We are approaching the final day of the 2022 NFL Scouting Combine, where the defensive backs will take the field.
Before we look towards that, I want to rewind to the past two days to highlight a few prospects who stood out that could be on the Chargers’ radar.
Let’s take a look at seven in particular.
RB Pierre Strong, South Dakota State
I know Chargers fans won’t be thrilled with the idea of taking a running back after the Larry Rountree and Joshua Kelley, who were taken the past two years, have not panned out. However, with eight picks on Day 3, they might add yet another back, and Strong would make sense. At 5-foot-11 and 202 pounds, Strong recorded the fastest 40 time of the day at 4.37. His explosiveness also stood out, as he posted a 36-inch vertical jump. On the field, Strong was shifty with foot quickness and showed solid burst in the open field. Overall, he has the vision, speed, and pass-catching ability to crack into the No. 2 role potentially.
OT Trevor Penning, Northern Iowa
The Chargers will likely be in the market for a right tackle, as Bryan Bulaga is a potential cap casualty and the last game of the season against the Raiders, where Justin Herbert was under constant duress, showed that Storm Norton is not the long-term answer. Therefore, they could resolve this with a cheap free agent signing and a Day 2 pick, like Penning. We knew Penning was a mauler with a nasty mean streak from his showing at the Senior Bowl. But he also showed the athleticism Los Angeles is looking for. At 6-foot-7 and 325 pounds, Penning notched a 4.89 40 and 7.25 three-cone. Further, he was silky smooth in the drills, showing the ability to mirror and pull out into space.
OT Abraham Lucas, Washington State
Lucas started 42 games for the Cougars and did not allow a single sack this past season. At 6-foot-6 and 315 pounds, Lucas posted elite times on the 40-yard dash (4.92), 3-cone (7.25) and 20-yard shuttle (4.40). On the field, Lucas was agile and fluid in his kick-slide and redirect ability and showed nice pop in his hands with the bag.
DL Jordan Davis, Georgia
Davis and the Chargers has been the perfect marriage to many media members and fans up to this point, given their desperate need to fix the run defense. However, there’s now a possibility that might not even come to fruition after Davis made himself a lot of money with his eye-popping performance. Coming in at 6-foot-6 and 341 pounds, Davis ran an eyebrow-raising 4.78 40 and 1.68 10-yard split. Let me repeat that. A 4.78 40-yard dash and 1.68 10-yard split at 341 pounds is believed to be one of the fastest times for a player that size in the event’s history. Moments later, Davis posted a broad jump of 10-foot-3.
DL Travis Jones, UConn
Now, if either Davis is not available at No. 17 or the Chargers just choose to go with a different player altogether there, Jones could be just as good, if not, better value in the second round. Jones finished with a 4.92 40 and a 1.76 10-yard split at 326 pounds. Further, he looked smooth in the positional drills, especially in the Figure 8.
EDGE David Ojabo, Michigan
I felt like there was a decent chance that Ojabo would be on the board when the Chargers pick in the first round, but that may be a pipedream after Saturday. Nonetheless, Ojabo’s explosiveness was on display, as he posted 4.55 40, 35-inch vertical, 10-foot-2 broad jump, and 4.45 shuttle. While he only has a one-year sample size and he needs to further refine his game against the run, Ojabo has the traits that you’re willing to bet on to become a premier player at the next level.
EDGE Amare Barno, Virginia Tech
In a loaded edge defender class, Barno flew under the radar. But that’s no longer the case after testing. Standing at 6-foot-5 and 246 pounds with 34-inch arms, the ideal measurements of a player that Brandon Staley covets at the position, Barno posted some freakish numbers of a 4.36 40, 1.54 10-yard split, 37-inch vertical and 10-foot-11 broad jump. While still a bit of a project, Barno has the athletic traits that could see him become a good defender in the NFL eventually.