Oct 12, 2012; Starkville, MS, USA; Tennessee Volunteers wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson (84) runs with the ball during the game against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Davis Wade Stadium. Mississippi State won 41-31. Mandatory Credit: Spruce Derden–USA TODAY Sports

This weekend, I fell in love with the idea of drafting a player that actually was not a left tackle. Our draft process started with Eric Fisher as our best possible tackle, then Lane Johnson was the best prospect for our team and now we are just hoping one of the left tackles drops to us. Instead of worrying about a left tackle, we should just sign one and we can start looking at different options with the first pick.

The first non-left tackle prospect I fell in love with as a possibility at the 11 spot is Cordarrelle Patterson. The 6-foot-2 receiver out of Tennessee. He is a big target, had the best high jump at the combine in the receiver group and is a master at make things happen after the catch.

Why wouldn’t you want a weapon like that?

Danario Alexander is our best receiver, but he comes with a long history of injury problems. Can he hold up for the whole season. Our top 3 receivers all have had injury issues. Malcom Floyd. Injury-prone. Vincent Brown. Injury-prone. Who is the next best receiver after Vincent Brown? Micheal SpurlocK? We need to add a little more at the position. We need to add weapons for Philip Rivers.

Cordarelle Patterson would be an instant weapon for Mike McCoy to put into use. Who knows what McCoy thinks of the receivers on the roster. He had some nice options while he was in Denver. He had Eric Decker and Demayrius Thomas at his disposal. When Patterson has space to run, he can make big things happen. He also can be a big target for Philip Rivers to throw the ball up to.

I LOVE THIS GUY!

Sign me a left tackle and select Cordarrelle Patterson with the 11th pick (if he is available).

Just watch the fun that we could have on the football field:

The Chargers battled the Raiders in the last week of the NFL regular season, in hostile territory, and out of the box the game looked close. Operative word in the last sentence being: looked. Up until the half it appeared that the Raiders weren’t going to roll over. A meager 14-10 deficit and the imminent benching of the San Diego playmakers made the outlook for the third quarter quite positive. However, Raiders quarterback JaMarcus Russell showed little poise coming out of the half and came down with a case of the fumbles. The Silver & Black ended up looking every bit of their 4-12 record, getting trampled with a final score of 30-17.  

The game doesn’t mean much to those outside America’s Finest City. But by winning and getting the third seed, it’s a ticket to Indy instead of Foxborough, that is if you can make it past the Wild Card round. That’s not a gimmie, by the way. The win also brings Tennessee to town instead of Jacksonville, the last team to beat the Chargers. 

I will not buy the ‘easy route’ predilection that says somehow going into the divisional playoff game in Indianapolis is somehow better than one against New England. Perfect season does not beget perfect team. Yes, the Patriots have had a very special season, but they are still beatable. Everyone is. I’d say fending of the Jaguars for the time being is far better then anything else down the line.  

Commentators will tell you that the chase to the Super Bowl in the AFC goes through the Patriots. But, and this is a big but, like a J-Lo butt, you have to win that Wild Card playoff game. Looking past the Titans is wholly ignorant and potentially disastrous. Everyone is aware that the Patriots are lurking, waiting. Who cares?  

One game, one win, no room for error; every single ounce of energy must be focused on the Titans. Who’s next doesn’t matter; who’s now is what counts.