The Past Is Paying Off

One more reason I really like the current Charger organization is their front office. I think it is just silly the amount of money first round picks get, especially the top picks. The Chargers, who (in the recent past) have had top picks have not been shy about trading them away and of course the draft day analysts are quick to judge the Chargers move(s) in the now....but let's take a look at a couple of big draft day moves...

First, in 2001 the Chargers traded the top pick to Atlanta, they pick Michael Vick. Every year since then Vick (when healthy) makes some fantastic plays every week but Atlanta, as a team, doesn't do much. This year was the same. Who did the Chargers trade down to pick? Well, you guessed it, LaDainian Tomlinson.

Fast forward to the 2005 draft. Eli Manning, the whining cry-baby, picked by the Chargers wouldn't even put the Charger hat on his head. Traded on draft day to the NY Giants and the Chargers get Phillip Rivers and use the Giants 1st round pick to get Shawne Merriman. I wonder if NY Giant fans are happy with that deal? I certainly know us Charger fans are.

I am the first one to admit that the draft is a crap shoot and that is why I think it is absurd to dump a bunch of money on a player that has yet to take a snap in the NFL...ie: Ryan Leaf. The draft tactics John Bulter and A.J. Smith (Charger GM) have used has proven itself to be productive for the team as a whole. Don't mortgage your future off on one player in the hopes they work out because there is always some other team desperate enough to do so. The end result is that instead of the 'big' college name your squad will in return get more picks that have the potential of becoming an important factor on your team.