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

With the 71st pick of this 2020 NFL mock draft, the Los Angeles Chargers select WR Brandon Aiyuk, Arizona State.

In any other draft class, a guy like Aiyuk certainly does not fall to the third round. However, with the surplus of exciting wide receiver prospects in the draft and Aiyuk’s good-but-not-great combine, this year could be an exception.

When Aiyuk (6-foot-0) has the ball in his hands, he’s a touchdown waiting to happen. He’s a quick-twitch athlete who has no problem making guys miss in the open field on screens or going over the top of a defense as a deep pass threat.

Aiyuk is fearless catching balls in traffic and is willing to take the big hit to get a first down. He has soft hands and is excellent at high pointing the ball. Aiyuk does have the occasional concentration drop but nothing concerning at this point in his career.

One area of concern is that Aiyuk really only has one meaningful season of production as a starter at Arizona State which could scare some scouts away, especially after being flagged for a minor hip issue and was unable to perform at the Senior Bowl in January.

His fit with the Los Angeles Chargers: One of the Chargers’ biggest problems on offense last year was their lack of speed. Keenan Allen and Mike Williams, while both excellent receivers in their own right, do not possess elite speed and will never challenge the defense vertically with any sort of consistency.

Aiyuk can step in on day one as the third wide receiver and give the offense that added element of game-breaking speed that it’s been missing. If Aiyuk can learn a few route running techniques from Allen, his ceiling is sky-high.