Los Angeles Chargers: It is hard to pinpoint a 2019 first-round target
By Jason Reed
The Los Angeles Chargers had a great first-round pick in the 2018 NFL Draft when Derwin James fell in the team’s lap and need another prospect to fall in their lap in 2019.
Derwin James was expected to be a surefire top-10 pick in the 2018 NFL Draft and was a top six or seven prospect in the entire draft to most experts. He was not supposed to fall all the way to the Los Angeles Chargers with the 17th overall selection.
The picks continued to come in and James remained on the board. While he was not connected to the Chargers at all heading into the draft, the team had no choice but to select the player that had just fallen in their laps.
James responded with one of the best rookie seasons from a safety ever; becoming a Pro Bowler and All-Pro in his first year as a professional.
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As we prepare for the 2019 NFL Draft and examine the Los Angeles Chargers’ need this offseason, it is hard to find a first-round route for this team, who are probably hoping that another prospect falls in their lap to make the decision easier.
The Chargers have one of the most complete rosters in football and finding a player that can have a legitimate impact with the 28th overall selection is no easy task.
Drafting another safety to create a young duo alongside James would have been interesting but that does not appear to be a route after the team re-signed Adrian Phillips.
Linebacker was definitely a need for the team entering the offseason, however, the front office has since re-signed Denzel Perryman and brought in veteran backer Thomas Davis.
Plus, the interior linebacker group is not great in this year’s draft and unless someone falls, it is hard to justify using the 28th overall pick on an inside linebacker.
The best-case is on either side of the line. Despite re-signing Brandon Mebane, the Chargers are thin at defensive tackle and could benefit from drafting a run-stuffing tackle.
On the offensive side of things, the team can certainly look to add youth and bolster a line that was terrible in protecting Philip Rivers. However, that was a line that was banged up that still has not seen 2017 second-round pick Forrest Lamp in a fair amount of action.
After the failures of the current young offensive linemen the team might be more inclined to go with a veteran option rather than a rookie.
Whichever way you spin it, finding a legitimate target for the Los Angeles Chargers in the first round is much harder than it has been the last several years.
Next. Taylor signing is telling of Rivers' future. dark
However, this is a team that has drafted three Pro Bowlers and a very promising wide receiver in the last four years. I would expect the front office to make the right choice, whatever it is.