The Chargers have taken former Washington State linebacker Daiyan Henley with the No. 85 overall selection in the 2023 NFL draft.
Los Angeles needed more playmakers in the middle of the defense, even after the addition of Eric Kendricks, and Henley gives them just that.
Henley finished his first and only season at Washington State with 106 tackles – second in the Pac-12 – adding 12 tackles for loss, four sacks, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and one interception. The Nevada transfer was the only Cougar named to the All-Pac-12 first team.
At 6 feet and 230 pounds, Henley has the speed and range to make plays sideline-to-sideline and downhill. His length gives him a great tackling radius and he misses very few tackles. As a former safety, Henley is proven in coverage. And as a former edge defender, he can get home as a blitzer.
