The 2023 season has unofficially been over for weeks for the LA Chargers with the focus directly turned on the future of the franchise. The most immediate storyline is around the team's head coaching search and whether or not Jim Harbaugh makes the leap to the NFL. Then, the attention will be turned to the 2024 NFL Draft.
As the 2023 season continues we are starting to get an idea of where the Chargers might be in the draft order. As it stands right now, the Chargers have the sixth overall pick in the draft and as long as the team continues to lose, that spot is locked in.
With that in mind, we hopped over to Pro Football Network's Mock Draft Simulator to compile what a full seven-round draft might look like for the Bolts. This mock draft is significant, as it is our first full mock draft of the season.
Chargers mock draft, pick 6: Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia
There are two players that should be considered with the sixth overall pick and two players only. Tight end Brock Bowers, and wide receiver Malik Nabers. Tight end is a bigger need for the Chargers, but Nabers is just that good where his talent can transcend the need.
In this particular mock, Nabers was off the board so the Bolts turned to Bowers instead. This would still be a great pick as Bowers might just be the most well-rounded tight end to come out of college in recent years. That includes last year's loaded tight-end class and the Kyle Pitts phenomenon from 2021.
Adding a dual-threat tight end who can be a pass-catcher and instantly help the blocking in the room would be huge for the Bolts. The only other need that is as pressing is cornerback, but there is not a prospect at cornerback that is worth picking over Bowers. Tackle should completely be off the table, which makes this selection fairly easy for the Bolts.
Chargers mock draft, pick 37: Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toledo
Quinyon Mitchell is someone who is getting a lot of buzz as an early second-round prospect in the draft cycle. By the time we go through the combine and the interview process, it would not be surprising if Mitchell works his way into being a first-round pick.
For the time being, though, Mitchell finds himself as an early second-round pick and he is someone who the Chargers should pounce over if he is available. This team desperately needs cornerback help and Mitchell is someone who can come in and instantly make an impact.
Mitchell doesn't have the same lock-down CB1 potential that the early-first-round cornerbacks have but he does have a different ceiling. Mitchell is a ballhawk and paired with Asante Samuel Jr, Mitchell could create many turnovers for the Bolts in the right system.
Unlike Samuel, Mitchell shouldn't be a headache in the run game. Everything he has shown in college indicates that he will be an average tackler at worst. As he continues to bulk up, he could turn into a solid run defender at the corner position as well.
The Chargers' cornerback room in 2024 consists of Samuel, Deane Leonard, and Ja'Sir Taylor. It is imperative that the team brings in an early-round corner to help supplement that room and give the new defensive coordinator a fighting chance of putting together a strong defense.
Chargers mock draft, pick 71: Johnny Wilson, WR, Florida State
Here is your Mike Williams replacement. As it stands right now, Wilson is projected to be a late third-round or even early fourth-round pick. But as we have seen time and time again, pre-draft projections are thrown out the window in the middle rounds. If a team likes someone, they will "reach" to get him. That is what the Bolts did last year with Derius Davis.
Plus, Wilson is a prime candidate to move up the draft board as the process goes along. The six-foot-seven — yes, you read that correctly — receiver can only benefit from the NFL Combine. If Wilson comes in faster than expected (he definitely isn't slow) then teams are going to fall in love with his physical traits.
There are areas of Wilson's game that need work, hence why he is a mid-round prospect, not a top prospect. His route tree is fairly limited and he will likely fail to create much separation on his own at the NFL level.
However, on the flip side, Wilson is six-foot-seven and has learned to play into that frame. Wilson is one of the best contested-catch receivers in college football and he would replace that Williams dynamic in the Chargers offense. He would instantly be a red-zone threat for the Bolts and is someone whom Justin Herbert could be comfortable throwing the deep ball to.
He may never blossom into a true WR1, but he would round out next year's room nicely. The Chargers would have the veteran who can still get open (Keenan Allen, assuming he stays), a complementary WR2 who is really good when healthy (Joshua Palmer), a short-yardage YAC option that will hopefully be used properly (Quentin Johnston) and a jump-ball contested-catch machine that can thrive inside the 20 (Wilson).
It might not be Malik Nabers but that is not a bad outlook for the 2024 season, especially when you throw Brock Bowers into the mix.
Chargers mock draft pick 102: Blake Corum, RB, Michigan
This is a Jim Harbaugh pick. But even if Harbaugh is not in the equation, it makes a lot of sense for the Bolts to draft Blake Corum in the middle rounds of the 2024 NFL Draft. Corum is probably the closest thing the Chargers can get to an Austin Ekeler-style running back and that is key for rebuilding the room in 2024.
Both Ekeler and Joshua Kelley are free agents after the 2023 season and the Chargers are going to have to patch together the room. The most reasonable way to do that would be to give Isaiah Spiller a bigger role, draft someone like Corum, and sign a complementary veteran running back for cheap. Someone like D'Onta Foreman would make a lot of sense for the Chargers if he is cheap (he should be).
If Corum can make an impact in year one, which all signs say that he can, then a running back room of Foreman, Corum and Spiller suddenly does not look that bad. It will be by committee but in today's NFL, that is perfectly fine.
Chargers mock draft pick 133: Seth McLaughlin, C, Alabama
Full transparency: McLaughlin isn't in the Pro Football Network database yet as he has not officially declared for the draft. However, all signs are pointing to him declaring and this is right around where he would be taken. McLaughlin ranks 129th on Pro Football Focus' big board and is the fourth-ranked center.
It is hard to project whether or not the Chargers will need a starting center as Corey Linsley's future is unknown. Either way, the Bolts should prepare to replace Linsley full-time whether it be in 2024 or after his contract expires if he can return and play. That doesn't require a first-round pick, however, as a lot of great centers are taken in the middle rounds (Linsley himself was taken in the fifth round).
McLaughlin has had some hiccups transitioning to center but in his roots, he is a strong, bulldozing prospect who can thrive physically at the position. With Linsley still in the equation to coach him up (whether he is playing or not), he has the tools to take over the reins.
Chargers mock draft pick 167: Ben Bywater, LB, BYU
At this point in the mock draft, we are looking at positional needs more so than the specific players. There is so much time for the late rounds of the draft to be jumbled and at the end of the day, selections this late in the draft are complete crapshoots. Heck, the Chargers took Max Duggan only to cut him before the season in 2023.
One of the Chargers' day three selections has to be at the linebacker position. Kenneth Murray is a free agent (and hasn't had the breakout year fans hoped for) and Eric Kendricks is an obvious cap casualty.
Los Angeles will likely have to sign a cheap veteran to start but the team needs to build the depth of the room while also adding someone who can take over Daiyan Henley's special teams responsibilities.
Chargers mock draft pick 198: Justin Eboigbe, DL, Alabama
Once again, this selection is about the position and not necessarily the player. The Chargers are going to need to add defensive line depth in the draft while also looking to find someone who can add something on special teams.
Eboigbe specifically is an intriguing prospect, though, as he is kind of a tweener who is in between positions. He is naturally talented but the fact that he does not have a clear-cut role in the NFL has hurt his draft stock.
Because of this, the Chargers might be able to get someone with a fourth or fifth-round talent in the seventh round. If the defensive lineman from Alabama is available in the seventh round he would be a strong selection by the Bolts.