2018 NFL Draft: Los Angeles Chargers 7-round mock
By Joe Romano
Round 5 – Pick 157
Brandon Parker, T, North Carolina A&T
Sensing a theme in this draft? The Chargers have an abundance of talent at skill positions. They lack the talent in the trenches to make the leap into the playoffs. It started with Daniels to pair with Lamp and Feeney in the middle. Now Los Angeles grabs a developmental tackle that has a high upside. Brandon Parker of North Carolina A&T is a small school player but does not play like one.
After an impressive outing at the practices of Senior Bowl the draft community is starting to swoon for the massive tackle. At 6-foot-7 and only 314 pounds, NFL strength and conditioning coaches will be happy to have some time working with Parker. Los Angeles has had a revolving door at tackle for what has felt like a decade. With Parker they get a guy that can possibly jump into a starting role in year two or three. A year of weight room work and some technique can have him reach his potential which is a serviceable starter at either side of the line.
Round 6 – Pick 194
Daniel Carlson, K, Auburn
If you watched any Los Angeles Chargers games last year you saw one of the worst displays of place kicking in the NFL. Their inability to find a starting kicker cost the team at least two wins. It is easy to see if they had a better kicker they are in the playoffs. Carlson is likely the draft’s best kicker. At Auburn he never missed an extra point, a sight for sore eyes in Los Angeles. He is a big bodied kicker with a big leg.
In his college career he hit 13 field goals over 50 yards. Carlson has been Auburn’s kicker for three years. Some may be concerned that his accuracy percentage dropped this year but was still well above 70%. The Chargers need to find an answer here, they can’t keep losing games because of their kicking.
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Round 7 – Pick 251
Nyheim Hines, RB, North Carolina State
The first skill position player on the offensive side of the ball is much less of a need or necessity than it is finding a compliment to talent already there. Last year Melvin Gordon built on an impressive 2016 campaign. He is the team’s top back and one of the league’s best. Gordon brings an all-around game that Los Angeles can lean on as Phillip Rivers continues to age. In this draft they grab North Carolina State’s Nyheim Hines in the seventh round.
Hines is an under-sized running back with a dynamic skill set. Given his size many think of him as a Darren Sproles pass-catching back, he is so much more. With Branden Oliver a free agent, this is a good spot to grab a running back. Hines may not last this far, as some see him as a round four or five prospect.