Pro Football Focus’ Ben Linsley went through all 32 NFL teams and tried to look one or two years in the future to project areas of need for each.
“The respective prospect pairings for those teams all stand out as good value for where they would be selected, and their selection would serve as a preventative measure to maintain strength at that position for years to come,” Linsley said.
For the Chargers, it was the wide receiver position. The team has the tandem of Keenan Allen and Mike Williams, as well as the ascending duo of Jalen Guyton and Tyron Johnson.
However, Linsley believes that with Williams set to play in the final year of his contract and Guyton not proven as the third wide receiver, the team needs to look to solidify the group in this year’s draft.
Therefore, Linsley sees former Alabama wide receiver Jaylen Waddle as good fit.
It isn’t a bad idea for the Chargers to give Justin Herbert a dynamic receiving threat like Waddle with their first-round pick. Waddle is firmly in the upper tier of wide receiver prospects in this year’s draft class, coming in two spots behind Ja’Marr Chase and one place ahead of DeVonta Smith on PFF’s Big Board. He not only has straight-line speed, but he also has the quickness that will terrify defenses in the open field. His 4.38 receiving yards per route run in 2020 was the highest mark in his career, and that includes the national championship game in which he was playing hurt.
I’ve said it before, but I’m a firm believer that the Chargers should address the offensive tackle position with the No. 13 overall selection because they need to keep quarterback Justin Herbert upright for years to come.
However, it wouldn’t come as a surprise if general manager Tom Telesco went best player available, given his track record come draft day.
If Waddle was the pick, he would give Herbert a dynamic weapon who can win with speed, quickness and route running ability to consistently separate and win with the ball in his hands, as well as a player who can return kicks and punts at a high level.
This would be a luxury pick and I’m not sure Los Angeles can afford to do it, especially if players like Christian Darrisaw, Alijah Vera-Tucker, Rashawn Slater or Jaycee Horn are on the board. But if they do, they’re clearly confident that they can strike gold on Day 2 to fill their needs.