AFC Notes: Chargers, Chiefs, Colts

Chargers

League executives thought the Chargers once again had a terrific draft, landing Northwestern OT Rashawn Slater at No. 13 overall when many had him as a top-ten pick. 

“I hate to say it, the Chargers, they just sit and pick and they pick good players,” an evaluator said via the Athletic’s Mike Sando. “It has been like that the last three or four years. Derwin James, Justin Herbert, Rashawn Slater. They don’t ever trade, they just always seem to be in this sweet spot to get good players.”

However, some questioned whether the Chargers actually got their future left tackle in Slater. 

“I think he will be a really good offensive lineman, and I think guard is going to be his best spot,” an exec said.

Chiefs

League executives generally thought the Chiefs made a smart move moving picks to the Ravens for OT Orlando Brown Jr., getting a more proven player than what would have been available to them at their picks. 

“I like what they did,” an exec said via the Athletic’s Michael Sando. “Orlando Brown is a proven commodity to them and to this league, so you get a solid starter at that position. Nick Bolton at inside linebacker is a solid pick, a leader and something they have not had at inside linebacker, in my opinion. This guy is not Derrick Johnson, but he will be a solid ‘Mike’ backer who will play for a long time, and ‘Spags’ (defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo) will love him — he’s a real dude.”

Colts

• Colts’ seventh-round OL Will Fries believes the team’s offensive line talent will help him develop going forward: “Anytime you can be around guys that have played that many snaps at the highest level, you’re gonna learn something.” (George Bremer)
• Colts’ second-round DE Dayo Odeyingbo, who tore his Achilles at a Senior Bowl practice, thinks he produced enough at Vanderbilt to keep NFL teams interested in him: “I felt like I had put enough film out there in college to make (teams) feel good about the kind of player they were getting.” (Stephen Holder)
• Regarding his Achilles injury, Odeyingbo explained that he planted incorrectly: “I planted wrong and went down.” (Jim Ayello)
• Odeyingbo believes he and first-round DE Kwity Paye can become a problem for quarterbacks alongside each other: “I think we both know what we can do together — the disruption and the havoc we can cause opposing quarterbacks.” (Zak Keefer)
• Paye met with reporters and made it known that he would exclusively be rushing from the right side on defense, and would not be playing inside as he did at Michigan from time to time. (Stephen Holder)