LA Chargers: Ranking all 8 of Tom Telesco’s draft classes
By Jason Reed
Tom Telesco has eight draft classes under his belt as the general manager of the LA Chargers.
Tom Telesco was hired as the general manager of the LA Chargers prior to the 2013 offseason, replacing the long-time general manager A.J. Smith, who was partly responsible for building the really good Charger teams of the mid-to-late 2000s.
The Chargers do not have a ton of success under Telesco, but it has not been downright terrible. The Bolts have made the playoffs twice under Telesco — in his first year in 2013 and in 2018. In both years the Chargers won their Wild Card Round matchup before falling in the Divisional Round.
There are some murmurs of Telesco being on the hot seat if ownership wants to move on from Anthony Lynn this season but I am doubtful that he actually is. Smith got an entire decade with the team and the selection of Justin Herbert will save Telesco’s job for at least the time being.
But what about the rest of Telesco’s drafts? He was hyped for his draft ability when he was hired, but how has he actually done?
It is a mixed bag. Here are all eight of Telesco’s draft classes with the LA Chargers ranked.
Note: We are not included undrafted free agents, just the actual draft classes that Telesco selected.
8. The 2014 Chargers draft class
Selections: Jason Verrett, Jeremy Attaochu, Chris Watt, Ryan Carrethers, Marion Grice, Tevin Reese
Telesco’s second draft class was really really bad. Despite this draft happening just six years ago, only two players in this draft class are still in the league: Jason Verrett and Jeremy Attaochu.
Verrett had a lot of potential that was simply never realized. He could not escape injuries with the Bolts and while that is not totally Telesco’s fault, the fact of the matter is that the team’s first-round pick did not provide what was expected.
Attaochu did not produce like a second-round pick. Grice and Reese did not play in the NFL past their rookie seasons, Watt only lasted two seasons and Carrethers only lasted three.
It is a really, really bad draft class.