The LA Chargers' offseason is really starting to kick into gear. Mike McDaniel is almost certainly going to take the offensive coordinator job, giving the Chargers someone who should get the absolute most out of Justin Herbert.
McDaniel alone isn't enough to turn around the porous offensive effort from 2026. It will also take smart drafting to give McDaniel's offense the pieces it needs to be successful next season.
That is exactly what the Chargers did in the first round of our latest three-round mock draft.
Chargers 3-round mock draft:
Round 1, pick 22: Olaivavega Ioane, G, Penn State
This would be nothing short of a home run for the Chargers. Olaivavega Ioane is considered by many to be the best interior offensive lineman in this draft class and would provide an immediate boost to an offensive line that desperately needs it.
There aren't many glaring roster holes worthy of a first-round pick and some of those holes will naturally be filled in free agency. Guard is one of the trickier spots to land an established talent who will be consistent. Just look at Mekhi Becton.
For that reason, it makes all the sense in the world for the Chargers to prioritize someone who would come in and instantly be an above-average guard at the NFL level. The real question is whether or not Ioane can actually fall all the way to the No. 22 pick.
Round 2, pick 55: Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo
With or without Jesse Minter, the Chargers are going to pick the best player available most times in the NFL Draft. And while safety doesn't jump off the page as a huge need, Emmanuel McNeil-Warren is a special prospect who would be a steal in the second round.
A big, physical safety, McNeil-Warren has a bit of Derwin James in his game in that he can play around the defense, particularly in the slot. This makes him incredibly valuable in a safety room that feeds off versatility. That is what has made James so successful and Chargers fans have seen that to a lesser extent with Elijah Molden.
Plus, the team will need some safety depth heading into next year. Tony Jefferson is a free agent and who knows what his future holds. R.J. Mickens is an exciting second-year player, but the Chargers won't bank solely on that. With James playing in the nickel, there is an avenue for the Chargers to take the best player available here even if safety isn't the first position fans would think of.
Round 3, pick 86: Ahmad Moten Sr., DL, Miami
The Chargers go back to the trenches here with Miami defensive lineman Ahmad Moten Sr. The defensive line has been a strength of the Chargers in recent years and the team has every reason to continue investing in it in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Teair Tart is a free agent and while he was one of the most important players on the Chargers' defense, the team proved with Poona Ford last year that it won't overspend for a defensive tackle. Jamaree Caldwell has potential but hasn't quite emerged as a massive game-changer, and the rest of the line was patched up with Otitio Ogbonnia and some rentals.
It makes all the sense in the world to inject more youth into that room and Moten Sr. is an exciting candidate to do that. The Miami defensive tackle recorded nine sacks in 14 games this season to go with solid efforts in defending the run.