Chargers News: How Los Angeles Could Maximize A Deep NFL Draft
The Bolts need reinforcements everywhere on the roster.
As the Los Angeles Chargers enter what is more or less a "retool" around key pieces like Justin Herbert, Rashawn Slater, and Derwin James Jr., new general manager Joe Horitz will have his hands full during the NFL Draft.
Possessing draft picks in all 7 rounds of a fairly loaded draft, the Bolts are well-positioned to find key contributors up and down the roster, starting with the receiver room (projected to do so in round 1).
With the complexity of draft scouting, plenty of the Chargers' targets should be scattered around the draft, having the potential to slip into later rounds. Here are 3 potential names to keep an eye out for (per Shervon Fakhimi of ClutchPoints):
The first name is Florida wide receiver Ricky Pearsall. The 6-foot-1, 190-pound Arizona State transfer was a quality piece for a struggling UF team this past season. With the Bolts looking to take a receiver early, they'll be able to find their long-term X receiver, but need reinforcements around the edges. Pearsall is good value in the middle rounds and is best in the slot, which now sees a void following the loss of Keenan Allen.
The second name is Theo Johnson, a Penn State tight end. Johnson, 6-foot-6 and 280 pounds, is a massive individual with an expansive skillset.
His athleticism is terrific, and at his size, his development as a blocker will be something to watch.
The final name to look at is Blake Corum, the reigning National Champion Michigan Wolverines' starting running back. This one is fairly obvious, as Corum fills a void much needed on the Bolts roster while already having played for years under Jim Harbaugh.
Corum is on the shorter side (5-foot-8), but he's over 200 pounds and profiles as a power back at the next level. He's been arguably the best running back in the country over the past couple of seasons, being particularly effective in short-yardage situations with a whopping 47 touchdowns in just 27 games since the start of the 2022 season.
The Bolts have a number of angles they can take at improving the roster, and as GM Joe Horitz knows from his days in Baltimore, building a well-rounded roster is imperative. Expect anywhere from 4 to 7 different positions to be drafted, with a combination of some immediate contributors, as well as some more long-term, higher-upside pieces.
