2012 BGN Community Mock Draft Pick #18: The San Diego Chargers

With the eighteenth pick in the 2012 BGN Community Mock Draft, sports00fan00 selects...

Riley Reiff: OT, Iowa

The San Diego Chargers three biggest needs are SS, OLB, and OL. With Mark Barron and Courtney Upshaw off the board it makes sense to address other needs at this point in the draft. Lucky for the Chargers Riley Reiff dropped down to pick 18. Riley Reiff will offer depth on the offensive line. Although, The Chargers resigned Jared Gaither who came in last year and filled in for left tackle Marcus McNeill, who was recently cut due to his injury history, they are really slim on OL depth.

LG Kris Dielman was forced to retire due to concussions, leaving Tyronne Green as a part-time starter at left guard. Green should easily see competition for playing time from a high round draft pick. As far as depth at on the OL, San Diego is not very strong, to put it lightly. Brandyn Dombrowski returns as the backup left tackle; the same Brandyn Dombrowski who in week 10 against the Oakland Raiders allowed four sacks, a hit and nine pressures. The rest of the depth San Diego has on the OL are Colin Baxter, an undrafted center, and Steve Schilling, a 6th round pick, who are both returning for their second years. At 6'6" and 300lbs, Riley Reiff will give a much needed security for Philip Rivers as a backup tackle or even starting at guard.

More after the jump...

At the NFL Combine Reiff did not blow anyone away, as he ran the 40-yard dash in 5.23 seconds, his arms measure 33 and 1/4 inches (considered less than ideal for an NFL left tackle) and put up 23 bench reps at 225 pounds, but apparently did look good in football drills. Reiff is a solid player but not an elite athlete.

Other directions the Chargers could go with pick #18.
Needs: OLB, DE, RB, OL, SS, CB

SS: Mark Barron would most likely be the pick if he fell to the Chargers at 18. Strong Safety is a big need for the Chargers and I would not be surprised if they moved up to get him. Another option is Harrison Smith. A reach at 18, the Chargers would probably trade back and draft Smith later while picking up a mid-round pick, or hope he drops to them in the second round.

DE/OLB: If the Chargers were looking to draft help at another position on defense, Chargers fans would welcome Courtney Upshaw, Melvin Ingram, or Quiton Couples to bolster the Chargers defense, but with them already off the board in the mock, the focus shifts to Whitney Mercilus and Nick Perry. Both are strong DE's that could go mid to late first round. San Diego recently re-signed Nose Tackle Antonio Garay to a two-year deal and brought back Luis Castillo. OLB is increasingly becoming a bigger need for the Chargers. Courtney Upshaw would probably be the second best option at #18, behind Barron, for the Chargers to hope to fall to them.

OL: One of the biggest needs for the Chargers is help on the OL. The best Guard in the draft is David Decastro, if he doesn't fall down to the Chargers it would probably cost too much for the Chargers to move into the top 10 to secure him, even with the rumors of several teams trying to trade down. That leaves the next two top OL being Riley Reiff and Cordy Glenn. Glenn could provide competition for Tyrone Green at the left guard spot after former LG Kris Dielman was forced to retire after last season due to concussions.

RB: Most likely a second round option at pick #49, any running back at 18 would be a reach.

CB: Not necessarily a significant need, and with almost all the top tier CBs off the board in the mock draft the Chargers will look to add CB depth later in the draft.

Next on the clock will be AnthroEagle with the Chicago Bears.

Previous Picks: #1 Andrew Luck, #2 Robert Griffin III, #3 Morris Claiborne, #4 Trent Richardson, #5 Matt Kalil, #6Justin Blackmon, #7 Melvin Ingram, #8 Ryan Tannehill, #9 Michael Floyd, #10 Dre Kirkpatrick, #11 David DeCastro, #12Courtney Upshaw, #13 Luke Kuechly, #14 Fletcher Cox, #15 Quinton Coples, #16 Mark Barron, #17 Stephon Gilmore