LA Chargers mock draft: Trading up after first wave of free agency
By Jason Reed
With the 13th overall pick, the LA Chargers select Jaycee Horn, CB, South Carolina
The guy who has been pounding the drum for an offensive tackle with the 13th overall pick (me) takes a cornerback in this new LA Chargers mock draft. Normally, I would still go tackle with the 13th overall pick. However, the team might be able to get similar value with that trade-up that I previously mentioned.
We will get back to that later in the draft.
This go around, I have the Chargers selecting cornerback Jaycee Horn. The way that the Chargers have handled free agency leaves me to believe that they might be targeting cornerback earlier than expected.
The team did the right thing in bringing back Davis but then did not sign guys who were seemingly scheme fits, such as Troy Hill and Kyle Fuller. But to be fair, the Chargers were reportedly in on Fuller before he signed with the Denver Broncos.
The team absolutely needs more cornerback depth and they need someone who can consistently play out wide, particularly in man coverage. They are not going to get anyone great at this point in free agency, but they could get someone great in Jaycee Horn.
Horn does have some work to do to be a perfect fit in Brandon Staley’s defense but he has the natural abilities and the intangibles to be an outside cornerback. With some added weight to his frame, Horn could become the best corner from this first-round crop with the right coaching. The Chargers have the right coaching.
Tom Telesco has only taken one offensive lineman in the first round since becoming GM and he could forego the position yet again with the 13th pick.