The San Diego Chargers need to add talent all over the field, but the middle linebacker position is one that is near the top of the “draft needs” order. When you look at some of the prospects that the team has brought in for visits during the pre-draft process — Oregon inside linebacker Kiko Alonso, LSU defensive end Sam Montgomery and Washington State outside linebacker Travis Long — you can clearly see where the team’s focus is.
The most recent player to visit the Chargers is another well-known linebacker — Manti Te’o.
Te’o is certainly a first-round pick, but there is little chance the Chargers would select him with the eleventh overall pick. The most likely scenario is that the team will look to trade out of the spot if the top three offensive tackles are gone.
The Atlanta Falcons and San Francisco 49ers are teams that have expressed their desire to jump up in to the early teens, so the Chargers would make a solid trade partner.
If San Diego could pull off a trade, then Te’o would make a lot more sense with the pick.