Chargers News: Mel Kiper's New Mock Draft Has Bolts Staying Put For Dynamic Receiver

The Chargers stay put in Mel Kiper's new mock draft.

The Los Angeles Chargers have been placed all over mock draft boards, mainly because of the sheer amount of QB-hungry teams that will need to trade up to secure their potential next franchise quarterback. 

However, the Chargers have since made some big moves that should indicate they will stay put at #5. They released Mike Williams and traded Keenan Allen, making the WR thin. Because of those moves, Mel Kiper has predicted the Bolts will select a dynamic WR at pick #5. 

5. The Los Angeles Chargers

Malik Nabers, LSU, Wide Receiver

The Chargers' salary cap crunch led to the release of Mike Williams and trade of Keenan Allen, leaving the wide receiver corps depleted. They can't go inot the season with Joshua Palmer and Quentin Johnston, who disappointed as a rookie last season, as their top two wideouts. So as much as right tackle could still be in play, this is the spot to nab a receiver to be Justin Herbert's No. 1 target. In any other draft class, Nabers and Rome Odunze would be the far-and-awa-top-ranked wideouts --but this isnt any other draft class. There likely will be three taken in the top 10 and a handful of others throughout Round 1. This is an extremely talented group. What I like about Nabers is his ability to create seperation and then break tackles after the catch. He's a fantastic player.

via Mel Kiper, ESPN.com

The Chargers have been linked to LSU's Malik Nabers and Washington's Rome Odunze. Both would be viable options for the Bolts, but landing Nabers would give the WR a boost. 

Unless Marvin Harrison Jr. falls to the Chargers, Nabers is the logical choice. Nabers finished the 2023 season with 1,569 yards and 14 TDs. He has the right kind of speed to be a deep-threat option for Justin Herbert. 

With Nabers handling the deep threat and Quentin Johnston being used for the more intermediate YAC option, the Chargers could end up with a dynamic one-touch punch in their WR room.