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25 five-round mock drafts for the Los Angeles Chargers

ByTyler Schoon|
GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA - NOVEMBER 10: Chauncey Gardner-Johnson #23 of the Florida Gators asks the crowd for noise during the game against the South Carolina Gamecocks at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on November 10, 2018 in Gainesville, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)
GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA - NOVEMBER 10: Chauncey Gardner-Johnson #23 of the Florida Gators asks the crowd for noise during the game against the South Carolina Gamecocks at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on November 10, 2018 in Gainesville, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)
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CHAPEL HILL, NC – SEPTEMBER 26: Nasir Adderley #23 of the Delaware Fightin Blue Hens tackles Quinshad Davis #14 of the North Carolina Tar Heels during their game at Kenan Stadium on September 26, 2015 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. North Carolina won 41-14. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
CHAPEL HILL, NC – SEPTEMBER 26: Nasir Adderley #23 of the Delaware Fightin Blue Hens tackles Quinshad Davis #14 of the North Carolina Tar Heels during their game at Kenan Stadium on September 26, 2015 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. North Carolina won 41-14. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)

Format Three: Draft a safety at No. 28

Draft One:

  1. Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, S
  2. Dexter Lawrence, IDL
  3. Joe Giles-Harris, LB
  4. Chuma Edoga, OT
  5. Max Scharping, OT

Draft Two:

  1. Nasir Adderley, S
  2. Jeffery Simmons, IDL
  3. Khalen Saunders, IDL
  4. Max Scharping, OT
  5. Terry Godwin, WR

Draft Three:

  1. Johnathan Abram, S
  2. David Edwards, OT
  3. Khalen Saunders, IDL
  4. Chuma Edoga, OT
  5. Chris Slayton, IDL

Draft Four:

  1. Nasir Adderley, S
  2. Kaleb McGary, OT
  3. Trysten Hill, IDL
  4. Tyler Roemer, OT
  5. Max Scharping, OT

Draft Five:

  1. Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, S
  2. Kaleb McGary, OT
  3. Khalen Saunders, IDL
  4. Chuma Edoga, OT
  5. Terry Godwin, WR

If the Chargers take a defensive player in the draft at No. 28, and Wilkins/Oliver do not fall to them, they should grab a safety.

The same problems with finding an offensive tackle later on that came about with drafting a defensive tackle in the first round still exist, but here the Chargers can use the depth of the draft to still land their interior guy. With safety, the Chargers are better off grabbing one earlier than later, particularly considering who will possibly be available to them in both the first and second rounds.

Gardner-Johnson was frequently available to the Bolts at No. 28, who would be an incredibly fun player to pair with Derwin James. No. 23 can cover from the slot, play deep safety, and reads the screen game really well. It may be a luxury pick, but the Chargers could finally have their Kam Chancellor-Earl Thomas duo out there.

Chauncey Gardner-Johnson film thread starts here. Most improved run defender I saw on 2018 tape. Tackles the ball carrier indirectly by shoving his receiver into him. pic.twitter.com/cmwewjEycY

— Jonah Tuls (@JonahTulsNFL) February 15, 2019

Nasir Adderley is the other name to watch for at No. 28, more of a free safety/center fielder than Gardner-Johnson. Adderley, in my opinion, is a tier below Gardner-Johnson because of inconsistencies and because he is less “multi-talented”. Johnathan Abram was only the selection once because both Adderley and Gardner-Johnson were chosen.

Whether or not the Chargers take a tackle in the second round depends on their feelings about Tevi. If they feel he is a starter, they can take a developmental guy like Edoga in the fourth or fifth round. If they feel he needs to be replaced, there are almost-starters available in the second. The magic happens in the third round, where they can take a guy like Saunders, Hill, or Wren to make up for the hole in the middle of the defense.

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