LA Chargers mock draft with an Orlando Brown trade
By Jason Reed
With the 20th overall pick, the LA Chargers select Alijah Vera-Tucker, IOL, USC
This is exactly why trading back in the first round is such a smart idea for the LA Chargers. In trading for Brown, the Chargers are removing the need for a left tackle in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft.
Instead, they can focus on an interior offensive lineman and do just that with Alijah Vera-Tucker, the USC Trojans’ left tackle that projects to be an interior offensive lineman at the next level. The team would likely take Vera-Tucker with the 13th pick in this case, so moving back is a real win-win.
Vera-Tucker showed proficiency in both pass blocking and run blocking for the Trojans and is one of the most athletic offensive linemen in the draft. He is likely going to start at left guard, because of his familiarity on the left side, but he really could start at four of the five positions if needed.
That makes Vera-Tucker extremely valuable. He projects to be a starting-caliber left guard right out of the gate but he could also play snaps at right guard as well as either tackle position. He does not have NFL tackle size, but he has the technique to definitely hold his own as he puts on strength.
A Brown/Vera-Tucker left side is a really good outlook for the LA Chargers. Brown is still young and Vera-Tucker could eventually blossom into a Pro Bowl guard. This could be the start of something really special in LA.