Former speculated draft target will be at Chargers training camp after all

The LA Chargers announced their training camp schedule on Wednesday and it has fans buzzing over the upcoming season. Los Angeles is entering a new era under Jim Harbaugh and training camp is the official start of said era.

Harbaugh already has his fingerprints all over the organization as the culture is clearly shifting. It started before the team came together for OTAs and minicamp, as Harbaugh set the bar with Joe Hortiz in free agency and the 2024 NFL Draft.

The Chargers drafted the best players available regardless of pre-draft buzz (including taking Joe Alt over Malik Nabers). This included taking two Michigan prospects who Harbaugh coached the year prior: linebacker Junior Colson and wide receiver Cornelius Johnson.

One prominent Michigan prospect tied to the Chargers leading into the draft did not get the call, though. Running back Blake Corum will be playing his home games at SoFi Stadium but it will be with the Los Angeles Rams, not the Chargers.

The Bolts passed on the opportunity to draft Corum in the third round and drafted Colson instead. Corum won't have to wait long to stick it to his former head coach, as the Chargers will be hosting the Rams for two joint practices during training camp.

Blake Corum will be at Chargers training camp after all

Even after signing Gus Edwards and J.K. Dobbins, running back was still a need for the Chargers leading into the 2024 NFL Draft. For that reason, many believed (and feared) the Chargers would select Corum in the third round when more pressing needs were apparent.

The Chargers ultimately quelled those fears by taking Colson and waiting to add another running back. Los Angeles handled it perfectly as the team landed Austin Ekeler-lookalike Kimani Vidal in the sixth round.

Corum still landed in a good place with the Rams but there has to be some kind of chip on his shoulder. His former head coach intentionally selected his former teammate over him when everyone— including oddsmakers — expected otherwise.

Granted, this is just a practice and there is very little Corum can actually do to hurt the Chargers. In fact, if he has a big day it could help show defensive coordinator Jesse Minter where there are holes in the defensive scheme.

But it is still a storyline to follow and it will be interesting to see how both Harbaugh and Corum approach this reunion. If Corum goes on to torch the Chargers and has a productive rookie season, then everyone will be looking back at these joint practices pondering what could have been.