4 mistakes the LA Chargers must avoid making in the 2021 NFL Draft
By Jason Reed
The LA Chargers are entering an extremely important NFL Draft with new head coach Brandon Staley now helping call the shots. The Bolts must maximize Justin Hebert’s rookie contract window and putting together a good draft is a huge part of doing so.
While the Chargers have drafted some stars in recent years, a lot of said stars have fallen into the team’s lap. If we really dissect the drafts since 2013, it is clear that Tom Telesco’s draft resume is overrated.
We cannot expect Telesco to be perfect and there are naturally going to be mistakes made. There is a reason why he is the one making the picks and I am the one writing about them.
However, there are some mistakes in the 2021 NFL Draft that we can see from a mile away.
It is imperative that the LA Chargers avoid making these mistakes in the 2021 NFL Draft:
1. The LA Chargers drafting a wide receiver in the first round
Bolt Beat contributor Jack Clark recently broke down why he thinks the team should draft a wide receiver with the 13th pick in the draft. Jack did make a compelling point, but I do disagree with his sentiment and think it would be a big mistake for the Chargers to do so.
The Chargers have too many roster holes and do not have the luxury of taking a receiver. Yes, the idea of Keenan Allen, Mike Williams and Jaylen Waddle/Devonta Smith would be fun, but that does not fix the fact that the Chargers literally do not have a starting-caliber left tackle nor a starting-caliber second outside cornerback.
Those are big holes. Williams is under contract for one more season and the Chargers have a solid third receiver in Tyron Johnson and one of the best pass-catching running backs in Austin Ekeler. The Bolts have plenty of weapons.
Take a receiver next year and address the needs that actually need to be addressed. If the Chargers had the “best-player-available” strategy last year then the team would not have Justin Herbert.