After the departure of Thomas Davis and Jatavis Brown, as well as noting that Denzel Perryman has one more year remaining on his contract and knowing that there could be durability concerns with Kyzir White, the linebacker group needs some attention.
Coach Anthony Lynn also made the point at the combine that he was looking to add more depth. Given his remarks and the question marks that have yet to be answered, the Chargers could address the position as early as Round 1 or on Day 3.
With that being said, here is a linebacker from each round that could fit in Los Angeles:
Round 1 | Isaiah Simmons, Clemson
A Swiss-Army Knife for the Tigers, Simmons lined up all over the field, posting 299 reps at inside linebacker, 262 at slot cornerback, 132 at free safety, 116 at outside linebacker, and 100 at strong safety, according to Pro Football Focus.
In three seasons, Simmons had 238 tackles, 28.5 tackles for loss, 11 sacks, 20 passes defensed, six forced fumbles, four interceptions and one fumble recovery.
Similar to safety Derwin James, Simmons is a do-it-all defender who can defend the run, turn-and-run with positional players in coverage and blitz off the edge. His multi-dimensional and rare skillset would give the Chargers one of the best defenses in the league.
Round 2 | Akeem Davis-Gaither, Appalachian State
If the Chargers pass on Simmons to address the quarterback or offensive tackle position, they can still get the discounted version of him with pick No. 37. Projecting as a Will linebacker at the next level, Davis-Gaither possesses a well-rounded skillset as a run defender, cover man and pass-rusher.
He is an extremely athletic, instinctual player who has the speed and acceleration to make stops in the running game out in space and as a blitzer. He is also strong in both zone and man coverage where his instincts, change-of-direction skills and range standout.
In two seasons, Davis-Gaither collected 209 tackles, 24.5 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, 18 passes defensed and two interceptions.
Round 3 | Logan Wilson, Wyoming
Wilson, the 6-foot-2 and 241 pounder is a smart, tough, athletic backer who relies on his read and react instincts to get the job done. He possesses tremendous vision and is known to be highly competitive, showing up every play with maximum effort—a lunch bucket guy.
He doesn’t have the length to blow up blockers, but that doesn’t stop him from bulldozing his way through to get to the quarterback or ball carrier. Wilson is also strong in zone coverage, as he floats and tracks the eye’s of the quarterback.
Production and experience is key when it comes to the evaluation process for the Chargers, and 421 career tackles, 35 tackles for loss, 24 passes defensed, 10 interceptions and seven sacks in 52 games played and started should speak for itself.
Round 4 | Troy Dye, Oregon
Like Wilson, Dye, the 6-foot-3 and 231 pounder has plenty of production and experience under his belt, starting 48 of 50 games for the Ducks. He finished with 397 career tackles, 44 tackles for loss, 21 passes defensed, 15 sacks and five interceptions.
He is on the thinner side in terms of his frame, which correlates to the lack of power when taking on blockers. However, Dye has encouraging athleticism and speed to make stops in the running game and the movement skills, instincts and ball skills against the pass, which is where he’s at his best.
Round 5 | Evan Weaver, California
L.A. has had contact with Weaver and the fact that they have interest is no surprise. The team covets production, great leadership and durability, all of which the former California product possesses.
In 49 career games, Weaver tallied 412 tackles, 23 tackles for loss, 13 passes defensed, 8.5 sacks and two interceptions.
Weaver, the 6-foot-2 and 237 pounder isn’t going to be counted on in coverage, but his run instincts, fierce demeanor and eagerness to seek contact downhill will allow him to see the field as a Mike linebacker and key special teamer.
Round 6 | Cam Brown, Penn State
The 6-foot-5 and 233 pound linebacker is extremely versatile, having played all three linebacker spots for the Nittany Lions. In 51 games, Brown finished with 199 career tackles, 15 tackles for loss, 11 passes defensed, five sacks, and four forced fumbles.
In run support, Brown is active, rangy and aggressive with quick read-and-react instincts, slicing past would-be blockers to attack the line of scrimmage in the blink of an eye. He is a physical and competitive tackler with legitimate stopping power.
He is adequate in zone pass coverage, showing plus instincts and a nice downhill burst to the ball on underneath routes, as well as the range and athleticism to handle man-to-man duties against running backs and tight ends.
Round 7 | Dante Olson, Montana
Olson, the first-team All-Big Sky selection, recorded 397 tackles, 26 tackles for loss, 11.5 sacks, three interceptions and forced five fumbles in 48 games for the Grizzlies in 48 games.
Olson, the 6-foot-2 and 237 pounder is a smart, assignment sound defender in the run game and in coverage with NFL-level intangibles. While he may not see the field at all in his rookie season, he is capable of being a special teams ace as soon as he enters the league.
