Los Angeles Chargers: Grades for all seven draft picks

The Chargers grabbed a number of great players throughout the 2019 NFL Draft. Now that the class is complete, let’s grade the selections…

The Chargers wrapped up their selections yesterday, finalizing what is to be possibly the final draft class of missing pieces to push the franchise over the top to get to a Super Bowl. Either as starters or depth players, almost all will contribute immediately. Let’s take a look at each and see how they fit with the team, as well as a final grade for each. And yes, it’s out of order. Have fun.

Chargers select QB Easton Stick in the fifth round

Best stats:

• 54-5 in college football regular season games
• 3 FCS titles
• Sixth in average depth of target (11.97)
• Fifth in passer rating under pressure (89.7)
• 11th in deep passer rating (112.6)

There was never any need for the Chargers to take a quarterback early. The team had just signed Tyrod Taylor to a lucrative deal to become the team’s back up behind Philip Rivers, indicating they would hold off on drafting a quarterback early for at few years.

So, Anthony Lynn and Tom Telesco decided to take Stick in the fifth round of the draft. It’s a great spot to develop a quarterback without being a Brad Sorensen, a seventh round draft choice who was never a lock to make the roster. Being a fifth round selection helps ensure he’s with the Chargers for a year, and hopefully more, learning behind one of the NFL’s best.

Stick measured well at the combine, and is by 17 miles a better athlete than Rivers:

Easton Stick doin' Easton Stick things. pic.twitter.com/EHbSF6Dt1n

— NDSU Football (@NDSUfootball) September 29, 2018

If Rivers ever converted on a third-and-21 with his legs, it would be the greatest play in Chargers’ history. He won’t; but Stick might.

No. 12 is going to have an opportunity to learn for a few years, and should not see a starting role with this team until Taylor’s contract is up. However, given his athleticism, he reportedly could be given a chance to see the field on a few plays this year:

#Chargers coach Anthony Lynn says Easton Stick could do some of the things Taysom Hill does for the Saints. But says that they will have him as a QB and throw in a wrinkle here and there. Says he likes Stick because he is a winner.

— Fernando Ramirez (@RealFRamirez) April 27, 2019

Anything to make the offense more explosive or unpredictable should be taken into consideration. Stick brings something very different to this team than Rivers. In a few years, if given enough meaningful snaps, he could push for the back up role on the team, if not the starting role, but only once Rivers is gone. If No. 17 decides to hang on longer than the team can keep Stick, it’s possible the Chargers could deal their current fifth round draft choice for another potentially higher on down the line.

Draft Grade: B