Chargers now have new 2024 draft target thanks to NaVorro Bowman

The Chargers have made it a priority to surround Jim Harbaugh with coaches and players who he is familiar with as he looks to change the culture of the franchise. One of the coaches with previous ties to Harbaugh that the team brought in was NaVorro Bowman. Bowman played linebacker for Harbaugh on the San Francisco 49ers and will now coach linebackers for the Chargers.

Linebacker is a big area of need for the Chargers as there is only one linebacker on the depth chart with legitimate starting experience. Denzel Daiyan Henley, Nick Niemann and Troy Dye make up the entire linebacker room heading into the 2024 season.

The Chargers are definitely going to add a linebacker in the 2024 NFL Draft and Bowman all but confirmed that with his latest post to Instagram. Bowman shared that he was at the University of Texas on Wednesday as he looks to find the next great linebacker.

Jaylan Ford could be Chargers' draft target after NaVorro Bowman's post

The only linebacker of notice that is coming out of the University of Texas is Jaylan Ford, who Pro Football Focus ranks as the 218th-best prospect in the draft class. As far as linebackers go, Ford checks in as the 12th-best linebacker on PFF's board.

Ford is someone who we have mocked to the Chargers here before at Bolt Beat and it is not hard to see why the Chargers would potentially fall in love with drafting him on day three. Ford does not have the most impressive physical traits in the draft but there are very few linebackers in the draft class that have as much experience starting as he did for Texas.

From a schematic standpoint, Ford could make a lot of sense next to Perryman and Henley as the coverage linebacker of the group. Ford is by no means an elite pass-coverage linebacker but he did showcase an ability to take the football away with six interceptions in his last two seasons with Texas.

If the Chargers believe in Henley and expect him to play a lion's share of the snaps then waiting to take someone like Ford until day three is probably the right move. However, if there are concerns around Henley, then fans will likely see the Chargers take a linebacker much sooner than when Ford is projected to go.

Harbaugh could very well double-down at linebacker but with an additional pick in the fourth round, it seems likely that the team will take a linebacker in the third or fourth round. And while Ford has promising aspects of his game, he should not be taken that early.