Los Angeles Chargers: 5 First-round targets in the 2018 NFL Draft
The Los Angeles Chargers have the No. 17 pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, but who are they guys they should value most in the first round?
The 2018 NFL Draft is here and we’re getting close to knowing where these players will fall. For the Los Angeles Chargers, they sit in an peculiar position at No. 17 considering the holes they need to fill at safety, defensive line, linebacker and possibly quarterback.
However, like every draft, there are gonna be some guys that slip through the cracks and guys who have been undervalued by most media outlets. That’s where the Bolts can make their money.
Here are the five prospects the Chargers should target in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft.
1. Mike McGlinchey, OT, Notre Dame
Mike McGlinchey is the top rated tackle on most boards, but as the draft continued to draw nearer, his stock fell overall. There’s no doubt that the Chargers would have McGlinchey on their board. He’s a left tackle, but for the Chargers, he could feel the void they have on the right side. McGlinchey may not be there by the time the Chargers pick at No. 17, but with so many quarterbacks thought to go early, there’s bound to be some slippage by some top 10-15 rated guys.
2. Lamar Jackson, QB, Louisville
The Chargers need to start thinking about a successor for Philip Rivers. They do have Cardale Jones and Geno Smith on the roster, but neither of those players are the future. Rivers isn’t opposed to the idea of the team inevitably taking a quarterback to secure the future, either (per NFL.com):
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"“I think Tom, John, and Coach Lynn, these guys know my desire to continue going and hopefully play at a high level for a handful of more years. But at the same time, shoot, as an organization you’ve got to prepare for down the road. If the right guy [is there that] they see fit, at some point they’re going to have to make that decision.”"
With Jackson’s natural athletic ability and raw arm talent, he’d be a solid insurance policy. Additionally, the Chargers will be afforded the opportunity to have him under contract for at least five years with no rush on playing him. The great thing is that the young core of guys they currently have with Rivers at the helm allows them to win now still.
3. Rashaan Evans, LB, Alabama
The Chargers run defense was terrible last season (No. 31), so they’ll need to improve their front seven. Defensive coordinator Gus Bradley coached athletic fast linebackers like Telvin Smith and Bobby Wagner during his stints with Jacksonville and Seattle, guys that are “small” but have the athleticism to move around in space. Evans is one of the more underrated first-round talents who had been vastly overlooked.
Hailing from the school has produced the likes of C.J. Mosley, Reuben Foster and Dont’a Hightower, Evans has the chance to be as good as any of them. Pairing him with Denzel Perryman would be an upgrade over what they currently have on their roster. His ability to blitz makes him dangerous on the inside, but he can also rush off the edge, so he’d be great outside as well.
4. Da’Ron Payne, DT, Alabama
Keeping the theme that is improving their 31st ranked run defense by adding to their front seven using a player from Alabama, the Chargers and Da’Ron Payne are a match made in heaven. They have a hole at defensive tackle and are in need of a guy who can clog the middle, but also be a disruptive force against the pass. Payne is arguably the best kept secret as it pertains to the first round defensive tackle with Vita Vea getting all the attention.
However, Payne possesses great athleticism for a guy that’s built like a 6-3, 311-pound wrecking ball. His 4.90-second 40 at the Combine was icing on the cake that was his college film where he always jumped off the screen. Payne’s glaring strength is his ability to stop the run and he does so at high level, which will automatically translate to the NFL. He’s a non-stop motor guy who’ll bring more energy to a defensive line that already has studs across the board.
Next: NFL Mock Draft 2018: Final projection on draft day
5. Connor Williams, OL Texas
Connor Williams is arguably the best tackle in this draft, but there are concerns about his length, which knocks him out of top 15 contention on some boards. Even still, Williams is a fantastic run blocker and has proven to be a dominant pass blocker. The Chargers can draft Williams and either play him inside at right guard while moving Forrest Lamp to right tackle, or plug and play Williams as a Day 1 right tackle. Williams’ skill-set will improve the Chargers rushing offense and help Melvin Gordon live up to the lofty expectations bestowed upon him.