San Diego Chargers Daily Links: April 30, 2012

Draft haul aims to address both current and future needs - Scott Bair
"We have guys that can help us in certain areas right away, but we kept an eye on the horizon. We brought in developmental kids that we believe can offer support in the short term and hopefully become more prominent down the road."

AFC West draft thoughts - Bill Williamson
With the 250th pick, the Chargers stole Michigan State running back Edwin Baker. ESPN analyst Mel Kiper thought Baker was the eighth best running back in the draft. He has some fumbling issues, but he has real ability and he can grow into a good player. San Diego got a potential future starter in Michigan center David Molk. He is very strong and he is battler. He could be Nick Hardwick’s eventual successor.

John Spanos breaks down Day Three - Christopher Smith
"Ladarius is a very athletic player for the position. There’s a lot of potential, a lot of upside with him as a receiver. He’s still developing a little bit as a blocker, but he’s improved. They did a lot of things with him offensively. He played a little bit from a three-point stance, also from a two-point stance, so a lot of the things we do are things he’s done."

PFF Top 101 of 2011: 90 to 81 - Pro Football Focus
89. Philip Rivers, QB, San Diego Chargers. After years of being one of the league’s best, Rivers struggled at the start of the 2011. So much so that people speculated he was injured. He wasn’t, but it was worth noting that as the season went on Rivers got a lot better, with all seven of his last games being positively graded. It was too late for Rivers to salvage the Chargers, but not too late to make our list.

AFC West draft analysis - Bill Williamson
No one in the division scored like the Chargers did. Following up a strong free-agency class, Chargers GM A.J. Smith deserves a lot of credit for this draft. The Chargers badly needed impact players on defense and they got them.

Bolts take RB Baker with final selection - Christopher Smith
Baker was fielding calls from a number of teams interested in signing him as a college free agent when the Chargers selected him with a compensatory pick at the end of the final round, putting a smile on the man known by many as "Rock."

Chargers pick strongest OL - Christopher Smith
"As far as how I think the weight room applies to football, I think there's a pretty strong connection, especially at offensive line and especially in the middle," Molk said. "It's kind of a strength battle. It's in your face. You have a guy an inch away from you every single snap, so the strongest man usually has the advantage."

Sibling rivalry emerges in AFC West - Christopher Smith
Taylor, who has heard stories of the game’s intensity since being drafted, said he loves his brother, but on game day, "it’s all hate."

Team drafts guard to strengthen line - Christopher Smith
Troutman talked with the Chargers’ scouts about Dielman, once undrafted, and can relate to his story as a fifth-round pick and former defensive lineman. A two-way player in high school and recruited as a defensive tackle, Troutman put on 40 pounds prior to the 2008 season, prompting a move to guard.

San Diego drafts explosive TE - Christopher Smith
At 6-foot-5 ¾, 238 pounds, the Chargers recorded Green’s 40-yard dash as 4.45 seconds at the NFL Scouting Combine, and he showed a vertical leap of nearly 35 inches. He’s lined up in the slot and opposing teams often have viewed him as another receiver.

Tick tock time for Turner - Kevin Acee
"The core of our team," Turner said Saturday afternoon, "I believe we’ve added to that in free agency and now in the draft … We’ve gotten a lot better for a number of reasons."

Chargers' final-round pick has waited before - Michael Gehlken
Molk says his health is at 100 percent. He won the 2011 Rimington Trophy as the nation's best center. At the NFL Combine, he ran a 5.18 40-yard dash, fastest among all centers, and bench-pressed more than any other offensive lineman with 41 reps at 225 pounds.

Chargers GM happy, but now it’s ‘wait and see’ - Nick Canepa
Chargers General Manager A.J. Smith had just completed the most critical draft of his captaincy, but it didn’t keep him from opening our conversation with sarcasm. Probably because he knows I appreciate a good sarcasm and recognize one when I hear it.

Chargers go offense on third day - Michael Gehlken
"Each of these guys," coach Norv Turner said, "there’s a place for them to come in and compete and have an impact on our team in some way. Each of the seven guys bring a unique physical presence, and that’s a positive for me."

Bolts draft guard, hope for gem - Michael Gehlken
"I feel I'm a big, strong, physical guy that's ready to go in there and perform," Troutman, 24, said.

San Diego Chargers Undrafted Free Agent Signings - Wonko
Check back here periodically to see who the Chargers picked up as undrafted free agents.