Mock Draft: Can Brock Bowers fix the Chargers?
By Hunter Haas
The Bolts Must Bolster The Secondary
Round 2, Pick 41: Denzel Burke, CB, Ohio State
After trading away J.C. Jackson, the Chargers must address the cornerback position in the offseason. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see a veteran signed, but Los Angeles shouldn’t stop there. Ohio State’s Denzel Burke is a fringe first-rounder who would be a phenomenal value at No. 41 overall.
In this mock draft, Burke survives to Day 2 and can immediately step in as the long-term replacement for Jackson. Asante Samuel Jr. is the only pillar at the position, as current starter Michael Davis is an impending free agent — and he hasn’t been worth re-signing.
Pairing Burke with Samuel Jr. gives the Chargers a couple of nice building blocks at cornerback. In a division that features Patrick Mahomes, additional secondary help is always coveted by Brandon Staley and Co.
The Run Defense Adds A BIG Body Upfront
Round 3, Pick 74: Nazir Stackhouse, DT, Georgia
The Chargers’ run defense has been a constant issue during the entire Justin Herbert tenure. Nick Williams and Austin Johnson are not cutting it; drafting Nazir Stackhouse will put pressure on the names atop the depth chart.
Stackhouse plays bully ball from the interior, profiling as a stout run stuffer early in his career. The Bulldog product is still developing his hand usage as a pass rusher, but the violence he exhibits at the point of attack will allow him to be a people mover in the run game.