DutchNugget'S MOCK DRAFT
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Defensive rebuild

  • DutchNugget DRAFTING FOR THE
    Chargers
Draft Selections
Caleb Williams Head Shot
PICK: 1 RND: 1 (LAC)
Caleb Williams
QB USC
Joe Alt Head Shot
PICK: 5 RND: 1 (LAC)
Joe Alt
OT Notre Dame
Chop Robinson Head Shot
PICK: 16 RND: 1 (LAC)
Chop Robinson
DE-EDGE Penn State
Jared Verse Head Shot
PICK: 18 RND: 1 (LAC)
Jared Verse
DE-EDGE Florida State
Trey Benson Head Shot
PICK: 50 RND: 2 (LAC)
Trey Benson
RB Florida State
Maason Smith Head Shot
PICK: 72 RND: 3 (LAC)
Maason Smith
DT-EDGE LSU
Junior Colson Head Shot
PICK: 108 RND: 4 (LAC)
Junior Colson
LB Michigan
Ainias Smith Head Shot
PICK: 145 RND: 5 (LAC)
Ainias Smith
WR Texas A&M
Fabien Lovett Head Shot
PICK: 186 RND: 6 (LAC)
Fabien Lovett
DL Florida State
Oronde Gadsden II Head Shot
PICK: 192 RND: 6 (LAC)
Oronde Gadsden II
TE Syracuse
Jordan Jefferson Head Shot
PICK: 218 RND: 6 (LAC)
Jordan Jefferson
DT LSU
J.J. Weaver Head Shot
PICK: 221 RND: 7 (LAC)
J.J. Weaver
LB-EDGE Kentucky
Stefon Thompson Head Shot
PICK: 229 RND: 7 (LAC)
Stefon Thompson
OLB-EDGE Syracuse
Draft Picks Received
Caleb Williams Head Shot
PICK: 1 RND: 1 (CHI)
Caleb Williams
QB USC
Joe Alt Head Shot
PICK: 5 RND: 1 (CHI)
Joe Alt
OT Notre Dame
Chop Robinson Head Shot
PICK: 16 RND: 1 (PIT)
Chop Robinson
DE-EDGE Penn State
Jared Verse Head Shot
PICK: 18 RND: 1 (BUF)
Jared Verse
DE-EDGE Florida State
Trey Benson Head Shot
PICK: 50 RND: 2 (BUF)
Trey Benson
RB Florida State
Oronde Gadsden II Head Shot
PICK: 192 RND: 6 (LAR)
Oronde Gadsden II
TE Syracuse
Jordan Jefferson Head Shot
PICK: 218 RND: 6 (LAR)
Jordan Jefferson
DT LSU
J.J. Weaver Head Shot
PICK: 221 RND: 7 (LAR)
J.J. Weaver
LB-EDGE Kentucky
No Pick Head Shot
PICK: RND: 2 (ATL)
NEXT YEAR (2025)
 
No Pick Head Shot
PICK: RND: 2 (BUF)
NEXT YEAR (2025)
 
Draft Picks Traded
Jayden Daniels Head Shot
PICK: 8 RND: 1 (ATL)
Jayden Daniels
QB LSU
Troy Fautanu Head Shot
PICK: 40 RND: 2 (CHI)
Troy Fautanu
OT Washington
No Pick Head Shot
PICK: RND: 1 (MIA)
NEXT YEAR (2025)
 
No Pick Head Shot
PICK: RND: 2 (MIA)
NEXT YEAR (2025)
 
Players Gained
Head Shot
Najee Harris
RB
Head Shot
Alex Highsmith
EDGE
Head Shot
Jaylon Johnson
CB
Head Shot
Jake Matthews
OT
Head Shot
George Pickens
WR
Head Shot
Joey Porter Jr.
CB
Head Shot
Darnell Wright
OT
Players traded away
Head Shot
Austin Ekeler
RB
Head Shot
Joshua Palmer
WR
Head Shot
Justin Herbert
QB
Head Shot
Keenan Allen
WR
Head Shot
Khalil Mack
EDGE
Head Shot
Rashawn Slater
OT
Head Shot
Terrell Bynum
WR
Draft Grade — Chargers
Overall D-
ValueB- NeedB TradesF FutureC-
Quarterback settled, Williams in the fold, and a D- for the Chargers.

There is conviction, and then there is this. The Chargers took Stefon Thompson a full 56 picks ahead of where the board had him, an overdraft steep enough that it colors the whole weekend. The board pushed back all weekend, and the D- is the result.

Whatever Caleb Williams becomes, the front office has tied its fortunes to the answer. Overpaying at the table undid a lot of the good work elsewhere. The Smith pick is fine in a vacuum, less so with cornerback still on the board.

That cornerback hole did not close this weekend, and it was the biggest one on the wall. They are betting the present roster is worth a lighter draft next spring.

Bottom line, they will need several of these picks to beat their grades just to break even, and cornerback is still a hole.

Pick Analysis
Pick1 Rnd1 Caleb Williams
In Round 1, Pick 1 they get a long-term answer under center at fair value. A clean fit for the roster.
Pick5 Rnd1 Joe Alt
In pick No. 5 they get a cornerstone up front. A real need, handled.
Pick16 Rnd1 Chop Robinson
In No. 16 they get juice off the edge at fair value. The biggest hole, addressed.
Pick18 Rnd1 Jared Verse
In slot 18 they get a quarterback's worst nightmare. Exactly the need they had to hit.
Pick50 Rnd2 Trey Benson
A premium they did not need to pay, Trey Benson a notch or two before his time. The roster fit checks out.
Pick72 Rnd3 Maason Smith
The needs board was loud and they turned it down, spending pick 72 on Maason Smith with cornerback unsolved.
Pick108 Rnd4 Junior Colson
They jumped the gun on Junior Colson, taking him earlier than his grade liked. Useful body for a position without much behind the starter.
Pick145 Rnd5 Ainias Smith
Ainias Smith at slot 145 jumps the queue by a touch more than is comfortable. A glaring weakness, addressed head on.
Pick186 Rnd6 Fabien Lovett
The board had Fabien Lovett higher than the 186th overall pick, and the interior defensive lineman fell to them anyway. Top of the wish list, and they did not leave without it.
Pick192 Rnd6 Oronde Gadsden II
The board had cheaper options than Oronde Gadsden II at pick No. 192, and it noticed. A sensible fit for a spot that needed help.
Pick218 Rnd6 Jordan Jefferson
A big swing on Jordan Jefferson at the Round 6 slot, well ahead of any board in the building. It answers the question that was keeping the coaches up at night.
Pick221 Rnd7 J.J. Weaver
Value said wait; J.J. Weaver in Round 7, Pick 1 says they were not listening. That was the need underlined and circled, and now it is checked off.
Pick229 Rnd7 Stefon Thompson
They reached a country mile for Stefon Thompson at the 229th pick, and the board is aghast. Where it fits the depth chart is the real question.