The big wave of NFL free agency is officially over and while the LA Chargers still have spending space to bring in more external free agents, fans have a better idea of what the team might look to do in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Using NFL Mock Draft Database's mock draft simulator, we decided to piece together a full seven-round Chargers mock draft following the team's activity in free agency. Better yet, we also executed a trade-down in the draft to pick up extra capital, as that is something that Tom Telesco himself has hinted at.
7-round Chargers mock draft following free agency moves:
Trade: Chargers trade pick 21 to New Orleans Saints for pick 29, 71 and 165
With the 29th pick, the LA Chargers select Will McDonald IV, EDGE, Iowa State
With Nolan Smith, Lukas Van Ness and Bijan Robinson all off the board in this specific Chargers mock draft, we decided to accept the proposed trade offer from the Saints to move down eight picks in order to pick up some extra draft capital.
With that pick, the Chargers select an extremely promising edge rusher, Will McDonald IV. McDonald is expected to be an early-second-round pick at worse and by securing him in the first round, the Bolts would be getting the benefit of his fifth-year rookie option.
LA needs to prepare for life without Khalil Mack as this is likely his last year on the team and the best way to do so is early in the 2023 NFL Draft. This will not only bring a player who can get snaps as a rotational player but will get the 2024 starter in the building to develop already.
McDonald is a bit of a work in progress but his size, fluidity and athleticism make him a natural fit as an outside linebacker in Brandon Staley's 3-4 defense. With a year under Mack and Bosa, McDonald should develop nicely to his full potential.
With the 54th pick, the LA Chargers select Devon Achane, RB, Texas A&M
Perhaps the biggest storyline currently hanging over the LA Chargers is what the team is going to do with Austin Ekeler. Ekeler requested permission to seek out a trade, was granted said permission and has been working toward getting paid what he feels is fair.
While Ekeler has been underpaid compared to his production over the last few years, he is the one that signed a new deal earlier than he had to. Now, the running back market has completely taken a hit and at 28 years old, Ekeler is going to be hard-pressed to find a team that pays him what he wants on a new deal.
Regardless of whether Ekeler stays or leaves, drafting a running back this early might be in the cards. Ekeler struggled in running between the tackles last season and even if he stays, getting a running back with a high ceiling could be the best route.
The team reaches a bit here in the second round for Devon Achane, who is predicted to be an early third-round pick, but they do so because of his athleticism and ability to contribute both in the running game and passing game.
Achane is probably the best comparison to Ekeler in this draft class and if Ekeler does leave, the Chargers could bring Achane in to be an Ekeler replacement. Joshua Kelley and Isaiah Spiller (if he is even NFL-ready) can make up the rest of the running back rotation.
With the 71st pick, the LA Chargers select Tyler Scott, WR, Cincinnati
Here is the speed receiver that Chargers fans have been asking for. A lot of fans want to see the Chargers take a receiver in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft but that does not seem likely with the team committing so much money to Keenan Allen and Mike Williams.
Telesco has told fans to our faces that he believes in the top three WRs on the depth chart and we have no reason not to believe him. Instead of a first-round receiver, the Chargers get the rich man's version of Jalen Guyton in Scott to be the WR4 in year one.
Then, as things go on, he can jump into a larger role in 2024 and the Chargers can draft a wide out early to replace whoever leaves after 2023.
With the 85th pick, the LA Chargers select D.J. Turner, CB, Michigan
It is unclear how long it is going to take until J.C. Jackson can return from injury but fans should expect it to happen later rather than sooner. With Jackson out, the team could benefit from replacing Bryce Callahan in the secondary with someone who can play in the slot.
The team gets that in D.J. Turner. Turner is extremely gifted athletically with his speed and coverage abilities with the only knock on his game being his size. However, as a slot corner or nickel corner, he could more than prove his value to this Chargers' defense in year one.
Turner is exactly the kind of cornerback that Brandon Staley loves to get his hands on and with an extra pick in the third round, taking him becomes much easier to justify.
With the 125th pick, the LA Chargers select Colby Wooden, IDL, Auburn
Colby Wooden was born to be a 3-4 defensive end at the NFL level. While he likely is not going to get starting reps in year one, he is someone who projects to be an every-down defensive lineman with the ability to stop the run and also get to the quarterback.
Early on, it will be Wooden's ability to help stop the run that gets him playing time but he is not an interior defensive lineman who can only stop the run. It will take some time, but with proper NFL coaching Wooden can build on his strong foundation as a pass rusher and turn into a key part of the defensive line.
He may not be someone who jumps out and makes Pro Bowls as he won't be a sack specialist but finding a defensive lineman who can play all three downs this late in the draft is a big win.
With the 156 pick, the LA Chargers select Ryan Hayes, OT, Michigan
The Chargers need offensive line depth and they get that here in the fifth round with Ryan Hayes. Hayes is my favorite type of offensive line prospect to target late in the draft and he is similar to Jamaree Salyer in this regard.
Hayes is someone who has started multiple years for Michigan and has been really great in the process. In theory, it would seem like a six-seven tackle from a marquee program who has played well would go earlier in the draft.
However, there are concerns about his arm length and how that could kick him inside, limiting his draft stock in the process. Hayes is someone who has proven he can play outside against the best of the best and could probably make the move inside if needed.
Getting someone who can do both as the bench version of Salyer would deepen the offensive line room altogether.
With the 165h pick, the LA Chargers select Owen Pappoe, LB, Auburn
From a stylistic standpoint, Owen Pappoe is someone who the Chargers can draft to replace Drue Tranquill. It is not going to happen right away as Pappoe will be limited to rotational snaps and special teams but he has a very similar makeup to Tranquill in what he is good at.
Pappoe is at his best when he is either in pass coverage or when his athleticism is utilized as a blitzer. Sound familiar? He is not the typical run-stuffing, hard-nosed linebacker and that is fine. Pappoe would have a place to succeed in Staley's defense, as we saw this year with Tranquill.
With the 200th pick, the LA Chargers select Jonathan Mingo, WR, Mississippi
Unless the team plans on signing a wide receiver before (or after) the draft, two receivers should be drafted. As it stands right now, the Chargers only have three NFL-caliber receiver on the depth chart and that needs to change.
Mingo seems right up the Chargers' alley when it comes to a late-round receiver prospect. His traits do not jump off the page but he is a sound wide receiver with strong technique, route-running and run-blocking.
With the 239th pick, the LA Chargers select Jason Taylor II, S, Oklahoma State
Jason Taylor II is not the son of former NFL defensive lineman Jason Taylor but he could make the league and look to make half of the mark that the latter did. Options are limited in the seventh round but Taylor is the kind of selection the Chargers should look to make.
Taylor is a point-and-shoot style of safety that might struggle in more complex schemes but can be utilized as a blitzing piece if needed early on. In simple man-on-man coverage, Taylor's athleticism should be good enough.
But that is not what the Chargers would even be drafting him for as he would not be playing defense in his rookie year. Instead, his athleticism and hard-hitting nature makes him a really exciting special teams prospect for Ryan Ficken to get his hands on.