Grading every pick the LA Chargers made in the 2023 NFL Draft

The 2023 NFL Draft is officially in the books! After months of speculation and unclarity about who the LA Chargers were going to draft, the team managed to surprise fans with several selections. The hope now is that these picks can blossom into true contributors for the team in 2023 and beyond.

Not every pick in the 2023 NFL Draft is going to end up working out and with some players, it may take time. Some drafted players may not offer much in year one but will blossom in years two, three and four. It is important to take a long-term outlook when valuing these picks.

With all of that in mind, here are our grades for every pick that the Chargers made in the 2023 NFL Draft, both with the best-case and worst-case scenario for each prospect.

Grading every pick the LA Chargers made in the 2023 NFL Draft:

Chargers draft grade for Quentin Johnston: B

Quentin Johnston was a surprising name for the Chargers to call with the 21st overall pick as he was not someone who fans were mocking to the Chargers. There is a lot to love about Davis but he truly is one of the biggest boom-or-bust prospect in the late first round.

It is really easy to fall in love with Johnston's blend of size and speed. It is rare to get a six-foot-three receiver that can run and explode like Johnston. That being said, he doesn't really use his size like most receivers would, as he is not someone who thrives in making contested catches.

Instead, Johnston's biggest value will come via what he can add in his yards after catch. That is what the Chargers will lean into in year one as he develops his game.

I personally liked Zay Flowers more, but I at least see the vision with Johnston.

Best-case scenario: Johnston solves his drop problems, becomes better at making contested catches and turns into a legitimate WR1 option later in his career. He will be replacing Mike Williams and Keenan Allen and in the best-case scenario, he would blossom to become a true no. 1 weapon for Justin Herbert.

Worst-case scenario: Johnston cannot overcome his drop issues and does not develop into someone who can make contested catches. He is not the most refined route-runner, either, and if he does not grow then he could get smothered by defensive backs at the line of scrimmage and that will completely negate his game, keeping him from ever being a top-3 WR in the NFL.

As a reminder with Johnston (and all of these prospects), what actually happens in reality can be somewhere between the best-case and worst-case scenario. These are merely the two ends of the spectrum.

Chargers draft grade for Tuli Tuipulotu: A-

The Bolts drafted a hometown prospect from USC that makes a lot of sense both for what the team needs in 2023 and what the team needs beyond 2023.

Los Angeles desperately needed more edge-rushing depth and Tuipulotu provides just that. He is not going to start right away in LA but as a third edge rusher with his power and bull-rushing techinque he can have a lot of success in a rotational role for the Bolts.

Better yet, Tuipulotu showcased the ability to kick inside and he can absolutely play defensive end in a 3-4 defense. He probably isn't someone you want playing inside on running downs but on dedicated passing downs, the Chargers can have Tuipulotu, Joey Bosa, Khalil Mack and Morgan Fox all on the field at the same time.

Tuipulotu did have a missed tackle problem and that might hurt his production in the running game early on but that can be worked on with NFL coaching as he is just a rotation player in year one. While those missed tackles are concerning, his 2022 stats with USC are also incredibly exciting.

Best-case scenario: Tuipulotu proves that he can play full-time on the edge and replaces Khalil Mack after the 2023 season. He may never be a Mack or Bosa-type of player, but in a perfect world, he becomes a full-time edge rusher with Pro Bowl potential. His versatility could continue to be leaned on as well.

Worst-case scenario: Tuipulotu proves that he is a tweener in the NFL with no real position. Thus, he can never develop into a starting-caliber player as he cannot start full-time on the edge or on the inside. If his missed tackles continue to be a problem, it could play him out of the rotation without a set position.

Chargers draft grade for Daiyan Henley: C+

Daiyan Henley is a prospect that is easy to fall in love with and in typical draft fashion, a lot of Chargers fans quickly talked themselves into Henley when he was selected in the third round. That happens with every single pick and every single fanbase, though. We all want these players to succeed so we talk ourselves into the best possible scenario.

The Henley selection also made a lot more sense when it was revealed later in the night that the team would not be picking up Kenneth Murray's fifth-year option. That was expected, but the confirmation from the team justified why they took a linebacker in the third round.

Murray is likely going to leave after the 2023 season and there is a good chance that Eric Kendricks is just a one-year option. Thus, the Chargers needed someone to step in and play after 2023 so it makes sense to draft someone now that can learn the defense before becoming a starter in 2024.

While it all makes sense, the Chargers' flawed roster building and long-term planning at the linebacker position don't make the pick better. That doesn't make it a bad pick, but just because they put themselves in a corner at linebacker doesn't mean that reaching for a linebacker (in terms of positional value) is suddenly a better move.

Henley is the typical Tom Telesco linebacker. He is very athletic and has a point-and-shoot trigger that could become very valuable at the NFL level. However, as we have learned with Murray, that does not guarantee success. Henley has similar concerns with his play recognition and ability in pass coverage that Murray had. It will be up to the Chargers to coach him up.

Best-case scenario: NFL coaching elevates Henley's play recognition skills and ability in pass coverage. He develops into a true three-down linebacker that is especially valuable in run defense with his athleticism and ability to fire at ball carriers.

Worst-case scenario: Henley's struggles in play recognition and pass coverage continue and he ends up being a very athletic linebacker that has moments of really productive play, but his mistakes outweigh the athleticism (similar to Murray).

Chargers draft grade for Derius Davis: B

The Chargers drafted a second TCU wide receiver in the fourth round of the 2023 NFL Draft, taking Derius Davis with the team's first pick on day three of the draft. This was a surprising name to hear in round four as Davis was expected to go later pre-draft. But as we are often reminded, the late rounds of the NFL Draft can be a crapshoot.

Certain players will fall and go a round or two later than draft analysts expected while other players will be considered "reaches" if a team takes them a round or two earlier than expected. If a team loves a prospect then they will simply take them, period. That seems to be the case here with Davis.

Could the Chargers have waited a round to take Davis in the fifth (he was projected to be a seventh-round pick before the draft)? Maybe. But if the team would have gotten cute, waited to pick him and then ended up losing him they would have gotten more backlash than just picking him a bit early on day three.

The Chargers needed a returner and they got one of the best in the entire draft in Davis. Davis is instantly going to have a prominent role on this team as the main returner in Ryan Ficken's special teams. He is limited offensively and Chargers fans shouldn't expect much of anything out of him in year one in that regard, but he could develop.

Best-case scenario: Davis not only becomes one of the best returners in the draft but blossoms into someone that can comfortably play in the slot in the future. It might take 2-3 years, but Davis could be a prominent weapon in the slot because of his speed and explosiveness.

Worst-case scenario: Davis never develops the offense skillset to play in the slot and the jump the NFL limits his ability as a returner.

Chargers draft grade for Jordan McFadden: A

It didn't seem like it was going to happen but Jordan McFadden usurped Tuipulotu as our favorite selection that the Chargers made in the 2023 NFL Draft. Fifth-round picks might not be the most exciting, especially when they are offensive linemen, but there is a lot to get excited about here.

As good as the Chargers' starting offensive line is, the team needed depth and desperately needed a swing tackle that can play in case of emergency. Nothing against Foster Sarell but he cannot be the team's only swing tackle option in 2023.

The Chargers drafted their swing tackle in Jordan McFadden, who has similarities with Jamaree Slayer from last year. Salyer was an extremely polished offensive lineman from a great program that fell in the draft because of his size and teams not exactly knowing if he could play tackle or guard.

That is the same boat McFadden is in. He is a very polished offensive lineman who some teams might not expect to play tackle because of his size. However, like Salyer proved last year, having great technique can be enough and sometimes all a team needs to do is not overthink it and take the polished lineman.

Best-case scenario: Jordan McFadden proves to be a valuable, versatile offensive lineman that can rise to the occasion like Salyer did last year. We hope injuries don't happen but they inevitably do in the NFL.

Worst-case scenario: McFadden never truly gets a chance to hone in on one position and is unable to elevate his game and become more than an emergency option because of it.

Chargers draft grade for Scott Matlock: C

The Chargers selected defensive lineman Scott Matlock in the sixth round. Matlock isn't someone who is going to have a massively high ceiling in the NFL as he is limited athletically. However, he is technically-sound and that gives him a moderate floor.

It is hard to really go on either extreme with this selection. Matlock could definitely reach his best-case scenario and turn into an A but it would be a bit biased to call it that right now as he projects to be a rotational defensive lineman.

Best-case scenario: Scott Matlock proves to be a three-down interior defensive lineman that can succeed against both the run and the pass. He may never be a Pro Bowler, but a three-day lieman becoming an every-down lineman is solid.

Worst-case scenario: Matlock's athleticism limits him in the NFL and he can never become a consistent member of the defensive line rotation. Doesn't make it through his rookie deal.

Chargers draft grade for Max Duggan: F

The Chargers intentionally only carried five receivers last year because they carried three quarterbacks and it instantly came back to bite them. Despite re-signing Easton Stick, the Bolts decided they still wanted a third quarterback, drafting Max Duggan.

Some argue that "it's just a seventh-round pick, it doesn't matter much" but that is a lazy excuse. The team drafted a quarterback in the same draft where it didn't draft a single tight end, running back or defensive back.

If they like Duggan then great, don't re-sign Stick. It looks likely that the Bolts will carry three QBs again and for what reason? We are not really sure.

Best-case scenario: Max Duggan is a multi-year backup who maybe saves a game or two if Justin Herbert gets hurt.

Worst-case scenario: The Chargers continue carrying three quarterbacks, intentionally leaving another position on the depth chart thin and that position gets exposed depth-wise due to injuries during the season.