In the competitive AFC West, the San Diego Chargers have some work to do with their pass-rushing personnel department to keep up with Peyton Manning and Denver. John Gennaro of Bolts from the Blue is addressing that need with his second-round pick in our 2015 NFL mock draft.
2015 NFL mock draft: Trey Flowers to San Diego Chargers at No. 48
The Chargers have some work to do to replace two retired veterans at outside linebacker this year.
48. Chargers: Trey Flowers, DE, Arkansas
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Gennaro: The biggest negative of the Chargers' offseason thus far? Old outside linebackers. Dwight Freeney and Jarret Johnson, who were essentially the starters last season while Melvin Ingram recovered from yet another major injury, both retired following the 2014 NFL season.
The team’s depth here is terrifyingly thin. Pairing with the oft-injured Ingram is Jerry Attaochu, a 2014 second-round pick who struggled to stay healthy in his rookie season and is seen as "very raw" in terms of skill set and body. Behind them is ... not much. There’s Cordarro Law, who was plucked out of the CFL last offseason, and 2013 sixth-round selection Tourek Williams, who is widely regarded as a special teams player.
Flowers is my favorite available pass rusher at this point in the draft, and seems to have an NFL-ready body and skill set. Chargers GM Tom Telesco likes those NFL-ready guys, as they often end up starting as rookies (see D.J. Fluker, Keenan Allen, Manti Te’o, Jason Verrett, etc.), and he needs one to potentially start opposite Ingram until roster cuts open up more opportunities for replacing Freeney and Johnson.
Dan Kadar, SBNation.com: I’m a fan of Flowers and the Chargers targeting a pass rusher early in the draft. I just do not see Flowers’ fit as a linebacker. He’s a power left end who wins with his strength. He’s not considered the type of athlete you often think of when moving a college end to NFL linebacker. If that absolutely has to be the choice at No. 48, someone like Missouri’s Markus Golden might be a better option, albeit a reach.
Dan’s Top 5 players remaining
- 30. Paul Dawson, LB, TCU
- 32. P.J. Williams, CB, Florida State
- 33. Jalen Collins, CB, LSU
- 39. Benardrick McKinney, LB, Mississippi State
- 41. Cedric Ogbuehi, OT, Texas A&M
Chargers picks
- 1-17: T.J. Clemmings, OT, Pittsburgh
- 2-48: Trey Flowers, DE, Arkansas
Coming up tomorrow in the 2015 SB Nation NFL Writers' Mock Draft: picks from the Kansas City Chiefs, Buffalo Bills and Houston Texans.
SB Nation presents: Breaking down our latest mock draft
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