Ralph Anderson, TE

Al Barry, G

Billy Brooks, WR

Byrd Demetrius, WR

Reche Caldwell, WR

Greg Camarillo, WR

Pat Curran, TE

Steve DeLong, DE

Bob Duckworth, WR

Trevor Gaylor, WR

Dave Grannell, TE

Charlie Jones, WR

Rommie Loudd, LB

Bob Micho, TE

Bob Mitinger, LB

Walter Reeves, TE

Tag Rome, WR

Tim Rossovich, LB

Mark Seay, WR

A lot of interesting names coming in at #82.  Some even memorable ones.  But the winner represents one of the most intriguing position shifts in team history.

The Winner

Rod Bernstine, RB-TE

Rod Bernstine was originally drafted in 1987 as a Tight End.  Following in the footsteps of Kellen Winslow, Bernstine was an athletic, lean chain-mover with big-play capabilities.  But before log the Chargers realized they had a lack of quality running backs.  So since Bernstine was a good ball carrier – tried and tested on a number of reverses – the coaches decided to give him a more permanent role as back-up Running Back.  And thanks to his success, he wasn’t so much a back-up as he was a co number 1.  For three seasons, he shared the running back load with Marion Butts, and the two of them combined for more than 4,700 yards rushing on just over 1,000 carries.  That amounts to a per carry average of well over 4.5.  In fact, Bernstine’s overall numbers as a Charger – just as a rusher – were a modest 2007 yards, but a robust 4.9 yards a carry.

Eventually, Bernstine broke down.  It seems that guys 6’3” aren’t really meant to be running backs – certainly not with any degree of longevity.  The Chargers definitely got the best years out of him.  And for his efforts, he gets a Golden Jersey.