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What time will the Chargers make their first pick in the 2024 NFL draft?

Here is the estimated time for the Chargers’ first-round draft pick.

The NFL draft kicks off today, and we will see which player the Chargers select to improve their roster.

If you don’t want to sit around and watch most of the draft and would rather tune in just when Los Angeles is on the clock, here is our best approximation of when that will be.

Our best guess is you’ll want to tune in at 5:40 pm PT.

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We’re basing our guess on last year’s draft. In 2023, the Seahawks selected cornerback Devon Witherspoon with the No. 5 overall selection at 5:49 pm PT.

Things went a little faster in 2022, with the Giants selecting edge defender Kayvon Thibodeaux at 5:41 pm PT.

The fifth pick in the 2021 NFL draft was at 5:57 pm PT.

The fifth pick was at 5:55 pm PT the year before that.

The bottom line is to play it safe. 5:40 pm PT is when you should tune in. That’s when you can find out if the Chargers stick and pick or trade down.

2024 NFL mock draft round-up: Experts make final picks for Chargers

Analysts make their final predictions on what the Chargers will do with their first-round pick.

The 2024 NFL draft is a little under 24 hours away, and the final predictions have been made.

Here’s one last mock draft roundup as analysts make their picks for the Chargers:

NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah: OT JC Latham, Alabama

Analysis: “This is where we could potentially see a trade, but I’m going to take the Chargers at their word that they want to be a more physical team and improve their run game. It might be a little bit of a surprise to see Latham go before Joe Alt, but the former Alabama star is ready to rock at right tackle and is a more powerful blocker than his Notre Dame counterpart.”

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Yahoo Sports’ Charles McDonald & Nate Tice: OT Olu Fashanu, Penn State & EDGE Jared Verse, Florida State (via trade with Vikings)

Analysis: “Head coach Jim Harbaugh has stressed the importance of offensive linemen and can get his hands on a big-time talent with Fashanu, who is falling down draft boards after an inconsistent senior season, which may have been due to injury. Either way, Fashanu can slide into right tackle while the Chargers figure out a different route for their wide receiver problem.”

“The second Chargers pick goes to the defensive trenches, picking up Verse to solidify their future at defensive end. Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack are still on the roster, but Mack isn’t going to be around that much longer and the Chargers need insurance in case Bosa’s injury history continues. This is a good landing spot for Verse at this point in the draft.”

ESPN’s Matt Miller: OT Taliese Fuaga, Oregon State & Clemson’s Nate Wiggins (via trade with Vikings)

Analysis: “The Chargers trade back from No. 5 here in my projected deal but still land a powerful right tackle to shore up the offensive line. Fuaga is a massive people-mover at 324 pounds and has also shown excellent agility in space in the Beavers’ zone-run scheme. The Chargers do need wide receiver help, but the depth at that position means addressing it at pick No. 23 (acquired from the Vikings in our projected trade) or in Round 2 is possible.”

“The fastest cornerback in the class goes to the Chargers, where the team has a gigantic need that must be addressed early. Wide receiver can wait a little longer, with the Chargers back on the clock at No. 37 in Round 2 and the cornerback class not as deep. Wiggins’ speed (4.28 in the 40-yard dash), motor and length at 6-2 make him a high-ceiling player with a bright future. The Chargers allowed 7.7 yards per pass attempt last season (28th), but he can help.”

The 33rd Team’s Ari Meirov: OT Joe Alt, Notre Dame

Analysis: “New Los Angeles Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh is all about getting more physical up front. While I could see a receiver going here, there was one quote I picked up from GM Joe Hortiz last week at his pre-draft presser: “I can promise you that wide receiver is going to be a deep position in the draft every year. It’s just the way the game has changed and evolved.”

So yes, the Chargers need to replace Keenan Allen and Mike Williams, but they could get a receiver later in the draft. This also could be a trade-down spot because the Chargers covet a few of the top offensive linemen. If they go with Joe Alt, the plan would more than likely be to play him at right tackle.”

Pro Football Focus’ Gordon McGuinness: OT Joe Alt, Notre Dame

Analysis: “Given their needs at both tackle and receiver, I don’t think the Chargers can go wrong with either Alt or LSU wide receiver Malik Nabers here. Alt earned a 90.7 PFF grade last season, leading all offensive linemen in this class. A phenomenal prospect at tackle, the 6-foot-8, 322-pounder allowed just five pressures from 368 pass-blocking snaps last season.”

Fox Sports’ Joel Klatt: TE Brock Bowers, Georgia & JC Latham, Alabama (via trade with Vikings)

Analysis: “Bowers is a prototypical player for Harbaugh’s offense. Many will argue that this is a prime receiver destination, but Harbaugh has never prioritized the position. It doesn’t mean he hasn’t had good ones, but he prioritizes tight ends because he wants to run offense out of 12 personnel (two tight ends). It creates extra pressure on the defense by either spreading out the offense to pass the ball or getting big to run the ball. Bowers can own the middle of the field in the pass game and block in the run game.”

“There are plenty of quality offensive linemen available here that would allow Harbaugh to run a team in his image. Do we expect him to suddenly deviate from that? He once told me and my announcer partner, Gus Johnson, that his offensive philosophy comes from his dad saying, “When you finally bury me, I want a diagram of a power play on my tombstone.” That’s how deeply they care about the physical nature of how to run the football.”

Draft Wire’s Jeff Risdon: OT JC Latham, Alabama (via trade with Vikings)

Analysis: “The Latham-to-the-Chargers buzz has been building, and he’s the exact type of lineman Jim Harbaugh has loved in his prior stops.”

NBC Sports’ Connor Rogers: OT JC Latham, Alabama

Analysis: “I don’t think there is a “consensus” No. 1 tackle across NFL front offices compared to how the media views Joe Alt. This makes Latham in play for the Chargers at No. 5, where he plugs in at right tackle and fits the mauling style Jim Harbaugh and Joe Hortiz crave.”

CBS Sports’ Pete Prisco: WR Marvin Harrison Jr., Ohio State

Analysis: “I thought about tackle Joe Alt here, but opted to go for a weapon for Justin Herbert. I could see the Chargers trading down to get more picks, but I think they would be wise to add Harrison.”

The Ringer: OT JC Latham, Alabama & DT Jer’Zhan Newton, Illinois

Analysis: “As we approach the draft, I’ve heard nothing but rosy projections for Latham. New head coach Jim Harbaugh saw Latham firsthand in the semifinal of the College Football Playoff this year and certainly has an appreciation for his dominant run-blocking profile. Latham’s experience at right tackle, where the Chargers have their biggest need on the offensive line, is a big boost as well.”

“I’m not really sure what the Chargers will prioritize with a second first-rounder, so I’m just defaulting to the classic Harbaugh trope: the trenches. The Chargers’ defensive tackle position is totally decimated, and Newton is a true three-down player with equal impact against the run and the pass. He reminds me often of Christian Wilkins with his ability to make tackles at or behind the line of scrimmage with penetration and power.”

NFL draft rumor: Chargers ‘will do what it takes’ to select Blake Corum

The Chargers could have their eyes set on the productive running back from Michigan.

There are a handful of Jim Harbaugh’s former Michigan players who could appeal to him when the Chargers are on the clock, but he could have his eyes set on one specific player.

According to ESPN’s Dan Graziano, it is believed that Harbaugh is expected to target running back Blake Corum.

“No running backs are expected to go in the first round, and there’s a great variety of opinion on which one will be the first back selected this year,” Graziano said.

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“… I’ve spoken to scouts from multiple teams who think Michigan’s Blake Corum might be the best of the bunch and believe Jim Harbaugh’s Chargers will do what it takes to make sure he’s reunited with his college coach.”

Corum was productive for the Wolverines this past season, rushing for 1,245 yards and a program-record 27 touchdowns en route to the school’s national title. He finished his collegiate career with 58 rushing scores.

Corum isn’t the youngest player, set to be 24 this upcoming season and already has plenty of mileage used. But he has the patience, vision, and quickness to be an effective back in the NFL.

Los Angeles signed Gus Edwards and recently, JK Dobbins. But as they look to run the ball at a high level under offensive coordinator Greg Roman, the Chargers might feel that Corum is the final piece to the puzzle.

Early signs pointing to Derwin James wearing green dot for Chargers during 2024 season

Derwin James was spotted wearing what appeared to be a communications device at voluntary veteran minicamp.

The Chargers uploaded a series of photos from their voluntary veteran minicamp to the team’s website. Perhaps most interestingly, a picture of Derwin James wearing a communications device was uploaded.

Historically, players wearing an earpiece are usually relaying signal calls from the defensive coordinator. In this case, James would be the primary green dot play caller for Jesse Minter.

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James has worked as the team’s green dot previously. Last season, Brandon Staley handed the signal-calling responsibilities to a newly signed free agent in Eric Kendricks entering 2023. After an injury to Kendricks and an early defensive tailspin for the team, the green dot role went back to Kenneth Murray.

James had signal-calling responsibilities in both 2021 and parts of 2022. In 2022, Staley wanted to free up James’ ability to make plays by giving green dot responsibility to former Charger Drue Tranquill early in the season. It was a change of philosophy for Staley relative to how he talked about James’ role when he first was hired.

It’s still too early to suggest that James is getting the green dot role back relative to other options. With the draft quickly approaching, one has to wonder if the Chargers take a linebacker fairly early. Los Angeles publicly met with Michigan’s Junior Colson and Texas A&M’s Edgerrin Cooper in Top 30 visits.

While we’re still a long way away from August and September, James’ contentment with being Minter’s signal relayer is nonetheless interesting and a potentially marked change.

Check it out: Jim Harbaugh gets tattoo in honor of Michigan’s National Championship

Jim Harbaugh stuck to his word.

Last fall, Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh made a promise to get a tattoo if his former team, Michigan, went all the way. 

“If we go undefeated, I’m going to get a 15-0 tattoo,” Harbaugh said via the Inside Michigan Football radio show. 

The tattoo includes the school’s “M” logo with 15-0 beneath. 

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Tattoo artist Stephen Bateman shared a post on Instagram featuring Harbaugh and his new ink with the caption: “Go Blue! 15-0. Thanks, Jim Harbaugh, for having me out!!” Bateman wrote.

The Wolverines won the national championship in January, defeating the Washington Huskies. 

The victory marked Michigan’s first undefeated season since the school won its previous title two and a half decades ago.

Harbaugh will have a lasting reminder of his perfect season at Michigan with his new ink. 

The question remains if Harbaugh will now vow to get a lightning bolt as his next tattoo if the Chargers get a ring. 

Chargers hosted WR DJ Chark on visit

The Chargers need to add to the wide receiver room.

The Chargers hosted free agent wide receiver DJ Chark on a visit, according to NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport.

Los Angeles is thin at the position after the departures of Keenan Allen and Williams and they seem to have some interest in Chark, who is one of the few notable veterans available.

Chark spent the 2023 season with the Panthers after signing a one-year deal last offseason. He caught 35 passes for 524 yards and five touchdowns in 15 games.

A former second-round pick by the Jaguars, Chark’s best season came in 2019. That year, he amassed 73 receptions for 1,008 yards and eight scores en route to earning a Pro Bowl berth.

Chark played with the Lions in 2022, totaling 30 catches for 502 yards with three touchdowns.

The Chargers’ goal at wide receiver is to get younger and faster, and Chark has plenty of juice, having run a 4.34 40.

Joe Hortiz on potential first-round trade: ‘We’ll take the best one if we do move back’

Although the Chargers have the No. 5 overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft, the franchise is still weighing whether to trade down.

Although the Chargers have the No. 5 overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft, the franchise is still weighing whether to trade down. General manager Joe Hortiz spoke on potential trades and outcomes for the team. 

According to Hortiz, the Chargers will need to be “blown away” to trade down from the fifth pick. 

It’s important to note that if the first four picks are quarterbacks, Los Angeles will have the best non-quarterback option available, like Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. 

“If four quarterbacks go, we strongly believe we have the first pick,” Hortiz said. “So, what are teams willing to give us? Now, we know it’s the fifth pick and teams are going to be trading on that scope, but it’s got to be a value for us.

“Do we have to be blown away? What is blown away? I don’t know the answer to that,” Hortiz added. “You weigh the options and the offers that we get. We’ll take the best one if we do move back.”

It all comes down to value. Which move has more value for the Chargers: trading down or sticking with No.5? A trade-down situation would mean extra picks to help fill out the roster’s holes. 

“That’s going to be the reason because we’ve got really good players, great players that we’re going to be staring at,” Hortiz said. “So if we’re going to trade away from great players, there’s got to be a reason in terms of value for us. Certainly, there’s going to be more great players, but it’s got to make sense for you and it’s got to make sense for the team that wants to come up.

“There’s certainly, ‘It’s too good of a deal’, in terms of what you’re getting back,” Hortiz added. “They have to make it attractive to us for us to move away from those players. The whole, ‘It’s a fair trade, it’s a wash’. I don’t think that’s a trade we’re interested in.”

Hortiz has already had conversations with different teams that have expressed interest in trading picks. 

“The draft is the draft,” Hortiz said. “You think you know what they’re going to do but you actually don’t until it happens.”

Highlights of new Chargers RB JK Dobbins

To get excited about what JK Dobbins is going to bring to the table, check out these highlights.

The Chargers added to the backfield with the signing of JK Dobbins.

Jim Harbaugh has a vision of running the football at a high level, so he brought in Dobbins. Dobbins is familiar with offensive coordinator Greg Roman and fellow teammate Gus Edwards from their time with the Ravens.

To get excited about what Dobbins is going to bring to the table, check out these highlights:

 

Takeaways from Chargers GM Joe Hortiz’s pre-draft press conference

Chargers general manager Joe Hortiz talked everything from the signing of JK Dobbins to what the team’s plans are with the fifth pick.

Chargers general manager Joe Hortiz held his final media availability before the 2024 NFL draft next Thursday.

First, he commented on the signing of running back JK Dobbins and what Los Angeles is getting with him.

The kid, the player, the talent, the competitor. J.K. [Dobbins], I had a chance to be with him for four years. A special, special competitor. He wants to be here. He just signed his deal about two hours ago, so excited and fired up. You feel the energy right away for him, a guy you know. I think one of the benefits to free agency, when you get to sign someone, you know what type of player they are, what type of person they are, how they’re going to be in this culture we’re setting up here, how they’re a fit — it’s great when you have an opportunity to do something like that. Just really excited to get him here.

Regarding his injury history, Hortiz said he considers it a product of “bad luck.” Dobbins dealt with a torn ACL that ended his 2021 season and a torn Achilles that ended his 2023 campaign. Hortiz said that he expects Dobbins to be ready by the time the season starts in September and that the team feels good about where he is physically.

When asked about the Dobbins signing potentially changing draft plans, Hortiz seemed to reject the premise. He brought up the example of the Ravens re-signing Marcus Williams while still drafting Kyle Hamilton when he was in Baltimore. Long story short: Dobbins doesn’t do anything to take running back off the board for LA, especially given what he’s physically coming back from.

Hortiz also chimed in on his mindset regarding the draft for the best player available vs. draft for need debate.

I think that it’s the best player available. Like I said, we want to add depth. Certainly, there are some positions that we don’t need — you know, quote-unquote need, in quotations — but, you’re one play away from needing a position. If you look at it based on need, you’re never just one player away, ever. I’ve learned that from my predecessors, [Ravens Executive Vice President] Ozzie Newsome and [Ravens Executive Vice President & General Manager] Eric DeCosta, and I believe that. When you get a chance to add a great player, you add them. That’s how we’re going to approach it.

Regarding trade scenarios, Hortiz said that teams have reached out to discuss them. Phone activity will ramp up closer to next week’s draft, as he noted they’re in control of the fifth pick, not the first. Discussions have been preliminary.

Hortiz mentioned the concept of “balancing” trade returns between seasons with future picks that could be offered in trades.

That’s the valuation that you put on all of the picks. We value every pick in the draft, we create a value for each pick. You sit there and say, ‘OK, is a future in X round worth more than one in this round?’ Certainly, we want to create some more picks, as many picks as we can this year. But, yeah, you do look forward, too, and if you get a chance to get a high-round pick next year, sometimes that creates more value.

On the nature of the Charger’s evaluation of the pick at five, Hortiz mentioned that the price would need to be high. Echoing comments that HC Jim Harbaugh made at the owner’s meetings, he said that the Chargers do believe they have the first pick in the draft with the expectation the top 4 picks will be quarterbacks.

Regarding Harbaugh, Hortiz said that his wealth of knowledge from the last several years of Big Ten and Michigan football, plus his recruiting Rolodex, are huge assets during the draft. Asked specifically about the Michigan prospects, he said, “We know the players better than anyone. That’s a major advantage for us.”

During the combine, Hortiz said that the Chargers interviewed 45 players in total. That’s in addition to their top 30 visits and other meetings at locations like the Senior and Shrine Bowls.

Perhaps most importantly, Hortiz also laid out the power structure and who is “responsible” for the picks.

I’m the one who picks the player. But, when I tell you it’s a collaborative process, it’s a collaborative process. I put the list together based on what we do as a group. That’s scouting, that’s coaching, that’s talking to Jim [Harbaugh] and Jim’s input and his evaluation on the players. I’m the one that ranks them and I’m, ultimately, the one that calls them. That’s the way it was where I came from. That’s the way it’s been here in L.A. with [Owner and Chairman of the Board] Dean [A. Spanos] and [President of Football Operations] John [Spanos]. That’s the way we’re continuing to operate, but it is a collaborative process.

While Harbaugh will undoubtedly have plenty of influence over the draft, he has issued similar sentiments on Hortiz’s control over the offseason process. Back at his introductory presser, Harbaugh went as far as to say he wants to be the “Robin to Hortiz’s Batman” during the player acquisition portion of the offseason.

With just a week left to go until the draft, it was nice to get a few nuggets from Hortiz. Although, as always, keep in mind he’s not going to say anything juicy in these media interviews as draft truths he’d expect to be held to next week.

Where Chargers’ running back room stands after signing of JK Dobbins

Despite the signing of JK Dobbins, the Chargers will likely add another one in the draft.

After the Chargers agreed to terms with running back JK Dobbins yesterday, they now stand at five backs on the active roster.

Gus Edwards was signed early on the first day of the free agency to a two-year contract. With Dobbins on the roster, now two former running backs with experience in the Greg Roman system reunite with him in Los Angeles.

Edwards and Dobbins were highly productive with Roman when healthy in Baltimore. Edwards averaged 5.1 yards per carry on over 300 carries with 11 touchdowns in three seasons. On a little over 200 carries, Dobbins averaged 5.9 yards per carry with the same amount of endzone scores in two seasons after he was drafted in 2020.

The question for both backs, particularly Dobbins, is availability. While the nature of the signing is low risk/high reward, Dobbins has played just nine games in the last three seasons after suffering a torn ACL in 2021 and a torn Achilles in 2023. Edwards also tore his ACL in 2021 but has played a full slate of games in three of the last five seasons.

2022 fourth-round selection Isaiah Spiller is still on the roster and will presumably have an opportunity to compete for a spot. Spiller has been active for just 15 of his first 34 career games.

He has often been a healthy scratch for reasons that have to do with his special teams impact. Larry Rountree and Elijah Dotson have been active over him in recent seasons due to special teams coordinator Ryan Ficken trusting their contributions in the kicking game more. Under Jim Harbaugh, Ficken will still have his preferences on special teams. Spiller will either have to contribute there or make an impact as a top-two running back in the rotation itself.

Elijah Dotson and Jaret Patterson were signed to a futures deals at the end of the season. Dotson was active in four games last season due to injuries to the running back room and early special teams contributions. Both are more than likely competing for practice squad spots.

A week away from the NFL draft, the Chargers could still opt to add another running back to the roster. LA has hosted Blake Corum and Isaac Guerendo for top-30 visits in Costa Mesa while speaking to several other rushers at the NFL Combine, Senior Bowl, and pro days.