For weeks now, the Los Angeles Chargers' direction in the first two rounds of the 2026 NFL Draft has seemed pretty clear.
Take Olaivavega Ioane at 22nd overall if he falls there. If he doesn't, attempt to trade back into the early second round, where the Chargers could ideally grab both a starting-caliber offensive guard and a rotational edge rusher. Until draft night comes, however, we'll have no earthly idea what Joe Hortiz is planning.
He's routinely reiterated his "best player available" philosophy over the course of this draft process. If Los Angeles stays put at 22, therefore, there's virtually nothing off the board outside of quarterback.
Are these comments largely pre-draft smoke screens? Probably.
But Daniel Popper of The Athletic, in his recent Chargers Big Board for the 2026 draft class, was also hesitant to rule out a surprising move in the first round. Although it remains unlikely, he believes there's a world where KC Concepcion, or one of the draft's other top receivers, could be enticing to Los Angeles.
Joe Hortiz's draft philosophy could leave the Chargers with an interesting dilemma on draft night
Here's what Popper had to say about Concepcion and wide receivers at large in the Draft:
"The Chargers should be looking to add a yards-after-the-catch weapon at some point in this draft. Addressing this need in the first round is a little rich for my taste. But I wouldn’t rule it out. Concepcion is instinctive with the ball in his hands, both after the catch and on end-arounds."- Daniel Popper, The Athletic
There's two layers to his comments here. First, there's the obvious one— that Concepcion would be an incredible addition to the Chargers offense as a yards-after-the-catch threat. Mike McDaniel could make full use of a speedy weapon who can operate effectively out of the slot.
Secondly, Popper believes that Los Angeles should be looking to add another pass-catching threat in this draft. Given Hortiz's mentality (evidenced by their selection of Omarion Hampton in the first round last year), spending premium draft capital on that piece is not something that can be ruled out.
Even with trade rumors around Quentin Johnston having been emphatically shut down, it would make sense to add a receiver in this draft. Keenan Allen's future is still up in the air, and the Chargers could certainly afford to bring in some competition for Tre' Harris and KeAndre Lambert-Smith. In a more realistic sense, that's something that can be accomplished in the fourth or fifth round with a prospect like Brenen Thompson or Zachariah Branch (both of whom are on Popper's Big Board).
But if a player such as Concepcion or even Omar Cooper Jr. out of Indiana is available when Los Angeles is on the board at 22, it's at least a possibility that they'll shock the league by leaping for one those pieces.
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