Los Angeles Chargers: 2010 NFL Draft Retrospective

We have been taking a look at Los Angeles Chargers‘ performances at the last 10 NFL Drafts as we creep closer and closer to the 2020 NFL Draft. Today, we reach the finish line, as we retrospectively look back and grade the 2010 NFL Draft.

Nobody that the Los Angeles Chargers selected in the 2010 NFL Draft is still on the team, let alone in the league. In fact, there are only 27 players that were selected after the first round that are still in the league, 26 if we don’t count Antonio Brown.

One of those players, Linval Joseph, is now on the Chargers.

Just because they are no longer on the team does not mean that we cannot look back at the selections and value the impact they had on the franchise. Without further ado, here is the 2010 NFL Draft, in retrospect.

Los Angeles Chargers 2010 NFL Draft Retrospective:

• Draft order location: 28th
• Selections: Six
• Pro Bowls: Two
• All-Pros: Zero

First-round selection: Ryan Mathews, RB, Fresno State

The Los Angeles Chargers traded up to draft Ryan Mathews in the 2010 NFL Draft and it was actually a really good value trade for the team. They sent the 28th overall pick, a 2010 second-round pick (that they got from Seattle), a fourth-round pick and Tim Dobbins for the 12th pick, a fourth-round pick and a sixth-round pick.

Just the trade itself was great for the Chargers, the selection was not so bad either. While Ryan Mathews did not have a long Charger career, he was good while he was on the team and one cannot complain about the production he gave the Chargers for five years.

He did have some injury concerns, which ultimately led to him being a letdown as the successor to LaDainian Tomlinson, but he still posted two seasons over 1,000 yards and averaged 4.4 yards per carry with the Bolts.

There were some better options to draft in the first round, but the Chargers did need a running back.

• Grade: B-
• Could have drafted: Earl Thomas, Jason Pierre-Paul, Maurkice Pouncey, Demaryius Thomas, Dez Bryant