The Los Angeles Chargers selected Notre Dame offensive tackle Joe Alt with the fifth pick in Thursday’s first round of the NFL Draft and added Georgia wide receiver Ladd McConkey and Michigan linebacker Junior Colson on Friday. So what’s next for the Chargers? Who are the players they could be targeting on Saturday in the final three rounds?
NFL Draft 2024 tracker: Live blog, pick-by-pick grades and analysis
Big board best available: Who’s left from Dane Brugler’s Top 300?
Draft pick grades: Nick Baumgardner, Scott Dochterman rate the selections
Full draft order: Team picks for all 257 selections
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Jaden Hicks, S, Washington State
Safety is an underrated need for the Chargers. They re-signed Alohi Gilman to start next to Derwin James Jr. But the depth is suspect behind those two. Hicks is Brugler’s top-ranked safety. “Hicks is a rangy, intimidating presence, both downhill and on the back end, and he offers the multi-dimensional traits to develop into an NFL starter,” he writes.
T.J. Tampa, CB, Iowa State
The Chargers did not address cornerback in their first three picks. They need help both in the slot and outside. Tampa is Brugler’s top remaining cornerback. He has the size defensive coordinator Jesse Minter is looking for on the outside, although he only has “average long speed,” according to Brugler. Tampa ran a 4.58 at his pro day.
T.J. Tampa had 107 tackles and three interceptions during his Iowa State career. (USA Today)
Ja’Tavion Sanders, TE, Texas
Sanders is Brugler’s second-ranked tight end. Will Dissly and Hayden Hurst bolstered the room, for sure. But the Chargers might be looking to add a long-term plan at the position, as Hurst is only on a one-year deal. Dissly signed a three-year deal. “Sanders needs to become ‘more available’ in his routes and improve his reliability as a blocker, but he is a smooth operator with dynamic talent before, during and after the catch,” Brugler writes.
Troy Franklin, WR, Oregon
Franklin has field-stretching speed on the outside. I like the fit, even though the Chargers did address receiver in the second round with the McConkey pick. “He can be a big-play weapon (before and after the catch), because of his linear twitch and gliding acceleration,” Brugler writes of Franklin.
Jaylen Wright, RB, Tennessee
DJ James, CB, Auburn
James has starting nickel potential, according to Brugler. The Chargers only have one cornerback on their roster with significant experience in the slot: Ja’Sir Taylor. They need more slot talent. They need more slot depth.
Brandon Dorlus, DT, Oregon
Devontez Walker, WR, North Carolina
Mekhi Wingo, DT, LSU
Ten defensive tackles went off the board in the first three rounds. The options for the Chargers to build out their depth at this position are running a bit thin. Dorlus and Wingo are the two best DT prospects on Brugler’s board. Both weigh under 285 pounds.
Audric Estimé, RB, Notre Dame
The Chargers signed Gus Edwards and J.K. Dobbins in free agency. Considering Dobbins is coming off an Achilles injury, they need to add a back on Day 3. Estimé is the type of big, physical, downhill runner who would be a logical fit in Greg Roman’s offense. Brugler compared Estimé to former Seahawks running back Chris Carson.
Malik Washington, WR, Virginia
Cade Stover, TE, Ohio State
Tanor Bortolini, C, Wisconsin
Bortolini was one of the standout testers at the combine. He played center, guard and tackle in college. “He offers encouraging upside, thanks to his fluidity, intelligence and technical skill,” Brugler writes. “He projects as an eventual NFL starter with position flexibility across the interior.”
Sedrick Van Pran-Granger, C, Georgia
Ray Davis, RB, Kentucky
Nehemiah Pritchett, CB, Auburn
Hunter Nourzad, C, Penn State
Nourzad made my final mock as the Chargers’ pick at No. 105. With experience at guard and center, he could push for a starting spot at multiple positions as a rookie. He earned an engineering degree from Cornell and a master’s in business administration from Penn State. Nourzad “maximizes what he has with smarts, physicality and well-schooled technique,” according to Brugler.
Gabriel Murphy, Edge, UCLA
Joey Bosa, Khalil Mack and Tuli Tuipulotu are all returning. But there could be a spot open on the 53-man roster at the fourth edge rusher spot. Chris Rumph II, of course, was a pick by the previous regime. The fourth round is where the Chargers might start considering this position. Murphy was teammates with Laiatu Latu, a projected first-round pick. Murphy still had 61 pressures in 2023, which Brugler notes would have been “No. 1 on 128 other FBS teams.”
Cam Hart, CB, Notre Dame
Hart is a player who makes a ton of sense in the fourth round. He has outstanding length at 6 feet 3 with 33-inch arms. “Hart’s traits are more intriguing than his tape, but his body length and linear twitch are an attractive combination that helps him match up with both size and speed,” according to Brugler.
Mohamed Kamara, Edge, Colorado State
Josh Proctor, S, Ohio State
Proctor made my mock 4.0 as the Chargers’ fifth-round pick, No. 140 overall. I love his vision, and his instincts will translate. “He sees the field well and offers the range and run-defending skills to work his way up an NFL team’s safety depth chart,” Brugler writes.
AJ Barner, TE, Michigan
Evan Williams, S, Oregon
Cornelius Johnson, WR, Michigan
The Chargers could afford to double up on receiver in this draft with where their depth chart stands. Johnson played 61 games for Harbaugh at Michigan, the third-most in program history. He has good size and speed.
Fabien Lovett Sr., DT, Florida State
Lovett was a rotational piece for the Seminoles in 2023, but I like him as a traits option. He is almost 6-4 and weighs 316 pounds with 35.25-inch arms. “He is stout at contact with the God-given length and power to continue getting better as a pass rusher,” Brugler writes.
Qwan’tez Stiggers, CB, Toronto Argonauts (CFL)
Stiggers is one of the most fascinating prospects in the draft. He did not play college football and almost left the sport for good before he found a spot in the 7-on-7 semi-pro Fan Controlled Football League. He parlayed his five interceptions in the FCF in 2022 into a spot in the CFL with the Toronto Argonauts.
“Though most CFL players are free to sign with NFL teams once they complete their contracts,” Brugler writes, “Stiggers’ case is different because he never played college football. Instead, he declared for the 2024 NFL Draft.” Stigger has athleticism and natural ability for the position. Harbaugh’s Chargers coaching staff also has a bunch of ties to the CFL. Senior offensive assistant Marc Trestman was a CFL head coach for seven seasons. Passing game coordinator Marcus Brady both played and coached for the Argonauts.
Trevor Keegan, G, Michigan
Myles Cole, Edge, Texas Tech
Michael Barrett Jr., LB, Michigan
Chigozie Anusiem, CB, Colorado State
Kimani Vidal, RB, Troy
The Chargers might end up addressing running back earlier. But as far as targets later on Day 3, Vidal is intriguing. I think his play style is a good fit for Roman’s offense. Vidal ranked No. 2 in FBS with 94 forced missed tackles in 2023. “His contact balance, run power and pass-pro skills will appeal to a team searching for an instinctive between-the-tackles back,” Brugler writes.
Elijah Klein, G, UTEP
Marcellas Dial, CB, South Carolina
Aaron Casey, LB, Indiana
Tyler Owens, S, Texas Tech
(Top photo of Jaden Hicks: Justin Casterline / Getty Images)
