Last week the Chargers traded their 3rd string quarterback Charlie Whitehurst to the Seattle Seahawks. Whitehurst, the former 3rd round draft pick of the Chargers back in '06 never attempted a pass with the team. He saw considerable playing time in preseason games and faired ok. Immediately after the trade he signed a 2 year/10 million dollar deal with the Seahawks. Thats big money for a player that has never thrown a pass in the regular season, they must see something in him for the future when Matt Hasselback is done. In return for Whitehurst, the Chargers acquired a third round pick in the 2011 draft and they swapped second round picks (60 for 40) in this years draft. Chargers now have the 28th and 40th overall selections in next months draft. RB Ryan Matthews could be a possible selection at #28, and depending on how impressed they are with him when they meet this week Terrence Cody could be a possible #40. The chargers also received a 5th round pick today for compensation from free agency. They now have 7 total picks in the draft (2 in the 5th round). They traded away their 6th round pick to acquire Travis Johnson from the Texans in the preseason.
The move with the Seahawks also helped to prepare for next years draft. They now have three 3rd round picks in addition to 1 pick in every other round. One of the other 3rd round picks could turn into a second rounder depending on Antonio Cromartie's performance for the Jets this season. Because of the strength of picks in next years draft, it wouldn't surprise me to see Chargers General Manager AJ Smith trade one or more next years picks to move up in next months draft.
