Chargers' way-too-early 2024 NFL Draft needs: 1. Defensive back
We are lumping both safety and cornerback into one here. This may seem like cheating a tad but with how Staley operates in his defense it is fair. Staley values versatility and movable chess pieces, so the team would likley just take the best defensive back on the board regardless of if they were labeled as a safety or a cornerback.
As it stands right now, the Chargers' secondary is in a really good spot. Michael Davis and Asante Samuel Jr. are a great tandem at corner and J.C. Jackson appears to be recovering nicely. Derwin James leads the charge at the safety position with several options to play next to him.
All this being said, things are likely going to be a lot different after the 2023 season. Davis is going to be a free agent and it does not seem like the Chargers are going to be able to afford re-signing him. We have no idea how Jackson is actually going to play and if the team gets a one-year stopgap at safety like John Johnson they would have to replace him next offseason.
Staley really values defensive backs and despite being a defensive head coach he has never taken a defensive player in the first round of the draft. That feels like it could change in 2024 as the team would be looking to take another premier defensive back that can slot in right away as well as give the team at least five years of solid production.
Tight end might be a bigger need on paper but the Chargers could theoretically still land a talented tight end in the second round while there could be a really talented cornerback at the back of round one that is worth taking.