The Los Angeles Chargers are going to look drastically different on the offensive side of the football in their first year under new head coach Jim Harbaugh.
After the departures of both starting wide receivers this offseason — Keenan Allen and Mike Williams — it is very interesting that our PFN NFL Mock Draft Simulator data tells us that the most selected players by Charger fans are offensive line prospects.
Los Angeles Charger Fans Aim to Fortify Offensive Line in 2024 NFL Mock Draft Simulator
The Chargers are one of the teams to keep an eye on at fifth overall because of the multitude of directions they could go with this pick.
There is an elite tight end prospect and multiple exceptional receivers at the fingertips of Los Angeles when they are on the clock later this month who could all make an instant impact for franchise quarterback Justin Herbert in 2024.
Yet, with quarterback J.J. McCarthy — who was Harbaugh’s starting quarterback at Michigan last year — ascending draft boards, the organization could decide to trade back out of the five-spot and address other positions.
While it can be difficult to determine whether or not the Chargers will actually trade down from No. 5, the wide range of first-round prospects coming from this data suggests it is a real possibility.
10) Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toledo
The free agent experiment with J.C. Jackson didn’t go quite as well as expected for the Chargers, which has the team potentially in the market for a cornerback early in this NFL Draft.
The likelihood of Los Angeles spending the No. 5 overall pick on Quinyon Mitchell out of Toledo is unlikely, but he is certainly a first-round talent with his athleticism, ball skills, and instant recovery ability, providing the type of ideal versatility and elite upside that could thrive in new Jesse Minter’s scheme.
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If the Chargers decide to trade back out of fifth in this draft, then Mitchell is certainly in play for the Chargers.
9) Leonard Taylor III, DT, Miami
Tuli Tuipulotu had an outstanding rookie campaign, and the Chargers were able to retain the edge services of Khalil Mack and Joey Bosa on the outside. Yet, the team is definitely still in the market for an interior defensive lineman to pair in rotation with Morgan Fox.
Leonard Taylor III out of the University of Miami boasts eye-popping reps where he looks like a dominant force along the interior of the defensive line with his sudden first step and powerful upper body.
Yet, there are far too many moments where he disappears if he doesn’t win early in the rep with some technique inconsistencies, which make him more of a high-upside project than an early every-down contributor to start his NFL career.
8) Zach Frazier, C, West Virginia
There are numerous reports out there suggesting center Corey Linsley could retire later this offseason. This could put the Chargers in the market for a contingency plan at center approaching the 2024 NFL Draft.
Zach Frazier out of West Virginia is a space creator at center whose exceptional power, disciplined eyes in pass protection, and bulldozer mentality could help change the culture into a run-heavy scheme during the Harbaugh era.
7) Sedrick Van Pran-Granger, C, Georgia
Another popular interior offensive lineman being regularly mocked to Los Angeles with Linsley’s uncertain future with the team is Sedrick Van Pran-Granger out of Georgia.
The Bulldogs predominantly ran zone concepts during his time in college, which makes Van Pran-Granger an interesting fit with Greg Roman’s offensive scheme that features plenty of counter and trap concepts.
Van Pran-Granger regularly manages to get to the second level, which could help create plenty of chunk plays on the ground in a potentially revamped rushing attack.
6) Malik Nabers, WR, LSU
The aforementioned losses of Allen and Williams to the receiver depth chart certainly puts the Chargers in the market for a receiver toward the top of the draft. Malik Nabers out of LSU could instantly become the best deep threat Herbert has ever thrown to in the NFL.
Nabers can play outside, but his elite suddenness and movement skills make him an exceptional deep threat and YAC weapon the day he steps into the league. Quite frankly, I’m shocked he is not higher on this list.
5) Jackson Powers-Johnson, C, Oregon
Jackson Powers-Johnson‘s name has been consistently brought up as the best center prospect in this class, which makes this scenario a bit tricky given where the Chargers are currently on the draft board.
Powers-Johnson is highly unlikely to be a top-five pick but is equally unlikely to slip to the second round. He is massive for a center prospect and could certainly factor in immediately for the Los Angeles offensive line if Linsley retires.
His movement in the running game is also an ideal fit for the type of offense both Harbaugh and Roman want to establish in 2024.
4) Olumuyiwa Fashanu, OT, Penn State
Rashawn Slater is among the best starting left tackles in the league, but the same can’t be said for Trey Pipkins on the right side of the line.
Olu Fashanu boasts plus-level athleticism and quick feet and flashes the ability to anchor down when he lands his punch inside, which projects favorably as a potential top-tier pass protector in the NFL.
He would likely have to flip to the right side to keep Slater at left tackle, but he would certainly give this line an intriguing pair of tackles who could anchor the offensive line in front of Herbert for a long time to come.
3) T’Vondre Sweat, DT, Texas
Remember when I said the Chargers could use another interior defensive line contributor to work alongside Tuipulotu? Well, fewer nose tackles could potentially make a bigger impact than T’Vondre Sweat out of Texas.
One would be wise to place a greater emphasis on the word big when talking about Sweat, who weighs in at 366 pounds.
He will provide any defensive front with an immediate two-gapping anchor in the running game as a 0- or 1-technique and could provide the Chargers’ front with a certified roadblock against opposing ground attacks.
2) Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame
Here is another interesting pick that could be very telling about the type of football Harbaugh wants to play in Los Angeles.
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If the Chargers elect to draft Joe Alt out of Notre Dame — who is an exceptional tackle prospect who projects to be an impact starter from the day he steps on an NFL field — then the team is sending a message they want to play a physical brand of ball, which includes imposing their will physically up front in the running game.
1) Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia
Brock Bowers is arguably the best tight end prospect to ever come into the NFL. His exceptional playmaking ability as a ball carrier, excellent hand-eye coordination at the catch point, and explosive athleticism make him a certified weapon for an NFL offense.
This is a very deep receiver class, which could make Bowers the pick at fifth overall and see the team add more receiver talent on Day 2 to help replenish the pass-catching threats around Herbert with the departure of Allen, Williams, and Austin Ekeler.
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