National Fanatic

4/1/13

Aprils Fools turned out to be no fooling around today, with three new quarterbacks going to three new NFL teams. Now that Buffalo signed Kevin Kolb, Arizona about ready to trade for Carson Palmer, and Oakland trading for Matt Flynn, some quarterback hungry teams aren’t that hungry any longer. These three transactions can very much alter this month’s NFL Draft, especially for the San Diego Chargers and their current draft needs.

San Diego cut ties with left tackle Jared Gaither last week opening a glaring hole at left tackle (which is their most important draft need). The top three offensive tackles (Luke Joeckel, Eric Fisher & Lane Johnson) could be taken before San Diego picks at number eleven. San Diego can elect drafting other needs in the first round (like outside linebacker, nose tackle, guard or even receiver ) but if Philadelphia, Arizona or Buffalo elect to pass on top rated quarterback Geno Smith, San Diego might be forced to draft a new quarterback.

Geno Smith has been projected the #1 overall draft pick, as well as the highest rated quarterback in the 2013 draft. Smith was first projected to go #1 to Kansas City, but the Chiefs traded for new starter Alex Smith. The Cardinals, Raiders and Bills all have had links to quarterback Geno Smith within the top ten picks, but all have NEW quarterbacks as of TODAY. Those same teams that all pick before San Diego could all draft the big three left tackles, and are now more likely to be gone by San Diego’s #11 pick.

New Chargers GM Tom Telesco has already said that San Diego will draft the best player available, regardless of position. If Geno Smith is available at #11, Telesco may have to draft him. But that would seem alright, right? New GM’s on new teams want to draft their guys. Plus San Diego has a new head coach, and head coaches are the same way as GM’s, they all want their choice in players. Phillip Rivers was old GM AJ Smith’s guy. The last two years, Rivers has had too many turnovers and very inconsistent play, but most of that blame has been swept towards the porous offensive line. Therefore Rivers is still tradable and may be at his final peak as tradable commodity.

Rivers could get traded immediately (probably demand two 1^st round draft picks). One team that has been willing to trade high draft picks for veteran players (and has the salary cap room to take on Rivers contract) is Tampa Bay (not to mention all the Bucs & Darrelle Revis trade rumors). Bucs head coach, Greg Schiano, has no “ties” with their current quarterback, as Josh Freeman was he drafted by the previous coaching staff. No loyalty there. And who has better chemistry with Bucs receiver Vincent Jackson than Phillip Rivers? (other than Antonio Gates)

Or Geno Smith could be tutored by Rivers for a season (and watch & learn from the bench). This may be additional motivation for Rivers to perform better (kind of like what happened with Drew Brees with Rivers on the bench). But without a new 1^st round left tackle, Rivers will probably perform badly as he need the protection he can get.

Or Rivers could be traded midseason, kind of like the Bengals and Carson Palmer. WHO KNOWS…

Of course, I’m only guessing if left tackles Joeckel, Fisher or L.Johnson are NOT available when San Diego picks the draft. And usually good quarterbacks like (Geno Smith and Matt Barkley) get drafted quickly. Quarterbacks always go ahead from their projections as this is a quarterback driven league.

…but what if Geno Smith is available for the NEW San Diego Chargers to draft?

I was a little shocked when I saw that Gaither was released yesterday. He really let us all down, as he only participated in 1 day of training camp and a hand full of games. I’ll admit, I was rooting for him in 2011 and I was in FULL SUPPORT of GM AJ Smith when San Diego signed him to his current anchor (contract) that was just terminated. I’ll tell you one thing though, I hope SD doesn’t sign or draft a guy with Stenosis (Marcus McNeil), or important players at key positions that came from the supplemental draft (Jared Gaither – Nose tackle is not a key position, al la Jamal Williams, suplimental draft). McNeil and Gaither are both YOUNG guys too, but both have put San Diego in a pinch with sudden retirements and gimmick back injuries.

So it really looks like the Chargers are in desperate need of a left tackle again, and SD will hunt for that guy in this next draft.

NFL Drafts are so mixed, unpredictable and odd… NO one can guess them correctly, but that’s why I love NFL MOCK DRAFTS. I have been MOCKING DRAFTS since 2005, so San Diego Mock Drafts are more than a hobby for me.

Yes, I have Eric Fisher, LT, Central Michigan in the 1^st round going to San Diego. Fisher would be a great addition (as would Lane Johnson), as he’s much needed on this San Diego o-line. But Manti Ta’o, ILB, Notre Dame in the 2^nd round… EEEKKKK!!!! I see him falling to San Diego but the value he would bring with the 45^th pick is too good to pass up. Manti Te’o is is projected at a 1^st round talent (with some 2^nd round catfishing issues). The Chargers defense is full of good young athletes and playmakers, and I think if Te’o is available at #45, GM Tom Telesco can’t pass on him and he can motive his teammates as well. He could split time with Jonas Mouton at ILB, playing next to Donald Butler.

I’d prefer a pass rusher in the 2^nd round (like OLB/DE’s Sam Montgomery or Tank Carradine) or a nose tackle like Kawann Short, but those guys will probably be gone at the 45^th pick. If one of those three are there, then pass on Ta’o.

3/12/13 – by James Fedewa

After the first day of the NFL New Year, several veteran players have been cut/released from their former (respectable) team. There has been some quality players release today. Veterans that have already won big contracts, that might not exactly be in their prime, like:

Inside linebacker, Kevin Burnett

Burnett had a great season in San Diego in 2008 and 2009. He could/should be welcomed back with open arms, even at a discount, but he was a product of AJ Smith, Norv Turner and Ron Rivera, and those fellas are gone. Former position coach John Pagano is still there. Melvin Ingram, Jarrett Johnson, Donald Butler, Larry English and Jonas Mouton don’t exactly intimidate or strike FEAR in anyone’s depths, or even sound good on linebacker paper. Suppose Manti Te’o or Jarvis Jones or James Harrison might sound better (on paper)…

Cornerback, Nnamdi Asomugha / Antoine Winfield / Chris Gamble

Two years ago, Nnamdi was the premier free agent pickup. San Diego fans drooled about acquiring him in 2010, but couldn’t afford him. His best seasons were in the AFC West and San Diego needs a savvy veteran starter. You’d think a 2 year $8MM contract might satisfy his high demands, but he’ll probably get triple that amount from some other CB needy bank.

Antoine Winfield might be the cheap vet San Diego needs. Winfield is past his prime at 36, but can help incumbent starters Shareece Wright and Marcus Gilchrist on the basics and fundamentals of being well rounded CB. Winfield is a tackling purest, and one of the better nickel cornerbacks on the market. Winfield is similar in size as Wright and Gilchrist, about 5′ – 9″-ish/ 180 to 190 lbs. and San Diego could really use some length in the secondary. A taller & younger cornerback should be targeted early in the draft.

Chris Gamble is a smart, big, physical veteran starter. At 30 years old, he still has several serviceable years, but will probably get more money than what San Diego can afford (but less than Asomugha). Gamble has threatened retirement though.

Injuries have plagued the Chargers for the last three years, and depth is most important at this point of the NEW San Diego Chargers.

Day ONE Additions:

San Diego picked up a backup mammoth offensive lineman, swing tackle King Dunlap (for much needed depth). They also signed a backup project running back that was very popular at the University of Texas (before he was injured in 2011) named “Fozzy.” Chargers fans should not have expected new GM Tom Telesco to sign any BIG name free agents on day one, and should have expected guard Luis Vazquez to leave for a bigger payday. Telesco will focus on getting San Diego YOUNGER and build through the draft, but should expect value and depth in free agency

The San Francisco 49ers traded quarterback Alex Smith to the Kansas City Chiefs for draft picks (and cleared up salary cap space). This move put the 49ers in a good spot to trade for New York Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis (who is currently being shopped by the Jets). What will the New York Jets seek for one of the best players in the NFL?

Addition by subtraction, addition by addition, or addition by multiplication…

Revis is a very HOT commodity and has been talked about by all NFL teams (and fans) since the Jets claimed they are interested in trading Revis. Current New York Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez has had two terrible turnover-filled seasons and may not be invited back to the team. Sanchez’s current contract/salary cap hit is nearly $13 million, a large burden for New York since he signed a large contract extension in 2012. Sanchez’s salary is very detrimental to the team for a quarterback that has led the league in turnovers for two straight years.

Can Revis and Sanchez be packaged together for a trade? Or can the Jets find an additional team to take Sanchez in a three way deal (like an NBA style trade). A trade for Revis can easily demand two 2^nd round draft picks, or one 1^st round draft pick, but including Mark Sanchez in the Revis deal; the Jets could take less just to get Sanchez salary cap figure off their books.

Revis was injured very early in 2012 and missed most of the 2012 season and he is only under contract this season, so if a trade is proposed, most likely a contract extension must be in place from the new team trading for Revis.

Time for the New York Jets to get creative…

Three top tier offensive linemen are coming from Alabama in this years draft. San Diego could be targeting all three of them (OG Chance Warmack, RT DJ Fluker, and C Barrett Jones).

With Joeckel and Fisher probably off the board when the Chargers pick @ #11, SD could trade down in the 1st round and stockpile picks (and still move back up).

Warmack is a mid to late 1st round prospect while Fluker is a late 1st round prospect.  Barrett Jones has a 3rd round grade, so with some creative trading and swapping, can Tom Telesoc and Mike McCoy grab Warmack, Fluker and Jones 1, 2 and 3?