Category Archives: Chargers
Chargers Still Looking for Left Tackles
By James Fedewa
How many starting left tackles are there in the NFL? In reality there are only 32, if each team in the NFL has one. But which NFL team has multiple starting left tackles? Currently and technically, the Chargers have two: King Dunlap & Mike Harris. Both have starting experience, both have new coaches from seasons prior, both want the job and both have very minimal contracts. Dunlap and Harris can both grow into good players, or they stay average, or both can be terrible. Either way, San Diego’s offensive line looks better than 2012, but more additions and auditions are welcome.
GM Tom Telesco can do several things to fill San Diego’s left tackle void, including nothing (which could happen):
Free Agency: Left tackle Max Starks and Eric Winston are still available. Both can play the “sit and wait” game until another team faces a major injury to current starter. We’ll call it the Melvin Ingram method, which can be very formidable for Starks and Winston, but it could also mean waiting too long and never getting a job again in the NFL. Waiting for work and looking for work are two different things.
If San Diego wants to low-ball Starks, wouldn’t Starks prefer to take the lesser contract to go to a championship caliber team? San Diego’s (Ken Whisenhunt) and Arizona (Bruce Arians) coaching staffs have ties to Starks; however, I would not expect Starks to go to west, as he seems to slip back to Pittsburg every year.
Eric Winston is a little different scenario, which can prove lucrative to his future. Winston is looking for a multi-year deal worth $3 to $4 million per season, which is a lot for a zone-blocking right tackle. Coming out of college, Winston was a left tackle prospect that excelled in Houston playing right tackle. If San Diego can lure Eric Winston to come to San Diego, on a 1 year contract for $3 million, and if he plays well, he can shed the “zone blocking right tackle” label, and could make a lot more money as a left tackle in free agency in 2014. A Win – Win situation for both parties (but Winston will turn 30 next season too).
San Diego can also make a trade for a left tackle, which will be the most difficult scenario. Rams Rodger Saffold and Jaguars Eugene Monroe might be trade worthy (within Chargers fan circles) but in reality, both Saffold and Monroe’s contracts are salary cap friendly in 2013 and no team would trade a good cheap left tackle, even if they are backups. Tackle Derrick Sherrod has been underperforming in Green Bay, and has slid to backup right tackle on the Packers depth chart. He could be trade bait. The only trade ammunition San Diego has is really only future draft picks.
Roster Cuts: The Chargers can also play the “sit and wait” game and see who becomes available from salary cap casualties. Every year, NFL teams dump payroll or decide to get younger at all positions. Rumors of Bears tackle Gabe Carimi and Giants tackle David Diehl could be cut and could be new options in San Diego. Carimi has not attending team workouts, is coming off a leg injury and is with a new coaching staff. He has not excelled in Chicago, nor has earned a lot of playing time since being drafted in the first round. David Diehl has turned into a backup player for the Giants. Injury risks and age can send him to a new place in 2013.
Examining every NFL Teams offensive tackle depth is all preferential and subjective. Every player and tackle combination can have plus or minus paper grades in the offseason, but currently, Chargers King Dunlap with DJ Flucker at both tackle spots is still better than Mike Harris and Jeromey Clary last season.
NFL Draft: 3 Left Tackles / 7 Needy Teams
By James Fedewa
The NFL Draft is next week and the Kansas City Chiefs are on the clock. There are three top tier left tackles in 2013 NFL draft and all should be able to start day one: Luke Joeckel (Texas A&M), Eric Fisher (Central Michigan) and Lane Johnson (Oklahoma). Fans and analysts anticipate the Chiefs selecting left tackle Luke Joeckel (Texas A&M), even though they currently have a very good left tackle Brandon Albert. There are seven teams that could draft a left tackle in the first round (Chiefs, Jaguars, Eagles, Lions, Cardinals, Chargers and Dolphins). Seven teams, three elite left tackle prospects…
So who’s going where?
Based on 1st round projections and objective estimations, here are some (subjective) percentages of positional team-needs for those 7 left tackle needy teams:
- Chiefs (#1 pick): Joeckel is the consensus prediction. (60% chance of drafting a LT / 25% Defensive Line / 15% Outside Linebacker)
- Jaguars (#2 pick): Currently have a quality left tackle in Eugene Monroe. He’ll be a free agent next season (and a franchise tag could be set for him in 2014, if necessary). Not projected to draft a left tackle, but could happen. (20% chance of drafting a LT / 50% pass rusher / 30% quarterback)
- Eagles (#4 pick): Currently have a very good left tackle (Jason Peters), but he’s returning from a major Achilles injury. At 31 years old, Peters is expected back healthy, but Philadelphia could draft a left tackle to get younger (or BPA). The Eagles are changing defensive schemes to a 3-4 base and need to draft a defensive players early to fit their new system (20% chance of drafting a LT / 20% quarterback / 20% defensive line / 20% pass rusher / 20% cornerback)
- Lions (#5 pick): Lost both of their tackles from retirement and free agency. Detroit did draft a first round tackle in the 2012 draft (Riley Rieff), but is he a right or left tackle? The Lions could draft another left tackle early, but have several holes to fill. They could draft a right tackle later in the draft for less. (30% chance of drafting a LT / need a 30% pass rusher / 40% cornerback)
- Cardinals (#7 pick): Currently have a left tackle in Levi Brown, who was lost early in 2012 with a season ending injury. Brown is an average left tackle but an average left tackle is still a good left tackle. They could upgrade at left tackle and shift Brown to right tackle, but current 2nd year starter Bobby Massie played very well and improved down the stretch. (30% chance of drafting a LT / 30% pass rusher / 20% guard / 20% Quarterback)
- Chargers (#11 pick): San Diego cut left tackle Jared Gaither after one terrible season, signed backup left tackle King Dunlap and there is an obvious hole and need (50% chance of drafting a left tackle / 20% Guard / 15% defensive tackle / 15% pass rusher)
- Dolphins (#12): Lost left tackle Jake Long to free agency, but drafted projected replacement Jonathan Martin in 2012. Could trade up to get a left tackle in the draft, but have several other needs. In all likely hood, the top three left tackles should be unavailable at #12(15% chance of drafting a left tackle from trading up / 40% cornerback / 30% pass rusher / 15% right tackle)
For the above 7 teams (baring any other trade, salary cap cuts or trades), based on the estimated team-need (TN) percentages and best player available (BPA), projections may look like:
- Chiefs (BPA): Luke Joeckel, LT Texas A&M
- Jaguars (BPA): Sharrif Floyd, DT, Florida
- Eagles (TN): Geno Smith, QB, West Virginia
- Lions (TN): Dee Milliner, CB, Alabama
- Cardinals (TN): Ezekiel Ansah, DE, BYU
- Chargers (BPA): Eric Fisher, LT, Central Michigan
- Dolphins (BPA): Lane Johnson, LT, Oklahoma
NFL Mock Draft 4.0, by James Fedewa
The San Diego Chargers have many options they can go with for next months NFL Draft. As much as I’d really like wide reciever Cordarrelle Patterson as a Charger, San Diego may have to pass on his amazing running skills for a more important need in the first round.
Patterson can do most of his route running on short/quick routes, whereas Rivers doesn’t have to hold the ball to long and quick pass to him, helping the offensive line with quick blocking assignments. Plus Patterson can take direct snaps, run reverses, option-pass and special teams (and amazing kick/punt returner). He’s a type of wide receiver that MUST demand double coverage from opponents, not like any receiver on the current roster. Patterson is a top 7 to 15 talent in this upcoming draft and I have him MOCKED (projected) going to Buffalo (as the Bills can get a good QB prospect in the 2nd or 3rd round, like QB Ryan Nassib or QB Mike Glennon). Cordarrelle Patterson is a work in progress and needs some heavy coaching, but the way he can run is really fun to watch.
However, I think Eric Fisher could actually be available at #11 overall for San Diego to take. Here’s my latest MOCK DRAFT- (PLEASE RATE and share your thoughts):
2013 *NFL*Mock Draft* Scenario 4 (3/19/13)
| 2013 NFL Mock Draft | ||||
| No. | Team | Player | ||
| 1 | Kansas City Chiefs |
=== |
Luke Joeckel, OT, Texas A&M | |
| 2 | Jacksonville Jaguars |
=== |
Sharrif Floyd, DT, Florida | |
| 3 | Oakland Raiders |
=== |
Dion Jordan, DE, Oregon | |
| 4 | Philadelphia Eagles |
=== |
Dee Milliner, CB, Alabama | |
| 5 | Detroit Lions |
=== |
Jarvis Jones, DE/OLB, Georgia | |
| 6 | Cleveland Browns |
=== |
Barkevious Mingo, OLB, LSU | |
| 7 | Arizona Cardinals |
=== |
Geno Smith, QB, West Virginia | |
| 8 | Buffalo Bills |
=== |
Cordarrelle Patterson, WR, Tennessee | |
| 9 | New York Jets |
=== |
Ezekiel Ansah, DE, BYU | |
| 10 | Tennessee Titans |
=== |
Sheldon Richardson, DT, Missouri | |
| 11 | San Diego Chargers |
=== |
Eric Fisher, OT, Central Michigan | |
| 12 | Miami Dolphins |
=== |
Xavier Rhodes, CB, Florida Sate | |
| 13 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
=== |
Bjoern Werner, DE, Florida State | |
| 14 | Carolina Panthers |
=== |
Chance Warmack, OG, Alabama | |
| 15 | New Orleans Saints |
=== |
Lane Johnson, OT, Oklahoma | |
| 16 | St. Louis Rams |
=== |
Damontre Moore, DE/OLB, Texas A&M | |
| 17 | Pittsburgh Steelers |
=== |
Desmond Trufant, CB, Washington | |
| 18 | Dallas Cowboys |
=== |
Kenny Vaccaro, S, Texas | |
| 19 | New York Giants |
=== |
Alec Ogletree, LB, Georgia | |
| 20 | Chicago Bears |
=== |
Johnathan Cooper, OG, North Carolina | |
| 21 | Cincinnati Bengals |
=== |
Johnthan Banks, CB, Mississippi State | |
| 22 | St. Louis Rams (from Redskins) |
=== |
Keenan Allen, WR, CAL | |
| 23 | Minnesota Vikings |
=== |
Tavon Austin, WR, West Virginia | |
| 24 | Indianapolis Colts |
=== |
Star Lotulelei, NT, Utah | |
| 25 | Minnesota Vikings (from Seahawks) |
=== |
Datone Jones, DE, UCLA | |
| 26 | Green Bay Packers |
=== |
Matt Elam, SS, Florida | |
| 27 | Houston Texans |
=== |
DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Clemson | |
| 28 | Denver Broncos |
=== |
Sylvester Williams, DT, North Carolina | |
| 29 | New England Patriots |
=== |
D.J. Fluker, OT, Alabama | |
| 30 | Atlanta Falcons |
=== |
Tyler Eifert, TE, Notre Dame | |
| 31 | San Francisco 49ers |
=== |
Jesse Williams, DT, Alabama | |
| 32 | Baltimore Ravens |
=== |
Kevin Minter, ILB, LSU | |
| 2nd Round |
|
|||
| Pick (overall) | Team |
|
||
| 1 (33) | Jaguars |
=== |
Sam Montgomery, OLB/DE, LSU | |
| 2 (34) | San Francisco 49ers (from Chiefs) |
=== |
Margus Hunt, DE, SMU | |
| 3 (35) | Eagles |
=== |
Kyle Long, OT, Oregon | |
| 4 (36) | Lions |
=== |
Jamar Taylor, CB, Boise State | |
| 5 (37) | Bengals (from Raiders) |
=== |
Eddie Lacy, RB, Alabama | |
| 6 (38) | Cardinals |
=== |
Menelik Watson, OT, Florida State | |
| 7 | Browns |
=== |
(exercised pick in Supplemental Draft) | |
| 8 (39) | Jets |
=== |
Manti Te’o, ILB, Notre Dame | |
| 9 (40) | Titans |
=== |
Jonathan Cyprien, S, Florida International | |
| 10 (41) | Bills |
=== |
EJ Manual, QB Florida State | |
| 11 (42) | Dolphins |
=== |
Zach Ertz, TE, Stanford | |
| 12 (43) | Buccaneers |
=== |
Cornellius Carradine, DE/OLB, Florida State | |
| 13 (44) | Panthers |
=== |
Logan Ryan, CB, Rutgers | |
| 14 | Saints |
=== |
(forfeited) | |
| 15 (45) | Chargers |
=== |
Alex Okafor, 34OLB/DE, Texas | |
| 16 (46) | Rams |
=== |
Giovani Bernard, RB, North Carolina | |
| 17 (47) | Cowboys |
=== |
Arthur Brown, LB, Kansas State | |
| 18 (48) | Steelers |
=== |
Justin Hunter, WR, Tenn | |
| 19 (49) | Giants |
=== |
Blidi Wreh-Wilson, CB, Connecticut | |
| 20 (50) | Bears |
=== |
Robert Woods, WR, USC | |
| 21 (51) | Redskins |
=== |
Kawann Short, DT, Purdue | |
| 22 (52) | Vikings |
=== |
Jordan Poyer, CB, Oregon State | |
| 23 (53) | Bengals |
=== |
Eric Reid, FS, LSU | |
| 24 (54) | Dolphins (from Colts) |
=== |
Corey Lemonier, DE/OLB, Auburn | |
| 25 (55) | Packers |
=== |
Travis Frederick, C, Wisconsin | |
| 26 (56) | Seahawks |
=== |
Johnathan Hankins, DT, Ohio State | |
| 27 (57) | Texans |
=== |
Matt Barkley, QB, USC | |
| 28 (58) | Broncos |
=== |
Darius Slay, CB, Mississippi State | |
| 29 (59) | Patriots |
=== |
Khaseem Greene, OLB, Rutgers | |
| 30 (60) | Falcons |
=== |
John Jenkins, DT, Georgia | |
| 31 (61) | 49ers |
=== |
David Amerson, CB, North Carolina State | |
| 32 (62) | Ravens |
=== |
Shamarko Thomas, SS, Syracuse |
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