Omar Cooper Jr lines up during National Championship game. Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

NFL Mock Draft Simulation's Debut Is Colossal Disaster For Chargers

Originally posted on Los Angeles Chargers on SI
By Andrew Parsaud | Last updated Apr 1, 2026 4:01 PM ET

The Los Angeles Chargers need more weapons, there's no question about that. After a 2025 season where they failed to have a 1,000-yard rusher or receiver, the Bolts desperately lack a top-end option on offense. New coordinator Mike McDaniel has a solid nucleus to work with, but still would like to have a receiver that strikes fear into opposing defenses.

With Keenan Allen still a free agent, the Chargers' receivers consist of Ladd McConkey, Quentin Johnston, Tre Harris and KeAndre Lambert-Smith. Good, not great. The Chargers have been brought up in trade talks surrounding A.J. Brown, with nothing coming of it as yet. Brown would instantly change the offense, but it doesn't seem like Philadelphia is willing to move him right now.

That could be a move revisited later in the season around the trade deadline. For now, the Chargers need to figure out an option going into the summer. With the draft in just a few weeks, they could opt to select another first round receiver.

In PFF's new mock draft simulation, the Chargers did just that. However, it wouldn't be the move fans would have hoped for in Round 1.

Chargers select Indiana WR in round 1 of new mock draft

Omar Cooper Jr is coming off of his best collegiate season in 2025, posting 69 catches for 937 yards and 13 touchdowns en route to helping the Hoosiers win a National Championship. PFF's Mock Draft Simulator predicted how the first round would go, with Cooper getting slotted in to the Chargers at No.22 overall.

Day 1 of letting the PFF Mock Draft Simulator predict the first round every day until the NFL Drafthttps://t.co/YXqHIJgQnR pic.twitter.com/hvowmN8yBF
— PFF (@PFF) March 31, 2026

This is probably one of the worst mock drafts put out this offseason, as evidenced by the 222 replies. Cooper isn't a bad player by any means and the Chargers do need another receiver, but is he worth selecting in the first round? Would he be that No.1 receiver they desperately need?

Probably not. Seeing as how the board fell, the Chargers could've filled an even bigger need by selecting Kadyn Proctor, who projects to be a guard at the next level, to slot in at one of their spots.

Still, this wouldn't be a horrible pick by the Chargers. They'd have to just hope Cooper can turn into a No.1 wideout eventually. If not, he'd just be another high-end 2 that they already have.

This article first appeared on Los Angeles Chargers on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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