The Chargers Must Embrace The Tank

This is the first big step in building a true contender.

A season marred in frustration carries one silver lining: a presumptive top-5 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. 

Despite entering the season with top-12 Super Bowl Champion odds, +102 odds to make the playoffs, and +253 odds to win the division, the Bolts sit at a measly 5-10, good for last in the AFC West. 

Much of their struggles can be attributed to the incompetence of Brandon Staley, and injuries to key contributors, but the back half of the season, with playoff hopes still alive, were wrenched after a season-ending injury to Justin Herbert. 

Now, 5 games under .500, the Bolts have two more games on the calendar: dates with the Denver Broncos and Kansas City Chiefs. 

For both of those teams, their matchup with the Bolts is must-win. For Denver, they're on the playoff fence, while for Kansas City, they'll be vying for the best seed possible in the AFC playoffs, as they're currently only the No. 3 seed. 

This means that more than likely, the Chargers will find themselves on the receiving end of two losses, finishing the year 5-12 but perhaps in possession of a top-5 (or at least top-6) pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. 

There are a few reasons to get excited about the tank, as this is a loaded draft class at some positions of need for the Bolts, especially at receiver/tight end. 

Receivers Marvin Harrison Jr., and Malik Nabers, and tight end Brock Bowers headline the pass-catching group. Offensive tackles Joe Alt and J.C. Latham are two more names to watch, as if the Bolts happen to slip a bit further down in the draft via winning a game, they could easily make a case to build up the frontline for QB Justin Herbert. 

Defensively, edge rusher Dallas Turner is a name to watch, as if the Chargers decide to improve that side of the football (also makes sense given their current personnel + receiver depth in the class), he'd be the first name on their board. 

This is a dominant draft class, especially at the top, and the sheer amount of teams that are in need of quarterbacks drafting around the Bolts allow the best non-QB possible to fall into their lap. Outside of Herbert, the last game-breaking, generational player to come into the organization was likely Joey Bosa (who really wasn't even that), and that's a long, long time to go without someone top-tier. 

This is the year to change things, and the tank is the best way to make that happen. It's more than reasonable to expect a top-5 prospect, and likely a top-3 non-QB the Bolts roster next season to revitalize the struggling franchise.