It has felt like foregone conclusion, but what if the Los Angeles Chargers don’t take a quarterback at No. 6 overall?
As the Los Angeles Chargers move into a new era without Philip Rivers, and with few other major needs, it has felt virtually preordained that they will take a quarterback with the sixth overall pick in the draft. A trade up to get Tua Tagovailoa or Justin Herbert isn’t out of the question, with Tyrod Taylor in place to serve as the bridge to whatever signal caller the Chargers end up with.
But what if the Chargers go against the assumed grain and pass on a quarterback at No. 6?
For too long, offensive line has been a problem for the Chargers. They’ve moved significantly to address it this offseason, trading for guard Trai Turner and signing tackle Bryan Bulaga in free agency. But those moves established the right side of the line, and left tackle stands as a question mark.
There’s a chance the Chargers get usurped in any effort to get either Tagovailoa or Herbert, and they are effectively forced to stay put at No. 6. If they don’t love another quarterback enough to take him there (pun somewhat intended, with Jordan Love possibly on the radar), taking the best player available becomes the best option. There’s a scenario where general manager Tom Telesco will be compelled to trade down.
The Chargers can take one of the best offensive tackles in this year’s class at No. 6 and have no qualms about it. Jedrick Wills, Mekhi Bechton, Andrew Thomas and Tristan Wirfs are the top four at the position, in some order, with Josh Jones coming after them in a lot of prospect rankings.
Perhaps the Chargers would take Clemson linebacker Isaiah Simmons at No. 6, and add another versatile piece to a very good defense.
Head coach Anthony Lynn has expressed confidence in Taylor, with a recent indication Taylor is viewed as more than a bridge quarterback. While that could easily be a pre-draft smoke screen, it’s also suggests the Chargers don’t feel an incredible or forced urgency to take a quarterback with their top-10 pick. That’s a pretty good position to be in, with a team that otherwise looks primed to rebound this year.
If things go a certain way ahead of them and the Chargers do pass on a quarterback, Tagovailoa or Herbert may fall out of the top-10 and down the first round. So what they do, or don’t do, is a sneaky spot to watch early in the action on Thursday night.