Chargers general manager Joe Hortiz said the quiet part out loud last week.
Much of his free-agent maneuvering over the past month was tailored to new offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel’s game plan for 2026, based on the success McDaniel had with a quick and nimble attack during his four seasons as the Miami Dolphins’ head coach.
Don’t expect anything to change as the Chargers select their five picks over seven rounds of the NFL draft starting Thursday in Pittsburgh.
The Chargers weren’t exactly slow and plodding with Greg Roman as their offensive coordinator the past two seasons, but they weren’t as dynamic as they could have been and they weren’t as productive as they should have been with quarterback Justin Herbert at the helm.
Despite a number of moves designed to improve the Chargers’ protection of Herbert, especially the signing of ex-Washington Commanders Pro Bowl center Tyler Biadasz, there remains plenty of concern about the offensive line. They would appear to need help at left guard.
Or right guard in case ex-Miami Dolphins guard Cole Strange can’t cut it.
Or backup tackle in case Pro Bowl tackles Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater aren’t sound to start the season after suffering season-ending ankle and knee injuries, respectively, in 2025. Hortiz said both are ahead of schedule in their rehab and recovery, though.
Or any number of other offensive or defensive positions.
Hortiz said last week he intends to select the best player available when the Chargers make their first pick at No. 22 overall Thursday because picking for need invariably means passing over a more talented player who could help in the long run even if he’s not playing in the short term.
There is plenty of uncertainty while drafting late in the first round, as the Chargers did last season, and Hortiz acknowledged the need to be ready with a number of options. In his first draft with the Chargers, Hortiz said he was almost certain Alt would be available with the fifth pick.
Last year, running back Omarion Hampton was a pleasant surprise to still be available at No. 22. The Chargers snapped him up without a second thought, and although injuries limited him to 545 yards rushing nine games, he is No. 1 on the depth chart going into 2026.
Here’s a look at how the Chargers’ draft might unfold, with help from Pro Football Focus, Pro Football Network, The Athletic, NFL Mock Draft Database and plenty of old-fashioned guesswork that will probably prove to be 100% wrong by the time Thursday rolls around:
Round 1, Pick 22
The pick: OL Olaivavega Ioane, Penn State
Measurables: 6-foot-4, 320 pounds
Analysis: Ioane started 11 games at left guard for Penn State this past season after starting 16 at left guard the year before and five at left guard the season before that one. So, he would fit seamlessly into the Chargers’ plans at left guard. At present, Trevor Penning is atop the depth chart at left guard despite playing primarily as a left tackle in place of the injured Slater last season, one of many who tried and failed to play up to the level of Slater. Tall order, though. Trouble is Ioane might not be there when the Chargers make their pick and they might have to go in a different direction. In addition to left guard, the Chargers also need depth at the edge rusher position after outside linebacker Odafe Oweh signed during the offseason with the Commanders. Hortiz said he believed the draft was deep with outside linebackers.
Other options: Florida DT Caleb Banks, Texas A&M OL Chase Bisontis, Indiana WR Omar Cooper, Tennessee CB Colton Hood, Central Florida OLB Malachi Lawrence, Utah OL Caleb Lomu, Ohio State DT Kayden McDonald, Clemson OLB T.J. Parker, Oregon TE Kenyon Sadiq, Clemson DT Peter Woods, Missouri OLB Zion Young.
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Round 2, Pick 55
The pick: OL Emmanuel Pregnon, Oregon
Measurables: 6-4, 314 pounds
Analysis: The Chargers could very well wait until the second round to address their need for an offensive lineman, with their first-round pick falling between other teams selecting Ioane earlier and Chase Bisontis of Texas A&M later. So, that’s where Pregnon could fit the bill. He has played right and left guard, but mostly left guard, during his collegiate career. The scouting report on the former USC Trojan is that he’s athletic, experienced and well-rounded. He was a first-team All-American and All-Big Ten selection this past season at Oregon.
Other options: Texas A&M OL Chase Bisontis, Tennessee WR Chris Brazzell, Iowa OL Gennings Dunker, Kansas State C Sam Hecht, Florida DL Darrell Jackson Jr., Penn State OLB Dani Dennis-Sutton.
Round 3, Pick 86
The pick: OLB Joshua Josephs, Tennessee
Measurables: 6-3, 242 pounds
Analysis: The edge rusher position is another critical need for the Chargers, who have two of the NFL’s best in likely Hall of Fame candidate Khalil Mack and Pro Bowl pick Tuli Tuipulotu. But the Chargers need depth at the position and Josephs could be helpful if they select an offensive lineman in either the first or second rounds. Josephs is said to have an NBA-like wingspan, which no doubt helped him record 33 tackles with four sacks and three forced fumbles last season.
Other options: Arkansas CB Julian Neal, Duke OL Brian Parker II, Georgia Tech OL Keylan Rutledge, Florida C Jake Slaughter, Iowa OL Beau Stephens.
Round 4, Pick 123
The pick: DT Gracen Halton, Oklahoma
Measurables: 6-2, 293 pounds
Analysis: An alum of St. Augustine High in San Diego, Alton is described as undersized but with good lateral quickness that makes him “slippery.” He could be a depth player after the Chargers re-signed defensive lineman Teair Tart to a three-year contract extension worth more than $30 million Jan. 26. Disrupting the opposition’s ground game and winning the battles in the trenches is an ongoing goal for the Chargers with Jim Harbaugh as their head coach.
Other options: Iowa C Logan Jones, Texas A&M CB Will Lee III, Kentucky C Jager Burton, Texas S Michael Taaffe.
Round 5
No pick. Traded to the Ravens for Oweh, Oct. 7, 2025.
Round 6, Pick 204
The pick: OLB TJ Guy, Michigan
Measurables: 6-4, 250 pounds
Analysis: The loss of Oweh via free agency means the Chargers need another pass rusher. If they haven’t picked one with any of their first four picks, then this would be the time to select one. Oweh had 7.5 sacks after they acquired him from the Ravens last season. Guy had 18 tackles this past season with Michigan, including 13 solo. He also had 2.5 sacks. The Chargers might have addressed this need by the time this round rolls around, although as Hortiz said last week you can never have too many players at any position. Except maybe quarterback.
Other options: Florida OLB Tyreak Sapp, North Carolina State CB Devon Marshall, Missouri S Jalen Catalon, Wyoming TE John Michael Gyllenborg, Baylor WR Josh Cameron, Texas Tech S Cole Wisniewski.
Round 7
No pick. Traded to the Tennessee Titans for S Elijah Molden, Aug. 28, 2024.