The Chargers most pressing need lies along the offensive line at right tackle. Showing no desire to be active in addressing the hole in free agency with the first wave of free agents, Los Angeles will most likely go into the 2019 NFL draft, using two of their picks on the position.
In one of the deeper offensive tackle draft class over the past few years, the team will certainly have plenty of options to choose from.
With that, here is one offensive tackle in each round for the Bolts to consider come April.
Round 1 | Dalton Risner | Kansas State
Risner’s name has been commonly brought up as of late because the Chargers may not have their options of the top offensive tackles on the board that consist of Jawaan Taylor, Cody Ford and Andre Dillard when they select at No. 28 overall.
Standing at 6-foot-5 and 315 pounds with 34-inch arms and 10 1/4″ hands, Risner has average measureables, but the tools to excel against NFL-level talent. Risner is smart and plays with strong hands, body control, core strength and outstanding awareness to decipher all the moving parts around him as a blocker.
He will be different in terms of position fit on every team’s board, given his versatility, as he played both center and right tackle for the Wildcats. He can be a very good offensive tackle or an offensive guard for Los Angeles, as they need depth desperately.
The bottom line is that Risner is a plug and play player that would fit the Bolts’ scheme and his technical ability, intangibles, versatility, nasty demeanor make him a no-brainer selection if he’s there in the first round.
Round 2 | Kaleb McGary | Washington
McGary is a four-year starter for the Huskies, and for his efforts, he won the 2018 Morris Trophy, which goes to the Pac-12’s top offensive lineman.
McGary’s got an NFL frame, standing at 6-foot-7 and 317 pounds with 32 7/8-inch arms and 10 1/8-inch hands. McGary plays with a combination of athleticism, mobility and power, given his background in basketball.
In pass protection, he’s got a quick kick and moves his feet fluidly. His frame allows him to wall off and center edge rushers on the perimeter. In the run game he generates great movement through his power and arms. He’s able to manipulate defenders with his length and use of angles. Even if he gets beat, he has enough athleticism to recover and run them by the pocket.
McGary only has experience at right tackle, which is where he projects best at. His pad level, footwork, and technique are all areas that need to be refined.
Round 3 | Max Scharping | Northern Illinois
Scharping was quite productive for Northern Illinois over the course of his four-year stint, starting all 52 games and allowing only sack the past three seasons. A high-IQ player on and off the field, Scharping was named as a finalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy, as well as a first-team All-MAC selection in 2018.
Standing at 6-foot-6 and 327 pounds with 33 5/8-inch arms and 10-inch hands, Scharping has the size and girth that immediately stand out on film. He is a player with the snap- to-step quickness and stubborn hands to keep bull rushers tied up, finding proper position to stay between defender and pocket.
Scharping flashes quickness off the snap as a pass protector and gives good effort to push his man around the pocket and works to sustain throughout the play to prevent secondary rushes. He isn’t an overpowering strength player, but he flashes violence with his punch and looks to win early in the rep.
At the next level, he will have to work on his footwork to stay more balanced, as speed rushers have been notorious to beat him because of it.
Round 4 | Chuma Edoga | USC
Edoga’s career for the Trojans got off to a rough start after he was suspended for one game in 2016 for violating team rules. But proceeded to man the right tackle position throughout his junior and senior season, missing only two games due to a sprained ankle. He was named second-team All-Pac-12 in 2018.
Edoga’s measurables aren’t going to stand out, as he measured in at 6-foot-3 and 308 pounds with 34 3/4-inch arms and 9 5/8-inch hands. But his play suggests that he has what it takes to play outside at the next level quite efficiently.
Edoga is quick off the ball and has an obvious sense of urgency to his play. He has a good first step to get out in front and gain position with his long arms. When working at the second level, he has very impressive footwork. He is able to throttle down his weight instantly to straddle onto linebackers, and he really impressed when working in space. Edoga shows smooth, controlled lateral agility when engaging his pass set.
Although he comes off the ball and moves quickly, he can often be overaggressive, which causes him to overset, making it easier for pass rushers to work past him. Although I saw improvements during Senior Bowl week, Edoga needs to work on his anchor, where he would be bullied too easily because of the lack of strength.
Last 3 Possibilities
Round 5 | Tyler Roemer | San Diego State
Roemer jumped into this year’s draft after leaving school due to suspension. Manning the left side for the Aztecs in 2018, Roemer is a coordinated big man and carries his weight well as a pass protector, using his length, hip torque and awareness to keep rushers occupied. He shows to excel when reaching the second level, as well. Roemer could be a nice option as a swing tackle with some room for competition to start eventually.
Round 6 | Oli Udoh | Edon
A first-team All-Colonial Athletic Association selection in 2018 and recognized as an Academic All-Conference pick multiple times, Udoh shows a blend of brute strength and flexibility in pass protection and in the running game for a man his size. While talented, his mechanics and quickness aren’t equipped for NFL pass rushers at the moment, currently lacking the mental or technical know-how required for the next level.
Round 7 | Jackson Barton | Utah
Barton has a smooth shuffle with the body control to react to various types of rushers, but he isn’t a natural knee-bender and poor fundamentals, as well as an inconsistent pad level lead to balance issues. Barton is a complete project from a technical and strength standpoint, requiring at least one redshirt season in the NFL before he will have a chance to compete for snaps.
