A lot of my fellow writers have wrote their own mock draft for the Chargers and It’s my turn. I’m going to give options for every pick. I did copy the idea of the two part article from fellow writer Sergio Quintero. So let’s get started.
Round 1 options:
1. OT Lane Johnson
- This is the obvious pick if he’s still available at 11. He plays the LT position, has the most upside of all tackles, and the Chargers flew to Oklahoma to hold a private workout. He could be gone because Clevland can trade back with the dolphins or saints who also really like Johnson. Or, Tennessee at 10 can trade back with the same two teams.
2. OG Chance Warmack
- Also like Johnson, Warmack could be gone before 11. He’s considered the safest pick in the draft and can fill that void at LG ever since Kris Dielman retired. While we have Johnnie Troutman, he’ll probably compete with Chad Rinehart for the RG spot. Warmack also visited the Chargers, but he came to San Diego and ate In-N-Out animal style. If that isn’t love then I don’t know what is lol.
3. Trade Back
- In the worst case scenario, all three tackles will be gone and both guards are taken as well. If this happens, then the Chargers should trade back if they can and get an extra 2nd round pick. The Chargers can target ILB Manti Te’o to play alongside Donald Butler. While we have Jonas Mouton, I’m not sold on him starting. Te’o had a private workout with the Chargers so there is interest, but the question is how much.
Round 2 options:
If OT Lane Johnson is selected.
- If the Chargers get OT Lane Johnson, then they can focus on the defense and select an ILB in Manti Te’o, if he falls (probably not), ILB Kevin Minter who plays similar to Takeo Spikes, but just a younger version, (hopefully doesn’t have that playoffs curse too), or another ILB in Kiko Alonso who is healthy and the Chargers went to his pro day and held a private workout with him so they’re very interested. He’s an option in round 2 because the Chiefs can take him at the beginning of round 3, so it depends how much the Chargers want him.
If OG Chance Warmack is selected.
- If the Chargers select OG Chance Warmack, then this pick has to be on OT Terron Armstead. Armstead is a big athlete who like Johnson has a lot of upside, but the question is if he can start from day 1. New GM Tom Telesco has said that the Chargers aren’t going to draft project players, they’ll target people who can contribute right away.
If the Chargers trade back.
- With the Chargers trading back and selecting ILB Manti Te’o in round 1, they have two second round picks now. The first pick can be on an OT like Terron Armstead who I previously talked about and the second 2nd round pick can be on a pass rusher like Sio Moore or Sam Montgomery. Moore really heated up at the East-West Shrine game and the Chargers talked to him for a bit and Montgomery who played for LSU had a private workout with the Chargers. Sio Moore played at UCONN with Kendall Reyes so there could be a connection there and Sam Montgomery could be a 1st round talent, but there are concerns about his work ethic.
Round 3 options:
If the Chargers go OT and ILB in the first two rounds.
- While this is the best case scenario it sometimes doesn’t happen. In round three, the Chargers can target a RB or CB. The RB Le’veon Bell is the type of back who is a durable hard nosed back that has the athletic ability to hurdle people or run through them. He prides himself catching the ball out of the backfield and blitz pick-up. le’Veon Bell has the potential to be the best RB in this class and if Ryan Mathews gets injured again he can carry the load. The CB the Chargers can target is Leon McFadden out of SDSU. He could be our 4th round pick, but if teams start selecting CBs then we might have to draft him early. Since McFadden played for SDSU, he knows the Chargers field better than other prospects because that is where they played their home games. McFadden won’t be a sideline starter, but he can be that nickel corner for us. With Marcus Gilchrist and Shareece Wright battling it out for the other starting CB spot opposite of Derek Cox there will be a hole to fill at the nickel spot.
If OG and OT are the Chargers first two selections.
- With the Chargers addressing the O-line in round 1 and 2, they can focus on other positions. The ILB position and the RB position should be the highest priority at this point and if ILB Kiko Alonso is available, then he’ll be tough to pass on. The only way he would last this far is if other teams are still worried about his wrist, which its 100% healthy. Like i said previously, the Chiefs could take him at the start of round 3 because they sent everyone to the Oregon pro day and need to find a replacement at ILB because of the death of Jovan Belcher. If Kiko Alonso is gone then RB Le’Veon Bell would be a nice selection. I already talked about him earlier in the trade back round 2 scenario.
If the Chargers trade back in round 1 and select ILB,OT, and pass rusher in round 1 and 2.
- So far, the Chargers have selected ILB Manti Te’o, OT Terron Armstead, and pass rusher Sio Moore. They can focus on finding a reliable RB to back up Ryan Mathews, but also durable enough to get starter carries if Mathews gets injured. That RB is Le’Veon Bell and I already talked about him. If Bell is gone, then the Chargers can get a CB like Leon McFadden whom I already talked about also.
I’m going to to finish rounds 4-7 in my next article because it’s getting too long. I’ll have a link to part 1 of my mock draft on my part 2 article if you guys wanted to see it.
Have a great day and stay classy San Diego.
-Thomas Bell