Whether they lost Ryan Mathews in the NFL free agency period or not, the San Diego Chargers were bound to be scouring the 2015 NFL Draft for help at the running back position.
Mathews, the disappointing former first-round pick in the 2010 NFL Draft, struggled to stay healthy and thus failed to find consistent production during five seasons in San Diego.
With Mathews now a member of the Philadelphia Eagles and the Chargers facing a running back depth chart consisting of the unheralded Branden Oliver, the diminutive Danny Woodhead and Donald Brown, another disappointment of a first-round pick, the need for an addition or two via April's draft has become even greater.
Chargers fans should keep their eyes on one electrifying ball carrier in particular in the coming weeks, according to NFL.com analyst Charles Davis.
"I would take Todd Gurley and make him the obvious choice there at No. 17," Davis said on NFL Network's Path to the Draft on Tuesday. "When he is 100 percent, and I'm getting indications that he could be ready by training camp, he is everything Melvin Gordon is and then some. He's the most powerful back in this draft and the Chargers like physical players."
Gurley and Gordon are widely viewed as the top two backs in the 2015 NFL Draft.
The still just 20-year-old Gurley has dealt with some injury issues - he tore his ACL in November - but were it not for that, he'd be the clear-cut No. 1 at his position.
"Rare blend of speed and power. Immense power in legs and shows balance through contact," reads Lance Zierlein's NFL.com draft profile of Gurley. "Shreds arm tackles and has speed to house it. Very hard to tackle on an angle. Professional, decisive runner. Presses line of scrimmage to set up his cut-back runs. Gets downhill with knee bend and forward lean, staying small through the hole. Uses quick, tight steps to second level. Will sink and explode into tackler or side-step and jet, causing hesitation in downhill safeties with their approach. Converts "speed to power" between tackles and around corner."
Gurley also adds a pass-catching element out of the backfield as he possesses "soft hands" and the "ability to adjust to throws" per Zierlein.
In short, Gurley has the chance to become everything that Mathews was supposed to be, but never was, for the Chargers should they find a way to nab him in the upcoming draft.
