Bolt Beat
Fansided

Los Angeles Chargers: Grades for all seven draft picks

By Tyler Schoon

IOWA CITY, IOWA- SEPTEMBER 17: Quarterback Easton Stick #12 of the North Dakota State Bisons celebrates with fans after the upset over the Iowa Hawkeyes on September 17, 2016 at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa. (Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images)
IOWA CITY, IOWA- SEPTEMBER 17: Quarterback Easton Stick #12 of the North Dakota State Bisons celebrates with fans after the upset over the Iowa Hawkeyes on September 17, 2016 at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa. (Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 5
Next
PITTSBURGH, PA – DECEMBER 02: Philip Rivers #17 of the Los Angeles Chargers lines up under center in the second half during the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field on December 2, 2018 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA – DECEMBER 02: Philip Rivers #17 of the Los Angeles Chargers lines up under center in the second half during the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field on December 2, 2018 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) /

Chargers select OT Trey Pipkins in the third round

Best stats:

  • Just two sacks allowed in 43 games played

Don’t knock the player because he’s an unknown from an unknown school. Pipkins absolutely dominated Division II football teams, which is exactly what one would want to see from a small-school prospect. Pipkins has a chance to develop into either the left tackle when Russell Okung is gone or the right tackle if Sam Tevi doesn’t work out. He’s there to develop, learn, and find a spot one day. Maybe as soon as this year?

The problem comes from taking him in the third round. Telesco has the oddest track record of reaching for players in the third round, and unfortunately none of them have made significant impact thus far. Well, except for Pro-Bowl wide receiver Keenan Allen…

  • 2013: Keenan Allen, Pro-Bowl wide receiver
  • 2014: Chris Watt, bust
  • 2015: Craig Mager, bust
  • 2016: Max Tuerk, bust
  • 2017: Dan Feeney, ranked in the seventies at his position
  • 2018: Justin Jones, not enough playing time to determine
  • 2019: Trey Pipkins, ?

Pipkins has one important thing going for him: He doesn’t have to play immediately. There are no expectations for the big guy to start at all this season, which works well in his favor. If he doesn’t crack the starting lineup, it’s not a problem, because he wasn’t expected to this season. If he does, it’s because he beat Tevi out in training camp, and that’s great news and truly makes the selection in the third round warranted.

This was always going to be the danger of not taking an offensive tackle in the first round, though. Pass on someone, and have to chase a tackle the entire rest of the way.

Draft Grade: C

Home/Chargers Draft