San Diego Chargers Mock Draft: Final 7-Round Predictions

The last call for mock drafts is upon us with the festivities of Day 1 about to kick off later this evening. Soon enough the San Diego Chargers will make the first of their six picks, welcoming in a new class of NFL hopefuls. It seems like just yesterday we were in the thick of the college football season, and now the nation's best players will officially take their game to the next level.

Swirling rumors of a possible trade involving the likes of Philip Rivers and the second overall pick have not gone away, but the Chargers continue to deny having any lines of communication with the team in question for Rivers' services.

Tennessee Titans GM Ruston Webster confirmed this in speaking with reporters on Tuesday, Michael Gehlken of the San Diego Union-Tribune wrote:

"We've made contact with a group of teams that we think might be in range for us to trade with. We do that every year. From that standpoint, we've done that. Teams have reached out to us as well. ... The Chargers are not one of those teams."

Assuming the Chargers don't move Rivers, how will they approach the draft? Will they build around Rivers or build for the future without him? Read on to find out.

Round 1

Pick No. 17: Melvin Gordon, RB, Wisconsin

The difference between Gordon and Georgia running back Todd Gurley is simple—Gordon can help a team win now whereas Gurley can't, at least not until his knee is fully recovered. With Rivers under contract for one more season, the Chargers can't afford to wait for Gurley even if he is the better prospect. Gordon can come in Day 1 and assume the workload left over by Ryan Mathews, giving San Diego the best possible chance to succeed out of the gate.

Other possibilities for the 17th overall pick could include a defensive tackle or edge-rusher. Either way, the Chargers seem destined to land a difference-maker, as GM Tom Telesco put it during a pre-draft press conference.

Round 2

Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Pick No. 48: Eli Harold, OLB, Virginia

Does history repeat itself in Round 2 with the Chargers taking a pass-rusher from the ACC? They selected Jeremiah Attaochu out of Georgia Tech last year but needed to move up seven spots via a trade to collect him. Harold is not considered among the elite edge-rushers available in the draft but is drawing interest from as many as 14 teams, Yahoo NFL insider Rand Getlin reported.

Landing Harold without sacrificing a fourth-round pick would be ideal but probably not realistic given the demand. But considering the Chargers defense had the fourth-fewest sacks (26) in 2014, a late-round draft choice seems like an inexpensive price to pay for a player with first-round potential.

Round 3

Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

Pick No. 83: Tre' Jackson, OG, Florida State

Free-agent pickup Orlando Franklin will lock down the left guard spot in 2015, but right guard remains a concern for the Chargers. Johnnie Troutman was unimpressive as a starter in 15 games last season before landing on IR with a knee injury, and the team released veteran Chad Rinehart when it signed Franklin from Denver. 

Jackson, a two-time All-ACC selection, was named Most Outstanding Player for the South team at the Senior Bowl, and the Chargers have shown interest in the 6'4", 330-pounder. Offensive line coach Joe D'Alessandris worked him out at Florida State's pro day and the team had dinner with him the night before, Tony Pauline of Draftinsider.net reported.

"

Tre Jackson working with a Chargers coach at center #FSUproday pic.twitter.com/0FyEKpdcgd

— Travis Register (@travreg) March 31, 2015"

Round 4

Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Pick No. 117: Tyeler Davison, DT, Fresno State

If the Chargers keep this pick, it will be the first fourth-round selection Telesco has made for the team since taking over in 2013. Davison had a breakout year in 2014, racking up 61 tackles (13 for loss) and 8.5 sacks. Fresno State defensive line coach Pete Germano spoke highly of his former pupil in an interview with Ross Jones of Fox Sports, calling Davison "the best player" he's ever coached.

"He played at 315 pounds, but he moved like he was 280...he's the best player I've ever coached in terms of the want and need to get better. How hard he practiced and played in games and how he was on the sideline," Germano said.

Davis will fit right in as a rotational player on the defensive line, possibly coming on in San Diego's nickel package to rush the passer alongside Corey Liuget. 

Round 5

James Snook-USA TODAY Sports

Pick No. 153: Vince Mayle, WR, Washington State

Mayle, a Biletnikoff Award semifinalist, dominated the Pac-12 with over 1,400 receiving yards and 106 catches in Washington State's pass-happy offense.

The Chargers are set at receiver for now, having signed Stevie Johnson and Jacoby Jones in free agency, but 33-year-old Malcom Floyd is entering the last year of his contract. Keenan Allen will need a running mate for the future and Mayle could possibly be that for San Diego with some coaching up.

Round 6

Brendan Maloney-USA TODAY Sports

Pick No. 192: Quandre Diggs, CB, Texas

NFL media analyst Daniel Jeremiah views Diggs as an undervalued prospect in the 2015 class, mostly because he won't stick anywhere else other than slot corner in the NFL.

The 5'9", 196-pound Diggs picked off 11 passes from 2012-14 and made a career-high 73 tackles his final season with the Longhorns.

The Chargers don't have an urgent need for corner with Brandon Flowers re-signed and first-round pick Jason Verrett returning for his second season, but injuries decimated the secondary last season and Diggs could serve as insurance to Verrett, who is coming off his second shoulder surgery in as many years. 

Other potential targets in the later rounds could include a tight end or inside linebacker, where the Chargers lack depth behind their current starters.