It’s time for our third mock draft profile and this one is a wild one. Not in terms of who is pegged to be selected by the Los Angeles Chargers, but the trade at the top of the draft.
Will Brinson of CBS Sports has the Indianapolis Colts shipping Andrew Luck to the Cleveland Browns for both of the Browns’ first-round picks, which would give the Colts three of the first four picks in the draft.
That would be nuts and also quite unlikely. But what isn’t as far fetched is the fact that Brinson projects the Chargers to select Georgia offensive tackle Isaiah Wynn at No. 17.
While many Chargers fans would like to see a defensive player such as Rashaan Evans or Derwin James selected in the first round, this isn’t a bad choice either.
Wynn is possibly the second-best offensive tackle in this draft behind only Notre Dame’s Mike McGlinchey.
Measurables
Height: 6’2″
Weight: 300 pounds
Age: 21
Hometown: St. Petersburg, Florida
School: Georgia
Strengths
Nimble on his feet, Wynn’s draft profile on NFL.com also notes his quick, strong hands. He’s also a versatile lineman, having played tackle and guard during his college career.
As far as tackles are concerned in this draft, Wynn may be the best run blocker. He helped open holes for one of the nation’s most potent rushing attacks with both Nick Chubb and Sony Michel in the backfield.
Weaknesses
He can get better in pass protection but the main knock on Wynn is going to be his height (6-foot-2). That’s just not what you see for a professional tackle, so he will likely be used as a guard in the NFL. That puts any first-round projection in question.
If he were five or six inches taller, he’d be picked inside the top 10 due to his combination of strength and athleticism.
Film Study
In this clip, you can hear a breakdown of Wynn’s performance in the national championship game. Keep in mind that this game was played against Alabama, in which many of the players he was going up against will play at the next level.
You’ll notice some solid, consistent play and you’ll also notice that for the most part, he holds his own in this game.
How does he fit in Los Angeles?
Wynn’s measurables will be something to track when he hits the scouting combine. How long are his arms? That seems like a silly question sometimes, but with his current frame, it’s going to be a legitimate question.
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Though the Chargers’ offensive line was much improved in 2017, few fans should argue that it could still get a lot better. I like Wynn quite a bit and believe in his ability (I believe he can play tackle in the NFL), if he’s going to be chosen as a guard, he doesn’t make a lot of sense for the Chargers in the first round.
Forrest Lamp will be back and he could easily end up being the Chargers’ top guard. Unless the Bolts would move him to tackle in order to play Wynn and Dan Feeney at the guard spots, I just can’t see the team making this selection.
A new right tackle as an upgrade over Joe Barksdale is what the team should be looking for. Would they choose the shorter Wynn to man that role? Is the defensive side of the ball, specifically the inside linebacker and defensive tackle positions a more pressing need in the first round?
Those are the questions the team would have to ask in the war room if this pick was actually being considered at No. 17.