LA Chargers mock draft with Brandon Staley as the head coach

With the 117th overall pick, the LA Chargers select Drake Jackson, C, Kentucky

If you read all of my mock drafts then you have seen Drake Jackson’s name before, usually with this selection. Jackson is a center-only prospect that will likely fall to day three because he does not have the versatility to play at guard.

Jackson was pretty good in college and projects to at least be an average starting center. The Chargers need a center, as right now, Dan Feeney is not the long-term solution at the position.

The Chargers should take advantage of Jackson’s draft stock potentially falling because of his center-exclusive projection to answer their own questions at the position.

With the 156th overall pick, the LA Chargers select LaBryan Ray, IDL, Alabama

LaBryan Ray is exactly the kind of prospect the LA Chargers should be looking for at this point in the draft. He is a prospect that has a very specific niche, limiting his overall role on the defense and thus limiting his draft stock.

However, that niche, in Ray’s case, is as a run defender. Ray is a menace inside and has the skill set to play either at nose tackle, or more importantly, at the other defensive end position next to Linval Joseph and Joey Bosa.

The Chargers need a solid run defender on the inside and Ray is someone who will only really play in running downs, but that is fine. A rotation between him and Tillery inside would be good for both men.