The Los Angeles Chargers snagged a developmental quarterback in the fifth round of the 2019 NFL Draft.
The Chargers made North Dakota State signal-caller Easton Stick the 166th overall pick.
Stick took over for Carson Wentz as the Bison quarterback and won 49 games over four seasons at NDSU.
At 6-foot-1, Stick doesn't have the size or arm strength of Wentz, but is an accurate passer with very good athleticism. His experience in a pro-style system is a big boon for the quarterback coming out of the FCS.
"Somebody's going to draft him knowing he's got to sit and develop in the passing game," a QBs coach told NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. "But he ran for (41) touchdowns in college. The second they got in the red zone or they got in four-minute mode, he was the running back, basically, which is kind of like what the Panthers do with (Cam) Newton, and you see (Mitch) Trubisky doing that. That kind of a system that values that even more, it gives him a better chance, too. And then [his] off-the-charts intangibles."
In L.A., Stick has the luxury of learning under Philip Rivers for the next several seasons. With the Chargers bringing in Tyrod Taylor as a backup this offseason, Stick projects as the third QB who shouldn't be pressed into duty as a signal-caller in 2019.
Here are other quarterbacks selected on Day 3 of the draft:
- The Bengals traded up to draft N.C. State quarterback Ryan Finleywith the 104th pick.
- The Patriots selected Auburn quarterback Jarrett Stidhamwith the 133rd pick.
- The Eagles drafted Northwestern's Clayton Thorsonwith the 167th pick as insurance for Carson Wentz.
- The Jaguars snagged Washington State's Gardner Minshew with the 178th pick.
- The Ravens drafted Penn State quarterback Trace McSorleywith the 197th pick.