The San Diego Chargers are in an interesting position heading into the 2015 NFL Draft.
The team has a good core to build around, a top-tier quarterback in Philip Rivers (although his future is in question beyond next season) and a number of young, productive players. San Diego is looking to get back to the playoffs after coming up short last season and will be counting on its first-round pick (No. 17 overall) this year to help in that effort. With tailback Ryan Mathews gone to the Eagles, there's one area in particular that makes sense for the team to target in the first round, according to NFL Media analyst Charles Davis.
"I would take Todd Gurley and make him the obvious choice there at No. 17," Davis said on NFL Network's "Path to the Draft" on Tuesday. "When he is 100 percent, and I'm getting indications that he could be ready by training camp, he is everything Melvin Gordon is and then some. He's the most powerful back in this draft and the Chargers like physical players."
Along with Gordon, Gurley is considered one of the top two running backs in this year's draft and would likely be the consensus No. 1 at the position were it not for the ACL tear he suffered in November. He's on the mend and would certainly be a nice boost to the Chargers' backfield as a primary rusher once he's fully healthy.
Three of six mock drafts by NFL Media analysts have the team taking a running back at No. 17, and Gurley makes plenty of sense given where the Chargers are slated to pick. However, if the team doesn't go for a running back at No. 17, Davis sees another area of the offense that could be addressed.
"I'm thinking about taking care of Philip Rivers," Davis said. "They could draft somebody to play right tackle like Ereck Flowers from the University of Miami, a powerful tackle who can get the run game going and help protect Philip Rivers."
No doubt, the team's quarterback would certainly be quite happy with a new weapon, in the backfield or protecting him up front.
You can follow Bryan Fischer on Twitter at @BryanDFischer.
