As the Los Angeles Chargers usher in the Jim Harbaugh era, they are poised to make a significant impact under the leadership of the former Michigan head coach, who returns to the NFL following a successful stint culminating in a national championship with the Wolverines.
According to ESPN’s Jordan Reid in his final 2024 NFL mock draft, the Chargers are set to embrace the Harbaugh philosophy by prioritizing the foundation of their team, starting with the selection of Notre Dame’s standout offensive tackle, Joe Alt, widely regarded as the top prospect at his position in the draft.
Los Angeles Chargers Seven-Round Projections
Round 1, Pick 5: Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame
“The offensive line has always been the hub of the offense with [new coach Jim] Harbaugh,” an AFC director of college scouting said while discussing the Chargers a few weeks ago. “He didn’t even have that many highly recruited wideouts at Michigan, and now that thought process is supposed to change?” Wide receiver is a reasonable way to go here with both Washington’s Rome Odunze and LSU’s Malik Nabers on the board, but Harbaugh likes to build up the trenches, and he could pair Alt with Rashawn Slater to do just that. Alt is versatile as a blocker and really difficult to get around.”
Round 2, Pick 37:
Ladd McConkey, WR, Georgia
The Los Angeles Chargers’ depth at wide receiver is reportedly one of the weakest in the league, following the trade of Keenan Allen and the release of Mike Williams. Given that the Chargers selected an offensive tackle in the first round, it is crucial to add a skilled receiver who can create separation and become a reliable target for quarterback Justin Herbert. According to the source, TCU’s Quentin Johnston is a potential candidate for this role, as he has a talent for finding open spaces and would be a valuable addition to the offense from the outset.
Round 3, Pick 69:
Trey Benson, RB, Florida State
“The top running back on my board, Benson is a tackle-breaking machine. He fits well in Greg Roman’s downhill scheme and could complement new signee J.K. Dobbins.”
In the later rounds of the draft, ESPN’s mock draft has the Chargers, led by Jim Harbaugh, selecting the following players: Kentucky linebacker Trevin Wallace (105th overall), Boston College cornerback Elijah Jones (110th overall), Washington linebacker Edefuan Ulofoshio (140th overall), Illinois wide receiver Isaiah Williams (181st overall), Furman tight end Mason Pline (225th overall), and Texas Tech safety Tyler Owens (253rd overall).
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