Latest NFL Draft rumors hint at Chargers' dream turning to reality

There is a lot riding on the LA Chargers' decision with the fifth pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. The Chargers are entering a new era with Jim Harbaugh and the best way to kickstart this new era is to put together a strong draft class. That starts with the fifth pick.

There has been a of debate around whether or not the Chargers will stay put with the fifth pick or will move down for more draft capital. General manager Joe Hortiz seemingly gave fans the answer on what will happen, but anything can happen between now and when the Chargers are on the clock.

There is one dream scenario that almost every Chargers fan can agree on: drafting Marvin Harrison Jr. if he falls to the fifth pick. Harrison is the best wide receiver prospect to come into the league in recent draft history and since this class is so quarterback-heavy, there is a chance he could fall to the fifth pick.

The Arizona Cardinals are the key team to watch when it comes to Harrison but it does not appear that Arizona is going to stay put with the fourth pick. As it stands right now, there is a lot of smoke around the first four picks in the draft being quarterbacks, meaning that Arizona would trade down with a quarterback-heavy team.

NFL Draft rumors are literal gold for the Chargers

Of course, just because multiple GMs said this will happen does not mean it will actually happen. We are at the point of the draft cycle where information is flying at a million miles per hour and some teams may simply be putting up smoke screens.

That being said, this situation is not a newly-conceived one as teams like the Minnesota Vikings, Denver Broncos and Las Vegas Raiders have been circled as potential trade-up teams. None of the first three teams in the draft are going to trade down, which leaves Arizona to trade down at four.

This goes hand-in-hand with what Harbaugh has already been saying this offseason. Harbaugh previously said that he views the fifth pick as the first pick this year. Harbaugh wouldn't say that just to say it. There is a real feeling out there that Arizona will trade down, allowing the draft's best prospect to fall to the Chargers at five.

And if that happens, all of the debate around what the Chargers should do at five will seem so silly. The Chargers would be getting a polished WR1 who will be a Pro Bowler right away and will be an All-Pro in the next five years. There is no such thing as a sure-fire bet in the NFL but Harrison is as physically close as a prospect can be.

Harrison is a franchise-altering wide receiver who would instantly add a ton of juice to the Chargers' receiving corps. Alongside Justin Herbert, the Chargers would have one of the best duos in the entire league right away.