Melvin Ingram To Chargers With 18th Pick In 2012 NFL Draft

SAN DIEGO (AP) — The San Diego Chargers have taken South Carolina defensive end Melvin Ingram with the 18th pick overall in the NFL draft.

The Chargers, who've missed the playoffs for two straight seasons, needed an impact player after finishing last in the league on third-down defense.

Ingram was a first-team All-American at defensive end who some had projected as being a top-10 pick.

He's expected to play outside linebacker in the Chargers' 3-4 scheme.

The Chargers have just one playoff win in four seasons. They loaded up on offensive players in free agency.

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• No. 1 Andrew Luck (QB, Stanford) - Indianapolis Colts

• No. 2 Robert Griffin III (QB, Baylor) - Washington Redskins

• No. 3 Trent Richardson (RB, Alabama) - Cleveland Browns

  Acquired via trade with Minnesota

• No. 4 Matt Kalil (OT, USC) - Minnesota Vikings

  Traded down with Cleveland to No. 4

• No. 5 Justin Blackmon (WR, OK ST) - Jacksonville Jaguars

  Acquired from Tampa Bay for No. 7 pick.

• No. 6 Morris Claiborne (CB, LSU) - Dallas Cowboys

  Traded up with St. Louis to get No. 6 pick.

• No. 7 Mark Barron (S, Alabama) - Tampa Bay Buccaneers

  Traded down from No. 5 to No. 7 (with Jaguars)

• No. 8 Ryan Tannehill (QB, Texas A&M) - Miami Dolphins

• No. 9 Luke Kuechly (ILB, BC) - Carolina Panthers

• No. 10 Stephon Gilmore (DB, South Carolina) - Buffalo Bills

• No. 11 Dontari Poe (DT, Memphis) - KC Chiefs

• No. 12 Fletcher Fox (DT, Miss. St) - Philadelphia Eagles

  Traded up with Seattle to get No. 12 pick.

• No. 13 Michael Floyd (WR, Notre Dame) - Arizona Cardinals

• No. 14 Michael Brockers (DT, LSU) - St. Louis Rams

  Rams traded down to No. 14 with Dallas.

• No. 15 Bruce Irvin (CB, WVU) - Seattle Seahawks

  Traded down to No. 15 with the Eagles.

• No. 16 Quinton Coples (DE, UNC) - New York Jets

• No. 17 Dre Kirkpatrick (CB, Alabama) - Cincinnati Bengals

  Acquire pick through the Carson Palmer trade

• No. 18 Melvin Ingram (DE, South Carolina) - SD Chargers

• No. 19 Shea McClellin (OLB, Boise State) - Chicago Bears

• No. 20 Kendall Wright (WR, Baylor) - Tennessee Titans

• No. 21 Chandler Jones (DE, Syracuse) - New England Patriots

  Acquired via trade with Cincinnati

• No. 22 Brandon Weeden (QB, OK ST) - Cleveland Browns

• No. 23 Riley Reiff (OT, Iowa) - Detroit Lions

• No. 24 David DeCastro (OG, Stanford) - Pittsburgh Steelers

• No. 25 Dont'a Hightower (ILB, Alabama) - New England Patriots

  Acquired via trade with Denver

• No. 26 Whitney Mercilus (DE, Illinois) - Houston Texans

• No. 27 Kevin Zeitler (OG, Wisconsin) - Cincinnati Bengals

  Acquired via trade with Patriots.

• No. 28 Nick Perry (DE, USC) - Green Bay Packers

• No. 29 Harrison Smith (S, Notre Dame) - Minnesota Vikings

  Acquires via trade with Baltimore.

• No. 30 A.J. Jenkins (WR, Illinois) - San Francisco 49ers

• No. 31 Doug Martin (RB, Boise State) - Tampa Bay Buccaneers

  Acquired via trade with Denver.

• No. 32 Davis Wilson (RB, Va. Tech) - NY Giants

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