Ryan Leaf Reveals His Ideal Chargers First-Round Pick
The Los Angeles Chargers are set to pick #5 in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft. They are in a bit of a great situation as they can trade back to a QB-needy team and stack even more draft capital, or they choose a potential Day 1 starter.
Ryan Leaf has joined Bleav in Chargers to detail who the team should take in the draft, especially regarding their very valuable #5 pick.
"If you're the quarterback. Ryan, you got Slater on one side and the number one tackle in the draft on the other. If they came to you as the starting quarterback you want that, can take the top off wide receiver, the Brock Bowers elite tight end, or do you want that other tackle to pair with Rashawn Slater? And maybe you got the best bookends in the league."
via Matt "Money" Smith, Bleav in Chargers
"Yeah I want the offensive linemen. I think you have elite wide receivers already there. I get it. You know, Quentin Johnston did not live up to what could be possible, right? Zay Flowers was drafted after him, had a great year in Baltimore. I still think there's a lot of great football in Quentin Johnston. I really do."
via Ryan Leaf, Bleav in Chargers
Leaf indicates that the Chargers should aim to pair a new offensive tackle with Rashawn Slater, and that would be Joe Alt from Notre Dame. He also speaks on rookie Quentin Johnston having a rough year but expects him to break out.
Center Corey Linsley is also retiring, so it would be smart for the Chargers to address the offensive line to keep Justin Hebert protected.
They can't go through another situation where Herbert gets hurt. Protecting him should be paramount to the plan of attack for free agency and the draft. Ryan Leaf is definitely on to something here.