The 2015 NFL regular season is officially in the books, which means the top 20 picks have been set in stone. Following the top two selections by the Tennessee Titans and Cleveland Browns, the San Diego Chargers will be on the clock at No. 3. At that spot in the 2016 NFL Draft, the Chargers would be remiss if they didn't take an offensive lineman after the disaster last year, which is why Ole Miss OT Laremy Tunsil should be a no-brainer this April.
In 2015, the Chargers went just 4-12, their worst record since 2003. This team was bitten by an injury bug, the likes of which we don't see very often. Along the offensive line, it seemed like everyone got injured at some point, and it wasn't that good even when healthy. Their offense took even more of a hit as Antonio Gates was hurt for the beginning of the season and then when he was about to come back, Keenan Allen went down with a lacerated kidney, of all things.
It just wasn't a good year, but if they want things to get better moving forward, it's clear that offensive line must be the priority this offseason.
Philip Rivers was sacked 40 times this year, and if he wasn't so good, it would've been a lot more. Truly, it's a miracle he only turned the ball over 15 times this season with the amount of pressure he faced. It's a testament to how talented he is and how much of a leader he is, as he didn't throw anyone under the bus this season.
The running game also suffered. Melvin Gordon, expected to thrive as the starter in San Diego, had a miserable season, and a major part of that was no doubt the frustration that comes with just having nowhere to run. If there aren't any lanes opening, especially for a rookie, running backs tend to try and do too much.
His fumbling issues, however, were something that he did have in college, though. He actually lost six fumbles during his phenomenal senior season. That's something he needs to work on.
Regardless, the issues on the front line were undeniable. Tunsil is viewed as hands down the best lineman in this draft, and when you watch him, it quickly becomes clear as to why.
When run blocking, Tunsil understands his assignments and is always able to find someone at the second level if that's what the play calls for. It's rare to see him whiff on a block trying to move forward and find a linebacker.
In pass protection, Tunsil is flat out special. His feet are always moving, and quickly, I might add. The long arms of his 6-foot-5, 305-pound frame make it easy, and he has that perfect combination of quickness and strength at his base. He uses his arms well to keep himself spaced from the defender and doesn't get hung up too long in one position, which would give the defender an advantage. Instead, he's also moving and ready for anything the defender could throw at him.
If there's anyone close to a sure thing in this year's draft offensively, it's undoubtedly Tunsil, and the Chargers will instantly have a franchise left tackle if they take him.
If the Titans don't surprise and nab him over a guy like Ohio State's Joey Bosa, the Chargers will have their man at No. 3.
