With the team's third pick in the fourth round and fifth pick overall in the 2026 NFL Draft, the LA Chargers addressed the defensive side of the ball for a second time by taking Arizona safety Genesis Smith.
Safety wasn't a primary area of need for the Bolts with many fans expecting the team to take a cornerback first. After all, the Chargers still have Derwin James, Elijah Molden, Tony Jefferson and sophomore standout R.J. Mickens in the safety room.
But the Chargers follow the best-player-available mindset to a tee and that is what landed Smith in Los Angeles. That being said, the analysis of Smith during the ESPN broadcast wasn't the most complimentary, and may have Chargers fans second-guessing the selection as soon as it was made.
"You know what, he just left you wanting more again because of how big and how fast he is. When he's in the alley one-on-one against running backs he can't be missing tackles. He needs to be planting people and he just didn't all the time. But he's got the body type. Someone's got to flip the switch and light a fire under him to play to his size a little bit more," Louis Riddick said during the broadcast.
Genesis Smith's missed tackles could be a concern for the Chargers
This isn't a wholly new scouting report for the Arizona safety. Missed tackles was something that plagued him in college and was flagged on his scouting report heading into the draft. NFL Network's Lance Zierlein gave Smith a round 5-6 grade because of his "alarming issues as an open-field tackler".
This is surprising given the Jim Harbaugh brand of football the Chargers have played the last two seasons. Missed tackles happen, but the Chargers have really gone away from players with upside in coverage who can't wrap up and tackle.
The holes in Smith's game as a tackler are more confusing given the role he will fill in his rookie season. Smith is pigeonholed to special teams as a rookie with so much safety depth ahead of him on the depth chart. Typically, players who can't open-field tackle don't make great special teams players.
The Chargers clearly see something in Smith's game and aren't as worried about the tackling issues. But if he doesn't figure it out in his rookie year, Smith will be a guaranteed healthy scratch throughout the 2026 season.
Is it the best strategy to draft someone who probably won't play at all his rookie season, especially after drafting multiple players who may end up filling out depth roles? Probably not. But the Chargers clearly have a plan and liked what they saw in Smith.
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