2022 NFL Draft: Los Angeles Chargers 7-round mock

Los Angeles Chargers Mock Draft – Fifth Round

If the Chargers want to get better on defense, they may want to look at a player coming off a playoff team who was coached up by an NFL defensive coordinator. Michigan Wolverines cornerback Vincent Gray saw his alma mater make tremendous strides last year. His play in Ann Arbor is a big reason why Mike Macdonald could return to Baltimore as a defensive coordinator.

Los Angeles Chargers Mock Draft – Sixth Round

Another player coming from a winning program would make a lot of sense for the Chargers with their first of two sixth-round picks. Baylor is coming off its best season in program history. Linebacker Terrel Bernard was part of a 12-win team that won the Big 12 over Oklahoma State on the final play and then defeated Ole Miss in the Sugar Bowl. Dave Aranda has Baylor humming.

Though it was a controversial decision for Christopher Allen to leave Tuscaloosa and enter the NFL Draft a bit prematurely, again, the Chargers should look at adding the former Alabama pass-rusher into the fold with their second sixth-round pick. Alabama players are usually not much better after Nick Saban is done with them, but Allen could be a rare exception having left Alabama a bit early.

Los Angeles Chargers Mock Draft – Seventh Round

Whoever ends up drafting Alec Lindstrom out of Boston College in day three will be getting an absolute steal. His older brother Chris is quietly becoming one of the best interior linemen in football for the Atlanta Falcons. Since the Chargers can never have enough players in the trenches, look for them to potentially take Lindstrom with the No. 234 overall selection if he is still available.

At this point of the draft, the Chargers will have satisfied all of their needs. This is about taking the best player available in the latter stages of the seventh round. Again, the Chargers need to keep Herbert upright if they want to sniff the Super Bowl in the coming years. Look for them to maybe use their No. 253 overall pick in the seventh round on SMU Mustangs guard Hayden Howerton.

As with taking Gray a few rounds earlier out of Michigan, it would serve the Chargers to double-down on a defensive player coming from the defending Big Ten champions. Josh Ross may have a harder time seeing the field over Gray, but again, competition will be key in bringing out the best in the Chargers going forward. At worst, Ross will be bringing a championship pedigree to the Bolts.

And with the Chargers’ final pick of the 2022 NFL Draft, look for them to make Herbert extra happy by adding his former college teammate to the fold. C.J. Verdell was the best offensive player on the Oregon Ducks a year ago, but an injury derailed his season long before the Utah Utes ran all over them. If one Duck handing the ball off to another one makes the former one happy, just do it.

The Chargers are able to address all of their draft-day needs and then some with their 11 picks.