2011 NFL Mock Draft: San Diego Chargers Boost D-Line with Aldon Smith

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In the 2011 NFL Mock Draft, the San Diego Chargers select Missouri University defensive end Aldon Smith with the No. 18 pick in the first round.

The Chargers are a bit of an enigma. They never have the most talented team on paper. They fail to sign any marquee free agents, and will rarely even shell out enough money to hold on to the solid players that they have on their roster.

They start out slowly each season, yet almost always make a run that generally ends up in the postseason. But they cannot always rely on that happening. Eventually, they will need to re-sign some of their top offensive stars to long term contracts and get more production out of their defense.

While he will not have any say over signing Vincent Jackson to a long term contract, Aldon Smith could give San Diego the pass rushing presence that they have been in dire need of for a couple of seasons now.

Smith may be a bit raw, but with a little bit of time and the right coaching, he has the potential to be a standout as a professional. Had he stuck around for one more season at Missouri - like he probably should have - he may have been able to solidify himself as a top five pick. But he wanted to come out early to make some money, so no one can fault him for trying. As it is, the No. 18 pick will most likely still sign a pretty fair contract.

Smith may not be able to make as instant of an impact in his rookie year as some, but he could develop into the best defensive lineman drafted in 2011. ESPN NFL Draft analyst Todd McShay says that Smith's upside is worth the gamble.

"Some teams likely view Smith as a right end in a 4-3 scheme but I think he has the potential to transition to outside linebacker in a 3-4," writes McShay. "The Chargers have gotten only three career sacks from 2009 first-round pick Larry English and need a 3-4 pass rusher who can take some pressure off OLB Shaun Phillips. While Smith still has some developing to do, he can pressure the quarterback in tight spaces, which is important for a 3-4 OLB."

Smith could still be off the board by the time San Diego picks at the No. 18 spot, but if he is still there, the Chargers would be insane to pass up what he could bring to this team for years to come.

If they do decide to go another way, expect to hear the name of either Muhammad Wilkerson (Temple), J.J. Watt (Wisconsin), Anthony Castonzo (Boston College), Gabe Carimi (Wisconsin), Mike Pouncey (Florida) or Ryan Kerrigan (Purdue).

For more on what the Chargers may decide to do on draft day, make sure to check out Bleacher Report Correspondent Andrew Longworth, who takes a look at the 2011 NFL Mock Draft: San Diego Chargers 7 Round Predictions.

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