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LA Chargers wait three picks to take a corner in final 2021 mock draft

By Alexander Insdorf

SYRACUSE, NY - OCTOBER 20: Anthony Ratliff-Williams #17 of the North Carolina Tar Heels watches helplessly after a pass intended for him is broken up by Ifeatu Melifonwu #23 of the Syracuse Orange during the fourth quarter at the Carrier Dome on October 20, 2018 in Syracuse, New York. Syracuse defeats North Carolina in overtime 40-37. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images)
SYRACUSE, NY - OCTOBER 20: Anthony Ratliff-Williams #17 of the North Carolina Tar Heels watches helplessly after a pass intended for him is broken up by Ifeatu Melifonwu #23 of the Syracuse Orange during the fourth quarter at the Carrier Dome on October 20, 2018 in Syracuse, New York. Syracuse defeats North Carolina in overtime 40-37. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Michael Shroyer/Getty Images) – LA Chargers
(Photo by Michael Shroyer/Getty Images) – LA Chargers /

The pieces are starting to settle into place with less than three days until the 2021 NFL Draft. In a recent press conference, Brandon Staley mentioned the holes at left tackle and cornerback for the LA Chargers. That led many fans to believe that he would go for one of those two positions in the first round.

While I don’t think that’s a certainty by any means given Tom Telesco’s draft history, it’s seeming likelier by the day. Keep in mind that the Chargers could still trade up the draft with a number of teams in the top 12 looking to trade back.

That being said, the pick is in.

With the 13th pick, the LA Chargers select…

Christian Darrisaw. 13. 847. . Offensive Tackle

I went with Jaycee Horn in my last mock with him available, but his stock has risen immensely within the last month. Peter Schrager of the NFL Network said this week that the South Carolina corner has been one of the fastest risers and could go top 10.

So, the somewhat likely scenario for the Chargers is a selection at 13 with Patrick Surtain, Horn, Rashawn Slater, and Penei Sewell off the board. That’s going to ultimately depend on how many quarterbacks are taken in the top 10, but let’s work with that scenario for now. For clarity, all of those players I mentioned were off the board by 12 in my mock draft simulator at TDN.

MORE: Final prediction of the first 12 picks of the 2021 NFL Draft

The next best option to me at that point is clearly Virginia Tech’s Christian Darrisaw. At that point on the board, he fits both position of need and best player available. To get a left tackle that’s able to start on day one with the length Staley wants would be such a huge win after missing out on Sewell.

Some have fallen in love with Oklahoma State’s Teven Jenkins over the last month, but Darrisaw has to be the third tackle off the board as I currently see it. He’s an absolute monster in the run game while also having improved as a pass blocker every season. In about 300 pass-blocking snaps last year, Darrisaw allowed six pressures and zero sacks.

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