San Diego Chargers: Looking forward to the 2016 NFL Draft

Even after the 2015 NFL Draft finished, the San Diego Chargers should still be looking forward to the 2016 NFL Draft and some of the prospects that will potentially be at the top of the board.

Due to the Chargers trade to get Melvin Gordon in the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft, they are now without a fourth round pick in the 2016 NFL Draft.

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This presents somewhat of a challenge in terms of obtaining potentially amazing fourth round draft prospects. However, I think that Telesco will find a way to make the most out of his six picks.

In this post I’ll be previewing potential avenues for the Chargers in the 2016 NFL Draft with considerations of the Chargers free agent situation as well as current team needs. In reality, the Chargers draft depends on two main factors: the performances of the Chargers in 2015 and whether or not each individual player desires to renew their contract.

For players such as ILB Donald Butler and OG Orlando Franklin, they are with the Bolts past the 2015 season and, unless they find a way to totally under-perform in 2015, will not need to be replaced any time soon.

With Philip Rivers going to be a free agent in 2016, the Bolts draft strategy is going to hinge on whether or not Rivers stays. On that point, the draft and free agent really does depend on what free agents want to stay or go. Out of the current players on the Chargers payroll, 23.3% of them will be up for grabs come March, 2016. Some of the most important pieces that could potentially go to other teams are DEs Kendall Reyes and Corey Liuget, WRs Malcom Floyd and Austin Pettis, TEs Antonio Gates and Ladarius Green, FS Eric Weddle and, of course, QB Philip Rivers.

In the case that Rivers signs with another team, the Chargers are either going to have to go to the Draft or sign a free agent because neither Kellen Clemens, Brad Sorensen nor Chad Ritteg look like they’ve got what it takes to lead the Bolts in 2016. If the Chargers were to draft any QB in 2016, it would have to be an important pick. In the history of the Bolts drafts, they’ve had 36 quarterbacks selected with 3 selected in the first round and 3 selected in the past 10 years.

The best QBs out there would have to be Trevone Boykin out of TCU, USC’s Cody Kessler, Mississippi State’s Dak Prescott and Penn State’s Christian Hackenberg. Typically San Diego does not draft (let alone start) dual-threat quarterbacks. Therefore, QBs Keenan Reynolds of Navy and Georgia Tech’s Justin Thomas out of the equation.

In terms of pure pocket passers, I believe USC’s Cody Kessler is the probably the best QB for San Diego. Kessler threw for 3,826 yards in a huge season for the Trojans which featured a win in the National University Holiday Bowl.

Adjusted to the beautiful Southern California weather, Kessler is as accurate as they come (69.7% completion, 39-5 TD to interception ratio) and has appropriately demonstrated just how powerful his arm and leadership abilities can be. Prescott and Boykin are not the prototypical Chargers’ QBs, but they have too much talent to pass up if the Bolts come across either.

If they are still on the board by the time the chargers have to pick, I think they should think about picking them up if they have a need at QB.

Christian Hackenberg reminds me of a younger version of former Green Bay’s Matt Flynn (appearance wise), but needs to improve in 2015 before the Chargers can even think about drafting him.

With a plethora of tight ends on the roster (eight, specifically), the Bolts definitely do not need any more tight ends, however, I think with Malcolm Floyd, Austin Pettis and Dontrelle Inman all becoming free agents after this year, the Chargers should start thinking about a potential receiver.

The Chargers are set with running backs with Melvin Gordon and Branden Oliver, but may need to go to the draft to select another offensive lineman.

As it stands, the starting offensive linemen are signed past 2016 (except for Johnnie Troutman, who may or may not earn the starting job). The problem is the back-up offensive linemen (Joe Barksdale, Kenny Wiggins and Chris Hairston) will all be free agents after this season due to their one-year deals.

If any one of the Chargers starting offensive linemen under-performs or suffers a gruesome injury, the Bolts are going to need some long-term backups and there is no counting on those three guys to stay around. I think that if the Chargers want some good depth, the draft is a place which they can possibly obtain it.

December 20, 2014; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Diego Chargers tackle

D.J. Fluker

(76) celebrates after the game against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi

In terms of the defense though, the Chargers will have some re-evaluations to do after the end of the 2015 season.

For instance, DEs Corey Liuget, Kendall Reyes, Damion Square and Ricardo Mathews will all be free agents. If the Chargers are going to be really gutsy, they could go after potential first-round prospect Joey Bosa from Ohio State. Bosa is one of the most athletic defensive linemen in the nation and could really give the Chargers lack-luster pass rush some much needed sack help.

Telesco will look at the overall values of these players, but I honestly only see Liuget or Mathews coming back for 2016. Liuget was a former first-round selection himself and, although he hasn’t showed it, is one of the Chargers best defensive linemen at the moment.

The place where I am most confident in the Chargers is with their line backing corps. Of all of their line backers signed right now, only Cordarro Law‘s contract is due to end in 2016 with Donald Butler, Jeremiah Attaochu, Denzel Perryman and Kyle Emanuel’s contracts all extending past 2017.

Their LB corps is as solid as they come in the NFL and should play outstanding football here in 2015.

As for the secondary, the Chargers have 11 corner backs and five safeties signed to the 90-man roster. Both their starting safeties (FS Eric Weddle and SS Jahleel Addae) will be free agents after the season is over. If both Weddle and Addae go to different ball clubs, the Chargers secondary is going to be in huge trouble.

Weddle has been non-cooperative in team off-season workouts, opting not to participate unless his contract situation was addressed.

According to CBSSports.com writer Joel Corry, “Weddle hasn’t shown up for voluntary team workouts because he feels “highly disrespected” by the lack of discussions about a new contract with the Chargers…Weddle reiterated his displeasure in an interview with a San Diego radio station shortly after the draft where he declared that he wasn’t showing up until his situation is addressed.”

If the Bolts let Weddle get away, they will be without arguably the league’s best safety. Tom Telesco needs to offer Weddle a contract extension as soon as he can. The Chargers cannot afford a porous secondary if they want to compete for an NFL championship.

With former Dolphin Jimmy Wilson signed, the Chargers have a more-than-adequate strong safety to replace Addae in 2016. The problem is that Wilson is signed through the 2017 season and has yet to show what he can do in a San Diego uniform.

In terms of the draft though, if Weddle ends up taking off, Maryland’s Sean Davis could end up being one of the 2016 draft’s best safeties. Time will tell though as potential free safeties will make appearances during the 2015 college football regular season.

Dec 14, 2014; San Diego, CA, USA; Denver Broncos quarterback

Peyton Manning

(18) gestures before the snap during the fourth quarteragainst the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

Thankfully, the Chargers corner situation is a heck of a lot better than the safety situation. Of the Bolts 11 corner backs, only Patrick Robinson is due to become a free agent in 2016. And while I would like Robinson to have a contract longer than one season, ultimately the player development of third-round pick Craig Mager should take priority.

I think though, if Robinson plays well during 2015, the Chargers should offer him a three or four-year deal. He played well for the Saints and could pay dividends in San Diego.

Overall, the Chargers should not worry too much about the 2016 NFL Draft if they decide on the statuses of QB Philip Rivers and FS Eric Weddle. With all of their other pieces either signed or expendable, I think the Bolts need to concentrate on future player development and the 2015 NFL season at hand.

After all, it is their 2015 season performance that will determine their ultimate draft placement in 2016.

Next: How are the Chargers rookies performing?

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