The San Diego Chargers are on the clock with the 16th Pick in the draft.
The Chargers can improve the roster by drafting any one of the following players Percy Harvin (WR), Knowshon Moreno (RB), or Rey Maualuga (ILB).
Percy Harvin could provide one more scoring option to open up the field for Tomlinson and Rivers. Harvin's a playmaker with excellent speed. A more balanced and spread offense with a healthy LT should confound opposing defenses. Greater running lanes for LT and more holes in zone defenses and mismatches in press coverage should increase Gates numbers, too.
Historically it usually takes two to three years for receivers to significantly contribute to the offense and whether Norv Turner has that type of time remains to be seen. Chargers fans are learning what Redskins fans learned a long time ago. Turner as a head coach can't take a team to the title with or without talent. Norv may be on a short leash and not be afforded the luxury of adding another scoring weapon that will take time to develop. Not every receiver makes the immediate impact of a DeSean Jackson.
Drafting Knowshon Moreno would provide the long term stability in an offense that has mainly been predicated upon the running game of Tomlinson. Sproles received the franchise tag from San Diego, but may not be the prototypical running back and be able to carry a Chargers offense on his shoulders the same way as LT. Tomlinson' 3 Year contract may put drafting another running back on the back burner with Sproles locked up as well, but ensuring that the Chargers have a running back lined up for the future would be an important move as LT has started to show signs of the wear and tear of being a starting running back in the NFL.
16th Pick: Rey Maualuga, ILB USC
The Chargers defense obviously took a big hit with the loss of Merriman last season. It fell to the bottom of the NFL rankings in most categories. Adding a destructive and explosive player in Maualuga along with the improved health of Merriman should have the Chargers back on top as one of the toughest defenses in the NFL. Images of Junior Seau will come to mind in Chargers fans as they watch Maualuga disrupt opposing offenses. Drafting Maualuga should bolster the defense and provide Norv Turner with one last chance to take San Diego to the title.
The New York Jets are now on the clock with the 17th Pick in the draft.
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