Austin Ekeler blockbuster and 3 other trades Chargers can't refuse in 2023 NFL Draft

3. Chargers trade down, stay in the first round

• The trade: 21st overall pick to Kansas City Chiefs for 31st overall pick, 95th overall pick, 122nd overall pick

There are a lot of Chargers fans who are not keen on the idea of trading down with the Kansas City Chiefs. The Chiefs have been circled as a team that may move up in the draft and Patrick Mahomes' recent workout with Zay Flowers may have given the league an idea on who they will try and trade up for.

The 21st overall pick represents a crossroads for the Chiefs as it is not too high where they would be paying a high premium but it would still allow them to jump teams like the Baltimore Ravens who could take Flowers instead.

Sure, helping a division rival accomplish their goal may not seem like the most exciting thing as a fan. But Tom Telesco and Brandon Staley are only concerned about how they can make the Chargers a better football team. You don't refuse to make a move that makes the team better just because it involves a division rival. That is a losing mindset.

The Chargers would be getting the better value out of this trade and it is actually almost identical to the package the Chiefs traded to the New England Patriots in last year's draft for the exact same pick.

Los Angeles can get a similar (or the same) prospect 10 picks later, would be getting another top-100 pick and would be getting a fourth-round pick. Saying no to that just because it is the Chiefs, especially if it is the only trade available, is silly.