Chargers use third-round selection on small-school standout Trey Pipkins
By Travis Wakeman
With their third-round pick in the 2019 NFL draft, the Los Angeles Chargers chose Trey Pipkins out of Sioux Falls.
The Chargers have filled every major need they had coming into the draft within the first three rounds, but this player will be more of a developmental prospect.
Pipkins has the kind of size and initial quickness that professional teams look for, but in order to develop the proper technique in order to succeed, it won’t come overnight.
Playing at Sioux Falls, Pipkin rarely faced NFL-caliber competition so the jump up in terms of players he will go against will be a major culture shock. As a result, the Chargers will need to ease him out onto the field, rather than throw him into the fire too soon.
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There is no doubt that the Chargers needed an offensive tackle. I would have argued that based on the quality of players at that position in this draft, it was the need that should have been addressed first. Seeing most of the quality tackles already off the board, Tom Telesco knew he needed to act quickly.
Currently, Russell Okung is entrenched as the starter at left tackle. On the right side, the team could be left to depend on Sam Tevi again as the only other tackles on the roster are Trent Scott and Zach Crabtree.
Will Pipkin be the eventual answer to that problem? Telesco and his staff are certainly hoping so, but it could be some time before that comes to fruition.