That said, I like this draft more than I thought I would after the Mike Williams pick. While I might have preferred some different players at some of the picks, I like the value of the picks in the 2nd through 5th rounds. I don't think either of the 6th or 7th round picks will end up making the final roster, and I think there were better picks available, but it is rare to find good players in those rounds, so not a huge deal.
If the first round pick was DT Allen or S Hooker (which would have changed the 4th/5th round picks), this draft would be almost as good as last year's.
That being said, while I don't like the Mike Williams pick, I do think he will be a solid player for the Chargers and really strengthens the group of targets for Rivers. For 2017, depending on health, Rivers will be throwing to Allen, Mike W, Tyrell W, Benjamin, Inman, Henry, Gates, Gordon, and Oliver. If they all stay healthy, that is one of the best receiving groups in the NFL.
The back to back OL picks ensure the OL will be upgraded this season. I think it is very likely that both Lamp and Feeney will start out of the gate. Obviously Okung will start at LT and Slauson will start at C or G. So the question becomes whether or not Barksdale or Tuerk will be the 5th starter. There are quite a few possibilities, with these two seeming like the most likely possibilities:
- LT Okung, LG Slauson, C Tuerk, RG Feeney, RT Lamp
- LT Okung, LG Lamp, C Slauson, RG Feeney, RT Barksdale
It seems like a lock for LT Okung, C/G Slauson, C/G Tuerk, G Feeney, G/T Lamp, and T Barksdale to make the final roster, with C/G Pulley, G Clark, G Wiggins, T Hairston, and T Burwell competing for the remaining 2-3 roster spots.
As you can tell, I am expecting G Franklin to be released or traded. If he is released and designated a post 6/1 cut, it frees up $6M against the 2017 cap. Barksdale will make the final roster due to his contract, but the fact that Lamp can play OT could result in swing tackle Hairston not making it, in which case the team could save $1.525M on the 2017 cap.
Telesco could potentially use whatever cap space is freed up to sign a veteran DL or CB, which would make me feel a lot better about going WR in the first. Or, probably less likely, Franklin could be traded for a defensive player with the same positive outcome; however, trading him offers no equivalent to the post 6/1 designation for releasing him, so the cap savings for Franklin would be reduced to $2.8M.
Come on, Telesco, show us you aren't done...