Los Angeles Chargers: 2015 NFL Draft retrospective
By Jason Reed
As we prepare for the 2020 NFL Draft, we take a look back at the Los Angeles Chargers’ 10 most recent draft performances, today’s being 2015.
The Los Angeles Chargers were coming off of a 9-7 record from the 2014 season and it appeared as if a good showing in the 2015 NFL Draft would be enough for the team to return to the playoffs. However, as the Chargers did for most of the decade, the team fluctuated heavily and finished 4-12 in 2015.
The 2015 NFL Draft was an interesting one for the Chargers as no other draft for the team in the last 10 years had as few selections as 2015. In fact, the Chargers had the fewest selections in the entire draft, which did have an impact on the team’s performance.
Let’s take a look at how the Chargers did.
2015 NFL Draft retrospective:
- Draft order location: 17th
- Selections: Five
- Pro Bowls: Two
- All-Pros: Zero
- Trades: Chargers traded 2015 first and fourth-round picks and 2016 fifth-round pick to the San Francisco 49ers for a 2015 first-round pick
First-round selection: Melvin Gordon, RB, Wisconsin
The Los Angeles Chargers traded a fourth and future fifth-round pick to jump up two spots to draft Melvin Gordon, so the first question immediately becomes: was it worth it?
The Chargers jumped over the Houston Texans, who selected cornerback Kevin Johnson and ended up taking a running back in the seventh round in Kenny Hilliard. However, the Texans reportedly wanted to draft Gordon, so the Chargers had to jump up in the draft to get him.
We must look at the next-best running backs that were taken as well. T.J Yeldon, Ameer Abdullah, Tevin Coleman, Duke Johnson and David Johnson were the next five running backs taken. While Johnson ended up having an All-Pro season, he has been riddled with injuries his entire career.
The picks the Chargers traded ended up being tight end Blake Bell, who has 38 career receptions, and defensive end Ronald Blair, who is a backup defensive end.
The Chargers had a need at running back and got a Pro Bowler at that. At his best, Gordon was a top-five, top-seven running back in the league. Despite his holdout and signing with the Denver Broncos, this was a good selection.
Could have drafted:
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