San Diego Chargers: 4 Positions That Need to Be Considered in the Draft

No matter how the Chargers finish the 2011 NFL Season, it's time for a change.

One area that management in San Diego needs to focus on is the draft. It's been close to seven years now since their last all around good draft. The Chargers need to get younger, and the best way to do so is with rookies.

I don't even need to stress the positions that have to be improved. All you have to do is watch them on Sundays to figure that out. Or, to make it easier, just read the rest of this slideshow.

Offensive Line

This has been an absolute terrible year for the San Diego Chargers on the offensive line.

Kris Dielman is contemplating retiring, and Marcus McNeill could join him as well. That would mean that San Diego would have to replace two Pro Bowl linemen in the upcoming year. I guess that puts the offensive line positions on the top of the priority list.

On January 2nd, 2012, the scout team in San Diego better pay close attention to the Fiesta Bowl. Tackle Jonathan Martin will impress them. He's the second rated lineman behind Matt Kalil of USC. Another player who should be looked at is Riley Reiff from Iowa.

No matter what, I see one of these three being available for San Diego during the first round. The statuses of their current linemen will affect the choice made on these draft prospects.

Linebacker

The Chargers have always been known for having that one linebacker with attitude. That one player with more intensity than the entire team combined. The most recent ones have been Junior Seau and Shawne Merriman. By most recent, I really mean the last ones.

This season, San Diego has an aging linebacking core. Takeo Spikes has been very consistent for the Chargers, but how many more seasons can he last? Shaun Phillips has been injured lately, which brings me to the next player, Larry English. Great choice there, A.J. For the past three seasons, English has been put on injured reserve. It's time to move on.

On the other side, Donald Butler has been very impressive. He's led the team in tackles in many games and has made great plays at the right times. He's played very well seeing that it's really only his first season.

The last couple of years, the Chargers have drafted a "pass rusher." I use quotations because of the fact that none have shown promise. Both English and Liuget have not lived up to expectations.

In 2012, there is going to be a loaded draft class for linebackers. If San Diego decides to take another pass rusher in the first round, some of the players they should look at are.

• Vontaze Burfict, ILB, Arizona State
• Manti Te'o, ILB, Notre Dame
• Courtney Upshaw, LB, Alabama
• Zach Brown, LB, North Carolina
• Dont'a Hightower, ILB, Alabama

Strong Safety

Let's just say the Bob Sanders experiment failed. Miserably.

It brings the Chargers back to where they were two years ago, with Steve Gregory at strong safety. Everyone in San Diego knows that Gregory is not a permanent player. The Chargers just have not found a replacement for him. Don't get me wrong, Gregory is a well-rounded player; but he would be better off as a backup.

In the upcoming draft class, there aren't many safeties up for grabs. A player that comes to mind is Mark Barron of Alabama. He's probably the best safety in the draft, but could be a jump for the Chargers in the first round.

San Diego would rank the safety position a little low on their priorities list, but if Barron is still there in the second round, the Chargers should go for him.

Cornerback

Hopefully we can all just say that Antoine Cason had a bad year at the end of the season. He'll have a chance to redeem himself next year, but the Chargers need a replacement just in case. Quentin Jammer is getting closer to the end of his career, and Marcus Gilchrist has shown some signs of production, but it still seems that he isn't ready. 

I don't see the Chargers taking a cornerback first round, but they could go any direction in the second. The only guy I think that could be available in the second is Alfonzo Dennard of Nebraska. He has the athleticism to get on a receiver and stay on him. His pressure and leaping ability is outstanding, which could make him first-round material.

San Diego will definitely take a corner in the draft, but we'll have to wait and see how early they'll take one.