Chargers News: Jim Harbaugh On Cusp Of Making Bold Draft Day Moves?

Alex Kirschenbaum | Apr 17, 2024

Apr 2, 2024; Costa Mesa, CA, USA; Los Angeles Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh speaks at a press conference. / Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

The Los Angeles Chargers are poised to be one of the most intriguing teams when this year's NFL draft kicks off next week.

First-year LA head coach Jim Harbaugh and first-year LA general manager Joe Hortiz are looking to make their mark as their team-building continues. Thus far, the Chargers have prioritized getting under the NFL's salary cap by shedding pricey veteran contracts ---including, unfortunately, for the team's top offensive options surrounding quarterback Justin Herbert.

Following a conference call with NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah, Omar Navarro of Chargers.com opted to unpack how Harbaugh and Hortiz will handle the team's fifth pick in the first round.

"I think, in an ideal world, they'd like to get out of there," Jeremiah said. "Trade back and get extra picks and build out as many players that fit his vision for the team.

"To me, this makes sense to be kind of a volume draft for them: come away with extra picks and continue to add guys that fit their new physical philosophy of how they want to play the game," Jeremiah continued.

Jeremiah believes that, although the need for a quality wide receiver for Herbert is abundantly clear (given that LA ditched its top two wideouts in the offseason and has yet to replace them with anyone better than their third-best receiver from 2023, Joshua Palmer), Los Angeles may look to add help on the other side of the field.

"There's been a lot of debate… do they take a receiver? Do they take an offensive lineman? What do they do there at 5? I think the overwhelming preference would be they don't pick at 5," Jeremiah theorized. "They get out of there and find someone that wants to come up and they continue to fill out the needs on the team.

"Because while we've been focused so much on that side of the ball, they could use a big-time defensive tackle," Jeremiah said. "They could absolutely use another corner. At some point in time they're going to need to add an off-the-ball linebacker."

Jeremiah thinks Harbaugh will look to add an abundance of solid young players through the draft, and to that end will be focused on maximizing just how many bites at that apple it can get.

"They've got a lot of things to get accomplished here," Jeremiah added. "So for him to put his stamp on it, to me it's more about the volume of the players they bring in that fit what he wants to do. That's going to go long after the first round is over."