Chargers Make Trade, Still Grab Arguably Best OL Prospect in New Mock Draft

Matt Levine | Apr 18, 2024

The Los Angeles Chargers are in one of the more interesting spots in the upcoming NFL Draft. They hold the 5th overall pick but unlike most of the teams in front of them, they don't need a quarterback. This should allow them to take one of the better non-quarterback prospects on the board, giving them a cornerstone piece to their franchise.

However, there has been a lot of talk lately about them moving down to gain additional draft capital. With all the holes across the Bolts roster, moving down may not be the worst idea. The Chargers could net an extra first round pick, helping them to solidify multiple spots.

In a new mock draft by Dane Brugler of The Athletic, the Bolts do in fact trade down. They land the No. 11 and No. 35 pick from the Arizona Cardinals, who traded with the Minnesota Vikings earlier in his mock draft. With the No. 11 selection, the Bolts selected offensive tackle JC Latham from the University of Alabama

"Trading back for an offensive lineman would be an unsurprising move for the Chargers. The bigger mystery might be which offensive lineman they prefer. Oregon State’s Taliese Fuaga is a devastating run blocker and Washington’s Troy Fautanu has legitimate position versatility, but I’ll go with Latham, who is arguably the strongest player in the draft and was recruited out of high school not too long ago by Jim Harbaugh."

Landing a player like Latham after trading back would be a dream situation for the Chargers. Not only would they address a problem along their offensive line but gaining an additional pick is helpful. While the No. 35 pick is technically in the second round, it's early enough to almost be like a late first.

Latham would instantly bolster the offensive line for the Chargers, giving them another young player to build around. He is seen by many as one of the best linemen in this draft class and Alabama has traditionally produced strong linemen in the NFL. With new head coach Jim Harbaugh in the mix, an offensive lineman being taken early should be the expectation for the Bolts.