The Los Angeles Chargers’ 2017 draft class was a good one.
Chargers general manager Tom Telesco had himself a nice draft in 2017.
In NFL.com’s Adam Rank’s 2017 NFL Draft do-over, three of Telesco’s selections went in the first round. Yup, that’s right, THREE Chargers were first-rounders: Offensive guard Dan Feeney, who went No. 25 overall to the Houston Texans, cornerback Desmond King, who went No. 27 overall to the Kansas City Chiefs, and wide receiver Mike Williams, who went No. 31 overall to the Atlanta Falcons. And just think, it may have been four players if highly-touted second-round pick Forrest Lamp didn’t miss the season due to a torn ACL.
In the actual 2017 draft, Williams went seventh overall to the Chargers, Feeney went in the third round (71st overall) and King went in the fifth round (151st overall).
Of the three mentioned, King had the best rookie season. He was one of the top rookie cornerbacks. He was a playmaker who shined in the slot and was one of the team’s best tacklers. As for Feeney, he filled in for an injured Matt Slauson midway through the year and despite some struggles here and there, he played relatively well and now has the experience to take over as the full-time starting left guard in 2018. Meanwhile, Williams dealt with a nagging back injury that kept him out of majority of OTAs, all of training camp and six regular-season games. He only had 11 catches for 95 yards. He is, however, a talented receiver who should bounce back with a full offseason under his belt.
Even safety Rayshawn Jenkins, offensive tackle Sam Tevi and defensive lineman Isaac Rochell, the team’s fourth-, sixth- and seventh-round picks, respectively, contributed last season.
The entire Chargers’ 2018 draft class, which has gotten great reviews, has a chance to contribute right away, too. Telesco’s had his misses, but he’s really helped build a solid contender with his recent picks.