Full Chargers mock draft after Saints and Eagles shuffle draft picks
By Jason Reed
With the 123rd overall pick in this LA Chargers mock draft, select Phidarian Mathis, DT, Alabama
One of the reasons why I have personally pivoted away from the LA Chargers taking a defensive tackle, whether it is Jordan Davis or Devonte Wyatt, is Phidarian Mathis. I dove deeper into Mathis's film at Alabama last season and the Chargers could get a truly impactful interior defensive lineman in the fourth round.
No, Mathis is not going to be the run-stuffing freak that Davis is going to be in the NFL and he does not have the massively high ceiling of Wyatt. But when it comes to being a quality 3-tech that can actually play every down, Mathis is a solid option.
Mathis is made to be a 3-tech in a 3-4 defense and he would be the perfect final piece in the defensive line puzzle that the Chargers are building this offseason. Sebastian Joseph-Day is going to primarily play nose tackle with Austin Johnson also having that potential while mostly playing defensive end.
Jerry Tillery is a good pass-rushing option but should not play much on running downs. Breiden Fehoko and Christian Covington are fine as depth, but based on how the team played them last year, I am not sold that they are sold on either of them.
Mathis is someone who could legitimately play 80% of the defensive snaps as he could fill in the run-defense gaps from Tillery on early downs as well as some of the pass-rushing gaps in Johnson on passing downs. I would not call him elite in either area, but with the floor is really high and with the talent around him he could really thrive in LA.