Chiefs: Know Thine Enemy, The Chargers Offseason

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.