Senior Bowl practices have wrapped up in Mobile, AL, which means the draft season is in full swing. The Los Angeles Chargers are still busy filling out their coaching staff around Jim Harbaugh, but with the state of the roster, this Chargers draft is one of the most important since selecting Justin Herbert 6th overall in the 2020 NFL Draft. Nailing a few of their eight draft picks will be imperative to the success of their 2024 season.
The draft is the first step in building a championship roster, so who from the Senior Bowl should the Chargers draft?
Los Angeles Chargers Draft Watch: Senior Bowl Edition
Center: Jackson Powers-Johnson, Oregon
Corey Linsley’s future is murky. Will Clapp is a free agent. Brenden Jaimes improved over the three games he started but struggled in run blocking.
During his introductory press conference, Chargers head coach, Jim Harbaugh listed protecting Herbert as the offense’s top priority. Drafting Jackson Powers-Johnson would go a long way toward that goal. Another priority Harbaugh listed was employing a power running game. Oregon with Powers-Johnson’s help was third in the nation in yards per carry. At 6’3″ 320 lbs and with high-end athleticism, Powers-Johnson can dominate in gap or zone schemes.
His versatility goes beyond that, he also switched between guard and center during the Senior Bowl practices and showed aptitude at both positions.
Powers-Johnson is only 21 and was only a one-year full-time starter at Oregon, so refinement is needed.
He is being mocked in the early second round, which means if the Chargers draft board is point in this direction, they can snag him with the 37th pick if still available.
Wide receiver: Roman Wilson, Michigan
The big debate for the Chargers draft pick at #5 is tight end Brock Bowers versus wide receiver Malik Nabers. If the Chargers draft Bowers, Roman Wilson would be a smart pick. He is mocked as going in the mid-third round. So the Chargers could use the 69th pick to snag him before the heat is turned up.
The Athletic’s Dane Brugler asses him this way, “Wilson stood out because of his separating skills to win early and late. Wilson has short-area quickness and long speed, but more impressive is his ability to create breakpoint leverage by stemming corners off balance. At times, he moves a little too fast and can lose his balance out of breaks. However, Wilson caught the ball well in Mobile and showed off his compete skills.
Edge: Darius Robinson, Missouri
The Chargers may be facing the prospect of replacing both Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack in the near future. Darius Robinson won’t likely be as dominant as either of them, but he will be a starter in the NFL on whichever team drafts him.
Robinson has the quintessential build of an edge rusher: 6-5, 286. 34 3/4 inch arms and 10 1/2 inch hands. He also has a surprising array of weapons to add to his top-end speed and explosion.
Robinson is picked to go in the third round, but might not make it out of the second round given how shallow the edge rushing pool is in this draft. It would be a reach to take him at 37, but if he is still on the board at 69 the Chargers should jump at the opportunity.