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Draft week has finally arrived. The Los Angeles Chargers currently hold the fifth pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. General Manager Joe Hortiz is in control of who gets selected, with coach Jim Harbaugh as his right-hand man. Ortiz is serving his first year as the Chargers' General Manager after his long-time stint with the Baltimore Ravens. The Chargers addressed some key needs on value-friendly deals this off-season including Gus Edwards, J.K. Dobbins, Hayden Hurst, Will Dissly, Bradley Bozeman, and Denzel Perryman. However, there are still many holes in this team. Ortiz decided to move on from Mike Williams and Keenan Allen, leaving the wide receiver room as a position of need heading into the draft.
Round 1, Pick 5: Marvin Harrison Jr, WR, Ohio State
For a portion of the pre-draft process, it seemed universally agreed that the Cardinals should select Harrison Jr. with the fourth pick. However, it seems once again that Cardinals GM Monti Ossenfort has an interest in trading the pick. The Minnesota Vikings are gaining steam to move up in the draft and have the capital to do so by holding two current first-round picks. Other teams like the Raiders, Giants and Broncos have been rumored to have interest in moving up for a quarterback, too. Coach Harbaugh believes the top four picks will be quarterbacks. This leaves the Chargers with potentially having the first pick in the draft for non-quarterback-needy teams. The wide receiver room still needs some serious improvement and Harrison, Jr. is a shoo-in prospect at that position.
The current wide receivers on the depth chart are: Josh Palmer, Quentin Johnston, Derius Davis and Simi Fehoko. Harrison will have four years of a cheap contract to offer, unlike the previous wide receiver situation the Chargers room had. Harrison, Jr. offers immediate starter upside with how polished he is as a receiver. Moving on from Keenan Allen stung the Chargers fan base all around the country. Replacing him with Harrison Jr. would cause the vision to make total sense since it resets the contract situation while maintaining serviceable talent in the wide receiver room. The Chargers pulling this off would be an absolute home run.
Round 2, Pick 37: Mike Sainristil, CB, Michigan
With the departure of Michael Davis, the Chargers cornerback room is in shambles. It currently consists of Asante Samuel Jr, Kristian Fulton, Deane Leonard, and Ja'sir Taylor. While it would be ideal to address the outside first, Joe Hortiz is known to draft the best player available (BPA). Sainristil may be undersized, but the ability he has to stick in coverage is second to none. Sainristil is also known for his tackling ability, which the Chargers have also had an issue with especially at defensive back. He would be an immediate starter in the slot for the Chargers, a position whose importance is still rising with how often wide receivers move around pre-snap to open up matchups on the inside. Sainristil also has familiarity with Harbaugh since he comes from Michigan, which only helps his chances.
Round 3, Pick 69: Brandon Dorlus, DL, Oregon
The Chargers need some help in the trenches, and Brandon Dorlus can provide just that. Jim Harbaugh may be known for stacking the trenches on the offensive side, but he has produced some serious finesse defensive lineman out of Michigan. Mahzi Smith and Aidan Hutchinson match that description, just like Dorlus. Dorlus may be considered a "tweener" on a defensive front but his hand work against blocking and ability to burst through is something Harbaugh loves.
Round 4, Pick 105: Sedrick Van Pran, C, Georgia
Veteran Center Corey Linsley told reporters that he was "99%" retiring due to his heart condition that he uncovered this past season. Linsley was a crucial piece for the Chargers offensive line, and his retirement is a huge blow. The Chargers were able to get Bradley Bozeman in free agency on a team-friendly deal, but he is not the center of the team's future. Van Pran has some room for growth, but serious starter potential. Under Bozeman's wing, he could be a starter by the end of the season in the interior.
Round 4, Pick 110: Braelon Allen, RB, Wisconsin
The Chargers bulked up their running back room last week by adding J.K Dobbins with Gus Edwards, two former Baltimore Ravens who both played under Greg Roman. Edwards will play the role of short-yardage and red-zone back. Dobbins could potentially carry a load. However, Dobbins' health isn't something to bank on. It would be smart to add more depth with a potential future starter in Braelon Allen. Allen is a true between-the-tackles back, who fights for extra yardage. At 6-foot-2 Allen is big, with plenty of mileage to offer at 20 years old. He offers a safety blanket in case Dobbin's health does not work out. If Dobbins is healthy this season, this trio of backs could be lethal.
Round 5, Pick 140: Caedan Wallace, OT, Penn State
Lots of mocks have the Chargers drafting a tackle in the first round. While it makes sense, a wide receiver has too many holes to not address the immediate need with the elite talent you'll have available at fifth overall. Tackle is a very deep position in this draft and can be addressed later. Wallace is a true swing tackle prospect with serious size at 6-foot-5, 341 pounds. Wallace has a lot of experience playing the position as a redshirt senior last year and can offer the Chargers more needed offensive line depth. Harbaugh once again continues to build the trenches in Los Angeles.
Final Notes - Los Angeles Chargers
Despite these six selections, the Los Angeles Chargers will still hold three more selections in the sixth and seventh rounds. The Chargers earned a compensatory pick in the seventh round (253rd overall) due to the 2023 departure of Drue Tranquill, who now resides with the Kansas City Chiefs. This draft addresses extreme positions of need at the proper times with key value remaining late. Another potential position to look out for later in the draft is tight end. Ben Sinnot from Kansas State is a name to watch for the Bolts if he falls to day 3, along with Jack Westover from Washington. Wide receiver and cornerback are two positions to keep an eye out for the Chargers to double-dip in since the lack of depth is so glaring. If the Chargers do select Sainristil, that leaves a potential spot on the outside for a bigger corner to plug in since Sainristil is likely only going to be a nickel player in the NFL due to his lack of size. That could lead to the Chargers double-dipping at a corner. Josh Wallace from Michigan is a potential fit with what Harbaugh and Minter want to do on defense. Other names to look out for are Josh Newton (TCU), Dwight McGlothern (Arkansas), and Caelen Carson (Wake Forest).
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