Chargers News: ESPN Insider Predicts First Round Draft Picks For LA

Ricardo Sandoval | Apr 7, 2024

Aug 12, 2023; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Chargers helmets on the bench at SoFi Stadium. / Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Although the Los Angeles Chargers hold the number five pick in the 224 NFL draft, the narrative is the team will trade back from the number five pick. It only makes sense they do at this point, and the team that makes the most sense to trade back with is the Minnesota Vikings.

The Vikings hold two picks in the first round of this year's draft, and ESPN's NFL insider Field Yates believes those picks will be the Chargers come draft night. According to Yates, the Chargers will trade back and select Alabama offensive tackle JC Latham and Texas wide receiver Adonai Mitchell with those picks.

Yates says LA's first pick will be Latham, as he fits the bill for what head coach Jim Harbaugh and OC Greg Roman want to achieve with this offense.

"They fill some needs here and they get to gobble up some meat and potatoes," Yates said, referring to Latham. He described the right tackle as a "big, powerful ,physical road-grading run blocker."

According to Yates, the second pick in the first round will be Mitchell from Texas.

"He's been a big game player," Yates said in raving about Mitchell. "He's got some ability (to get) down the field. (And) he's a player that I think could go even higher than this was … Mitchell is a guy who has really done well for himself."

Latham is among the top prizes for his position in this loaded offensive tackle class. The 21-year-old possesses the size and strength to be a bruiser in the NFL. He has excellent quickness in pass sets; as a run blocker, he has the ability to collapse the edge and drive defenders.

Mitchell is projected to go in the late first round in this draft, which is loaded with wide receivers. The 21-year-old stands at 6 feet 2 inches and weighs 205 pounds. He uses his size to his advantage with streamlined athleticism and plays with strength. He has strong body control, coordination, and ball tracking on the boundary.

The Chargers could do with their pick what they want; however, a trading down in the draft could become a reality.