One name and one name only stands out as the No. 1 dream prospect for the LA Chargers in the 2026 NFL Draft: Olaivavega Ioane.
The Penn State guard is the best guard in this draft class and would instantly slot in as an above-average starting left guard for the Bolts. Alongside Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater, Ioane would form one of the best young offensive line trios in the league. That's how you protect Justin Herbert.
There's just one issue: the odds of Ioane being on the board when the Chargers are on the clock are slim. It's not impossible (just ask Daniel Jeremiah, who has Ioane going to the Chargers in his final mock draft), but it's largely improbable.
It's improbable because of the several teams ahead of the Chargers who could use Ioane just as much as the Bolts can. Three teams, in particular, are threats to keep the Chargers' dream from turning into a reality.
Olaivavega Ioane must get past these teams to get to the Chargers:
New York Giants, No. 10 pick
The New York Giants traded Dexter Lawrence to the Cincinnati Bengals for the No. 10 pick and it threw everything off for the Chargers. New York certainly needs more talent at the guard position, but that was too rish to use the No. 5 pick on when there are talented second-round options.
With two picks in the top 10, the Giants can theoretically take the most exciting prospect available with the No. 5 pick before securing the best guard in the draft five picks later. It might be a slight reach based on where Ioane is on big boards, but there's never anything wrong with getting the best player at a specific position.
The one saving grace for the Chargers is how many roster needs the Giants have. New York has legitimate needs at linebacker, wide receiver, and on the defensive line after trading Lawrence. Linebacker Sonny Styles falling to the Giants at five could open the door for the team to take a receiver at No. 10, foregoing guard until later in the draft.
Baltimore Ravens, No. 14 pick
Jesse Minter could really drive the knife into Jim Harbaugh's heart in the draft. The Baltimore Ravens should be considered the biggest threat to take Ioane after the offensive line losses the team sustained this offseason.
Baltimore wasn't even supposed to have its own first-round pick after agreeing to send it to Las Vegas for Maxx Crosby. The Ravens backed out of the deal, and now they have a runway to improve the offensive line with the best player at the position.
Interior offensive line is definitely the Ravens' biggest need, but history says the front office could overlook that. Baltimore hasn't drafted an offensive lineman with the team's first pick since taking Ronnie Stanley with the No. 6 pick in 2016. The last guard the Ravens took with their first pick in the draft was Ben Grubbs in 2007.
The Ravens did draft Tyler Linderbaum in the first round of the 2022 draft, but it was the team's second selection. Baltimore acquired the No. 23 pick in that draft for Hollywood Brown and then traded it to Buffalo to move down two spots.
Philadelphia Eagles, No. 23 pick
The wild-card threat to the Chargers is a team that picks behind them in the first round. On paper, the Chargers are in a great spot right ahead of the Philadelphia Eagles. Philly also needs a starting guard in the draft, and has a knack for somehow always landing the best players at their respective positions.
So why are the Eagles a threat if they pick behind the Chargers? Two words. Howie Roseman. The Eagles' GM is the savviest in the game and if there is a prospect he really loves, potentially like the home-town prospect, he will do what it takes to get them.
The cost of moving up a handful of picks in the first round, especially late in the first round, isn't that high. With two picks in the third and fourth round, the Eagles have the ammunition to leapfrog the Chargers if Ioane gets past the Ravens.
Let's say the Steelers are on the clock at No. 21 and the Eagles offer the No. 23 pick and a third-round pick to move up. Why wouldn't Pittsburgh say yes to that deal? They'd probably get the same prospect they were going to take anyway, and get an extra pick out of it.
Chargers fans better hope the Eagles don't like Ioane enough to make that aggressive of a move. Because if they do, the Eagles will lurk as the biggest threat if Ioane somehow gets past Baltimore at 14.
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