No. 16: Chargers' best draft class
The '75 draft produced three star defensive linemen
ESPN Stats and Information has ranked all NFL players drafted in the modern draft (1967-2008) based on their performance during their NFL careers -- regardless of how they fared with the team that drafted them. Insider will count down each team's best draft class (seeded 1-32), then conduct a tournament to determine the best class of all time.
For a short explanation of the ranking system, click here, or, for a more detailed rundown of how the system was developed, click here.
It's a tossup when the 1975 Chargers and 1980 Bengals meet -- Vote now!
CHARGERS' BEST CLASS -- 1975
The Chargers have been a very good drafting team, especially early. Ten of their top 12 classes came before 1980, according to ESPN Stats and Information's ranking system.
The 2001 class was good, but the 1975 class ranks the best. San Diego had four of the first 33 picks in the draft, and the Chargers selected three defensive linemen that would form the nucleus of "The Bruise Brothers" and once formed three-fourths of the AFC Pro Bowl defensive line.To continue reading this article you must be an Insider
-
ESPN The Magazine subscribers
-
Need more information?
SPONSORED HEADLINES
MORE NFL HEADLINES
- Sources: 49ers fear Crabtree tears Achilles
- Urlacher retiring from NFL after 13 seasons
- Jets' Smith picks Jay-Z's agency to rep him
- Giants open OTAs minus WRs Cruz, Nicks
MOST SENT STORIES ON ESPN.COM
TOP NFL DRAFT CLASSES
ESPN Stats & Information has ranked all NFL players drafted in the modern draft (1967-2008) based on their performance during their NFL careers -- regardless of how they fared with the team that drafted them.
TOP TEAM DRAFT CLASSES (in seed order)
- About the rankings
- The Tournament bracket
- Best player countdown: #50-12
- Best Draft years of all-time
- Positions: WR | LB | DL | RB | QB | OL
- Top historical picks from slots 1-5
- Best-ever picks at slots No. 6 -10
- Top NFL coaches - Is Belichick the best?
- Top college coaches - Who preps picks best?
- Top value picks - Brady or Montana?
- NFL Draft by state
- Best non-BCS picks
- Best-ever pick from every school
- 32. Houston Texans (2006)
- 31. Jacksonville Jaguars (1995)
- 30. Carolina Panthers (2001)
- 29. Cleveland Browns (1978)
- 28. Philadelphia Eagles (1988)
- 27. Green Bay Packers (1990)
- 26. Seattle Seahawks (1990)
- 25. New York Jets (1977)
- 24. Kansas City Chiefs (1967)
- 23. Arizona Cardinals (1971)
- 22. Denver Broncos (1983)
- 21. Atlanta Falcons (1991)
- 20. New Orleans Saints (1993)
- 19. New England Patriots (1977)
- 18. Indianapolis Colts (1969)
- 17. Cincinnati Bengals (1980)
- 16. San Diego Chargers (1975)
- 15. Tennessee Titans (1983)
- 14. Washington Redskins (1981)
- 13. Chicago Bears (1981)
- 12. St. Louis Rams (1971)
- 11. Oakland Raiders (1968)
- 10. Detroit Lions (1989)
- 9. Minnesota Vikings (1967)
- 8. Miami Dolphins (1983)
- 7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1995)
- 6. New York Giants (1981)
- 5. San Francisco 49ers (1981)
- 4. Baltimore Ravens (1996)
- 3. Buffalo Bills (1985)
- 2. Dallas Cowboys (1975)
- 1. Pittsburgh Steelers (1974)
NFL DRAFT COVERAGE
- NFL Draft Central | Kiper Index Page
- McShay: Seven-round mock draft
- Kiper: Four-round mock draft
- Kiper Rankings: Off. | Def. | Top Juniors
INSIDER DRAFT COUNTDOWN
- Plugging Holes: NFC E | S | N | W

- Plugging Holes: AFC E | S | N | W

- Why INT rate is the key stat for QBs

- Tuesday With Mel: QB shuffle (4/21)

- Bowen: 5 second-year breakout candidates
- Edwards: The NFL's all-time Top 20 coaches
- Tuley: Best early-season win-total bets
- Red Flags: NFC East | North | South | West
- Kiper: 2014 Big Board | Top TEs | OLBs | ILBs

