Chargers Looking to Draft Defense

[Gunzlingr]

Chargers | Looking to Draft Defense - posted at KFFL (http://nfl.kffl.com)
11:21 PT: Jim Trotter, of the San Diego Union-Tribune, reports the San Diego Chargers are mainly focused on selecting defensive players in the April 26-27th NFL Draft. However, assistant GM A.J. Smith said the team may pick an offensive player in the first two rounds, but the team will put an emphasis on the defensive side of the ball.

[The_Philster]

Last season, the Chargers ranked 30th among the 32 NFL teams in total defense and were last against the pass. In the three-plus months since the team's season ended, there have been no noticeable upgrades to the unit. The release of starters Rodney Harrison and Alex Molden and the trade of perennial Pro Bowler Junior Seau actually make the defense appear weaker on paper.

However, the Chargers are expected to address the defense this weekend when the NFL conducts its two-day draft in New York. Barring an unexpected free-fall by Utah offensive tackle Jordan Gross, San Diego figures to go heavy on defense after addressing its offensive concerns during free agency with the signings of wide receiver David Boston and fullback Lorenzo Neal.

"I will go so far as to say that there will be a defensive emphasis because of the situation that we have here," said assistant general manager A.J. Smith, who will oversee the draft in the wake of the death of GM John Butler. "That is not to say that we would not pick an offensive player in the first two rounds . . . (but) the defensive emphasis is something that we are trying to look at." ...

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