Chargers' 5 biggest draft busts under GM Tom Telesco

Biggest Chargers draft busts under Tom Telesco: 1. Jerry Tillery, 28th pick in 2019

Not every first-round pick has the same expectations. Someone picked in the late 20s is not expected to have the same impact as someone picked in the top 10. Traditionally, there are about 15-20 elite prospects in the draft and then the board opens up after that.

That being said, it would be a lie if we said that Jerry Tillery wasn't extremely disappointing during his tenure with the Bolts. Selected as the 28th pick after Telesco's best year since joining the team, Tillery never made the impact he was expected to make and was the most hated player on the Chargers before he was eventually let go.

It was so bad for Tillery that the team not only declined his fifth-year option, but they were unable to find any trade partners for him during the 2022 season. The Bolts were okay with outright releasing the former first-round pick before his rookie deal was even up. That is about as bad as it gets.

It ended up working out perfectly, though, as Tillery joined the Las Vegas Raiders to give Chargers fans the opportunity to continue to root against him. Not only did the Raiders bring him in on a flier in 2022 but they re-signed him and are paying him more in 2023 than the Chargers are paying Morgan Fox.

The Chargers are back picking in the 20s for the first time since selecting Tillery in the 2023 NFL Draft. Hopefully, Telesco does not mess up the pick yet again.