An unbelievable offseason so far for the Chargers is beginning to set up for an exciting 2022 season. Re-signing Mike Williams along with free agent moves of trading for Khalil Mack, and the signing of star cornerback J.C. Jackson were three substantial moves.
On top of these, the two signings of former New York Giant Austin Johnson and former LA Ram Sebastian Joseph-Day helps immensely in the ability to stop the run. Lots of moves have been made so far, and Telesco appears to be poised to keep this going throughout the offseason.
There are lots of ways that the LA Chargers could go with in this year's draft, whether it is to continue to protect Justin Herbert by boosting the right side of the offensive line, or take a defensive tackle to complete the defensive line.
If the LA Chargers go the defensive line route, there is one player that stands out from the rest:
1. Jordan Davis - Defensive Tackle - Georgia
An immovable force at 6'6 and 341 pounds, Jordan Davis would be an incredible fit for a team like the Chargers who have had a history of struggling to stop the run. Running a 4.78 40 yard dash and a broad jump of a little over 10 feet for a man of his size is unheard of in today's game.
341 pound Jordan Davis just ran a 4.8 40-yard dash
— Barstool Sportsbook (@BSSportsbook) March 5, 2022
pic.twitter.com/jM7jYneBMF
During the NFL combine, the former Georgia interior lineman caught the eye of many NFL teams. Having superstars Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack on the outside will allow a man of Jordan Davis' size to power through the middle of the line and cause havoc.
Although his stats in college do not stand out from a numbers standpoint and show how dominant he truly was, his presence alone on a defensive line will create a lot of mismatches and cause discomfort for any offensive line unit.
Even with the two signings of Johnson and Joseph-Day, Jordan Davis' body type and consistent improvement as his college career continued shows that he will continue to improve and ultimately continue to create panic throughout the league.
Fixing the offensive line is also a priority, and there are many options for the LA Chargers:
1. Trevor Penning - Offensive Tackle - Northern Iowa
The 6'7 tackle from Northern Iowa has been showing up on multiple mock drafts as being a mid-first-round draft pick, and outside of the top three offensive tackles (who are all projected top ten), Penning is the next up. He had a stellar career for the Panthers, starting all 12 of his games in his senior year as an offensive tackle.
Penning's most impressive skill as an offensive lineman is his sheer strength. Not many edge rushers are going to be able to bull rush him, and his aggressiveness could easily put lots of rushers to the ground. His aggressiveness is nothing to be overlooked, however being too aggressive at points could result in him getting holding calls. Those kinks in his game will be fixed with the proper coaching and will be able to be just as aggressive without the calls.
Primarily playing his games at left tackle, due to his incredible football IQ and explosively athletic ability, he would have no problem shifting to right tackle and logging similar success. Having Trevor Penning and pro bowler Rashawn Slater on both sides of the offensive line will allow for Justin Herbert to be very well protected for years to come.
2. Kenyon Green - Offensive Guard - Texas A&M
Since the beginning of the 2021 season, Kenyon Green has been ready to make an immediate impact on an NFL offensive line. Having only allowed one sack in the 2021 season, including only three pressures in the last seven games in the season, according to Pro Football Focus, he was very successful at protecting his quarterback. Playing well against stout defensive lines such as Alabama and Auburn this season proves he is ready to take his skills to the next level.
His versatility is one of the more attractive points of Kenyon Green's game. In the 2021 season, he lined up as a left tackle, left guard, right tackle, and right guard. This shows that regardless of players on an offensive line unit getting injured, Green can step up and make his presence known. Versatility is key in a position group that so regularly gets injured, and with Oday Aboushi coming off an injury and his future unknown, taking Green with the 17th pick (or even trading down a couple of picks) would be a worthwhile investment.
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At the 17th pick, the Chargers are in an interesting position and if the draft is anything like how the offseason has been going so far, fans should be excited for what is in store in the 2022 NFL Draft.