Bolt Beat
Fansided

Los Angeles Chargers: The Tom Telesco Draft Awards

By Tyler Schoon

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - NOVEMBER 04: Nick Vannett #81 of the Seattle Seahawks makes a catch past Desmond King II #20 of the Los Angeles Chargers in the first quarter against the Los Angeles Chargers at CenturyLink Field on November 04, 2018 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - NOVEMBER 04: Nick Vannett #81 of the Seattle Seahawks makes a catch past Desmond King II #20 of the Los Angeles Chargers in the first quarter against the Los Angeles Chargers at CenturyLink Field on November 04, 2018 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 4
Next
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND – JANUARY 06: Derwin James #33 of the Los Angeles Chargers celebrates after defeating the Baltimore Ravens after the AFC Wild Card Playoff game at M&T Bank Stadium on January 06, 2019 in Baltimore, Maryland. The Chargers defeated the Ravens with a score of 23 to 17.(Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND – JANUARY 06: Derwin James #33 of the Los Angeles Chargers celebrates after defeating the Baltimore Ravens after the AFC Wild Card Playoff game at M&T Bank Stadium on January 06, 2019 in Baltimore, Maryland. The Chargers defeated the Ravens with a score of 23 to 17.(Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /

Best Decision

Nominees: Ignoring the mock drafts, Taking BPA, and Patience

Let’s start with taking the best player available: Keenan Allen. Was there really a need for another receiver on the roster, one coming off an injury? Nope. Would you make any other pick there? Nope, not a chance. Allen has become one of the most dominant receivers in the league, and was from the moment he hit the field. The former Cal product was part of one of the biggest wins under Telesco when the Chargers downed the Manning-led Broncos in 2013, and has been one of their most clutch players since.

Laremy Tunsil. DeForest Buckner. Jalen Ramsey. The Chargers’ season ticket holders were waiting for any of those names to be called when the Bolts selected at No. 3 overall in the 2016 NFL Draft. The name: Joey Bosa, Ohio State. Wait, what? All the mock drafts had anyone else but Bosa heading to the team. But like the Allen selection, the Chargers wouldn’t do anything different there. Well, at least for now, until the team has to pay him in moose-sized gold bars.

For years, Telesco would trade up and take a player, giving up picks in the process. In 2017, he tried patience, and got Desmond King. But last year, in the 2018 draft, he was patient again, and may have made the easiest pick in franchise history. Derwin James was a college player with some of the most obvious All-Pro potential, and 16 teams passed on him. At No. 17, the Chargers took him. And believe it or not, the guy with the most obvious All-Pro potential became a First-Team All-Pro and Pro-Bowler…as a rookie. That’s insane.

Winner: Patience

Worst Decision

Winner: Every offensive lineman

No nominees here. This one was rigged from the start:

  • D.J. Fluker: No longer with team
  • Chris Watt: No longer with team
  • Max Tuerk: No longer with team
  • Donavon Clark: No longer with team
  • Forrest Lamp: Hey! He’s with the team! No starts…
  • Dan Feeney: Actually sees the field. PFF’s 72nd-ranked guard
  • Sam Tevi: Saw the field as a starter in 2018. Needs to be replaced

I don’t know whether to laugh or cry…

Home/LA Chargers News