The NFL Draft: On The Clock - San Diego Chargers
San Diego (for now) Chargers
Pick: #3
Top Needs: DL (3-4), FS, C, OT
Top Targets: Jalen Ramsey, Joey Bosa, DeForest Buckner, Ronnie Stanley
Off The Board:
1. Laremy Tunsil, OT, Ole Miss (TENNESSEE TITANS)
2. Jared Goff, QB, Cal (CLEVELAND BROWNS)
The Chargers are in a weird place right now, and not just because it's not at all clear what city they'll be in shortly. But, they still have the fundamentals of a good offense with Philip Rivers, Keenan Allen, Antonio Gates (who I assume will return for a final year) and the running game of Danny Woodhead and Melvin Gordon, who simply has to be better than his rookie year. (Right?)
Their OL, however, is a train wreck. The last two years have fallen apart not entirely because of their offensive line injuries but in great part to that. Specifically, they are porous up the middle of their line, at Center (where simply nobody stays healthy), but that's not something they'll fix at #3 overall. Tackle is also a big need, and Ronnie Stanley is therefore interesting here as well - but is he the best prospect/talent available? I think not.
On defense, there are several answers to key needs. The team needs to be able to put pressure on the QB and stop the run, in the form of a DT for their 3-4 scheme. That position is LOADED in this draft, and DeForest Buckner is the best prospect who fits that scheme perfectly. Joey Bosa is of course also there and can transition either there or to a OLB edge rusher, or conceivably both in a rotation. In the secondary, the team has Brandon Flowers at CB, but he's 30 already (and desperately needs to get back to recording songs with The Killers). Eric Weddle, at safety, is surely done with the team. There is a logical fit for a guy many draft experts say is at worst the second best player in the draft, Jalen Ramsey. Ramsey can play any spot on in the defensive backfield, and played against top competition at Florida State. He's a legit possibility here.
To me, it comes down to Buckner or Ramsey. I keep seeing Buckner being plugged in here, but ... I just don't see him being a gamechanger in the way I think Ramsey can be.
THE PICK: Jalen Ramsey, DB, Florida State
With the depth at DE, I think the Chargers can afford to wait until the 2nd round to address that and take a truly elite player in Ramsey. With him, Flowers and Jason Verrett, they have a real chance to turn their secondary into a strength (especially if Ramsey can become a shutdown corner as Mike Mayock suggests).
Welcome to the Chargers, Jalen - enjoy that San Diego climate...at least for now.