The NFL draft is about three months away, and opinions on certain prospects are going to change drastically from now until then, but that won’t discourage football fans all over the country from gathering as much information as possible.
The San Diego Chargers head into the offseason with multiple positions in need of big-time upgrades. From the day free agency begins all the way through NFL draft weekend, the Lightning Bolts would like to acquire a dominant pass-rusher, a strong safety, a few offensive linemen, and perhaps a receiver or tight end. After reading several reports from experts who attended Senior Bowl week, here are four prospects every loyal Chargers fan should keep an eye on over the next few months:
The San Diego Chargers head into the offseason with multiple positions in need of big-time upgrades. From the day free agency begins all the way through NFL draft weekend, the Lightning Bolts would like to acquire a dominant pass-rusher, a strong safety, a few offensive linemen, and perhaps a receiver or tight end. After reading several reports from experts who attended Senior Bowl week, here are four prospects every loyal Chargers fan should keep an eye on over the next few months:
1. OT Mike Adams Ohio State (6-7, 320)
Looks the part of an NFL left tackle. He showcases good length, moves his feet well through contact and exhibits "plus" range toward the edge for his size. He gets himself into trouble at times by "catching" defenders at the point, but he has the skill set to mature into a good starter at left tackle.
2. DE Courtney Upshaw: Alabama (6-2, 265)
He's a physical, compact pass rusher who turns speed into power well off the edge and can overwhelm on contact. Plus, has the versatility to play in both a 3-4 and 4-3 front at the next level.
3. OG Cordy Glenn: Georgia (6-5, 348)
Glenn had some struggles this week at OT. However, when lined-up inside at guard he was downright dominant. He showcased good natural quickness off the ball, and was able to extend his arms and control blockers with ease through contact. Looks like a first-round caliber guard prospect.
4. DE Melvin Ingram: South Carolina (6-2, 276)
He's an impressive pass rusher who can get after the QB in a number of ways. Plus, he's versatile, as he can be effective from a number of spots and will likely get looks from both 3-4 and 4-3 teams.
Of those four my personal favorite at the moment is Adams, who I believe could step in and start immediately at right tackle. Ingram came up with a lot of big plays last season for the Gamecocks, but I’m not so sure he can make the transition to a pass-rushing outside linebacker in the Chargers’ defense. Although Upshaw has been praised as the top pass-rushing linebacker in this draft, he didn’t make enough impact plays this past season to give me enough confidence to believe he’ll be any better than Larry English. And while Glenn could probably start at left guard right away, he probably won’t be the best player on the board when the Chargers select in the first round—and it’s unlikely he’ll be around by the time San Diego picks in the second.
In addition to Upshaw, strong safety Mark Barron is another Crimson Tide defender who should intrigue Chargers fans. A four-year starter, Barron was a versatile player who lined up all over the field in head coach Nick Saban’s defense. He’s considered a hard-hitting safety who could line up in the box as an extra linebacker, but there are concerns with his lack of coverage ability, leading most experts to place him a tier below Eric Berry and Earl Thomas.
But while the Senior Bowl practices have drummed up a ton of interest in several prospects, nobody should forget about the juniors in this draft. Here are some early-entries I believe could look very nice in a Chargers uniform:
1. Arizona State linebacker Vontaze Burfict
After drafting Donald Butler in the third round in 2010 and Jonas Mouton in the second in 2011, some may believe general manager A.J. Smith should avoid selecting an inside linebacker 18th overall this April. But Burfict is an outstanding talent who possesses a mean streak similar to Ray Lewis’s, and that type of package is needed for the Chargers’ passive defense at present. With several personal foul penalties called on him last fall, Burfict has picked up a reputation for being a player who’s out of control. The Chargers would be a nice spot for him, however, as Takeo Spikes is an ideal mentor for a youngster in need of being tutored on how to be a professional.
2. Iowa offensive tackle Riley Reiff
Reiff started three years on the Hawkeyes’ offensive line, the last two seasons at left tackle. He’s considered a mauler in the running game and really excels at driving the opposing defensive lineman off the ball. There are concerns about his footwork in pass protection, however, and many believe his best position would be at right tackle. That would work out beautifully for the Chargers, since right tackle is one of their biggest needs. Unfortunately, most project Reiff will be a top-10 pick.
3. Stanford offensive tackle Jonathan Martin
Martin protected Andrew Luck’s blindside at left tackle for three years. He’s considered a superior pass-blocker to Reiff, but Reiff is believed to be the better package overall, as Martin has struggled with his run-blocking and is rumored to lack aggression. Most experts think Martin’s best position will be left tackle, although he would probably start immediately at right tackle in San Diego. Unfortunately, it’s very unlikely he’ll be there when the Chargers select in the first round.
4. Stanford offensive guard David DeCastro
DeCastro was another three-year starter on the Cardinal’s offensive line. He’s rated as the preeminent interior lineman in this draft and would likely start right away at left guard for the Chargers. Unlike linemate Martin, DeCastro is considered to be a nasty, gritty blocker more than willing to mix it up with anyone. Although it’s not a given, many mock drafts believe DeCastro will be available when San Diego’s on the clock in the first round.
5. USC defensive end Nick Perry
Perry surprised many when he announced he wasn’t sticking around for his senior season with the Trojans, but it appears he made the right decision, as he’s projected to be picked somewhere in the mid-to-late first round. During his first season as a full-time starter in 2011, Perry recorded 9.5 sacks while showing elite pass-rushing skills against some of the top offensive tackles in the country. Despite failing to record a sack, perhaps his finest performance was against Jonathan Martin during a showdown Stanford barely won in overtime last October. Of the pass-rushers in this draft, many feel Perry has the most upside, and he appears to have the athleticism and overall skill-set to make a smooth transition to outside linebacker in a 3-4 defense.
6. Alabama linebacker Dont’a Hightower
Much like Burfict, Hightower could join forces with Donald Butler to create quite an intimidating tandem at inside linebacker in the Chargers’ defense for many years to come. A three-year starter for the Crimson Tide, Hightower possesses a nice blend of size, speed, and power at 6-4, 260 pounds. He has shown the ability to blitz from the outside linebacker position but spent most of his time on the inside as the leader of Nick Saban’s unit. He missed most of the 2009 season with a torn ACL, and many feel he struggles far too much when covering tight ends and running backs.
An under-the-radar prospect who could shoot up the draft boards is Troy defensive end Jonathan Massaquoi, another junior. Massaquoi is listed as 6-2, 270 pounds on Troy’s Web site, but most believe he’s much lighter than that. He’s considered a tweener whose best position in the NFL will most likely be outside linebacker in a 3-4 defense. He had a monster year in 2010 as a sophomore, recording 13.5 sacks and 20.5 tackles for losses. His numbers weren’t as impressive in 2011, though, as he finished with just six sacks and 10.5 tackles in the backfield.
In comparison with the other pass-rushers in this draft, Massaquoi is considered to have one of the quickest first steps off the snap and has shown the ability to drop into coverage effectively. As of right now he’s projected to be picked in the second or third round, but that could change significantly if he works out well in front of scouts over the next few months.
Jonathan Massaquoi highlights
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For this edition of the blog, we’d like to recognize Kellen Winslow, one of the greatest tight ends in NFL history. Back in the fall of 2010 Winslow was ranked #67 on NFL Films’ All-Time Top 100 Greatest Players list. Joe Gibbs put it best when he said the following:
“Sometimes in football you’ll get a real gifted player, and that might cause a change in football. Kellen Winslow; he changed football.”
Kellen Winslow
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