|
There are some people who will say the Chargers did not get enough in return for the
No. 1 pick in the draft.
I say that’s a bunch of nonsense.
Did the Chargers get as much for the pick as they might have in a different year? No.
But what you have to keep in mind is that this was not a seller’s market. You can
only get what the market will bear.
Plus, once the Chargers decided that Michael Vick was not the way they wanted to go, it
was pretty clear that RB LaDainian Tomlinson was the guy they wanted.
Thus, the Chargers got an extra second round pick (2002 draft), an extra third round
pick (this year) and WR Tim Dwight and still got the guy they wanted. I say that’s
brilliant.
There are several keys to a good draft. Identifying talent is important. Recognizing
how that talent will fit into a system is important. Also crucial is the ability to
identify where players will go in the draft. Knowing that a guy will be great, but not
being able to get him serves no purpose. Knowing that a guy will be good, but taking him
too soon will lead to subpar drafts.
The Chargers’ John Butler did a great job of knowing what other teams would do in
this particular move.
Plus, Tomlinson shortens the learning curve for the Chargers to start winning.
Tomlinson will produce right now. Not part way through the season. Not late in the season.
Not the following season. He figures to produce from day one, although it would help his
cause if the Chargers can upgrade their offensive line. Immediate production was not going
to come from Vick, who would have sat on the bench behind Doug Flutie this season if the
Chargers had gone that route.
Tomlinson plays the position that is easiest to make an immediate impact in the NFL.
Given all of the upgrades the Chargers have made this offseason, they could be much
improved this coming season.
Was this move the right move for the Chargers? Only time will tell. If Vick becomes the
next Michael Jordan as some have suggested, then the answer is no. If Vick’s
inexperience hurts him as a pro then the Chargers probably made the right move.
What is known right now, however, is that the Chargers had the guts to go with their
convictions and then they played the system as perfectly as a concert pianist in getting
their man.
Back to Draft Day index page |
