2014 NFL mock draft: Chargers select Kony Ealy

With the 25th pick in Pride Of Detroit's 2014 NFL mock draft, the San Diego Chargers select Missouri defensive end/outside linebacker Kony Ealy. David Tokarz is serving as the Chargers' general manager, and his reasoning for the pick is below.

The Chargers have a ton of holes for a playoff-caliber team, and the folks over at Bolts From The Blue see this pick going either to a wide receiver, an offensive guard or a cornerback. That said, San Diego also has problems in the front seven. Frankly, the Chargers defense is awful, and while Eric Weddle is a really nice piece to build around, the only other players that flash talent are Corey Liuget at RDE and Melvin Ingram at OLB. I'd like to do something about the secondary at some point, but the Chargers need help now, and the best way to impact the defense is by adding a defensive lineman or rushing linebacker, leaving the other holes for the second round or later.

Ultimately, I was torn between two prospects: Kony Ealy and Minnesota DL Ra'Shede Hageman. I liked Hageman's flexibility along the line in the Chargers' 3-4 defense, and, though he's risky, he provides potential for a second game-changing player in the struggling Chargers defense. Ultimately, I went with Ealy, a guy who I think slipped past a ton of teams in the early 20s. He's a well-regarded pass rusher from a well-regarded program that has developed numerous other strong pass-rushing prospects, and given that the Chargers are in a division with Peyton Manning, that's a useful asset to have.

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Check out the 2014 POD Community Mock Draft tracker for a look at all of the picks.