2018 NFL Mock Draft: Sam Darnold, Josh Rosen top first round
By Brad Weiss
Connor Williams
Offensive Tackle, Texas
For the first time in 50 years, the Chargers will not call San Diego their home. The Bolts made the move to Los Angeles this past offseason, and will spend the next two years playing in a soccer stadium. With all of that aside, they are still an exciting team, with one of the best quarterback the AFC has to offer in Philip Rivers.
The issue for a long time has been their inability to have that standout left tackle protecting Rivers. If the Chargers finish in the cellar again in the AFC West, which is expected, they could find themselves with a top-10 draft pick again in 2018. If they are picking high enough, they should look to grab the best offensive tackle in this draft, and that player is Connor Williams from Texas.
Williams is an incredible specimen at left tackle, and has the feet to stay on the left side at the next level. While Rivers is still very productive, he is still getting up there in age, so being able to protect him as to be a priority at this point. There is enough talent on both sides of the ball for the Chargers to be a contender very soon, but they have to shore up the offensive line.
Melvin Gordon had a breakout season in 2016, and the Chargers have some nice talented players on the defensive side of the ball. If they can bring in players to protect Rivers, he will have more time to throw, which will bode well for 2017 first-round pick, wide receiver Mike Williams. They are building something in Los Angeles, and the team should be locked and loaded by the time they move into their new building in a couple of years.