Paul Pulley | May 22, 2019
The only absolute way to make the postseason in the NFL, is by winning your own division, something the Kansas City Chiefs have done for three years running. Once again, it looks like the Los Angeles Chargers will the the major intra-divisional challenge in 2019. Therefore I thought it would be worth a look to see if the Chargers (Broncos and Raiders will come later) may have gained ground in free agency and the draft.
The Chargers weren’t very active in the early part of the off-season. In January they signed a few players to reserve/future contracts. Two 
notable ones were QB Cardale Jones and CB Arrion Springs. The Chargers actually traded for Jones in the summer of 2017 and kept him on the active roster for all of the 2017 season, but last year, Jones was waived and then signed to the Chargers practice squad. Arrion Springs spent camps and the pre-season last year with the Chiefs, then released during cut-downs and was picked up by the Chargers on their practice squad in mid December.
After the beginning of the 2019 League year, the only moves of note made by the Chargers were the signings of QB Tyrod Taylor, who looks to be Philip Rivers backup. The Chargers also signed the 36 year old LB, Thomas Davis, who spent the first 14 years of his career with the Carolina Panthers.
A Look at the Chargers 2019 Draft
Interestingly, the Chargers are the only team, out of all 32 NFL teams that did not make a single trade, either before or during the draft, nor did they have any comp picks. The Chargers picked at the 28th selection in each of the drafts seven rounds.
Round 1, Pick 28; DT Jerry Tillery, 6-6 and 295 pounds. If Tillery’s name sounds familiar, he is a DT that I was hoping the Chiefs would target prior to their signing Frank Clark. If Tillery pans out as expected, he will be a similar player to our own Chris Jones. I expect Tillery to get plenty of snaps his rookie year and he will be a player the Chiefs interior OL will have to account for, for the foreseeable future.
Round 2, Pick 28; S Nasir Adderley, 6-0 and 206 pounds. Adderley is another player who’s name might be recognizable, as he was associated with the Chiefs many times in several pre-draft workups. Paired with Derwin James, the Chargers 2018, 1st round safety, Los Angeles has a pair of safeties that will help their secondary for years.
Round 3, Pick 28; OT Trey Pipkins, 6-6 and 310 pounds. A top Division II offensive lineman that has a lot of potential, but will need time to develop. I’m sure the Chargers are hoping he’ll be the eventual replacement for the soon to be 32 year old, Russell Okung.
Round 4 Pick 28; LB Drue Tranquill, 6-2 and 234 pounds. A new age sized LB, but not extremely fast or quick, probably the result of tearing both ACL’s (two separate incidents) early in his collegiate career. Most likely a career backup and special teamer.
Round 5, Pick 28; QB Easton Stick, 6-1 and 224 pounds. A dual threat QB with experience in a pro-style offense and running the RPO, but is lacking in arm talent. Probably a practice squad player as a rookie.
Round 6, Pick 28; LB Emeke Egbule, 6-2 and 245 pounds. A developmental LB with decent athletic skills and reasonably productive in college. Egbule might struggle to make the 53 man roster as a rookie.
Round 7, Pick 28; DT Cortez Broughton, 6-2 and 293 pounds. A little undersized but plays with good strength. Broughton had a different DL coach every year in college, so consistency is an issue, but the potential is there to be a productive DT.
The Chargers, for the past several years, have done a good job drafting, especially in the early rounds.
An Overview of the Chargers Offseason
The national pundits are proclaiming the Chargers to be one of the most complete teams headed into the 2019 season, and it’s not hard to see why they can come to that conclusion. Several of the national media are, once again, picking Los Angeles to win the AFC West.
Both head coach Anthony Lynn and defensive coordinator Gus Bradley are entering their third season with the Chargers, while Ken Whisenhunt is starting his fourth season as offensive coordinator.
Ultra durable QB Philip Rivers hasn’t missed a start in the past 13 seasons and hasn’t shown signs of slowing down yet. Rivers lack of mobility shows as the Chargers usually have one of the lowest rated offensive lines for pass protection.
As long as players like Hunter Henry, Joey Bosa and Melvin Gordon can stay healthy, the Chargers should have a good season.
Chargers Special Teams
The Chargers special teams are something to keep an eye on during the pre-season. 2017 and early 2018 were disasters for the Chargers field goal kickers. They did seem to solidify the position in mid-2018 with the addition of Michael Badgley last year. Badgley only kicked in 10 games last year, but hit 15 out of 16 attempted field goals.
The punter position is up for grabs in 2019 as the only two currently on the roster are Ty Long, who was a place kicker and punter both in the Canadian Football League the last two years, and rookie Tyler Newsome, who has a strong leg but lacks directional skill.
The Chiefs Defense
With Kansas City bringing in, not only a slew of new defensive players, but a new defensive coaching staff and scheme, our divisional opponents are going to have to work to move the ball this year. Even though the Chiefs have had different players the past several years, they have played the same old scheme that our opponents knew how to defeat. This season, they will be in for a surprise, and I, for one, can’t wait.
Paul Pulley — ArrowheadOne
If you are viewing this in Apple News and would like to join the Discussion, [GO HERE.](http://arrowheadone.com/chiefs-know-thine-enemy-the-chargers-offseason/#disqus_thread)