When the Utah Utes and Oregon Ducks meet up in Friday night’s Pac-12 Championship Game, several prospects will be showcasing their talents on a supersized stage, with a handful of NFL evaluators watching closely.
Let’s take a look at five who could be on the Chargers’ radar.
CB Mykael Wright, Oregon: The Chargers will be looking to fill the void left by Chris Harris Jr., a free agent, at the end of the season. While not physically imposing at 5-foot-11 and 182 pounds, Wright possesses elite athleticism, plus speed, good awareness in zone coverage, physicality in man, and solid ball skills. Furthermore, he is an elite kick returner.
TE Brant Kuithe, Utah: Jared Cook has been underwhelming this season, and he is slated to hit the market anyways. Kuithe has the hands and overall receiving ability to be a threat in the passing game. The last time he faced the Ducks, Kuithe went off for five catches for 118 yards.
DB Verone McKinley III, Oregon: Having the versatility to play multiple positions in the secondary is essential in Brandon Staley’s system, which is what McKinley possesses. While underweight, McKinley is a competitor who has the instincts and physicality to play in the box and the speed and range to play deep.
EDGE Mike Tafua, Utah: With Uchenna Nwosu and Kyler Fackrell both free agents, the Bolts should be looking to add reinforcements at the position. Tafua is a talented pass rusher who can also hold his own in the run game and drop into coverage. This season, he leads all defensive linemen in tackles for loss (13) and sacks (9.5), which also is No. 1 in the Pac-12.
OL Nick Ford, Utah: While the Chargers need to prioritize the right side of the offensive line, the team just simply needs more depth all across. In 42 games, Ford has logged snaps at all five positions. Ford has a quality combination of size and length, athleticism, movement skills, and physicality, which shows up in pass protection and as a run blocker.
