Millions of football fans around the world will be tuning in to watch the 2019 NFL draft. The Chargers are among the teams hoping to find the right pieces to help take the franchise into Super Bowl contenders.
However, the draft rarely goes according to plan. Trades will occur and surprising selections will be made, leaving fans with the jaw on the ground because the mock drafts they have been looking at go right out the window.
With that, let’s take a look at four bold scenarios that might happen that supporters of the Bolts might not expect to happen, starting with the team’s first-round pick.
No. 1 | The secondary becomes team’s first priority
The offensive line or interior defensive line are a lock for the Chargers’ first round selection, correct? That is not true whatsoever. While some may believe they’re going to add beef early on, the secondary is where Los Angeles could go at No. 28.
Free safety is up in the air after the departure of Jahleel Addae. Rayshawn Jenkins and Jaylen Watkins currently make up the position room. Both players haven’t been able to prove themselves in a starting role yet, but they should serve no more than just depth going forward.
Los Angeles has certainly been doing their homework on the top safeties in this draft class, including Nasir Adderley, Johnathan Abram and Juan Thornhill. Adderley is the only player that would likely go in the first round out of the bunch, but it wouldn’t be surprising to see the team visualizing the pairing of him and Derwin James manning the safety spots.
Meanwhile, the cornerback position is one that we’ve addressed as an early sneaky selection. Even though Trevor Williams signed his tender Monday, guaranteeing that he’ll be back in 2019, the coaching staff may not have trust that he could return to his phenomenal 2017-self going forward. Michael Davis is nothing but a liability in the starter role, as well.
Instead, the Chargers could do the unthinkable but realistic, with selecting a cornerback in Round 1. They will likely have a couple options including Greedy Williams, DeAndre Baker and possibly Byron Murphy there at No. 28 overall. Each one of these players are more than capable of manning the No. 2 CB spot, opposite of Casey Hayward.
No. 2 | The Chargers trade up in the second round
Chargers general manager Tom Telesco has made it evident that he’s not afraid to trade up in the draft. Even though it’s been a few years with 2015 being the last time he moved up, Telesco could very likely end that drought next week.
Aside from sliding up to select running back Melvin Gordon, the two consecutive years prior, Telesco selected two defensive players in defensive end Jeremiah Attaochu and linebacker Manti Te’o. Even though they didn’t pan out the way many were expecting, it just goes to show Telesco’s sneakily aggressive nature to grab their ‘guy’ by jumping seven or eight spots.
Sitting at the tail end of the second round, Los Angeles will realize that even though the defensive tackle class is deep, there will start to be a run on the top options remaining prior to their selection. Knowing how much of a need the position is, L.A. proceeds to jump six to eight slots to draft someone like Dre’Mont Jones, Khalen Saunders or Renell Wren.
No. 3 | Offensive line isn’t addressed until the end of Day 2
There has been a lot of talk about the Chargers desperately needing to select an offensive lineman with their first or second pick in the draft. Most experts have the team taking an offensive tackle to replace Sam Tevi or even a guard to take over for Dan Feeney. Despite that, there are some great reasons that might not be necessary.
While there are some very talented linemen in this draft class, there is also some great depth at both spots and quite a few that offer versatility. This may allow Los Angeles to wait if there are players available at positions where depth is worse. Plus, coach Anthony Lynn has stated the offensive line isn’t as a big of an issue as many are making it out to be.
Even though this could be smokescreen to cover up since nothing has been done to the line despite the horrid 2018 season, L.A. opts to wait until the end of Day 2 to select one. Potential suitors include Max Scharping or Tytus Howard.
No. 4 | A tight end is selected to kick off Day 3
Did many of us see the selection of wide receiver Mike Williams in the first round of the 2017 NFL draft? I wasn’t among those, but the pick was made because Keenan Allen had suffered a couple season-ending injuries.
The Chargers are notorious for not shying away from selecting a player at a various position that’s been hit with an injury, even if it was a one time thing. Tight end Hunter Henry is entering the 2019 season coming off of an ACL tear that he suffered last May.
Los Angeles currently has Virgil Green penciled in as Henry’s backup. Green has two years left on his contract with a potential out at the end of 2020. Even though he fared well and proved that he could be a pass-catcher after being labeled as a run blocker, Green’s presence doesn’t mean they avoid the position.
Instead, L.A. realizes that bringing in another true pass-catching tight end would not only be exciting to run 12 personnel, but it would supply as an insurance for Henry.
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