COSTA MESA, Calif. — Los Angeles Chargers basic supervisor Joe Hortiz stated Thursday that the Chargers aren’t excited by a “honest commerce” for the No. 5 decide in subsequent week’s NFL draft, including that the crew must be blown away to maneuver on from the choice.
“They need to make it engaging for us to maneuver away from these gamers,” Hortiz stated. “The entire, ‘It is a honest commerce, it is a wash’ — I do not suppose that is a commerce that we’re excited by.”
Hortiz stated groups have reached out to the Chargers, although none has made a proper supply. Groups have requested him if the Chargers can be open to a commerce if the participant they’re hoping for is accessible in the course of the draft, to which Hortiz has stated he’s however at a hefty value.
Coach Jim Harbaugh referred to as L.A.’s first-round decide basically the No. 1 decide within the draft weeks in the past due to the potential for all 4 groups forward of the Chargers to take quarterbacks. Hortiz doubled down on that notion Thursday.
“We imagine we’ve the primary decide of the draft. I do know there’s going to be 4 picks that go earlier than us, however we imagine that,” Hortiz stated. “We all know it is the fifth decide and individuals are going to be buying and selling on that scope, however it’s obtained to be worth for us. And does it need to be blown away? What’s blown away? I do not know the reply to that.”
The primary three picks are held by groups and not using a long-term reply at beginning quarterback: the Chicago Bears, Washington Commanders and New England Patriots. Hortiz famous that the Chargers are ready for nonetheless the highest 4 picks unfold, however the Chargers anticipate that the Arizona Cardinals, who’ve quarterback Kyler Murray, may commerce the No. 4 decide to a crew that selects a quarterback.
In that state of affairs, nonetheless, the possibilities of a crew prepared to supply a bundle to the Chargers to pick out a fifth quarterback within the high 5 appear slim.
From that time, Hortiz stated the Chargers would stick with the best-player-available technique he used throughout his 26 years within the Baltimore Ravens’ personnel division. He pointed to the Ravens deciding on security Kyle Hamilton with the 14th decide in 2022 regardless of already having one of many league’s higher beginning security pairings in Marcus Williams and Chuck Clark.
“We wish to add depth, and positively there are some positions that we do not ‘want’ however like I stated, you are one play away from needing a place. So, if you happen to have a look at it primarily based on want you are by no means one participant away ever. … And so that you get an opportunity to have a fantastic participant, and in order that’s how we’ll method it.”
One of many greatest questions going through the Chargers since hiring Harbaugh and Hortiz in January is who could have the ultimate say on personnel choices. Harbaugh’s final NFL stint, with the San Francisco 49ers, was plagued by studies a couple of energy wrestle between him and the entrance workplace.
Harbaugh stated publicly in early 2015 that he “felt just like the 49er hierarchy left me” when he parted methods with the crew a 12 months earlier than the tip of his contract.
On Thursday, Hortiz confirmed that he has the ultimate say on who the Chargers draft.
“I am the one who picks the participant,” Hortiz stated, “however it’s, once I inform you it is a collaborative course of, it is a collaborative course of. I put the record collectively primarily based on what we do as a gaggle and that is scouting, that is teaching, that is speaking to Jim — Jim’s enter, his analysis on gamers. I am the one who ranks them and finally the one which calls them.”
