SAN DIEGO -- Only time will tell whether the Chargers' sixth sense about their six-player draft is right on the mark or not.

Every team feels elated about its new players when the NFL's two-day draft concludes, and the Chargers are no different. The Chargers' brain trust targeted their needs and took a hard shot at filling them.

"We mapped out a plan and we executed it," general manager A.J. Smith said Sunday night. "I couldn't be more happy with the way it went."

The team needed receivers and inside linebackers, and the Chargers selected two of each -- Craig Davis of LSU and Legedu Naanee of Boise State at wideout; Anthony Waters of Clemson and Brandon Siler of Florida at linebacker.

Urgently needed was a safety who could immediately compete for a starting job, and the team engineered a bold trade with Chicago -- giving up two third-round picks (one this year, one in 2008) and a fifth-rounder -- to swap positions in the second round and get the one they coveted in Utah's Eric Weddle.

The team's other draft choice was tight end Scott Chandler of Iowa in the fourth round.

"People talk about addressing needs, and we've obviously been able to do that," coach Norv Turner said. "Getting productive players and guys who know how to play the game is a big part of it for me."

Davis (first round), Weddle (second) and Waters (third) were picked on the draft's first day. On Sunday, the Chargers selected Chandler, Naanee (fifth) and Siler (seventh).

Siler is one of those picks that someday could be recalled as a steal. Though he was touted by many draft experts as a second-round pick, the first day of the draft passed without Siler hearing his name called.

The second day continued in similar fashion, and the player who helped Florida win the national championship slid all the way to the Chargers at the 240th overall pick.

"They all have expectations of going in the top 15 picks, and I'm sure he's really disappointed," Chargers assistant general manager Buddy Nix said. "He was excited when we called him."

Siler bypassed his season senior despite urgings from Gators coach Urban Meyer to return to school. He was the Southeastern Conference freshman of the year in 2004 and was a semifinalist for the Chuck Bednarik Award (nation's top defensive player) last season.

As the Chargers' seventh-round pick neared, Smith searched his draft board to see if players the team projected to go earlier were still available, and Siler's name jumped out.

"We felt he was too good to pass up and a heck of a player, so we took a second linebacker," said Smith, who indicated he had no idea why Siler dropped so low.

Meanwhile, the 6-foot-7, 257-pound Chandler gives the Chargers extra depth at tight end behind starter Antonio Gates and veteran Brandon Manumaleuna. He caught 93 passes over the past two seasons.

"He has to improve his strength and he's more of a receiving tight end than he is a blocker," Nix said. "But it's a good pick for us, and he's a guy that has a chance to make our team."

Naanee is considered a tremendous athlete who is still perfecting receiver techniques after arriving at Boise State as a quarterback. He switched to receiver late in his sophomore season. As a senior, the 6-2, 225-pound Naanee led the high-powered Boise State offense with six touchdown receptions.

"I really get excited about a guy like this," Turner said. "Our scouts liked him. He's a big strong guy and he presents problems for the defense. He's not a receiver and he's not a tight end. He's somewhere in between. You can create matchups with him."

Smith said he didn't have a single discussion on Sunday with teams regarding Michael Turner, the running back who backs up league MVP LaDainian Tomlinson. If Turner plays for the Chargers this season, he will leave afterward as an unrestricted free agent, and Smith projects the team will receive a third-round pick as compensation.

The newcomers get their initial chance to make an on-field impression at the team's three-day minicamp, which begins Friday. Norv Turner said a decision on whether linebacker Shawne Merriman (shoulder) can participate will likely come Thursday. Turner said quarterback Philip Rivers is fully recovered from his late-season foot injury.

Contact staff writer Mike Sullivan at (760) 739-6645 or msullivan@nctimes.com. Comment at sports.nctimes.com.