Chargers News: Unpacking Top Critical Positions In NFL Draft For Los Angeles

Alex Kirschenbaum | Apr 1, 2024

Feb 27, 2024; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Los Angeles Chargers general manager Joe Hortiz during the NFL / Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

New Los Angeles Chargers general manager Joe Hortiz has a big month ahead of him.

After making some bold moves early in LA's offseason (including, most shockingly, its decision to offload six-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Keenan Allen) to help the club get way under this year's anticipated NFL salary cap, Hortiz's ruthlessness has probably endeared him to a certain segment of Bolts fans.

But there are other big questions ahead of his first NFL draft. For now, the Chargers have seven picks in the draft, headlined by the fifth selection. But there has been rampant speculation that LA may trade down to shore up its young, cost-effective asset base of selections in the draft.

In a fresh piece, Daniel Popper of The Athletic unpacks his picks for the most imperative positions Los Angeles needs to target.

Thanks to the team's decision to offload its top two wide receivers in Allen and Mike Williams, LA will really need to shore up its current wideout population, which for now just includes Joshua Palmer, 2023 first round draft pick Quentin Johnston, and Derius Davis. "Even if the Chargers add a receiver in free agency, they should still be looking to draft a receiver early — perhaps as early as the No. 5 pick," Popper writes.

Beyond the wide receiver position, Popper believes LA needs help at running back, cornerback, on its offensive line, and in its interior defensive line. Basically, everywhere important beyond Justin Herbert, Khalil Mack and Joey Bosa, the latter two of whom recently restructured their deals to stick around the franchise.