Craig Mager to San Diego Chargers: Full Draft-Pick Breakdown

A scouting report on San Diego's final pick of Day 2 required some extensive digging, as he wasn't a player many had heard of going into the NFL draft. In fact, he might be the biggest unknown of the third round when it's all said and done.

Texas State cornerback Craig Mager, the 83rd pick overall by the Chargers, played four years for the Wildcats, starting 46 of 48 games. This past season, he accumulated 63 tackles (six for loss) and two sacks. His work in the secondary included 13 passes defensed and three interceptions.

But apart from the statistics, what made Mager a must-have for the Bolts?

Tough to say. General manager Tom Telesco was extremely vague in his explanation, citing speed, feistiness and measurables as the reason why, according to Chargers.com. Mager stands 5'11" and weighs just North of 200 pounds—pretty good size for a corner, possibly even a safety by some standards.

He was a top performer at the scouting combine, running a 4.44 in the 40-yard dash, and he followed that up with a broad jump of 10'10", which tied for third best at his position. That right there tells us he has some speed and explosiveness, but what else do we need to know?

Bleacher Report NFL draft lead writer Matt Miller helped shed some light on the subject:

In terms of how Mager fits in with the Chargers, he's one of eight corners on the roster, so playing time won't come easy for the rookie. Eight-year veteran and former Pro Bowler Brandon Flowers tops the list of starters followed by last year's first-round pick Jason Verrett, whom the team is expecting big things from in his second season.

If anything, Verrett's surgically repaired shoulder may be the only reason for adding another corner to the roster. San Diego needed depth to replace Shareece Wright, who left for the San Francisco 49ers in free agency.

In line to fill slot corner is free-agent pickup Patrick Robinson, a former first-round pick of the New Orleans Saints in 2010. Robinson, too, has had problems with injuries. He landed on IR with a patella injury after three games in 2013 and missed two games last season. After that, it's a mixed bunch of second- and third-year players to choose from. 

Where Mager can contribute from Day 1 is likely special teams and sub-packages on defense. Defensive coordinator John Pagano is very good at utilizing depth on the roster, and he isn't one to shy away from playing young guys. 

Another possibility, though slim, could be to try Mager at safety. Marcus Gilchrist, a two-year starter at strong safety for the Bolts, was lost to the New York Jets in free agency. Jimmy Wilson, a five-year veteran with the Miami Dolphins, was brought in to help replace the void. Mager does play with a physical demeanor and the speed is there to stick with receivers downfield, but it may take some time to teach him the ins and outs of playing safety in the NFL.

All in all, Mager is hardly one of the needs San Diego had for the roster, but it seems as though his upside was too much for the Chargers to pass up.