Los Angeles Chargers 7-round 2020 NFL mock draft: Post-free agency

After a promising free agency period, the Los Angeles Chargers find themselves with the sixth overall pick and an opportunity to replace long-time quarterback Philip Rivers in this 2020 NFL mock draft.

Los Angles Chargers general manager Tom Telesco quickly turned his attention to filling holes on the roster after failing to sign Tom Brady at the start of free agency. For the first time in Telesco’s tenure, he does not a massive quarterback contract taking up the team’s cap space after Rivers signed a one-year, $25 million deal with the Indianapolis Colts.

Telesco filled holes along the offensive and defensive lines with his signings of right tackle Bryan Bulaga from the Green Bay Packers and defensive tackle Linval Joseph from the Minnesota Vikings. Telesco was also able to lure former Denver Broncos’ all-pro cornerback, Chris Harris Jr., to sign a deal with the Chargers and finish out his career in lightning bolts.

While the team has made it clear that they trust Tyrod Taylor as the starter, will they still draft a quarterback with sixth overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft? Could Telesco wait one more year and use the pick to attempt to add a blue-chip level talent to the defensive backfield or offensive line?

Find out the answer and what happens in the rest of the six rounds of this 2020 NFL mock draft for the Los Angles Chargers.

This 2020 NFL mock draft was completed using The Draft Network’s Mock Draft Machine.

With the 6th pick of this 2020 NFL mock draft, the Los Angeles Chargers select QB Justin Herbert, Oregon.

Many Chargers fans will want to see Alabama Tua Tagovailoa here and even with the news that some teams prefer Herbert to Tua, the Miami Dolphins simply have too much draft capital to let him pass if they covet him.

However, Herbert should not be viewed as a consolation prize.

At 6-foot-6 , Herbert combines prototypical size and arm strength with his innate athleticism to force defense’s to stay honest and respect his speed at the second level. While Herbert does not possess elite accuracy at all times, if he got find a rhythm Herbert can shred a defense and march his team down the field at will.

His fit with the Los Angeles Chargers:  With Tyrod Taylor already on the roster, Herbert will not be asked to become the immediate starter which will only benefit him in the long run. He will need to learn how to properly read a defense and to make NFL level progressions with his throws instead of staring down his first read.

These are fixable issues but they need to be corrected or Herbert will fail in the NFL.

In time, with proper coaching and the motivation from Herbert, he can turn in to a franchise quarterback for the Chargers. Remember everyone, Rivers didn’t start for two years after he was drafted either.