LA Chargers Roundtable: Defensive sleepers in the 2020 NFL Draft

Every year, the draft is full of “sleeper” picks that don’t necessarily get the attention they deserve. Here’s who we like at Bolt Beat for the LA Chargers.

Brandon Viera: Linebacker Jordan Mack, Virginia

Projected to be a seventh-round pick or an undrafted free agent priority player, Jordan Mack is a player who I feel is flying very under the radar everywhere. Given the success of current LA Chargers linebacker Drue Tranquill (albeit being drafted in the fourth round as opposed to the seventh), another diamond in the rough at linebacker would be no surprise from Tom Telesco.

Mack measures up at six foot three, 230 pounds and flies off the screen in his tape. Mack plays the game fast and plays the game very tough. Always looking to make a play on the ballcarrier, he possesses the speed to catch up to running backs and even receivers, and the strength to take down tight ends and fullbacks.

Jordan Mack didn’t put up record-breaking numbers in his senior season as a Cavalier, but nonetheless he was a great player. This past season in 12 games, he totaled 36 solo tackles, 69 total tackles, and 7.5 sacks.

Mack has been a durable player so far throughout his playing career, he missed only three games in his college career.

If Jordan Mack is available (as many think he should be) in the seventh round of the draft, I think the Chargers would be getting a very good player on a linebacker corps that has gotten better as the years have gone on.

If drafted, expect Jordan Mack to have a role similar to what Drue Tranquill’s was this past season. He may be a major special teams contributor with less snaps at linebacker due to his initial position on the depth chart, but Mack can be a special player if given quality reps against higher quality talent. The Chargers defense can get much better over the long term if they take a flier on Jordan Mack.