The Los Angeles Chargers are one of the most important teams in the 2024 NFL Draft. Currently holding the fifth-overall pick, they are one of the few franchises with a top-10 pick that have an unquestioned answer at the quarterback position. Justin Herbert is one of the best in the game, and just about every other team in the league would move heaven and Earth to have a player like him on the roster. Anything can happen on draft day, but right now, it appears as though Caleb Williams, Drake Maye, Jayden Daniels, and J.J. McCarthy will all be top 10 selections.
Williams is going to go off the board with the first-overall pick, but one of the other three will probably be available when the Chargers are on the clock. A quarterback-needy team like the Minnesota Vikings could give up both of their first-round picks for the fifth-overall selection. Given that extra draft capital, the Chargers could trade up from the 23rd-overall pick to draft an elite non-quarterback prospect in the top 20.
This is what PFF’s Brad Spielberger thinks will happen in the 2024 NFL Draft. In a recent article, the NFL analyst believes that the Chargers will trade back for the fifth-overall pick only to later trade up to the 17th-overall pick for defensive tackle Jer’Zhan Newton.
Chargers Trade Up, Select Jer’Zhan Newton In NFL Draft Hypothetical
Jer’Zhan Newton the Player
The Chargers have struggled to find an adequate defensive tackle for years now. While they have two reliable edge defenders in Khalil Mack and Joey Bosa, Los Angeles doesn’t have anyone capable of consistently closing run lanes and collapsing the pocket from the inside. Jim Harbaugh believes games are won and lost at the line of scrimmage, so you can bet that he’d love to draft a player capable of filling both needs and plugging him right into the Chargers starting lineup.
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While Jer’Zhan Newton is a little undersized relative to the typical defensive tackle, he’s still more than capable of staying on the field for all three downs. The Illinois product is too fast for most interior linemen, as he can use his slippery movement and quick footspeed to split gaps and get after the quarterback. This skill shows up in the run game as well, as he routinely identifies the ball carrier and gets past his blocker to make a tackle near the line of scrimmage.
The biggest weakness in his game is that he wins rushing reps with speed, not strength. If the Chargers draft him, they shouldn’t ask him to hold his own at the line of scrimmage. Some schemes ask defensive tackles to eat up gaps and free others to make plays, and Newton doesn’t have the strength to thrive in this role. However, if utilized properly, he could make an immediate impact.
Should the Chargers Do This Draft Trade?
Jer’Zhan Newton can be a great player in the right scheme, but the Chargers have too many needs to justify this draft day trade. Spielberger believes that Los Angeles will have to give up the 23rd and 69th picks for the right to select Newton, and that’s just too much of a price to pay for a defensive tackle.
As it is, Los Angeles has glaring needs at offensive tackle, wide receiver, and cornerback. The Chargers will probably draft a tackle with their first first-round pick, but they still have a lot of needs to address. Giving up two early picks for the right to select a scheme-specific defensive tackle while ignoring more important positions is just a bad process.
Main Photo: Nathan Ray Seebeck – USA Today Sports
