2020 NFL Draft: Top team needs for the Los Angeles Chargers
2. Wide Receiver
One of the major contributors to the Chargers offensive woes lasts season was lack of speed at the wide receiver position. Wide receivers, Keenan Allen and Mike Williams are both excellent at what they do but neither possess any real game-breaking speed to keep opposing defenses on their toes.
In 2016, the Los Angeles Chargers signed wide receiver Travis Benjamin from the Cleveland Browns to add that missing element of speed to their offense. Unfortunately, Benjamin failed to live up to his hype and was never able to put it all together on the field for the Chargers. He was released this off-season.
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The release of Benjamin opens up a big hole at the third wide receiver spot on the depth chart. Without promoting an adequate replacement currently on the roster or signing a receiver in free agency, the Chargers have decided to fill that need with a 2020 draft pick. This is a smart move.
The 2020 NFL Draft is filled with receiver talent. It is by far the most lucrative position in the draft. The Los Angeles Chargers should have no problem snagging a top-tier talent in day two and possibly a depth receiver on day three. The 2020 NFL Draft could end up being considered one of the best wide receiver classes of all time.
Possible Options: Jalen Reagor, TCU (day two), Laviska Shenault Jr, Colorado (day two), Brandon Aiyuk, Arizona State (day two), Gabriel Davis, UCF (day three)
3. Interior Offensive Line
After spending the better part of the last two decades with below-average offensive line play and letting Rivers’ quick release and inhuman durability mask the line’s flaws, Telesco is hoping he can finally find the solution to this problem that’s been a thorn in his side since he was hired in 2013.
In Telesco’s defense, he has not completely ignored the offensive line up until this point in his tenure but just has been unable to find consistently good players to fit in among the starting five. If the Chargers want to compete for a Super Bowl and keep a rookie quarterback from becoming a bust this has to change now.
After signing right tackle Bryan Bulaga and trading for right guard Trai Turner in exchange for offensive tackle Russell Okung in March, it seems Telesco is finally making the right moves to put together a high quality starting offensive line.
So why is the interior offensive line more of a need than a tackle? The Chargers believe they already have a starting-caliber offensive tackle on the roster in last year’s third-round pick, Trey Pipkins.
The Los Angeles Chargers will need to use a pick to address the left guard spot and potentially the center spot if current starter Mike Pouncey can not return before the season starts (although the Chargers did recently receive good news in that regard).
Possible Options: Cesar Ruiz, Michigan (day two), Lloyd Cushenberry III, LSU (day two), Tyler Biadasz, Wisconsin (day two), Shane Lemieux, Oregon (day three)