32. San Diego Chargers

Today I’m starting my team by team analysis of the 2011 NFL Draft.  After ranking all 32 teams, I’m going to start off from the bottom and work my way up. Lets begin:

32. San Diego Chargers (6.03/10)

Over the past several years, San Diego has consistently been the team that could never win the big game.  They could always make the playoffs, but never follow through. Phillip Rivers is the rock and foundation of this team and Antonio Gates is the clear go-to guy. With the uncertainty surrounding Vincent Jackson, one of the first big team needs is a go to receiver that isn’t a tight end.  Vincent Brown, WR (3rd round, pick 82) out of San Diego State has mediocre speed, but is a value pick in the third round. 

Ever since L.T. left, San Diego has had a real problem with a feature back. The Darren Sproles experiment isn’t working and a big need is for a second RB to back him up.  Jordan Todman, RB (6th round, pick 183) has good speed, but doesn’t have the power to go between the tackles.  I see him and Darren taking turns to try to give each other a rest.  A good pick for the 2-back system.  

The chargers have been consistently bad in defense, and wasted no time drafting to fill needs with there first three picks. Corey Liuget is a good DT, in what has been a record setting draft for defensive lineman.  No team could really go wrong this year drafting D-Line due to the depth of the position available.  The biggest mistake the Chargers made, and sole reason I have the rated as the worst drafting team was using there 2nd round pick (29th overall) to draft Jonas Mouton, a LB out of Michigan.  Michigan had one of the worst defenses in all of NCAA football last year under Rich Rodriguez. A prime example of terrible defense is the Michigan vs. Illinois game. Jonas was also on the team when Michigan lost there famous game to Appalachian State.  (FYI Side note, this year, Appalachian state had 3 players drafted, Michigan only had 2).  At best he will be a contributor on special teams but I doubt to se him on the roster this time next year.  Players such as Dontay Moch, Nate Irving, Kelvin Heppard, or Justin Houston were all still on the board and much better picks for a LB position. Also, A WR in Ranall Cobb or Leonard Wilkerson would have been a much better pick here.  Overall, this pick alone I rate an F and over all hurt an otherwise uneventful draft for the Chargers.  Maybe they can at least resign Vincent Jackson to keep there offense going, for a team that led the league last year in offensive production.

Overall performance: D