Chargers draft at a glance

Posted Apr 30, 2012

Christopher Smith Chargers.com Blog

SAN DIEGO – The Chargers added seven players during this weekend’s NFL draft. Take a look at what they may bring to the roster.

OLB Melvin Ingram, South Carolina

6-foot-1 ½, 264 pounds

Pick: 1^st Round (18^th overall)

Ingram lined up in several spots along the defensive front for the Gamecocks in college and offers the Bolts flexibility at outside linebacker, in addition to securing the deeper pass-rush rotation they covet. Ingram made 19 sacks and 26 tackles for loss in his last two seasons at South Carolina. The Chargers hope he’ll leverage his top-line athleticism to become a menace for opposing quarterbacks.

DE Kendall Reyes, Connecticut

6-foot-4 1/8, 299 pounds

Pick: 2^nd Round (49^th overall)

The buzz word following Reyes is “versatile.” He played at several spots along the defensive line for the Huskies. Reyes’ quick first step could allow him to provide inside pass rush in San Diego’s four-man nickel front or compete for time in the Chargers’ base package at defensive end. The former Huskies team captain is a renowned character guy.

SS Brandon Taylor, LSU

5-foot-11 ¼, 209 pounds

Pick: 3^rd Round (73^rd overall)

The former cornerback made a name for himself on the Tigers’ SEC Championship defense as a senior captain who provides physical run support in the box. A heavy hitter with solid zone coverage skills, he will compete with veteran Atari Bigby and 2010 draft pick Darrell Stuckey for the starting job opposite free safety Eric Weddle.

TE Ladarius Green, Louisiana-Lafayette

6-foot-5 ¾, 238 pounds

Pick: 4^th Round (110^th overall)

The matchup nightmare clocked under 4.5 seconds in the 40-yard dash and leaped 35 inches at the Combine. He fits San Diego’s preference for lean, tall pass-catchers who attack the ball in the air. Not an experienced blocker to this point, Green has a chance to develop into a major receiving threat behind Antonio Gates.

Johnnie Troutman, Penn State

6-foot-3 7/8, 325 pounds

Pick: 5^th Round (149^th overall)

Powerful at the point of attack as a confident run-blocker, Troutman also allowed just a half-sack in 32 starts at left guard for the Nittany Lions. With starters Tyronne Green and Louis Vasquez under contract through 2012, Troutman gives the Chargers a developmental option who also expands San Diego’s offensive line depth.

David Molk, Michigan

6-foot-1, 298 pounds

Pick: 7^th Round (226^th overall)

The Rimington Award winner in 2011 as the best center in college football, Molk put up 41 bench press repetitions of 225 pounds at the NFL Scouting Combine, most among offensive linemen. His game is predicated on his speed and quickness, which he used to become a consensus first-team All-American. He’ll develop behind Nick Hardwick.

Edwin Baker, Michigan State

5-foot-8, 204 pounds

Pick: 7^th Round (250^th overall)

Shifty and quick laterally, Baker averaged 5.6 yards per carry for the Spartans. A first-team All-Big 10 performer in 2010, he will give San Diego a third true running back to help spell Pro Bowler .