The Los Angeles Chargers NFL Draft class is set in stone, and the best way to set expectations is to make a few comparisons to pros with similar play styles. While every prospect is unique in their own certain way, every rookie to ever enter the league is akin to an established veteran that has made a respectable career in the NFL.
Pro Comparisons for the Los Angeles Chargers NFL Draft Class
Quentin Johnston – Mike Williams
We’ve already covered this comparison at length in previous articles, but the Chargers essentially doubled down on size during the 2023 NFL Draft. At 6′-4″ and 215 pounds, Quentin Johnston is a bigger receiver that simply has the size to dominate every single cornerback in the league. He’s never truly covered, and he can make plays down the field just by boxing out defenders and hauling in contested passes.
Much like an early Mike Williams, Johnston isn’t much in terms of a route runner, but that can be improved with time. While he’ll never have Keenan Allen’s smoothness at the top of routes, he doesn’t need to be. Additionally, much like Williams, Johnston is tough to bring down after the catch, so if he can create just a little more separation for himself, then he could form a lethal duo with Mike Williams.
Tuli Tuipulotu – Jonathan Allen
Tuli Tuipulotu set the record books ablaze during his final season at LSU, and it’s easy to see how he did that. The defensive lineman is remarkably quick on his feet, blessed with great speed off the line and multiple pass-rushing moves to keep defenders on their toes. His biggest weakness is strength and he is a little undersized, so that will keep him from matching his collegiate production at the professional level. Much like Allen, look for Tuipulotu to develop into a solid starter that will rack up 5-9 sacks per season.
Daiyan Henley – Deion Jones
While he has fallen off a bit in recent years, it wasn’t that long ago that Deion Jones was one of the best all-around linebackers in football. The former Atlanta Falcon had the range to chase plays down all across the field and excelled in coverage against tight ends and running backs. While he wasn’t the best tackler, his above-average work in the passing game easily made up for that. Daiyan Henley is cut from the same cloth, although his relative inexperience at the position shows up sometimes when he doesn’t drop as deep as he should in zone.
Derius Davis – Tavon Austin
Derius Davis is technically a wide receiver, but it’s clear that he’s going to spend most of his time on special teams. The TCU product possesses blazing speed and is electric with the ball in his hands, making him a natural fit as a returner and gadget player. If he can learn how to run routes at the NFL level, he could turn into a decent deep threat, but he has a long way to go in that regard.
Jordan McFadden – Will Hernandez
Jordan McFadden will provide the Chargers with some valuable depth along the offensive line, but it’s hard to see him ever developing into a full-time starter. However, if he irons out some flaws in his game, he has the raw potential to turn into an adequate starter like Will Hernandez. He can push defenders back in the run game and has no problem getting to the second level. His biggest weakness is his slow footwork, so he’ll need to improve on that if he ever wants to start.
Scott Matlock – Chris Jones (Patriots, not Chiefs)
Scott Matlock doesn’t have the size to hold up to the run on a consistent basis, but he has the athleticism and motor to get after the quarterback on passing downs and collapse the pocket. In today’s NFL, that is far more valuable than a lane-stuffing run defender, although, with the state of the Chargers interior defensive line, he might just be the best at defending the run as well.
Max Duggan – Taylor Heinicke
Wrapping up the Chargers draft class is Max Duggan. Duggan plays an objectively fun style of football that probably won’t translate too well to the NFL. Much like Taylor Heinicke, he sometimes thinks he’s Josh Allen, and tries (unsuccessfully) to do the amazing things that the Bills quarterback can do on a frequent basis. If he accepts his physical shortcomings, he could be a solid backup in this league for years to come.
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