Chargers Have Had Previous Success With Top 5 Picks- This Year Defensive Play Maker Must Be The Focus!
By Nick Matt
We might have all just witnessed the best individual defensive performance in any Super Bowl. What Von Miller did in Super Bowl 50 confirms the famous quote “defense wins championships” because we know Peyton Manning didn’t win that Super Bowl. The Chargers lack that defensive game changer on their defense. Yes we have a young young nucleus of talent with Jason Verrett, Melvin Ingram, and Denzel Perryman, Manti Teo, and Jerry Attaochu to name a few bright young stars. But we don’t have that guy like a Von Miller for the Broncos or a JJ Watt from the Texans who can take over a game on any given Sunday from the defensive end/outside linebacker position.
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It has been some time since the Chargers had a draft pick inside the top 10 and the past couple of times they made the right moves with the exception of Ryan Leaf in 1998 who is arguably the biggest bust of all-time. In 2001 they traded the top pick to the Falcons who selected Michael Vick and the Chargers received the 5th pick and selected future Hall of Famer Ladainian Tomlinson and they got an additional 2nd round pick and took another future Hall of Famer Drew Brees. Then in 2004 they took Eli Manning and traded him for Philip Rivers which has turned out to be a great trade for both the Giants and the Chargers.
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With that being said the Chargers have a lot of needs but when it comes to Offensive lineman they need to target free agents. Recent offensive lineman drafted high have not panned out early so they need to target offensive line help through free agency. The Chargers need to either have their eye on Joey Bosa or Jalen Ramsey. Two defensive playmakers in college that both seem to translate very well to the NFL. Joey Bosa has been compared to JJ Watt and can flat out play ball. His combine measurables were virtually identical to Watt’s. He ran a 4.86 40 yard dash and Watt ran a 4.84. Bosa and Watt each had a 4.21 20 yard shuttle time. In the 3 cone drill Bosa ran a 6.89 and Watt ran a 6.88 time and not to mention they are both 6’5 with a high motor. Not a bad guy to be compared too if you are Bosa.
The other position of need that the Chargers need is some secondary help with the loss of Eric Weddle and the aging Brandon Flowers. The Chargers could hit a home run if they land Jalen Ramsey, the standout defensive back from Florida State. Ramsey was the second freshman to ever start at CB for Florida State since Deion Sanders did it long ago. He is also a track star and dominant athlete and the biggest contribution he can offer is that he can play safety or cornerback. He is very versatile and his ceiling in this league is endless.
Ramsey and Bosa are two of the safer prospects in this years draft. Ramsey because of his unique skill set and athleticism and Joey Bosa because of his endless motor, speed, great hands to shed blockers, and quick first step off the ball. Those are all great skills that make an elite pass rusher and that would be a very scary pass rushing group if the Chargers added Bosa to Ingram, Attaochu, and Emmanuel. If they went the secondary route with Ramsey that would give us a very fierce and scary set of lock down, athletic cornerbacks with Jason Verrett, a star in the making, and Jalen Ramsey. The sky is the limit for Bosa and Ramsey and it would be great to see either one of them suiting up for the Bolts and playing in the greatest city in the world, San Diego!