Could San Diego Make a "Spill" On Draft Day?

If you are looking at past years’ draft results and transactions, you would have a better chance of finding a "Ryan Leaf for Governor" pin rather than finding a Charger first round trade up on draft day. 

While the team has good scouts and (aside from Leaf) usually draft pretty well considering their usual later round pick, this years’ draft may be the time the team breaks from the norm. 

Right now they are faced with an option: rebuild or rejuvenate. Should the Bolts decide to use their current 28th overall pick, they will be looking at slim pickings offensively. As mentioned, the team usually drafts well, but this will be the first time in the last half decade that their decisions will be crucial for the clubs’ 2010-2011 success. 

Right now the team has Darren Sproles slotted as their No. 1 back. However, seeing how the Chargers offensive line is as poor as it is, it doesn't look likely that he will stay in that spot. Unfortunately the RB is a tad too short and a tad too small to fill the role of No. 1, so look for him as the No. 2 man once again this season. 

Right behind him there are only two possible candidates vying for the No. 3 job:

- Newly acquired Marcus Mason from the Washington Redskins. He is 5'9 and ran the ball for an average of 4.0 yards in nine games last season, so its not likely he will fill the front man role.

- Former LSU Tiger Jacob Hester could resume the role he played in college as a running back, rather than his current job as fullback. However, given the circumstances and lack of runners on the team it seems unlikely. 

So with that said, the decision to shoot for a RB in the draft over any other position should be a given. Not to mention RB's LaDanian Tomlinson, Gartrell Johnson, and Michael Bennett, who were all on San Diego's roster last season, are now elsewhere.  

Now that you know the background, lets take a look at this years’ RB draft class. Done? I thought so, there's not many worth checking out. However, Clemson's CJ Spiller is sure to turn some heads. He was the 2009 ACC player of the year. He's 5'10, 195 lbs. Not amazing but not bad considering he can back it up. He has wheels and he can take it to the house through the opposition if needed. 

After watching players like Chris Johnson, Marion Barber, and Ray Rice each come straight from college and tear up the NFL in past years, it seems the old draft and wait for progress system has flown out the window. Teams are looking for immediate results and San Diego should be no different. 

A potential trade up for a better pick should be well within their realm as well. While they are not heavy at a lot of positions, the rumoured re-signing of wide-out Vincent Jackson would give them a few WR's to toy with, along with a few extra picks that were recently acquired. 

San Diego would be very naive to think that a good RB will still be waiting to throw on a draft cap when the 28th pick is on the clock. If they don't act quickly to make a move, a possible rebuild and rekindle could be in the teams' near future.