Chargers Expert Slates LA to Draft Defensive Player of the Year in 1st Round

ESPN Todd McShay has ACC defensive tackle heading to LA

There has been a ton of chatter going on regarding the Chargers' first-round pick. Will they pick a skilled position player, a defensive player or trade the pick? We don't know quite yet. LA holds the 21st pick of the 2023 NFL draft, and they have multiple options at their disposal. 

The draft is a perfect time for NFL teams to find their future star player, and ESPN's draft expert Todd McShay has your Bolts doing just that. 

McShay released his latest two-round projections and predicted the Chargers go with Pittsburgh defensive tackle Calijah Kancey. The ESPN draft expert goes on and compares Kancey's game to a future NFL Hall of Famer.  

We’ve seen Chargers coach Brandon Staley have success with Aaron Donald as an interior rusher when he was the Rams’ defensive coordinator, and while Kancey is not Donald, he plays a similar style as a penetrating 3-technique with take-off burst. Kancey also ran the fastest 40-yard dash time for a defensive tackle since 2006 at 4.67 seconds, and he had 14.5 sacks and 28.5 tackles for loss over the past two seasons at Pitt.

Funny enough, Rams superstar Aaron Donald also attended Pittsburgh University. Both played on the defensive line and were projected to make an impact coming into the league. 

In three seasons at Pitt, Kancey recorded 51 solo tackles, 41 assists, 92 total tackles, and 16 sacks accumulating for 119 yards and one forced fumble. The 22-year-old was a force to be reckoned with and even earned ACC Defensive Player of the Year honors and unanimous All-American in 2022. 

According to the draft network, Kancey's best abilities are his penetration skills, flexibility, and various ways to beat the block, motor, and competitive toughness. 

With his size and ability to rush the passer, he'll fit greatly alongside Joey Bosa and Sebastian Joesph-Day. If the Chargers snag him, we could look back and view it as a steal for the Bolts.