Brandon Staley heads into his third draft as the Chargers coach confident in his core group of starters.
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.
