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)
Head Coach Anthony Lynn has put his fingerprints on the Los Angeles Chargers organization from the moment he arrived on January 13.
Change is a natural part of the hiring process, so it's important to note Lynn's impact on the team's draft plans as the Chargers head to Indianapolis for the Scouting Combine.
After all, his arrival naturally shakes up their draft board.
One of many examples is the shift into a 4-3 defense. When preparations began nearly a year ago for the 2017 NFL Draft, the Chargers were in a 3-4 scheme. Thus, prospects may have been a better fit for the previous regime than the current one, while others will see their name rise on the Bolts' draft board as a result.
Still, Lynn's presence does not change the team's evaluations for any prospect.
It only changes what they are looking for.
"Our personnel department has to know what our coaches are looking for," said President of Football Operations John Spanos. "That is always the first step as you get ready for anything where you are adding new players. We are going to make sure we are totally dialed in in that area."
General Manager Tom Telesco echoed those same sentiments.
"Certainly with the new coaches, it's important that we spend a lot of time with them. We have to get a feel for what they look for in players for their system, both offense and defense. On offense, we have a great deal of continuity but we'll certainly have new wrinkles. So, this Combine we'll be talking a lot with our coaches for that purpose, and not just with prospects."
While the new coaching staff won't alter draft grades, they'll greatly influence the team's board and potential targets.
"This is exactly why the college scouts scout every player," Spanos explained. "You never know what system you may be in come the draft. Our scouts have been very thorough, and every school they go to they scout every player. So, we have full reports on everyone. What are the details of their skillset? What are their strengths? What are their weaknesses? Where do they excel? What type of player are they? We have all that information. But yes, I think the defense for some positions might be a little different with the change. It actually opens up the board a little bit for some players that maybe didn't fit in the old defense and now do."
It's only natural to wonder how the aforementioned change to a 4-3 will impact the roster as currently constructed. However, if you think wholesale changes are in order, that couldn't be further from the truth.
Defensive Coordinator Gus Bradley explained the pieces in place were part of the reason he coveted joining the Bolts. Spanos agrees wholeheartedly with Bradley.
"If you look at Gus' defense, a lot of the requirements for certain positions fit a lot of the players we currently have. I don't think it is accurate to describe it as a complete turnover where we have to gut the roster because we have a lot of talented players here. A lot of those players will fit into his defense."
