Los Angeles Chargers: Five super early targets for the 2019 NFL Draft
By Jason Reed
5. DeAndre Baker, CB, Georgia
The Los Angeles Chargers already had one of the best secondaries in football heading into the 2018 NFL Draft. Led by Casey Hayward, who signed an extension with the team prior to the draft, the Chargers secondary combined with the freakish pass-rush to make LA one of the hardest teams to pass against.
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Then the team went and added Derwin James in the first round of the draft. Now, not only is the secondary one of the best in football, it has long-term potential to turn the Chargers defense into a multi-year powerhouse.
To keep up with the times and continue to build on that powerhouse, the cornerback position may become a target for the Chargers. Jason Verrett is set to hit free agency, opening a roster spot for new blood. With Verrett’s injury history, it would take an insane 2018 season to convince the Chargers to sign him to a new deal.
If the Chargers truly want to build a defensive powerhouse, cornerback DeAndre Baker would help the cause. Baker was Georgia’s number one corner last season. His speed, athleticism and football IQ make him a lockdown corner in either man-to-man or zone packages.
The only real knock against Baker is his size, as he is only five-foot-ten. However, the Chargers are so deep that they can give him the most favorable matchup, size wise, possible. Then, Baker’s skill and speed will be on full showcase.
Next: The Chargers are now Super Bowl contenders
This selection is less of a necessity than the other picks but is still an interesting one to consider for the Los Angeles Chargers. Instead of trying to put a band-aid over a hole next draft, the team could simply go all-in at what is already great.