The Los Angeles Chargers turned to the skies last season to produce the league’s third-best passing attack in their 2022 playoff march. But there’s a strong sense the Bolts will work the NFL Draft phones on Thursday to make some advancements in that strength — with fans and analysts predicting new weapons on the horizon.
NFL Draft Rumors: Chargers Looking To Add an Offensive Weapon?
Per Pro Football Network’s Mock Draft Simulator data, aerial attack options are the most drafted positions among the seven selections the Chargers hold for the draft.
This now raises the question for Charger fans: Who are the most popular draft predictions for the Bolts? The first option could help sway the future of one Chargers star on offense.
Texas running back Bijan Robinson is the most drafted Chargers player at 16.3%, per PFN MDS data. The Longhorn isn’t just someone who took handoffs and produced back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons in Austin. He also grabbed 60 career receptions and scored six receiving touchdowns across three seasons.
PFN’s Kyle Smith believes Robinson is a fit — especially in the wake of running back star Austin Ekeler and his pending future with the Chargers.
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“Running back is perhaps one of the more underrated team needs of the Los Angeles Chargers, but with Austin Ekeler’s trade request, it becomes much more pertinent,” Smith wrote.
But which wide receiver grades as the highest possibility for the Bolts? Zay Flowers of Boston College holds that current distinction, with PFN MDS data giving him the second-best percentage (11.7%) to land with the Chargers. Flowers is heating up as a Day 1 pick, with recent reports stating that Flowers is expected to go before the 20th selection, just shy of the Chargers’ first pick at No. 21.
But coming in as the third popular option is someone suddenly falling out of the top 15: Jordan Addison of USC, checking in at 9.8% for the Bolts. PFN’s Ian Valentino projected Addison to fall to the second round in his Saturday seven-round mock draft — landing at No. 36 to the hometown Los Angeles Rams.
Quentin Johnston of TCU rounded out the highest-rated WR picks for the Chargers at 7.9%. As for tight ends, Dalton Kincaid of Utah was the top projection for LA (7.8%).
What Would Zay Flowers, Jordan Addison, or Quentin Johnston Bring To This Offense?
The very thought of one of these three catching passes from Pro Bowl quarterback Justin Herbert has to be more electric than a Tesla on the Pacific Coast Highway.
Flowers leaves the 617 as the Eagles’ all-time leader in all three major receiving categories. What separates Flowers from most wideouts in this class is his change-of-direction ability — giving him the look of a running back who’s out to break ankles in his wake. He’s likely to get his future offensive coordinator drawing up short-to-intermediate passing plays for him since he comes with elusiveness and blinding speed after the catch.
Addison is electric wherever he gets plugged in. He can blow the top off defenses with his speed or take a simple short pass and then tally more than 30 yards from there. He’s also a contested-catch machine on sideline grabs or in the red zone — perfect for a Chargers team that wants a first down or an extra six-point threat.
Johnston is the only one of the three towering past six feet (6’4″). He’s a long strider whose best work was seen across the hashes through his separation speed. But his size makes him a more comfortable contested-catch option, which would take immense pressure off veterans Keenan Allen and Mike Williams.
Would Bijan Robinson Be a Good Replacement for Austin Ekeler?
Again, Ekeler’s future is becoming nebulous, which signifies the reasoning behind Robinson being a highly-projected fit for the Bolts.
Perhaps he becomes a Tony Pollard type in the league — which would be fitting considering new Chargers offensive coordinator Kellen Moore found success with the Dallas Cowboys star.
Moore comes over and brings with him a downfield, vertical attack mixed with some exotic routes to throw off coverages. However, Pollard became a 39-catch RB in the last two seasons as a checkdown option out of the backfield. Pollard also produced his most rushing and receiving yards with Moore last season, culminating in his Pro Bowl berth.
Robinson averaged 30 catches a season for Texas. If the Chargers do move on from the Ekeler, Robinson would have to top the list of replacements.
Should the Chargers Add a Tight End?
Gerald Everett tallied new career highs in receptions and yardage with the Bolts.
However, LA may need to begin thinking about its tight end of the future and address depth at that spot.
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Everett is entering the final year of his two-year, $12 million deal. Outside of Everett, Tre’ McKitty and Donald Parham only caught 10 passes apiece in 2022.
While Kincaid is considered the most projected TE for the Chargers by PFN MDS data, Michael Mayer of Norte Dame followed him at 4.5%. The 6’4 “, 249-pound Mayer was a top-50 prospect in Valentino’s mock draft.