Los Angeles Chargers top five 2021 NFL Draft needs

4. Tight End

The Chargers are going to need to find a way to re-sign franchise player Hunter Henry.

The clear no. 2 receiver on the team, Henry has been tremendous when healthy for this Chargers team regardless of who is playing quarterback, but he clearly has strong chemistry with Justin Herbert.

If he’s not brought back and hits free agency, tight end suddenly becomes a huge need for the Chargers. Donald Parham and Virgil Green have combined for three touchdowns this year, but just eight receptions overall.

If the Chargers don’t re-sign Hunter Henry, you would have to think Florida’s Kyle Pitts is a round one option. He may be anyway.

5. Wide receiver

Wide receiver is a low-key need for the Chargers behind Keenan Allen and Mike Williams.

Allen and Williams have very defined roles at this point in their careers with Allen being the go-to receiver and Williams being the guy who capitalizes with tough, downfield catches and in the red zone.

The former first-round pick out of Clemson averages just 42 receptions per 16 games in his four NFL seasons, not exactly what the Chargers were looking for with the investment they made in him.

He topped 1,000 yards in his third NFL season and had 10 touchdown catches in year two, but he’s about to count almost $16 million against the Chargers’ 2021 salary cap and who knows if they will keep paying him after that?

This is a deep receiver class and the Chargers should be able to take advantage of that.