Los Angeles Chargers 2021 NFL Draft needs: Protecting Herbert a priority

6. Tight End

Stop me if you’ve heard this before… The Los Angeles Chargers will have some big shoes to fill at an important position after losing an impactful player in free agency. This team we are talking about tight end Hunter Henry who is heading to New England.

Like many of the other spots, however, Telesco and the Chargers have already tried to address the loss via their own free agency acquisition. By bringing in Jared Cook from the New Orleans Saints, Herbert has a more veteran presence in the huddle to target.

Though still a solid option, Cook is not nearly as athletic as Henry. Donald Parham proved to be a favorite target of Herbert down the stretch, so maybe the team just sticks with what they have, but if they find some value at the position somewhere in the 2021 NFL Draft I think they still pull the trigger.

7. Wide Receiver

Behind top pass-catcher, Keenan Allen, the Los Angeles Chargers seem to have a bit of a quantity over quality situation at the wide receiver position. Mike Williams has shown flashes of being a very effective down-the-field threat and should be viewed as their WR2 and best true outside target, with Allen operating primarily out of the slot.

Aside from the two of them, however, they have a gaggle of guys that were effective at times last season, but don’t seem to be overly impactful. Jalen Guyton and Tyron Johnson each scored three touchdowns in 2020, but neither were able to really step up and earn the bulk of the snaps as the team’s third receiver. K.J. Hill and Joe Reed were both drafted by the Chargers a year ago, but never really made an impact on the team’s offense.

Here, I don’t think adding more late-round picks or undrafted free agents is really a priority. Sure, you can always find a diamond in the rough, but unless they find value in a player that they think can really step in and be a starter right away, I think they may as well let these guys develop.

However, sitting at pick 13 in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft, they could find a top receiver still on the board when they make their selection. If the value isn’t there at tackle or corner and one of the top three or four receivers are sitting there at 13 and they have a really high grade on them, I wouldn’t be surprised if the Los Angeles Chargers went that direction early in the 2021 NFL Draft.