LA Chargers: 3 teams to trade down with in the first round
By Jason Reed
The LA Chargers currently have the 13th overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft and after trading up to get back in the first round in 2020, Tom Telesco could do the opposite and trade down in the first round.
It all depends on how the draft shakes up. If there is a can’t-miss prospect that the team loves (hopefully an offensive lineman) that is available at 13 then they won’t move down. However, if the team thinks they can get the same prospect a handful of picks later then it makes a lot of sense to trade down.
This could be the case if the team is looking at Alijah Vera-Tucker or Christian Darrisaw in the first — both of which could be available later.
The LA Chargers also have to find the right team to trade down with in the 2021 NFL Draft.
A team needs a reason to trade up in the draft so the Chargers aren’t going to just be calling every single team after them looking to work out a deal. There are teams that very well could want to trade up with three teams in particular coming to mind.
1. Washington Football Team, pick 19
The Washington Football Team needs a quarterback and if someone such as Trey Lance or Zach Wilson is available at 13 then they should do everything in their power to move up. It makes even more sense as Washington has extra draft capital this year.
Washington has the San Francisco 49ers’ third-round pick in this year’s draft. That could be the starting point of a trade for the LA Chargers. The Chargers could receive San Francisco’s third-round pick as well as a third-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.
Drafttek.com values the 13th pick at 1,150 “points”. The 19th pick is worth 875 while Washington’s two third-round picks are worth a combined 400. Make one of the third-round picks for next year and it is as near-perfect as it gets in terms of value.