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One of the surprise teams of 2013 (to me, anyway) was the San Diego Chargers. They, via f22a4bandit, now join the party that is the 2014 Battle Red Blog Mock Draft.
With the 25th pick in the 2014 BRB Mock Draft, the San Diego Chargers select Kyle Fuller (CB – Virginia Tech).
If there’s one position the San Diego Chargers absolutely need help at, it is cornerback. The Chargers ranked dead last in team defense DVOA (17.5%) in 2013, in large part because of their pass defense. Against number one and number two receivers, they ranked 31st and 32nd, respectively.
Fuller brings excellent measurables to the table. At 6 feet tall and 190 pounds, he’ll be a physical presence that is sorely needed in the Chargers' secondary. His ability to anticipate routes is superb, as evidenced by his 32 passes defensed during his four years at VT. In an injury shortened 2013 season (8 games, due to a sports hernia), he paired two interceptions with 10 passes defensed.
In addition to being excellent in coverage, Fuller is just as good in run support. Over the course of his four seasons, he produced 23.5 tackles for loss. He showcases great tackling technique, wrapping up his targets with great form and leveraging his body to take them down. He amassed 173 tackles during his college career, 129 of which were of the solo variety.
Fuller’s anticipation and technique in both coverage and run support should automatically vault him into a starting role for the Chargers. He is the complete package and exactly what the San Diego Chargers need to turn their defensive fortunes around in 2014.
Hard to argue with that pick, unless you just aren't sold on Fuller being able to play at the next level. What's your reaction to the selection?
Next up is FreedomRide with the Browns' second first round pick. That choice is due to me by 12 p.m. CDT today.
Recapping the draft:
1. Houston Texans--Sammy Watkins (WR--Clemson)
2. St. Louis Rams (from Washington)--Jadeveon Clowney (DE--South Carolina)
3. Jacksonville Jaguars--Johnny Manziel (QB--Texas A&M)
4. Cleveland Browns--Teddy Bridgewater (QB--Louisville)
5. Oakland Raiders--Khalil Mack (LB--Buffalo)
6. Atlanta Falcons--Anthony Barr (LB--UCLA)
7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers--Eric Ebron (TE--UNC)
8. Minnesota Vikings--Greg Robinson (OT--Auburn)
9. Buffalo Bills--Ha Ha Clinton-Dix (S--Alabama)
10. Detroit Lions--Mike Evans (WR--Texas A&M)
11. Tennessee Titans--Justin Gilbert (CB--Oklahoma State)
12. New York Giants--Aaron Donald (DT--Pittsburgh)
13. St. Louis Rams--Jake Matthews (OT--Texas A&M)
14. Chicago Bears--Timmy Jernigan (DT--Florida State)
15. Denver Broncos (TRADE WITH STEELERS) --C.J. Mosley (LB--Alabama)
16. Dallas Cowboys--Morgan Moses (OT--Virginia)
17. Baltimore Ravens--Marqise Lee (WR--USC)
18. New York Jets--Calvin Pryor (S--Louisville)
19. Miami Dolphins--Zack Martin (OG/OT--Notre Dame)
20. Arizona Cardinals--Austin Seferian-Jenkins (TE--Washington)
21. Green Bay Packers--Darqueze Dennard (CB--Michigan State)
22. Philadelphia Eagles--Odell Beckham, Jr. (WR--LSU)
23. Kansas City Chiefs--Brandin Cooks (WR--Oregon State)
24. Cincinnati Bengals--Blake Bortles (QB--UCF)
25. San Diego Chargers--Kyle Fuller (CB--Virginia Tech)
26. Cleveland Browns--FreedomRide
27. New Orleans Saints--H&Hguy
28. Carolina Panthers--Nashmeister
29. New England Patriots--37bp
30. San Francisco 49ers--TexansDC
31. Pittsburgh Steelers (TRADE WITH BRONCOS) --Steel Blue Crew
32. Seattle Seahawks--UprootedTexan
33. Houston Texans--bhsman