The LA Chargers have had some big hits in the NFL Draft but the team has had way more misses. Most of that was due to former general manager Tom Telesco, who now finds himself out of the league after a one-year tenure with the Las Vegas Raiders that was unsuccessful.
Regardless of how good a GM is, though, it is impossible to have a 100% hit rate in the NFL Draft. Even the best front offices in the league have misses (the Philadelphia Eagles drafted Jalen Reagor, after all).
Some of the Chargers' first-round picks were totally correct in the moment, others were picked apart by the fanbase when they happened. Some of those dissected picks ending up working out while others have failed to live up to expectations. With the benefit of hindsight, let's dive into the history books and see what the Chargers could have done.
Redrafting the LA Chargers' first-round picks since 2020:
2024, 5th overall: OLT Joe Alt
It was a controversial pick at the time and this writer absolutely dissected the move in disagreement. However, after one year of a sample size, it is safe to say the Chargers made a smart move by taking one of the most polished tackles in recent draft history in Joe Alt.
Alt had an exceptional rookie season and is going to be a fundamental pillar of the organization for years to come. Wide receiver Malik Nabers would have been a fun selection, and wouldn't have been a bad pick in the slightest, but it is clear the Chargers had their eyes on Ladd McConkey in the second round.
2023, 21st overall: WR Zay Flowers
This is a frustrating draft for the Chargers as the team went against the grain and bought high on the potential upside of Quentin Johnston. Johnston was the most boom-or-bust wide receiver prospect in the first round, and so far, he has busted for the Chargers.
Most of the fanbase wanted the team to take Zay Flowers, and even if it wasn't him, Jordan Addison had ties to the Chargers coaching staff at the time. Either Flowers or Addison would have been a better selection than Johnston, who turned a corner in 2024 but still cannot be fully trusted.
This is a perfect example of a pick that was dissected at the time where the fans were completely correct. Yes, sometimes social media GMs are right.
2022, 17th overall: OL Tyler Smith
To be fair to the Chargers, taking Tyler Smith with the 17th pick would have been viewed as a swing. After all, he was taken with the 24th pick and Dallas Cowboys fans were not happy at the time. However, in the time since then, Smith's switch from tackle to guard has made him one of the most productive young offensive linemen in the sport.
Zion Johnson has not been that for the Chargers. Johnson hasn't been fundamentally awful but if a team is going to use a first-round pick on a guard that guard has to be special. Unfortunately, Johnson has been underwhelming.
Center Tyler Linderbaum is a better player than both Johnson and Smith but redrafting him to the Chargers would be disingenous. The team still had Corey Linsley at the time and Linderbaum was a center-only prospect.
2021, 13th overall: OT Rashawn Slater
Do we even need to cover this? Rashawn Slater was considered a dream prospect in 2021 with no real chance of falling to the Chargers with the 13th pick. Slater some how fell to the Bolts and has lived up to expectations as one of the best tackles in the sport.
The only thing that has been able to somewhat hold Slater back in his young career are injuries. But even then, long-term health issues are not a concern for Slater. The Chargers should sign him to a hefty extension soon and make him the team's franchise left tackle for a decade-plus.
2020, 23rd overall: LB Patrick Queen
In reality, the Chargers should have just stayed put in the 2020 NFL Draft and not traded up for Oklahoma linebacker Kenneth Murray. The Chargers could have stayed put and drafted Jonathan Taylor in the second and Zack Baun in the third. That would have been far better than Murray and Joshua Kelley.
But the team did trade up, so we still have to break down who the Bolts should have selected.
Brandon Aiyuk and Tee Higgins are two solid receivers who were taken after the 23rd pick but wide receiver didn't make much sense with Keenan Allen and Mike Williams. Instead, the Chargers probably would have taken another linebacker and Patrick Queen is the most logical choice.
Queen has had an up-and-down pro career but he has been better than Murray. Many Chargers fans assumed it was Queen who the team was trading up for back in 2020. That's who it should have been, although staying put would have ultimately been better.
2020, 6th overall: QB Justin Herbert
Justin Herbert is one of the best quarterbacks in the sport. Obviously this would be the same pick. Chargers fans are thankful the Miami Dolphins took Tua Tagovailoa over Herbert.