With the 72nd overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, the LA Chargers select Elijah Molden, CB, Washington
The LA Chargers traded half a season of Desmond King for a sixth-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft and in the third round, they draft a corner that can be the long-term replacement in the slot — Elijah Molden.
There is a lot of variance with where Molden truly stands in this draft class. CBS Sports ranks him as the 57th-best prospect while PFF ranks him 68 and The Draft Network ranks him 109th.
Molden is likely going to be a late second-round, early third-round pick and the Chargers should absolutely take him if he is available. Molden is primarily a slot corner and has been fantastic in pass-coverage in college. PFF deems him as the “best returning pure slot corner in the country”.
With the 96th overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, the LA Chargers select Ben Cleveland, IOL, Georgia
The LA Chargers select another Georgia player, this time coming in the form of interior offensive lineman, Ben Cleveland.
Ben Cleveland is ranked 99th by both PFF and The Draft Network and has shown some really promising signs as a starter with the Bulldogs. He certainly has NFL lineman size and has the potential to be a bulldozer at the NFL level.
He is a bit green and would need some coaching up by James Campen but his size and strength alone are very intriguing and should get him by when he first gets to the league.
Forrest Lamp and Dan Feeney are free agents after this season and Trai Turner is only under contract for one more year. The Chargers need to select an interior offensive lineman in this draft class.