Los Angeles Chargers: Analyzing Tom Telesco and the NFL Draft

With the 2018 class finalized, let’s take a look at how Los Angeles Chargers general manager Tom Telesco has fared throughout his draft history.

Through multiple head coaches, cities and season records, Los Angeles Chargers general manager Tom Telesco has remained a constant with the team. Now that the Chargers’ 2018 NFL Draft class has been determined, it’s time to look at how he’s fared in the draft across six seasons with the Bolts.

Telesco will be evaluated in five different areas: Draft pick retention, draft moves or trades, draft steals, undrafted free agents, and number of Pro-Bowl players selected, as well as a final “verdict” on where he stands with each category.

Let’s get this started.

Retention of draft picks

From 2013-17, the Chargers drafted 32 players under Telesco. As of right now, 22 remain on the roster, good for a 68.75 percent retention rate. For comparison, teams within the AFC West have a retention rate of 50 percent (Oakland Raiders) and two teams at 52.63 percent (Kansas City Chiefs and Denver Broncos).

One could argue that the higher rate of players kept correlated with the need to bolster a weak team. After having gone a combined 9-23 over the 2015 and 2016 seasons, the depleted roster needed to be filled with any kind of talent.

Over the last three drafts (not including 2018’s class) all but one have made the roster. Only two players from his first two drafts are still with the roster (Keenan Allen and Jason Verrett). Still, leading the AFC West in player retention is a notable positive for the Chargers, and a contributing factor to why they’re playoff poised in 2018.

Verdict: Good

Draft moves and trades

Excluding pre-draft or post-draft trades involving players or picks, Telesco has moved up three times to select a player in the draft:

2013: Moved up in the second round to select linebacker Manti Te’o (gave up 2013 fourth-round pick)
2014: Moved up in the second round to select linebacker Jeremiah Attaochu (gave up 2014 fourth-round pick)
2015: Moved up in the first round to select running back Melvin Gordon (gave up 2015 fourth-round pick and 2016 fifth-round pick)

As it currently stands, the first two are no longer with the team, with Gordon being the only one remaining and having his fifth-year option exercised by the team. Even with Gordon teetering on the brink of becoming a star running back (4.63 yards per carry and 421 total yards in his final three games of 2017), the decision to move up a few spots to select him was a questionable move. Te’o busted with the Chargers, and Attaochu never panned out.

Verdict: Bad

Lucky breaks

Over six seasons, it appears Telesco has had a knack for draft steals:

2013: Keenan Allen, third round
2016: Jatavis Brown, fifth round
2017: Desmond King, fifth round
2018: Derwin James, first round

There are a few more to list, but those four have outplayed their draft position thus far (except in James’ case given that he’s yet to play). Here’s the dilemma: When considering these steals, does Telesco get credit for selecting them, or is he just lucky they fell to him? Does drafting James No. 17 overall show an aptitude for scouting and projecting, or was it such a no-brainer selection that he need not be praised for it?

If both are true (being both good and lucky), then the tiebreaker comes to what he didn’t do: trade up to get those players. As stated before, his first two draft classes have only two remaining players on the roster. In recent years, he’s let the draft come to him, and it’s given the team what appears to be three consecutive years of draft steals. He was lucky to land them, yes, but it’s his patience that’s made him so good.

Verdict: Getting better!

Undrafted free agents

When it comes to undrafted free agents, Telesco has been second-to-none. Notable names are wide receiver Tyrell Williams, safety Jahleel Addae, running back Austin Ekeler, cornerback Trevor Williams and safety Adrian Phillips. Using these post-draft free agents to not only fill roster depth, but place several of them in starting roles with the Chargers has been nothing short of sensational.

The number of capable starting players on the team is comparable to an entire draft class, with most playing at a very low NFL salary. Look for one or two more from the 2018 class to make the roster.

Verdict: Spectacular

Pro-Bowl players drafted (since 2013)

The list is short and simple:

Jason Verrett, CB
Keenan Allen, WR
Melvin Gordon, RB
Joey Bosa, DE

That’s not to say there haven’t been more Pro-Bowlers on the Chargers, but any others were either pre-Telesco draft picks or free agent signings. By comparison, the Broncos haven’t drafted a Pro-Bowl player in five years, the Raiders have had four, and the Chiefs lead the way with five.

For what it’s worth, the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles have three such Pro-Bowl selections come from draft picks since 2013. That makes Telesco slightly better than average, it seems, at finding those high-end elite players that are both locally and nationally recognized for their playing ability.

Verdict: Good enough?

Final Verdict

There have been two versions of Tom Telesco: Whatever he was in his first two years, and the absolute genius crushing it over the last four. Luckily, the Chargers are now headed by the latter version.

Next: NFL 2018: Best uniform for all 32 teams

Despite two awful losing seasons and an 0-4 start in 2017, it appears the general manager has steered the circling ship in the right direction under new head coach Anthony Lynn and coordinators Ken Whisenhunt and Gus Bradley. It’s a combination that looks to stick, and hopes to make the playoffs in 2018. With solid draft retention and a keen eye for undrafted players, Telesco has the Bolts poised for something big.

Final verdict: The right man for the job