Los Angeles Chargers: Derwin James was a steal
The Los Angeles Chargers found a steal of a selection at No. 17 overall in the 2018 NFL Draft. How good could Derwin James be at the next level?
The Los Angeles Chargers finished the 2017 regular season as one of the most confusing teams in the NFL. Los Angeles finished 9-7 after a campaign that included a dominant passing defense, an explosive passing attack, and a 1000-yard rusher.
It also missed the playoffs, however, due in large part to its status as one of the worst run defenses in the NFL.
Los Angeles allowed a league-worst 4.9 yards per carry in 2017, and ranked No. 31 in rushing yards allowed. Its strategy at the 2018 NFL Draft was catered to addressing that flaw, including the selection of Derwin James in Round 1.
According to Mike Sando of ESPN Insider, an anonymous insider stated a belief that many around the NFL share: James was an absolute steal.
"“If you polled a bunch of people, I think the majority would say Derwin James was the biggest first-round steal,” one of the insiders assigned to the first round said. “You could make the case that he was one of the five best players in the draft, with only Saquon Barkley, Bradley Chubb and Quenton Nelson clearly ahead of him. The fit with Gus Bradley is perfect. There is a little bust potential, but a lot of boom potential.”"
If you follow With the First Pick, you likely know that I echo the very sentiment that James was one of the five-to-10 best players in this class.
Selecting a safety may not be a direct way to improve the quality of the run defense, but it’s symbolic of change. James will bring explosive speed to the defense, as well as size, strength, and physicality.
Becoming faster on defense should go a long way towards fixing the flaws on defense, as there will be an infusion of players who can play from sideline to sideline.
There will also be a number of players who can hit the line of scrimmage in time to stuff the run and stifle an opponent’s offense.
What James brings to the table in specific is a combination of size, speed, and playmaking ability. He stands at 6’2″ and 215 pounds with massive arms, a muscular frame, and sub-4.5 speed. He posted 11 passes defended in 2017, and 4.5 sacks in 2015.
All things considered, James has the raw potential to be the complete package if he can remain healthy—and in an ideal scheme.
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The Los Angeles Chargers may need more than just Derwin James, but he could push this defense a significant step in the right direction.