Chargers draft Scott Matlock in round six: What fans need to know
By Jason Reed
With the 200th overall pick in the sixth round of the 2023 NFL Draft the LA Chargers selected Boise State defensive lineman Scott Matlock. Matlock became the second player on the defensive line that the Chargers drafted after taking Tuli Tuipulotu in the second round.
Matlock is far from a household name and even the most keen film watchers might not know much about his game. Thanks to our friends within the FanSided network (shoutout Mike Luciano), we are here to share what fans can expect out of Matlock.
Chargers draft Scott Matlock, everything you need to know:
The ceiling of someone selected in the sixth round of the NFL Draft is naturally limited and that is the case with Scott Matlock. Instead of taking someone who might have boom or bust potential, the Chargers instead took someone who might be limited athletically but is sound with his techinque.
Matlock may never have that high of a ceiling in the NFL but if the Chargers were simply looking for a rotational defensive lineman who can maybe develop into a starter one day then they found their guy with Matlock.
As Luciano told us, "the more inside the better" with Matlock. So while he could play alongside Sebastian Joseph-Day as a 3-4 defensive end, we might end up seeing Matlock be the team's traditional nose tackle backup.
Los Angeles didn't really have this on the roster after Breiden Fehoko left for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Austin Johnson can play nose tackle but he is also versatile and brings more value as a 3-4 defensive end.
We may not see Matlock get many snaps in his rookie year but it is better to have him in the building rather than having to rely on mid-season practice squad signings. In front of him in the defensive line rotation is SJD, Johnson, Morgan Fox, Otito Ogbonnia and potentially even Tulituipulotu, who can play inside as well as on the edge.
Most of Matlock's value is going to come on rushing downs as well. His ceiling as a pass-rusher is naturally limited and that will cause him to only get snaps on rushing downs in his rookie season as part of the rotation.