It wasn't until the pick was officially made on Akheem Mesidor that Chargers fans were sure the team would actually stick at the No. 22 overall pick. With only five selections in the 2026 NFL Draft, the Chargers were key trade-down candidates in a first round that featured plenty of trades.
Instead, the Chargers stayed put and took a prospect who cements their status as Super Bowl contenders. General manager Joe Hortiz is a firm believer in drafting the best player available, so there's no doubting how high the Bolts are on Mesidor.
That being said, perhaps the Chargers would have made a move if they were given the chance to. Hortiz told reporters after the first round concluded that the Chargers didn't actually receive any offers for the No. 22 pick. They are, however, receiving offers for their second and third-round picks.
"I've had a number of teams call me today and yesterday about moving up towards our pick in the second and teams interested in our third-round pick. So I think there will be plenty of action opportunities in the next couple rounds as well," Hortiz said.
Don't rule out a Chargers trade-down in the 2026 NFL Draft
That sounds a lot like a GM who is going to trade down in the draft to pick up more draft capital. It's not like Hortiz was unmoved by other teams' interest in the Chargers' day-two picks. Him directly saying that there will be plenty of action probably indicates that he is willing to move.
The Chargers old the No. 55 and the No. 86 picks on day two. Los Angeles doesn't have a fifth-round pick nor a seventh-round pick after trading for Odafe Oweh in 2025 and Elijah Molden in 2024, respectively.
Hortiz is not going to get a king's ransom for a pick that is late in the second round. If anything, the Chargers will pick up an extra day-three pick for moving down a handful of spots in the second or third round. Moving down on day two does not yield the same results it does as day one, especially later in the second round.
That being said, the Chargers can still pick up valuable draft capital and land the prospect they were going to pick at No. 55 anyway if they play their cards right. If the Bolts can move down a few spots, and no team directly behind them is a threat to take the Bolts' prospect of choice, then moving down is a no-brainer.
But there is risk involved. Los Angeles still has a glaring hole at left guard that isn't made any better by having Cole Strange as the starting right guard. By taking Mesidor, the Chargers made their choices on day two even more important. Justin Herbert will yet again be in serious trouble if the Bolts can't land the right guard on day two.
Trading down adds more variability in that equation. The last thing the Chargers want to do is miss out on an impactful guard to pick up an extra sixth or seventh-round pick that may not even matter.
Hortiz really values having as many bites at the apple as possible, though, and guard seems to be less of a priority with Mike McDaniel scheming the offense. For that reason, it might not even matter who is on the board when the Chargers are back on the clock. They may look to move down regardless.
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