Los Angeles Chargers: Five first-round 2021 NFL Draft targets

Despite a Rookie of the Year season from 2020 first-round draft pick, Justin Herbert, the Los Angeles Chargers struggled to finish out games for wins last year, leaving them with a 7-9 record and out of the playoffs. The good news? It allowed them to land a pick in the top half of the first round in this year’s 2021 NFL Draft.

With a new head coach, general manager Tom Telesco will look to put an even more talented roster on the field in 2021. With former Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator, Brandon Staley, taking the reigns in the other SoFi Stadium locker room this year, the team will expect big strides on the defensive side of the ball.

Here, we will take a look at some specific targets that Telesco and the Los Angeles Chargers could go after in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft.

Whether it is giving Staley some talented, young defensive players to mold and work with, or setting up their star, young quarterback for even more success, the 2021 NFL Draft will be paramount to the growth and development of this relatively young and up-and-coming team.

1. Rashawn Slater, Left Tackle, Northwestern

One of the biggest needs for the Los Angeles Chargers is to find a reliable blindside protector for their shiny new quarterback. If they want Justin Herbert to continue to grow, develop and improve, they need to take care of him. Getting a guy like Rashawn Slater in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft would help them do just that.

While Slater is capable of being a very versatile lineman and can play anywhere that a team asks him to, there’s a reason I put left tackle next to his name above. Some believe he is a better fit at guard given his stature and athletic skillset, but take a look at his reps at left tackle against Chase Young and tell me that he doesn’t belong as a mainstay at left tackle.

Slater is one of the most athletic linemen that I have ever seen. He has a quick first step and is dangerous on the move. He is quick to engage, then smart enough to recognize when it’s time to shoot to the next level. With his size and athleticism, you better get out of the way if you see Slater coming at you in open space.

As a pass protector, Slater displays all the traits that you desire. His quick feet and agility allow him to stay in front of his opponent, almost like an elite basketball defender. He is a cerebral blocker who understands who his opponent is trying to beat him and is able to use that to his advantage. He uses his heavy hands, strong arms and powerful base to engage defenders and lock them up right where they are.

I don’t care if those strong arms are *only* 33 inches long. It is clear that he knows how to use them on the edge, and combined with his athleticism that is clear on tape that he backed up with his testing at his pro day, Rashawn Slater may just be the best offensive lineman in this 2021 NFL Draft class.

For the Los Angeles Chargers, a guy like Slater may be just out of reach at pick 13. While a trade-up may be worth it, you never know what might happen when it comes to the NFL Draft. If there is an early run on quarterbacks, wide receivers and corners, someone like Rashawn Slater could fall right into the lap of the Los Angeles Chargers in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft.