at the time of prediction. Ford and Tart both eventually took on the starting roles, whilst Eboigbe was generally inactive and even practiced with the EDGE group at times. However, the 2024 Chargers fourth-round draft pick is still gaining hype for an improvement in year two.
Round 5, Pick 137: CB Tarheeb Still (Maryland)
2024 Draft Prediction:
- Starting slot cornerback in 2024
- 52 Tackles
- 2 TFLs
- 1 Interception
- 1 Sack
- 45% of Special Teams Snaps
2024 Actual Statline:
- 12 Starts, Due To Injury
- 62 Tackles
- 1 TFL
- 4 Interceptions
- 0.5 Sacks
- 25% Special Teams Snaps
Still was definitely the most head-scratching pick initially for Chargers fans, as he was an unknown name with little hype from the general draft community. Even whilst under-the-radar, my prediction of him starting and filling the stat sheet was pretty accurate. I did not think he would play at the level he did, as I was hoping for average, and the Chargers received borderline Pro Bowl play out of Still. A home run selection for the Chargers in the fifth round, even agreed upon by other NFL CBs.
Round 5, Pick 140: CB Cam Hart (Notre Dame)
2024 Draft Prediction:
- 22 Tackles
- 1 TFL
- 0 Interceptions
- 55% of Special Teams Snaps
2024 Actual Statline:
- 37 Tackles
- 0 TFLs
- 0 Interceptions
- 26% of Special Teams Snaps
While Cam Hart’s statistics were pretty accurate in my initial predictions, his actual play on the field was still quite impressive. Hart dealt with injuries all throughout the Chargers’ 2024 season, but when on the field was able to matchup with the best. His play against the Saints and Bengals comes to mind, showing the Chargers may have gone 2/2 for fifth-round cornerback selections in 2024. Year two is a big one for Hart; if he can stay healthy, he very well may become a long-term starter for this Chargers team.
Round 6, Pick 181: RB Kimani Vidal (Troy)
2024 Draft Prediction:
- 55 Carries
- 231 Yards
- 2 Rushing TDs
- 20 Catches
- 215 Receiving Yards
- 1 Receiving TD
2024 Actual Statline:
- 43 Carries
- 155 Yards
- 0 Rushing TDs
- 5 Catches
- 62 Yards
- 1 Receiving TD
Kimani Vidal was a draft crush for many in the community, as the smaller runner was a productive, fun watch. His predictions coming into 2024 were nothing all too crazy, but he was expected to contribute right away as the Chargers RB room was unproven in Powder Blue. Vidal played a decent amount of snaps for the Chargers, due to the injuries sustained by JK Dobbins and Gus Edwards, but Vidal’s play was in need of improvement. Impressive receiving and maneuvering abilities headlined for Vidal, but his pass protection left a lot to be desired.
Round 7, Pick 225: WR Brenden Rice (USC)
2024 Draft Prediction:
- 15 Catches
- 200 Yards
- 2 Touchdowns
- Flashes of Full Potential
2024 Actual Statline:
- Nothing On Offense (Besides 1 Penalty)
- 14% of Special Teams Snaps
Brenden Rice was next to KJ Hill for the most hyped seventh-round selection the Chargers have had in recent memory. Rice, being the son of the GOAT wide receiver, Jerry Rice, also left a lot for fans to be excited about. I felt I was being reasonable in my initial predictions, having him be a WR4/5 who shows some flashes in year one. That did not happen, as Rice did not see the field much at all and did nothing on offense in year one. It should be noted that this is actually normal for a seventh-round pick, and not to be too harsh on the overall selection and player.
Round 7, Pick 253: WR Cornelius Johnson (Michigan)
2024 Draft Prediction:
- 10 Catches
- 110 Yards
- 1 Touchdown
- Strong Run Game Blocker
- Elevated from the practice squad in the middle of the season
2024 Actual Statline:
- Did not make the team
As probably the world’s biggest Cornelius Johnson fan in 2024, the feeling in my predictions was that he can contribute and become a helpful asset to the offense in year one (think what Simi Fehoko did in 2024). Unfortunately, Johnson did not even crack the roster (once game day hit) due to the aforementioned breakout of Fehoko. A disappointing end to the Chargers’ 2024 draft class.
Main Image: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
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