And with the #16 Pick in the Arrowhead Pride Community Mock Draft, the San Diego Chargers Select...

by Chris Thorman on Mar 25, 2009 7:13 AM CDT in 2009 AP Mock Draft

LSU DE Tyson Jackson

Helmets with the pick...

Anyone who is making the huge plays for the Chargers, is getting pretty old, or has at least spent 4 or 5 years in the NFL. They really need to get some fresh talent, especially on defense. I wanted to take an offensive lineman here but with Oher gone I felt that Britton and Beatty were too much of a reach. Everyone says they are going to take a RB, but they have running backs. With the Chargers renegotiating LT’s contract, and bringing him back, they can focus this pick on the defensive side of the ball.

What we learned about the Chargers this year, is there defense is a one man wrecking crew and when Shawne Merriman doesn’t play the defense suffers extremely. AJ Smith said, "I believe defense wins championships. I've said that a number of years and I'll never deviate from it. But we have to find out how to stop passing assaults on this football team. We've gotta get off the field." The return of Shawne Merriman should help immensely, but they could use some work up front now that Igor Olshansky is in Dallas.

Tyson Jackson is one of those tailor-made 3-4 DE players who should start from day one. He’s got the size, strength, and experience that GM AJ Smith will love. Jackson is one of the best 3-4 DE prospect in the draft and would be a great fit in San Diego. He is not a great pass rusher but is an excellent fit as a DE where he can occupy blockers and push the pocket. Drafting Jackson and the return of Shawne Merriman, the Chargers defense will be vastly improved.

Previous pick: CB Malcolm Jenkins

Read more: Scouting Report (Mocking the Draft)

On the clock: New York Jets (NJChief)

Click over for the schedule and full draft results.

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With Olshanksky leaving, I like this pick. I had to read up on Jackson because I didn't know much about him and he seems to be the best DE available.

Pick	Round 1	Selection	Date
1	Detroit Lions - UCrawford	LB Aaron Curry	Weds. March 10th
2	St. Louis Rams - Lanier63	OT Jason Smith	Monday, March 16th
3	Kansas City Chiefs - TonyG88	OT Eugene Monroe	Monday, March 16th
4	Seattle Seahawks - mikvogel	DT B.J. Raji	Tuesday, March 17th
5	Cleveland Browns - HIV2Elway	WR Michael Crabtree	Tuesday, March 17th
6	Cincinnati Bengals - mistamic	OT Andre Smith	Weds., March 18th
7	Oakland Raiders - mushin	WR Jeremy Maclin	Weds., March 18th
8	Jacksonville Jaguars - DThomasReigns	WR Percy Harvin	Thursday, March 19th
9	Green Bay Packers - JasonM	DE/OLB Everette Brown	Thursday, March 19th
10	San Francisco 49ers - Harry Feltersnatch	QB Matt Stafford	Friday, March 20th
11	Buffalo Bills - ArrowDread	LB Rey Maualuga	Friday, March 20th
12	Denver Broncos - Keyser Sose	DE Brian Orakpo	Monday, March 23rd
13	Washington Redskins - Official Arrowhead Pride Parade	T Michael Oher	Monday, March 23rd
14	New Orleans Saints - cmpotter	CB Vontae Davis	Tuesday, March 24th
15	Houston Texans - ChiefsDude	CB Malcolm Jenkins	Tuesday, March 24th
16	San Diego Chargers - Helmets	DE Tyson Jackson	Weds., March 25th
17	New York Jets - NJChief		Weds., March 25th
18	Chicago Bears - Holmeslice		Thursday, March 26th
19	Tampa Bay Buccaneers - madtheory		Thursday, March 26th
20	Detroit Lions (from Dallas) - UCrawford		Friday, March 27th
21	Philadelphia Eagles - Chiefsfan717		Friday, March 27th
22	Minnesota Vikings - kcsno56		Monday, March 30th
23	New England Patriots - connerman		Monday, March 30th
24	Atlanta Falcons - RedNose		Tuesday, March 31st
25	Miami Dolphins - shraggyj		Tuesday, March 31st
26	Baltimore Ravens - Ben S		Weds., April 1st
27	Indianapolis Colts - craig in calgary		Weds., April 1st
28	Philadelphia Eagles (from Carolina) - Chiefsfan717		Thursday, April 2nd
29	New York Giants - ChiefsFan90s		Thursday, April 2nd
30	Tennessee Titans - Lvl.99		Friday, April 3rd
31	Arizona Cardinals - THE_TRUTH		Friday, April 3rd
32	Pittsburgh Steelers - McWhirt33		Monday, April 6th

Poll

Do you agree with the pick?

Yes

58 votes

No

31 votes

Indifferent

11 votes

100 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

Good pick, this is exactly around where Jackson should go

And he fits the Chargers perfectly.

I wouldn’t be surprised to see them take Cushing if he’s there. They’re deep at ILB, but Stephen Cooper, Matt Wilhelm and Tim Dobbins are just OK, They could use a more versatile guy in the middle.

I keep going back and forth, but I think you’re right in taking Jackson. Take the athletic big man and team him with Merriman on the left side.

by RedNose on Mar 25, 2009 8:05 AM CDT reply actions

I agree with Cushing be a decent fir as well...

After Oher went off the board I was thinking Jackson, but started looking at Cushing. I’d love to see the Chiefs get him some how. I also considered Laurinaitis, but thought that was to much of a reach.

by Helmets on Mar 25, 2009 8:54 AM CDT up reply actions

Laurinaitis is a big reach IMO

He might end up in the 2nd round. His athleticism is going to look very regular in the NFL.

Cushing will be a pretty good player, but I don’t know if he’ll be a special playmaker. He might fit in well in that defense the way James Farrior does in Pittsburgh.

When you have a chance to draft a strong, active DE with that kind of size and athleticism, you take him. Jackson may well end up an improvement over Olshansky.

by RedNose on Mar 25, 2009 9:21 AM CDT reply actions

There's only 3-4 sure-fire first rounders left

After that the madness begins.

by RedNose on Mar 25, 2009 9:31 AM CDT reply actions

This Maybe Has Been Said

But I remember thinking last year that the AP mock draft was all over the place. It didn’t seem consistent with what the “experts” thought. However, when you look at mock drafts done by McKay or Kiper or whomever it is the same person perceiving the needs of 32 teams. It is nothing like the draft where it is 32 people perceiving the needs of 32 teams. In many ways then, the AP mock draft is more like the actual draft is that it is 32 people perceiving the needs of 32 teams. And I think that makes this unique—and kindof awesome—as awesome as a mock draft can be.

Beat the Donkeys!!

by schraggyj on Mar 25, 2009 9:50 AM CDT reply actions