SAN DIEGO (AP) — A hoax involving a fake girlfriend and a poor performance in the national championship game didn’t scare the San Diego Chargers away from picking Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te’o in the second round of the NFL draft Friday.
Rookie general manager Tom Telesco traded with Arizona to move up seven spots and select Te’o with the 38th pick overall.
Originally expected to go in the first round, Te’o dropped into the second round for a number of reasons, including being tricked into a relationship with a girl that didn’t exist, struggling in the national championship game against Alabama and its offense full of future NFL draft picks, and some slow offseason workouts.
One of those Crimson Tide stars, right tackle D.J. Fluker, was selected by the Chargers with the 11th pick overall Thursday night.
