Bolts Detail Their Biggest Needs Heading Into the Draft

The Los Angeles Chargers are heading into the 2024 NFL Draft with seven picks, and the team will be picking at #5 on top of that. They could choose to trade down or go with the best player available. 

Whatever they choose to do, the team will need some home runs from the draft, and it will be up to HC Jim Harbaugh and GM Joe Hortiz to ensure they have the right kind of collaboration to bring in some fantastic young talent. 

That said, here are the biggest needs that the Chargers need to address from the draft. 

1. Cornerback

It is no secret that the Chargers truly messed up with the J.C. Jackson mess. Jackson signed a five-year $82.5 million contract but was traded for two late-round picks just a year after he was signed. This was a major whiff for Tom Telesco, who is now with the Raiders. 

The secondary has not done a great job since, only having one playmaker in Asante Samuel Jr. Ja'Sir Taylor and Deane Leonard are not proven starters, and are more on the special teams side of things.

The Chargers do have Michael Davis, but he is a pending free agent that the team might not want to keep around. 

The front office may want to add young and dynamic playmakers who can partner with Samuel to add some much-needed fuel to this ailing unit. 

2. Offensive Line

The offensive line was one of the most impacted units for the Chargers in the 2023 season. 

Starting center Core Linsley suffered a medical issue early on and has since announced he is more than likely going to retire. Will Clapp was sort of a good backup, but he dealt with his own injuries. 

Center is a huge need for the Chargers, and they can address this issue with some young talent from the draft. 

Trey Pipkins III and Zack Bailey also had injuries, so the tackle position will need an upgrade to mitigate the issues that were caused by that group being a man down at any given moment. 

3. Running Back

There is no telling what Austin Ekeler will do. He has stated he wants to return to the team, especially with Harbaugh running the show. Still, he began the season wanting a bigger contract and failed to impress in his would-be contract year. 

The team does have Joshua Kelley and Isaiah Spiller, but are they true starters? We did not see enough from Spiller to make that call just yet. Kelley is fine as a RB2, but he doesn't appear to be a three-down back. 

Harbaugh and OC Greg Roman want to establish a complementary run game, and they are likely to look to the draft to bring in some young talent that can be the tough running sort the team needs.