San Diego Chargers Draft Watch: CB Xavier Rhodes

Feb 25, 2013; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Florida State Seminoles defensive back Xavier Rhodes catches a pass during the NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

Mock drafts still have the San Diego Chargers selecting Lane Johnson with the 11th pick in the draft and that is alright with me. If Lane Johnson is there, then there will be no hesitation on our part to run up to the podium and be done for the day. There just is a feeling in me that says that Lane Johnson will not be available at number 11.

We already looked at the possibilities of taking either of the top offensive guard prospects, Chance Warmack and Jonathan Cooper, yesterday. Today let’s look at the possibility of taking a corner with the 11th pick in the draft. Dee Milliner likely will not be available with the 11th selection, so we will have to look in a different direction.

Today we will revisit the idea of selecting FSU CB Xavier Rhodes with the 11th pick in the draft. If the offensive tackles are off the board and one of the offensive guards doesn’t get you giddy, then looking in the direction of Rhodes is a legit option.

The Chargers signed Derek Cox in free agency, but likely will need another corner to start opposite of him. Shareece Wright and Marcus Gilchrist could battle it out for the starting position, but in a passing league and sitting in a division with Peyton Manning, we better get all the help we can for our pass defense. I am not sure how long Shareece will hold up before getting bit by another injury and Marcus Gilchrist doesn’t seem to be  the best option to be a starter.

Xavier Rhodes has good size at the corner spot, standing at 6-foot-2, 210 pounds. He is quick, has good makeup speed and  make plays on the football. He likes to get physical and jam players, but that could also draw some pass interference flags in the NFL.

Having Rhodes and Cox on the corners would definitely help the pass defense get more physical and help support against the run. It could give the guys up front that half second they need to pick up a sack, instead of being a half second late on plays. That means Melvin Ingram would actually get there on time!

A lot of people have Rhodes getting selected by the Miami Dolphins with the selection right after the Chargers. He is the second best corner prospect in the draft, behind Alabama’s Dee Milliner. He wouldn’t be a bad option to select with the way the current roster is built. In this league, you can never have too many good corners.

We would then have to find offensive line help in the next round.