LA Chargers: Final prediction of the first 12 picks in the 2021 NFL Draft

EVANSTON, IL - OCTOBER 28: Brandon Randle #26 of the Michigan State Spartans rushes against Rashawn Slater #70 of the Northwestern Wildcats at Ryan Field on October 28, 2017 in Evanston, Illinois. Northwestern defeated Michigan State 39-31 in triple overtime. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
EVANSTON, IL - OCTOBER 28: Brandon Randle #26 of the Michigan State Spartans rushes against Rashawn Slater #70 of the Northwestern Wildcats at Ryan Field on October 28, 2017 in Evanston, Illinois. Northwestern defeated Michigan State 39-31 in triple overtime. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
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(Photo by Michael Shroyer/Getty Images) – LA Chargers
(Photo by Michael Shroyer/Getty Images) – LA Chargers

What are the options for the LA Chargers?

There are several things the LA Chargers could do if this is indeed the first 12 picks of the 2021 NFL Draft.

The first is to simply take the best offensive tackle that is still on the board. That projects to be Christian Darrisaw, but if the team is higher on Teven Jenkins and does not want him to go somewhere else if they trade down, draft Teven Jenkins.

The other route is to go defense and give Brandon Staley a playmaker. Micah Parsons is still on the board and is intriguing but Tom Telesco is not known for drafting players that have previous questions about their character.

Kwity Paye could be an interesting selection to help rush the passer next to Joey Bosa. I would not love that personally, but I would not hate is as much as taking a receiver here.

The best move, in my opinion, is to trade down. The New England Patriots and Chicago Bears pick 15th and 19th and both could be looking at Trey Lance. Even if it is only one additional third-round pick, the Chargers get more value in trading down and taking either Darrisaw or Jenkins later rather than staying put at 13.

If Trey Lance is on the board at 13 then the Chargers should unquestionably trade down, unless one of Jaycee Horn, Patrick Surtain, Penei Sewell, or Rashawn Slater somehow falls to 13 as well.

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