Tag: Chargers draft targets

5 potential targets if Chargers trade down in 2023 NFL draft

Here are five players that the Chargers could target if they were to trade down in the 2023 NFL draft.

We can assume who the Chargers will take when they’re on the clock all we want, but the unthinkable is always bound to happen come draft day.

Teams will do whatever it takes to get their guy, so trades will occur. So let’s say there’s a team that wants a quarterback or skill player, but they feel like they won’t be there when they pick they’re going to trade up.

If Los Angeles was to trade down and stockpile draft picks, who might they consider?

Here are five players that could be in consideration for the Bolts if they trade down:

Los Angeles Chargers four-round 2023 NFL mock draft Friday 1.0

Here is the first edition of four-round Friday, laying out different scenarios on how the draft could play out for the Chargers.

The 2023 NFL draft is creeping up, so we will supply you with in-depth coverage between now and then to inform you who the Chargers could target while they’re on the clock.

With that being said, this will be the first installment of the four-round mock draft Friday, where I will lay out different scenarios every week on how the first four rounds could play out for Los Angeles.

5 potential Chargers targets who stood out at Senior Bowl: Defense

Highlighting a few defensive players from the Senior Bowl who should have drawn the attention of the Chargers.

Now that the 2023 Senior Bowl, the premier all-star game for NFL draft prospects, is over, it is time to reflect on the meaning of the week.

Which players helped themselves the most throughout their time in Mobile and likely garnered the attention of the Chargers?

Let’s dive in with the defensive side of the ball.

Pros and cons for 10 possible first-round targets for Chargers

Breaking down the positives and negatives of some of the most likely prospects for the Chargers in the first round of the 2022 NFL draft.

This week’s NFL draft is poised to be one of the more chaotic in recent memory. There are no premier quarterbacks to talk about, no clarity at No. 1 overall, and no two teams with the same set of prospects graded as first-rounders.

For teams like the Chargers holding on to a mid-first round pick, that means the intrigue is higher than ever. With that, here are ten prospects, ranked in order of likelihood, that the team could walk away from Thursday’s session with, including the pros and cons for each one.

2022 NFL draft: Chargers Wire’s top-10 positional rankings on defense

Seeking to shore up the defensive side of the ball, take a look at a handful of prospects who could be on the Chargers’ radar.

In Brandon Staley’s first year as head coach, the Chargers made the point to add pieces around Justin Herbert.

Now, after finishing 26th in defensive DVOA, Los Angeles will look to get the pieces to match Staley’s personnel for better results next season.

Luckily, the 2022 NFL draft offers plenty of star power and depth at multiple positions on defense.

To get you prepared for who the Bolts might target this upcoming April, here’s a look at my top-10 positional rankings.

2021 NFL draft: Chargers Day 2 predictions

What might the Los Angeles Chargers do on Day 2? Let’s take a crack at predicting the picks.

The Chargers hit a home run in the first round of the 2021 NFL draft, selecting offensive tackle Rashawn Slater. Now with Day 1 in the rearview, the attention has shifted to Rounds 2 and 3.

What might Los Angeles do with their Day 2 picks? Using Pro Football Network’s mock draft simulator, I took a crack at how general manager Tom Telesco could continue his haul.

Round 2, No. 47, S Jevon Holland, Oregon

I know what you’re thinking. Yes, the Chargers need a starting cornerback, but the safety position needs just as much attention considering Derwin James has only played five games in the past two seasons, Nasir Adderley is coming off of a sophomore slump and Alohi Gilman isn’t a scheme fit.

As Staley said: “I don’t think you can have enough DBs just in the current NFL.”

Lining up in the box, the slot and from a two-high safety spot, Holland served as a key piece in the pass and run defense.

Holland’s speed, instincts and strength should bode well in coverages against opposing receivers. Also, he is high effort player who is not afraid to stick his nose in to make a tackle. In addition, he can serve as a punt returner and contributor on coverage units.

Ball skills, you ask? Holland produced 19 passes defensed and nine interceptions for the Ducks in two seasons.

Holland would be an instant contributor for the Bolts where he offers the positional versatility with his ability to play safety or nickel corner at a high level, something that would give the team a lot to work with in the back end of the defense.

Round 3, No. 77, CB Paulson Adebo, Stanford

The Chargers still manage to find a corner who’s capable of starting from Day 1 in the third-round.

Adebo had a phenomenal sophomore year with the Cardinals. He seemed destined to be a first-round pick, but his junior tape was inconsistent, so Adebo wanted to solidify his name as a top corner and returned to school for 2020. However, COVID-19 put things to a halt, forcing him to opt out.

Built with a long and rangy physique, Adebo shows the looseness and fluidity, rarely allows any separation on vertical routes. He shows receiver-like ball tracking abilities when the ball is in flight. He can control the rep and dictate where the receiver goes in press and is always aware in zone.

Like Holland, Adebo is always around the ball. In two seasons, he posted 34 passes defensed and eight interceptions.

Adebo is also very good in run support, diagnosing things develop in the snap of a finger and shooting downhill to make stops in the open field or near the line of scrimmage with textbook technique.

Overall, Adebo’s fluidity, reactive athleticism and his playmaking abilities against the pass and run make him a plug-and-play cornerback for Staley. His effort and play speed would allow him to serve as a gunner on the punt team unit, as well.

Round 3, No. 97, TE Hunter Long, Boston College

It wouldn’t surprise me if the Chargers drafted a tight end with one of their first two selections on Day 2 considering Jared Cook is only a one-year deal, but here we are after taking two impactful players on the defensive side of the ball.

Productive throughout three seasons, Long finished his stint with the Eagles with 89 catches for 1,297 yards and nine touchdowns.

At 6-foot-5 and 254 pounds, Long is a smart, willing blocker who shows athleticism in his routes, has very good speed, and a big catch radius, projecting as a capable tight end in this league with good receiving potential who can fill an inline and slot role.