Goodthief
02-22-2008, 06:16 AM
Particularly this time of year, you’ll often hear Chargers General Manager A.J. Smith and his personnel staff talk about improving the Bolts’ roster by any means, with the disclaimer that they’re passionate about the NFL draft.
As the 2008 NFL Scouting Combine got underway Thursday in Indianapolis, the Chargers find themselves in a unique position. Excluding compensatory picks which will be awarded in March, the Bolts will have just four selections in April’s draft. The Chargers are expected to receive a compensatory selection for losing Donnie Edwards in free agency.
“It’s very unusual,” said Chargers Assistant General Manager Buddy Nix. “You prepare the same (for the draft). You never know what might happen. Some trade might arise and you wind up with a second, so you better be prepared to make a pick in the second round. We’ll do everything just like we always have when we’ve had all of our picks.”
The Chargers’ draft class in ’08 may seem smaller, but in actuality, the crop of players acquired through this year’s draft has already started to make a name for itself. Three choices from this year’s draft are already on the roster and producing.
The Chargers are slated to pick 27th in the first round. The team’s second round choice was dealt to the Miami Dolphins in exchange for wide receiver Chris Chambers.
The move paid immediate dividends as the veteran caught 35 passes for 555 yards and four touchdowns in 10 regular season games with the Bolts and hauled in 16 more receptions for 278 yards in the postseason. The deal for Chambers was one that should have impact into the future as his current contract runs through 2009.
The Bolts’ third-round pick belongs to Chicago as part of a package the Chargers sent the Bears last April in order to move up in the second round of the 2007 draft to select safety Eric Weddle.
Smith, Nix and company felt great about the move when it was made, and the Chargers only feel better after watching the former Utah star play a valuable role as a rookie, one that will likely expand in his second pro season.
Last July, the Chargers utilized their fourth-round pick in this draft by selecting defensive back Paul Oliver in the supplemental draft. Oliver was inactive for all 16 games as a rookie last season but is expected to be a factor in the secondary this season.
All 22 starters from a 2007 team that came just one injury-riddled game from going to the Super Bowl are under contract, so there are no immediate pressing needs. That gives the Chargers the luxury of using the picks to acquire players like Chambers, Weddle and Oliver.
“How are you going to beat that?” Nix asked. “We’ve already hit on those guys. When you’ve got some depth you’d like to fill through the draft, it makes it pretty hard, but we’re really happy with the moves we’ve made.”
While the Chargers have seemingly struck gold with so many of their draft picks in recent years, Smith also has a history of trading picks for proven talent. In October of 2006, he acquired a reliable, veteran backup quarterback in Billy Volek by sending a 2007 sixth-round draft pick to the Tennessee Titans.
On draft day 2006, the Chargers sent their fourth-round selection to the St. Louis Rams in exchange for tight end Brandon Manumaleuna, a selfless player who has made major contributions in two seasons with the Bolts.
In 2004, Smith acquired offensive tackle Roman Oben and wide receiver Keenan McCardell from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in separate trades for draft choices.
“We’ve used picks to gain depth and in some cases impact players like Chris (Chambers) was for us this year,” Nix said. “We say it all the time: we’ll explore any avenue to make our football team better. We’ve already used part of our draft to do that. Now we’re working hard to make the right decisions with the picks we still have.”
Thursday, Feb 21, 2008
By Casey Pearce, Chargers.com (http://www.chargers.com/news/headlines/chargers-already-benefited.htm)
As the 2008 NFL Scouting Combine got underway Thursday in Indianapolis, the Chargers find themselves in a unique position. Excluding compensatory picks which will be awarded in March, the Bolts will have just four selections in April’s draft. The Chargers are expected to receive a compensatory selection for losing Donnie Edwards in free agency.
“It’s very unusual,” said Chargers Assistant General Manager Buddy Nix. “You prepare the same (for the draft). You never know what might happen. Some trade might arise and you wind up with a second, so you better be prepared to make a pick in the second round. We’ll do everything just like we always have when we’ve had all of our picks.”
The Chargers’ draft class in ’08 may seem smaller, but in actuality, the crop of players acquired through this year’s draft has already started to make a name for itself. Three choices from this year’s draft are already on the roster and producing.
The Chargers are slated to pick 27th in the first round. The team’s second round choice was dealt to the Miami Dolphins in exchange for wide receiver Chris Chambers.
The move paid immediate dividends as the veteran caught 35 passes for 555 yards and four touchdowns in 10 regular season games with the Bolts and hauled in 16 more receptions for 278 yards in the postseason. The deal for Chambers was one that should have impact into the future as his current contract runs through 2009.
The Bolts’ third-round pick belongs to Chicago as part of a package the Chargers sent the Bears last April in order to move up in the second round of the 2007 draft to select safety Eric Weddle.
Smith, Nix and company felt great about the move when it was made, and the Chargers only feel better after watching the former Utah star play a valuable role as a rookie, one that will likely expand in his second pro season.
Last July, the Chargers utilized their fourth-round pick in this draft by selecting defensive back Paul Oliver in the supplemental draft. Oliver was inactive for all 16 games as a rookie last season but is expected to be a factor in the secondary this season.
All 22 starters from a 2007 team that came just one injury-riddled game from going to the Super Bowl are under contract, so there are no immediate pressing needs. That gives the Chargers the luxury of using the picks to acquire players like Chambers, Weddle and Oliver.
“How are you going to beat that?” Nix asked. “We’ve already hit on those guys. When you’ve got some depth you’d like to fill through the draft, it makes it pretty hard, but we’re really happy with the moves we’ve made.”
While the Chargers have seemingly struck gold with so many of their draft picks in recent years, Smith also has a history of trading picks for proven talent. In October of 2006, he acquired a reliable, veteran backup quarterback in Billy Volek by sending a 2007 sixth-round draft pick to the Tennessee Titans.
On draft day 2006, the Chargers sent their fourth-round selection to the St. Louis Rams in exchange for tight end Brandon Manumaleuna, a selfless player who has made major contributions in two seasons with the Bolts.
In 2004, Smith acquired offensive tackle Roman Oben and wide receiver Keenan McCardell from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in separate trades for draft choices.
“We’ve used picks to gain depth and in some cases impact players like Chris (Chambers) was for us this year,” Nix said. “We say it all the time: we’ll explore any avenue to make our football team better. We’ve already used part of our draft to do that. Now we’re working hard to make the right decisions with the picks we still have.”
Thursday, Feb 21, 2008
By Casey Pearce, Chargers.com (http://www.chargers.com/news/headlines/chargers-already-benefited.htm)