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2015 Chargers Draft – Projected Targets & Mock

By James Fedewa

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The San Diego Chargers have holes all over their roster and this years draft can be used to fill some very important team needs. The Chargers draft plan a little different this year because there are decent and quality starters at every starting position (vs. the last two years). The starting roster looks good on paper, granting GM Tom Telesco to draft Best Player Available (BPA) prospects for depth (not immediate starters).  The “holes” are San Diego’s depth…

Based on departed free agents (plus newly signed free agents) the Chargers have a few specific positional team needs:

  1. Running Back (with Ryan Mathews departure, they could use a starter late in the draft)
  2. Outside Linebacker (with Dwight Freeny and Jarret Johnson departures)
  3. Safety (with Gilchrist’s departure)
  4. Defensive Line Rotational Players
  5. Offensive Line Depth
  6. Inside Linebacker

Players to watch in the first round:

  1. Randy Gregory, OLB, Nebraska – Once a top ten prospect, just tested positive for marijuana and came to the combine 20 lbs. lighter than ideal. A very good player prospect, but may slide to the mid first round.
  2. Brandon Scherff, OT, Iowa – arguably the best offensive line prospect in this years draft, but projects to be a guard in the NFL (and similar guard prospects can be found later in the draft).
  3. Alvin Dupree, OLB, Kentucky – a very good pass rushing OLB. He has speed, quick twitch, power and plays well in space. The OLB draft class is loaded and Dupree is rated 5th at his position, which can cause him to slide a little. Dupree has all the physical tools, but needs a couple more pass rush moves and needs good coaching. He’s a diamond in the rough…
  4. DeVante Parker, WR, Louisville – There are quality wide receivers projected everywhere in this draft. As many as 3 can go in the top ten and 6 taken in the first round alone. With this much depth at the position, teams could delay drafting highly talented receivers.
  5. Danny Shelton, DT, Washington – How can a man this big play this fast? Projected to be a nose tackle, but Shelton can play all three defensive line positions in a 3-4 defense (which makes him very versatile).
  6. La’el Collins, OT, LSU – Played left tackle in college, but projects at G or RT (and those positions can slide). Collins has plenty of talent and is a gifted athlete for a man his size. A very good “team” guy and leader.
  7. Landon Collins, Safety, Alabama – Collins can start day one and is a team need position heading into the draft. As talented as Collins is, he might not fit San Diego’s defensive scheme, but he would be a major upgrade at the position regardless of scheme. He a big hitter, which good size and brings nastiness, a much desired need in San Diego’s secondary (since Weddle, Varrett and Flowers are lighter players).

Players to watch in round two:

  1. Eddie Goldman, DT, Florida State – Run stuffing DT, could slide into the 2nd round
  2. Melvin Gordon, RB, Wisconsin – More speed than power, homerun threat
  3. Breshad Perriman, WR, UCF – world class speed and good size (probably goes in the 1st round, but might slide in a deep WR class)
  4. J. Humphries, OT, Florida – Talented Left Tackle prospect that not a lot of people talk about. Better than projected (but could be pick in the 1st round)
  5. Jordon Phillips, DT, Oklahoma – mammoth nose tackle built like a truck
  6. Devin Smith, WR, OSU – high speed slot receiver
  7. Maxx Williams, TE, Minnesota – all around pure tight end that can catch and block (imagine what the running game would look like with a true TE)

 

Players to watch in round three:

  1. Carl Davis, DT, Iowa – 3-4 DE with ideal body type for the position
  2. Cody Prewitt, S, Ole’ Miss – a free safety in a big strong safety’s body. A thumper with good range. Has the tools, but still a work in progress
  3. Jay Ajayi, RB, Boise State – power runner with big play ability
  4. Phillip Dorsett, WR, Miami – small and fast slot receiver
  5. Quinten Rollins, CB/S, Miami (Ohio) ex-basketballer turned physical hard-hitting CB. Might project to safety
  6. Reese Dismukes, C, Auburn – savvy well-rounded center.
  7. David Johnson, RB, Northern Iowa – a soft handed, do-it-all, BIG back with knack for the big play.

Players to watch in round four:

  1. Marcus Hardison, DT, Arizona State
  2. Duke Johnson, RB, Miami
  3. Daryl Williams, OT, Oklahoma
  4. Henry Anderson, DE, Stanford
  5. Jeff Heuerman, TE, OSU
  6. Adrian Amos, S, Penn State
  7. Kenny Bell, WR, Nebraska

Players to watch in Round five:

  1. Jordon Hicks, ILB, Texas
  2. Max Valles, OLB, Virginia
  3. Craig Mager, CB, Texas State
  4. Tyeler Davison, DT, Fresno State
  5. Clayton Geathers, S, UCF

Players to watch in Round Six:

  1. Hayes Pullard, ILB, USC
  2. Laurence Gibson, OT, Virginia Tech
  3. Ibraheim Campbell, S, Northwestern
  4. Shaquille Mason, C, Georgia Tech
  5. Xzavier Dickson, OLB, Alabama

**Predicted Chargers Mock Draft (1.0):

  1. Alvin Dupree, OLB, Kentucky (gets into the rotation quickly)
  2. Melvin Gordon, RB, Wisconsin (Telesco wants a RB in the 3rd or 4th round, but Gordon is BPA at this point)
  3. Carl Davis, DT, Iowa (depth player, but can develop into a very good player)
  4. Adrian Amos, S, Penn State (stock is climbing from recent pro day)
  5. Jordon Hicks, ILB, Texas (depth and special team guy)
  6. Laurence Gibson, OT, Virginia Tech (Coach Joe-D’s new toy to develop into a pro LT – new swing tackle)

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