San Diego Chargers Dos and Dont’s of the 2015 NFL Draft

Looking at all of the experts’ views of the San Diego Chargers first round draft choice makes me think that they are, for the most part, not experts at all.

Most have them taking a running back and in a complete act of hypocrisy, I’d be okay with that. I just don’t’ think that they should or that they will.

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When looking at successful teams, one thing that stands out is a high percentage of high draft pick “hits.” The only real way to do that is to limit risk. Take the “can’t miss” prospect at one of several positions of need. Every year, every team has several positions of need. Pick the guy that will win the battle with the guy opposite him. It’s really that simple.

The first question is “Can Todd Gurley or Melvin Gordon win the battle with the guy opposite him?” The obvious answer is, “yes, they can.” But a better question, “For how long?” The best question now-a-days in the NFL seems to be, “Can you trust a running back NOT to get injured?” And what most of the best NFL executives and decision-makers seem to think, “Can’t we create a dominant offensive line and stick an adequate running back behind them and get acceptable results?” That last question seems to be the trend these days.

Would Gurley or Gordon look good in a Charger uniform? You bet. Would people pay to see them? Ditto. I can honestly say that I would enjoy watching either of them run the rock in the new Murph; let’s call it “The Morph” for the time being. But… is that the BEST way to improve the team. At best, the answer is “perhaps.” And that answer is not the best way to limit risk.

So, without further ado, and after establishing the #1 don’t: don’t draft a running back in the first round, let’s look at the potential dos.

Okay, so there’s actually no such thing as a “can’t miss” prospect. I admit it. So shoot me.

So that leaves “limited risk” players. And here they are at the Chargers positions of need (all in order of priority by position and player, with some probability as to which guys will be gone):

DT: Danny Shelton, Washington; Malcom Brown, Texas

DE/OLB: Arik Armstead, Oregon; Dante Fowler, Florida; Shane Ray, Missouri; Vic Beasley, Clemson; Bud Dupree, Kentucky; Owamagbe Odighizuwa, UCLA

OG/OT: Brandon Scherff, Iowa; Andrus Peat, Stanford; Ereck Flowers, Miami; Cameron Irving, Florida St.; TJ Clemmings, Pittsburgh; La’el Collins, LSU

S: Landon Collins, Alabama

QB: Marcus Mariota, Oregon (If Telesco deems Mariota a franchise QB)

The only guys I would trade up to get would be Mariota and Leonard Williams, DE USC.

The Chargers’ first round pick is in the above list of names. Really, it’s as simple as taking the best remaining player from that bunch. Not exactly a Nostradamus prediction, but really more of a statement about the quality players available at positions of need. And nary a running back .

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