1. Buster Davis/WR-LSU I would have loved to have seen Davis' teammate, WR Dwayne Bowe slide down this far but perhaps the Chargers have identified
another hidden gem. Davis is a talented wideout but he's seen his share of injuries. But with WR a huge need position on this team, I'm glad they rolled the dice
on a the best WR available. So I'll give this one a B.
2. Eric Weddle/S-Utah The Chargers traded up into the 2nd round to grab this guy, so I hope that he can deliver whatever AJ Smith has in mind because he was a
bit expensive. Weddle sounds like one of those classic football players--won't blow you away in the locker room but get him on the field and he just has a knack
for making plays. So I like the player, just wish the Chargers didn't need to give up so much to get him. Grade B-.
3. Anthony Waters/LB-Clemson Waters fits the risk-reward mold perfectly. He has the talent to have been drafted even higher than the third but he didn't play a
down in 2006 because of an injury, so he carries quite a bit of risk. He may even miss part of his first season, so the Bolts are obviously willing to give him some
time to get healthy and just hope they have something special when he finally gets onto the field. Grade C+.
4. Scott Chandler/TE-Iowa This team is so stacked with talent, it's often hard to get excited about some of its later round picks because you can't imagine some of
these guys even making a team that is already so deep. With Gates at #1 and Manumaleuna at #2, not to mention some promising youngsters already battling it
out for #3, you'd have to think that Chandler is a bit of a reach to make the team. But maybe the Bolts just want to get a bit younger and are looking to let
Manumaleuna move on. Grade C-.
5. Legedu Naanee/WR-Fresno State This guys is a real gamble and the Bolts have to hope that the athleticism he displayed at the combine will translate into
something special a few years from now. A borderline FA type, Naanee has the size to play TE but the speed and toughness to be a legit over-the-middle type of
#3 that would give teams nightmares. But he's most definitely going to be a project if he even sticks to the roster. Grade C+
7. Brandon Siler/LB-Florida I like this pick, as Siler was a productive player on a very good SEC team. He's a bit undersized but he's got a lot of passion to his
game. So if nothing else, he could end up being a special teams demon now and a contributing linebacker down the road. Grade B.
SUP. Paul Oliver/CB-Georgia Although this is going to cost the Bolts a #2 in 2008, I like this pick because it assumes that the Chargers don't intend for that #2 to
be very high next year (translation: super bowl, baby!). Oliver didn't go through all the poking and prodding that you'd have had at the combine but he's a versatile
player who has the measurables to play corner but the body to ultimately end up at Safety. Grade B.
Final Analysis
This draft and the supplemental pick of Oliver point toward the Chargers truly believing they just needed a couple of parts to complete this team and believe their
poised for a Super Bowl run. Although nothing here really melted my butter and it's possible that we really won't see any of these guys on the field next season, it
was a solid draft that filled a lot of depth holes throughout the lineup. And as AJ Smith keeps proving over and over again, he just knows a little bit more about
scouting than the average bear. So I'll give this draft a C+ and hope Smith surprises me yet again.
another hidden gem. Davis is a talented wideout but he's seen his share of injuries. But with WR a huge need position on this team, I'm glad they rolled the dice
on a the best WR available. So I'll give this one a B.
2. Eric Weddle/S-Utah The Chargers traded up into the 2nd round to grab this guy, so I hope that he can deliver whatever AJ Smith has in mind because he was a
bit expensive. Weddle sounds like one of those classic football players--won't blow you away in the locker room but get him on the field and he just has a knack
for making plays. So I like the player, just wish the Chargers didn't need to give up so much to get him. Grade B-.
3. Anthony Waters/LB-Clemson Waters fits the risk-reward mold perfectly. He has the talent to have been drafted even higher than the third but he didn't play a
down in 2006 because of an injury, so he carries quite a bit of risk. He may even miss part of his first season, so the Bolts are obviously willing to give him some
time to get healthy and just hope they have something special when he finally gets onto the field. Grade C+.
4. Scott Chandler/TE-Iowa This team is so stacked with talent, it's often hard to get excited about some of its later round picks because you can't imagine some of
these guys even making a team that is already so deep. With Gates at #1 and Manumaleuna at #2, not to mention some promising youngsters already battling it
out for #3, you'd have to think that Chandler is a bit of a reach to make the team. But maybe the Bolts just want to get a bit younger and are looking to let
Manumaleuna move on. Grade C-.
5. Legedu Naanee/WR-Fresno State This guys is a real gamble and the Bolts have to hope that the athleticism he displayed at the combine will translate into
something special a few years from now. A borderline FA type, Naanee has the size to play TE but the speed and toughness to be a legit over-the-middle type of
#3 that would give teams nightmares. But he's most definitely going to be a project if he even sticks to the roster. Grade C+
7. Brandon Siler/LB-Florida I like this pick, as Siler was a productive player on a very good SEC team. He's a bit undersized but he's got a lot of passion to his
game. So if nothing else, he could end up being a special teams demon now and a contributing linebacker down the road. Grade B.
SUP. Paul Oliver/CB-Georgia Although this is going to cost the Bolts a #2 in 2008, I like this pick because it assumes that the Chargers don't intend for that #2 to
be very high next year (translation: super bowl, baby!). Oliver didn't go through all the poking and prodding that you'd have had at the combine but he's a versatile
player who has the measurables to play corner but the body to ultimately end up at Safety. Grade B.
Final Analysis
This draft and the supplemental pick of Oliver point toward the Chargers truly believing they just needed a couple of parts to complete this team and believe their
poised for a Super Bowl run. Although nothing here really melted my butter and it's possible that we really won't see any of these guys on the field next season, it
was a solid draft that filled a lot of depth holes throughout the lineup. And as AJ Smith keeps proving over and over again, he just knows a little bit more about
scouting than the average bear. So I'll give this draft a C+ and hope Smith surprises me yet again.
| Jacko's Original 2007 Draft Analysis |
