Los Angeles Chargers: Tom Telesco’s best and worst decisions (No. 4)

Following six seasons of personnel decisions by Los Angeles Chargers’ general manager Tom Telesco, we continue looking at his best and worst moves.

Recently, there was a look at both the fifth-best and fifth-worst decisions by Los Angeles Chargers’ general manager Tom Telesco to date. At the midpoint of the list, these next moves will highlight the start of some of his most brilliant or questionable moves. This is where the debate can really begin!

Let’s see which two choices, one good and one bad, came in at the fourth spot this week:

Best Decision: Drafting DB Desmond King in the fifth round of the 2017 NFL Draft

Have you ever seen a move be so acclaimed by fans, praised by pundits, look good in the preseason, and then go on to become one of the best players at his position and a steal of the draft? Rookie Desmond King did that.

King had the infamous “too small, too slow” knock on him coming out of college. While he did have the instincts and the toughness, there’s just no way he could keep up with the bigger boys in the NFL, right? Wrong. Check out this clip from PFF’s Sam Monson.

If the team needed a receiver covered, he’d pick off Dak Preskott and return it for six. His intelligence appears to be off the charts. Problems with third down? Send King off the edge to take down the quarterback. But the most impressive attribute he displayed last season was his ability to tackle with authority and technique. The “too small, too slow” guy that fell to the fifth round eliminated opposing backs in the open field with ease.

As currently the No. 13 rated cornerback in the NFL, King is set to take on the league once again in 2018 and prove that one strong rookie season was no fluke. Telesco absolutely scored with this one, showing both his patience and scouting ability.

Worst Decision: Selecting LB Manti Te’o in the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft

What a better way to show the development of the Chargers’ GM than to compare the preceding selection of being patient and taking King vs. the biggest mistake of his first draft. Manti Te’o was a good linebacker in college, but struggled mightily against the stout Alabama offensive line during the National Championship.

It was an omen for things to come, but Telesco saw it differently. He traded the team’s fourth-round selection to select the Notre Dame linebacker in the second round, a move that in hindsight looks even worse. Three picks after the Chargers’ original selection, All-Pro running back Le’Veon Bell was taken. Four picks later was star linebacker Jamie Collins. Oops.

There’s nothing worse for a player that needs developing than injuries, and Te’o quickly built a reputation for failing to stay healthy. In four seasons, the Chargers got an average of 9.5 games and 38.5 tackles per season. Of the 38 games he played, he sacked the quarterback just 1.5 times. He currently has only one more interception than wide receiver Keenan Allen.

The Chargers are fortunate that Telesco learned patience from mistakes like this, And the team has been hurting at the inside linebacker position ever since. That’s why it’s one of the worst decisions of his career.