:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/66449207/usa_today_14094767.0.jpg)
Football fan love making “All-_____” teams for anything they possibly can. The annual All-Conference and All-NFL teams are concepts that fans cannot wait to see and honestly can’t get enough of. When it comes to college football, Walter Camp, the Associated Press, and Pro Football Writers of America are all groups that love putting together their own set of honorees.
For those of you who fit the description above, you’ll enjoy NFL.com’s Nick Shook’s recent posting of his offensive and defensive “All-Combine” teams. In each article, Shook highlights who he believes made the most of their time in Indianapolis and then follows each player’s blurb with a handful of teams he believes that prospect would best fit with.
Shook connected the Chargers with two players: Oregon quarterback Justin Herbert and Florida Atlantic tight end Harrison Bryant. Here’s what he had to say about each player:
QB Justin Herbert, Oregon
Other team fits: Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Carolina Panthers, Indianapolis Colts
“Herbert made money Thursday night. The quarterback who was once considered a potential No. 1 overall pick showed off the arm talent that made him such a highly regarded prospect. He also ran a sub-4.7 40-yard dash and connected easily with receivers. Furthermore, he handled himself well when fielding questions about his demeanor earlier in the week. He’s not Joe Burrow or Tua Tagovailoa, but those who had lost confidence in his stock should have gained it back Thursday.”
TE Harrison Bryant, Florida Atlantic
Other team fits: Green Bay Packers, Jacksonville Jaguars
“Bryant aced his on-field workout, looking smooth and natural in catching passes in every single drill. His 4.73 40 was about on par with most of his class, but he really stood out in the drills, elevating himself to the top of his group, in my opinion.”
The Chargers and Herbert connection has been beaten and beaten into oblivion so we won’t touch on that in this blurb but Bryant is definitely a new one for Bolts fans. Shook including the Chargers as a team fit might simply be based on the fact Hunter Henry hasn’t been signed yet but it’s all but a given that it will happen.
Bryant was this year’s John Mackey Award winner for the nation’s top tight end in college football. He set career-highs all across the board as a senior with 65 catches for 1,004 yards and seven touchdowns. Bryant’s 4.73 forty-yard dash was quite underwhelming last Thursday and it definitely didn’t do him any favors in a NFL where speed kills at the tight end position. However, the tape is what it is and Bryant is a legitimate threat as a receiver. Like most young tight ends, he’ll need to work on his run blocking and that may mean putting on some more weight.
Even if the Chargers re-sign Henry, Bryant would be an interesting option in the passing game as a situational receiver for match-up purposes.