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Lindsey ThiryESPN
COSTA MESA, Calif. – Los Angeles Chargers coach Brandon Staley says he’s all the time beloved the NFL draft, relationship again to when he was a child rising up in Perry, Ohio.
“I bear in mind the Staley boys are ordering Roman’s wings and potato skins and watching each choose within the draft,” Staley advised NFL Community on the NFL scouting mix in Indianapolis, referring to himself and his twin brother, Jason. “It’s a Staley household custom, there’s nothing higher.”
Regardless of the loaded duty that accompanies an NFL coach in the course of the three-day draft, Staley hasn’t bucked all custom. There might be wings aplenty when Staley participates in his third draft as head coach subsequent month.
“Doing it the best means,” he stated.
And making the proper picks, they hope.
The Chargers can have the chance so as to add key items and complement a roster that they anticipated final season to ship a deep playoff run. However after navigating a number of accidents to complete 10-7 and incomes their first playoff berth since 2018, the Chargers have been bounced from the postseason after a wild card playoff loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars.
In 2023, they’ll try to make a deeper run than they’ve since 2018, once they superior to the divisional spherical. The Chargers haven’t made the AFC Championship Recreation in 16 years.
In the beginning of the brand new league 12 months, the Chargers managed their wage cap scenario, the place they have been as soon as greater than $20 million over the restrict, by restructuring the offers of receivers Keenan Allen and Mike Williams and edge rushers Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack and releasing veteran left guard Matt Feiler.
They re-signed proper deal with Trey Pipkins III and defensive lineman Morgan Fox, two key items on offense and protection, and swooped in to offer a two-year, $13.25 million deal to linebacker Eric Kendricks, who grew to become out there when the Minnesota Vikings launched him as a wage cap casualty.
Nonetheless, holes within the lineup stay. The Chargers are persevering with their pursuit of free agent security John Johnson III, but additionally now should flip their consideration to the draft to spherical out the roster for instant and future wants.
“There’s strengths all over, you’ve simply obtained to seek out them,” normal supervisor Tom Telesco advised the NFL Community in regards to the 2023 draft class. “We’ll discover these gamers, however we’re not essentially drafting for no matter wants now we have this 12 months. Now we have to draft for the long run, so we’ll discover the best guys, however there’s loads of good gamers on this draft.”
The Chargers personal seven choices, together with the twenty first total choose. Here’s a take a look at the positions that may very well be focused.
Large receiver
When requested about velocity, the face of Kellen Moore — the Chargers’ new offensive coordinator by the use of the Dallas Cowboys — lit up.
“Velocity is all the time harmful … If you do have velocity, it’s actually an enormous benefit,” Moore stated at his introductory information convention final month. “Velocity, you’ll be able to’t coach it. Velocity may be very particular. Definitely, you need a few of that. Each man doesn’t want it, there are many methods to play in soccer, however, actually, if you do have it, it’s a pleasant little benefit to have the ability to make the most of.”
Search for the Chargers to hunt a quick receiver who possesses the power to stretch the sector.
When wholesome, the Chargers boast some of the dynamic receiving corps within the league with Allen, Williams and Joshua Palmer. However they lack a real deep menace for quarterback Justin Herbert.
Telesco acknowledged after the season that they lacked explosive velocity at receiver, however added that the playmaking capability of Williams, Allen and Palmer might mitigate it and that he was unwilling to half with any to achieve it.
“Would I like a … 4.3 receiver? Yeah. Are you kidding me? Completely,” Telesco stated. “However, I like the fellows that now we have, too. I’m not giving these guys again.”
He gained’t need to.
With the twenty first choose, the Chargers can have the prospect so as to add an explosive playmaker — like USC’s Jordan Addison, Ohio State’s Jaxon Smith-Njigba or Boston Faculty’s Zay Flowers — on the place.
Tight finish
Tight ends performed key roles in Moore’s offense in Dallas.
It’s an space missing for the Chargers regardless of the return of seventh-year professional Gerald Everett, who possesses versatility within the passing sport however leaves one thing to be desired as a blocker and who is also approaching the ultimate season of a two-year contract.
Deciding on a good finish early would accomplish each of Telesco’s draft objectives: Filling a short-term want but additionally looking forward to the long run.
This can be a key place that have to be addressed and there are a number of prospects within the draft who’ve acquired first and second-round grades.
Operating again
Austin Ekeler is exploring his commerce choices after the Chargers nixed discussions a few contract extension, however with a cool operating again market, it stays a chance that Ekeler will return to play out the ultimate season of his four-year deal.
This place group have to be addressed on a number of ranges: Within the close to future, to construct depth behind Ekeler. However seeking to the 2024 season, it seems seemingly that Ekeler now not might be a Charger, and the crew should discover a again who’s able to main the group into the long run.
Middle
The Chargers have constantly invested of their offensive line, which included using their first-round picks the final two years on left deal with Rashawn Slater and proper guard Zion Johnson.
Middle Corey Linsley returns for the third season of a five-year deal, but it surely’s not too quickly to be wanting on the place’s future.
The Chargers might make the most of a midround choose on a participant able to backing up Linsley, a Tenth-year professional, and who might additionally study at his elbow.
Outdoors linebacker
Bosa and Mack have been anticipated to be among the many prime pass-rushing duos within the league final season, however that expectation didn’t materialize after Bosa was positioned on injured reserve after Week 3.
Bosa and Mack will attempt once more in 2023, and each stay beneath contract for at the least two seasons, however depth have to be constructed behind them.
Chris Rumph II, a fourth-round choose in 2021, was unable to capitalize on his alternative to fill in final season and watched veteran Kyle Van Noy (now a free agent) take a lot of the snaps on the place.
Security
The Chargers are pursuing Johnson, who was launched from the Cleveland Browns with a season remaining on his contract, however there’s no assure they’ll land the free agent.
At present, the depth chart is skinny behind Derwin James Jr.
Alohi Gilman can step in, as he proved final season when now-retired security Nasir Adderley was benched. However questions stay round 2022 third-round choose JT Woods, who might want to show this offseason that he has taken important strides in his growth.
Line of defense
A piece in progress beneath Staley, the road stays an space that have to be tended to this offseason.
If wholesome, the Chargers return a lineup of Sebastian Joseph-Day, Austin Johnson and Fox, plus Otito Ogbonnia. However depth on this group is paramount, as demonstrated final season once they have been pressured to complete one sport with solely three wholesome linemen.