The Chargers are currently holding the 13th overall pick in the 2021 draft. Who will Tom Telesco select with this pick?
We have finally arrived at draft day. Today the lives of 32 men will be altered, as they get an opportunity of a lifetime in addition to a contract that brings life changing money. For the teams, they will get a chance to build and grow their franchises in hopes to hoist a Lombardi trophy within the next few years.
For the LA Chargers, they are coming off a season that was very similar to their seasons of past. Highly competitive games, but falling short in a good chunk of them for various reasons.
They seem to have found their franchise QB in Justin Herbert and now have to focus on building the core around him. Brandon Staley will enter his first season as head coach of the Chargers and look to bring his success from the other LA team and build a winner with the Bolts.
With this in mind, let’s take a look at how the Chargers have drafted over the past few years, what positions they need, and who they can target with the 13th overall pick in the 2021 draft.
1st round draft picks since 2017:
2017
- Mike Williams WR Clemson (7th overall)
2018
- Derwin James SS Florida State (17th overall)
2019
- Jerry Tillery DE Notre Dame (28th overall)
2020
- Justin Herbert QB Oregon (6th overall)
- Kenneth Murray LB Oklahoma (23rd overall)
Positional need rankings:
- LT
- CB
- Edge
- LG
- SS
Players who should or potentially be available to target based on these needs:
- Jaycee Horn CB South Carolina
- Kwity Paye DE Michigan
- Jaelan Phillips Edge Miami (FL)
- Alijah Vera-Tucker G USC
- Rashawn Slater G Northwestern
- Patrick Surtain CB Alabama
- Caleb Farley CB Virginia Tech
- Christian Darrisaw LT Virginia Tech
- Gregory Rousseau Edge Miami
- Greg Newsome CB Northwestern
Trade up target?
If the Chargers are going to trade up, a great target would be Justin Herbert’s former teammate in Penei Sewell. Many would say Sewell is the best tackle in this class, which means the Chargers would need to get ahead of O-Line needy teams such as: the Bengals, Lions, and Panthers.
This would mean a jump up to 4 is the best way to secure Sewell as their franchise left tackle going forward. That is a massive jump to make and will more likely than not require a future first rounder and another mid round pick. It’s a steep price, but then you will know you have 3 of the most important positions checked off.
Franchise QB? Check. Franchise edge rusher? Check. Investment in left tackle? Possibly you.
