The Chargers upgrade the defensive line, wide receiver and cornerback position in the latest projections following the 2022 Senior Bowl.
The 2022 Senior Bowl is officially in the books.
With one of the most important legs of the evaluation process a thing of the past, the Chargers draft board continues to take shape.
With that being said, it’s time to take a look at what Los Angeles might do with its first four selections in April’s draft.
Round 1, No. 17, EDGE Travon Walker, Georgia
As it stands, the Chargers edge defender group is rather thin, with Joey Bosa and Chris Rumph being the only ones under contract, with the future of Uchenna Nwosu up in the air. I believe that Nwosu is worthy of a contract extension, but even if he is brought back, the team simply needs more juice at the position that’s capable of getting into the backfield on a consistent basis.
With Walker, Los Angeles would be getting a 6-foot-5 and 275-pounder who wreaks havoc with rare get-off to get around the corner or through gaps and the length and strength to bench press blockers. In addition, Walker is strong against the run, where he flashes anchor to hold his ground at the point of attack and open-field tackling ability.
Further, Walker’s versatility is one of his strong suits as he can play off the edge or along the interior, something that Brandon Staley utilizes with Bosa to create mismatches up front.
Walker is a former five-star recruit that stayed home to play for the Bulldogs, where he shined in his first season as a Freshman All-SEC Team member. Defenses paid attention to him more as a sophomore, which led to a down year, but 2021 saw him ascend, resulting in 32 tackles (5.5 for loss), five sacks, and 25 quarterback hurries.
Round 2, No. 48, CB Kyler Gordon, Washington
Asante Samuel Jr. proved to be the Chargers’ best cornerback in just his first season, but suffering two concussions in his first season is concerning. Michael Davis played well, but nothing to warrant the money he was paid last offseason. Chris Harris Jr. will be a free agent after this season.
Therefore, Los Angeles will be in the market for someone at the position that’s capable of making an impact early on.
At 6-foot and 200 pounds, Gordon boasts impressive size which he couples with impressive agility and quickness to help him stay in phase with receivers in man coverage. In off coverage, he uses his outstanding instincts to see things develop and close in on the football. One of the best-tackling corners, Gordon is good at limiting extra yardage and playing the run.
Beyond that, he has the size to survive along the boundary and the short-area quickness and toughness to play inside the football.
In his Husky career, Gordon intercepted two passes, forced two fumbles and recovered a safety as he also saw limited action against the pass as opponents avoided him. Last season, Gordon was Pro Football Focus’ highest-grading cornerback in man coverage as he notched a 90.9 grade.
Round 3, No. 79, WR Calvin Austin, Memphis
The Chargers are set for the foreseeable future with their No. 1 wideout in Keenan Allen. However, behind him, the room draws some questions. Will Mike Williams be re-signed, franchise-tagged, or let go of altogether? Is Josh Palmer ready to take the leap as the No. 2 guy if Williams walks?
Regardless, one thing is certain: Los Angeles needs a speed/yards-after-the-catch weapon.
Shifty and bursting with energy, Austin is an explosive product that has proved size isn’t everything when playing wide receiver. With track speed, ravishing route running, and a dangerous threat with the ball in his hands, Austin is exactly the play-maker the Bolts would benefit from.
Austin finished his collegiate career with 2,541 yards and 22 touchdowns on 156 catches. He also left Memphis tied for second in touchdown receptions and fourth in receiving yards.
Round 4, No. 120, NT Neil Farrell Jr., LSU
The Chargers could address this position as early as the first round or they might have some flexibility to do so later on if they’re aggressive in free agency. In this case, they do and snag Farrell, who provides excellent value here in the fourth round.
Overshadowed by other SEC interior defensive linemen, Farrell did not get as much buzz throughout the season. However, his efforts were always noticed. Farrell finished with the fifth-most run stops (24) and the second-highest run-stop percentage (11.4), per Pro Football Focus.
He reaffirmed himself as one of the nation’s top nose tackles at the Senior Bowl, winning the American Team Defensive Lineman of the Week.
At 6-foot-3 and 338 pounds, Farrell shows the ability to control the point of attack to allow second-level defenders to roam freely or get in the backfield with the quickness through gaps, proper leverage, brute strength & powerful limbs to push blockers back, and heavy hands to swat jab attempts.
