The Los Angeles Chargers have a relatively clear mandate on draft day if Olaivavega Ioane doesn't fall their way. They must attempt to trade back from 22nd overall and accrue draft capital in the later rounds in the process.
Given the holes they have along their defense and the guards that could still be available in the second round, this seems like the clear path to a successful draft for the Chargers.
Things become murkier, however, when you start to consider what teams might actually be interested in trading up into the first round. In a draft that is considered relatively weak compared to recent classes, teams might be hesitant to spend late-round capital to jump up just a few spots.
Things get even more complicated when you start to list out the teams that might be interested in moving down. Bill Barnwell's recent piece for ESPN outlines the case for a number of teams to move up or down in the draft, and he recommends that the Detroit Lions, Seattle Seahawks, and Dallas Cowboys all attempt to slide down from their current selections.
While we won't know these organizations' true intentions until draft day, it's becoming clear that trading back may not ultimately be a simple proposition for Los Angeles.
The Chargers won't be the only option for teams attempting to trade up in the Draft
In terms of teams that could be looking to move up into the first round, the Arizona Cardinals and New York Jets immediately come to mind if they are gunning for Ty Simpson, whose draft range is largely up in the air. The Kansas City Chiefs could also be in play here to move up from the 29th overall selection they earned in the Trent McDuffie trade.
But Barnwell's cases for the Lions, Seahawks, and Cowboys to move down are at least as compelling as any argument that can be made for the Chargers.
The Cowboys, for their part, have two first-round selections and are in major need of additional draft capital on Days 2 and 3. For teams looking to make a major splash, moving up to 20th overall could be an enticing option.
For teams looking to move up within the first round, even Detroit would present a better option than Los Angeles. The Lions are currently slated to select at 17th overall. Although Barnwell suggests they wouldn't be willing to move out of the first round entirely, a team looking to grab, say, one of the class's premier tackles could be keeping a serious eye on Detroit's draft slot.
For teams looking to slide up just a few spots and make another Day 1 selection, Seattle (which is selecting at 32nd overall) could also be a strong trade partner.
The Chargers, therefore, are in a strange spot at 22. Their pick would be just pricey enough that another front office might instead opt to make a move with a team like Seattle. But they also are just outside of the desirable range that the Lions and the Cowboys have found themselves in.
If there are a number of teams looking to move back in this draft, what was once a no-brainer decision for Los Angeles could quickly become complicated, if not impossible.
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