Top 5 Players Chargers Should Consider With No. 5 Pick
In 13 days, the new Los Angeles Chargers regime will make their first NFL Draft pick for the Bolts. Joe Hortiz and Jim Harbaugh will be responsible for what the Chargers will do with the No. 5 overall pick, whether that's selecting one of the premium players available or trading back to acquire more picks.
This year's draft class is loaded with talent at many positions including wide receiver, offensive line and quarterback. Two of the Chargers' biggest needs in this draft are offensive line and wide receiver, which bodes well for the team since both position groups have plenty of depth in this class.
Still, the question of which player is best for the Chargers to take fifth overall. Having a top-five pick in the draft comes with plenty of expectations, making it imperative the Bolts choose a great player for their selection to not be considered a bust.
Here are the top five players the Chargers should consider with the fifth overall pick.
1. Marvin Harrison Jr. (WR - Ohio State)
The primary caveat with Harrison Jr. is whether or not he will even be available at pick five. The Arizona Cardinals have the pick right before the Chargers, and many consider the Cardinals a top threat to take Harrison Jr. If Harrison Jr. is available, it would be a huge opportunity for the Chargers. Harrison Jr. is considered by many to be the top receiving prospect in this draft class and is coming off back-to-back 1,000-yard receiving seasons in college.
With Keenan Allen and Mike Williams departing from the team this offseason, the Chargers have a gaping hole at the receiver position. By bringing in Harrison Jr., the Chargers would be giving quarterback Justin Herbert a bonafide weapon that would likely boost the offense immediately.
2. Joe Alt (OL - Notre Dame)
If the Chargers do not want to take a receiver fifth overall, many expect them to go offensive line. If this is the case, there is no better option than Joe Alt, a two-time All-American out of Notre Dame. Great offensive linemen are hard to come by, making a player as sure as Alt a strong contender for the Chargers. With the Chargers also prioritizing their run game thanks to new offensive coordinator Greg Roman, Alt could potentially match the Chargers' plans best.
3. Malik Nabers (WR - LSU)
If Harrison Jr. is unavailable and the Chargers want to take a receiver, Nabers is a fantastic option. Many teams and analysts even consider Nabers a better prospect than Harrison Jr., making him an intriguing option as well. Nabers is an electric weapon, finishing second in the FBS in receiving yards with 1,569 yards along with 14 touchdowns in his final season at LSU. Like with Harrison Jr., the Chargers would fill a huge need and bring in a top weapon if they were to select Nabers.
4. JC Latham (OT - Alabama)
If the Chargers do go offensive line in the draft, the likely pick would be Alt. In the scenario that Alt is off the board, the Chargers would find another offensive lineman in Latham. The 6-foot-6, 360 lb. lineman is a specimen at the position and a player that should be able to keep incoming defenders away from Justin Herbert.
5. Rome Odunze (WR - Washington)
The other receiver many consider to be among the top three in this year's class is Rome Odunze. While it would be unexpected for the Chargers to take Odunze over Harrison Jr. or Nabers, or both to already be off the board, Odunze is a great receiver as well. Odunze led the FBS in receiving yards last year with 1,640 yards.
The Chargers' other primary need in this draft is cornerback, but Odunze takes the fifth spot since there isn't a cornerback prospect considered to be a top-five pick.
