The Los Angeles Chargers (3-6) are currently the not-so-proud owners of a top-10 pick in the 2018 NFL draft. As you might imagine, they have glaring needs up and down the roster (that’s how you end up with twice as many losses as wins), but perhaps the most important need is that of a successor to Philip Rivers.
In Dan Kadar’s latest latest 2018 NFL mock draft, SB nation’s draft guru has the Chargers selecting Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield. Dan offered this explanation for the pick:
Los Angeles Chargers: Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma
Mayfield is by far the draft’s most polarizing prospect. Some absolutely love him and think he’s the top quarterback. Others fear he won’t be able to hold up getting knocked around in the NFL. With the Chargers, he could be the replacement for Philip Rivers, whether it’s in 2018 or 2019.
Dan has Mayfield as his third quarterback off the board following UCLA’s Josh Rosen and USC’s Sam Darnold (who has made comments about staying in school). Mayfield is, as Dan mentions, a bit of a controversial player. Data-driven analysts adore him. Anyone that watches him can see that he is a special talent. But he lacks prototypical size and that is difficult for some experts to overlook (and perhaps they are right not to).
If you accept the assertion that it is time to draft the next Los Angeles Chargers starting quarterback, it is hard not to take one with your top-10 pick. The question then becomes: Baker Mayfield or Louisville’s Lamar Jackson? There are certainly arguments to be made for both.
Who should the Chargers take if the draft board falls to them the way Dan Kadar predicts?
Poll
Should the Chargers select Mayfield or Jackson?
This poll is closed
-
39%
Baker Mayfield
(395 votes) -
29%
Lamar Jackson
(293 votes) -
16%
Other Quarterback
(163 votes) -
14%
Other Non-Quarterback
(139 votes)