The Los Angeles Chargers currently have the eighth overall selection in the 2024 NFL draft. They will need to effectively use their draft picks as they have a lot of holes to fill in this upcoming season. That said, the Chargers currently have JoJo Wooden as their interim general manager with the firing of Tom Telesco, but they will likely still look to replace Wooden with another candidate. So, will a new regime bring new results?
Chargers Mock Draft: New General Manager, New Philosophy?
Brock Bowers, Tight End, Georgia
If Bowers is on the board, you take him. It is as simple as that. Bowers is arguably the best player in the entire class and perfectly fills the hole at tight end for the Chargers. Gerald Everett is a solid starter for the Chargers but will be a free agent this year, and with the Chargers having negative cap space this coming offseason, it would make sense to let him go.
Bowers is a lighter-weight tight end who possesses all the intangibles you want in a three-down tight end, he can find space between zones, create yards after contact, and move defenders out of the way on runs. If you pair him with Donald Parham Jr, Stone Smartt, and possibly Everett, you go from one of the worst tight-end rooms in the league to one of the best. The Chargers drafting Bowers is an easy decision. Give Justin Herbert weapons.
Watch: 2024 Fantasy Football Rookies
Kamari Lassiter, Cornerback, Georgia
The Chargers go right back to Georgia to draft Kamari Lassiter. Lassiter has immense zone coverage ability, that can play on the outside. Though Lassiter may be only 180 lbs, he has shown stout ability as a reliable tackler, which is something the Chargers desperately need at the second and third levels of the defense.
Cornerback is the biggest need for this Chargers team, and the only reliable starter they possess is Asante Samuel Jr, but even Samuel Jr struggled immensely against the run. Pair Samuel and Lassiter, you have a strong 1-2 duo at cornerback, with Deane Leonard, Ja’Sir Taylor, and Essang Bassey all there for depth/slot play. The Chargers need someone who can cover down the field, and Lassiter will give them that.
Jack Sawyer, EDGE, Ohio State
The Chargers draft Jack Sawyer in the third round, giving them another day two edge rusher to pair with Tuli Tuipulotu. As mentioned before, the Chargers are negative in cap space currently, and will likely look to cut one or two of their “big four”. This would include Khalil Mack, Joey Bosa, Keenan Allen, and Mike Williams. Bosa would save them the most amount of cap space, as well as relieve them of an injury-prone pass rusher.
Sawyer is a classic effort-based edge rusher, who possesses extreme explosiveness and strength to bulldoze opposing offensive tackles. If the Chargers do not cut either Bosa or Mack, you have an in-house developing prospect to replace the aging Mack, who can still a strong role in a powerful rotation. Deep defensive lines go a long way in a tough NFL season, and the Chargers have always had top-end talent, but no depth.
Audric Estime, Runningback, Notre Dame
Kicking off day three, the Chargers draft Audric Estime. Estime is a personal draft favorite and would be a great compliment to Isaiah Spiller and Joshua Kelley. Austin Ekeler is likely to not be resigned this off-season, giving the Chargers a massive need at running back. Ekeler has been bad this year, so nearly anyone would be an improvement of this 2023 version of Ekeler.
The Chargers would need to use a running back by committee process to maximize efficiency in touches by all three of their rushers, as none of these are proven workhorse rushers. Estime possesses the ability to develop into one, as he is a very decisive runner, going north and south immediately. Estime will not blow the top off of a defense but will create yards after contact, and pick up hard-earned yards, something the Chargers are desperately lacking this season.
James Williams, Defensive Back, Miami
James Williams is an extremely interesting prospect, as he is a 6’5 safety. Williams is quite fluid considering his size, and uses his length to break up passes. The Miami safety does struggle in the deep part of the field at times, struggling to turn his head around in coverage. The Chargers using a draft selection on him on day three is a worthy dart throw.
Derwin James has taken a step back this season, Alohi Gilman is a free agent, JT Woods has been ill nearly the entire season, undrafted rookie AJ Finley is strictly a special teamer, and mid-season free agents; Jaylinn Hawkins and Dean Marlowe have been solid in their roles, but will likely have an uphill battle making the team next year as a new defensive coaching staff is likely to be implemented. All of this said, the Chargers at the very least another viable body in their safety room, giving Derwin James a proper compliment, and hoping to restore the play of the once-all-pro safety.
Keith Randolph Jr, Defensive Tackle, Illinois
Many want the Chargers to draft the other Illinois defensive tackle, Jer’Zhan Newton, but instead the Chargers opt to get his running mate, Keith Randolph Jr. Randolph Jr is no slouch in his own right, showing enough traits to be a very viable rotational defensive tackle who can possibly start down the line. Randolph has speed, violence, rush moves, and tackling ability to clog holes against the run and get to the quarterback. Randolph does struggle with reading his keys as a rusher and gets washed down on outside zone/toss plays, leaving him to be a developmental, third-down type of defensive tackle.
Furthermore, the Chargers have taken a defensive tackle on day three, three times in a row now with the selection of Randolph, but this may be very needed as you are likely letting go of Nick Williams, Austin Johnson, and possibly Sebastian Joseph Day at the end of the year. Three core players on the defensive interior, and having another body in that room will soften the blow of losing nearly your entire starting unit.
Beaux Collins, Wide Reciever, Clemson
The last selection in the Chargers 2024 NFL draft is a Clemson Reciever, Beaux Collins. Mike Williams who is also a Clemson Alumni tore his ACL in a career game against the Vikings and likely has seen his last snaps as a Charger. That leaves a massive hole on the team for a jump ball-orientated receiver, and that has been apparent since week four and on. Chargers’ first-round selection in 2023, Quentin Johnston lacks any ability to catch contested catches, even with his size, leaving the Chargers with Keenan Allen and Joshua Palmer to catch the contested balls. Though they are both okay at that trait, that is not what separates them as a receiver.
Throwing a dart at Collins due to his ability to catch the ball out of the air over a defender, is more than enough reason to use a seventh-round selection, in my book. Collins is more than that though, as he can also beat press, get open in zone, and play both in the slot and on the outside. Collins lacks speed, and that is really only his main concern as a receiver. Pair him with the rest of this receiving corp, you have a group of guys with all different specific skillsets.
Conclusion
All in all, drafting Bowers and Lassiter gives you day-1 starters, and drafting Sawyer, Estime, Williams, and Randolph will give you real players who can push the needle for their respective position groups, strengthening the entire depth of this team. The Chargers need to really hit on this 2024 NFL draft, to turn their franchise around. Firing your head coach, and general manager, and being over 30 million in cap debt is an awful situation to be in. The only real remedy to this situation is a few good drafts, and it all starts in 2024.
Main Photo Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
