Chargers draft LB Jaylan Ford with the 183rd pick
The Chargers need to add linebacker depth and they also need to add special teams players. When looking for these players, a team needs to look at football IQ and experience at the collegiate level.
That is what Ford has working for him. His traits and athleticism may not jump off the tape but he is a multi-year starter for Texas who was a leader on that side of the ball. Ford will need to be coached up and he won't adapt right away. But as a depth piece that contributes on special teams he can be impactful.
Chargers draft DL Keith Randolph Jr. with the 223rd pick
Adding to the trenches should be part of every draft and the Chargers have not added to the defensive line to this point of the draft. Thus, the team takes the most polished prospect still on the board in Illinois' Keith Randolph Jr.
Randolph is a traditional nose tackle who is really solid against the run but does not offer much of a pass-rushing presence. Randolph could be a rotational player in his rookie season who plays on first or second downs and on the goal line.
Chargers draft OL Karsen Barnhart with the 256th pick
The Chargers are projected to get a compensatory pick for Drue Tranquill, which would be the second-to-last pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. This is essentially first dibs at a UDFA prospect, so the Chargers go with Michigan's Karsen Barnhart because of Harbaugh.
Drafting Barnhart isn't just a Michigan play. Barnhart has experience playing both tackle and guard, which is valuable as a depth offensive lineman. Because of that versatility, and his ties to Harbaugh, Barnhart could have a better chance of making the Chargers roster over existing depth linemen.