No franchise wants to head into the NFL draft with its team needs laid bare for all to see.
When the Philadelphia Eagles signed Ryan Mathews in free agency, many draft analysts turned back to the San Diego Chargers and declared them a likely landing spot for a first-round running back.
To combat the idea they are a shoo-in to draft a runner early, the Chargers brass spent this week's NFL Annual Meeting talking up their current stable of backs: Branden Oliver, Donald Brown and Danny Woodhead.
"We could win with the three guys we have right now; I believe that," coach Mike McCoy said, per U-T San Diego. "We're going to play them all. They're all going to play in their own way. We'll see what happens through the draft and the rest of free agency with what's available."
"Branden Oliver can be a starter in this league," general manager Tom Telesco said. "Donald Brown has been a starter. ... We know what Danny can do. We have three great guys. I'm not saying we wouldn't add somebody, but we don't need to."
Oliver showed flashes last season, but wore down with a heavy workload when Mathews was injured. Brown is also a committee guy and Woodhead a third-down back. The Chargers don't possess that workhorse who can create creases and extra yards consistently.
Unless they trade for Adrian Peterson -- unlikely -- prior to the draft, San Diego is as likely as any team to end the first-round running back drought.
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