2018 NFL Draft: Los Angeles Chargers 7-round mock
By Joe Romano
Round 4 – Pick 121
Darius Leonard, LB, South Carolina State
Another piece, aside from defensive tackle, that impacts run defense in the linebacker position. The Chargers drafted Denzel Perryman only a few years ago and he is entrenched as a starter. The other linebacker that saw significant action was Kyle Emanuel. Los Angeles dealt with injuries and depth issues that forced them to play five or six defensive backs at almost all times. Grabbing a linebacker, especially an athletic one, is a hole this team could address.
This spot in the draft and team pairing makes perfect sense for Darius Leonard of South Carolina State. The former MEAC Defensive Player of the Year was a versatile weapon on defense for SCSU. Entering the NFL his best spot is as an off-ball linebacker.
Leonard could bring exactly what this defense needs. He is a missile as a linebacker. His long-range speed, and athleticism will make him the type of linebacker that the NFL desires. Not to mention that he has shown promise as an edge rusher, which should increase his ability as a blitzer at the next level.
The knocks on Leonard are that he may have reached his ceiling at this point. He has an ideal frame as a linebacker but not great strength in getting off blocks. With his athleticism though, the chances are that he finds a home as a weak-side linebacker in the NFL. His six career interceptions also show that he is adept at dropping into coverage.
Pairing Perryman and Leonard gives the Chargers a young, athletic linebacking duo that does not need to come off the field when the team goes into sub-packages on defense. With Bosa and Ingram up front and the corners this team has in play, the defense could take a leap in 2018.