Los Angeles Chargers: Redrafting the 2019 NFL Draft
By Faustino Felix
Fourth round: Drue Tranquill, LB, Notre Dame
Why mess with what was a great draft pick by Tom Telesco? Of all linebackers selected before Drue Tranquill, perhaps only Bobby Okereke and Devin Bush are better, and that’s debatable.
Tranquill is primed for a breakout season as a full starter and will be an important piece of the Chargers’ defense for years to come. After Tranquill, not many players offer as much value as he does.
Other players the Chargers could have selected include cornerback Amani Oruwariye and wide receivers Hunter Renfrow and Darius Slayton. Oruwariye emerged as a solid player on the perimeter for the Detroit Lions, and had the Chargers not addressed the position earlier with Jamel Dean, Oruwariye would have gotten consideration.
Slayton had a very solid rookie season, and would have been a great addition for the Chargers’ offense and special teams. Renfrow is a bit undersized for the Chargers’ liking, but he’s a great route-runner and clutch performer with a winning mentality who would do well on the locker room and the field.
Fifth round: Gardner Minshew II, QB, Washington State
It may be too early to call off the Easton Stick experiment, but after one year in the NFL, we don’t know how far ahead or behind Stick is in his development. Reports that he has been playing safety with the scout team are far from encouraging though.
Still, when being made to choose between Stick and nationwide sensation Gardner Minshew in a redraft, the choice is to go with who already proved himself capable of starting at the next level.
It’s been clear the team is looking to go mobile at the quarterback position ever since they drafted Stick and signed Tyrod Taylor. Even though mobility is not Minshew’s calling card, he does possess enough athleticism to escape the pocket when needed and scramble for a first down.
With Minshew in the fold, the Chargers would be ready to move on from Taylor once his contract is up next year, and they would have a dependable backup for whoever is the new face of the franchise.
This concludes our redraft of the Los Angeles Chargers 2019 NFL draft class. Do you agree with the selections? Let us know in the comment section below.