The L.A. Chargers boast one of the NFL’s most talented rosters, top to bottom, but they could use some help in the trenches.
The Los Angeles Chargers are once again ready to compete for AFC supremacy in 2019 with a loaded roster that features plenty of offensive and defensive talent alike.
That’s not to say, however, that they don’t have needs entering the draft, and it’s likely that general manager Tom Telesco will reach for some help along both lines.
State Of The Team
Contending. The Los Angeles Chargers have one of the league’s most complete rosters from top to bottom in the leagueand with the ageless Philip Rivers, the window to win it all is wide open. Anthony Lynn was in the running for NFL Coach of the Year.
On offense, the Chargers present a balanced attack, and on defense, the duo of Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram is tough to contain. Throw in Derwin James on defense, and this team has few weaknesses. They even found a way to beat the Chiefs at Arrowhead last season. They were pushed around by the New England Patriots in the divisional round but with that bad taste still in their mouths, there should be plenty of motivation to get back to that spot in 2019.
Total Draft Picks
The Chargers will have 7 picks in the 2019 NFL Draft:
- Round 1: 28th overall pick
- Round 2: 60th overall pick
- Round 3: 91st overall pick
- Round 4: 130th overall pick
- Round 5: 166th overall pick
- Round 6: 200th overall pick
- Round 7: 242nd overall pick
Top 3 Draft Needs
Offensive Tackle: It seems like the Chargers have needed to upgrade the offensive line for quite some time and that will be the case again this year. Russell Okung is the team’s left tackle but the Chargers need a better option than Sam Tevi on the right side. The team’s struggles on the
offensive line reared their ugly head against the New England Patriots in the playoffs.
Defensive Tackle: The team did re-sign Brandon Mebane but at the time of this writing, it has yet to re-sign either Darius Philon or Damion Square. Along with Mebane, who recently turned 34 years old, Justin Jones and T.Y. McGill are the only defensive tackles on the roster. More depth is going to be needed.
Wide Receiver: A lot of fans are going to want to see the team go after some help at safety, but help at wide receiver is a bigger need. Tyrell Williams took a big contract from the Oakland Raiders, leaving Travis Benjamin and a couple of unknowns (Artavis Scott, Dylan Cantrell) behind Keenan Allen and Mike Williams.
Top 3 Draft Targets
Dalton Risner
OT, Kansas State
A powerful offensive lineman who is lauded for his hand usage. He is adept in both pass protection and run blocking and has started at right tackle the past three seasons at Kansas State. If he is still on the board when the Chargers come up at No. 28, he needs to be the pick.
Jerry Tillery
DL, Notre Dame
Andy Isabella
WR, Massachusetts
An incredibly fast wideout, Andy Isabella ran a 4.31 40-yard dash at the scouting combine and because of that elite speed, he might not even get to the third round. He is a smaller receiver at 5-foot-10 and 195 pounds, making him an option in the slot. But because of his speed, he can win on the outside and could be a great option to replace Williams as the team’s deep threat.
Decision Maker (Or Who To Blame If Things Go Wrong)
Tom Telesco has earned the nickname “Coupon God” when it has come to putting the Chargers together, opting for cheaper talent that many consider to be on the downswing of their career as opposed to making the big splash signings. He has also put together some very solid drafts and was recently given a new multi-year contract extension.
Best/Worst Pick In Current Draft Slot
Historically, who was the best pick and the worst pick based on where the team is currently picking.
Best Pick: Antoine Cason, CB, No. 27 overall in the 2008 NFL Draft
Cason was actually the No. 27 overall pick of the 2008 draft and the former Jim Thorpe Award winner spent five seasons with the Chargers. He worked his way into the starting lineup and became a serviceable defensive back for the team. For his career with the team, Cason had 12 interceptions and 55 pass deflections while playing in all 80 games he was eligible for.
Worst Pick: Luis Castillo, DL, No. 28 in the 2005 NFL Draft
Castillo wasn’t a terrible pick, but because he was the only pick the Chargers have ever had at No. 28, he takes a back seat to Cason. The Chargers took a bit of a risk in selecting Castillo, who had disclosed prior to the 2005 draft that he had used steroids prior to the combine that year, causing him to fail a test. He played in seven seasons with the team, racking up 19 sacks and two forced fumbles. During that time, he missed 40 games for various reasons, including playing in only one game in 2011 due to a broken leg, his final season with the team.