Los Angeles Chargers: Post-Senior Bowl 7-Round mock draft
By Kade Dohmen
Round 4, Pick 19 (115): Kurt Benkert, QB, Virginia
This will be the first quarterback drafted by the Chargers since 2013, when the Bolts selected Brad Sorenson out of Southern Utah in the seventh round. This time, a potential future quarterback is prioritized more.
Ken Whisenhunt can make his offense work to his quarterback, so seeing the Chargers draft a prospect with a weaker arm but better accuracy, size or vision in an earlier round (Luke Falk or Mason Rudolph) wouldn’t surprise me.
That said, Kurt Benkert has one of the stronger arms in the draft behind the top guys (right there with Tanner Lee). I think physical tools like that will be more important to Telesco, Anthony Lynn and Whiz because they, along with Philip Rivers, can help this guy develop the smaller intricacies of playing quarterback. Plus, this kid will be getting to sit at least two or three years before he even has to think about hitting the field. That’s important for developmental prospects as raw as Benkert.
Round 5, Pick 18 (146): Van Smith, FS, Clemson
A safety that played for one of the top two defenses in the country available in the fifth round? I’m listening. The Chargers should look to secure Tre Boston on a multi-year deal, but should look for more depth at free safety and for a potential successor or replacement for Boston should he regress.
Smith is a talented athlete that can run all over the field. He can struggle in making open-field tackles, but that can be worked on with the coaches. He has physicality needed for a safety in Bradley’s defense, even if he is only 5’11”. Smith can contribute on special teams immediately and work his way into certain packages on defense.