A 4-Round Mock Draft With the Chargers Taking a QB in the 2nd Round

Chad Reuter of NFL.com is back with a 4-round mock so let's get after it.

7) Malik Hooker, Safety, Ohio State

Rangy, ball, skills, yadda yadda. Hooker is very good and I will not be mad if they take him but at the same time for whatever reason when his name gets brought up nobody ever mentions this part of his game.

Not to mention he still has a lot to learn as a safety in coverage. You’re gambling on him being the athlete you think he is and that he’ll continue to develop and not plateau. It’s a dangerous game.

2 realistic alternate picks:

Realistically, Hooker might be the “best available” based on who went before him. I don’t think in this scenario I’d be too disappointed. Though I would prefer to add more in the trenches.

38) Patrick Mahomes, QB, Texas Tech

Wooooo, boy. This won’t fill a need right away, but it damn sure would be fun down the line. Mahomes is more than fun, he’s a really good QB that is a lot more advanced than given credit for.

He could learn from El Captain for a couple years and take over the reins. Many will hate this, but I don’t mind this at all.

2 realistic alternate picks:

Realistically if you go skill in the 1st you almost have to come back in the trenches, right? Kansas State’s edge rusher Jordan Willis as been my guy all draft season and I’m so happy that he balled out at the combine. Willis is 6’4, 255 and was a top performer in 4 of the 6 events he competed in. He had the fastest 40, at 4.53. The 2nd highest vertical jump, to some guy name Myles Garrett, at 39”. 6th highest broad jump at 10’5. Fastest 3-cone by .06 at 6.85. Finally, the 3rd fastest short shuttle at 4.28. On the edge, where athleticism matters, Willis showed out. He is already a reallyyyy good football player.

My other alternate pick would be Western Michigan’s tackle/guard Taylor Moton who is an absolute bully. Read this on him:

71) Dorian Johnson, Guard, Pittsburgh

I don’t have a great feel for Johnson. I know he can move. I know he has some power. That’s about it. I do like that Reuter went in the trenches after back to back skill, though.

2 realistic alternate picks:

Jahleel Johnson from Iowa might be the best defensive tackle in the class. He tested at the combine like a sumo wrestler but he is soooo good with his hands and strong like bull, too. His game this year against the Wolverines was the best game for a defensive lineman I’ve seen all year.

Adding a player that can play both defensive tackle spots in Gus Bradley’s defense at this point in the draft would be huge. This is great value for Johnson.

Another alternate pick would be Tim Williams. No player disappointed me more than Williams at the combine. Forget the fact he admitted he failed multiple drug tests. The guy who appeared hyper-athletic tested worse than Jerry Attaochu, which is saying something. Still, he would be an asset to the team off the edge and would allow you to get creative with Bosa and Ingram.

113) Dede Westbrook, WR, Oklahoma

Westbrook can fly. But he’s 178 pounds, not a very good route runner, and will be 24 in the middle of his rookie year. That’s before we get to his legal issues. Though they were dropped, Westbrook was involved in 2 domestic assaults. I think it’s safe to say he won’t be a Charger.

2 realistic alternative picks:

At this point, I don’t think it’s much about need as it is finding the best possible players you can bring in.

Ahkello Witherspoon fits a need and at this spot could be another possible steal for the Chargers. The 6’3 corner out of Colorado ran a 4.45 40 and jumped 40” in the vertical. The explosion is real. The Buffs had a stacked secondary and Witherspoon was no exception. Witherspoon gave up only 31.8% of passes his way and also broke up 19 passes. That’s great on ball production and he fits the long, lanky corner that Bradley covets in his defense. I would say on all intermediate routes and underneath, you’d think Witherspoon was a top 5 corner.

He has great patience and awareness. The issue is, for whatever reason, on deep passes he just gets lost and was lucky to not have given up big plays. Any production you get out of Witherspoon here is icing on the cake, though.

What do you think of Reuter’s draft? What directions would you have gone in?