Full Chargers mock draft with the Bolts trading down in round one
By Jason Reed
With the 48th overall pick in this Chargers mock draft, the Bolts select Kyler Gordon, CB, Washington
While cornerback is not the biggest defensive need, because of the value of the position in the draft and how important cornerback is in Brandon Staley's defense, it will probably be one of the first positions taken in the 2022 NFL Draft.
The Chargers have some solid corners in Michael Davis and Asante Samuel Jr but the team is really lacking in depth. Not only does the team lack quality depth behind those two, but it is lacking a true CB1. Davis is best as a CB2 and Samuel has not proven yet that he can be a true CB1. Because of that, the Chargers should be loading up at corner.
Even if the Bolts sign someone in free agency they should still draft a corner early in the 2022 NFL Draft. If the team signs a big-name corner like J.C. Jackson then we will probably see a third or fourth-round corner. However, if it is just a solid corner for depth purposes then it makes sense to take another corner early in the draft.
Kyler Gordon would be a solid selection for the Bolts. Gordon is a really good athlete and proved to be a well-above-average defender against the run. That is important in Brandon Staley's defense that does not put many defenders in the box.
Gordon can play both inside and in the slot and has the versatility for Staley to move him all around the field. He is someone who probably would only play 40-50% of the snaps in year one but would be hugely impactful in those snaps while being a good option to fill in for anyone ahead of him in the depth chart.