Outside of a major trade that netted them Khalil Mack, the Chargers have been fairly quiet this offseason. They're mostly returning starters from last year's disappointing third-place finish in the AFC West, but another year for Justin Herbert will do them good heading into next year.
Playing in the hyper-competitive AFC West, the Chargers have to compete with the perennially contending Chiefs and the upgrading Raiders. Los Angeles clearly feels good about where it's at, but the draft will put the Chargers in a position to be even more competitive.
Tom Telesco has the Chargers in a better place, but there's still work to do. Here's their prognosis for the 2022 NFL Draft, along with what they can do to address their needs.
Here's a look at the Chargers' picks in the 2022 NFL Draft:
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Chargers draft picks 2022: Who did Los Angeles take?
- Round 1, Pick No. 17: Zion Johnson, G/C, Boston College
- Round 3, Pick No. 79: JT Woods, S, Baylor
- Round 4, Pick No. 123: Isaiah Spiller, RB, Texas A&M
- Round 5, Pick No. 160: Otito Ogbonnia, DT, UCLA
- Round 6, Pick No. 195: Jamaree Salyer, G, Georgia
- Round 6, Pick No. 214: Ja'Sir Taylor, CB, Wake Forest
- Round 7, Pick No. 236: Deane Leonard, CB, Ole Miss
- Round 7, Pick No. 260: Zander Horvath, RB, Purdue
Click here for live analysis and grades on every pick.
Chargers 2022 NFL Draft order
| Round | Pick (Overall) |
|---|---|
| 1 | 17 |
| 3 | 79 |
| 4 | 123 |
| 5 | 160 |
| 6 | 195 |
| 6* | 214 (Compensatory pick) |
| 7 | 236 |
| 7* | 254 (Compensatory pick) |
| 7* | 255 (Compensatory pick) |
| 7* | 260 (Compensatory pick) |
MORE: Compare latest mock drafts from Mel Kiper, Daniel Jeremiah, Todd McShay, other experts
Chargers NFL draft needs
- Defensive Tackle: By far the most pressing need for the Chargers, their horrendous run defense did them in time and time again last year. Locking down a good interior lineman is a must, and it's a void they've largely left open this offseason. It's hard to imagine them not targeting one early in the draft, particularly with the amount of talent on the board on the interior defensive line.
- Cornerback: Even with the addition of J.C. Jackson, the Chargers could use some depth in the secondary. With a fairly complete roster outside of defensive tackle, they can afford to pick up another corner to complement Jackson on the depth chart.
Los Angeles Chargers mock draft 2022
Here are the latest 2022 NFL Draft projections for the Chargers, according to Vinnie Iyer's seven-round mock draft:
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | College |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 17 | Jordan Davis | DT | Georgia |
| 3 | 79 | Derion Kendrick | CB | Georgia |
| 4 | 123 | Brandon Smith | LB | Penn State |
| 5 | 160 | Lecitus Smith | G | Virginia Tech |
| 6 | 195 | D'Vonte Price | RB | Florida International |
| 6 | 214 | Ty Chandler | RB | North Carolina |
| 7 | 236 | Jeffrey Gunter | EDGE | Coastal Carolina |
| 7 | 254 | Dai'Jean Dixon | WR | Nicholls State |
| 7 | 255 | Chamarri Conner | CB | Virginia Tech |
| 7 | 260 | Chris Hinton | DT | Michigan |
