NFL Draft 2024 Rumors: JC Latham Eyed by Jim Harbaugh, Chargers Amid Trade Buzz
April 25, 2024
If the Los Angeles Chargers decide to stand pat with the No. 5 overall pick, head coach Jim Harbaugh's team could select right tackle JC Latham.
On Thursday, ESPN's Matt Miller reported that the "latest buzz" has the Chargers holding onto the No. 5 selection and picking Latham if they aren't "blown away" by a trade offer.
ESPN's Todd McShay also linked Latham to the Chargers:
Todd McShay @McShay13No 2024 NFL Mock Draft ⛓️ for me. But here's what I'm hearing…<br><br>1. CHI QB Caleb ☑️<br>2. WASH QB Jayden ☑️<br>3. NE plan:<br>-HIGHLY LIKELY the Pats stick and pick Maye. <br>-Would only move back if A. They get a HAUL to move back and B. They have a 2nd trade in place with AZ at 4 or LAC at…
This comes one day after an NFL executive told ESPN's Jeremy Fowler that Los Angeles has made it "clear" that the team wants to "move back."
As the Chargers look to build around quarterback Justin Herbert, they've been linked to several wide receivers and offensive tackles leading up to the draft. While former first-round pick Rashawn Slater has developed into one of the league's top left tackles, the right side of the line hasn't been as productive in recent years.
Trey Pipkins III started all 17 games at right tackle for Los Angeles in 2023, although the results were a mixed bag. According to Pro Football Focus, he allowed nine sacks and committed seven penalties while accumulating a subpar 62.8 overall player grade.
Latham would represent an upgrade at the spot, although the No. 5 pick may be a bit higher than his draft range. Miller also noted that the 21-year-old struggled with penalties in college, committing 18 of them.
Bleacher Report's NFL Scouting Department ranked Latham as the No. 3 offensive tackle and No. 13 overall player in the 2024 class on the most recent big board.
B/R NFL Scout Brandon Thorn brought up the former Alabama standout's "striking blend of size, play strength, power and competitive toughness to overwhelm defenders in the run and pass game" in his scouting report of the tackle.
With several holes to fill on the roster, it's not surprising to see why Los Angeles would be interested in moving back and accumulating more early picks. However, it appears that Harbaugh and the Chargers' front office have their eyes on Latham if no trade materializes.