With the Los Angeles Chargers picking seventh in the 2017 NFL Draft, here are the 25 most recent players selected with the number seven overall pick.
San Francisco 49ers rookie defensive end DeForest Buckner (99) gets set for the snap in a three point stance during the 2016 NFL week 16 regular season football game against the Los Angeles Rams on Saturday, Dec. 24, 2016 in Los Angeles. The 49ers won the game 22-21. (Paul Spinelli via AP)
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Lucky Whitehead (13) lines up against the Dallas Cowboys in an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 25, 2016, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans (13) runs upfield with a pass against the Atlanta Falcons in a Thursday Night NFL football game Nov. 3, 2016 in Tampa, Fla. The Falcons won 43 - 28. (Al Messerschmidt via AP)
Arizona Cardinals guard Jonathan Cooper (61) against the Cleveland Browns in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 1, 2015, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane)
Safety Mark Barron (23) of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers sets for play against the Minnesota Vikings October 26, 2014 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa. The Vikings won 19 - 13. (AP Photo / Al Messerschmidt)
San Francisco 49ers linebacker Aldon Smith (99) reacts after a play against the Baltimore Ravens during the third quarter of the NFL Super Bowl XLVII football game, Sunday, Feb. 3, 2013, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)
Cleveland Browns cornerback Joe Haden (23) chases the action during the NFL week 10 regular season football game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Thursday, Nov. 6, 2014 in Cincinnati. The Browns won the game 24-3. (AP Photo/Paul Spinelli)
Oakland Raiders wide receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey (85) gets past Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Stanford Routt (26) for a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo., Sunday, Oct. 28, 2012. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)
New Orleans Saints defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis (98) lines up in a four-point stance during an NFL game against the Oakland Raiders on November 18, 2012. The Saints defeated the Raiders 38-17. (AP Photo/Kevin Terrell)
Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson (28) tries to break a tackle by Chicago Bears free safety Chris Conte (47) during overtime of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2013, in Minneapolis. The Vikings won 23-20. (AP Photo/Ann Heisenfelt)
Oakland Raiders safety Michael Huff (24) reacts during an NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons, Sunday, October 14, 2012, in Atlanta. The Falcons won 23-20. (AP Photo/Paul Abell)
CHICAGO, IL - OCTOBER 14: Wide receiver Troy Williamson #82 of the Minnesota Vikings runs a pass pattern against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on October 14, 2007 in Chicago Illinois. The Vikings defeated the Bears 34-31. (AP Photo/Scott Boehm)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Roy Williams (11) bobbles a pass during an NFL game against the San Francisco 49ers, Sunday, Sept. 21, 2008 in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Greg Trott)
Quarterback Byron Leftwich #7 of the Jacksonville Jaguars throws a pass against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field on August 23, 2007 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The Jaguars beat the Packers 21-13. (AP Photo/David Stluka)
Minnesota Vikings offensive tackle Bryant McKinnie (74) blocks during the NFL week 10 football game against the Chicago Bears on Sunday, November 14, 2010 in Chicago, Illinois. The Bears won the game 27-13. (AP Photo/Paul Spinelli)
Linebacker Andre Carter #96 of the San Francisco 49ers comes around the end against the Houston Texans at Monster Park on January 1, 2006 in San Francisco, California. The Niners defeated the Texans 20-17 in overtime. (AP Photo/Paul Spinelli)
Arizona Cardinals running back Thomas Jones races with a swing pass from quarterback Dave Brown for a 19-yard gain to the San Diego Chargers' 2-yard line during the second quarter Friday, Aug. 25, 2000, in San Diego. The Cardinals were unable to score. (AP Photo/Lenny Ignelzi)
Washington Redskins defensive back Champ Bailey (24) on Sunday, September 22, 2002, in San Francisco, California. The 49ers defeated the Redskins 20-10. (AP Photo/Al Golub)
New Orleans Saints offensive tackle Kyle Turley (68) is seen in action during an NFL game against the Carolina Panthers Oct. 14, 2001 in Charlotte, N.C. (Allen Kee via AP)
New York Giants wide receiver Ike Hilliard (88) runs upfield with the ball during Super Bowl XXXV Jan. 28, 2001, at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla. The Baltimore Ravens defeated the New York Giants 347. (Allen Kee via AP)
New England Patriots wide receiver Terry Glenn (88) carries the ball during an NFL football game against the San Diego Chargers at Foxboro Stadium on August 31, 1997 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. The Patriots won 41-7. (AP Photo/David Stluka)
Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Mike Mamula (59) is seen in action during an NFL game against the Arizona Cardinals Sept. 10, 1995, in Glendale, Ariz. (Kevin Terrell via AP)
San Francisco 49ers vs. Philadelphia Eagles at Candlestick Park Sunday, December 29, 1996. 49ers beat Eagles 14-0. San Francisco 49ers defensive tackle Bryant Young (97). (AP Photo/Al Golub)
Chicago Bears Curtis Conway (80) during a game from his 1993 season. Curtis Conway played for 12 years with 4 different teams.(David Durochik via AP)
Miami Dolphins' Troy Vincent (23) intercepts a Steve Bono pass to Kansas City Chiefs' J.J. Birden in the end zone during second quarter action in Miami, Fla., Dec. 12, 1994. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
For many fans, the Scouting Combine is the official kickoff for draft season.
However, in NFL front offices, it signals a finish line rapidly approaching for what is a grueling, 12-month process leading up to the draft.
When the football world descends upon Indianapolis next week for the Combine, all 32 teams look to put the finishing touches on their draft boards, confirming what they've seen on tape and with their own two eyes during the college football season.
The entire Los Angeles Chargers scouting department will be in closed-door meetings all week as they analyze hundreds, if not thousands, of prospects ahead of the Combine. Only three or four times all year does every Charger scout from around the country convene together in the same place.
Although not giving much besides a sideways glance when asked what goes on inside those meetings, General Manager Tom Telesco and President of Football Operations John Spanos still explained the role the meetings in conjunction with the Combine play in the draft process.
For Telesco, there is nothing like seeing one of his scouts passionately go to bat for a prospect he strongly believes in.
"All our scouts come in, and we do some heavy draft meetings," he said. "We talk about what guys did in the fall, and I love it. It's one thing to read reports on players, but it's another to hear it from the scout. You can see how strong his convictions are. You see how demonstrative he is in explaining a player, or maybe how unenthusiastic he may be. A big part of it is seeing how the scout puts together his case. I used to love doing it when I was a college scout (with the Colts). The hardest part would be when you don't have a player, and you'd have to wait and listen. It's like when you're a player. I wanted to get in there and give my opinion!"
As if those draft meetings weren't enough, the Bolts are simultaneously hard at work preparing for free agency as well. In the past, teams had a full week after the Combine to put the finishing touches on their free agency plan. This year, with the Combine kicking off later than usual, teams only have 48 hours after leaving Lucas Oil Stadium until they can begin talking with agents for all available players.
Thus, when not evaluating prospects, the Chargers are getting their ducks in a row for the annual free agency frenzy.
"In prior years, when we had more time after the Combine (before free agency started), we would say once we get back to the offices we will have time to do X, Y and Z," Spanos explained. "Now, we have to do X, Y and Z this week as well because we don't really have any time once we get back. So we have to go into the Combine very prepared for free agency. The things we'd normally do after the Combine we're making sure to get done now."
So will the looming free agency period change the way the Bolts operate at the Combine?
"I guess we'll find out when we get there," Telesco said. "It does change things because the day or two after we get back from Indianapolis, the free agency window begins where we can talk to agents. Really, it means we have to do more work before we leave for the Combine so we can go right into it. At the Combine, the only thing we can do is talk to our own players. We will probably have to meet internally on some free agency aspects as well. But the thing about the Combine is we are with each other for 15 hours straight each day. So, we'll have plenty of time to talk about things we'll need to discuss."
