2023 NFL draft: 15 targets for Chargers on Day 2
After selecting TCU WR Quentin Johnston with the 21st overall pick, the Chargers have filled one of their biggest positional needs.
Heading into Day 2, a number of players who could fill the rest of the holes on Los Angeles’ roster remain on the board.
Here are 15 targets the Bolts could look to pounce on later today.
Penn State CB Joey Porter Jr.
After being hyped as a potential first round pick as early as the teens, it was a bit surprising to see Porter fall into the second round. He’d likely cost the Chargers a trade up into the earlier portion of the round.
Notre Dame TE Michael Mayer
Another rumored first round pick, and one that was connected strongly to the Chargers, Mayer tumbled out of a first round that featured only one tight end (Utah’s Dalton Kincaid to the Bills). With a deep tight end class still stocked with talent, Mayer’s fall could continue.
Alabama DB Brian Branch
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Yet another rumored selection for the Chargers at 21, Branch has the versatility that Brandon Staley craves from his defensive backs. I list him as a DB here because many boards have him listed at safety, but he’ll likely be primarily a nickel corner in the NFL.
Georgia TE Darnell Washington
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An exceedingly powerful blocker whose receiving opportunities were few and far between because of the talent around him, Washington fits the athletic profile that the Chargers normally like from their players. Staley hasn’t been shy about his love for the Georgia program in the past, either.
Northwestern DL Adetomiwa Adebawore
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Adebawore firmly planted himself on draft radars with a 4.49 40 yard dash at the combine despite weighing in at 282 pounds. For reference, that’s 3 hundredths faster than Quentin Johnston ran (4.52). LA needs to add interior pass rush and Adebawore is one of the best options still on the board.
Georgia Tech DL Keion White
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Some thought White could sneak into the first round after he was invited to the green room in Kansas City. While not the speedster that Adebawore is, White actually tested better overall than his Northwestern counterpart. He played mostly on the edge at Georgia Tech, but I expect him to kick inside in the league.
LSU EDGE BJ Ojulari
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Ojulari is one of my favorite players in this draft class, and he’d be a worthy consolation prize for Chargers fans who were disappointed to see the team pass on Nolan Smith on Thursday. While not the run defender Smith is, Ojulari was a highly effective pass rusher for LSU who would become the next man up in LA’s rotation.
Oregon State TE Luke Musgrave
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A high-quality receiving threat with room to grow as a blocker, Musgrave profiles as a solid option if Mayer doesn’t slip all the way to the Chargers towards the end of the second round. A former alpine skier, Musgrave’s change of direction in intermediate areas of the field creates an ample amount of separation.
Kansas State CB Julius Brents
Big, long, and strong with the requisite skills in run support, I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Chargers target Brents in the second round if he lasts to the 54th pick. Staley loves to add to his defensive back arsenal, and LA needs a corner who can fit the run more aggressively than their 2022 options.
Notre Dame EDGE Isaiah Foskey
Foskey could be the pick in either the second or third rounds, depending on how things shake out. Another productive collegiate pass rusher, I have him ranked lower than some of the other options on this list because of his stiffer hips and high pad level.
Auburn EDGE Derick Hall
Hall seems to be among the favorites for the second round selection among Chargers fans, and it’s easy to see why. A powerful player who would immediately contribute against the run, Hall is also a toolsy pass rusher with plenty of room to grow.
USC DL Tuli Tuipulotu
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Tuipulotu is another versatile defensive lineman who could play on the edge or interior and add ample pass rush juice. I have him rated lower than Adebawore and White, but if those two are both off the board by the time the Chargers address the defensive line, their own backyard may be the best place to turn.
Iowa TE Sam LaPorta
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LaPorta could slip a bit after reports about medical concerns surfaced prior to Thursday’s action. While that would (understandably) give Chargers fans pause, LaPorta is the latest in a long line of Hawkeye TEs that have developed into impact players in the NFL.
South Dakota State TE Tucker Kraft
Kraft missed most of the 2022 season with an injury, which prevented him from reaching his ceiling as a draft prospect. Now fully healed, he’s the best option of the second tier of tight end prospects in my opinion, but could be available as late as the Chargers’ third round pick.
South Carolina CB Darius Rush
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Another big, physical corner who finished with an RAS score in the high 9s, Rush stood out at the Senior Bowl in February. LA loves their all-star game attendees, which makes this a seemingly perfect marriage between the wants of Tom Telesco and Brandon Staley.
