3. Tom Telesco’s players not positions comment is telling
Tom Telesco spoke to the media last week about everything related to the draft. As much as the media was trying to pry the Chargers’ draft strategy from Telesco, he mostly remained unmoved and talked for a while without revealing too much.
He did have two comments that stand out. First, he said the team is bullish on Trey Pipkins as a left tackle in the NFL. The fact that he said that might be telling that they are picking an offensive lineman. Let’s not forget, Telesco was commenting about how he was just fine with the linebacker group prior to trading up for Kenneth Murray.
The other comment that stood out was Telesco saying they draft players, not positions. This bodes extremely well for AVT, who we already outlined, is the more polished and promising prospect over Darrisaw.
AVT is the better prospect from a pure talent standpoint and that could be all that the LA Chargers look at in making the decision. Whether that is right or wrong is completely subjective, but it would not be surprising if the team took AVT and figured out how he fit later.
Despite being small, AVT still more than held his own at left tackle for USC. Granted, the NFL is different, but he has experience at the position and was dang good too. He very well could prove that size does not always matter and that he can succeed.
That is what training camp is for. The team can try out AVT at left tackle, see if Pipkins is really up to speed and even try playing Matt Feiler or whoever else at the tackle position. And at the end of the day the Bolts will know that they are at least getting an elite draft prospect, regardless of where he might end up lining up on the offensive line.
Personally, as I said, I do not trust the team to handle AVT perfectly and for that reason, I would be more comfortable with the traditional left tackle pick. But just because that is what I would prefer does not mean that is what will happen.