18. San Diego Chargers -- Andre Branch, DE Clemson
Needs: RT, G, TE, DE, LB, SHead coach Norv Turner somehow survived another firing this offseason and he knows he is going to have to find an immediate starter with this selection to help he and his Chargers’ team get over the hump and get back on top of the AFC West. I am going to have to go with Jacober’s guy, Andre Branch out of Clemson. This is a luxury pick for the Chargers that also fills a need. Branch is a beast who racked up 10.5 sacks this season, punctuated by a four sack, 11 tackle performance against Virginia Tech in early October. New defensive coordinator John Pagano has a big task ahead of him trying to revamp a defense that had slipped considerably in 2011 after the departure of coordinator Ron Rivera, who is now the head man in Carolina. There is no word on whether or not Pagano will keep the 3-4 defense or switch to a hybrid, but adding a talent like Branch on the defensive side of the ball makes a lot of sense either way. Although I see him as a better fit in a 4-3, Pagano will find a way to get this stud on the field and pressure the QB as much as possible, something he stressed in his introductory press conference.
