Los Angeles Chargers: Grading the First Round Selection of Mike Williams

The Los Angeles Chargers made a shocking selection in the 2017 NFL Draft. Instead of turning to safety, Los Angeles selected the best receiver in the draft.

With the seventh overall selection in the 2017 NFL Draft the Chargers selected the second receiver, yet came home with the most talented. Mike Williams, who was a member of the National Champion Clemson Tigers, was widely regarded as the best receiver in the draft.

Despite selected the best receiver in the draft, which certainly was an area of need for the Chargers, this pick is still surprising.

The most common consensus was that the Los Angeles Chargers would pick up either safety Jamal Adams out of LSU or safety Malik Hooker out of Ohio State. Heck, even if they did not snag those two, defensive end Solomon Thomas was a viable third option for the bolts.

Both Thomas and Adams were taken ahead of the Chargers in the draft. Thomas was selected by the San Francisco 49ers at third overall, after their highway robbery of the Bears. Then, Adams was selected sixth overall by the New York Jets – which wasn’t a surprise.

That led the Chargers to seemingly have a choice between two teammates, Malik Hooker and Marshon Lattimore. Lattimore was not expected to fall to seventh, and with a need at corner having him fall in the Chargers hands definitely brought in an interesting dynamic.

However, the front office in Los Angeles decided to stick with their guns and go with the receiver out of Clemson. Perhaps this was their plan all along, as they expected both Adams and Hooker to go before pick number seven.

The 22 year old put up great numbers at Clemson that helped lead to that coveted title run. Hauling in 98 catches, Williams reeled in 1361 yards alongside 11 touchdowns. His size combined with his surprising speed will make a good target in the NFL. While there are question marks around his fundamentals, Phillip Rivers makes everyone better.

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Williams is certainly a great player and fans should welcome him onto the Chargers with open arms. However, I can’t help but feel like the Chargers missed out here. The team did get a really talented guy and that alone gives it some merit, but with other areas of need, this may have been the wrong choice.

The fact of the matter is that the receiving core was fairly deep in this year’s draft. Los Angeles easily could have waited until the second to grab a guy that will thrive next to Keenan Allen and Travis Benjamin.

However, outside of Hooker and Adams, the draft class of 2017 has a significant drop off in the safety department.

Mike Williams Selection Grade: C-

Next: What to know about the Chargers 2017-18 schedule

Overall, there are still six more rounds for the Chargers to land significant talent. While they may not haul in that coveted safety just yet, there is still immense promise.

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