Los Angeles Chargers

Chargers GM doesn't regret Oregon trip to visit Mariota

Published May. 6, 2015 9:44 p.m. ET

foxsports

Tom Telesco says he knew early on that Marcus Mariota would be gone before the Chargers could select him.

But the Bolts' general manager doesn't regret how he handled Mariota's predraft evaluation, which included a trip up to Eugene, Ore. to work out the Heisman winner in private.

"It was a great experience," Telesco said. "In December, for me, there was no guarantee he was a top-five draft (pick). So we wanted to make sure we knew him."

Mariota agreed to work out for San Diego in February. By the time San Diego brass flew north to conduct the whole event, rumors were already swirling about the team's incumbent quarterback, Philip Rivers.

The media circus didn't sway Telesco.

"I just figured, let's go do it," he said. "If we're so pressed for time, that we don't have enough days to do it, that's our fault. We had time to do, so let's go up and do it."

Telesco credited Mariota with going through the entire workout. Both parties probably knew that a Mariota-to-San Diego pick was a long shot.

It was never a waste of time in Telesco's eyes, even though Mariota's in Nashville and the Chargers still employ Rivers.

"Every time you scout a player, you bring something back with it," Telesco said. "You compare guys from next year or, shoot, maybe in four or five years if a guy is a free agent."

(h/t U-T San Diego)