March 10, 2026, 11:26 p.m. PT

The Chargers have been cautious thus far in free agency, signing only a handful of external free agents while losing starters like edge rusher Odafe Oweh and guard Zion Johnson to other teams.

Still, Los Angeles has added a new starting center, new fullback, a blocking tight end, and competition on the interior of the offensive line with their signings of Tyler Biadasz, Alec Ingold, Charlie Kolar, and Cole Strange respectively.

How do those signings affect what Joe Hortiz and Jim Harbaugh might do in the first three rounds of the NFL Draft?

Round 1, Pick 22: Oklahoma EDGE R Mason Thomas

Penn State guard Olaivavega Ioane is the only interior lineman worth a first-round pick in this year’s class, but it has gotten increasingly unlikely that Ioane will fall to the 22nd pick as the draft process has continued. Perhaps the Chargers take a college tackle who can move to guard, but the tackles expected to be available in this range have not widely been discussed as guard candidates. That leads LA to the defensive line, where defensive tackles Caleb Banks (Florida) and Peter Woods (Clemson) have both gained steam since the NFL Combine. Thomas has too, however, and fits the most cleanly between projected availability and immediate role with the Chargers.

Expert NFL picks: Exclusive betting insights only at USA TODAY.Round 2, Pick 55: Iowa State DT Domonique Orange

Orange is primarily a nose tackle, which may seem like a strange allocation of resources after the Chargers drafted Jamaree Caldwell in the third round and signed Teair Tart to a 3 year, $30 million extension. But Caldwell and Tart both have the flexibility to play 3-technique, where their skills as pass rushers may be on better display after LA struggled to generate pressure from the interior a season ago. Adding a dominant run defender in the middle like Orange and freeing up Tart and Caldwell to pin their ears back on passing downs would do wonders for the Chargers rotation.

Round 3, Pick 86: Georgia Tech G Keylan Rutledge

With no offensive linemen of clear value available in the first or second rounds where LA is picking in most mock drafts, their first investment to protect Justin Herbert may not come until this pick. This would also be the range for a center to develop behind Biadasz – The Athletic’s Dane Brugler has said that there may be no centers drafted in the top 75, but up to 6 between the 75th and 110th selections. With the Chargers still needing a guard to compete with Strange and/or start on the left side, however, Rutledge makes too much sense to pass up. He also went through center drills at the Combine and could be an option there if LA’s plans at guard become more clear prior to April.