2011 San Diego Chargers NFL Draft Needs
The San Diego Chargers are on the clock with the 18th overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft. Let’s take a look at their biggest needs and how those needs might be addressed on draft day.
1. Defensive End: San Diego led the NFL in both total offense and total defense but can still stand to improve in several areas. Defensive tackle is one of those areas. The Bolts are in the hunt for a 3-4 end with pick No. 18 and a player like Temple’s Muhammad Wilkerson could fill that need. Had Wilkerson stayed at Temple another year he likely would have gone in the top 10, which means San Diego would be getting an excellent prospect at this stage of the first round. Defensive ends from bigger programs like Wisconsin’s J.J. Watt are getting more shine but I’m here to tell you Wilkerson is legit. Find a way to get your hands on last year’s Temple v. Penn State game film and you’ll see what I’m talking about. Cal’s Cameron Jordan is another first round option. He may not have as big of an upside as Wilkerson but he enters as a polished 3-4 end who should be able to play immediately. If San Diego decides to go another way in round one, it could still go after Miami’s Allen Bailey in the second round.
2. Inside Linebacker: Starters Kevin Burnett and Stephen Cooper are entering free agency and one is likely to go. Plus, Donald Butler, who the Chargers drafted in the third round last year, is coming off an ACL injury. In other words, it would be a good move for the Bolts to add another inside backer. The value isn’t there to spend a first round pick to fill this need, but the Chargers will be in the running for Miami’s Colin McCarthy and Georgia Akeem Dent in round three.
3. Outside Linebacker: The Bolts have bigger needs but not be able to pass up an opportunity to get a pass rusher like Missouri’s Aldon Smith with their first pick. He is athletic enough to make the transition to a 3-4 outside linebacker, where he can compete for Larry English’s job and spell Shaun Phillips. If San Diego decides to wait to fill this need, it could go after Illinois’ Martez Wilson in round two.
4. Wide Receiver: The Chargers also have a need at right offensive tackle but likely won’t look to fill that spot until round three. San Diego boasted the best offense in the NFL last season (395.6 total yards per game) and adding another playmaker would go a long way to assuring that remains the case. Kentucky’s Randall Cobb is the kind of playmaker who could excel for coach Norv Turner, and he should be available when the Bolts are on the clock in round two. The Chargers could also go with a guy like Pitt’s Jonathan Baldwin in the second round.
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