Tom Telesco is heading into his second season as general manager of the San Diego Chargers where he hopes to build on last year’s success. The 2013 draft netted D.J. Fluker, Keenan Allen, and Manti Te'o who are all starters. The latter rounds didn’t bring in much as fifth round pick Steve Williams has missed his rookie season with a torn pectoral muscle and, Brad Sorensen and Tourek Williams not touching the field.
The 2014 draft will hopefully bring in more new starters to help this team get back on track.
First Round: Jason Verrett, Cornerback, TCU
The Chargers secondary has struggled all season, incomes Verrett to help this unit out. Verrett isn’t the biggest corner around but he plays like he is. Verrett may not lay down the boom a lot but he is going to make receivers work for those catches. Verrett will get up there with the best of them and contest everything thrown his way. He’ll make it a long day for opposing receivers.
Second Round: Gabe Jackson, Guard, Mississippi State
The offensive-line has been a problem for years now and Telesco started that rebuild with the selection of Fluker. Now Telesco needs to keep upgrading to that unit to protect Philip Rivers.
Currently Rich Ohrnberger and Chad Rinehart are set to hit unrestricted free agency and the team should look into replacing Jeromey Clary who has struggled mightily this year.
Jackson would be welcomed into this group with open arms. Very powerful and surprisingly quick for a 330lb lineman.
This selection would help open up the running game, and, if played at right guard, he could help make Fluker even better. Lineman tend to play better when they have better players next to them, and right now Fluker is stuck next to Clarey.
Third Round: Yawin Smallwood, Middle-Linebacker, Connecticut
Smallwood can step in right next to Teo and create a great tandem. A very instinctive linebacker, Smallwood will immediately replace the departing Donald Butler. Linebacker is going to be a thin position for the Chargers come this offseason with Butler, Reggie Walker, and Bront Bird all free agents, although Bird is restricted. Thomas Keiser and the disappointing Larry English are both due for free agency this offseason as well.
Smallwood could play all the linebacker spots, but he isn’t suited to be an outside linebacker in a 3-4 defense. Suited to play inside, he could create a tandem that lasts for many years for the Chargers. Filling this need helps shore up the second level of the defense which is important for the Chargers moving forward.
Fourth Round: Billy Turner, Offensive-Tackle, NDSU
Turner is a mammoth at six-foot six and is primed to play tackle, at either left or right depending if the team moves Fluker to left tackle. Seconds in to watching Turner film I knew he could play at the next level and play well. Turner could go anywhere from here to undrafted depending on who you ask, but he belongs up here.
Turner will step in and improve the run game from day one, and he’ll do great job protecting Rivers. I can easily see Turner being one of my favorite prospects in the draft over the next few months, Turner will be a steal here in the fourth with some development.
Fifth Round: Damian Swann, Cornerback, Georgia
Helping improve the secondary will be one of the biggest goals of the offseason for the Chargers and adding Swann will help. Swann is currently struggling through his junior year and that can be expected when he loses both his starting safeties to the NFL. As a charger he’ll have the player behind him in Eric Weddle to support him.
Right now Darrell Stuckey, Richard Marshall, and Crezdon Butler are not under contract for next season, so the picks of Swann and Verrett will allow the secondary to move on.
Sixth Round: Josh Mauro, Defensive-End, Stanford
Along with all the middle and back end of the defense, the front needs help as well. Josh Mauro is a big strong lineman who can create a strong push and collapse the pocket for opposing quarterbacks. Not the most dominant player, even on Stanford’s defensive-line, he won’t stand out at the next level, but he can contribute to a front that needs whatever help they can get.
Seventh Round: Gabe Holmes, Tight-End, Purdue
Holmes has missed almost his entire senior season with an injured wrist which hurts his draft value. Also holding him back is the subpar quarterback play he’s endured at Purdue. Holmes won’t keep defensive coordinators up at night, and few players in the seventh round will, but he’s a good developmental prospect who could flourish with some good throws coming his way.