Chargers Finish 2014 Draft

Bolts Make 3 More Picks, Add 17 Free Agents

The Chargers had three picks on the final day of the NFL Draft. Three areas they still wanted to address were the interior defensive line, along with adding depth at running back and wide receiver. It just so happens, players the Bolts liked at all three positions were available when San Diego came on the clock.

In the 5th round, they made their biggest pick. Literally.

Ryan Carrethers, a defensive tackle from Arkansas State, is 6'1" tall and weights 337 pounds, and he's strong as an ox.

At the Combine, Carrethers bench pressed 225 pounds 32 times. He says he thought he had 40 in him, but the plates fell off and he had to stop.

Ryan also has a wrestling background, much like former Charger nose tackle Antonio Garay. Carrethers actually attended the same Nashville, Tennessee high school as current Chargers left tackle King Dunlap, so obviously they grow their football players extra large in the Volunteer State.

Carrethers should have a chance to compete for a starting job in training camp.

In the 6th round, they found Arizona State running back Marion Grice, who is tall, fast and versatile. Grice averaged 176.5 all-purpose yards per game in 2013, 3rd-best in major college football.

He's not a real big, between-the-tackles kind of guy, but Grice a very good receiver out of the backfield. He had 50 catches for 438 yards last year.

Grice showed a unique nose for the end zone, scoring 39 touchdowns in his 24-game ASU career. Another plus is, he's reliable. Marion did not lose a fumble in 406 touches.

His most likely contribution will come as a 3rd down or change-of-pace back, or on special teams. Grice averaged 24 yards per kickoff return for the Sun Devils.

Finally, in the 7th round, the Bolts picked up wide receiver Tevin Reese from Baylor, who is kind of like the opposite of Ryan Carrethers.

Reese only weighs 163 pounds (the lightest player measured at this year's Combine), so he's not going to blow NFL cornerbacks away if they get a hand on him at the line of scrimmage.

But, one scouting report I saw called Reese "freakishly athletic." He has an insane 41-inch vertical leap, runs a 4.46 in the 40-yard dash and has good hands.

Reese set the NCAA's career record for most touchdown catches of 40 yards or more with 21. If the Chargers were looking for a vertical threat to stretch the field opposite Keenan Allen (and they were) it looks like Reese is cut from that kind of cloth.

After the final name was called in New York, the Chargers went about signing 17 undrafted free agents. Here's the full list:

D.J. Adams, RB, Portland State
Torrence Allen, WR, West Texas A & M
Brelan Chancellor, WR, North Texas
Alden Darby, S, Arizona State
Chris Davis, CB, Auburn
Greg Ducre, CB, Washington
Michael Flacco, TE, New Haven
D.J. Johnson, G, New Mexico
Micah Hatfield, WR, Oregon State
Javontee Herndon, WR, Arkansas
Tenny Palepoi, DL, Utah
Alvin Scioneaux, LB, Wofford, S.C.
Jeremiah Sirles, T, Nebraska
Chase Tenpenny, P, Nevada
Ricky Tjong-A-Tjoe, DL, Boise State
Colton Underwood, LB, Illinois State
Ian White, T, Boston College

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