The Chargers stayed local with their fifth-round selection, opting to draft defensive lineman Otito Ogbonnia from UCLA.
Ogbonnia logged 76 total tackles with 8.5 for loss and 4.5 sacks, as well as six pass deflections and two forced fumbles. While he started at times in all four seasons as a Bruin, 2021 was his only year as a full-time starter. Nevertheless, with a full complement of reps under his belt, Ogbonnia performed well enough to be selected for the Reese’s Senior Bowl.
The 6’3”, 324-pound Ogbonnia has lined up everywhere from shaded nose tackle to 5-technique, versatility that will be welcomed in LA. He’s also primarily a run defender, which will be music to Chargers fans’ ears after watching the defense get shredded on the ground in 2021. Ogbonnia’s plus-sized frame is near impossible to move off the line of scrimmage, which allows him to swallow opposing runners.
As a pass rusher, Ogbonnia doesn’t have a ton of juice. UCLA used him on a lot of loops and stunts, on which he’s able to generate some pressure, but not at a consistent level. He’s also not much of a gap shooter, as his poor 40 time (5.31) and lack of explosiveness in the film suggests.
Brandon Staley has said all offseason that improving the defensive line would be a top priority. He and Tom Telesco backed up those words by signing Sebastian Joseph-Day and Austin Johnson in free agency. They back it up in the draft by adding Ogbonnia, who should see time on early downs as an effective run stopper before rotating out for linemen with better pass-rush tools.
