San Diego Chargers 2010 NFL Draft Grade

SAN DIEGO

1.12 Ryan Mathews, RB, Fresno State
I’ll say this, if Ryan Mathews was really that high in their eyes, then moving up to get him was good for San Diego. That’s their guy — go get him. But I don’t think he was worth the 12th pick. I like Jahvid Best and Dexter McCluster better, it’s just that Mathews is more of an every down guy. He was their guy and they did what it took, but he’s going to have to be an instant producer. GRADE: B

3.79 Donald Butler, ILB, Washington
Butler is another player that I like a lot, but he doesn’t play defensive line, and that’s a big area of concern for the Chargers, especially with the thinning pool of talent that can man the front of the 3-4. He was a workout warrior who used his great combine to send teams back to the film room where they saw a productive, high energy player. He fits the system, but doesn’t fill a need. GRADE: C+

3ROUND GRADE: B-

4.110 Darrell Stuckey, S, Kansas
This is a good pick from a need standpoint, and a lot of people will praise the pick, but I’m not one of them. When I watched Stuckey, I saw a highly tentative player who hesitate before breaking on the ball. He can at least help out on specials. GRADE: D+

5.146 Cam Thomas, NT, UNC
The crowning achievement of this draft. After leaving me in the lurch with my Linval Joseph pick, the Chargers got incredible value nabbing Thomas in the fifth. He might start for them this year. He was one of only five starting caliber noses in this class, and they needed one. GRADE: A

5.168 Jonathon Crompton, QB, Tennessee
And we’re back to this. Yeah, Whitehurst left a major hole apparently since the Chargers can’t get out of bed without three QBs. And Crompton has some upside. But they could’ve gotten a 5-tech like Deaderick here. Lots of people like Crompton as a developmental guy. I don’t.  GRADE: D+

7.235 Dedric Epps, TE, Miami
The Chargers lost Brandon Malumaleuna in free agency, and they wanted a replacement. Considering they waited until the seventh, this isn’t a bad choice. But he’s nothing special. GRADE: C

Best Pick: Cam Thomas
Worst Pick: Darrell Stuckey
Sleeper Pick: Donald Butler

FINAL ANALYSIS
The Chargers let Jamal Williams go to the divisional rival Broncos, and their 5-techs leave something to be desired. So obviously they needed to target a few defensive linemen, right? Wrong. The Chargers get a big boost for the Cam Thomas find in the fifth, but that was their only nod to the front three. I don’t like that. Thomas has a great chance to start early, but they also like developmental ’09er Vaughn Martin at the point. Ryan Mathews was too expensive at the price they got him, even though I like him. I was high on him as early as anyone, but as the draft got closer I really started to like Jahvid Best more. And they could have stood pat for him. Still, Mathews could become the best all-around back from this class, and they needed someone who could carry a load. He does fit.

Stuckey was a wasted pick, unless he undergoes major improvements this offseason. He’s so timid when the ball’s in the air, and his tackling isn’t so good that it completely masks that deficiency. I’ll be surprised if he ends up as much more than a special teams ace. Donald Butler doesn’t fill a broadcasted need, but it’s not like the Bolts have such great interior LBs that he can’t find the field. He might be one of the major surprises from this draft. I like him, but the pick suffers because they needed other things. Crompton really shot up draft boards this offseason after The Sporting News listed him as their #2 QB. No, I’m kidding that had nothing to do with it. I don’t see the upside in Crompton that everyone else does, even after a 27:13 TD:INT ratio as a senior. Epps was just a replacement pick, but he might be able to handle that.

I’m very surprised that the secondary and defensive line received attention from only one pick each. Especially considering they didn’t come until the fourth and fifth rounds. Mathews fills a giant hole vacated by an all-timer in LT, but has some work to do. This is pretty much the definition of an average draft.

FINAL GRADE: C

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