The 2019 NFL draft concluded on Sunday, and for the Chargers they saw a big haul of defensive players followed by offensive players that will serve as depth to finish out the event.
Below are grades and analysis of all seven players Los Angeles selected and the overall class grade.
Class grade: B
The Chargers had a plan going into this draft after being fairly quiet in free agency, and it was to get faster and more physical. Los Angeles stacked deck on the defensive side of the ball by using five of their seven selections to find instant starters and a few valuable depth pieces.
Many people were expecting L.A. to add more players on the offensive side of the ball, primarily depth at wide receiver and tight end. But they elected to bring in an offensive tackle, which was needed, and another backup quarterback.
General manager Tom Telesco and coach Anthony Lynn did a nice job of keeping a balance with their selections based on the holes that needed to be filled. Overall, it was good haul for a team that has a vision of building a Super Bowl roster and it should have fans excited for the 2019 season.
Round 1, No. 17, DT Jerry Tillery
Grade: A
The Chargers went into the draft needing to add more beef on the defensive side of the ball, given their lack of depth. They wasted no time with the selection of former Notre Dame product Jerry Tillery.
Tillery had been connected to Los Angeles throughout the pre-draft process, as many, including us, felt like he was the ideal fit for defensive coordinator Gus Bradley’s defense.
Tillery offers great talent and he has the upside to be one of the best defensive tackle in the league. He is strong, lengthy, and flashes great technique on film. He will have to work on his leverage or else he will get washed away, but his ability to push the pocket and create disruption should be an excellent boost.
Round 2, No. 60, FS Nasir Adderley
Grade: A
The need for a free safety was evident after the team decided to release Jahleel Addae. It was unlikely that they went into the 2019 campaign with only Jaylen Watkins and Rayshawn Jenkins pegged on the depth chart.
Adderley was a player that was commonly mocked to the Chargers in the first round. For the second year in a row, Los Angeles was able to see one of the top safeties fall in their laps, later than they were originally projected to go.
Adderley possesses the ball skills, range, speed and toughness to be the free safety the Bolts have needed for years. With Derwin James at strong safety and Adderley manning the single-high, the Chargers might have one of the NFL’s best young duos in the secondary.
Round 3, No. 91, OT Trey Pipkins
Grade: C+
When this selection was announced, the majority of the supporters were scratching their head, wondering who Trey Pipkins was as they scrambled around trying to find any tape or information on the former Sioux Falls product.
Even though the pick was an unknown at the time being, the Chargers came out of the third round addressing an area of need at the right tackle position. Pipkins had been a player that the team liked quite a bit after his showing at the East-West Shrine Game.
It’s unlikely that he is the Day 1 starter right off the bat, but the team views him as Russell Okung’s eventual replacement when he decides to call it quits. Pipkins possesses the athletic ability for the position, but he will need to develop his movement skills, get stronger and get caught up to NFL speed.
Nonetheless, we get what the team was going for with the selection of Pipkins, but it still feels like a bit of a reach when he was viewed as a fourth or fifth rounder prior to being selected.
Round 4, No. 130, LB Drue Tranquill
Grade: B
General manager Tom Telesco made it clear that the linebacker room was going to get a depth chart boost. Telesco stuck with his word by selecting Tranquill to kick off Day 3 of the draft.
Tranquill was a two-time team captain who overcame ACL surgeries to both knees in the first two seasons. The converted safety bounced back, where he finished his collegiate career on a strong note. In 2018, he totaled 86 total tackles and 3.5 sacks in 13 games.
Tranquill might not be a three-down starter in his first couple seasons as a pro, but he has the toughness, athleticism, versatility and high football IQ to be an ideal sub-package linebacker and special-teams contributor for Los Angeles.
If he continues to stay healthy, he could be a starter down the road and his locker room presence compliment it perfectly.
Round 5, No. 166, QB Easton Stick
Grade: C+
The Chargers ended the six-year drought without selecting a quarterback by grabbing former North Dakota State product Easton Stick with their fifth round selection.
We were firm believers that Los Angeles shouldn’t have gone down that route prior to the draft, simply because they already signed Tyrod Taylor and the quarterback class didn’t offer anything too enticing.
With the selection of Stick, it likely means that Cardale Jones’ tenure with the team is over. He may not replace Rivers when he decides to hang up the cleats and is not going to dethrone Tyrod Taylor for the No. 2 spot.
Stick may become a true backup down the road, but he’s not more than a No. 3 quarterback who could be used as a gadget player like Saints’ Taysom Hill.
Round 6, No. 200, LB Emeke Egbule
Grade: B+
With Kyle Emanuel’s departure, the Chargers had to find a backup to Uchenna Nwosu at the SAM role. They did just that with former Houston product Emeke Egbule in the sixth round.
Egbule brings quite the versatile skill set to the city of Los Angeles. At 6-foot-2 and 245 pounds, Egbule has a great blend of size, length and athletic ability. He lined up off the ball, showcasing fluidity in coverage and he played on the line of scrimmage as a pass rusher, displaying a quick first step to get to the quarterback.
We felt like L.A. addressed a big need and they were able to get great value at pick No. 200 since many expected Egbule to be gone in the fifth round.
Round 7, No. 242, DT Cortez Broughton
Grade: B+
The Chargers selected former Cincinnati defensive tackle Cortez Broughton to finish out the 2019 NFL draft with the No. 242 selection.
Los Angeles was in need of shoring up the defensive tackle depth chart after the selection of Tillery earlier on, so Broughton was a wise one to close out the event.
Broughton has a solid all-around skill-set that includes an excellent first step, heavy hands and a strong motor to work his way into the backfield. He will be able to contribute immediately for Los Angeles as a rotational pass rusher on third down.
Just like Egbule, Broughton was picked up a round later than many were expecting him to go. If he refines some things to his game, he could end up being a heck of a steal for a team that has lacked playmakers up front.
