It's April, which means it's mock draft season. The Chargers mock drafts are flying ahead of April's showcase and it's particularly interesting for a team like the Bolts that can go in a wide array of directions.
But what if everything broke perfectly for the Chargers? If we could wave a magic wand and pick the best-case scenario propsect for the Bolts at every selection, what would that look like?
That's what today's mock draft experiment is about. We didn't use a simulator, and there's no guarantee any of these players will be on the board at their respective selections. But there's at least a chance, and thus, they make up the Bolts' dream mock draft.
What a perfect Chargers mock draft looks like:
Round 1: Olaivavega Ioane, G, Penn State
There's no better potential first-round pick for the Chargers than Penn State guard Olaivavega Ioane. Ioane is the best guard prospect in the 2026 NFL Draft and feels like one of the most sure-fire prospects in this entire draft class.
So how is he even in the conversation for the No. 22 pick? Guard isn't as valued in the NFL Draft and there aren't many teams ahead of the Chargers who have a big enough need to draft a guard in the first round.
However, there are still a few teams that could break Chargers fans' hearts by taking Ioane. The Baltimore Ravens are No. 1 on that list as they look to rebuild the offensive line to protect Lamar Jackson.
Ioane at No. 22 may seem like a pipe dream but stranger things have happened. Let's not forget that Rashawn Slater was never expected to fall to the Chargers in the 2021 NFL Draft and he did. Maybe Ioane can follow suit.
Round 2: Gabe Jacas, EDGE, Illinois
Gabe Jacas is a hot name on Chargers social media. Jacas was directly named as a potential target for the Chargers by ESPN's Matt Miller days after we took him in our last Chargers mock draft.
Jacas is the No. 50 prospect on the consensus big board, so he definitely is in play for the Chargers with the No. 55 pick. Los Angeles needs an edge rusher who can fill in as the third option in 2026 with upside to replace Khalil Mack down the line. Jacas has that upside.
Ironically enough, Jacas' game is more similar to Tuli Tuipulotu's than it is to Mack's. That should make the Chargers covet him even more. His high motor and ability to win matchups in various spots on the defensive line make him a high-floor prospect with legitimate upside.
Round 3: Kyle Louis, LB/S, Pitt
Sometimes you just have to take the most talented player on the board. If Kyle Louis falls to the Chargers in the third round, there's a good chance there won't be a player more talented than him the Chargers can take.
There's a lot to like about Louis' game. He is a legitimate NFL athlete and was uber productive for Pitt in his college career. The only "problem" is teams may not quite know how to use him. He doesn't have NFL safety size and is best projected playing in the box, in the nickel, or even at linebacker.
Louis not having a concrete position is a hurdle that is causing him to fall down draft board (No. 72 on the consensus big board). However, it gives the Chargers opportunity. The Chargers already know how to build a defense around a versatile safety, and if there is anyone in the league Louis should want to learn under it's Derwin James.
The Chargers value talent and will find a way to get that talent on the field. They do it with James, they've done it with Elijah Molden, and they have a real opportunity to do it with Louis if he's on the board in the third round.
Round 4: Brenen Thompson, WR, Mississippi State
The Chargers shouldn't draft a wide receiver in the first two days of the NFL Draft. However, if Brenen Thompson is on the board with the No. 123 pick, the Chargers may not be able to resist his top-tier athleticism.
It's hard not to daydream about what Thompson could do in a Mike McDaniel offense, even if he plays a small role right away. Thompson's 4.26 40-yard dash time instantly makes him the quickest player in the Chargers' receiver room and coupled with Keaton Mitchell, can have McDaniel's Chargers looking like McDaniel's Dolphins.
Thompson's biggest selling point is his speed and that could lead a team to pick him in the late third or early fourth round. However, with so much wideout talent ahead of him in the draft, there is a world in which he slips 15-20 spots further than anyone expected, giving the Chargers a fun new weapon.
Round 6: Albert Regis, DT, Texas A&M
Let's be honest, a sixth-round pick usually won't make or break a draft class unless you land yourself Tom Brady. The Chargers aren't looking for a quarterback, so this selection could really be anyone who is projected to go in the 180-210 range.
Texas A&M defensive tackle Albert Regis is the kind of productive player who would make a good sixth-round pick. He's not going to be a world-beater and the holes in his pass-rush moves may keep him from ever being an every-down defensive tackle in the NFL.
However, he's experienced, he's older, and he knows how to stop the run. Regis could theoretically step up right away and play early downs for the Chargers with the potential of blossoming into something more down the line.