Brandon Mebane: Chargers have more talent on defense than Seahawks

Recently signed San Diego Chargers defensive tackle Brandon Mebane has had the luxury of playing on one of the NFL's best units for the past four seasons.

Mebane spent the first nine years of his career as a member of the Seattle Seahawks before signing in San Diego this March, but despite the two squads' statistical differences, he has high hopes for his new team.

"Offense, defense, there's so much talent on this team," Mebane told the San Diego Union-Tribune. "It's unreal. I was telling guys, there's more talent on this defense than in Seattle. If you look at the draft, you've got four first-round draft picks. You've got five second-round draft picks, all total on defense. In Seattle, we only had two first-rounders and one second-rounder. Everybody else was pretty much down in the draft or undrafted.

"If we put it together and just play together and work on our skill, I think the sky is the limit for this defense. It's amazing. Based on the skill and the talent level, it's there. All we have to do is believe in each other and play together. Man, it's unreal."

Mebane's logic is a tad flawed, considering that star Seahawk defenders Kam Chancelor, Richard Sherman, Michael Bennett, Cliff Avril, and even Mebane himself were selected after the second round, but eventually displayed first-round talent.

The Chargers had the 20th-ranked defense in 2015, and were forced to work uphill with the offense being depleted on a regular basis due to a slew of injuries. Seattle ranked second in the league, as per usual.

Mebane and his new team will be hoping to avoid injuries and get an all-around breakout year from their young stars. The Chargers have eight players under the age of 26 projected to be starters next season, which is similar to the Seahawks' approach of finding young, ultra-talented defenders through the draft.