The 2023 NFL Draft is just days away, which means there is only time for one more Chargers mock draft before the big event. The team has plenty of talent, but they’ll need to nail their picks if they want to finally usurp the Kansas City Chiefs for AFC supremacy.
Seven-Round Los Angeles Chargers Mock Draft
First Round (21st Overall): Zay Flowers, WR
This Los Angeles Chargers mock draft kicks off with the team taking arguably the best wide receiver in this entire draft. Zay Flowers might just be the most well-rounded receiver in this class, blessed with the ability to make plays at all three levels of the field. He’s an absolute monster after the catch and should add a much-needed speed element to the Chargers wide receiver room.
Zay Flowers is a Chief this Thursday:pic.twitter.com/xMhIsdBh5D
— Noah Gray burner (@TheGoatMahomes) April 24, 2023
Second Round (54th Overall): Luke Musgrave, TE
This one is pretty much an auto-pick in every Los Angeles Chargers mock draft. Luke Musgrave might have had some poor injury luck in school, but he has the raw potential to be the best tight end in a loaded class. He is already an elite route runner that can make plays in the seam and should devastate defenses down the seam.
Luke Musgrave NFL Draft Profile
Third Round (85th Overall): Jaylon Jones, CB
It is hard to count all the reasons why the Los Angeles Chargers should not place any faith in JC Jackson next year. The Chargers need to find more depth at cornerback, and this mock draft addresses that need by selecting Jaylon Jones. The Texas A&M product is a physical freak of nature, boasting insane strength and the ability to beat receivers up at the line of scrimmage. While he does struggle to follow quicker receivers, he should be able to slow down bigger receivers/tight ends like Davante Adams, Courtland Sutton, and Travis Kelce.
Jaylon Jones NFL Draft Profile
Fourth Round (125th Overall): Chase Brown, RB
The Los Angeles Chargers need to think about life after Austin Ekeler, and this mock draft has them select a running back that is basically a younger version of the current starter. While it’s highly unlikely that any running back prospect not named Bijan Robinson could ever match Ekeler’s receiving abilities, Brown is reliable out of the backfield and shows no fear when running between the tackles. In the short-term, he and Ekeler could form a great duo, and he could easily turn into a three-down starter by 2024.
Fifth Round (156th Overall): Moro Ojomo, DT
The Chargers had perhaps the worst run defense in football last year, and Moro Ojomo should immediately help fix that glaring flaw on the defense. The Texas product is an immovable object in the center of the defensive line, and the only reason he’s still on the board is that he lacks the athleticism to get after the quarterback on passing downs. While this does hurt his value in today’s NFL, he can still be an important part of this defense.
Sixth Round (200th Overall): Dante Stills, DT/EDGE
The Chargers double-down at defensive tackle because at this point in the mock draft you just need to take the best player on the board and worry about the fit later. Dante Stills is a jack of all trades, master of none that can be a valuable backup at multiple spots along the defensive line. At this point in the draft, that’s all you can hope to find.
Throwback to the time Dante Stills killed a man #WVU pic.twitter.com/zpiG6kl3P4
— Jake Lantz (@NiteStare) August 22, 2019
Seventh Round (239th Overall): Malik Cunningham, QB
As things currently stand, the Los Angeles Chargers backup quarterback is Easton Stick. That’s not ideal. There is only one Justin Herbert, but the team should look for a better backup option in the unfortunate event that injuries sideline the superstar quarterback. There is a reason Malik Cunningham is still available in the seventh round of this Chargers mock draft, as he lacks the arm and processing power to be a true dropback passer. However, he is a solid athlete and a creative offensive mind like Kellen Moore should be able to craft a decent enough gameplay if he had to start for one or two weeks.
Malik Cunningham NFL Draft Profile
Main Photo: Kirby Lee – USA Today Sports
