Tired of the trade talk and the stadium talk, new BFTB staff member Daniel Stebbins and decided it was time to do a mock draft of the Chargers 6 picks this year.
We decided to use the Fanspeak draft simulator to do the work of predicting the other team's picks for us. At each Chargers pick we both looked at who was available and made our picks. I decided there will be no trading, just taking all 6 picks as they are and seeing what we can make happen.
Round 1, pick 17
Stebbins' pick:
Owamagbe Odighizuwa - 6'3" 267lbs, Edge, UCLA
"Arguably the two most productive OLB's from 2014 (Dwight Freeney and Jarret Johnson), in what was a down year for the position anyway, are gone. Attaochu, while showing some flashes of ability, is unproven and hasn't proven he can stay healthy. Ingram's health concerns are obviously much worse."
Stanley's pick:
Cameron Erving - 6'5" 313lbs, C, FSU
I chose Cameron Erving. Yes there is a rather large need at OLB, yes the team could use a RB, but as much as the team needs both of those, it equally needs to not need Johnny Troutman. Grabbing Erving you can plug him in at C and not only is the position is handled for the next decade, but you can move Chris Watt to RG and we can wave goodbye to the days of Troutman starting. Erving can also play any other position on the line if they need him too.
Round 2, pick 48
Stebbins' pick:
Duke Johnson - 5'9" 207lbs, RB, Miami
"Obviously SD has a major need at RB with Ryan Mathews heading to Philadelphia. I skipped going RB in the first because of the value here in the second with Jay Ajayi or Duke. I feel Duke could really be the homerun hitter San Diego really needs in this offense, they currently lack "playmakers" like him."
Stanley's pick:
Henry Anderson - 6'6" 294lbs, DE/DT, Stanford
This pick was hard. Nelson Agholor was still on the board, who is one of my biggest draft crushes this year, but I forced myself to ignore him because I'm 95% sure he will not be on the board at pick 48 in the actual draft. So after going offense with the first pick I grabbed Anderson. Anderson is what we all wanted Kendall Reyes to be. He can play, and has played, any position on the DL and win. He uses his length and active hands to keep himself very clean which allows him to work well both against the run and rushing the passer. Anderson does wind up on the ground more than you'd like, but having him across from Corey Liuget would help the entire defense function better. Check out more in depth scouting on Anderson from Kyle Posey.
Round 3, pick 83
Stebbins' pick:
Tyler Lockett - 5'10" 182lbs, WR, Kansas State
"With Malcom Floyd's injury history, and this being a contract year for him, WR will be a need in 2016. Lockett is a guy that can contribute in 2015 should the injury plagued Floyd, Keenan Allen (who himself has had multiple injuries) or Stevie Johnson (coming off an injury last season) need to sit. I have no faith in Dontrelle Inman, Austin Pettis or Jacoby Jones to contribute at the level Lockett could both immediately and in to the future"
Stanley's pick:
Duke Johnson - 5'9" 207lbs, RB, Miami
I am also a huge fan of Johnson, just like much of the staff here at BFTB. I grabbed Johnson just like Stebbins, but I got better value. Johnson would be a huge steal in the 3rd round. I can't put it any better than our resident scouting expert Kyle Posey, so just check out what he had to say about Johnson.
Round 4, pick 117
Stebbins' pick:
Jeremiah Poutasi - 6'5" 335lbs, OG/OT Utah
"Poutasi has played both LT and RT. Most expect him to kick inside to guard. Telesco loves the versatile linemen. Also, I wouldn't be surprised if he beat Troutman for the RG spot in camp. Should injuries be an issue he can play tackle in a pinch. At worst I see a quality depth player, at best a solid guard. Have a third round grade on him."
Stanley's pick:
Daryl Williams - 6'5" 327lbs, OT Oklahoma
Williams is great value in the 4th round. He is not an amazing athlete, but he is strong as an ox, understands angles and leverage. After having grabbed Erving in the first, this is more of a luxury pick, but with the Chargers injury history on the OL, they could use all the quality depth they can get. As always, KP is here to give us a more in depth breakdown with some awesome gifs.
Round 5, pick 153
Stebbins' (and Stanley's) pick:
Kevin White - 5'9" 183lbs, CB, TCU
"Kevin White gave some very talented WR's fits in college. Verrett's former teammate at TCU, similar physical presence. Not as good technique-wise as Verrett, but in the 5th he is great value. Steve Williams hasn't taken control of opportunities, Greg Ducre and Chris Davis are both unproven. Patrick Robinson was brought in on a one year deal. After Jason Verrett and Brandon Flowers, CB depth of future is very cloudy."
For me, White was the best player left on the board. He, and almost every other TCU defender, lost some points by running slow at the Combine, but he is good value here in the 5th. Like Stebbins said, White isn't as good as Verrett, but he would add some good competition to the group of DB's behind Verrett and Flowers.
Round 6, pick 192
Stebbins' pick:
Deion Barnes - 6'4" 260lbs, OLB, Penn State
"Decided to double dip in Edge rusher because of those injury issues to Ingram/Attaochu and complete lack of depth/experience behind them. Tourek Williams looks serviceable, but behind them are Corderro Law, Colton Underwood."
Stanley's pick:
Deandre Smelter - 6'2" 225lbs, WR, Georgia Tech
3 years from now, when you can properly grade a draft, Smelter will have an A+ grade, and everyone will wonder why he wasn't picked early on day 2, if not day 1 if you ask KP. Smelter is everything you look for in a WR. He is a big bodied WR, while still being very fast and having great acceleration, he has giant 11" hands. He is also a great blocker for a WR of his experience. The reason he fell so far? He tore his ACL late in the college season, and he only played college football for 2 seasons. He has all the upside in the world, and the Chargers have the WR depth that allows them to grab Smelter late, let him heal, and learn, then unleash him next year or the year after and watch him tear up the field. Want to know more?
So, there you have it. Two different takes on the San Diego's six picks.
I ended up missing out on an edge player, greedy Stebbins took two, but my picks take two of the most frustrating Chargers off the field, Reyes and Troutman, and has great value in every round.
In less than 12 hours, all the questions will start being answered and none of us will have to guess anymore!