LA Chargers: 5 draft targets to watch in the National Championship
By Jason Reed
4. Baron Browning, LB, Ohio State
Linebacker is not a massive need for the LA Chargers but it is one that the team could address in the mid-rounds of the 2021 NFL Draft. Kenneth Murray was a really good selection and is going to lead the linebacker room for years to come. However, Denzel Perryman is a free agent, Kyzir White has not been as good as hoped and Drue Tranquill is still just potential.
I know that everyone was high on Tranquill coming into 2020 and he has all the signs of being a really good linebacker for the Bolts. He still has to do it though and I do not fully trust in him being as good as we all hoped coming off of an ankle injury.
Browning is a really athletic linebacker that is going to need some work at the next level in terms of refining his skill set. However, it is impossible not to get excited about the idea of Browning paired with Kenneth Murray in the middle and both guys just exploding around the field and making plays.
Browning is more an every-down linebacker than Murray as he is not as green in pass coverage as Murray was coming out of college, albeit I would not say that Browning is great. He is definitely good enough to cover lesser tight ends and halfbacks right away.
A big game against Justin Fields and Ohio State could raise his draft stock significantly and he is not worth taking in the first three rounds. However, if he somehow gets to the fourth, Browning could be a really good selection.