COSTA MESA — Quentin Johnston’s first practice in the NFL felt similar to the ones he had in college at TCU.

Derius Davis was lined up next to him at the other wide receiver spot and they caught passes from Max Duggan.

But instead of the Horned Frogs’ practice field, it was the opening session of the Chargers’ rookie minicamp.

Johnston was the 21st overall selection by the Bolts two weeks ago, while Davis was picked in the fourth round and Duggan in the seventh.

“It almost feels identical. It feels like we’re back in Fort Worth again,” Johnston of the Friday morning session.

This was the first time since the common draft era started in 1967 that a team has selected a quarterback and multiple skill position players from the same school in a single draft.

“Obviously, the first day, you get to come in and it’s a bunch of new guys and throwing with them,” Duggan said. “With Q (Johnston) and D.D. (Davis), I know them a little bit and have some timing, but it was fun to be out there with them.”

Johnston – who had 60 receptions for 1,069 yards and eight touchdowns last season as TCU reached the national title game – acknowledged he felt as if he was still in draft mode until Friday morning, when he started taking part in meetings and got on the field for the first of two days of rookie practices.

Johnston has also had a chance to catch up with his new teammates. Veteran receivers Keenan Allen, Mike Williams and Joshua Palmer visited Johnston at his hotel during his first trip to Los Angeles after being drafted.

“Kind of a crash course they gave me of what to expect, how stuff is run, a baseline so that I could get an understanding and feel for the football team, as much as I can at that point,” Johnston said of the meeting.

The reason Johnston was selected was his ability to stretch the field. He averaged 8.9 yards after the catch during his career at TCU, which is one area where the Chargers have been lacking in recent seasons.

Duggan, a Heisman Trophy finalist and the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year, is in the mix to compete with Easton Stick for the backup QB spot since Justin Herbert is entrenched as the franchise quarterback.

When it comes to differences between college and the NFL, Duggan said the concepts are similar but there are other things to pick up.

“There’s probably a little bit more on your plate as a quarterback in this league for protections, variations, tagging certain routes and things of that sort,” he said. “I think it just kind of comes on a bigger scale. It’s something that I’m learning to do. I’m excited to try and get on it.”

Davis got plenty of work in offensive drills, but his main contribution is expected to come on special teams as the kickoff and punt returner. He ran back five punts and one kickoff for scores during his career, including two last season.

Of the three, Davis seemed to be having the most fun practicing with his longtime teammates.

“Max, he’s been my quarterback ever since he got to TCU,” he said. “It was just great to get back out there, to run routes with him. We know we already have a connection, so the timing was really on. To have Q out there working beside me – we were kind of winded, so we were out there joking about it.

“It was good to be out there with those guys.”

While the three TCU players have a common bond, Chargers coach Brandon Staley noted that this is a new learning process.

“You may know each other, but everything you’re learning is brand new, so you almost feel like a freshman again,” he said.

Johnston, Davis and Duggan signed their rookie contracts before hitting the field for practice.

Linebacker Daiyan Henley (third round), offensive lineman Jordan McFadden (fifth round) and defensive lineman Scott Matlock also signed their contracts last week, leaving former USC defensive lineman Tuli Tuipulotu (second round) as the only member of the draft class not under contract.

The Chargers open the season at home against the Miami Dolphins on Sept. 10 and finish at home with what could be a key matchup with the Kansas City Chiefs in early January, the team’s first time playing a home game to finish the regular season since 2017.

Single-game tickets will go on sale beginning Thursday at 7 p.m.

The Chargers play the Las Vegas Raiders at home in Week 4 (Oct. 1) before an early bye week.

After the bye, the Chargers play host to the Dallas Cowboys on “Monday Night Football” on Oct. 16, beginning a stretch of three prime-time games in four weeks.

After a road game at Kansas City in Week 7 (Oct. 22), the Chargers host the Chicago Bears for “Sunday Night Football” on Oct. 29.

In Week 9, they play at the New York Jets on Nov. 6 for their second “Monday Night Football” game of the season, pitting quarterback Justin Herbert against new Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

For the team’s second “Sunday Night Football” appearance of the season, the Chargers will host the Baltimore Ravens in Week 12 (Nov. 26) at SoFi Stadium. The Chargers play at the Raiders on Thursday, Dec. 14.

In Week 16, the Chargers host the Buffalo Bills on Saturday night (Dec. 23), with the game broadcast exclusively on Peacock.

The Chargers close 2023 on New Year’s Eve on the road against the Denver Broncos before concluding the regular season at SoFi Stadium against the Chiefs on Jan. 6 or 7.

2023 CHARGERS SCHEDULE

Sept. 10 – vs. Miami, 1:25 p.m.

Sept. 17 – at Tennessee, 10 a.m.

Sept. 24 – at Minnesota, 10 a.m.

Oct. 1 – vs. Las Vegas, 1:05 p.m.

Oct. 8 – BYE

Oct. 16 – vs. Dallas, 5:15 p.m. (MNF)

Oct. 22 – at Kansas City, 1:25 p.m.

Oct. 29 – vs. Chicago, 5:20 p.m. (SNF)

Nov. 6 – at New York Jets, 5:15 p.m. (MNF)

Nov. 12 – vs. Detroit, 1:05 p.m.

Nov. 19 – at Green Bay, 10 a.m.

Nov. 26 – vs. Baltimore, 5:20 p.m. (SNF)

Dec. 3 – at New England, 10 a.m.

Dec. 10 – vs. Denver, 1:25 p.m.

Dec. 14 – at Las Vegas, 5:15 p.m. (Thurs.)

Dec. 23 – vs. Buffalo, 5 p.m. (Sat.)

Dec. 31 – at Denver, 1:25 p.m.

Jan. 6 or 7 – vs. Kansas City, TBD

Patrick Mahomes and the Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs will kick off the NFL season against the upstart Detroit Lions in a matchup of high-powered offenses and will host Jalen Hurts and the Philadelphia Eagles in a Super Bowl rematch on “Monday Night Football” in Week 11.

Aaron Rodgers will make his New York Jets debut in the first Monday night game of the season against the Buffalo Bills and later faces the Miami Dolphins in the NFL’s first Black Friday game on Nov. 24.

Thanks to Rodgers’ arrival in the Big Apple, the Jets will have six nationally televised games, including their first Sunday night game since 2011 when they take on the Chiefs on Oct. 1. That will be the first Mahomes-Rodgers matchup.

“It’s not going to be monotonous with all the 1 o’clock games we’re used to,” Jets coach Robert Saleh said on NFL Network.

Coming off their second championship in four seasons, the Chiefs will host the Lions on Sept. 7 on “Thursday Night Football.” The Lions finished 9-8 last season after a 1-6 start and knocked Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers out of the playoffs with a 20-16 victory at Lambeau Field in the final regular-season game.

Mahomes, the two-time NFL MVP, led the Chiefs to a 38-35 comeback win over the Eagles in the Super Bowl. The teams will battle at Arrowhead Stadium on Nov. 20.

Fans will get their first look at Rodgers in his new green-and-white No. 8 Jets jersey when New York hosts Josh Allen and the Bills in an AFC East matchup on Sept. 11.

The NFL released the full schedule for its 104th season on Thursday night after revealing five international games and several others earlier in the day and Wednesday.

Other highlights include a rematch of the NFC championship game in Week 13 and a rematch of the AFC title game in Week 17. Hurts and the Eagles will host the San Francisco 49ers on Dec. 3. The Chiefs will host Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals on New Year’s Eve.

The Eagles knocked quarterback Brock Purdy out of the conference title game on their way to a dominant 31-7 win. Purdy had elbow surgery in the offseason, but he should be ready by the time the teams meet again.

The Thanksgiving tripleheader features three division games. It begins with Jordan Love and the Green Bay Packers visiting the Lions. The Dallas Cowboys then host the Washington Commanders and the Seattle Seahawks host the 49ers in prime time.

Mahomes and the Chiefs will host AFC West rival Las Vegas in the early game of the Christmas Day tripleheader. The Eagles will host the New York Giants in one of 14 playoff rematches on the 2023 schedule. Lamar Jackson and the Ravens wrap up Christmas action in San Francisco.

The New England Patriots also announced that seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady will be honored at the team’s home opener against the Eagles on Sept. 10. Brady, who led the Patriots to six Super Bowl titles, retired in February after spending the last three seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

On Wednesday, the NFL announced that Trevor Lawrence and the Jacksonville Jaguars will become the first NFL team to play two international games in the same season when they spend back-to-back weeks in London.

The Jaguars will host the Atlanta Falcons at Wembley Stadium on Oct. 1 and visit the Bills at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Oct. 8. The Jaguars were set to play two designated home games in London in 2020 but the pandemic canceled those plans.

The Tennessee Titans will host the Baltimore Ravens at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Oct. 15. The Chiefs will host the Dolphins in Germany at Eintracht Frankfurt Stadium on Nov. 5. The Patriots will host the Indianapolis Colts on Nov. 12, also in Frankfurt.

Bryce Young and C.J. Stroud, the first two picks in the draft, are scheduled to meet in Week 8 when the Carolina Panthers host the Houston Texans.

There will be three Monday night doubleheaders in Weeks 2, 3, and 14.

The Eagles have the toughest strength of schedule based on last year’s standings. Their opponents had a .566 winning percentage in 2022. The Falcons, who play in the lowly NFC South, have the easiest schedule with an opponents’ winning percentage of .417.

The NFL’s 18-week, 272-game regular-season schedule concludes with 16 division games in Week 18, including two on Saturday, Jan. 6.

Two days after taking wide receiver Quentin Johnston in the first round, the Chargers used the 23rd pick of the fourth round to select fellow Horned Frog receiver Derius Davis on Saturday.

“I went to Quentin’s party … I saw him get drafted,” Davis said on a media call. “We’ve been friends for quite a while, since we got to TCU. To have that relationship with him and being able to keep on playing with him, it is truly a blessing. I’m speechless right now.”

While he was second on the team to Johnston with a career-best 42 receptions for 531 yards this past season, the 5-foot-8, 165-pound Davis showed his value on special teams.

Davis won the Jet Award as the nation’s top return specialist, averaging 20.43 yards per kick returns and 14.89 yards per punt return, and was one of just five players with two punt returns for touchdowns.

“My game, as a returner, I always tell people that I’m explosive. Me personally, I feel like I get the party started,” Davis said. “At TCU, there were times where we didn’t have any points on the board and I was the first one to score during my return, so I feel like I’m a party starter. Hopefully, I can do that for the Chargers. I know I will do it for the Chargers. I’m just blessed to be a Charger. It’s just a blessing.”

The speedster, who ran a 4.36 40-yard dash at the NFL draft combine, came up with five receptions for a season-best 101 yards in the 65-7 CFP national championship game loss to Georgia on Jan. 9, 2023, at SoFi Stadium.

Davis finished the season with eight touchdowns – five receiving, two on punt returns and one rushing.

In other Day 3 picks:

Fifth round

The Chargers took Clemson offensive lineman Jordan McFadden with the 22nd pick in the round. The 6-foot-2, 303-pounder was a three-year starter and team captain for the Tigers. Though the two-time All-ACC player lined up at both tackle spots, McFadden could see more time as a guard for the Chargers.

Sixth round

With the 23rd pick in the round, the Chargers opted for Boise State defensive tackle Scott Matlock. The 6-4, 308-pounder was an All-Mountain West second-team pick and started every game the past two seasons.

Seventh round

The Charger completed their draft like they started it – drafting a TCU star as they chose quarterback Max Duggan with the 239th overall pick and the 22nd pick of the round. Speedy and scrappy – he ran a 4.52-second 40 at the combine – Duggan led the Horned Frogs to the CFP title game. The Heisman Trophy runner-up, who threw for 3,698 yards and 32 TDs against only eight interceptions, could battle for the backup job.

2023 Chargers draft

1 (22) – WR Quentin, Johnston, TCU

2 (23) – OLB Tuli Tuipulotu, USC

3 (22) – ILB Daiyan Henley, Washington State

4 (23) – WR Derius Davis, TCU

5 (22) – OG Jordan McFadden, Clemson

6 (23) – DT Scott Matlock, Boise State

7 (22) – QB Max Duggan, TCU

The Chargers selected former USC defensive end Tuli Tuipulotu in the second round of the NFL draft on Friday night, using the 54th selection on the former Trojan.

And in doing so, the Chargers guaranteed that Tuipulotu will stay close to his roots in Hawthorne and at Lawndale High.

“I’m happy for sure,” Tuipulotu said. “I haven’t left L.A. for most of my life so I was kinda preparing myself to go somewhere far, East Coast, something like that. But I’m happy to stay home, be close to family.”

Tuipulotu was a three-year starter at USC and a two-time first-team All-Pac-12 selection, the first honor coming as a sophomore. But he elevated his game as a junior, leading the nation with 13½ sacks and recording 46 tackles and 22 for loss.

The performance led to Tuipulotu being named Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year in 2022 and a consensus first-team All-American. He credited his growth as a junior to USC’s new defensive line coach, Shaun Nua.

“He prepared me very well throughout that season,” Tuipulotu said. “There’s a big jump from my sophomore year to my junior year and a big reason for that was my coach, Nua.”

Tuipulotu is the second USC player selected this year, following wide receiver Jordan Addison’s selection by the Minnesota Vikings in the first round.

The Chargers showed an early interest in Tuipulotu, with a scout in January making the first contact of any NFL team after the Trojan declared for the draft. He went to the team’s local pro day and had a Zoom meeting with the Chargers two weeks later.

The 6-foot-4, 266-pound Tuipulotu provides needed depth at defensive end for the Chargers. The team already has Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack in place, but Tuipulotu will have the opportunity to learn from two decorated edge rushers while being a necessary reinforcement behind them.

“Coming into the league, that’s what I wanted,” Tuipulotu, 20, said. “I wanted the best to learn from, and man, Joey Bosa and Khalil, that’s crazy. So I’m excited for the opportunity. I’m a sponge so I’m going to absorb all the info they give me and just try to get better.”

Despite having a strong trio with Mack, Bosa and safety Derwin James, the Chargers were ranked 20th in total defense, 21st in points allowed per game and the fifth worst against the run last season.

Tuipulotu should give the Chargers more versatility up front after moving around the defensive line for USC and even moving back to a blitzing linebacker at times for the Trojans.

“He has a lot of the characteristics that we think translate to playing championship defense,” Chargers coach Brandon Staley said. “He’s really tough and rugged at the point of attack. He can rush from the outside and from the inside. He has versatility that way. He has the play style that we’re really attracted to.”

The Chargers continued to add to the defense in the third round and again stayed local, selecting Washington State linebacker Daiyan Henley with the 85th overall pick.

A Los Angeles native, Henley attended Crenshaw High prior to spending the first five years of his collegiate career at Nevada. He transferred to Washington State as a redshirt season and recorded 106 tackles to go with four sacks, one interception and three forced fumbles. The 6-foot-2 Henley excelled in rushing defense, with 40 run stops.

Tom Telesco, who is handling his 11th draft as the Chargers’ general manager, and Staley both said Henley’s biggest impact this season might come on special teams, where he played on all four units.

“I think he’s got a lot of ability, but there’s a lot to see and learn in the pro game for an inside linebacker,” Staley said. “We think he’s got a lot of good things to work with and I think he really upgrades our athleticism at that position.”

Henley was named to the All-Pac-12 first team and the All-America second team by College Football News.

“Those two guys really took advantage of their opportunity in that (team pro day) setting,” said Staley, who is going into his third season as the Chargers’ coach. “I’m from Cleveland and Northeast Ohio, which is a special place for football, but Southern California has taken it to a different level.”

The Chargers, who drafted TCU wide receiver Quentin Johnston in the first round, have four selections on Saturday, one in each round.

CHARGERS PICK UP HERBERT’S OPTION, DECLINE MURRAY’S

The Chargers officially exercised their fifth-year option on Justin Herbert on Friday as they work toward signing their franchise quarterback to a long-term deal.

Meanwhile, Telesco said the Chargers would not be picking up the option for linebacker Kenneth Murray.

The deadline for teams to pick up the fifth-year option on first-round picks from the 2020 draft class is Tuesday.

Herbert, the sixth overall selection in that draft, is the first quarterback in NFL history to throw for at least 4,000 yards in each of his first three seasons. Since entering the league, he is second in completions (1,316), third in passing yards (14,089) and sixth in passing touchdowns (94).

By virtue of being selected to the Pro Bowl in 2021, Herbert’s fifth-year option is worth $29.5 million, the same as Cincinnati’s Joe Burrow, who was the top pick in 2020. Miami’s Tua Tagovailoa, who went one pick before Herbert, also had his option picked up at $23.17 million.

Herbert, who led the Chargers to their first playoff appearance since 2018 last season, was second in the league in completions (477) and passing yards (4,739) despite suffering a rib injury in Week 2 and then a torn labrum in his left, non-throwing shoulder in Week 17. He had surgery on the shoulder in late January and is expected to be ready for the start of training camp.

Murray’s option would have been worth $11.73 million. Telesco said not picking up the option was more of a salary cap decision. With Herbert expected to sign a large extension at some point, the Bolts also have large contracts with receivers Keenan Allen and Mike Williams as well as linebackers Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack. Excluding Herbert, the other four players have a salary cap number of at least $32 million each in 2024.

The Chargers traded with New England to move up into the first round to take Murray with the 23rd overall selection in 2020.

The Associated Pres contributed to this story.

LOS ANGELES — Justin Herbert says he’s more concerned about rehabbing his left shoulder than a contract extension.

The Chargers quarterback said during the team’s draft party on Thursday night that he is hoping to be on the field for the team’s organized practices in less than a month. Herbert had surgery to repair a torn labrum on his non-throwing shoulder in late January after being injured in a Jan. 1 victory over the Rams.

“I think negotiations is a better question for my agent and the front office,” Herbert said. “My job now is to focus on being the best quarterback that I can be and to rehab my shoulder and make sure that I can be back for these OTAs and to do everything I can in the building.”

Herbert was second in the league in completions (477) and passing yards (4,739) last season as the Chargers made the playoffs for the first time since 2018. Even though he hasn’t started throwing, he has been spending plenty of time with new coordinator Kellen Moore as the Chargers develop their playbook.

Herbert estimated that his shoulder strength is currently around 70% and that he anticipates being completely healthy for the start of training camp in late July.

General Manager Tom Telesco said during his pre-draft news conference on Monday that there were no updates on negotiations with Herbert’s camp.

Cincinnati’s Joe Burrow and Miami’s Tua Tagovailoa – who were selected before Herbert in the 2020 draft – already have had their fifth-year options picked up. The Chargers are expected to do the same with Herbert next week.

Herbert’s agents and the Chargers without a doubt are using the Jalen Hurts and Lamar Jackson five-year contract extensions in their calculations.

Hurts’ deal is worth $255 million, including $179.3 million in guarantees from the Philadelphia Eagles. Jackson’s contract with the Baltimore Ravens is expected to be $260 million, with $185 million guaranteed.

The Chargers and Herbert would both like to get an extension done before the start of the regular season. But he said he has put that work in the hands of his agents, adding that he wants a deal that works for all sides.

“I kind of leave it up to the people who I hired to work on my behalf because they’re the experts. But obviously providing your input and making sure that everyone knows exactly what you would like from the situation is important,” Herbert said.

LOS ANGELES — Quentin Johnston’s three years of putting up big plays at TCU made him one of the top wide receiver prospects in this year’s NFL draft. It was his combine interview with the Chargers that made him the 21st overall pick Thursday night.

“I think there’s some times when a guy leaves a 15-minute interview and you look at each other (in the room) and say, ‘Yeah, that’s one of us.’ And that’s how we felt,” Coach Brandon Staley said.

Johnston provides another weapon for quarterback Justin Herbert as the Bolts look to make the playoffs for the second straight season.

Johnston led the Horned Frogs in receiving the last three years. He had 60 receptions for 1,069 yards and eight touchdowns last season as TCU went from unranked at the beginning of the season to the national title game, which it lost to Georgia at SoFi Stadium, his new home field.

“They told me that I impressed them in the first interview that they had with me at the combine. After watching the film, they said that they were sold,” Johnston said.

Staley’s interest in Johnston started before the combine. Staley said he watched almost all of the Fiesta Bowl, when Johnston had six catches for 163 yards, including a 76-yard touchdown as the Horned Frogs beat Michigan in a College Football Playoff semifinal. Johnston was named the Offensive MVP of that game.

Staley also referenced Johnston’s performance in the Big 12 championship game, when he had four receptions for 139 yards.

Over his three seasons at TCU, Johnston had 115 catches for 2,190 yards and 14 touchdowns along with nine 100-yard games. He averaged 22.1 yards per catch in 2020, the highest by a true freshman in Big 12 history among players with at least 20 receptions.

The 6-foot-3, 208-pound Johnston joins a talented Chargers receiving room that already has Keenan Allen, Mike Williams and Joshua Palmer. General Manager Tom Telesco and Staley were looking for someone who can stretch the field or generate mismatches for explosive pass plays.

The Chargers also need to build depth at the position since Allen is going into his 11th season and missed seven of the first nine games last season with a hamstring injury. Williams was sidelined for five games.

“To walk in a room with Mike Williams and Keenan Allen, you can’t get much better than that. He is still really young and has a lot of learning to do. He has some physical characteristics he can add to our offense,” Telesco said.

Johnston also averaged 8.9 yards after the catch, which is one area where the Chargers have been lacking in recent seasons.

“I’m really comfortable with everything, but the things that I have had the most success at would be curls, slants, in-routes and posts – a lot of in-cutting routes,” he said. “Being a taller receiver that is able to create real separation at the line, as well at the top of the route. Then, what I can do with the ball in my hands is something that, I feel like, it’s a no-brainer for somebody to pick me.”

The Chargers selected Johnston over Zay Flowers (Boston College) and Jordan Addison (USC). Ohio State’s Jaxon Smith-Njigba was the first wide receiver to be selected, going to Seattle with the 20th pick, which started a run of four straight receivers being picked, including Johnston.

Johnston projects as an outside receiver, which might make it difficult for him to start right away ahead of Allen and Williams. But Staley isn’t ready to say what Johnston can or can’t do.

“He comes into a wide receiver room as good as any in the league. All Quentin needs to do is come in and be himself,” Staley said.

So, what is there tangible to discuss in the run-up to Thursday night’s draft in Kansas City?

The Chargers have the 21st pick. Most of the mock drafts seem convinced it will be used on defensive help or another target for Justin Herbert. And the last we heard, General Manager Tom Telesco was noncommittal about whether he was going to lug the surfboard that seems to be his lucky draft talisman to the team’s draft party Thursday at the Westfield Century City Atrium.

“I haven’t even thought about that yet,” Telesco said at his pre-draft availability earlier in the week. “I’ve been pretty busy.”

The surfboard made its first appearance during the 2020 proceedings amid the pandemic, when Telesco was working from home and the team-branded board appeared over his shoulder while he was interviewed after picking Herbert with the No. 6 pick overall after the Miami Dolphins had selected Tua Tagovailoa at No. 5. With that success in mind, the board made it to the draft room at the Chargers’ Costa Mesa facility in 2021 and to their draft party at SoFi Stadium last April, both of which have been bountiful drafts.

We’re guessing it’ll somehow find its way to Century City, where the war room will be set up and Telesco and Coach Brandon Staley will be available after Thursday night’s pick is announced.

As for the Rams? They’ve again secured a house to use as their draft “lab,” this time in Tarzana. The 10,000-square foot residence includes a movie theater, putting green, pool, outdoor bar and fire pit, and given that the Rams will be idle on Day 1 barring an unexpected (read: shocking) trade that gets them back into the first round, those amenities might be useful.

The Rams also have a huge gap between their third-round pick, No. 77, and their fifth-round selection, No. 167. They have 11 picks all told, four compensatory selections for the losses of free agents, and all but three come in the final three rounds.

“I think a lot of people on our staff would love for us to at some point move back to cover some of that gap,” General Manager Les Snead said this week. “It’s always a beneficial option based on accumulating more picks, maybe filling that gap. But you can always trade up too from the fifth round into those gaps so there’s many ways to accomplish that.

“And at the end of the day, it’s going to be, ‘Hey, when we get on the clock is there a trade partner? Is there not? Is there a player in that moment that we really feel good about and we want to make a Ram.”

The dilemma: The Rams could be in the market for a quarterback, which sounds funny considering that Matthew Stafford won them a Super Bowl two seasons ago and appears to be back to full health. But Stafford is also 35 and has 14 seasons of tread on his tires. Snead is daring enough to try to get into the first round, but daring enough to trade a batch of future first-round picks to get a shot at, say, former Rancho Cucamonga High and Ohio State standout C.J. Stroud, Florida’s Anthony Richardson, or Kentucky’s Will Levis?

Forget Alabama’s Bryce Young, the former Mater Dei High standout who is expected to be the No. 1 selection. Carolina spent plenty to get that pick – specifically, sending wide receiver D.J. Moore, two first-round picks and two second-rounders to Chicago – and the only way the Rams could wrest that away might be to trade Cooper Kupp, Aaron Donald, and two or three future No. 1’s to the Panthers. Better, maybe, to wait a year and take a run at USC’s Caleb Williams next spring when they’ll have their own first-rounder to spend?

For the Chargers’ Telesco and his staff, at 21 there are options.

A survey of 35 mock drafts – out of, what, hundreds of lists that professional and amateur draft geeks have compiled and will be revising right up to Thursday night’s first pick – revealed a little bit of consensus. Twelve different players were listed as probable/potential/bear-with-me-because-I’m-guessing picks, and Boston College wide receiver Zay Flowers (9), USC’s Jordan Addison (6), and tight ends Dalton Kincaid of Utah and Michael Mayer of Notre Dame (5 apiece) were on the most lists. Penn State cornerback Joey Porter Jr. (3) was the only other player listed more than once.

As to the suggestion that the Chargers might be looking at additional running back help while Austin Ekeler’s trade request plays out, Telesco said at his pre-draft briefing that Ekeler’s situation wouldn’t change the team’s approach. Part of that likely goes back to the idea that running backs – even high-production ones – are replaceable in today’s NFL. And part of it is the idea that some players need a year or two to find their footing, as Ekeler once did.

“We had Joshua Kelley and Larry Rountree (III) here, then we drafted Isaiah Spiller last year,” Telesco said. “Isaiah kind of fits in the category of players from previous drafts having to step up and fill needs.

“Typically, like in this year’s draft, not a lot of these guys are going to come in and (immediately) fill a need. When you look at the draft, when you draft players in the third, fourth, fifth, sixth round, people think that they are going to come in and immediately fill a need. You hope that they come in and earn a role. But you’re really looking for players from previous draft classes to rise up, (for safety) JT Woods, (defensive back) Ja’Sir Taylor, Isaiah Spiller and some other guys, have those guys step into roles. We think that it’s a pretty good room right now, so I wouldn’t necessarily look at it like that.”

It’s worth noting that Kelley was a fourth-round pick in 2020, Rountree a sixth-rounder in ’21 and Spiller a fourth-rounder in 2022. In other words, for Telesco and particularly the Rams’ Snead, the real work will occur Friday and Saturday and the report card likely won’t be filled out until two to three years down the road.

Bottom line, given that strange things can happen in any draft? Be ready. (And, in Telesco’s case, bring the surfboard.)

jalexander@scng.com

The team’s objective heading into this year is to improve the depth of a franchise that made the playoffs last season for the first time since 2018, but continues to have a string of significant injuries yearly.

“We’re at the point now, with where our team is, where we can just keep onboarding the right type of players, the right type of guys in the right spots because I think we have our starters kind of situated for the most part,” Staley said during the scouting combine.

Staley and General Manager Tom Telesco are looking to give quarterback Justin Herbert as many playmakers as possible.

The Chargers have a solid receiving trio in Keenan Allen, Mike Williams and Joshua Palmer. Still, they have yet to be able to stretch the field consistently or generate mismatches for explosive pass plays. They also need to build depth at the position since Allen is going into his 11th season and missed seven of the first nine games last season with a hamstring injury. Williams was sidelined for five games.

“Team speed is something that we’re committed to. We just want to make sure that we don’t force the issue,” Staley said. “It’s more about the player we want to draft than that specific trait. If we can find the player that matches the trait, that would be great. But we’re trying to have people that can impact the offense, and that can come in a lot of different places.”

Receivers Zay Flowers (Boston College), Jordan Addison (USC) and Jaxon Smith-Njigba (Ohio State) are possibilities if they’re still on the board when the Chargers go on the clock with the 21st pick.

PICK ’EM

It will be the first time the Chargers have the 21st overall selection. It will be the fourth time since Telesco has run the draft room that the Bolts will pick in the 20s in the opening round. He took cornerback Jason Verrett 25th overall in 2014, defensive tackle Jerry Tillery with the 28th selection in 2019 and linebacker Kenneth Murray Jr. with the 23rd selection three years ago after making a trade with New England to get back into the first round.

The Chargers have seven selections this year.

NEEDS

Besides a speedy wide receiver, an all-around tight end, a running back and depth on the offensive and defensive lines are on the Chargers’ wish list.

Gerald Everett is a solid receiving tight end and Tre McKitty, a third-round selection in 2021, is a blocking specialist, but the Chargers lack a player who can do both equally well. That might be more of a priority this upcoming season, with Kellen Moore taking over as offensive coordinator and his tendency to use more two tight end sets.

Austin Ekeler has been the team’s top running back for the past three seasons, but he is locked in a stalemate with management and has received permission to seek a trade. Staley and Moore have also prioritized having a consistent running game.

DON’T NEED

A starting quarterback. Telesco is expected to try to get a long-term extension with Herbert done before the start of the season.

LOW RETENTION

Telesco has consistently hit on his first-round picks – including linebacker Joey Bosa, safety Derwin James, offensive tackle Rashawn Slater, Williams and Herbert – but he hasn’t had the same luck outside the first round.

Only four of 39 players eligible for a second contract have re-signed with the Chargers.

The prevailing theory appears to be toward giving star quarterback Justin Herbert and new offensive coordinator Kellen Moore another weapon. Not only could the Chargers afford to get younger, wide receivers Keenan Allen and Mike Williams have missed significant time recently with injuries, tight end Gerald Everett isn’t regarded for his blocking and running back Austin Ekeler is in a contract dispute and received permission to pursue a trade.

Of course, head coach Brandon Staley could lean into his defensive background and replenish the team in the trenches or edges or in the defensive backfield.

In reviewing 12 mock drafts, here are some players – many on the offensive side of the ball – whose names are coming up as potential fits for the Chargers with the 21st overall pick:

Jordan Addison, WR, USC

Of the 12 mock drafts, four slotted the 5-foot-11, 173-pound Trojan, who transferred from Pittsburgh as the 2021 Fred Biletnikoff award winner, to stay close to home and go to the Chargers.

Mel Kiper Jr., ESPN: “He could be one of the favorites for Offensive Rookie of the Year, because new offensive coordinator Kellen Moore will get creative and use him all over the field.”

Doug Farrar, Touchdown Wire: “Addison isn’t the biggest receiver, and he won’t win a lot of power battles as a result, but his ability to displace defenders with route exactitude and leverage may make him one of one in this class.”

Walter Cherepinsky, WalterFootball.com: “Addison has game-breaking speed, and he had an incredible 2021 campaign with 17 touchdowns. He’s a major reason why Kenny Pickett was drafted in the first round.”

Nick Guarisco, Action Network: “Chargers WR coach Chris Beatty recruited and coached Addison at Pittsburgh. Further … Addison actually decommitted from Maryland to follow Beatty to Pitt. These are the kinds of connections that sometimes move the needle.”

Dalton Kincaid, TE, Utah

Three mock drafts stuck with offense but gave Herbert a significantly bigger target at 6-4 and 246 pounds. The All-Pac-12 first-teamer suffered a back fracture in late November but was medically cleared earlier this month.

Dane Brugler, The Athletic: “Justin Herbert would love to see this projection come to fruition on draft night because it would give him arguably the best pure pass catcher in the entire draft.”

Chad Reuter, NFL.com: “Justin Herbert played very well his rookie year when he had Hunter Henry as his safety valve at tight end. Kincaid has similar attributes as Henry.”

Brendan Donahue, Sharp Football Analysis: “Dalton Kincaid has been described by scouts as a more explosive Dalton Schultz, with whom new Chargers offensive coordinator Kellen Moore is very familiar.”

Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame

Mayer isn’t as athletic as Kincaid, but the 6-4½ 249-pounder is arguably the best all-around tight end in his class and has been regarded as such since joining the Fighting Irish.

Peter Schrager, NFL.com: “He can pass block and loves to road grade in the run game. Bottom line: The Notre Dame product can play right away in an NFL offense.”

Bijan Robinson, RB, Texas

If the former Longhorns running back lasts this long, this could make sense in light of Ekeler’s displeasure with the lack of a contract extension. The 5-11, 215-pound Robinson is considered one of the top players in the draft but at a devalued position.

Matt Miller, ESPN: “Robinson is a three-down, do-it-all back who can very quickly be the best in the NFL. … Robinson’s contact-balance, vision and speed are top tier.”

NBC Sports Edge Staff: “Bijan is simply too talented to fall further than this. With Austin Ekeler unhappy and on the final year of his deal, this pick becomes even more of a no-brainer.”

Calijah Kancey, DT, Pittsburgh

The comparisons to Pitt legend Aaron Donald are out there and probably unfair, but the 6-1, 281-pounder tore up the NFL combine with the fastest 40-yard dash time for a defensive tackle (4.67 seconds) since 2006.

Todd McShay, ESPN: “The Chargers still haven’t cleaned up their run defense – they finished dead last in yards allowed per rush at 5.4 in 2022. Kancey is undersized at 281 pounds, but he has explosive power.”

Cam Smith, CB, South Carolina

The 6-1, 180-pound junior would bring a physicality to a secondary that lost safety Nasir Adderley to retirement, endured the struggles and injuries of cornerback J.C. Jackson and could lose cornerback  Michael Davis to free agency in 2024.

Chris Trapasso, CBS Sports: “Another assertive, athletic, ball hawk for the Chargers’ defensive backfield.”