San Diego Chargers 2015 NFL Mock Draft featuring T.J. Clemmings
May 8, 2014; New York, NY, USA; Jason Verrett (TCU) poses for a photo with commissioner Roger Goodell after being selected as the number twenty-five overall pick in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft to the San Diego Chargers at Radio City Music Hall. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports
The National Football League Draft is an annual spectacle that, despite being over-hyped and over-analyzed, is one of the most intriguing and exciting events in all of off-season sports.
For many, the draft represents a chance for not only the NFL’s teams to improve, but it also represents the ultimate opportunity for over 300 student-athletes who have dreamed of playing in the NFL since they were young. It is the ultimate opportunity to rebuild, start over and create something great.
In 2014, the San Diego Chargers missed the playoffs for the fourth time in the past five seasons and amassed a record of 9-7. They lost three of their last four games, including the finale to the Kansas City Chiefs in a “win or go home” situation. Not to mention, of their six selections in the 2014 NFL Draft, only first-rounder Jason Verrett was truly successful (19 tackles, four passes defended and one interception before he suffering injuries).
LB Jeremiah Attaochu recorded 10 tackles, two sacks and one pass defended in 2014, while Ryan Carrethers had 12 tackles and one tackle for loss in minimal games played. Sixth and seventh-rounders Marion Grice and Tevin Reese, respectively, both were cut before the season even started. Tackle Chris Watt and Verrett both sustained injuries early on in the season and were thus taken out of the contention for Chargers’ rookie of the year.
The two main needs for San Diego are the offensive and defensive lines. After center Nick Hardwick went down, the Chargers saw a multitude of offensive line combinations. General manager Tom Tolesco has stated that former tackle D.J. Fluker could move to guard in 2015. With that said, the Chargers need to revamp their offensive line. Had this unit performed better, they would have performed much better on offense than they did. In the first round, there will be many tackles selected and the Bolts should get an opportunity to grab one.
Whether or not they are there in the first round, the Chargers are going to need to draft a linebacker, defensive end and/or offensive tackle in the first two rounds. The Chargers need defensive ends and line backers because of the defensive line’s lack of efficiency in 2014. This season they ranked pretty poorly in most defensive categories, especially sacks.
In this 2015 Draft, we know that the Chargers will draft multiple offensive tackles, either a defensive end or outside linebacker, a corner and potentially a late-round running back. It will all depend on free-agent signings and whether the Chargers will decide to keep certain players on payroll or not. For the time being though, I believe the above statement will hold true.
The Chargers have six picks in the 2015 NFL Draft. Here’s one writer’s prediction on who’s going to fall where for San Diego.
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