LA Chargers: Complete mock draft while selecting Jalen Hurts
By Jason Reed
With the 71st overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, the LA Chargers select: Jalen Hurts, QB, Oklahoma
This is the most likely position that the LA Chargers would pick Jalen Hurts in as trying to stretch it to the fourth round would be too much of a gamble. Hurts has his flaws, but he is too talented for any team with any sort of questions at quarterback to let pass in the third round.
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Now, if you follow my work here at Bolt Beat then you will know that I included Hurts as one of the prospects that fit a positional need that the Chargers should not draft. Personally, I am not the highest on Hurts, but I would not be shocked if the team opted to go his direction instead of Love and Herbert.
First of all, you get the better draft capital early on to spend on other positions, landing the team a solid left tackle that should anchor the offensive line for years to come. Second of all, he is the perfect mobile quarterback to seamlessly take over for Tyrod Taylor while also benefitting from sitting for a year.
The best-case version of Hurts is awesome and could be someone such as Deshaun Watson at the next level. His athleticism to extend plays is always going to be there and he has the arm to succeed, if he can just clean up his pocket presence, pre-game reads and decision-making then he could be a great quarterback.
I do worry that his stats being inflated by playing for Oklahoma could be a source of hype, but Kyler Murray played well in his first season, so Hurts could make the same leap as well.
I understand the upside of Hurts and if he reaches that upside he might be a better quarterback than both Herbert and Love. I personally am worried about him actually reaching that upside, but I would not be shocked if the Chargers fall in love with it and select him in the third.