With the 2021 Reese’s Senior Bowl just days away, this is an appropriate time for a mock draft of what the Chargers could do if they only had players in the annual all-star game to choose from.
This is just an exercise, but keep in mind general manager Tom Telesco does covet the Senior Bowl as an outlet to find talent. 13 Chargers of the last four drafts attended the showcase in Mobile, AL.
Round 1, No. 13, Alex Leatherwood, OT, Alabama
The Chargers will need to upgrade the offensive line after finishing near the bottom this past season. The left tackle position will be a spot that Los Angeles looks to address early on because Sam Tevi is slated to be a free agent.
Named the 2020 Outland Trophy winner, which is awarded to the best interior lineman in college football, Leatherwood, the 6-foot-5 and 313 pounder, made 47 starts for the Crimson Tide with 13 of them coming at right guard in 2018.
Leatherwood is an excellent blindside blocker who possesses great size, length and physicality. While he does show some stiffness in his lower body, the 22-year old possesses the heavy hands to stymie pass rushers at the next level, projecting as an NFL starter.
Round 2, No. 45, Aaron Banks, OG, Notre Dame
Forrest Lamp is another starting offensive linemen from this past season that is set to hit the free agency market. Even though Lamp played in every single game, the results were inconsistent, which is why they could decide to let him walk.
Banks, the first-team All-American, allowed just two sacks in 844 snaps as a junior. He is a good-sized smooth-moving mauler as both a run blocker and pass protector who won’t lose many one-on-one battles.
Banks has a mammoth body type with 330 pounds neatly packed on his frame, where he using his mitts like powerful vice grips to latch-and-control, projecting as a plug-and-play guard.
Round 3, No. 77, Quincy Roche, EDGE, Miami
There’s a chance that Melvin Ingram, who is set to be a free agent, won’t be back next season. The Chargers could roll with Uchenna Nwosu as one of the outside linebackers, assuming they run a 3-4 defense. Regardless, the team needs more talent up front.
Roche eclipsed 11 quarterback pressures in three games in 2020 for the Hurricanes. The year before that, he amassed 68 quarterback pressures and 13 sacks for Temple in 2019.
Roche is a slippery rusher with the initial burst, functional strength, and length to threaten the pocket on a regular basis and defend the run, projecting as a promising outside linebacker at the next level.
Round 3, No. 97, Ambry Thomas, CB, Michigan
The Chargers need to add more pieces to the cornerback room. Casey Hayward took a step backwards last season and will be entering the final year of his contract and Michael Davis will be a free agent this offseason.
After serving as a depth piece, Thomas found his way in the starting lineup in 2019. In 12 games, Thomas totaled 38 total tackles, 3.0 tackles for loss, three interceptions, three pass deflections, and two fumble recoveries.
Thomas is a lengthy athlete who can stick with receivers downfield with good play speed and fluid hips. Thomas uses his athleticism to make plays on the ball and receiver, showing a nice amount of ball skills to finish through contact. He is also physical in the run game.
Round 4, No. 117, Jacoby Stevens, S, LSU
In Staley’s defense, position versatility is key. He covets hybrid defensive backs that are capable of being put in different coverages and those who can play the pass and the run equally effectively. Stevens is a do-it-all player who fits that mold.
Lining up everywhere from single-high safety to an outside linebacker, Stevens logged 63 tackles, six tackles for loss, three sacks, four passes defensed, a forced fumble, and three fumble recoveries in 2020.
Stevens is a competitor who has the instincts and physicality to play in the box. There, he can roam around the backfield and jam opposing receivers, cover tight ends, rush the edge on blitzing downs and come up in run support, making him an ideal fit for the present day NFL secondary.
Round 5, No. 156, Trevon Grimes, WR, Florida
The Chargers have talent in the wide receiver room, but they could afford to get more explosive at the position.
Grimes joined the Gators as a transfer player from Ohio State. During his time with Florida, Grimes accumulated 97 receptions for 1,444 yards and 14 touchdowns. This past season, the senior receiver hauled in 38 receptions for 589 yards and nine touchdowns.
Grimes is a big, physical receiver who has deep speed and brings strong hands and contested-catch ability. He uses that size and physicality in the run game, where he is stout as a blocker.
Round 6, No. 194, Royce Newman, OG, Ole Miss
General manager Tom Telesco made the point at his end-of-season press conference that addressing the offensive line would be a focal point this offseason. To shore up the unit, Telesco takes the third offensive lineman of this year’s draft.
In 2019, Newman started all 12 games at guard, allowing only one sack on 416 pass-blocking snaps. This past season, the 6-foot-6 and 310 pounder kicked back outside to tackle, where he shined again, particularly in the run-blocking department.
Newman needs to continue and get stronger and develop physically, but he has the frame, athleticism, technique and football character than makes him an ideal developmental player who offers versatility to play either tackle or guard.
Round 7, No. 237, Ta’Quon Graham, DL, Texas
The Chargers have some players up front that should benefit from Staley’s defense, but they could afford some additional depth in the trenches.
In four seasons, Graham amassed 70 total tackles, 21.5 tackles for loss, six sacks, 46 quarterback pressures, seven quarterbacks hits, 41 runs stops and only eight missed tackles.
Playing both on the outside and over the B-gap as a more traditional three-technique tackle, Graham is a balanced athlete for his size with the long arms, movement skills and play strength, projecting as a productive rotational player.
