Why did the Chargers select a QB?
The big question everyone seems to be asking is why the Chargers selected Charlie Whitehurst. Assistant General Manager Buddy Nix answers the question:
Why a QB in the third round?
Buddy Nix: “Well, because he’s the best player there.He is the highest rated player there. We only got two and we certainly need three. We go to camp with four. You can’t have too many. It’s a proven fact that one play and you got to go to the next one. That’s where you are you can’t have too many of those guys.”
Is this about quarterback AJ Feely?
Buddy Nix: “Absolutely not. He’ll be wherever coach puts him. We need three and we got ‘em. I know one thing it didn’t take me long in this business to find out that the folks with good quarterbacks win and the ones with bad ones lose. You better try to keep them.”
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At first, I didnt understand the pick. Then I thought about it and did some research:
2004:
Player School Rd Sel# Team
Matt Schaub Virginia 3 90 Atlanta
Luke McCown Louisiana Tech 4 106 Cleveland
2005:
Player School Rd Sel# Team
Charlie Frye Akron 3 67 Cleveland
Andrew Walter Arizona State 3 69 Oakland
Kyle Orton Purdue 4 106 Chicago
Ryan Fitzpatrick Harvard 7 250 St. Louis
You NEED insurance at QB in this league. Brees/Rivers is a perfect example. The SuperBowl Champs went through 3 QBs last season. Good pick staff.
Zepeda (April 29, 2006 09:10 PM)
I like the pic. It took drafting Rivers to light a fire under Brees. Maybe this will get some competition to bring out the best. Go Bolts!
sunny (April 30, 2006 06:38 AM)
We also need insurance that the best running back in the league is going to be able to do his job
Fresno Dave (April 30, 2006 07:46 AM)
We didn't need this pick if we kept Lemon. Because we gave away Lemon, we had to spend a 3rd round to get a decent back-up. AJ Feeley is not a back-up...I guess Smith liked his name. This pick should have been spent building the OL and DB.
AJ lost his rabbit foot.
The Maven (April 30, 2006 09:54 AM)
A wasted pick. They should be finding better OL/DL players and receivers. Super Bowls can be won with Brad Johnson and Trent Dilfer types. Anytime GMs say "he was the best player available" Fans hear "We don't have a plan"
alphoneguy (April 30, 2006 11:22 AM)
Dude, I'm just surprised the guy was still available for us to pick up. I think the staff addressed the bigger issues in the first two rounds. In my opinion, this selection was like a bonus or a luxury pick. I didn't see this coming but it may be a good pick.
michael BOLTon (April 30, 2006 01:10 PM)
Why did the Chargers select a backup QB in the third when decent safties (who had been projected to be first round picks) were still available to pick? Are Darnell Bing and Ko Simpson that bad? I am shocked that we didn't beef up our secondary a little more? Aren't there still some decent backup QB free agents out there to back up Rivers? I'm confused.
What the HUH? (April 30, 2006 05:35 PM)
The best player... highest rated? ON whose list? Not even the highest rated QB available. Croyle was rated higher and drafted later. Then used the 4th pick to trade rams for TE. Not horrible but with the Def deficiencies... luxury picks SD doesn't have. Chargers could really take a lesson from the Eagles.
Tim (Carmel, CA) (April 30, 2006 10:18 PM)
When Charlie Whitehurst was a sophomore, he was projected to be the #1 or #2 quarterback in this year's draft, but he had to deal with a TERRIBLE O-line his junior year. An injury set him back his senior year, but he performed well nevertheless. Whitehurst is a third round STEAL and it makes me feel good that front office understood this. He is the prototypical drop-back NFL quarterback, and he is a beautiful backup option to Rivers. Trust me, this was a very smart decision.
Mark (May 1, 2006 08:24 AM)
Smart pick AJ. It is very important to have depth and to always be developing young talent at the qb position. He is a steal at this point of the draft. Sometimes the least exciting picks are the most important ones. Which is the case here.
Derek (May 1, 2006 09:53 AM)
Charlie and I arrived at Clemson University at the same time. I've watched every game he has played on the college level. He no doubt has the ability to be outstanding. Whether he will or not remains to be seen. Good luck Charlie!
JJ (May 2, 2006 01:23 PM)
All those "prophets of doom and gloom" who call the Whitehurst pick a "huge mistake" are the same guys who thought Ryan Leaf was going to be the franchise QB for years to come. They just can't bring themselves to admit they were taken in by the NFL hype along with everyone else. AJ Smith has proved to the football world that he knows what he's doing... and will continue to do so for many years to come... unless the Spanos' let another franchise steal him away.
ofrinion (May 2, 2006 04:59 PM)