Not all underclassmen have declared yet and the playoffs are heating up, but it's never too early to look ahead to the draft. Many publications have released their first mock drafts. The Chargers will pick 18th in the first round. Here is a sample of what some experts think general manager A.J. Smith will do: Rob Rang, cbssports.com Posted: Jan. 8 Pick: Courtney Upshaw, OLB, Alabama Rangs's comment: This is a bit higher than Upshaw should likely go, but if San Diego general manager A.J. Smith has proven anything over the course of his career it is that he is willing to stick with his own team's grades rather than follow the herd. Upshaw, experienced at defensive end and outside linebacker, may be able to provide the consistent pass rush that 2009 first round pick Larry English has thus far been unable to give the Chargers. Dane Brugler, cbssports.com Posted: Jan. 9 Pick: Nick Perry, DE, USC Brugler's comment: The Chargers have received very moderate production out of their pass rushers (not including Antwan Barnes) this season and I think it's safe to say the Larry English experiment hasn't worked. Perry is a hybrid, athletic edge rusher with a nose for the ball and the motor to create pressure in the backfield. Andrew Perloff, si.com Posted: Jan. 10 Pick: Upshaw Perloff's comment: The Chargers are still looking for an explosive pass-rusher. There's some doubt about whether Upshaw can play standing up, but he may be worth the risk. Peter Schrager, foxsports.com Posted: Jan. 10 Pick: Perry Schrager's comment: Perry had a solid junior season at USC, leading the Pac-12 with 12.5 sacks from the defensive end position. Whether San Diego is in a 3-4 or 4-3 next year will determine the defensive scheme. Either way, the Chargers could use a pass-rushing force on the outside. Perry can bring that to the SD front seven. — Compiled by Jeff Nahill Read more: http://www.nctimes.com/sports/football/professional/nfl/chargers/chargers-mock-draft-predictions/article_f49ad7bb-9e25-536e-9ea1-02b50f79e934.html#ixzz1jdIiOGWg
Perry's the more versatile, which is why I'm less convinced he'll be there. He's probably the best available 4-3 RDE (the more highly coveted of 4-3 DE's) in the class. That said, I think we've all learned that AJ does almost the opposite of what these internet guru's predict - nearly every single one of them had him selecting Jordan or Heyward (after Watt blew up at the combine and shot his stock up past where we'd be picking) last year and with both on the board AJ took Liuget. For that reason I won't be shocked if one or both (more likely just Upshaw) are available and AJ ends up selecting someone like Brandon Lindsey or Andre Branch.
I'd be fine with Branch, I have a hunch his stock is going to skyrocket over the process of the next couple months. But dear god Lindsey would be a bigger reach than Larry English was.
NFL.com has released their first draft mocks. http://www.nfl.com/draft/2012/mock-drafts?module=HP11_cp Chargers: Courtney Upshaw, Nick Perry, Michael Floyd, and Cordy Glenn. Not a single unanimous mock on there for us. Also noticed 2 of thos have Perry goin undrafted in the first...
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/writers/andrew_perloff/01/10/2012.nfl.mock.draft/index.html Barron at 16 to the jets? I like this mock tho it does leave Perry and Upshaw around at 18. I dont like Ingram gettin snagged by NE.
Bleh...I hate the Floyd and Glenn picks. Upshaw...eh. Perry....eh. Don't love any of them. But I guess thats just another example what those 3 meaningless wins at the end of the season cost us.
http://www.drafttek.com/CMDRound1.asp I love the setup of this mock. Not so much the players picked. What a shocker though, a CB 2 of 3 projected picks for us.
It looks like they have a listed ranking of the best players from 1-280 or whatever and they have "analysts" plugging in what the "team needs" are. Then a computer just simulates what the teams draft based on some weighting metric that they've given each need and the value assigned to each player.
Mocking the Draft (SBNation) Live Mock Draft Tracker Not particularly enamored with the Chargers' projected picks so far.
I am pretty sure all of these players listed in all of these threads will NOT be selected by AJ. When has he actually selected someone that we could predict? I am no longer getting into these threads (and looking at the players) like I used to until AJ starts making sense. I still do enjoy watching the draft though! Bring on April!
I love the player acquisition process, but I hate how long the NFL offseason is. Makes me almost wish I could stomach baseball.
