The combine begins next week in Indianapolis, and that means it is time to start digging into the NFL Draft.
The Los Angeles Chargers’ roster should look markedly different when the draft kicks off April 23. Over the coming weeks, coach Jim Harbaugh and general manager Joe Hortiz will make decisions on internal free agents such as edge rushers Khalil Mack and Odafe Oweh and left guard Zion Johnson. The negotiating window for free agency opens March 9. The Chargers have the third-most cap space in the league, according to Over the Cap, and will have the flexibility to acquire players who were not on the roster for 2025.
It is not too early, however, to start considering draft prospects and strategy. This is my Mock 1.0 — the first of four mocks I will publish between now and the draft. The second mock will come out after the dust settles from free agency. And then I will have two mock drafts in April in the lead-up to the draft, as we kick into top gear in our draft preparation.
For now, I will be operating based off the current makeup of the roster, which does not include some of the key internal free agents.
One note before we jump in: Since I published the Offseason Handbook last month, Over the Cap updated its compensatory pick projections. The Chargers are now projected to earn a sixth-round compensatory pick. Running back J.K. Dobbins, who signed with the Denver Broncos in free agency last offseason, was initially not factoring into the comp-pick formula. Because of his snap-count percentage from 2025, however, Dobbins is now the last eligible player for the comp-pick formula. That changes the Chargers’ output, and they are now projected to have pick 214.
The first three picks are set. All Day 3 picks are subject to change once the NFL announces comp picks closer to the draft.
Round 1, Pick 22: Akheem Mesidor, edge, Miami
With Oweh and Mack scheduled to hit free agency, the Chargers are lacking talent and depth in their edge room right now. The Chargers could re-sign both players, which would change the calculus. Tuli Tuipulotu is coming off a career-best season. He is under contract for 2026 and is eligible for an extension after finishing his third season. Kyle Kennard, a 2025 fourth-round pick, was a non-factor as a rookie.
We will see what happens with Oweh and Mack. For now, edge is high up on the list of Chargers needs. Even if both players come back, the Chargers should not rule out an edge rusher early in this draft. Mack is entering his age-35 season. The Chargers need a long-term plan in the room because, eventually, Mack will hang up his cleats. That could happen this offseason, as Mack said he is going to consider his options and decide if he wants to keep playing. The Chargers need at least three high-quality edge rushers for this defensive scheme to flourish. That was true under Jesse Minter, and it will be true under Chris O’Leary.
Keeping the Oweh-Mack-Tuipulotu trio together would work for one more season. Mesidor, however, would provide the Chargers with that necessary exit plan after Mack retires. A lot of moving parts here, but the Chargers are going to like Mesidor’s physicality. As our draft expert Dane Brugler wrote, Mesidor has “urgent upfield quickness … aggressive, well-timed hands and a deep bag of rush moves.”
Round 2, Pick 55: Chase Bisontis, G, Texas A&M
The Chargers entered last offseason needing to upgrade the interior of their offensive line. They did not do enough to elevate this phase of the roster, a strategy that was exposed when both starting tackles, Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt, were lost for the season. They signed Mekhi Becton in free agency to be their starting right guard. He struggled to stay on the field. When he was on the field, he did not play up to expectations. The Chargers kept Bradley Bozeman as their starting center. He was poor, particularly in pass protection. No quarterback in the NFL took more hits than Justin Herbert.
Most glaringly, the Chargers did not draft an offensive lineman until the sixth round last year. That cannot happen again. Johnson is a pending free agent. If the Chargers do not re-sign him at left guard, they could be looking at three new starters on the interior. They can cut Becton for close to $10 million in cap savings, according to Over the Cap. If Becton is back, the Chargers at the very least need some competition at right guard, and they need a new starting center. We will see what happens with Johnson. Investing in the interior offensive line must be a priority, and Bisontis is Brugler’s No. 2-ranked guard in this class. “Bisontis offers a well-rounded skill set — athleticism, strength and the ability to create movement,” Brugler writes.
Round 3, Pick 86: Jake Slaughter, C, Florida
Back-to-back interior offensive line picks would represent the intention necessary from the Chargers to fix a weakness. Bozeman played poorly last season. He is also not a fit in new offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel’s scheme, which should incorporate more outside-zone blocking concepts. Those concepts require a level of movement skills that Bozeman does not possess.
The Chargers could address the need at center in free agency. There are both top-of-market and mid-market options, including the Baltimore Ravens’ Tyler Linderbaum, the Buffalo Bills’ Connor McGovern, the Carolina Panthers’ Cade Mays and the New Orleans Saints’ Luke Fortner. If not in free agency, the issue can be addressed with Slaughter, Brugler’s top-ranked center. “He is a ‘do your job’ type of guy, and his veteran makeup will be attractive for teams in the center market,” Brugler writes.
If the Chargers don’t address center in free agency, Jake Slaughter, center, is a good third-round option. (Vasha Hunt / Imagn Images)
Round 4, Pick 123: Will Lee III, CB, Texas A&M
The Chargers have capable pieces in their cornerback room among Donte Jackson, Tarheeb Still and Cam Hart. Safety Derwin James Jr. will also continue to play regularly at the nickel position under O’Leary, which creates more depth at cornerback. Still can play nickel when the Chargers align James at safety in certain packages. I think the Chargers should try to invest in another outside cornerback in this draft to compete with Jackson, Still and Hart. The Chargers rotated four outside cornerbacks last season: those three and Benjamin St-Juste, who is a pending free agent. Lee is 6-feet-1 and has some length. He has the ability and frame to play press coverage, and I like his coverage instincts.
Round 6, Pick 203: Zxavian Harris, IDL, Mississippi
The Chargers already re-signed interior defensive lineman Teair Tart to a three-year, $30 million extension. Behind Tart, the Chargers have 2025 third-round pick Jamaree Caldwell, who showed some intriguing flashes as a rookie. And they have 2024 fourth-round pick Justin Eboigbe, who took a massive step in his second NFL season, finishing with six sacks. The big question heading into free agency is what the Chargers decide to do with Da’Shawn Hand, who was their most consistent interior run defender in 2025. If they led Hand walk, they could find a run-stuffing presence in free agency. Harris, meanwhile, has size at 6-feet-8, 330 pounds, and he is a pretty sudden short-area athlete who can penetrate and shoot gaps in the run game.
Zxavian Harris, center, would bring massive size and short-area quickness to the defensive interior. (Amber Searls / Imagn Images)
Round 6, Pick 214: Jakobe Thomas, S, Miami
The Chargers need safety depth because of how often they move James around, particularly closer to the line of scrimmage in the nickel and dime backer roles. Elijah Molden is under contract and returns. R.J. Mickens proved to be a pretty steady player in the deep part of the field as a rookie. The Chargers need to fill that fourth safety spot in free agency or the draft. They could re-sign Tony Jefferson, who is a pending free agent. Thomas was a key piece on a Miami defense that played in the national championship. He has some alignment flexibility, with the ability to play in the box or in the deep part of the field. And he is an aggressive tackler.