Los Angeles Chargers mock draft: A former Heisman in round two
By Jason Reed
One of the biggest reasons the Los Angeles Chargers struggled against the run last season was the inconsistency at linebacker. With Manti Teo signing to the New Orleans Saints, the Chargers were left a bit unprepared when it came to middle linebacker.
Denzel Perryman played a huge role in the Chargers’ ability to turn the defense around and was a played a huge impact on the defense. However, the problem was that Perryman only appeared in seven games last season. The Chargers were 5-2 with Perryman. Without, they were 4-6.
Perryman is under contract for one more season and will prove to have a huge impact on the defense yet again next season. However, the Chargers still must look to add talent at middle linebacker to soften any Perryman loss.
Sam excels at closing out and making tackles and could become a key player early on in stopping the run.
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With their seventh and last selection in our 2018 NFL Mock Draft, the Chargers added running back depth in Phillip Lindsay out of Colorado. Running back is not a necessity for the Chargers with Melvin Gordon and Austin Ekeler providing a nice 1-2 combo.
However, the Chargers could still use that third and last back that can come in on key downs and mix up their offensive look. Some of the best teams in the NFL utilize this three back method, such as the New England Patriots and Philadelphia Eagles. LA can look to do that with a low-risk seventh round pick.
Lindsay is undersized at five-foot-eight but his elite agility, quickness and speed allow teams to get creative with him on the field. Lindsay is the perfect wild card, the perfect x-factor to run end arounds, running back screens and potentially play a role in special teams.
Next: How the Chargers can make Super Bowl LIII
While it may be some big shoes to fill, Lindsay could be used in a similar fashion as Darren Sproles. Sproles, of course, got his start in San Diego with the Chargers before becoming a household name. In the seventh round, Phillip Lindsay has that same potential.