LA Chargers: A Justin Herbert-centric seven-round mock draft

The focus of this LA Chargers mock draft is helping quarterback Justin Herbert.

The LA Chargers‘ season is essentially over, meaning that it is just the beginning of mock draft season. Today, we bring you a mock draft that is focused on making life easier for Justin Herbert.

This means that the number one priority in making our selections is going to be with Herbert’s best interest in mind. There are other roster holes that don’t directly pertain to Herbert, but at the end of the day, Herbert will be the number one priority.

This draft starts with a trade. Using the Draft Network’s Mock Draft Simulator, we conducted this trade as well as drafted the rest of the 2021 draft class.

With the 11th overall pick, the LA Chargers select Jaylen Waddle, WR, Alabama

First of all, this trade is under the precedent that the Detroit Lions are trading up to get a quarterback. There is going to be a new regime in Detroit and with an out in Matthew Stafford’s contract I would not be surprised if they move on from Stafford.

If Stafford sticks around then they can draft someone to sit behind him for a season or two. Either way, it might be time to start looking again for Detroit.

The Chargers trade down and select Alabama wideout Jaylen Waddle. While I personally am not a huge fan of selecting a wide receiver in the first round, I understand the desire for the Chargers to select one as it would help Herbert and give the team a long-term option over Mike Williams, who is a free agent after 2021.

I know that Ja’Marr Chase is really exciting but I would rather trade down a handful of spots, get Waddle and get extra draft capital on top of that.