Chargers News: New Odds Reveal Who Bolts May Select With 5th Overall Pick

All signs point to the Bolts selecting a pass catcher in next month's draft.

The Los Angeles Chargers selection for the upcoming 2024 NFL draft just got a lot simpler.

The Bolts no longer hold two of the best wide receivers in the league, Keenan Allen and Mike Williams. The team decided to cut ties with Willaims ahead of the new league season, which started on Wednesday, and they traded away Allen to the Chicago Bears on Thursday. 

There's a massive void in the wide receiver room; however, all signs (and oddsmakers) point to the Bolts finding their next great wide receiver with the fifth overall pick. In particular, DraftKings Sportsbook believes it will be LSU wide receiver Malik Nabers. 

Nabers holds the best odds of being drafted by the Bolts at number five overall.  

Since the Keenan Allen trade
Malik Nabers is the current betting favorite to be selected at 5
Joe Alt was previously favored #chargers pic.twitter.com/ttOo6FLoYH

— Charlie Sinclair (@cmsinclar) March 15, 2024

Nabers at five makes a lot of sense now. The Chargers need pass catchers for Justin Herbert, so who better than the 20-year-old?

He possesses explosive route-running and can seamlessly shift gears, making him a huge matchup for defensive backs. He also has exceptional ball skills and tracks mid-stride adjustments effectively, which shows his potential as a reliable deep threat in the NFL. With Williams and Allen gone, the Bolts could now use all those skill sets. 

The real surprise here is the player with the second-best odds, Michigan quarterback J.J McCarthy (+425). McCarthy has risen on the draft boards, and with all the moves the Bolts seem to be making, this could give us an idea of what insiders and oddsmakers believe the Chargers could do. 

This one is a stretch to me, as Herbert is the Chargers quarterback of the present and future. However, we can't rule anything out with his new regime in place.

Rounding out the top five is Notre Dame offensive tackle Joe Alt (+500), Washington wide receiver Rome Odunze (+600), and Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. (+750).