Unpacking Chad Reuter's latest mock draft for the Chargers. Did his selections hit the mark with A-grade potential?
A few weeks ago, ESPN's Matt Miller did a seven-round mock draft and I graded each pick he made for the Los Angeles Chargers. Now that NFL.com has released their own seven-round mock draft, authored by Chad Reuter, it only felt right to hand out some more grades.
Round 1, Pick 29 (29th overall): Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State
Reuter projects some sort of trade that results in the Kansas City Chiefs picking at #22 and then the Chargers picking at #29, which is technically the Rams pick but is owned by the Chiefs. We're left on our own to figure out the rest of this trade, so stay tuned.
As for the actual selection, I love McDonald. He only falls this far because there are questions about his ability to rush the passer on third down, but the Chargers don't really need that from him and he can work on that part of his game while splitting reps at nose tackle.
Grade: A
Round 2, Pick 23 (55th overall): Keylan Rutledge, OG, Georgia Tech
Rutledge is the most athletic offensive lineman in this draft, although he's also quite raw. He would, in theory, be such a perfect fit in a Mike McDaniel offense that the Chargers could go into the season with him penciled in as the starter at guard.
He also showed an ability to play center at the Senior Bowl, which provides some insurance in the instance of a Tyler Biadasz injury.
So far, the Chargers have found two great value players that fit the team's immediate needs.
Grade: A
Round 3, Pick 10 (74th overall): Brandon Cisse, CB, South Carolina
This is one more part, maybe the final part, of the projected trade between the Chargers and Chiefs.
Once again, this feels like a home run. The Chargers don't need an outside CB to be ready today, and Cisse is about as good as they come if you're looking for a project. He displays all of the physical potential you would want in a cornerback, but he's very raw and will need time to work on his technique and his anticipation.
Cisse is projected to be a Round 2 pick according to most scouts, and would be a great prize for Joe Hortiz for moving down seven spots in the 1st Round.
Grade: A
Round 3, Pick 22 (86th overall): Nadame Tucker, EDGE, Western Michigan
YES! I called this one almost two months ago. This selection would put Tucker back into the hands of Chargers defensive coordinator Chris O'Leary, who helped guide Tucker to 14.5 sacks in just 13 games for Western Michigan last season.
Tucker is, at least right now, a one-dimensional player (pass rusher) with limited experience against elite competition. He's slated to get picked way later than this, so this is the Chargers (in Reuter's estimation) jumping up to appease their new defensive coordinator.
Still, Tucker could be an Odafe Oweh-type of player in a similar defensive scheme, which would put this fictional version of the Chargers in the admirable position of having filled four key roster holes before the start of the 4th Round.
Grade: A
(The Chargers' 4th Round pick has been sent to the Kansas City Chiefs as a part of the aforementioned fictional draft day trade.)
Round 6, Pick 23 (204th overall): Jack Endries, TE, Texas
What Jack Endries isn't is an elite athlete at tight end. What he is, most likely is a future starting TE in the NFL.
If the name sounds familiar, it's because Endries was the favorite target of Fernando Mendoza when he still played for the Cal Bears. He is big, strong, and is gifted with natural body control and soft hands. His blocking is inconsistent and needs work, but there is every reason to believe that he will eventually develop into an above-average blocker with some NFL-level coaching.
Getting someone with that type of potential in the 6th Round feels like another huge win.
Grade: A
Final thoughts
First of all, starting the obvious, I love this fictional draft class and would be over the moon for the Chargers if they were able to do everything Chad Reuter has laid out here.
To recap, the Chargers and Chiefs engaged in a trade that I believe totaled out to:
Chargers get
1st Round pick (#29 overall)
3rd Round pick (#74 overall)
Chiefs get
1st Round pick (#22 overall)
4th Round pick (#123 overall)
Is that fair? I don't know. Seems fine, considering the Chargers end up with this draft class....
Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State
Keyland Rutledge, OG, Georgia Tech
Brandon Cisse, CB, South Carolina
Nadame Tucker, EDGE, Western Michigan
Jack Endries, TE, Texas
Joe Hortiz would earn an awful lot of praise from around the league if he were able to bring that group of rookies to Los Angeles.
What would even be left for the Chargers to address with their roster after that? Wide receiver, but there are plenty of options left on the free agent market that can help with that.