Don’t Expect the Los Angeles Chargers to Draft Reuben Foster

In case you’ve been living under a rock, you may have missed the story of Alabama Linebacker Reuben Foster leaving the 2017 NFL Combine early after fighting with a hospital worker and reportedly dropping a “Do you know who I am?” on him or her.

Reuben Foster is an incredibly talented football player, one who regularly makes jaw-dropping plays and was expected to be a 1st round draft pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. Now that off-field controversy is expected to drop his draft stock, he’s getting compared to one of the Chargers’ 2013 draft picks: Manti Te’o.

Due to that, I’ve seen a few people say that the Chargers could jump at the chance to get a 1st round talent with a later pick. I am here to tell you that is lunacy.

First of all, the Chargers are expected to move on from Manti Te’o this offseason because he’s never been very good. You could go so far as to say that he wasn’t worth the package of draft picks the team used to get him. That makes it a mistake that you probably don’t want to repeat, if you’re Chargers’ GM Tom Telesco.

Secondly, the extent of Manti’s off-field issues boiled down to him being gullible. Reuben Foster is being accused of something a bit more aggressive, if not violent. That is something the Chargers have shied away from, historically.

Thirdly, the Los Angeles Chargers are trying to ingratiate themselves to a brand new fanbase after moving during the offseason. Adding a player that has the potential to draw negative headlines is something they are looking to avoid, at the moment.

In summary, the Chargers probably won’t be drafting LB Rueben Foster, even if they will be looking to add a little Inside Linebacker depth this offseason.