What to Expect for the Chargers in the Draft After Free Agency

Jan 12, 2014; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos running back

(27) is tackled by San Diego Chargers inside linebacker

(97) and defensive back

(37) and inside linebacker Donald Butler (56) in the fourth quarter during the 2013 AFC divisional playoff football game at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. The Broncos defeated the San Diego Chargers 24-17Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Defensive Line:

Now if we pick up a player like Linval Joseph in free agency to man the NT position, Telesco will not, I repeat, WILL NOT pick up a NT in the draft. He will look for depth through undrafted rookies or through free agency in a couple of months from now.  So that means Louis Nix is going to be out of the picture. If he cuts Dwight Freeney, Jarret johnson, or Thomas Keisar, then we will be looking for a pass rusher early in the draft. I would expect Dee Ford or Kyle Van Noy, or equal value. I would assume that Telesco will address our need for a pass rusher in the first round if we were to let one of our existing pass rushers go AND if all of the best corners available in the draft are already gone. This is going to be weird situation for Telesco in the next couple days, we will have to wait for this one to pan out. I don’t see Telesco dropping Freeney or Johnson, not yet though.

Wide Reciever:

If we sign Hakeem Nicks or a player of that caliber to a multi-year deal AND if Malcolm Floyd or Alexander come back, then we will not be drafting a WR in the draft, it would just be a waste of a pick. If we don’t pick up a receiver in the next couple days, then we are in drafting mode, expect a receiver in rounds 1-4. If we don’t sign a player now, and Alexander and Floyd were to both come back (which I highly doubt) with a 1 year deal (that deal is for DX, Floyd is still under contract), then we will be looking for a receiver in the later rounds of the draft to replace Vincent Brown or Malcolm Floyd and have him develop. Now if we just sign a #1 receiver and Telesco doesn’t bring back Floyd or Alexander, then we will be drafting a receiver in the later rounds of the draft for development or looking in the undrafted FA market for some depth to challenge VB86.

Runningback:

This is a simple situation. Mathews and Woodhead are here to stay, no questions asked. The matter of this situation is the 3rd string RB. If we let Ronnie Brown go (Oh please TT, its about time) then we are either drafting a young, cheap replacement in the later rounds of the draft this year or we will pick up someone like La’Garret Blount or Pierre Thomas. If we buy someone in the next few days, then we will not draft a rookie. Telesco will look into the undrafted FA market to find someone who could compete for the 3rd spot in free agency and will drop the worst of the two players. This player will be our backup for Mathews in the running game, we could play him for short yardage situation or if Mathews is injured. Woodhead will continue to be our flex option, he’s not the best in the running game but man, he sure can catch and go.

Safety:

Jahleel Addae looks like a solid player for us. I think that Telesco will find a suitable backup for him, and let go of Brandon Taylor. If we draft someone like Deone Bucannon, then expect some competition, the better player will start and we will have great depth. If Telesco buys a really good safety like T.J Ward (I don’t think he will,  but it is a possibility), then that means Telesco doesn’t trust Addae, we wont draft a safety, and we sill have solid backup.

Other than the positions we have mentioned above, it doesn’t look like Telesco will be doing anything too extravagant with those positions, he might do something about our depth at the MLB and thats all. Other than that, we should be focusing on the positions I have mentioned above.

Overall, whatever Telesco doesn’t address in free agency in the next couple days, then it looks like he will be drafting to fill those holes. It would be nice to see a couple of good signings within the next couple days, it sure would bring some hype for us going into the draft!