In the three weeks since our first mock draft of the offseason, the Los Angeles Chargers have undergone some dramatic changes to their roster under coach Jim Harbaugh and general manager Joe Hortiz.
Free agency and the new league year forced the Chargers to address their cap situation. They moved on from receivers Mike Williams and Keenan Allen and linebacker Eric Kendricks. Running back Austin Ekeler, linebacker Kenneth Murray Jr., tight end Gerald Everett and cornerback Michael Davis departed in free agency. The Chargers, meanwhile, started to rebuild the roster with bargain free-agency signings, including center Bradley Bozeman, tight end Will Dissly, running back Gus Edwards and more.
The NFL Draft is now less than a month away. And based on the moves made, we have a much better idea of what the Chargers need in Harbaugh and Hortiz’s first draft together.
Welcome to Mock 2.0, the second of four mock drafts I’ll be doing in the lead-up to the draft.
We begin this version with a trade.
Round 1, pick No. 11 (from MIN): Taliese Fuaga, OL, Oregon State
The Minnesota Vikings traded with the Houston Texans for an additional first-round pick earlier this month. The Vikings now hold the 11th and 23rd picks in the draft. After quarterback Kirk Cousins left for the Atlanta Falcons in free agency, the implicit intention behind this trade is to acquire resources to move up in the first round for a quarterback.
Our hypothetical scenario: USC’s Caleb Williams, UNC’s Drake Maye and LSU’s Jayden Daniels, all quarterbacks, go first, second and third to the Chicago Bears, Washington Commanders and New England Patriots, in some order. The Arizona Cardinals remain at No. 4 and select Ohio State receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. The Vikings then swing a deal with the Chargers to move up to No. 5 and draft Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy.
The Chargers send the fifth pick to the Vikings. In return, they receive pick Nos. 11 and 23 and a 2025 third-rounder.
Passing on LSU receiver Malik Nabers would be difficult, especially with Williams and Allen no longer on the roster. And I am certainly not saying this is what the Chargers should do if the draft falls this way. It is just an interesting scenario I want to dive into, as making this specific trade would allow the Chargers to fill more holes in a roster littered with them.
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If the Chargers trade to No. 11, they would almost certainly miss out on Nabers and Washington receiver Rome Odunze. But they would likely have a shot at one of the six offensive tackles our draft expert Dane Brugler has ranked in his top 100.
Fuaga is one of my favorite players in the draft. Physical, mean, violent: His style would align well with how the Chargers want to play offensively, particularly in the run game. Fuaga has some limitations in pass protection against bendy edge rushers. He might be a better fit at guard, and the Chargers could upgrade at right guard or right tackle. Fuaga was a right tackle at Oregon State. The logic: Bring in an offensive lineman who fits the broader vision offensively, and figure out exactly where he fits through the spring and summer.
GO DEEPER
NFL beat writer mock draft 2.0: Vikings, Broncos trade up into top 10 to grab QBs
Round 1, pick No. 23 (from MIN via HOU via CLE): Nate Wiggins, CB, Clemson
The value of this trade down starts to shine with this second first-round pick. Cornerback is one of the biggest needs on the roster. The Chargers have four corners with regular-season experience: Asante Samuel Jr., Ja’Sir Taylor, Deane Leonard and Kristian Fulton. The Fulton deal is not yet official but is expected to be announced sometime this week. The Chargers need to add at this position, and Wiggins has all the athletic traits defensive coordinator Jesse Minter is looking for in an outside corner. He has size at 6 feet 1. He has speed, running a 4.28-second 40-yard dash at the combine. He is an extremely fluid athlete, especially when forced to turn and recover on deep-developing routes. As Brugler writes, Wiggins allowed only one reception of 20 or more yards on 41 such targets last season.
Round 2, pick No. 37: Adonai Mitchell, WR, Texas
If the Chargers trade down and miss out on Harrison, Nabers and Odunze, they should be looking to add a receiver on Day 2. Joshua Palmer, Quentin Johnston and Derius Davis are the three starting receivers at the moment. The Chargers will probably attempt to add a receiver in free agency. Between that addition and an early-round selection, their receivers will be in relatively good shape, considering the Chargers moved on from their No. 1 and No. 2 receivers in a week. Mitchell has excellent long speed. He can attack the deep part of the field with necessary deception in his routes. Brugler points out Mitchell’s “hand-eye coordination,” which allows him to make some special adjustments on throws outside his frame.
Could Jim Harbaugh be reunited with his former Michigan defensive lineman Kris Jenkins? (Michael Hickey / Getty Images)
Round 3, pick No. 69: Kris Jenkins, DL, Michigan
I expect the Chargers to select at least one Michigan player in the draft. I just cannot overlook the familiarity Harbaugh will have with his former players. The Chargers need to add to the interior of their defensive line, even after signing Poona Ford in free agency. I could see them addressing this position even earlier in the draft, regardless of whether they trade down. Jenkins does not have overwhelming size — he weighed in at 299 pounds at the combine — and that shows up on tape when he is taking on double-teams. But Jenkins, the son of a former Pro Bowl defensive lineman, has a tremendous motor, and he would give the Chargers an interior pass rush element they have been missing in recent seasons outside of Morgan Fox.
GO DEEPER
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Round 4, pick No. 105: Audric Estimé, RB, Notre Dame
Edwards is in line to be the primary back in 2024. Hortiz called him a “bell cow” when he spoke with local writers last week. The Chargers have Isaiah Spiller on the roster. They could also add another back in free agency, namely former Baltimore Ravens running back J.K. Dobbins, who has reportedly been cleared for football activities after the September Achilles injury that ended his 2023 season. Hortiz has familiarity with Dobbins. Even if the Chargers make that move, though, they’ll likely try to draft a running back, most likely on Day 3.
Estimé seems like a good fit for how the Chargers want to play. He lacks speed, running a 4.71 40 at the combine. But I like his tape. He is a big, physical back. He has good vision in short areas around the line of scrimmage, finding small crevices with quick, decisive feet. When he gets going in the open field, he is a handful to bring down. And I loved what I saw from Estimé in pass protection. His size allows him to match up well with blitzing linebackers. He sees pressure well. The Chargers want to be bullies in the run game. A pairing of Edwards and Estimé would be a step toward that.
Round 4, pick No. 110 (from CHI): Tommy Eichenberg, LB, Ohio State
The Chargers signed two linebackers in free agency (Denzel Perryman and Troy Dye), and they have two linebackers returning (Daiyan Henley and Nick Niemann). This group is way better off than it was a month ago. But it needs another piece. Eichenberg is not an elite athlete by modern linebacker standards. He is a little stiff in his lateral movements. But he is a good run defender. He is tough and physical. He seeks out contact. I love the mentality and play style. Eichenberg had 120 tackles at Ohio State in 2022. He also had experience on special teams in college.
Round 5, pick No. 140: Tanor Bortolini, C, Wisconsin
Corey Linsley, the Chargers’ starting center for the past three seasons, is expected to retire this offseason. But the need at center has taken a turn in recent weeks. First off, the Chargers signed Bozeman, who can fill that spot as a stopgap for 2024. Bozeman has played nearly 3,000 snaps at center in his career, including with the Ravens. The other big development: Harbaugh said at the annual league meeting in Orlando that he thinks 2023 fifth-round pick Jordan McFadden is an option at center.
I dug a bit and was told that moving McFadden to center was part of the long-term plan when he was drafted last year. He took some snaps at center in practice but never got any full-speed reps there. Having a potential internal option changes the calculus a bit. Still, the Chargers should be looking to add another center option in the draft. McFadden might end up fitting better at guard, where he started two games last season. Bortolini was one of the standout testers at the combine. He played all five offensive line positions at Wisconsin, so he could provide some center/guard flexibility.
Could the Chargers add a double dose of Buckeyes with Tommy Eichenberg and Josh Proctor? (Michael Reaves / Getty Images)
Round 6, pick No. 181: Josh Proctor, S, Ohio State
The Chargers re-signed Alohi Gilman to start next to Derwin James Jr. at safety. They also have 2022 third-round pick JT Woods. And 2023 undrafted free agent AJ Finley was a reliable special teams player last season. The depth is a bit unproven, especially with Woods, who has played only 89 defensive snaps in his first two NFL seasons. I like the idea of adding a competitive depth piece to the safety group late on Day 3.
Proctor could be available here because he is not an eye-popping athlete. That shows up sometimes in the deep part of the field, especially when he gets beat and is chasing. But he sees the game well, both from deep alignments and in the slot. Proctor showed an ability to disguise looks on tape. And he is not afraid to mix it up in run fits in the box.
GO DEEPER
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Round 7, pick No. 225: Mason Pline, TE, Furman
The Chargers gave themselves flexibility at tight end by signing two veterans in free agency. They do not necessarily have to draft a tight end. Dissly, Hayden Hurst and Donald Parham Jr. are the top three tight ends. At the bare minimum, the Chargers will be massively upgraded from a run-blocking perspective with Dissly atop the depth chart. If the Chargers draft a tight end, they could end up waiting until Day 3. A former college basketball player, Pline has tantalizing size and athleticism, along with soft hands.
Round 7, pick No. 253: Cornelius Johnson, WR, Michigan
Johnson was a three-year starter for Harbaugh in Ann Arbor. At the combine, he ran a 4.44 40 at 6-3, 212 pounds. He would bring some blocking juice to the Chargers’ receivers.
(Top photos of Taliese Fuaga, Nate Wiggins and Adonai Mitchell: Brandon Sloter / Image of Sport / Getty Images, John Byrum / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images and Ron Jenkins / Getty Images)
