As the Los Angeles Chargers work in their new defensive coordinator, Chris O'Leary, they must quickly furnish him with the necessary tools to replicate his predecessor's dominance over the past two seasons. Continuity is key here.
For the most part, they've accomplished that this offseason. They've brought back Khalil Mack, Teair Tart, and Tony Jefferson, all of whom were integral pieces for last year's unit.
The departure of Odafe Oweh was largely unavoidable given the $100 million figure he commanded from the Washington Commanders. The departure of Benjamin St-Juste to the Green Bay Packers, meanwhile, was understandable given the Chargers' track record of replenishing the depth of their secondary in a cost-effective manner.
But it leaves them in a position where they must likely come away from the 2026 NFL Draft with a cornerback. Here are three options, each of whom will be available on Day 2 or 3, that could become immediate contributors for O'Leary's defense.
3 mid-round cornerback prospects who could be immediate solutions for a Chargers need
D'Angelo Ponds, Indiana
I've written about Ponds before, but I think his inclusion here is more than justified. His measurables are concerning. He came in at the Combine at just 5'9" and 182 pounds. But his production (and his confidence and tenacity) should make him an easy second-round pick.
He was one of college's premier cornerbacks during his junior season at Indiana, posting the eighth-best overall grade out of the 897 qualified players at his position, per Pro Football Focus's system. He has the speed, tackling, and press-coverage abilities to be immediately workable at the NFL level. In the right system, he could quickly become one of the league's most exciting corners.
It would need to be a late second-round selection, but the Chargers should be ecstatic if they have the opportunity to draft Ponds.
Keith Abney II, Arizona State
Abney, in many ways, is a similar prospect to Ponds. Measuring in at 5'10" and 187 lbs, he was impressive on the boundary in his junior season at Arizona State. He forced two fumbles and broke up nine passes through just 12 games.
If the Chargers miss on Ponds and Abney drops to the third round, there could be value in grabbing him at that point in the draft. He played almost all of his snaps on the outside last season, but he has the quickness and the versatility to serve as a depth piece on the inside if required.
He doesn't have as many electric plays on tape as Ponds does, but he could quickly become a viable defensive back in O'Leary's presumably zone-heavy scheme.
Charles Demmings, Stephen F. Austin
Demmings is an interesting one. Where he falls in the draft will largely depend on how heavily organizations are willing to gamble on FCS talent.
Demmings was the only FCS cornerback invited to the NFL Scouting Combine this year, where he measured excellently. He posted a 4.41-second 40-yard dash and a 42" vertical jump. At 6'1", he has the length and the speed to be a reliable protector on the boundary, where he played most of his snaps at Stephen F. Austin.
He's highly physical, and he has the athletic tools to quickly become a pro-caliber cornerback at the next level. If he falls to Day 3 and the Chargers have an extra selection in that range from a first-round trade back, Demmings could quickly prove to be one of the best value selections in the entire draft.