Last-minute NFL rumors emerge that the Chargers may trade up in 2023 NFL Draft
By Jason Reed
The 2023 NFL Draft is gearing up to be a crazy one as NFL rumors are picking up steam right before the draft is starting. The latest NFL rumors are surrounding the LA Chargers and may indicate what the team is going to do in round one on Thursday.
Albert Breer of NBC Sports reported that the Chargers are one of several teams that are potentially looking to trade up in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft. Many fans wanted and expected the team to trade down from the 21st pick, so this comes as a surprise.
Nothing is set in stone but Tom Telesco has traded up in the first round multiple times, doing so for Melvin Gordon and Kenneth Murray. He has never traded down as the general manager of the Chargers. As the old saying goes, history repeats itself.
NFL rumors: Chargers could be looking to trade up, but for who?
If the Chargers are looking to trade up in the 2023 NFL Draft then it would be for a very specific prospect. The team is not going to trade up just for the sake of it, it will do so if there is someone who the team really likes that falls farther than expected.
The first name that instantly jumps off the page is Bijan Robinson. Robinson is the best running back in this class and is arguably a top-five prospect. But because he is a running back, he is projected to slip a bit in the draft.
Perhaps the Chargers look to move into the mid-teens to secure Robinson if he falls that far knowing that the chances of him falling to 21 are slim. Trading extra capital to move up for a running back might not be the best example of asset management but it is possible.
If not Robinson then the next most likely outcome would be the Chargers trading up for an edge rusher. Perhaps someone like Tyree Wilson falls a few spots lower than expected and is available, say, at 14. Wilson is a bonafide top-10 prospect and if he is there for the Chargers' taking then it could happen.
It's highly unlikely that the Chargers would move up in the draft for anything other than Robinson or one of the premier edge rushers in the first round.