From Scout to Front-Office

(View A.J. Smith Draft Blueprints here)

Over the past five years, we have known the San Diego Chargers to be an annual playoff contender. But they have most definitely not been that way for long.

In 2004, the Chargers had an ownership change, which led to the promotion of one of the scouting department executives to the prestigious GM position.  A.J. Smith was handed that position and immediately began to place his stamp on the organization in the pivotal ’04 Draft, where he managed to trade the number one overall pick (Eli Manning) to get Philip Rivers and several other draft picks for the future.

Since that time, MR. Smith has acquired high-caliber players such as Shawne Merriman, Antonio Cromartie, Marcus McNeil, Michael Turner, Shaun Phillips, and Eric Weddle.

For a former scout, it comes as no surprise to discover that Smith has built this team around the draft. Last I heard, somewhere around 20 of the team’s starters have come via the draft.
With that squad, San Diego has made a couple of runs deep into the playoffs. But they haven’t reached the championship yet. Who knows when they will go all the way?