If the Los Angeles Chargers are smart, and hiring Anthony Lynn as their new head coach certainly puts that up for debate, the meat of their draft will be all about keeping quarterback Philip Rivers healthy, upright and alive.
That doesn’t mean it’s not time to select a quarterback to possibly pick up where Rivers will leave off when he retires. It just doesn’t have to be an early round priority.
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Round 1, Pick 7: Jamal Adams, Safety, LSU
2016: 76 tackles, 7.5 for a loss, one sack, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, one interception
The Chargers smartly re-signed safety Jahleel Addae this offseason, but that doesn’t mean they’ll pass on Adams if he falls right to them at No. 7. Adams will be an immediate upgrade of Dwight Lowery, who the Chargers played at free safety last season. Adams, Addae and Casey Hayward can be a solid foundation for a young and talented defensive backfield in a pass-happy AFC.
Round 2, Pick 38: Cam Robinson, OT, Alabama
Los Angeles cut not one, but two starting offensive linemen to open the offseason, shedding King Dunlap and D.J. Fluker. The only free agent they’ve added is Kenny Wiggins who is probably seen as a back-up and spot starter. Robinson has seen his draft stock drop all season. He looked like an early first round pick back before the leaves changed and he probably still should be one. As it is, the Chargers can nab their new starting left tackle with a second round pick.
Round 3, Pick 71: Pat Elflein, Center, Ohio State
With the idea of keeping Rivers on the field, the Chargers need to focus on the offensive line all through this draft. Elflein is a great value pick here in the third round and will be starting for Los Angeles before the year is up.
Round 4, Pick 113: Brad Kaaya, QB, Miami
2016: 62 completion percentage, 3,532 yards, 27 touchdowns, seven interceptions, one rushing touchdown
Kaaya was the No. 3 quarterback on my pre-draft rankings, so, needless to say, I feel like grabbing him here in the fourth round is a steal. Kaaya can make all the NFL throws and has played in a speed-filled, NFL style offense in Miami for the last three seasons. He’s probably not ready to step in and start as a rookie, but that’s the beauty of developing him while Rivers is playing out his final NFL contract. And if it doesn’t work out, all he cost you was a fourth round pick.
Round 5, Pick 151: Jordan Morgan, OG, Kurtztown
Morgan is a Division I guard that somehow slipped through the cracks and ended up at NCAA Division II Kurtstown. As the beat writer for a D-II team, the Carson-Newman Eagles, I see it all the time. He’s 6-3 and 309 pounds and did what he was supposed to facing DII opposition, completely dominated the field. He’ll come in raw, but in a year he could be the Chargers’ starting left guard.
Round 6, Pick 190: Hunter Dimick, DE, Utah
2016: 53 tackles, 19.5 for a loss, 13.5 sacks, eight passes defended, two fumble recoveries
The Chargers are set at one starting defensive end in their 3-4 with last year’s first round pick Joey Bosa, but the two other defensive linemen they have penciled in as starters, Damion Square and Corey Luiget produced all of 2.5 sacks last season and none of those were from Luiget. Dimick can be an immediate contributor as a third down rusher.
Round 7, Pick 225: Robert Davis, WR, Georgia State
2016: 67 catches, 968 yards, five touchdowns
The Chargers got a breakout season from former undrafted free agent Tyrell Williams last season with him catching 69 passes for 1,059 yards so receiver With a healthy Keenan Allen and Travis Benjamin, Los Angeles only needs to add some solid role players and guys to develop. Davis, at 6-3 and 220, is a huge target and will give Rivers one more solid red zone and third down target. Davis never averaged less than 14.4 yards per catch in all four seasons at Georgia State.
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