LA Chargers: The 4 most likely first-round picks after free agency

3. Alijah Vera-Tucker

Bolt Beat contributor Steven Haglund is probably cursing at me in his head for making Alijah Vera-Tucker just the third-most likely player that the LA Chargers draft in the 2021 NFL Draft. The Bolts have valued versatility thus far, and that certainly helps Slater, but I am not sure if they would view AVT as a tackle as they would Slater.

AVT did just fine as a tackle in college and his skill set seems to indicate that he could remain at that position at the next level. However, NFL teams are obsessed with height and arm length and that alone could be enough reason for the Chargers to consider him a guard.

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I am not saying it is the right thing to do, but based on the track record of the team, I find it hard-pressed to believe that they view AVT as a tackle. The only first-round offensive lineman Tom Telesco has taken, D.J. Fluker, transitioned to the inside. The second-highest offensive lineman he has ever taken, Forrest Lamp, transitioned to the inside.

We can convince ourselves that Vera-Tucker is a far better prospect than both players but that is falling victim to hindsight. Lamp was widely believed to be a first rounder and some even had him as the best offensive linemen in the draft.

Fluker was not as highly-rated as AVT, to be fair, but it still was not an absolute shock to see him go at 13. With recent history in mind, I would not be surprised if the Bolts stay away from AVT, even if we all disagree.