Not only is Lloyd a prospect with plenty of Chargers connections, but he has a real case as the second-best running back in this class behind Florida State’s Trey Benson. He has relatively low mileage on his legs and fits in a running back room with Gus Edwards and JK Dobbins fairly seamlessly as a pass-catcher and slasher in the run game.

Lloyd does come with concerns – namely a lengthier injury history than you’d like from a running back – but he improved his patience as a runner in 2023 and has shown he can thrive inside, outside, or as a receiver in two different offenses as a college player. Adding him as a complementary back to Edwards and Dobbins (if healthy) with the long-term vision of making him the future RB1 would give Los Angeles a rock-solid running back group, and it should only cost a fourth-round pick to do it.

The prevailing discussion around the draft’s top three receivers seems to have settled on Marvin Harrison Jr. and Malik Nabers as the clear top two, with Odunze lagging behind as a clear third. Not here.

Odunze is a complete wide receiver whose run after catch ability has been severely underrated because of his usage in Washington’s offense. He has the tempo and frame of a veteran, reportedly has sterling character grades, and possesses one of the best contested catch conversion rates of any prospect in the draft. He compares his game to that of Davante Adams, a normally impossibly lofty standard that Odunze doesn’t quite meet yet. But he’s a whole lot closer than some of the other players compared to Adams over the years.

This one shouldn’t come as a surprise if you’ve read any of my articles since January. Washington has long been a favorite of the site in general, and his performances at the Shrine Bowl and NFL Combine have only solidified him as a player that should go higher than he’s currently projected in most mock draft simulators.

Washington also has Chargers connections, after national scout James MacPherson put him through position drills at his pro day workout. The Northwestern transfer has picked up some added hype in the last few weeks since then, which could make the timing awkward for a potential selection from LA, who picks at 69th overall and then has to wait until 105th for their next chance.

Sinnott is the second-best tight end in this draft behind Brock Bowers. It’s really as simple as that.

While that’s my opinion, I also think it will be the Chargers’. Ja’Tavion Sanders, while a tantalizing receiving prospect at the position, virtually can’t block in-line because of how he was used at Texas, which will likely be a non-starter for an LA team dead-set on running the air out of the ball. Sinnott, on the other hand, is a plus blocker whose skill set more closely aligns with both the Greg Roman scheme and its more modern offshoots.

Now that we’ve added a second Husky to this list, I want you to guess where I went to college.

Separate from my affiliations to the university, Washington of course has a plethora of prospects in this year’s draft after making a run to the national championship game. Rosengarten is one that’s been on my radar for two full seasons now as the starter at right tackle. Don’t believe me? Check the receipts:

Rosengarten is more of an outside zone tackle, but he has a bit of versatility to him and is one of the few natural right tackles in this draft class, which could make him attractive to the Chargers. LA has been rumored to be searching for upgrades over Trey Pipkins, mostly at the top end of the draft, and sent offensive line coach Mike Devlin to Washington’s pro day in late March. The only trouble here will be draft range: Rosengarten should be a mid-to-late second rounder, right between LA’s picks at 37th and 69th overall.

Glover appeared quite literally out of nowhere on the second day of Senior Bowl practices as the event’s only late addition, putting together a stellar (abbreviated) week in Mobile that went under the radar due to the sheer talent at offensive tackle on display.

Watch Glover’s film, and it’s clear the blueprint of an NFL tackle is there. He shut down two NFL edge rushers (Javon Solomon and Richard Jibunor) in the Troy game this season, but Georgia State’s wide split, catch-block oriented scheme prevented him from showcasing translatable pro technique. He excelled in limited reps with it at the Senior Bowl and is someone who could be a gem later in the draft if the Chargers miss their swings at potential tackles up the board.

You want a physical offensive lineman with the mean streak to fit right in to Jim Harbaugh’s new culture in Los Angeles? Look no further than Haynes, who told a defender “if you’re scared, go to church” during a skirmish at Senior Bowl practices.

Widely projected as a mid-to-late second rounder, Haynes’ fit with the Chargers is seamless from a scheme perspective, but hits a snag when it comes to the capital. He’s expected to be drafted in the lull between 37th and 69th overall, but if Joe Hortiz does some maneuvering on draft day, Haynes is a player to watch to push Jamaree Salyer at right guard. Scouts scattered throughout the league have also reportedly seen Haynes as a potential center prospect.

McCormick has one of the best odds to go before his consensus board position (131st per Jack Lichtenstein) and I’d still bet on him overperforming his draft slot if he went as high as the third round. While he’s an older prospect coming from a small school, McCormick can play all three interior line positions and has ample experience calling protections on the line.

Let’s talk about that “small school”, by the way. South Dakota State has produced three players who should be drafted and another 2-3 who will be signed as UDFAs just in this year’s class, not to mention their recent run of NFL players. Both they and North Dakota State are hardly steps down in competition anymore – high-level FCS football has only gotten closer and closer to Group of 5 and even lower-end Power 5 football in the last 5-10 years.

Look at Wingo’s overall RAS card, and it seems like he’s not a good enough athlete to be a fit in Jesse Minter’s defense, which benefits greatly from having superhuman athletes on the interior defensive line. But look more closely, and it becomes clear that Wingo is that caliber of athlete. He’s just small – his 6’0 1/4″ height is 0.7th percentile and 284 lb weight is 2.23rd percentile for players at his position.

Personally, I do not care. Wingo is a dynamic pass rusher from the interior – something the Chargers desperately need – who was awarded LSU’s prestigious #18 jersey this season as a team leader. Yes, he’ll get overwhelmed by bigger, hulking blockers at times, but those players have to get their hands on him first. Wingo has the quickness and agility to slip those blocks at a decent clip. As a third or fourth round option if LA chooses to address the defensive line later in the draft, I’m there all day.

Here’s the obligatory “Ben Herbert could turn this guy into a monster” entry on the list. Hunt started out as a safety at Cornell, but skipped straight from the back seven to edge rusher when he transferred to Houston Christian prior to the 2022 season. In his first season on the edge, he casually led the Southland conference in tackles for loss and was second in sacks. In his second season, he was the Southland Defensive Player of the Year.

Hunt is still light (252 lbs) for an NFL edge defender, but he has the room on his frame to add functional weight and strength to hold up against a pro rushing attack. He’s a bendy bundle of tools waiting to be unlocked who could turn into (at least) a designated pass rusher after being drafted on Day 3 this week.

Michigan connection. Lock it in.

Genuinely, Colson is my highest rated linebacker in the draft once accounting for the injury risk associated with North Carolina State’s Payton Wilson. He has a sublime combination of run defense and coverage ability that makes him both a good fit for where the league is (pass the ball always) and where it’s likely to go (running the ball against light boxes designed to stop you from passing the ball always).

If the Chargers want Colson, it looks increasingly likely that they’d have to pull that trigger at 37th overall, unless they make some trades to pick up an extra second round pick. Despite a winter of landing him at 69th overall in mock draft simulations, the general weakness of this linebacker class will likely make Colson a hot commodity once the second round hits.

The elevator pitch for why any NFL team should draft Renardo Green is this year’s LSU tape. He played like a man possessed in that game, locking up both Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr. in pretty much exclusively press coverage. Watch just that game, and it’s a wonder why Green isn’t talked about as a top corner in the class.

Green is an old-school corner (read: he’s not afraid to beat the hell out of you) whose style will probably draw more flags in the NFL than it did in college, and his 4.54 40 yard dash time was less than inspiring. But he’s an eager run defender and tough press defender who simply does not allow receptions if he’s in the area when the ball arrives. Give him a safety over the top and teach him the subtleties of NFL cornerback play and he could be the steal of the draft.

Stiggers is, simply put, one of the best stories in the draft. After signing with Division II Lane College (alma mater of Chargers edge rusher Andrew Farmer) out of high school, Stiggers’ father tragically passed away in a car accident just before the start of the season at Lane. Instead of playing, Stiggers dropped out and moved back home. After a two-year hiatus, Stiggers popped back up in Fan Controlled Football in 2022, parlaying that into a tryout with the Toronto Argonauts in 2023.

Then, he won CFL Rookie of the Year.

As a class of 2020 recruit, Stiggers was not eligible for free agency as he originally thought. Instead, he’s eligible for the draft and participated in January’s Shrine Bowl, where he was one of the event’s better corners. It seems foolish to bet against him now, even if he’s had to prove he belongs in a more unconventional way than most draft prospects. As a Day 3 flier, there are far worse options.

Taylor-Demerson is small for a traditional safety at just 5’10” and 197 pounds. But he’s also not a traditional safety – while he’s excelled in both split and high safety looks, his best spot in the NFL will likely be in the nickel.

A charismatic personality sure to light up the locker room, Taylor-Demerson likely starred on the whiteboard in team interviews if his on-field instincts are any indication. He has 4.4 speed, good tackling form, and the instincts of a player five years older than him. Likely to land in the fourth round range, the Chargers could potentially pick up a starter with either their fourth or fifth pick (105th or 110th overall).

Simpson is in a similar mold as Taylor-Demerson: he’s a little taller, but slimmer, has the same 4.4 speed, has played in the nickel and at safety. The difference is that Simpson’s on-field production arguably puts him much more cleanly in the corner bucket because of his lackluster run support, making him more of a true tweener than Taylor-Demerson.

Despite this, Simpson is simply good at football, which is generally a trait you want from players on your team. I think he has a role in a defense as multiple as Minter’s, where there’d be ample opportunities for the staff to utilize his athleticism and maximize his skill set at either spot.