Wish List: Take your pick...a pre-combine draft look

by jkvandal on Feb 23, 2011 3:27 PM PST

So every year for the last few years before the draft I have been making a list of sorts of the players that I would be happy with the Chargers taking with their draft pick...and the length of the list varies based on draft position. For example when the Chargers were draft at #16 in 2009, I came up with a list of the top 16 that I would be happy with. When they were drafting at #28 last year, I scratched together a list of the top 28 that I would be happy with.

I have found this is a much better way to get a good/bad feeling about the upcoming draft to temper expectations. In 2009, Larry English was not on my list, but I also didn't know much about him. In 2010, Ryan Mathews was on my list and towards the top, but it also helped that the Chargers moved up to take him. I felt better about this move because it was very hard for me to come up with a list of 28 players that I was happy for the Chargers to draft in the first round, as a matter of fact I think I only came up with 25 or so. In that case I was either hoping the Chargers would move up to get a player they wanted or trade down and accumulate draft picks.

For this year's draft I was able to put together a "pre-combine" list of 18 players that I would be happy with the Chargers taking...the list (after the jump) will indubitably change after the combine.

I tried as best as I could to rank them in the priority with which I would have the Chargers take them, but that is highly subject to change as we all know. There are some players at positions that are not quite a position of need for the Bolts, but sometimes you just can't pass on a special talent, regardless of the position.

Here are my top 18 as they stand before the combine, and the position I feel they would fit on the Chargers roster:

1. Da'Quan Bowers - 3-4 OLB

2. Robert Quinn - 3-4 OLB

3. Von Miller - 3-4 OLB

4. Akeem Ayers - 3-4 OLB

5. Patrick Peterson - CB/S

6. Prince Amukamara - CB

7. AJ Green - WR

8. Julio Jones - WR

9. Nick Fairley - 3-4 DE

10. Nate Solder - OT

11. Mike Pouncey - C

12. Ryan Kerrigan - 3-4 OLB

13. Marcell Dareus - 3-4 DE

14. Justin Houston - 3-4 OLB

15. Jimmy Smith - CB

16. Leonard Hankerson - WR

17. Rahim Moore - S

18. Aldon Smith - 3-4 OLB

I already feel a little uneasy about the last 4 or 5 slots, and am hoping the results of the Combine help me solidify those positions...I love this time of year. Let me know what you all think!

This FanPost was written by a member of the Bolts From The Blue community and does not necessarily reflect the views of the Bolts From The Blue editors or SB Nation.

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Comments

Indubitably.

I love the way that word sounds! I like the list. And I end up doing the same thing every year come draft time making a list. A.J. usually picks someone way out from left field, however. I don’t know why, but Ryan Kerrigan is the guy I think we’ll end up taking. There’s no way to tell right now though seeing as we haven’t even been through the combine yet.

by Itsonlyspencer on Feb 23, 2011 6:37 PM PST reply actions

Haha, I was hoping someone would comment on the use of the word "indubitably", haha!

I would be pretty happy with Ryan Kerrigan…far from the best pass rusher in the draft but probably the best that will be available when we pick…if he’s even available.

by jkvandal on Feb 23, 2011 7:31 PM PST up reply actions

Oh yeah

and I thought it would be fun to have a pre-combine and post-combine list to compare…as well as a pre-draft list after all the private workouts after the combine

by jkvandal on Feb 23, 2011 7:32 PM PST up reply actions

Akeem Ayers would be awesome

I think Tyron Smith would be great at RT

"Don't turn the channel, ... no matter what the score is." -David Eckstein

by princeton11loveshalos on Feb 24, 2011 8:18 AM PST reply actions

Some of these guys just won't be there at 18

I fully expect all of the following guys will be gone by 18:

Da’Quan Bowers – 3-4 OLB
Robert Quinn – 3-4 OLB
Von Miller – 3-4 OLB
Patrick Peterson – CB/S
Prince Amukamara – CB
AJ Green – WR
Julio Jones – WR
Nick Fairley – 3-4 DE

I really hope we don’t do a lot of moving up this year, sacrificing additional picks. We need all our picks in the first 3 rounds because we’ve got at least 28 free agents and several of them won’t be back. We’ve got a lot of needs on both sides of the ball (DE, OLB, SS, CB……….WR/OT/TE/QB). If there isn’t anyone we’re in love with at 18 I’d recommend moving down and attempting to acquire additional picks.

Other guys who may be available at 18 that were not mentioned in this post:

Cameron Jordan, DE/DT, California
Cameron Heyward, DE/DT, Ohio State
Corey Liuget, DE/DT, Illinois

Hankerson is likely a day 2 pick, but probably a top 1/2 of day 2 pick and even with our first pick in the 2nd we might miss him at 50 so you could maybe see us moving up into the top 1/2 of the 2nd to grab Hankerson if he’s there.

by J Korber on Feb 24, 2011 8:20 AM PST reply actions

I don't debate that many of those guys won't be there at 18

However many thought Ryan Mathews wouldn’t be there at 28 last year either, and he wasn’t…because the Chargers moved up to get him. The point of this list is not to list who will or won’t be there at pick #18, but to come up with a list of the top 18 players that I would be happy with the Chargers taking so that we know that at least one player from my list will still be on the board at the Chargers pick. The point of this post was not to predict who will or won’t be there, but more as an exercise to see if you can come up with 18 players that you would be happy with, guaranteeing that at least one of those guys will be avaiable when the Chargers come on the clock.

At this point I would not be happy with taking either of the Cameron’s at pick #18…I think DE’s of value can be had later in the draft. As my list above shows, the only two DE’s I feel are worthy of the Chargers picking at 18 at this point are Fairley and Dareus, but both will probably be gone.

by jkvandal on Feb 24, 2011 10:27 AM PST up reply actions

I just don't want to see us jumping up and wasting additional picks

I’m all for trading out of the 18 spot and moving down to acquire more picks. Guys like Ayers and Houston may be available even further out than 18. Hankerson will likely be available back end of the first or top 1/2 of the 2nd.

If there isn’t anyone we LOVE at 18 I’d trade out of that spot and acquire picks. As I mentioned earlier we’re likely going to lose several guys to free agency. For a change I’d like to see us avoid jumping up to grab someone unless we’re convinced they can be an impact player immediatley.

The Patriots have managed to acrue a ton of picks in the last 2 drafts and they will likely be completely re-stocked with talent after the drafts from 2010 and 2011.

We need all our picks this year and if we can find a way to get more I’m all for it. I wouldn’t want to give up any picks to move up so I don’t see the point in getting excited about guys that are projected as top 10 or top 5 picks, as we wouldn’t have a shot at them without compromising the rest of the picks we’ve managed to stock pile.

by J Korber on Feb 24, 2011 12:27 PM PST up reply actions

Completely agree

I’m thinking if there isn’t an elite pass rusher worth taking at that spot then I would prefer to trade down like you said. * The hardest part is finding a partner to trade down with.* The perfect scenario would be if some of the OT’s slip and a guy like Castanzo is available at our pick, then I’m sure we could find a trade partner.

I like that we are lined up with 5 picks in the first 3 rounds and hope we don’t trade those away or at least if we do that we still come out of the first 3 rounds with 5 players.

by jkvandal on Feb 24, 2011 2:35 PM PST up reply actions

Or if a guy like Jake Locker were available at 18

I’m sure we could find a trade partner

by jkvandal on Feb 24, 2011 2:50 PM PST up reply actions

I hope one of the top QB prospects falls down to that 18 area............

I think Seattle at 25 might be interested in moving up at that point is someone like Locker was still there. Also the redskins have a pick near the top of the 2nd and they always seem willing to deal pics away.

I think it would be classic to have sent Seattle Charlie Clipboard and then have them possibly in a situation where they might consider swapping picks with us in the first to move up to get Locker!

by J Korber on Feb 24, 2011 4:50 PM PST up reply actions

How good a pass rusher is Akeem Ayers?

I haven’t seen much of him, and his stats make him sound more like a 4-3 OLB, or a 3-4 ILB, he obviously has top 10 physical skills, but pass rushing is much more than physical skill.

I would have Rahim Moore, around player 10 seeing that safety really need a talent upgrade, and Marcel Dareus I can assure he is higher on the list, so high he requires a trade up.

by TJBOLT on Feb 24, 2011 10:23 AM PST reply actions

Well he's another question mark on the translation of physical abilities to production in the NFL (Gholston ring a bell?)

But his college stats are pretty outstanding…just this last season he had 68 tackles, 10 TFL, 2 INTs, 2 FF, 2 FR. In my opinion he is one of those rare talents that you just can’t pass on.

Career stats: 183 tackles, 14 sacks, 29.5 TFL, 6 INTs, 2 Defensive TDs…He didn’t have a huge number of sacks but he also wasn’t used as a pass rusher as much as the Chargers would use him. He would probably have to put on some weight to play 3-4 OLB and I would be interested to see if he has the strength to bull rush a tackle as it’s clear he has the abilities for the speed rush.

by jkvandal on Feb 24, 2011 2:57 PM PST up reply actions

I'm not as interested in 5 tech DE as much as the chargers seem to be

I would trade up for the 3 great pass rushers Bowers/Quinn/Miller I really believe the chargers need that difference maker on D, as they say the queen on the chess board.

I believe Cam Thomas and Vaughn Martin can take Cesaire’s spot and be upgraded, I don’t think the DE is the priority the chargers seem to think it is. I actually think Safety is the biggest need, and one the second rounders will be a safety.

by TJBOLT on Feb 24, 2011 6:11 PM PST up reply actions

Even if they don't go 5 technique in the 1st round...........

Thomas is a 340 lb. NT. I’m not saying he can’t play end, but I don’t think there are many 335 -340 lb DL playing end. Additionally, Travis Johnson and Cesaire are FA’s so neither may be back. Depth on the DL could be an issue.

What safety would merit a pick at 18? I don’t think anyone has Moore from UCLA mocked anywhere in the top 20. I guess we could trade out of the 18 and hope Moore is there end of the 1st / top 1/2 of the 2nd. Behind Moore how many top level prospects are there at SS? I don’t think there are very many. Also, Stuckey may develop and be a bigger contributor this year.

Duke Ihenacho, SS, San Jose State is projected to be available between the 5th and 7th. Could use a compensatory pick to grab him later in the draft once other needs had been addressed.

by J Korber on Feb 25, 2011 7:49 AM PST up reply actions

green bay

ran a lot of sets last year with heavies in all 3 down lineman spots. So it’s not unheard of. And Garay and Martin have the athleticism to play the DE spot.

by Stephen (shaynes41) on Feb 25, 2011 10:47 AM PST up reply actions

The Chargers did too

I remember downs where Garay and OG were DE’s with Thomas at NT. We had a pretty good rotation of the DL with Rivera. It will be interesting to see what philosophy Manusky brings to the front seven, and I think our first indicator will be the draft. I fully expect to see 2 guys drafted that will fit into our front seven on defense, ideally an OLB and a 5 technique. I would be okay with not taking a DE as long as we get a quality OLB early.

by jkvandal on Feb 25, 2011 11:21 AM PST up reply actions

Understood

I’m not saying it’s never been done……or that we didn’t run some sets on the DL with 3 big dudes. But if Cesaire and Johnson are gone they’re both 5 technique DE’s (Johnson may be a DT/DE).

Lets assume one or both of those guys are gone. We have to grab a 5 technique somewhere who can contribute in the rotation on the DL.

The back 1/2 of the 1st or top 1/2 of the 2nd looks like a good place to find a 5 technique who will be able to contribute immediatley.

Marvin Austin, DT, North Carolina (Former Cam Thomas teamate)

Might be available as late as our 2nd pick in the 2nd round. He could probably contribute right away and we could go another way with our first 2 picks.

by J Korber on Feb 25, 2011 12:38 PM PST up reply actions

Are you forgetting Vaughn Martin?

If we kept Johnson and Martin, we’d be set, man.

An autumn Sunday,
Perched in front of the big screen,
Beer in white knuckles.

by Neoplatonist Bolthead on Feb 25, 2011 8:15 PM PST up reply actions

A pretty good list but...

Mike Pouncy will not play center – he’s had problems there including snaps.
Nate Solder is a LT project who doesn’t project well to RT – good but I doubt he’s on our big board in the top 20.
Ayers, Kerrigan, Moore, and Hankerson are too high. I would add some DEs Watt, Clayborn, Wilkerson, and a LB Wilson.