The Chargers are entering the 2019 NFL draft without a ton of pressing needs. The team will of course have to address a few spots including the offensive line, interior defensive line and free safety position.
Regardless, they’re still areas that Los Angeles will need to shore if they hope to make a deeper run in the playoffs this upcoming season. L.A. will have seven picks, but with them picking at the tail end of each round, things can get a bit tricky as top targets may be off the board.
Here are three worst-case scenarios that would be disappointing developments for the Bolts in the draft.
All top offensive tackles are gone
The offensive tackle position is one of the deepest groups in this year’s draft. But unfortunately, it’s definitely top-heavy with four or five players that are either capable of staying at tackle in the NFL or are worthy of being plug-and-play starters.
The guys that make up the group consist of Jonah Williams, Jawaan Taylor, Andre Dillard and Cody Ford. Dalton Risner and Kaleb McGary are on the fence because even though they’re capable of starting right away, it’s very possible that they slide inside as a guard.
As far as other options including Greg Little and Yodny Cajuste, Little isn’t worth taking in the first or the second round and Cajuste is unlikely to make it to Los Angeles’ second round selection.
With that, it’s likely that all of these players are gone by the team the Chargers are on the clock, leaving them with just projects. At that point, you start to get concerned that they leave it as is until next year and roll Sam Tevi as the starting right tackle in 2019 with a slight possibility of Forrest Lamp fighting for a job if they feel comfortable kicking him outside.
Can’t trade out of first round
Chargers general manager Tom Telesco has a history of trading, but the only thing is that he’s notorious for trading up, not down. With the team sitting at an odd spot and having seen the majority of the talent come off the board without any glaring needs, you have to start thinking about trading back to acquire more picks.
Trading back would allow the Bolts to land that team’s second round pick such as the 49ers at No. 36 and an additional mid-round pick. That might be one of the best-case scenarios for them, but if someone like them does not want to trade up, Los Angeles could be forced to stay put and pick the best positional available player.
Heavy run on defensive tackles on Day 2
The defensive tackle position is one of the deeper groups in this class. But like the offensive tackle crop, it’s definitely top heavy. There are about seven players that are capable of stepping in and contributing right away.
Knowing how thin the depth chart is on the interior defensive line, Telesco will look to be aggressive with addressing it, but so will the other teams ahead of them. Day 2 is when I expect them to drop like flies, and if guys like Dre’Mont Jones, Jerry Tillery (if still available), Khalen Saunders are gone then it wouldn’t be surprising to see a trade up.
There are many that think the Chargers should be fine if they stand pat and wait for guys to fall to them, but for a team that’s lacked talent in the trenches for years now, this is the time to be aggressive about it. But at the same time, you can only hope that teams ahead of them aren’t as aggressive either, leaving options on the table in rounds two or three.
