:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/46245384/usa-today-8108829.0.jpg)
We are only an hour away from the 2015 NFL Draft. We have no clue who the San Diego Chargers will draft with the 17th overall pick. Honestly, we don't even know if they will be choosing at 17 with so many trade rumors flying around this year. Jameis Winston is probably going #1 overall, and Marcus Mariota will probably be the next player off the board, but neither of those two are guaranteed.
The general consensus among fans and "experts" seems to be that the Chargers will use their first pick on a running back, either Todd Gurley or Melvin Gordon. It's possible that both will be gone by 17 or that both will still be available. We just don't have any way to know right now.
Mike Mayock is terrific and his mocks are usually better predictors than those of the average draftnik. He has the Chargers taking Gurley even with T.J. Clemmings and Randy Gregory still available. I may actually cry if that happens, but at least he has them passing on Melvin Gordon.
The Chargers were No. 30 in the league in rushing last season. They have to give Philip Rivers some help, and Gurley is a game-changer.
Sure, the Chargers only have one quality running back and he's a third down back by trade, but this draft is so, so deep at the position, that I really hope the Chargers wait until at least the second round.
Todd McShay has the Chargers taking the Georgia running back as well.
There's a good chance Gurley could go earlier than this, but if he drops this far the Chargers make sense in terms of fit. They need a new starting running back, and so long as they're willing to be patient with Gurley as he rehabs his torn ACL, they'd be getting one of the most talented players in this draft class, regardless of position.
Similar to Mayock, he has the Chargers passing on Gordon and talented offensive linemen like Cameron Erving and Jake Fisher.
The legendary Mel Kiper predicts that San Diego will make the pick I dread most of all, Melvin Gordon.
Because there's just no peer for MG III on that roster, and he also qualifies as a "best player available" at this range on the board. I know -- I actually said it about a running back.
I hate this pick like poison. Almost every player the rest of the first round in Kiper's mock draft would make me happier than drafting Gordon. I'm almost 100% convinced this is what will actually happen because I am that against it.