POD Community Mock Draft: Pick No. 16

I was torn on this pick. I had a write up all ready for Tyson Jackson and Rey Maualuga. Recent news on Chambers is that the Chargers are trying to shop him around, although I couldn’t find any clarification as to what they were shopping him for. I looked hard at Ayers, but the general concensus was that he would be better suited at OLB. Even his bio page on NFL.com has him listed as LB. A.J. Smith is good at finding talent in the later rounds and I just felt a Wide Receiver would really put their offense over the top. I also think Harvin is a stretch. I really would have wanted Maclin but he was gone. In a perfect world, if this mock were reality, San Diego would have tried to trade down.

This mock draft has definitely panned out poorly for SD, but I’m not sure it forces them to take an WR, a position there fairly deep at, to go along with Gates, despite lacking big name receivers. RB is a possibility only b/c of the uncertainty of both sproles and tomlinson’s future, can sproles carry a larger role and will tomlinson be back?

As for DE’s, there is a need for one opposite of castillo with the departure of Igor, but with Tyson Jackson off the board, there are no DEs who can play a 3-4 scheme with there hand in the ground, most of them are just too small.

There probably going to have to reach on this pick or take Andre Smith, to put opposite of McNeal. I’m thinking the best options if your picking by need is ILB Larinaitus, S Delmas, & RB Moreno….

When was the last time he was a REAL threat to a defense? Percy Harvin and Vincent Jackson would give teams a reason to back off LT, which puts that team’s offense in a solid spot. I agree with James on this.

He’ll be like Bush, Hester, and Ginn. Their speed helped them in college, but in the pros their size has kept them from being much of a long term threat. 1 or 2 years of mediocre output before injuries catch up to him.

but most of my research suggested that he was a 2nd round pick at best. My hopes are that the Chargers (in the real draft) try to trade back up into the 2nd round. Maybe that’s what they’re shopping Chambers for, although Chambers alone isn’t worth a 2nd rounder. Maybe a package deal.

I see your point. I would still go WR here though. Offense would benefit more than a defensive pick would.

They’re trying to trade Chambers. Why? I don’t know. Nobody besides Gates can get open.(and even he’s not what he once was) Opposing defenses just target LaDanian Tomlinson. They need a Right Guard to replace Mike Goff, Tackle is not an issue at all. My personal disdain for Andre Smith ruled him out, even if the Chargers did need a Tackle. They don’t need to think running back until later. The only one I would have considered would have been Moreno, not Wells. Moreno is more of an LT style Running Back. Not to mention the lack of success by Big Ten Running Backs in the NFL.

All offensive discussion aside, I wanted to go defense but nobody left made sense. Maybe Matthews at LB. They need help at Safety but pick #16 was just too high for me to be comfortable with Delmas or Sean Smith.