The first day of the 2022 NFL draft is history, and it’s guard Zion Johnson who will be the newest member of the Chargers.
Looking towards the second day, after trading their second-round pick to acquire Khalil Mack, Los Angeles won’t be on the clock again until the third round.
Round 1 consisted of a flurry of unexpected moves, and it could very well be the same way during Rounds 2 and 3.
Nonetheless, I decided to take a crack at what the Bolts’ draft board could look like based on positional needs and fits and players that are projected to be available at that spot.
With that being said, here’s a look at their potential options when they’re on the clock with the No. 79 selection – barring any movement:
WR Calvin Austin, Memphis
Shifty and bursting with energy, Austin is an explosive product that has proved size isn’t everything as he’s just 5-foot-8 and 170 pounds. With track speed, unpredictable route running, and electric playmaking with the ball in his hands, Austin is exactly the dynamics the Chargers would benefit from.
WR Bo Melton, Rutgers
Like Austin, Melton isn’t the most physically imposing receiver at 5-foot-11 and 189 pounds, but he has the speed, quickness, and explosion to win all over the field. In addition, his ability to create yards after the catch in space might be too enticing to pass up on.
WR Danny Gray, SMU
Gray has legitimate track speed, as evident by a blazing 4.33 40 at the NFL Scouting Combine. He’s a long-strider who can accelerate past cornerbacks off the line of scrimmage to win vertically and turn a slant into a 70-yard touchdown. He only returned nine kicks and two punts during his collegiate career, but Gray could develop into a weapon as a return man with his world-class speed.
OT Abraham Lucas, Washington State
Lucas was a reliable presence for the Cougars, starting 42 games at right tackle. Over the last two years, he allowed just one sack. At his best in pass pro, Lucas possesses great size and length for the position, the strength to anchor paired with doing a great job of having his upper- and lower-halves work in sync with one another.
OT Max Mitchell, Louisiana
Mitchell led all FBS tackles with a 94.8 PFF grade, as he allowed only 13 pressures and three sacks last season while racking up the third-most big-time run blocks. While he did not test very well at the Combine and will need to continue to get stronger, Mitchell is a tough-minded tackle, with the positioning and foot quickness to mirror and match, great hand techniques to keep rushers at bay, and run-blocking consistency at the first and second levels.
OT Nicholas Petit-Frere, Ohio State
At 6-foot-5 and 316 pounds with 33 5/8-inch arms, Petit-Frere looks the part of an NFL offensive tackle, and he plays with athleticism, flexibility and lower body explosion, controlling rushers in pass protection and moving bodies in the run game, but he will need to develop his anchor.
DT Thomas Booker, Stanford
At 6-foot-3 and 301 pounds, Booker wins with initial quickness off the snap to penetrate gaps and strength in his upper half, and active hands to control blockers to reset the line of scrimmage. He lined up at various spots on Stanford’s defensive line, from nose tackle to five-technique, showing the versatility the Chargers covet.
DT Phidarian Mathis, Alabama
Mathis finished fifth in the broad jump (9-foot-11) among defensive tackles at the Combine. He was also a top performer in the 20-yard shuttle (4.91 seconds). With his length, violent hands, lower-body strength, lateral agility, and ability to anchor, Mathis can create interior pressure just as well as he can defend the run at the next level, drawing parallels to Akiem Hicks.
CB Alontae Taylor, Tennessee
Taylor has the speed, physicality, and cover skills to make an impact at the next level and the overall skill set to be a contributor on special teams. Further, there is also some familiarity as Taylor played under defensive backs coach Derrick Ansley in 2019 & 2020, which is when he was the Volunteer’s defensive coordinator.
CB Coby Bryant, Cincinnati
Bryant ended a strong five-year career for Bearcats in emphatic fashion with national recognition as the winner of the Jim Thorpe Award, given to the country’s best defensive back. He is a corner that plays bigger than his frame, fusing precise coverage technique with noteworthy ball skills that draw a parallel to Marcus Peters.
CB Damarri Mathis, Pittsburgh
Mathis was one of the top cover corners in college football in 2019 with his 36.8% completion rate ranking fourth among corners who recorded at least 500 defensive snaps, according to Pro Football Focus. Mathis missed the 2020 season due to injury but rebounded with a solid 2021 season. He has great speed and route recognition while not afraid to make a play in the run game. Mathis played under defensive coordinator Renaldo Hill in 2017.
EDGE Amare Barno, Virginia
Barno was a Workout Warrior at the Scouting Combine. Standing at 6-foot-5 and 246 pounds with 34-inch arms, the ideal player measurements that Brandon Staley covets at the position, Barno posted some freakish numbers of a 4.36 40, 1.54 10-yard split, 37-inch vertical, and 10-foot-11 broad jump. While he needs to get a bit stronger, Barno has the speed, explosion, and athleticism to get after the quarterback.
EDGE Dominique Robinson, Miami (Ohio)
Robinson was a high school quarterback and converted to wide receiver in college. Then, he moved to pass rusher in 2020, finishing his collegiate career with 11.5 tackles for loss and six sacks. Robinson went on to shine at the Senior Bowl and the Combine, where he posted a 41-inch vertical, which is tied with Myles Garrett for third-best among all EDGE since 2006. On the field, Robinson is an explosive edge rusher with the bend, burst, and change of direction to be a disruptive force in opposing backfields at the next level.
LB Jojo Domann, Nebraska
Domann began his career as more of a safety before transitioning to outside linebacker for the Huskers. Domann suffered back-to-back ACL injuries before his 2017 season, but he has stayed healthy since then, except for a finger injury that ended his 2021 season early. Nonetheless, Domann is a high IQ defender with the coverage ability, range, and fluidity in space to allow him to make an impact at all three levels.
LB Channing Tindall, Georgia
Staley loves his Bulldogs, having taken Tre’ McKitty and Mark Webb last year. Another one could find his way into the blue and gold. Tindall’s game is about speed and high energy, which shows up when coming downhill and in space. He has the coverage skills, range, and blitz ability to find his way onto the field early on, both on the defensive side of the ball and on special teams.
