Greetings, lovers of the Bolt.

At the breakfast Cafe this fine morning, we’re serving sunshine and rainbows, topped off with chocolate truffles shaped like the Lombardi Trophy.

The NFL draft is two weeks from tomorrow. The Chargers hold the No. 3 chip. The Spanoses and Tom Telesco are humming Pharrell’s “Happy.”

You’ll read nothing below about the draft as a crapshoot. No mention of Ryan Leaf, nor James FitzPatrick.


Positive vibes reign this morning, as we lay out plausible, sunny-side up scenarios for six Bolts candidates in this draft class.

First, a slice of inspiring history: John Elway, spending a top-5 chip five years ago, launched his Denver dynasty by selecting Texas A&M defender/future Super Bowl MVP/flatulent dancer Von Miller. Reggie McKenzie, choosing in the top-5 two years ago, ignited Oakland’s revival by taking the University of Buffalo’s Khalil Mack.

Telesco has shown he can find a difference maker, be it Jason Verrett (pick 25) or Keenan Allen (pick 76).

So, dream a little. Odds are, someone or someones drafted April 28 will go on to NFL stardom.


The Chargers may be one of the teams to hit the jackpot.

Ole Miss T Laremy Tunsil: The blindside protector keeps Philip Rivers so clean, the quarterback declares, “By golly, I didn’t even put my jersey in the laundry bin after the game.” With Tunsil performing like a champ, pricey left guard Orlando Franklin gets on track and the Bolts center, whoever he is, finds his sea legs. The rookie lifts the team’s sagging outside-run game, too.

Tunsil praises the counsel of King Dunlap, the incumbent. Dunlap slides into a swing role and suffers no more brain injuries. In 2023, Tunsil makes his fifth All-Pro team after the Bolts move into their East Village digs, Lance Alworth Stadium.

Florida State DB Jalen Ramsey: Like Antonio Cromartie before him, he brings comic-hero speed and springs from Florida State to Chargers Park. Under the tutelage of Ron Milus and John Pagano, Ramsey gets past the growing pains. He thrives as a do-it-all playmaker who checks tight ends, jams wide receivers, wins as a blitzer and picks off passes as a safety. His tackling doesn’t recall Cromartie. Too busy praising Ramsey, San Diego media types go an entire week without mentioning Eric Weddle.


Oregon DE DeForest Buckner: Giving Pagano a true “3-4” end, Buckner firms up a run defense that in 2015 was San Diego’s worst in yards per carry since the NFL and AFC merged in 1970. Every bit as energetic as teammate/heat-seeking missile Jahleel Addae, the huge rookie swats passes, powers his way into backfields and piles up hustle sacks. In time, comparisons to Cardinals star Calais Campbell ring true as Buckner evolves into a Pro Bowler.

Raising one of his toaster-sized hands, Buckner stuns Raiders quarterback Derek Carr with a one-handed pickoff in the 2017 AFC Championship Game. With fellow Punahou School (Honolulu) alums Barack Obama and Te’o cheering him on, he rolls into the end zone.

Ohio State DE Joey Bosa: Chargers vets, after getting a look at Bosa in spring training, marvel that he’s still only 20 years old. As he did as an Ohio State freshman, he makes big plays as a rookie. No one equates him to J.J. Watt, but with Bosa upgrading Kendall Reyes’ old spot, and Corey Liuget and Brandon Mebane showing out, and sophomore Darius Philon making splash plays in a deepening rotation, the defensive line goes from weakness to strength.

Bolts fans adopt Bosa’s signature shrug. After getting a taste of Mission Beach, Pacific Beach and Windansea, Bosa declares himself a San Diego dude for life.


UCLA LB-S Myles Jack: The versatile Jack arrives at Chargers Park to pundits’ claims he’s the best player in his draft class. So he is. Bolts fans buy up “Jack-hammer” T-shirts the day after Jack, spelling banged-up starters Te’o and Melvin Gordon, picks off a Colin Kaepernick pass, causes a C.J. Anderson fumble and, recalling his Pac-12 party against Washington, rushes for 100-plus yards and two touchdowns in San Diego’s AFC West-title clinching win over Denver.

As Te’o works his way back, the wood-laying tandem of Denzel Perryman and Jack draws comparisons to San Francisco’s famed former duo, Patrick Willis and NaVorro Bowman.

Notre Dame T Ronnie Stanley: He arrives at pick 7 after Telesco deals down to get another chip. The third of Telesco’s draftees from Notre Dame, he enjoys better injury luck than have the other two – Te’o and Chris Watt – and provides San Diego steady, heady blocking for a decade. Telesco can’t help himself when the extra pick comes due and Notre Dame center Nick Martin is still on the draft board. He, too, pans out in blue and gold.