The Chargers need wide receivers after trading Keenan Allen and releasing Mike Williams. They need offensive linemen after Corey Linsley’s retirement. They need defensive backs to bolster their pass coverage and because, well, you can never have too many cornerbacks and safeties.
Free agency was the Chargers’ first crack at restocking a roster that failed to live up to expectations and prompted the firing of Brandon Staley as coach and Tom Telesco as general manager. New coach Jim Harbaugh and new GM Joe Hortiz navigated salary cap issues as best as possible.
Next: The NFL draft, taking place April 25-27 in Detroit, is another opportunity for Harbaugh and Hortiz to put their stamp on the Chargers. They’ll need talented young players at a number of positions, but especially at wide receiver, on the offensive and defensive lines, at linebacker and in the secondary as they rebuild their roster.
Bottom line, the Chargers are thin at a great many positions.
Using Pro Football Focus’ mock draft generator, here’s a closer look at each of the Chargers’ nine possible picks in the upcoming draft, assuming the Chargers make their picks as scheduled and don’t trade down for additional selections, which is a distinct possibility in a draft that’s top-heavy with outstanding quarterback prospects:
Round 1, Pick 5
The pick: Marvin Harrison Jr.
Wide receiver, Ohio State, 6-foot-4, 205 pounds
Harbaugh got a good, long look at Harrison while Harrison was catching passes for the Buckeyes and Harbaugh was coaching the rival Michigan Wolverines. But, wait, there’s more to the story. Harbaugh threw passes to Harrison’s father, Hall of Famer Marvin Harrison Sr., while quarterbacking the Indianapolis Colts in the late 1990s. The younger Harrison was a unanimous two-time All-American who last season caught 67 passes for 1,211 yards (18.1 avg.) with 14 touchdowns.
Other prospects considered at No. 5:
WR Malik Nabers, LSU
TE Brock Bowers, Georgia
OL Joe Alt, Notre Dame.
Round 2, Pick 37
The pick: Zach Frazier
Center, West Virginia, 6-foot-3, 313 pounds
The Chargers suffered a key loss when Linsley said he would retire because of a heart ailment discovered in the opening weeks of the 2023 season. Bradley Bozeman signed as a free agent, but the Chargers need depth at this position and Frazier would get a chance to become a starter for the future.
Other prospects considered at No. 37:
CB Cooper DeJean, Iowa
CB Kamari Lassiter, Georgia
CB Mike Sainristil, Michigan
Round 3, Pick 69
The pick: Kris Jenkins
Defensive tackle, Michigan, 6-foot-3, 299 pounds
Why did it take this long for Harbaugh to pick a Michigan player? The Chargers certainly have a maize-and-blue tint to their coaching staff with Harbaugh in charge and several others coming over from Ann Arbor after winning the national championship in January. This is another position that needs depth.
Other prospects considered at No. 69:
LB Junior Colson, Michigan
RB Blake Corum, Michigan
DL T’Vondre Sweat, Texas
Round 4, Pick 105
The pick: Braelon Allen
Running back, Wisconsin, 6-foot-1, 235 pounds
The Chargers signed former Baltimore Ravens running back Gus Edwards last month, but they need more depth after versatile back Austin Ekeler signed with the Washington Commanders. Allen could fit the bill at this pick.
Other prospects considered at No. 105:
RB Audric Estime, Notre Dame
RB Ray Davis, Kentucky
Round 4, Pick 110 (from Bears)
The pick: Cedric Gray
Linebacker, North Carolina, 6-foot-1½, 234 pounds
This is the pick the Chargers received in the trade that sent Allen to the Chicago Bears. It seems strange to slot a linebacker into this selection, but the Chargers need help at this position after Kenneth Murray Jr. departed via free agency.
Other prospects considered at No. 110:
LB Jaylan Ford, Texas
Round 5, Pick 140
The pick: Renardo Green
Cornerback, Florida State, 6-foot, 186 pounds
Michael Davis’ departure via free agency, joining Ekeler with the Commanders last month, created a void and a need for it to be filled. Rebuilding the secondary seems like one of several priorities for Harbaugh and Hortiz.
Other prospects considered at No. 140:
C Tanor Bortolini, Wisconsin
Round 6, Pick 181
The pick: Josh Proctor
Safety, Ohio State, 6-foot-1½, 199 pounds
The Chargers need depth beyond Derwin James Jr. and Alohi Gilman at this position. Gilman re-signed with the Chargers for two years and $11.5 million. Harbaugh got a good look at Proctor while coaching the Wolverines.
Other prospects considered at No. 181:
S Kitan Oladapo, Oregon State
Round 7, Pick 225
The pick: Tahj Washington
Wide receiver, USC, 5-foot-10, 174 pounds
Adding another playmaker at an extremely important position would seem like a no-brainer even at this late stage in the draft. After all, Herbert needs as many targets as possible in the wake of the departures of Allen and Williams.
Other prospects considered at No. 225:
WR Cornelius Johnson, Michigan
Round 7, Pick 253 (compensatory pick)
The pick: Trey Knox
Tight end, South Carolina, 6-foot-3, 240 pounds
Knox is a converted wide receiver who has shown a willingness to block. This is the pick the Chargers received to compensate them for linebacker Drue Tranquill signing with the eventual Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs last year.
Other prospects considered at No. 253:
TE Mason Pline, Furman
