Los Angeles Chargers: Mel Kiper’s bad track record will continue in 2018
By Jason Reed
Mel Kiper is the most notable mock draft specialist in sports. However, Kiper’s bad track record with the Los Angeles Chargers will continue with the 2018 NFL Draft.
Mel Kiper reigns supreme ahead of every other mock draft specialist in any sports medium. Every year, Kiper compiles multiple NFL mock drafts, comparing every team’s draft picks. Kiper recently released his first mock draft for the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft. Like in the past, though, Kiper will miss the mark with the Los Angeles Chargers.
Despite being the most notable mock draft specialist in sports, Kiper does not have the most accuracy. Jimmy Kempski of Philly Voice compared every single one of Kiper’s first mock draft choices to the actual choices made since 2010.
There have been 256 first round picks since the 2010 NFL Draft. Out of all 256 first round predictions in Kiper’s eight initial mock drafts, he has gotten 17 correct. Kiper has gotten 6.64% of his picks correct. To be fair, though, that is a lot better than anyone here at LA Sports Hub could do.
None of those correct choices were for the Los Angeles Chargers. Since 2010, Kiper has predicted the Chargers to draft (in order): RB Jonathan Dwyer, DE Cameron Jordan, OT Cordy Glenn, OT Eric Fisher, CB Bradley Roby, De Arik Armstead, OT Laremy Tunsil and OT Cam Robinson.
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The Los Angeles Chargers have actually drafted RB Ryan Mathews, DE Corey Liuget, LB Melvin Ingram, OT D.J. Fluker, CB Jason Verrett, RB Melvin Gordon, DE Joey Bosa and WR Mike Williams.
Kiper’s incorrect pick choice streak will continue in the 2018 NFL Draft. In his first mock draft, Kiper has the Chargers selecting Alabama defensive tackle Da’Ron Payne.
Payne has great athleticism and his play at Alabama made him as NFL ready as any college team could. However, three sacks in three seasons is simply not enough production to merit a first-round pick.
Los Angeles can easily pick up Payne in the second or even third round. Why waste a first round pick on a defensive lineman with an already solid defensive line?
Instead, as we have been saying, the Chargers will use their first-round pick to find Philip Rivers’ successor. This quarterback class is as deep as it has been in years. With most of the Chargers’ talent returning and no overwhelming holes, the Chargers will instead use their first-round pick towards the future.
Mason Rudolph, Josh Allen, Baker Mayfield or even Lamar Jackson are all options. Unfortunately for Mel Kiper, Da’Ron Payne is not.
Next: Chargers' seven-round mock draft
It is a bold take, but I am putting all of my chips on the table that Mel Kiper will indeed be wrong again this year. If the Los Angeles Chargers’ draft history tells us anything, it is that this take is not so bold after all.