Offense all the way on Day 3

Ladarius Green

Day 3 of the NFL draft is comparable to watching a final regular-season game between teams that each possess a 5-10 record. In other words, it's boring and painful to sit through. Still, all of the picks must be made, and the San Diego Chargers have just finished up the 2012 NFL draft by selecting offensive players with their last four choices.

The Chargers came into the day with one pick each in the fourth and fifth rounds, and two selections in the seventh round.

With its fourth-round selection, the 110th overall, San Diego chose Louisiana-Lafayette tight end Ladarius Green. The 6-6, 238-pound Green is an athletic pass-catcher who hauled in 149 passes for 2,201 yards and 22 touchdowns during his four seasons with the Ragin' Cajuns. He completed his college career with a bang, catching five passes for 121 yards and a touchdown against San Diego State in the New Orleans Bowl.

With 4.53 speed in the 40-yard dash, Green will learn from one of the best tight ends of all time in Antonio Gates. Green, whom Louisiana-Lafayette recruited to play both football and basketball, possesses the power forward-type of frame that should work well with quarterback Philip Rivers, who loves to throw up jump balls.

Meanwhile, with five tight ends already on the roster before Green was selected today, one has to assume two or three will get the ax prior to the start of the regular season. Gates' primary backup over the last two seasons has been Randy McMichael, and Kory Sperry has been the third tight end during that time. The Chargers also signed veteran Dante Rosario, formerly of the Carolina Panthers and Denver Broncos, recently to a one-year contract, and 2011 undrafted free agent Brad Taylor is the other tight end. Aside from Gates, none of the veteran tight ends should feel safe at the moment.

In the fifth round, with the 149th overall selection, the Chargers took Penn State offensive guard Johnnie Troutman. A three-year starter, the 6-4, 327-pound Troutman, along with Stephen Schilling and Brandyn Dombrowksi, should provide depth behind starters Louis Vasquez and Tyronne Green. Spending most of his time at left guard for the Nittany Lions, Troutman never gave up a sack in his 32 starts.

San Diego didn't have a pick in the sixth round, as it traded the selection to move up for LSU safety Brandon Taylor in the third round. Thanks to being awarded a compensatory selection, the Chargers had two picks in the seventh round, which they used on Michigan center David Molk (226th overall) and Michigan State running back Edwin Baker (250th overall).

The 6-1, 298-pound Molk was a four-year starter with the Wolverines. A team captain, he won the Rimington Award as the nation's top center and made first-team All-America in 2011. Although he proclaimed himself the best center in the draft a few months ago, Molk fell to the seventh round probably due to size limitations and the four injuries he suffered to his right leg while at Michigan. He wasn't able to run for scouts in predraft workouts because he recently underwent surgery after severing a tendon in his right foot during warmups for the Sugar Bowl in January. In spite of that injury, Molk started and played through that game.

At the moment San Diego has long-time starting center Nick Hardwick on the roster. An unresticted free agent at the start of this offseason, Hardwick re-upped with the Chargers on a three-year deal. Colin Baxter, a 2011 undrafted free agent, is Hardwick's backup.

After Molk was selected, ESPN NFL draft guru Mel Kiper Jr. said the Michigan product could have a comparable career to former Indianapolis Colts center Jeff Saturday, who went undrafted in 1998. Kiper believes Molk will make the team and could eventually start.

Baker, the compensatory choice, is a 5-8, 204-pound running back who came out of college a year early and recorded a time of 4.53 in the 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine. During his three years with the Spartans, he rushed for 2,293 yards and 19 touchdowns and caught 15 passes for 125 yards and a score. His best season was in 2010, when he rushed for 1,201 yards and 13 touchdowns.

With 2010 first-round pick Ryan Mathews leading the way, Baker will have to compete with veteran Curtis Brinkley for a backup role. San Diego may also add another veteran to the mix, as it's been reported that general manager A.J. Smith has shown interest in Jackie Battle, formerly of the Kansas City Chiefs, and three other unrestricted free agent runners. San Diego also has fullbacks Le'Ron McClain and Jacob Hester, both of whom should get carries throughout the season.

Now that the draft is over, the Chargers and the rest of the teams are targeting prospects who weren't picked during the seven rounds. I will be posting updates of undrafted free agent signings throughout the weekend.