2017 NFL Mock Draft: Los Angeles Chargers select Solomon Thomas

With the seventh pick in the 2017 Canal Street Chronicles NFL Mock Draft, the San Diego Los Angeles Chargers select:

Solomon Thomas, DE, Stanford (6-foot-3, 273-pounds)

Here’s Fantasma17’s take on the selection:

I checked in at Bolts From the Blue, CBS Sports, chargers.com, ESPN, and NFL.com. And do you know what happens if you read enough different sites? To research a team’s draft needs? Almost every position will get listed as a “team need” and you’ll see things like “if the right player falls, they could look to upgrade this position in the first round” about lots of different positions, too.

There was a trend in the mocks that had Lulz Angeles drafting a safety here, but with Jamal Adams and Malik Hooker already gone, it was a reach to stick with that (because Jabril Peppers is way too overrated according to Fanny’s Draft Magazine), so I just wasn’t willing to make it on their behalf.

Then, some pointed to a need to upgrade the offensive line, but this would have been even more of a reach, and since I avoided a reach before, I couldn’t very well reach at this position, either.

Others seem to think the Chargers need a stud WR opposite Keenan Allen, but I just can’t rationalize a receiver being taken this high because of personal bias. And especially since I considered it a reach.

After eliminating these positions, since they couldn’t pass my reach or personal bias litmus test, I decided to go the other direction and look up towards the top of the board, and that’s when I saw him there, perched at #2 on a list of the Top 50 2017 NFL Draft Prospects on one of those sites. Solomon Thomas, a mountain of a man (compared to Brees, anyway) from Stanford, described in the literature as a disruptive pass rusher with a pro-ready game combining quickness and power.

Then I got a call from Gus Bradley, who reminded me that they are switching to a 4-3 scheme, which can never have enough good defensive ends, and telling me that I’d be a boron NOT to take Thomas here.

But I wasn’t fully convinced that he was THE ONE, until I realized that his first name leads off the acronym of Billy Batson’s powerful safe word, and then I just knew I had to snatch him up for the Captain Marvel defense!

Solomon Thomas
Hayward, Casey
Addae, Jahleel
Zamir Carlis
Adrian Phillips
Melvin Ingram

With the addition of Solomon to the thunderous one-two lightning punch of Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram, they can now electrify the league by storming into opposing backfields and wreaking havoc upon opposing quarterbacks in a way that few teams can. Holy Moly, indeed.

Thanks to all the CSC members who are participating in this year's community mock draft. Without your help, none of this would be possible!

Community Mock Draft Results

1. Cleveland Browns - Myles Garrett, DE, TAMU
2. San Francisco 49ers - Marshon Lattimore, CB, Ohio State
3. Chicago Bears - Jamal Adams, S, LSU
4. Jacksonville Jaguars - O.J. Howard, TE, Alabama
5. Tennessee Titans - Malik Hooker, S, Ohio State
6. New York Jets - Deshaun Watson, QB, Clemson
7. Los Angeles Chargers - Solomon Thomas, DE, Stanford

The Carolina Panthers are on the clock!