The Los Angeles Chargers are looking to become one of the best teams in football. With the offense finding a consistent identity and several critical defensive playmakers Womens Darius Philon Jersey , hopes are high for this season to finally be the year where everything clicks and the Bolts hoist their first ever Lombardi trophy. But there are still some concerns for the season and long-term future. With the defense losing several vital playmakers such as linebacker Denzel Perryman, defensive tackle Corey Liuget and cornerback Jason Verrett, a changing of the guard could be in place for the Chargers moving forward. While several key franchise places are intact and should remain at the head of the foreground, other big tame names could be on the move following the 2018 season. The NFL Draft is rapidly approaching and with that, so is the time for Chargers general manager Tom Telesco to begin his scouting process. Multiple players could fit the Charger mold and be the future of the organization.Seven rounds of picks could help mold Los Angeles to win now and for the foreseeable future. With plenty of needs for the Bolts on both sides of the ball, Los Angeles will have a chance to push themselves ahead of the pack with a solid draft class. While this is all speculation, this week’s edition of Blooming Bolts will not feature players the Chargers should look for. Instead, it’ll feature names the team should draft if the season ended today. Yes, there is a quarterback on the list. Round 1: OT West Virginia Yodny CajusteFor those wondering why Alabama’s Jonah Williams isn’t the selection, the Chargers would have to trade a hefty number of picks to move up and select him. Perhaps the top offensive lineman in the draft, Williams is a top-15 lock before even declaring. Joe Barksdale was released from the team following Sunday’s outing against the Steelers, leaving a hole on the right side for the long-term future. Right tackle will become a glaring need to address early on if the team elects to go that pattern. If the Chargers are expecting to have Rivers as their quarterback, they have to protect him the same way the Saints did for Drew Brees. Cajuste’s ceiling might not be as high as several other offensive linemen, but he’s likely the most NFL ready. A clean form pass protector. Cajuste has done a fantastic job protecting Will Grier in the Mountaineers high-tempo offense this season. Solid footwork along with the ability to be a lead blocker downfield, the 6-5, 315-pound tackle can play on either side of the ball and contribute day 1.Perhaps a better option at left tackle, the former Mountaineer could spend time at right tackle and become the long-term option to replace Russel Okung. The Chargers need to build a line for Rivers and whoever replaces him in the future. Cajuste is a plug-and-play starter for the Bolts offense as a rookie. Round 2: Auburn DL Derrick BrownThe defensive line has always been a need for the Bolts this season. With recent news of injuries and life changes, it becomes a pressing one. With Liuget out for the season Authentic Casey Hayward Jersey , the defensive tackle might be released after the season to save the team some cap space. It’s possible, look at what happened to Barksdale. Brandon Mebane is in a contract year while staring down his 34th birthday and recently had a child that could require more attention than his performance on the field. Thankfully for Los Angeles, the defensive line class is pretty packed of quality players. If the Chargers are going to wait to address the defensive line need until day 2, Brown could be the pick that makes the most sense. A bull rusher up the middle, Brown’s size, and speed allows him to overpower single-man blocking sets and stuff running backs behind the line. Good quickness off the snap, the Auburn defender possess great hands and the ability to shuck lineman out of his way to find clean openings towards the ball. The Chargers might not need a starter is Justin Jones can prove his worth and the team elects to keep Liuget one more season. But Liuget will have one more year left on the contract, and any smart general manager knows that battles are won in the trenches. Round 3: Notre Dame LB Te’Von Coney There’s a good, a bad, and an ugly when looking at the Bolts options at linebacker. The good; Jatavis Brown has had success as the MIKE backer since the loss of Denzel Perryman. The bad: Brown is inconsistent as a player and could regress once again if the team elects to move him back to his outside linebacker role. The ugly: the Chargers need to address the linebacker position at some point in the draft for their future if Perryman is no longer an option and Brown isn’t the best choice. Some scouts are higher on Coney than a round-three pick, but his overall skills are very raw. That being said, a round-three selection would be perfect for him and Gus Bradley’s defense. Excellent size and great athletic traits, Coney’s 240-pound frame would allow him to find success as either a MIKE or SAM backer at the next level. A superb tackler who flies to the ball and uses his speed to close outside gaps, Coney is a highly productive tackler that will eliminate the run and produce multiple stops for a defense. Telesco should have his eyes on the young Irish linebacker somewhere on day 2. Coney’s overall skills would mesh well in Gus Bradley’s defense moving forward.Round 4: Ohio State CB Kendall Sheffield With Trevor Williams in a restricted free agent contract this season, a team could sign an offer sheet that the Chargers refuse to pay. Desmond King is looking like a slam dunk pick, but his skills are best suited in the slot against quicker receivers. Casey Hayward is proving to be showing regression in age and could be looking like the best days are behind him. Should the team sign Verrett to a one-year contract, this could give them time to develop a young cornerback for the future. Ohio State over the past few years has been known to bring top-caliber cornerbacks to the professional level. While perhaps not at the same level of Marshon Lattimore or Denzel Ward, Sheffield has the skills to be a quality cornerback in the NFL. Excellent in man coverage Womens Derwin James Jersey , the former Alabama product has strong ball production and limit receptions to any receiver. A reliable tackler, Sheffield isn’t afraid to play the run and could be an excellent gunner on special teams. While the Chargers should look to sign a cornerback in the offseason, adding a young cornerback from a prestigious defensive back university makes sense. Round 5: Notre Dame TE Alize Mack Hunter Henry is one of the up and coming tight ends in the league. He’s coming off a torn ACL however and could need a year of full-time play to gain back that status. Antonio Gates will retire this season, and Virgil Green is no longer a solid secondary option. The Chargers should find a second man just in case Henry’s progression reaches a screeching halt. Notre Dame is known for producing excellent tight end in the NFL and Mack could be the next one. Although relatively new in a starting role, the 6-4, 251-pound tight end could be a solid option in the red zone offense similar to how the Houston Texans use Jordan Thomas. A good blocker in space, Mack can help produce quality rushing yards in the open field. A mismatch against linebackers and slot cornerbacks, his route running will need to improve but should win a majority of battles. A quarterback can never have too many weapons. Mack would be a nice red zone threat. Round 6: Washington State QB Gardner Minshew Let the comments come now. The Chargers are expected to have Rivers still on the roster until the new stadium is built in 2021. That’s all the should expect as of now since the future Hall of Fame gunslinger will be nearing 40 years old and hopefully not on his 10th child. The Chargers need to think about his replacement and drafting a first-round prospect in 2021 isn’t going to save them if they’re still in contention.Maybe not a sexy pick, Minshew has been one of the better quarterbacks in college football this season. The East Carolina transfer has a solid arm, great accuracy and the ability to carry the team down the field while keeping drives alive. Great pocket footwork and the ability to throw under pressure, Minshew has put together a solid season for the Cougars offense with 4,477 passing yards and 36 touchdowns in the PAC 12. While his throws will need some more power underneath them, Minshew could at least be a solid backup at the next level.Round 7: Baylor WR Jalen Hurd With Artavis Scott expected to battle for a role next season and Mike Williams already turning into one of the better receiver prospects from the 2017 NFL Draft, Tyrell Williams could be on the move. With glaring needs at other positions, the Chargers could allow Williams to walk and save themselves some money. If they do, they’ll need to look at another option. Hurd was best known for his time at Tennessee as a running back. Switching positions like switching schools, the 6-4 receiver has made tremendous strides as a route runner for the Bears offense, collecting 64 receptions for 946 yards and four touchdowns. While a work in progress Joe Barksdale Jersey , Hurd offers the ability to mix things up in the Chargers offense and be a potential vertical size threat on the outside. Seventh-round picks sometimes are stars, and Hurd can be just that. With half the season done, who do you hand the offensive player of the year award to right now?Michael Peterson: Melvin Gordon. Has increased his career YPC to 4.0 and has strung together 100-yard games for the first time in his career. On pace for 20 touchdowns and over 1600 yards.Jason Michaels: Philip Rivers can’t double dip. We’re going to give it to Melvin Gordon, who has officially taken off. He was serviceable in most games last year: really good then not. This year he is consistently very, very good.Ruben J. Gonzalez: We’ve have got to go ahead and give Melvin Gordon his props because he is running as free as he’s ever been. He’s not going to juke you in the open field, but his deceiving speed might allow him to scoot on by you. It’s taken him a few years for him (and the coaching staff) to figure it out, but he’s here now and its all for the best.Jake Hefner: Melvin Gordon - His game continues to get better. His versatility in both the run and pass game, gives so much flexibility to the offense. The Chargers are giving every opportunity to Gordon to get into space beat defenders down field. There’s no doubt he has become a game changer for this offense.Mike Murray: Mike Pouncey, his athleticism at the center spot is a huge factor in Melvin Gordon’s success. On many of the big Charger runs you will see Pouncey destroying someone at the second level to break them free.Jamie Hoyle: I think you could make the case here for Philip, Melvin Gordon and Mike Pouncey, but I’m going to go with Gordon. He is the lynchpin of the offense, as everything runs more efficiently when the offense runs through him. He’s been a lot of fun to watch this season.Lou Gorini: The offensive player of the year is every Chargers fan favorite player, Melvin Gordon. Gordon has been the solution to the Chargers red zone woes. He simply has a knack for finding the end zone. He has been a major contributor not only in the rushing game but the passing game as well. The Chargers finally put a competent offensive line in front of Gordon and he goes ahead and awards them with his highest YPC season ever at 5.4. He is the reason why Rivers has had a perfect passer rating on play action passes.Richard Wade: This has to go to Melvin Gordon. He is not just playing way better than he ever has before. He is one of the most productive, most efficient running backs in the entire National Football League. For years now, he has been productive when they threw him the ball. This year, he’s a monster in the passing game. Add to that his work as a runner and Gordon is putting up numbers we have not seen since LaDainian Tomlinson left.Who is your offensive player of the first half of the season? Custom Pittsburgh Steelers Jerseys