The San Diego Chargers took a big step backwards under third-year head coach Mike McCoy in 2015, as they posted their first losing season at 4-12 since his arrival. The Chargers have added some significant pieces to their roster in free agency this offseason, but still have multiple holes they need to fill heading into the 2016 NFL Draft.
The Chargers lost two big pieces this offseason in safety Eric Weddle and tight end Ladarius Green, and likely will be looking to bolster both positions in the upcoming draft. Chargers general manager Tom Telesco spoke about the loss of Green to the Steelers in free agency, and their future plans for the position.
"We would have liked to have kept Ladarius, but it just didn't work out. He is going to a really good situation in Pittsburgh with Heath Miller retiring, and he will probably step in as the number one guy for them," said Telesco. "But there were only a small amount of tight ends available in free agency this year, and a lot of them re-signed with their own teams. It's only April and we open up the weekend after Labor Day. There is not a single team in the league who has their roster set right now. There is not team that looks at their roster right now and says they are ready to play opening day. Tight end is a position we know we still need to do some work with, but we have plenty of time to get that done."
The Chargers were able to retain tight end Antonio Gates this offseason, and have signed free agent Jeff Cumberland, but should still look to acquire a young tight end in the upcoming draft. Gates will turn 36 prior to the start of the 2016 season, and Telesco and the Chargers front office should look to target a potential replacement after the first round of the draft.
San Diego has plenty of needs they are looking to fill in the draft, particularly on the defensive side of the ball, but three potential mid-round tight ends the Chargers should look to target are Arkansas' Hunter Henry, Stanford's Austin Hooper, and Ohio State's Nick Vannett.
Henry is considered the top tight end prospect in this year's draft class, but could surely be in play for the Chargers' second round pick. The Razorbacks tight end is listed at 6-foot-5, 250-pounds, and has drawn comparisons with Cowboys star tight end Jason Witten. In his junior season in the SEC Hunter recorded 51 receptions for 739 receiving yards and scored three touchdowns. Henry would be a strong fit in San Diego's offense, and his ability as both a pass-catching tight end and run blocker sets him apart from other tight ends in this year's draft class.
The Chargers may look to fill other needs with their first two picks in the draft, but likely will look to target a tight end within the first four rounds. Stanford's Austin Hooper could slide to the third round of the draft, although most draft analysts project him as the second-best tight end in this year's class. The 6-foot-4, 254-pound tight end caught 34 passes for 438 yards in his junior season for the Cardinals and was a productive red zone target with six touchdowns. It's unknown if Hooper will still be available for the Chargers' third round pick at 66, but if he is still on the board they should grab him quickly.
While Hooper is projected as second to third round prospect, Buckeyes tight end Nick Vannett should still be available for the Chargers with the 66th pick. The 6-foot-6, 257-pound tight end has drawn comparisons with Eagles tight end Zach Ertz, and his big frame will surely entice some teams in the upcoming draft. The Buckeyes tight end only recorded 19 receptions for 162 yards in his senior year, but Ohio State's passing game struggled all season, as they dealt with changes at the quarterback position. Vannett has the ability to develop into a top-tier tight end at the next level in the right system, and it wouldn't be suprising if the Chargers decided to take him in the third round if both Henry and Hooper are off the board.
