Chargers News: Examining Tom Telesco's Final LA First Round Draft Picks

Alex Kirschenbaum | Apr 1, 2024

Feb 27, 2024; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Las Vegas Raiders general manager Tom Telesco during the NFL Combine. / Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Former Los Angeles Chargers general manager Tom Telesco, now the Las Vegas Raiders' GM, had a fairly uneven record in the NFL draft. He has since been replaced by the highly-regarded Joe Hortiz, formerly a top decison maker with the Baltimore Ravens. Hortiz's first draft in charge of the Chargers is upcoming this month. Can he learn any lessons from his predecessor's decisions?

In a new piece, Daniel Popper of The Athletic breaks down Telesco's five final first round draft picks during his tenure for Los Angeles.

The Chargers' reigning top rookie selection, wide receiver Quentin Johnston, was fairly underwhelming during an inconsistent debut season. But he still has a pretty high upside.

"The Chargers drafted Johnston in the first round as a developmental player. He was thrust into a bigger role than expected amid injuries to [Mike] Williams and [Joshua] Palmer," Popper writes. And he objectively struggled. He had some big drops. His route running lacked deception and refinement. These weaknesses should not have been a surprise. They were on his film at TCU. The new coaching staff is excited about Johnston’s skill set. Can they utilize him in a way that maximizes his elite athletic traits?"

Offensive lineman Zion Johnson was LA's top selection in 2022, the No. 17 pick. He, also, has been a bit disappointing relative to where he was picked.

"Johnson has not yet lived up to his draft slot. As with his rookie year, there were moments in 2023 when his combination of size, strength and intelligence showed up," Popper writes. "He just has not yet found the requisite consistency as a run blocker or pass protector. He is poised for a big jump within Roman’s scheme and with the coaching of new offensive line coach Mike Devlin and assistant offensive line coach and Chargers legend Nick Hardwick."

Another offensive lineman, left tackle Rashawn Slater, was the 13th pick in 2021. Slater has proven to be a solid selection thus far, but he has struggled with health issues after a promising All-Pro rookie season.

"Slater was an All-Pro as a rookie and emerged as one of the best left tackles in the league. He missed most of his second season with a torn biceps he suffered in Week 3," Popper writes. "Slater was back in 2023 and started all 17 games for the first time in his career. He battled through an ankle injury early in the season, and that affected his play. But he got healthier in the second half and returned to his All-Pro form. He is a franchise left tackle and is now eligible for an extension."

Rocket-armed Pro Bowl quarterback Justin Herbert, the fulcrum of the team's offense and its anticipated stud of the future, was a terrific pick-up in 2020 with the sixth pick out of Oregon. But, as Popper cautions, he is looking like a bit of a health question mark, too.

"Herbert has battled injuries the past two seasons — fractured rib cartilage in 2022 and two broken fingers in 2023. He is still unquestionably a franchise quarterback," Popper allows. "Now, after signing a market-setting contract extension in 2023, Herbert has to win. That will be the ultimate goal for Harbaugh and Hortiz. And their intention is to give Herbert more help — with a run game and a consistent defense — than he has received at any point in his career.

Defensive lineman Jerry Tillery, who's already long gone, was drafted with the No. 28 pick in 2019. Popper pulls no punches in his appraisal.

"Tillery was one of the worst draft picks of Telesco’s tenure," Popper writes. "The Chargers waived him in November 2022 after he had a falling out with the coaching staff. He later joined the Raiders, and Telesco — now the GM in Las Vegas — cut him in March for the second time in 17 months. He signed a one-year deal with the Vikings after his release from the Raiders."