The Los Angeles Chargers are now through the bulk of free agency, and the 2026 roster has started to take shape.
Now all focus turns to the draft, which kicks off April 23.
The Chargers addressed some needs in free agency. They signed a starting center in Tyler Biadasz. They added skill-position pieces in running back Keaton Mitchell, tight end Charlie Kolar and fullback Alec Ingold. They swapped out Dalvin Tomlinson for Da’Shawn Hand on the interior defensive line. They brought in guard Cole Strange, who started for offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel with the Miami Dolphins last season.
The roster still feels incomplete. Coach Jim Harbaugh and general manager Joe Hortiz have more work to do in the draft. With free agency behind us, we have a better idea of what position groups the Chargers must attack next month. A bit more clarity than when we published Mock 1.0Â in February.
The Chargers have five picks, so they do not have many at-bats this year. Hortiz will have to hit for a high average to build depth and find the contributors he needs on both sides of the ball.
Let’s get to some options. This is Mock 2.0.
Round 1, Pick 22: Vega Ioane, G, Penn State
The Chargers have emerged from free agency without making a significant investment at left guard. They let Zion Johnson, their starter at left guard the past two seasons, leave for the Cleveland Browns. As of now, Trevor Penning is in line to replace Johnson as the starting left guard. The Chargers traded for Penning at the deadline last season. They then re-signed him earlier this month on a one-year, $3.5 million deal. The Chargers played Penning at tackle and right guard in 2025. Penning was starting at left guard for the New Orleans Saints before the Chargers traded for him in November, so he has some experience there. I see Penning as viable depth. He is a below-average starter at guard, and he struggles immensely at tackle.
At the very least, the Chargers need to add competition for Penning at left guard early in this draft. The best-case scenario is finding a plug-and-play starter, and Ioane fits that mold. The question is whether he will make it to the Chargers at 22. It’s very possible Ioane is off the board. However, in our most recent beat writer mock draft, Ioane lasted all the way to No. 21, when he was taken by the Pittsburgh Steelers. How that board fell piqued my interest.
If the Chargers land Ioane in the first round, that changes the complexion of this offseason. He has the athleticism and movement skills to function in McDaniel’s scheme, both on reach blocks and when playing in space. He generates consistent movement in the run game with his lower half, and he has a sturdy base in pass protection. Ioane, who started at left guard for the Nittany Lions, would be the missing piece that brings this interior-line overhaul together.
Round 2, Pick 55: Gabe Jacas, edge, Illinois
Edge rusher needs to be on Hortiz’s mind early in this draft. He let Odafe Oweh walk in free agency. Oweh signed a four-year, $96 million deal with the Washington Commanders, and the Chargers did not replace him. They brought Khalil Mack back on a one-year deal. Tuli Tuipulotu is under contract. The Chargers are lacking a third edge rusher behind those two. And as we learned last season, this defensive system needs three high-quality edge rushers, whether it is Jesse Minter or Chris O’Leary calling the plays.
The Chargers went into last season with Mack, Tuipulotu, Bud Dupree, Kyle Kennard and Caleb Murphy at edge. Mack got hurt, and the Chargers traded for Oweh because they were struggling at this position. Right now, the Chargers’ top four edge rushers are Mack, Tuipulotu, Dupree and Kennard. I can’t see them rolling with that group for Week 1.
The Chargers could take an edge at 22, but there could also be options available for them in the second round. Jacas is a violent player who fits how the Chargers want to play on the edge. His bull rush will play at the next level, and that facet of his game would only improve as he learns from two great power rushers in Mack and Tuipulotu. Jacas is also a physical run defender.
The Chargers still need edge rusher depth, and Gabe Jacas would fit in nicely behind Khalil Mack and Tuli Tuipulotu. (Michael Reaves / Getty Images)
Round 3, Pick 86: Chandler Rivers, CB, Duke
The Chargers have a solid collection of cornerbacks, including Donte Jackson, Tarheeb Still and Cam Hart. But I think this group needs an injection of talent, and Rivers would be an excellent fit in O’Leary’s defense. Rivers is undersized at under 5 feet 10, but he is a versatile player. He can play outside and inside at cornerback. He also played some safety in different packages for the Blue Devils. Most importantly, Rivers has competitive energy and playmaking that jumps off the tape. He can blitz. He is sticky in coverage. He plays bigger than his listed size as a run defender. I think the Chargers are going to love his instincts. And his versatility will give O’Leary options as far as finding the best defensive-back grouping for a given situation.
Round 4, Pick 123: Brenen Thompson, WR, Mississippi State
McDaniel does not necessarily need speed to build a good offense. But he certainly showed in Miami what he can do when he has elite speed across multiple positions. McDaniel was the driving force behind the Chargers signing Mitchell, whose acceleration and speed to the edge will thrive in this rushing scheme. Thompson, who ran a 4.26 40-yard dash at the combine, will bring a true burner element to the receiver room. A fun piece for McDaniel to use creatively. Thompson’s best trait is his straight-line speed, but there is more to his game than just stretching defenses. He has some deception and wiggle as a route-runner.
Round 6, Pick 204: Landon Robinson, IDL, Navy
The Chargers have a clear-cut top four interior defensive linemen in Teair Tart, Jamaree Caldwell, Justin Eboigbe and Dalvin Tomlinson. Though he is coming off a down year in 2025, Tomlinson can fill the run-stuffing role next to Tart. We will see if he ends up at the same level as Hand, whom the Chargers let walk in free agency. Eboigbe took a big step in his second season in 2025, finishing with six sacks. Caldwell flashed as a rookie, and the Chargers remain high on what he can be as he continues to grow as an NFL player. The Chargers are looking for a fifth piece here.
That could be Scott Matlock, who might be transitioning back to defense from fullback after the Ingold signing. The Chargers also have TeRah Edwards and Josh Fuga on the roster. I think this room needs another piece to feel complete. Robinson is a smaller player at under 6 feet and 293 pounds. But he is an outrageous athlete who landed on Bruce Feldman’s Freaks List three times. Robinson plays with great leverage. He is sudden. And he finished his college career with 14.5 sacks. The Chargers prioritized size on the interior last offseason. But they also got a career year out of Poona Ford, another undersized front player, in 2024.