NFL Draft 2021: Blockbuster trades that would shake up the first round

Los Angeles reunites Justin Herbert with a former teammate from Oregon

Last season, the Los Angeles Chargers showed that they are not too far away from returning to the playoffs. The piece on their roster that will keep them competitive in every game in the near future is arguably the most valuable young asset in the NFL, that asset is Justin Herbert.

Los Angeles took the former Oregon quarterback with the sixth overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. In his first season, Herbert broke multiple league rookie records including passing touchdowns by a rookie (31), total touchdowns by a rookie quarterback (36), most 300-yard passing games by a rookie quarterback (6), and most completions by a rookie quarterback (396).

After his outstanding rookie season, the Chargers have put a priority on protecting their second-year quarterback. Already this offseason, Los Angeles has signed veteran offensive linemen Corey Linsley, Matt Feiler, and Oday Aboushi. But the Chargers still need a long-term answer at left tackle.

At No. 13 overall, the Chargers’ best options may be Alijah Vera-Tucker and Christian Darrisaw. Vera-Tucker is widely regarded as the third-best offensive linemen in the 2021 NFL Draft but may transition to the NFL better at guard. Darrisaw is the second-best pure tackle in this year’s class, but the league isn’t high on him as a prospect. He could very well fall all the way to the early 20s.

Herbert’s former teammate at Oregon, Penei Sewell, is regarded by most as the best offensive lineman in the 2021 NFL Draft class. If the Chargers found a way to reunite the two on their roster, they could be cornerstones of the Chargers’ offense for the next 10-15 years. They would have great young players with upside through the roof at two of the most important positions on a roster. In order to land Sewell, the Chargers may have to move up as high as sixth overall because Sewell may be in play for Detroit at No. 7 if he makes it past Cincinnati at No. 5.

Chargers’ general manager Tom Telesco has shown that he is not afraid to make a move in order to get a prospect that would fill a need on their roster. In 2015, the Chargers traded up two spots to draft star running back Melvin Gordon, and just last year, the Chargers traded back into the first round, giving up their second and third-round picks, in order to draft linebacker Kenneth Murray.

Now that the Dolphins have publicly come out saying they could be interested in trading down from sixth overall, it seems more likely that they will not be able to land one of the top pass catchers Kyle Pitts and Ja’Marr Chase.

Even though the Dolphins went 10-6 this past year, Miami could be more interested in continuing stacking onto their riches of draft capital instead of taking the best player available at No. 6. If they trade down to Los Angeles’ selection they may overlook their need for another pass catcher and add an edge rusher with their first selection in the first round.

Miami Dolphins

Miami Dolphins general manager Chris Grier has only has taken seven players in the first round since landing the job in 2016. He tends to take either the best player available like he did in 2016 and 2018 when he took Laremy Tunsil and Minkah Fitzpatrick. Both players have become elite players at their positions young in their careers. Recently Grier has taken the safe option at a position of need like he has in both 2019 and 2020 when he took Christian Wilkins, Tua Tagovailoa, Austin Jackson, and Noah Igbinoghene. He may even overdraft a player just to ensure he gets a quality starter at the position like he did when he took Jackson and Igbinoghene.

Azeez Ojulari feels like one of the safest defensive prospects in this year’s class. At Georgia, he showed that he is more than capable of getting after the quarterback. Ojulari only has one pass-rush move to his repertoire, but his ‘fastball’ makes him as good as any pass rusher in this year’s draft. class. On top of that Ojulari is athletic enough to drop back into coverage from his outside linebacker position. Brian Flores’ defensive scheme values that kind of skill set. Ojulari would be able to fill the void that opened when Miami cut Kyle Van Noy.

In the second round, Miami could take projected gadget weapon Rondale Moore with the extra pick from the Chargers. The Purdue wide receiver would become Miami’s starting slot receiver keeping DeVante Parker and Will Fuller on the outside. His versatility could bring another dynamic element to this offense.

Then with Los Angeles’ fourth-round pick, Miami could take Cam Sample whose versatility to play on the inside and outside of defensive lines makes him likely to become a 3-4 defensive end at the next level. Sample could be a rotational player along the Dolphins’ defensive line who could eventually become a starter for them down the road.