Los Angeles Chargers Trade Back Scenarios
With the NFL Draft right around the corner, the anticipation builds. More than that, the rumors begin to boil out of the neverending pot full trade talks, mock drafts, and NFL analysts that give their insight into who might go where starting on Thursday night. However, that also includes trade-back scenarios for teams. For the Los Angeles Chargers, it’s pretty evident what they need, and as long as Tom Telesco doesn’t do anything unordinary – the Chargers should walk out of the draft with exactly what they need to fill their roster.
With their first pick being number 13 overall, it makes the most sense for them to beef up the offensive line, even after signing Matt Feiler and Corey Linsley to shore up the front group in an effort to keep Justin Herbert vertical.
While the number 13 pick can yield them a big-time talent, whether it’s a corner or offensive line stud, the Chargers could elect to trade back and stockpile an extra pick or two.
Will Tom Telesco even be open to moving back a bit? Last year he traded back into the first round to snag Kenneth Murray. A few years back he traded up also. However, this year might be one of those times he moves back in the first round, especially given how the first dozen picks could turn out with as many as four quarterbacks slated to go in the first 15 picks.
With that being said, here are a few possible scenarios if the Chargers do elect to move back in the draft.
Trade Back Scenario #1: Chargers make a deal with the Chicago Bears
As stated before, there are a million different ways this draft could go. For the Bears, Matt Nagy and Ryan Pace are on the hot seat and Andy Dalton clearly isn’t the quarterback of the future- or even of 2021- in Chicago. Granted, one of the quarterbacks could easily drop down to 13 and a team like Chicago would pull the trigger. Again, this hinges entirely on what’s available at 13, but the likelihood of one of the top four gunslingers dropping isn’t entirely out of the realm of possibilities.
The Chargers would add an extra third-rounder, and they could sit back and potentially snag Christian Darrisaw at 20 overall. While many are mocking either Rashawn Slater or Alijah Vera-Tucker to them, Darrisaw is a solid choice and could immediately slot into the starting group upfront. With that extra third, they could snag a player like Thomas Graham Jr. to shore up the defensive secondary.
Scenario #2: Chargers trade with the Pittsburgh Steelers
This would be surprising, or would it? It’s no secret that the Steelers desperately need a running back. Benny Snell and Anthony McFarland aren’t true workhorse backs, and Mike Tomlin and crew aren’t going to waste away Ben Roethlisberger‘s potential last season in the Steel City.
The Steelers snag Najee Harris, jumping other running back needy teams in the New York Jets and Arizona Cardinals.
The Chargers get an extra second-round pick and they slide back and can take someone like Teven Jenkins, assuming he’s there at 24. Then that extra second-round pick can allow them to go corner and EDGE, or double down on the offensive line.
Scenario #3: Chargers move all the way down to #28
Stop me if you’ve heard this before – the Saints are (reportedly) trying to trade up in the first round. It happens quite a bit, and this would be a massive jump for New Orleans. This is the least likely of the three Chargers trade-back scenarios. However, if somehow, someway, Mac Jones drops to 13, the Saints could pounce and get their quarterback of the future.
For the Chargers, moving back 15 spots might seem like a lot, but adding two extra picks would give them more assets to work with. The Chargers could get their starting cornerback in Eric Stokes or Asante Samuel Jr, and in the second round, they could use one pick on an EDGE and another pick on an offensive tackle such as Dillon Radunz.
It’s simple – if Telesco doesn’t move up, he might pounce and an offer of a quarterback-needy team or a running back-needy team.
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