3 huge surprises the Chargers could pull off during 2023 NFL Draft

The 2023 NFL Draft is an extremely compelling one for the LA Chargers. Unlike previous years, the Chargers do not have a pressing need in the draft and that lends the draft itself to being more unpredictable.

Instead of drafting to fill a massive roster hole, the Chargers are instead drafting for depth and that could eventually progress into being a huge player for the team. With this mindset, and having a late first-round pick in a draft that is not that deep in elite talent, things are bound to get interesting.

There is a good chance that the Bolts could surprise us all on draft night itself. Perhaps we can ruin the surprise with some predictions.

3 surprises the Chargers could pull off during the 2023 NFL Draft:

1. Trading Austin Ekeler on draft night

There have not been any new updates to the Austin Ekeler situation. It is clear that Ekeler views himself as underpaid while the Chargers don't want to commit more money to a running back that is about to hit 30 when the market is already down. Both sides are right in their thinking.

Ekeler is going to prefer a trade to a team that wants to sign him to an extension but he does not have any say in where he ultimately goes. Ekeler does not have a no-trade clause, so if the Chargers want to trade him to a team that is fine taking him on as a one-year rental then he is going to have to live with that.

There is a world in which a Bijan Robinson-hungry team does not land him but wants an impact maker at the running back position and drafts for Ekeler on draft night. We saw Hollywood Brown get traded during the first round last year and seeing an Ekeler trade for a day-two selection is not out of the realm of possibility in the slightest, as surprising as it may be.