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Why the LA Chargers should trade down from 13 in the 2021 NFL Draft

By Jason Reed

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - FEBRUARY 27: Tom Telesco general manager of the Los Angeles Chargers is seen at the 2019 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 28, 2019 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - FEBRUARY 27: Tom Telesco general manager of the Los Angeles Chargers is seen at the 2019 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 28, 2019 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Sam Wasson/Getty Images) – LA Chargers
(Photo by Sam Wasson/Getty Images) – LA Chargers /

1. Some team will be desperate for a quarterback when the LA Chargers are up at 13

Just by the order of the 2021 NFL Draft, I feel fairly confident in saying that by the time the 13th pick rolls around, there is going to be a very distinct cut off with the quarterback talent. While there naturally will be teams that trade up ahead of the Chargers, I think the Bolts are in a prime position to leverage their pick.

The big quarterbacks in this draft are Trevor Lawrence, Justin Fields, Zach Wilson and Trey Lance. There is then a small drop off to the Mac Jones and Kyle Trask level of quarterbacks that will likely be picked in the late first/early second round.

The Jaguars are going to take Lawrence, the Jets should take Fields or Wilson. The Dolphins, Falcons, Bengals and Eagles all shouldn’t be taking a quarterback. The Detroit Lions will need a quarterback with the team agreeing to part ways with Matthew Stafford, so there goes Wilson or Fields.

You could make the case for Carolina or Denver to take a quarterback, but I doubt it. Carolina is paying Teddy B and wants to contend in the NFC South with Drew Brees retiring and Denver is one more year away from giving up on Drew Lock. The Giants have Daniel Jones and the 49ers have Jimmy G.

If my math is correct, that leaves Trey Lance sitting at 13 with several teams who need quarterbacks in striking range. The New England Patriots at 15, the Washington Football Team at 19, the Chicago Bears at 20, the Indianapolis Colts at 21 and even the Pittsburgh Steelers at 24 could use a quarterback.

We will have a better idea of who really needs a quarterback once Stafford and potentially Deshaun Watson is traded but there are still going to be at least 2-3 teams in that range who need a QB and are competing with each other to move up and get him.

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