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LA Chargers: Why Alijah Vera-Tucker might end up being the pick at 13

By Jason Reed

Dec 18, 2020; Los Angeles, California, USA; Southern California Trojans offensive lineman Alijah Vera-Tucker (75) during the Pac-12 Championship against the Oregon Ducks at United Airlines Field at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Oregon defeated USC 31-24. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 18, 2020; Los Angeles, California, USA; Southern California Trojans offensive lineman Alijah Vera-Tucker (75) during the Pac-12 Championship against the Oregon Ducks at United Airlines Field at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Oregon defeated USC 31-24. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
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(Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers
(Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

2. Alijah Vera-Tucker is an elite talent

If Alijah Vera-Tucker was a few inches taller, a couple of dozen pounds heavier and had longer arms then we would be talking about him up there with Penei Sewell and Rashawn Slater. He truly is a special talent and he has all the makings of being a future All-Pro guard if things go his way. At worst, he should be a pro-bowl-caliber guard.

While I am big on Christian Darrisaw and have him as the third-best tackle in this draft, it is not hard to admit that AVT is the more polished prospect. There are levels to this and the only reason that AVT is as low as he is on the big board is because of the projected move to guard.

But there is something that does not make a lot of sense to me. If Rashawn Slater fell to the Bolts then he would be a no-brainer, right? Why? Slater also has small arms for a tackle (33 inches, which is right on the line between tackle and guard) and he is projected to play on the inside in the NFL as well.

MORE: The only 3 draft-day steals of Tom Telesco’s career

Slater and AVT have just as much experience at tackle in college and I am perfectly fine with Slater being the better prospect. But why is Slater such a slam dunk pick if he also is projected to move to the inside just like AVT? What makes AVT such a bad pick?

I am fine if you do not trust the LA Chargers to handle AVT properly because I wouldn’t either. However, I also would not trust them to handle Rashawn Slater properly either for the same reason.

Talent is talent and if the team is okay with taking Slater if he fell to 13 then they should also be okay with taking AVT at 13. Tom Telesco may have already told us that.

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