SAN DIEGO -- With an obvious need at running back, San Diego Chargers general manager Tom Telesco said this year’s draft group offers a wide variety of possibilities at the position.

Specifically, Telesco likes the bigger backs available in this year’s draft.

2015 NFL DRAFT Round 1: April 30, 8 p.m. ET (ESPN)

Rds. 2-3: May 1, 7 p.m. ET (ESPN2)

Rds. 4-7: May 2, noon ET (ESPN)

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“It is a good group, and a group that has a little bit of everything,” Telesco said during his pre-draft press conference on Wednesday. “I’d say there are probably more backs that have some size than in some other years. It kind of goes in cycles, but it is a pretty good group.

“There are some players I’d say Rounds 1 through 4 that have a really good chance of not only making the team, but being a starter eventually one day.”

The stats back up Telesco’s claim. According to ESPN Stats & Information, the average weight for a running back in this year’s draft class is nearly 218 pounds. The number for average weight at the running back position hasn’t been that high since 2011, a draft that produced Mark Ingram of the New Orleans Saints [215 pounds] in the first round and DeMarco Murray [213 pounds] in the third round.

Several mock drafts have the Chargers selecting either Georgia running back Todd Gurley or Wisconsin’s Melvin Gordon at No 17.

San Diego’s director of college scouting Kevin Kelly attended Gordon’s pro day. Chargers running backs coach Ollie Wilson attended Boise State running back Jay Ajayi’s pro day. And Indiana running back Tevin Coleman reportedly travelled to San Diego for a pre-draft visit.

All of those players fit the mold of a bigger, every-down running back who could replace Ryan Mathews, who departed San Diego and signed with the Philadelphia Eagles in free agency.

One issue the Chargers will closely evaluate is durability, particularly with Mathews missing 20 games in his five-year career in San Diego due to injury.

Mock drafts have the Chargers selecting Todd Gurley. Cal Sport Media/AP Images

Gurley is six months removed from having ACL knee reconstructive surgery after suffering the injury on Nov. 15 against Auburn. Reports were positive after Gurley’s medical re-check in Indianapolis last week.

Telesco was asked about the value of medical re-checks this year on a prospect like Gurley.

“It’s the same every year, getting some extra information on some guys with active injuries,” Telesco said.

More important, Telesco was asked his opinion on how long it will take to know if a player is going to return to 100 percent coming off of an ACL knee reconstruction.

“A lot of times it is that second year,” Telesco said. “That’s what the studies tell you. Every now and then, you get a guy like Adrian Peterson, who I think his first year back, it looked like he hadn’t missed a beat. But a lot of times it’s the second year.

“I think a lot of it just has to do with when you’ve got to put in eight-to-ninth months of rehab, that’s a lot of work physically and mentally. And then usually as soon as that rehab is over, you’re right into the season. And it’s a long, grueling season. So sometimes it takes the next offseason of a regular offseason -- some rest for your body, some rest mentally and you get back into it your second year, but with injuries -- certainly ACLs -- everybody’s on a different time table. Everybody’s body biomechanically is a little different, so that’s information we use.”

Telesco went on to say running backs, defensive backs, receiver and linebackers are evaluated similarly in their recovery time frame from ACL injuries, and that offensive linemen and defensive linemen would be evaluated differently.

So if the Chargers were to select Gurley in the first round, based on Telesco’s comments, the assumption is the team would not expect a significant amount of production from him in his rookie season.