Grading Chargers’ selection of Easton Stick
By Travis Wakeman
If you’ve been pounding the table for the Los Angeles Chargers to draft a quarterback for the past several years, the team finally did it on Saturday. Though this might not be what you had in mind.
Stick comes from North Dakota State, the same school that made Carson Wentz the No.2 overall selection in the draft one year. He and Stick remain close friends and Stick runs the same RPO-style offense that translates well to the professional level.
In 2018, Stick completed 62.3 percent of his passes for 2,752 yards and 28 touchdowns. He posted a final QBR of 172.4. Though he lacks prototypical height for an NFL quarterback (6-foot-1), he is a smart player that can really get into a rhythm passing.
He threw only seven interceptions last season while leading the Bison to an undefeated record and an FCS National Championship.
He’s going to need to develop in an NFL system and he’s come to the right place in order to do that. He will sit behind Philip Rivers and Tyrod Taylor this season and if you’re a young quarterback, you couldn’t ask for a better situation than that.
His selection could mean the end for Cardale Jones, however.
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It’s exciting to see the Chargers make this selection. Do they have high hopes for Stick or is this just a pick where the team will wait to see what it has? Since Tom Telesco hasn’t taken a quarterback since the seventh round in 2013, it is a very noteworthy choice.
There is news that the Chargers intend to extend the contract of Rivers, so there can’t be too much read into this pick being made as a replacement for him in the near future.
Rivers is going to have the starting job for as long as he wants it. But the Chargers have a loaded roster and in the fifth round, this is the kind of pick that could really pay off. I have no major issues with this selection.
Grade: B