2015 TST Community NFL Mock Draft: Chargers Beef Up Front Three To Go With Defensive Drafting Trend

Now into the back half of the 1st round, whirledpeas helps kick us toward the 2nd (or the potential landing area for the Rams to trade up into the 1st...):

#17, San Diego Chargers - Malcom Brown (DT, Texas)

The Chargers definitely have some areas of need in the draft, with La'El Collins and T.J. Clemmings still available to shore up a RT spot, I decided to go with Big Malcom Brown out of Texas as a disruptive Defensive Tackle. He excels at pushing the pocket and making everyone else’s job a little easier. He will be a much welcome addition to the attacking style of defense that John Pagano has installed. The AFC West is a division in flux right now and this is a good start to enhancing a defense that pooped out at the end of last year. I was tempted to go [Todd] Gurley or [Melvin] Gordon for RB but I feel that Jay Ajayi or Tevin Coleman should be within reach in round 2.

In 2014, the Chargers spent their first two picks on CB Jason Verrett and OLB Jeremiah Attaochu. The year previous, their second round pick was spent on ILB Manti Te'o. San Diego's first three picks in the 2012 NFL Draft were spent on defense: DE Melvin Ingram in the 1st, DT Kendall Reyes in the 2nd and S Brandon Taylor in the 3rd.

This isn't a team that has shied away from defense.

So even though John Gennaro from Bolts From The Blue used his pick in the SBN NFL Bloggers Mock to go with Pitt OT T.J. Clemmings, I can't disagree with a defensive pick here. I did like Gennaro's justification in that San Diego has tended to double up on prime needs through free agency and the draft.