Sports blog information from USA TODAY.
Our Chargers’ NFL draft preview series continues with the offensive line.
After taking a steady approach in free agency, signing just one external player in linebacker Eric Kendricks and re-signing a handful of their own, the Chargers now have their sights set on the draft where they will look to bolster their roster with their selections and make a deeper run in 2023.
Before, we’re going position by position to break down where Los Angeles stands entering the draft.
Next up is the offensive line.
Catch the previous previews here:
The Packers hosted UCLA offensive lineman Atonio Mafi on an official top-30 visit ahead of the 2023 draft.
The Green Bay Packers hosted UCLA offensive lineman Atonio Mafi on an official top-30 visit ahead of the 2023 NFL draft, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.
Mafi (6-2, 329) played two seasons along the defensive line before transitioning to the offensive line, where he was a 16-game starter at guard over the 2021 and 2022 seasons. He was a second-team All-Pac 12 selection after starting 13 games at left guard in 2022.
Mafi, 22, gave up only 18 pressures and earned high run-blocking grades from Pro Football Focus during the 2022 season. He played all 910 snaps at left guard.
Mafi was not invited to the combine. He put up 21 reps on the bench press but did no other testing during UCLA’s pro day because of a lower-body injury.
Mafi’s 56 games played at UCLA tied the school record. He also started 14 games (2018, 2019) along the defensive line before moving to the offense.
Last year, the Packers drafted Sean Rhyan out of UCLA.
Despite strong numbers along the offensive line, the Packers are a good bet to draft at least one more offensive lineman in this year’s draft, continuing a streak of taking at least one in all but one of the last 25 drafts.
[lawrence-related id=91611]
[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbxb1xg7g19wqdc player_id=01eqbvhghtkmz2182d image=]
5 interior OL prospects for the Cowboys to consider; it’s the one area of the team they haven’t gone all out in upgrading for 2023. | From @TimLettiero
Dallas fans and media alike are caught in a verbiage tornado trying to put together clues as to what the plan is for this year’s offensive line, specifically along the interior. In all of this uncertainty, Dallas has set themselves up well for the 2023 draft by keying in on other positions during the offseason. But offensive line, save for the addition of Chuma Edoga, hasn’t been addressed.
Both guard positions, as well as center, can be considered set for the start of the season but are huge question marks long term. Right guard Zack Martin is as reliable and consistent as they come but will be turning 33 meaning his replacement will likely be coming in the near future. Center Tyler Biadasz has manned the position since coming into the league and has shown consistent improvement but is entering the last year of his rookie deal and arguably has not played well enough to earn a big time second deal.
As for left guard, Tyler Smith is a logical choice but the club has tried to keep things uncertain whether he’ll land there or back outside at tackle.
There have been a handful of combine meetings and top-30 visits, suggesting an interest in selecting a lineman but not necessarily an edict to do so. Here are five options Dallas has focused their gaze on.
The Broncos had a virtual pre-draft visit with UCLA guard Atonio Mafi last month.
The Denver Broncos had a virtual pre-draft visit with UCLA offensive lineman Atonio Mafi in March, according to The Draft Network’s Justin Melo. NFL teams are allowed to have three virtual visits with prospects leading up to the draft each spring (Denver already had one with Penn State quarterback Sean Clifford).
Mafi (6-4, 355 pounds), of Tongan descent, grew up playing rugby before later switching to football. He started out at UCLA as a nose tackle, totaling 44 tackles (5.5 behind the line) and one sack through his first two seasons before transitioning to the offensive line in 2020.
He was a three-game starter at guard in 2021 and then started all 13 games at left guard in 2022, earning second-team All-Pac-12 recognition.
Mafi is now projected to be a late-round pick or undrafted free agent prospect later this month. The latest pick the Broncos currently hold is No. 195 overall in the sixth round. Denver seems more likely to target Mafi as a UDFA candidate than to draft him in the sixth round.
The 2023 NFL draft will be held in Kansas City from April 27-29.
Follow the Broncos Wire Podcast:
Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts
[lawrence-auto-related count=5 category=482983128]
The Los Angeles Chargers address all of their needs in this latest mock draft.
The Chargers are set with seven picks in next month’s draft.
Some bargain free-agent moves could still take place before the draft starts on April 27, but for the most part, the current roster shows what areas they should be targeting.
As we are now officially four weeks away from the highly-anticipated event, here is a look at what Los Angeles could do with each of their selections.
Washington uses another top-30 visit on an offensive lineman.
The Washington Commanders continue to evaluate offensive linemen ahead of the 2023 NFL draft.
At the 2023 Reese’s Senior Bowl, assistant offensive line coach Travelle Wharton was one of four Washington coaches to coach a position in the game. That gave Wharton a chance to evaluate several linemen.
Washington used almost half of its 45 formal visits on offensive linemen at the NFL combine. Now, the Commanders are busy using multiple top-30 visits on offensive linemen. Ohio State’s Dawand Jones and Florida’s O’Cyrus Torrence have scheduled visits to Ashburn.
We can add another offensive lineman to the top-30 visit list for Washington, per Ryan Fowler of The Draft Network. UCLA Atonio Mafi is the latest name to emerge as a visitor.
Washington hosted UCLA IOL Atonio Mafi on a Top 30 visit, per source.
Sleeper within the interior that was a standout at Shrine.
The team also met informally with Oregon C Alex Forsyth.
— Ryan Fowler (@_RyanFowler_) March 24, 2023
Mafi, 6-foot-4, 355 pounds, played in 56 career games for the Bruins. He began his career as a defensive tackle before moving over to offense in 2020. He became a full-time starter in 2021 and an all-Pac-12 performer in 2022.
Mafi is viewed as a sleeper in the upcoming draft. Washington and at least three other teams have scheduled visits with Mafi. In Mafi and Torrence, the Commanders are clearly looking for massive guards. Both stand at least 6-foot-4 and weight at least 330 pounds.
In addition to Mafi, Fowler noted that the Commanders had an informal meeting with Oregon center Alex Forsyth.
The 6-foot-4, 303-pound Forsyth is viewed as a natural fit for a zone-blocking scheme at the next level. Forsyth played five seasons at Oregon and was a three-year starter.
Identifying five 2023 NFL Combine snubs who the Chargers could have on their radar.
319 NFL draft prospects were invited to the National Scouting Combine, which is scheduled for next week.
The list consisted of players that were automatically pinned to get one, some surprises, and quite a few that weren’t invited, leaving some scratching their heads.
Even though there are plenty of prospects that didn’t get the nod, it doesn’t mean that they won’t be getting drafted come April, or go on to have great NFL careers.
Los Angeles’ scouting department and front office have all been doing their homework since the start of August, so they are very familiar with all the talent out there.
With that being said, here are five Combine snubs who should be on the Bolts’ radar.
Here are six players who should’ve drawn the attention of the Chargers at the East-West Shrine Bowl.
The all-star circuit began in Vegas for the East-West Shrine Bowl, where there were a handful of prospects making some of their final impressions to NFL evaluators.
The Chargers Wire staff was on hand throughout the week, catching all the action. So with that, here are six players who should’ve drawn the attention of the Chargers.
WR Antoine Green, North Carolina
Speed was plentiful at the Shrine Bowl, but no players showcased their jets better than Antoine Green over the course of the week. Green not only could cleanly separate in a footrace and stack his defender with ease during one-on-ones, but he also proved how friendly to the quarterback a receiver of his size (6-2, 201 pounds) could be. He routinely extended his long arms for catches away from his frame to high point balls above the rim and away from contention. Green was one of the better receivers at combatting press coverage from an aggressive group of cornerbacks, a testament to his experience as a fifth-year player. His current toolset has all the makings of a dependable field stretcher at the next level.
CB Kei’Trel Clark, Louisville
Clark, who played the slot this past season for the Cardinals, may have been overlooked by Shrine Bowl attendees. He has below-average size at 5-10 and 179 pounds, but Clark is able to compensate for that with his fine-tuned footwork, instincts, and ball skills. He completely jumped the gun on a couple of receiver screens during team period, an aspect that popped on his tape. Clark’s smooth ability to mirror receivers through their entire route pattern and time pass breakups was a feature across all three days of practice observed by the Chargers Wire staff. He was a top-five player in Vegas based off performance.
S Trey Dean III, Florida
Dean has the traits of a hard-hitting safety that you bet on: tall, fearless, and enough downhill speed to create some second thoughts. He capped off an impressive week in the back half of the secondary with a tip-drill interception in the Shrine Bowl game. Dean’s 6-3, 211-pound measurables were first utilized at cornerback before he swapped positions. Dean executed a variety of tasks and assignments at safety for the Gators, so competing one-on-one against the West team tight ends looked like a natural process for Dean. He is physical, oozes swagger, and teams will love the intensity he attacks the game with.
OL Atonio Mafi, UCLA
The Chargers need offensive line depth this offseason and Mafi’s presence could really boost the group. Just three years ago, Mafi was playing nose tackle for the Bruins. After making the position change to guard, Mafi still imposed his will, as he consistently moved people and held rushers at bay. That type of physicality was displayed throughout the week. The former rugby player was a bully with violent hands, great feet, and a strong anchor to limit every defensive lineman he went up against. In my interview with Mafi, he told me that the Chargers have been watching him closely since his first season in 2018 and really loved his tape.
DT Dante Stills, West Virginia
With Morgan Fox set to be a free agent, the Chargers could be in the market for an interior pass rusher, which Stills could serve as. Stills was one of the most energized players in the trenches. He raised eyebrows with his first-step quickness and twitchiness to penetrate, which blockers struggled to compromise for. He continuously fought with his hands and owned the leverage battle with great pop in his upper half. His motor ran nonstop and he was one of the most vocal players on the field.
EDGE B.J. Thompson, Stephen F. Austin
The Chargers don’t have a lot of valuable depth behind Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack and Thompson is a guy who I could see them targeting on Day 3 to help fulfill that. Thompson ran a 4.56 40, recorded an 11’3″ broad jump with a 40-inch vertical last offseason, and the freakish athleticism was evident. Thompson won with first-step explosiveness, speed, bend, and with his 82.5-inch wingspan.
A look at the players in the trenches who stood out on Day 2 of the East-West Shrine Bowl.
The second practices for the East and West teams at the Shrine Bowl are in the books in Las Vegas.
Today, I honed in on the trenches, as the Chargers could be looking to shore up their offensive and defensive line depth and address the edge defender position in this year’s draft.
Here is a look at the crop of players who stood out on Day 2.
