COSTA MESA, Calif. — The Los Angeles Chargers are going through a roster reset, and that process, with a new regime in place, has been a double-edged sword. On one hand, the overhaul overseen by coach Jim Harbaugh and general manager Joe Hortiz created holes. On the other hand, that roster makeup has given the Chargers considerable flexibility in this year’s draft.
Through two days, Harbaugh and Hortiz have used that flexibility to their advantage. The Chargers have emerged with three players who provided value at their respective draft slots while also filling needs.
On Day 1, that was tackle Joe Alt, the best offensive lineman in the class. On Day 2, Friday night, the Chargers addressed two of their thinnest position groups in receiver and off-ball linebacker. Heading into the draft, the Chargers only had four rostered players at each position.
After passing on two premier receivers at No. 5 overall, Harbaugh and Hortiz traded up with the New England Patriots from No. 37 to No. 34 in the second round to select Georgia receiver Ladd McConkey. With their next pick, No. 69 overall in the third round, the Chargers selected Michigan linebacker Junior Colson, who won a national championship with Harbaugh last season.
McConkey was the No. 31 overall player on our draft expert Dane Brugler’s big board. Colson ranked No. 42 overall, and he was Brugler’s top-ranked off-ball linebacker.
“It was a good Day 2 for us,” Hortiz said.
The Los Angeles Chargers traded up to pick former Georgia wide receiver Ladd McConkey in the second round on Friday. (Trevor Ruszkowski / USA Today)
Hortiz has preached a best-player-available approach, and that came to life in the second and third rounds.
The Chargers traded No. 37 and No. 110 in the fourth round for No. 34 and No. 137 in the fifth round to move up and take McConkey. Hortiz said he received calls to both trade up and trade down in the second round. In the end, McConkey was the player the Chargers had “targeted,” according to Hortiz.
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“We were able to work out the deal when we were on the clock and went for it,” Hortiz said.
McConkey provides many of the attributes the Chargers needed at receiver, especially after the team moved on from Keenan Allen and Mike Williams this offseason for cap reasons.
McConkey has field-stretching speed, which is evident both in his testing (4.39 40-yard dash) and on film.
“Love the guys that can in the 4.3s,” Harbaugh said.
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McConkey is one of the most refined route-runners in this year’s draft. He has a great feel for how to set up defenders. He uses his short-area quickness and shiftiness to win on releases at the line of scrimmage. He maximizes the effectiveness of his speed by changing tempos at all levels of his route.
“It’s one of the things that pops on film,” Hortiz said of McConkey’s route-running. “How he sets up routes, spatial awareness, getting off the ball, understanding releases, understanding when to change gears. He’s precise.”
One NFL talent evaluator compared McConkey to 15-year pro Brandon Stokley, whom the Baltimore Ravens drafted in 1999. Hortiz was in the Ravens’ personnel department for that draft.
Both Hortiz and Harbaugh likened McConkey’s yards-after-the-catch ability to tight end Brock Bowers, who was teammates with McConkey at Georgia. Bowers went No. 13 overall to the Las Vegas Raiders.
“He’s just got a great burst up the field,” Hortiz said of McConkey.
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McConkey does not have ideal size. He is 5 feet 11 and 186 pounds. That body type most often profiles as a slot player. But the Chargers believe McConkey can play both in the slot and outside. He did that at Georgia. According to Brugler, McConkey played more than 70 percent of his snaps on the outside.
“What he offers is versatility,” Hortiz said.
“He’s shown he can be an outside receiver,” Harbaugh said.
McConkey should see time in the slot. He should also see time as the Z receiver outside on the strong side of formations.
The Chargers’ receiver group is starting to fit together. Quentin Johnston is at his best at X, with his big frame and athleticism. Joshua Palmer can play all three spots — X, Z and slot. McConkey can be a chess piece depending on where the Chargers want to align Palmer.
“Just a lot of football intelligence in his play that carries over in both positions,” Hortiz said of McConkey.
The one caveat with McConkey is durability. According to Brugler, McConkey played through “nagging” toe and knee injuries in 2022, even though he did not miss a game. In 2023, McConkey missed four games with a back injury and missed another game with an ankle injury.
“I’m 100 percent,” McConkey said of the injuries. “All of that is in the past.”
Hortiz pointed out that McConkey returned to the field and finished the season with Georgia. He could have opted out of the Orange Bowl against Florida State to prepare for the draft. He played in that game.
“Our doctors feel great about him,” Hortiz said.
Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert developed a palpable synergy with Allen during their four seasons together. Allen is so quarterback-friendly in his route-running and how he attacks defenders’ leverages. Herbert had trust in Allen, and it is easy to see how McConkey could cultivate a similar rapport with the Chargers’ franchise quarterback.
“The quarterback knows where he’s going to be,” Hortiz said.
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Colson has a chance to make an immediate impact. The Chargers moved on from both of their starting linebackers from last season. Eric Kendricks was released for cap savings. Kenneth Murray signed with the Titans.
Hortiz and Harbaugh signed Denzel Perryman and Troy Dye in free agency. Daiyan Henley, a 2023 third-round pick, and Nick Niemann were the only other two linebackers on the roster heading into Friday night.
Colson has intimate knowledge of the Chargers’ defensive scheme. Harbaugh brought defensive coordinator Jesse Minter with him from Michigan. Colson starred in Minter’s system last season en route to that national title.
Harbaugh noted that Colson played with casts on both of his hands in the second half of last season after suffering broken bones.
“He’s got the size. He’s a downhill backer, but he can also go sideline to sideline. He knows the system,” Harbaugh said. “Big-time competitor. … Size, speed, athleticism. Instincts probably would be the number-one thing for an off-the-ball linebacker to play inside. Tough. I would tell the guys on the team here that here comes another big-time competitor.”
The Chargers did not expect Colson to be there at No. 69, according to Hortiz.
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Colson was the signal-caller for the Wolverines last season. He could wear the green dot for the Chargers. If they prefer to give that role to the veteran Perryman, Colson can also play as a Will linebacker alongside Perryman, according to Harbaugh. Henley’s rookie season was derailed by a hamstring injury in the preseason, but he has a tantalizing skillset with his athleticism and violent play style.
The Chargers made two position groups deeper and better Friday night.
And they did not have to sacrifice value to do it.
(Top photo of Jim Harbaugh: Kirby Lee / USA Today)
