With the Los Angeles Chargers picking seventh in the 2017 NFL Draft, here are the 25 most recent players selected with the number seven overall pick.
San Francisco 49ers rookie defensive end DeForest Buckner (99) gets set for the snap in a three point stance during the 2016 NFL week 16 regular season football game against the Los Angeles Rams on Saturday, Dec. 24, 2016 in Los Angeles. The 49ers won the game 22-21. (Paul Spinelli via AP)
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Lucky Whitehead (13) lines up against the Dallas Cowboys in an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 25, 2016, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans (13) runs upfield with a pass against the Atlanta Falcons in a Thursday Night NFL football game Nov. 3, 2016 in Tampa, Fla. The Falcons won 43 - 28. (Al Messerschmidt via AP)
Arizona Cardinals guard Jonathan Cooper (61) against the Cleveland Browns in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 1, 2015, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane)
Safety Mark Barron (23) of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers sets for play against the Minnesota Vikings October 26, 2014 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa. The Vikings won 19 - 13. (AP Photo / Al Messerschmidt)
San Francisco 49ers linebacker Aldon Smith (99) reacts after a play against the Baltimore Ravens during the third quarter of the NFL Super Bowl XLVII football game, Sunday, Feb. 3, 2013, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)
Cleveland Browns cornerback Joe Haden (23) chases the action during the NFL week 10 regular season football game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Thursday, Nov. 6, 2014 in Cincinnati. The Browns won the game 24-3. (AP Photo/Paul Spinelli)
Oakland Raiders wide receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey (85) gets past Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Stanford Routt (26) for a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo., Sunday, Oct. 28, 2012. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)
New Orleans Saints defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis (98) lines up in a four-point stance during an NFL game against the Oakland Raiders on November 18, 2012. The Saints defeated the Raiders 38-17. (AP Photo/Kevin Terrell)
Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson (28) tries to break a tackle by Chicago Bears free safety Chris Conte (47) during overtime of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2013, in Minneapolis. The Vikings won 23-20. (AP Photo/Ann Heisenfelt)
Oakland Raiders safety Michael Huff (24) reacts during an NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons, Sunday, October 14, 2012, in Atlanta. The Falcons won 23-20. (AP Photo/Paul Abell)
CHICAGO, IL - OCTOBER 14: Wide receiver Troy Williamson #82 of the Minnesota Vikings runs a pass pattern against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on October 14, 2007 in Chicago Illinois. The Vikings defeated the Bears 34-31. (AP Photo/Scott Boehm)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Roy Williams (11) bobbles a pass during an NFL game against the San Francisco 49ers, Sunday, Sept. 21, 2008 in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Greg Trott)
Quarterback Byron Leftwich #7 of the Jacksonville Jaguars throws a pass against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field on August 23, 2007 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The Jaguars beat the Packers 21-13. (AP Photo/David Stluka)
Minnesota Vikings offensive tackle Bryant McKinnie (74) blocks during the NFL week 10 football game against the Chicago Bears on Sunday, November 14, 2010 in Chicago, Illinois. The Bears won the game 27-13. (AP Photo/Paul Spinelli)
Linebacker Andre Carter #96 of the San Francisco 49ers comes around the end against the Houston Texans at Monster Park on January 1, 2006 in San Francisco, California. The Niners defeated the Texans 20-17 in overtime. (AP Photo/Paul Spinelli)
Arizona Cardinals running back Thomas Jones races with a swing pass from quarterback Dave Brown for a 19-yard gain to the San Diego Chargers' 2-yard line during the second quarter Friday, Aug. 25, 2000, in San Diego. The Cardinals were unable to score. (AP Photo/Lenny Ignelzi)
Washington Redskins defensive back Champ Bailey (24) on Sunday, September 22, 2002, in San Francisco, California. The 49ers defeated the Redskins 20-10. (AP Photo/Al Golub)
New Orleans Saints offensive tackle Kyle Turley (68) is seen in action during an NFL game against the Carolina Panthers Oct. 14, 2001 in Charlotte, N.C. (Allen Kee via AP)
New York Giants wide receiver Ike Hilliard (88) runs upfield with the ball during Super Bowl XXXV Jan. 28, 2001, at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla. The Baltimore Ravens defeated the New York Giants 347. (Allen Kee via AP)
New England Patriots wide receiver Terry Glenn (88) carries the ball during an NFL football game against the San Diego Chargers at Foxboro Stadium on August 31, 1997 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. The Patriots won 41-7. (AP Photo/David Stluka)
Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Mike Mamula (59) is seen in action during an NFL game against the Arizona Cardinals Sept. 10, 1995, in Glendale, Ariz. (Kevin Terrell via AP)
San Francisco 49ers vs. Philadelphia Eagles at Candlestick Park Sunday, December 29, 1996. 49ers beat Eagles 14-0. San Francisco 49ers defensive tackle Bryant Young (97). (AP Photo/Al Golub)
Chicago Bears Curtis Conway (80) during a game from his 1993 season. Curtis Conway played for 12 years with 4 different teams.(David Durochik via AP)
Miami Dolphins' Troy Vincent (23) intercepts a Steve Bono pass to Kansas City Chiefs' J.J. Birden in the end zone during second quarter action in Miami, Fla., Dec. 12, 1994. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Many consider ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. to be the forthright authority when it comes to all things NFL Draft.
In fact, many credit him with helping put the draft on the map as a landmark event decades ago.
On his “First Draft” podcast released this week, Kiper was asked what he would do when the Chargers are on the clock with the seventh overall selection. Placed in General Manager Tom Telesco's shoes, here is what he had to say about the options:
"Well, protecting Philip Rivers is front and center. So an offensive tackle (has to be in consideration), but it is too early for that. Getting another weapon at wide receiver, Keenan Allen has not obviously been able to stay healthy. So a wide receiver (is an option but it's) too early for that. Then you look, do they go safety? Do they go with a Malik Hooker? Is Jamal Adams there at that point? Probably not. So it is a team that doesn't really have positional need working in unison with where the best players are in this draft. Again, here is a team that at seven that could look to (trade) down a little bit unless they feel the safety from Ohio State is a guy to look at there. If they want an offensive lineman, you move down. If you want a wide receiver you probably move down a little bit."
Meanwhile, fellow ESPN draftnik Todd McShay believes the Chargers should take a long, hard look at both safeties at the number seven spot:
"Safety, you can make an argument for though. I think Malik Hooker, that is a position that if Malik Hooker is there or Jamal Adams, why wouldn't you? To me it just makes sense…Yeah, I would love to move down just about all the time to get extra picks and all that, but if they can't, I think safety is a good choice. Let's give credit to Tom Telesco, their GM, and Kevin Kelly, their director of college scouting. They did a heck of a job last year, and it is starting to look like the last couple of drafts. Jason Verrett from 2014. Melvin Gordon came on last year and was a totally different back than his rookie year. You just mentioned the whole 2016 class and what they got out of that group. So while quarterback in the long-term is an issue, I think they need to really continue to work on the back end because this team has some good young players but how long are they going to get play at the quarterback position? It is going to be interesting to see how this all plays out."
