The Chargers enter the draft with five picks, starting with No. 22 in the first round. Kirby Lee / Imagn Images
By Daniel Popper and The Athletic NFL Staff
April 23, 2026 9:00 am EDT
The Los Angeles Chargers enter the 2026 NFL Draft with five picks over the three-day draft.
The Chargers hold their original picks in the first through fourth rounds, as well as the sixth round. Their fifth-round pick was sent to the Baltimore Ravens in the Odafe Oweh trade last season and their seventh-round pick was shipped out ahead of the 2024 season when they acquired Elijah Molden from the Tennessee Titans. (The pick now belongs to the Miami Dolphins).
In an ideal world, the Chargers — with primary needs at left guard and edge rusher and secondary needs at defensive tackle, cornerback and wide receiver — would trade down from their top pick at No. 22 to acquire more selections. But that strategy is often easier said than done.
Still, if coach Jim Harbaugh and general manager Joe Hortiz want to make a third straight playoff appearance — and secure their first postseason win in Los Angeles — they’ll need to improve the protection for star quarterback Justin Herbert and find a complementary edge rusher behind Khalil Mack and Tuli Tuipulotu.
Keep coming back here throughout the draft for grades and analysis of each Chargers pick.
Round 1
No. 22
Round 2
No. 55
Round 3
No. 86
Round 4
No. 123
Round 6
No. 204
Apr 23, 2026
Connections: Sports Edition
Spot the pattern. Connect the terms
Find the hidden link between sports terms
Play today’s puzzle