San Diego Chargers: DeForest Buckner best fit?

Although an offensive tackle, such as Ronnie Stanley or even Laremy Tunsil, cannot be ruled out as the San Diego Chargers choice with the third overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, it’s safe to say that it’s more likely for them to snag an impact defensive player like Jalen Ramsey, DeForest Buckner, or Joey Bosa.

Personally, I am a big fan of the idea of drafting Ramsey, who can impact the game in so many different ways as Eric Weddle‘s replacement at free safety, since the San Diego Chargers secondary could be a mess in 2016 if a couple of aggressive upgrades aren’t brought in. However, Bosa is seen by many as the best prospect in the class, while DeForest Buckner has gained some big fans of his own.

They say that it all starts up front in the NFL, and if the Chargers subscribe to this belief, then they would be wise to scoop up a 3-4 defensive end. I am a huge fan of outside linebacker Melvin Ingram, and Jeremiah Attaochu was a favorite of mine in the 2014 draft class. Both players stood out on an otherwise abysmal Chargers defense in 2015, but the problem is that they received absolutely nothing from their front three.

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Corey Liuget seemed to take a sizeable step backwards after the Chargers optimistically signed him to a mega-deal, making the statement that they see him as a Cameron Heyward or Cameron Jordan-type player. While Heyward and Jordan shined (again) in the first years of their contracts, Liuget was a non-factor.

But to be fair to Liuget, he didn’t get much help from his buddies on the Chargers defensive line, and it’s safe to say that Kendall Reyes (mercifully an impending free agent) and Sean Lissenmore are not starting-caliber players in this league.

Though the Chargers figure to have a gaping hole at safety with Weddle’s departure and could add another at corner if they are unable to re-sign 2015 revelation Patrick Robinson, they just might have an even bigger hole across from Liuget. Although I am one of the few people who think Bosa would absolutely excel as a 3-4 DE, I understand that not everyone else agrees with me. I also understand that he might not be there at No. 3 with the Tennessee Titans and Cleveland Browns potentially mulling him over, and this makes Buckner an even more compelling option.

If we’re talking about athletic tools, productivity, upside, and versatility, then Buckner checks off all the boxes. He needs some more developing as a pass rusher, but we’re talking about a long, hyper-athletic beast with extremely underrated strength who could be a position-defining type of 3-4 defensive end.

Buckner can do just about everything asked of him, and his combination of quick disruptiveness and steady work in the running game could make him the perfect answer to the Chargers questions up front. Perhaps he could even help Liuget play up to his expensive potential, and that could give the Chargers a surprisingly impressive front seven with Ingram, Attaochu, and standout rookie inside linebacker Denzel Perryman lurking.

Simply put, Buckner is an athletic freak, and his comparison to Calais Campbell from Pro Football Focus seems incredibly apt. PFF is higher on Buckner than anyone, and given how good they’ve been at evaluating college talent, we need to take note when they compare a top-ten prospect to one of the game’s elite 3-4 defensive ends.

Nobody is prematurely electing Buckner to the Pro Bowl or anything, but the buzz is real. More importantly, the fit for the Chargers seems too good to pass up on, and only adding to the hype is this tweet from FOX Sports’s Pete Schrager.

1. Joey Bosa isn't clear and away the first defensive end on teams' boards. The growing interest and hype for DeForest Buckner is real.
— Peter Schrager (@PSchrags) February 19, 2016

The NFL does not mess around with long, explosive athletes on the defensive line, and Buckner is a beast who can control the line of scrimmage and succeed in a two-gap system.

I’m the type of guy who thinks Ramsey is the best prospect on the board for San Diego, but I recognize the fact that a player like Buckner on the defensive line could make more of an impact on a Chargers defense that is bereft of talent. This is especially true when it comes to their ability to generate push up front in the running game or explosion in the pass rush. If they don’t see Bosa, who is one of the best run defenders I’ve studied, as a fit for what they want to do, then the only thing that should scare them about Buckner is his pass rushing production in Year 1.

Oct 4, 2015; San Diego, CA, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Josh McCown (13) pressured in the pocket by the San Diego Chargers defense during the third quarter at Qualcomm Stadium. The Chargers went on to a 30-27 win. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports /

Teams don’t draft prospects for rookie seasons, of course, and I wonder if the Chargers look at Buckner as a long-term difference-maker who can at least immediately solve their run defense woes while simultaneously bringing the type of dynamic athleticism offenses must respect. With all the talk about Buckner’s length and explosion, his other assets, such as strength and gap discipline, shouldn’t go ignored, since these are the traits that make him a blue-chip prospect instead of a buzz-worthy one like former teammate and San Francisco 49ers first-round pick Arik Armstead.

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It’s hard for the Chargers to go wrong with Buckner, Bosa, or Ramsey at No. 3, but Buckner’s ability to line up in different spots, makes plays in pursuit, and block passing lanes could prove to be sweeteners that convince the Chargers to nab him.

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