The Los Angeles Chargers have a lot of needs they need to address in the 2024 NFL Draft, but none are bigger than wide receiver. After releasing Mike Williams and trading Keenan Allen, the Chargers have arguably the worst collection of skill players in the NFL. 2022 first-round pick Quentin Johnston had an atrocious rookie year, and while it’s too early to completely give up on him, they shouldn’t count on a bounce-back campaign. This means that Josh Palmer is likely the best receiver on this roster, and while he’s a fine depth piece, he shouldn’t be the focal point of any passing attack.
Fortunately, the 2024 NFL Draft class has premier talent at the wide receiver position, and the Chargers hold the fifth-overall pick. While anything can happen when the big day comes, it’s safe to assume that the first four picks are going to be Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, Drake Maye (order those two however you want), and then Marvin Harrison. This leaves Los Angeles with the perfect opportunity to land LSU star receiver Malik Nabers, but a notable draft analyst doesn’t think that’s going to happen.
I think trade back and OL https://t.co/oyZfR1cqAF
— Benjamin Allbright (@AllbrightNFL) March 15, 2024
The Chargers Draft Prediction That All Fans Will Hate
Before we get into the trade itself, we first need to talk about Benjamin Allbright’s track record. While nobody is perfect, the NFL insider has a decent history when it comes to predicting trends across the league. He predicted J.J. McCarthy’s rise in the draft ranks this year and had similar success predicting the draft fates of Trey Lance and Kyler Murray long before they were popular opinions.
With that out of the way, let’s talk about this prediction. As mentioned above, the Chargers have a lot of holes on their roster, but can they afford to pass up on an elite draft talent like Malik Nabers? Let’s take a deeper look.
The Case For Malik Nabers
In just about any other class, Malik Nabers would be the unquestioned WR1. Unfortunately for him, Marvin Harrison Jr exists, but Ohio State product’s greatness shouldn’t take away from Nabers. The wide receiver checks off just about every box there is, blessed with the size and strength to win at the catch point, the agility and lateral movement to run crisp, natural routes, and the speed to blow past defenders after the catch.
The Chargers need a wide receiver, and one of the best draft prospects in recent memory is there for the taking. In today’s NFL, you can never have too many reliable weapons, and that is especially true for Los Angeles. The Chargers share a division with the Kansas City Chiefs, and if they ever want to take them down, they’ll need to get some weapons that can go blow-for-blow with Patrick Mahomes.
I love Marvin Harrison Jr. just as much as anyone else. He’s as good advertised.
But please listen to me when I say this… Malik Nabers is not a consolation prize. He’s right there.
— SCOUTD (@scoutdnfl) March 14, 2024
Why the Chargers Should Trade Back, Draft Offense
Malik Nabers is a great player, but he is only one guy. Quarterbacks can mask multiple issues on a roster, as the position is exponentially more important than any other on the field. That isn’t the case for wide receivers. While it is an important position, you can win games without an elite option.
The Chargers are in a position where they can take advantage of some quarterback-desperate teams in the NFL Draft. The Minnesota Vikings, for instance, have two first-round picks and a glaring need at quarterback. Los Angeles could easily give up the fifth-overall pick in exchange for the 11th- and 23rd-overall pick.
The Chargers could use the first of those picks to draft one of the top tackles. Chances are, Joe Alt and Olu Fashanu will be off the board by then, but Taliese Fuaga and JC Latham should be available, and both have the talent to be Day 1 starters. Latham, in particular, stands out, as he played right tackle during his days at Alabama.
This is a talented wide receiver class, and while the Chargers won’t be able to find someone as good as Nabers will the 23rd-overall pick, they can still draft a Day 1 starter. Brian Thomas and Troy Franklin are both worthy selections, or Los Angeles could wait until the 37th pick to grab Ladd McConkey or Xavier Worthy. Or, since they have such a need at the position, they could do both.
Main Photo: Kirby Lee – USA Today Sports
