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!