In the trenches: Chargers may focus on lines in early rounds

Updated Apr. 22, 2022 5:29 p.m. ET

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The Los Angeles Chargers found their franchise left tackle in the first round of last year’s NFL draft. It wouldn’t be a surprise if they addressed the right side of the offensive line this time.

Even though general manager Tom Telesco made considerable upgrades to the line last year — including the

“I think we’re in a much better spot than a year ago. We’re in a good position, but we’re definitely looking to strengthen that because we want to be a line of scrimmage team,” coach Brandon Staley said during the league meetings.

The Chargers could land an offensive tackle with the 17th pick in the first round. Mississippi State’s Charles Cross is likely to be off the board when Los Angeles is on the clock, but Northern Iowa’s Trevor Penning could still be there. Many scouts consider Penning the top run blocker in this year’s class.

If both Cross and Penning are gone, the focus could shift to the defensive line, where quality depth remains an issue.

Former Tampa Bay general manager Mark Dominik, now a draft analyst and host for SiriusXM, said focusing on the offensive and defensive lines is logical in the early rounds.

“I think offensive line makes a ton of sense because there’s not a tight end in the first round,” he said. “If they don’t go offensive line, I think they’re gonna put a little bit more probably stock in the defensive interior and take advantage of some of the big boys on the board. So they’re looking at the trenches in my mind. It would make a lot of sense there.”

KEY DRAFT FOR TELESCO?

General manager Tom Telesco had a successful free agency period by

Telesco hit on Slater last year and quarterback Justin Herbert in 2020, but his selections after the first round have been average at best. Safety Derwin James, the 17th overall pick in 2018, is the only remaining player on the roster from that draft, and the 2019 class has failed to produce a breakthrough starter.

RUNNING BACK DEPTH

The Chargers have selected a running back on the third day the last two years, but Joshua Kelley and Larry Rountree haven’t been able to emerge as a second option to share carries with Austin Ekeler. They could re-sign Justin Jackson, but he has been plagued by injuries for most of his four seasons.

Ekeler scored 20 touchdowns last season and averaged 4.42 yards per carry, but in four of the six games he had at least 15 carries, the average fell under 4 yards.

FRONT SEVEN NEEDS

During his

Mack and Joey Bosa on the edge give the Chargers one of the top pass-rushing duos in the league, but they lack depth on the defensive line and at linebacker. Georgia defensive tackle Jordan Davis and Utah linebacker Devin Lloyd would provide help immediately if the Bolts decided to focus on defense in the first round.

THE LATE SHOW

Los Angeles has 10 picks in the draft, including six in the last two rounds. They have two selections in the sixth round (195, 214) and four in the seventh (236, 254, 255, 260). Four of the picks are compensatory selections.

The Chargers have only one pick on Friday — No. 79 in the third round — after sending a second-rounder this year and a sixth next year to Chicago for Mack.

They begin Saturday with one pick each in the fourth and fifth rounds (123, 160).

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Los Angeles Chargers

National Football League

Joey Bosa

Joshua Kelley

Oday Aboushi

J.C. Jackson

Austin Ekeler

Derwin James Jr.

Khalil Mack

Los Angeles Chargers