ESPN’s Jordan Reid released his new seven-round mock draft on Tuesday.
The highly-touted draft analyst kicks off the Chargers’ draft with the selection of former Texas running back Bijan Robinson.
I’ve said this before, but I do not advocate taking a running back in the first round. But if it’s Robinson, an exceptional talent, you can’t pass up on him. Los Angeles could be entering the draft without a No. 1 running back if Austin Ekeler is traded.
But even if Ekeler is still on the roster, Los Angeles has shown they have struggled to develop running backs taken on Day 3 of the draft. With Robinson, he would step in from Day 1 and boost the Bolts’ rushing attack and passing game.
Here is what Reid said about the pairing:
With Austin Ekeler requesting a trade, the backfield options for the Chargers could be slim. If you leave out positional value, Robinson is a top-five prospect in this class. The Chargers could take the best player available and add him to an offense that now has an exciting young rusher behind quarterback Justin Herbert.
In the following round, L.A. finds their tight end of the future in Oregon State’s Luke Musgrave.
Musgrave missed most of the 2022 season with an injury, but in the two-game stretch when he was on the field, though, he caught 11 passes for 165 yards and a touchdown. Then, Musgrave returned and raised eyebrows at the Senior Bowl and combine.
While his blocking is a work in progress, Musgrave has the hands and overall receiving ability to be a mismatch in the passing game from Day 1. At 6-foot-6 and 253 pounds, Musgrave is well built, long, and has the athleticism and speed to separate consistently.
Then, to close out Day 2, Reid pegs USC edge defender Tuli Tuipolotu to the Bolts.
The Chargers need more players capable of disrupting opposing quarterbacks behind Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack. Tuipolutu, the 6-foot-3 and 266-pounder, has shown plenty to fit that billing, having logged 42 pressures and 13.5 sacks last season.
To open up Day 3, Reid sends Minnesota cornerback Terrell Smith to Los Angeles. J.C. Jackson is still recovering from his patellar tendon rupture that ended his season. Therefore, depth at the position is needed.
Smith possesses a great size and speed profile, standing at 6 feet and 204 pounds with a 4.41 in the 40-yard dash. He’s experienced in all coverages and is a reliable tackler in the open field.
The Chargers finally address the wide receiver position in Round 5 by selecting Michigan’s Ronnie Bell.
Given the need for speed, Bell doesn’t necessarily fit the billing, as he is not the fastest on the field, evident from a 4.51 40. Instead, his game is predicated on good route running, a big catch radius and strong hands.
In Round 6, Los Angeles selects Stephen F. Austin’s B.J. Thompson to further add depth to the EDGE group.
Thompson ran a 4.56 40, recorded an 11’3″ broad jump with a 40-inch vertical last offseason, and the freakish athleticism is evident on the field. Thompson wins with first-step explosiveness, speed, a few counters, bend, and his 82.5-inch wingspan.
To close out his seven-round projections, Reid adds depth along the offensive line with Shepherd’s Joey Fisher.
Fisher was an All-American at the Division II level, starting three seasons for the Rams. For his efforts, Fisher played at the NFLPA Bowl and was then called up to the Senior Bowl.
He will likely kick inside to guard after primarily playing tackle due to a lack of ideal measurements. But still, Fisher has superior athleticism, foot quickness, and lateral agility to contribute at the next level.
