COSTA MESA, Calif. -- Offseason work for the Los Angeles Chargers begins in just over a week.
Phase I of their offseason program starts April 16. The first two weeks are limited to strength and conditioning, along with rehab work.
The Chargers will hold a rookie minicamp after the draft, followed by organized team activities on May 22-24, May 29-31 and June 4-7.
The Bolts conclude their offseason program with a mandatory minicamp from June 12-14.
In the lead-up to the draft, the Chargers will hold a local pro day Thursday for college players based in Southern California.
With the table set for offseason work, let's take a look at two questions from this week's mailbag.
Is there a sense of urgency to find a replacement for Rivers? Has he indicated he might play beyond his current contract?
— Elex Branch (@dubzski) April 7, 2018
@eric_d_williams: The Chargers received national attention in the past week for the work they are putting in on this year's quarterback draft class.
The NFL Network reported that UCLA's Josh Rosen and USC's Sam Darnald plan to visit the Chargers' headquarters for a pre-draft visit. Head coach Anthony Lynn also attended both quarterbacks' pro days.
The Chargers also met with Oklahoma's Baker Mayfield, Louisville's Lamar Jackson and Oklahoma State's Mason Rudolph.
Starting quarterback Philip Rivers will turn 37 at the end of the year, and the Chargers have not drafted a quarterback since 2013. However, Rivers hasn't missed a game in over a decade and has said that he would like to be playing when the Chargers open their new stadium in Inglewood, scheduled for completion in Summer 2020.
The Chargers signed Geno Smith to a one-year deal to compete for the backup quarterback job with Cardale Jones.
The team certainly could select a quarterback in the first few rounds of this year's draft, but I think they would like to see four or five quarterbacks go within the first 15 picks so that one of those coveted defensive playmakers drops onto their lap at No. 17.
While the Chargers need to find a youngster to groom as the eventual replacement for Rivers, the aging quarterback hasn't shown signs of slowing down. Over the past three seasons, Rivers is second in the NFL in passing yards (13,693), third in passing touchdowns (90) and eighth in yards per pass attempt (7.55).
Rivers had one of his best seasons as a pro last year, making his seventh Pro Bowl. He should be just as productive in his second season with Lynn.
#Chargersmail
— Rob guyas (@RG8847) April 7, 2018
What position do you see Chargers going on day 2 of draft?
@eric_d_williams: The Chargers did not select a defensive player until Day 3 last year, taking receiver Mike Williams in the first round, offensive linemen Forrest Lamp in the second and Dan Feeney in the third.
With the Bolts' struggles stopping the run last year, I see the Chargers focusing on defense in the early portion of this year's draft, taking one to two linebackers in the first two rounds, with a safety or defensive lineman thrown in the mix.
Keep an eye on USC linebacker Uchenna Nwosu on Day 2. Chargers defensive coordinator Gus Bradley and linebackers coach Richard Smith were closely watching Nwosu at USC's pro day a few weeks ago.
Nwosu is versatile and could play all three linebacker positions for the Chargers but likely would line up as an Otto (Sam linebacker) or Will (weakside, outside linebacker).