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Team Needs: San Diego Chargers |
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Hurtin' for: nothing
This is a team devoid of glaring needs. Sure, any squad can improve in spots, but the Chargers posted the league's best record in 2006, went to the AFC title game last season and returns 21 of 22 starters from the end of 2007.
Should be lookin' for: defensive backfield depth
Antonio Cromartie took over for Drayton Florence as a starter at corner last season and merely led the league in interceptions. Paul Oliver, a supplemental draft pick last summer, might be ready to step into the open nickel role. Grabbing another candidate at corner wouldn't be a bad idea. Likewise, the team obviously believes that Eric Weddle is ready to take over a starting safety job, or else it wouldn't have released veteran Marlon McCree. There is little in the way of a safety net behind Weddle and Clinton Hart, though.
Will likely settle for: talented backups
The Chargers are in prime position to simply go after the best available players throughout the draft. Another running back should be targeted to backup LaDainian Tomlinson, as Darren Sproles doesn't seem nearly big enough to hold up in extended duty in case of an injury to the starter. Of course, Tomlinson has missed all of one game in his seven seasons, so it's tough to get too worried about that. The oldest starters are G Mike Goff (32) and NT Jamal Williams (32 at the end of this month), so grabbing eventual replacements might be a possibility. Neither player is old enough for that to classify as a need, however. The one position where it might be good to target starting competition is right tackle, where Jeromey Clary brings just six starts into his third season. The team likes him enough, though, to have unloaded veteran Shane Olivea.
Matt Schauf is a contributing writer for Draft Stock and an associate editor and senior fantasy football writer for SportsBuff.com |