RANCHO CUCAMONGA - A number from the 858 area code flashed on Eric Weddle's cell phone at 3:50 p.m. Saturday. It was the call that would change his life, and Weddle wasn't sure who it was.

His agent, David Canter, sitting in front of a computer across the crowded Weddle family living room, knew exactly who was on the other end.

"Here we go," Canter said in a stern voice. "Shhhhh."

As dozens of family and friends went silent, they heard Weddle address his new boss, San Diego Chargers general manager A.J. Smith, for the first time: "I'm going to come in and work."

The Chargers traded three of their 2007 draft picks, and another in 2008, to the Chicago Bears for Weddle, the 37th overall player chosen. Seconds later, the phone in the Chargers' war room changed hands.

"How you doing, coach?" asked a remarkably calm Weddle of Norv Turner.

Screaming, jumping and crying, the Weddle living room exploded.

For eight of Weddle's Alta Loma High School classmates, it will mean an autumn full of Sunday-morning tailgates in San Diego. For Oakland Raiders linebacker John Condo and tight end John Madisen, it will mean at least two chances to line up against their old University of Utah teammate.

For Weddle's grandparents, in-laws, aunts and uncles, it will mean hanging up their red Utes sweaters in exchange for Chargers powder blue.

Once they wiped away their tears, his mother, Debbie, and father, Steve, dug a San Diego hat and jersey out of the closet for their son, who would be playing as close to home as possible - a best-case scenario realized.

At the eye of the hurricane, the two calmest people in the room were Weddle and his wife, Chanel.

"I knew the teams that liked me; my agent did a great job telling me who was interested," Weddle said. "So I knew San Diego liked me a lot, but we didn't think we'd be there at that pick.

"When they traded up, it was unreal. They gave up a lot to get me."

No team, in fact, traded away more of its draft picks Saturday than the Chargers gave the Bears for Weddle. It quickly became a point of discussion on ESPN, which flashed the question, "Did Chargers give up too much for Eric Weddle?" minutes later.

Even Canter was "blown away" by the Chargers' sacrifice, but had no difficulty defending the decision. Primarily a cover corner and return man in college - but drafted as a safety - Weddle also played wide receiver, running back, quarterback, linebacker and held kicks for the Utes.

"Eric is two or three players in and of himself," Canter said. "The Chargers probably think they stole him."

After trimming down in the offseason and clocking a 4.48-second 40-yard dash time at the NFL scouting combine, Weddle went to San Diego for a private visit April 10.

"Eric is a guy (who) makes a strong impression on you right away," Turner said in a statement. "He's a confident guy. He's an outgoing guy. ... He's a highly intelligent player and he has a knack. Some guys have it and some guys don't."

In San Diego, Weddle enters a situation that should provide a smooth transition from college to the NFL. The Chargers had the league's best record (14-2) in 2006 and feature three veteran safeties - Marlon McCree, Bhawoh Jue and Clinton Hart - who can help Weddle learn the ropes.

"The guy is a good player and we needed a safety," Chargers assistant GM Buddy Nix said in a statement. "He was high on our list from the start."

San Diego was high on Weddle's list, too. He grew up rooting for the Cowboys, though the Chargers were always "right there," he said.

He and Chanel, his high school sweetheart, were married at a Mormon temple in San Diego in 2005. And playing close to home became more of a selling point as his NFL dream neared reality.

"For all the people that helped me out," Weddle said, "this is a big celebration."

Weddle wasn't the only local product taken Saturday.

Boise State defensive back Gerald Alexander (Rancho Cucamonga HS) was taken by Detroit with the 62nd overall pick in the second round. To get Alexander, the Lions traded their third- and fourth-round picks to the Ravens.

"It's a dream come true. It's just been an emotional roller coaster," said Alexander, who said he was loading clothes into his washing machine when the Lions called.

"My family was watching on TV, they didn't know what was going on," he said. "Then my name went across the screen and there was an emotional eruption."

Projected by most analysts as a second-day draft pick, Alexander played three of the four defensive backfield positions for the Broncos, starting at strong safety and collecting two interceptions as a senior.

LOS ANGELES TIMES
SPORTS - NFL DRAFT 2007 - April 29, 2007

By Sam Farmer, Times Staff Writer

Round Two selections

No. 37 San Diego (from Washington through N.Y. Jets and Chicago)
Eric Weddle, S
Utah | 5-11, 203, Utah

He played every position in the secondary, and the Utes improved at whichever position they put him. He ranks second in school history with 18 career interceptions.

BUZZ: The guy played on offense -- quarterback and running back -- too, and also returned kicks and punts. Look him up in the dictionary under "versatile."