7-round Chargers mock draft with a first-round tight end selected

With the 54th pick, the Chargers select Derick Hall, EDGE, Auburn

The Chargers likely need to take an edge rusher in the first two rounds of the 2023 NFL Draft. This is probably going to be Khalil Mack's last year with the Chargers and getting his replacement in-house now is the best thing the team can do.

Sure, they could simply wait a year and draft his replacement in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft but it is impossible to know what kind of prospects will be there when the Chargers are on the clock. Plus, they would then be trusting in a rookie (hopefully outside of the top 25) to carry big responsibility in year one.

Or they could draft someone this year who can provide much-needed depth in the pass-rushing department this season that will then have a full year of experience under their belt before replacing Mack as the starting edge rusher. That sounds like a much better plan.

Derick Hall is arguably the best second-round edge rusher the Chargers could land in the draft. He already projects to be a solid run defender at the next level and his explosiveness in the pass rush gives him a really high ceiling with the right coaching and system.

This is someone who could rotate and provide snaps on any given down in any given situation because of his ability in both aspects of the game. Sure, he may not be as polished as a pass rusher as those in the first round but his ceiling feels equally as high.