Valentine’s Day is here, and love is in the air.
Some of you are celebrating the day with your significant other, but some are without a Valentine, like me. So today, I’d like to reveal who I have a crush on.
I’m talking about some NFL draft prospects whose tape I enjoyed watching, and that would make sense for the Chargers when they’re on the clock in April.
With that, let’s see who’s drawn my attention.
DL Moro Ojomo, Texas
The Chargers bolstered the defensive front last off-season. But they did so with run defense specialists and lack pass rushers from the interior, especially with Morgan Fox set to be a free agent next month. Ojomo is a projected Day 3 option who could aid that department early on.
At 6-foot-3 and 281 pounds, Ojomo has the pass-rush ability, impressive first-step quickness, body control, and hand use to make plays all over the defensive line, drawing parallels to former Texans and current Falcons defensive lineman Ta’Quon Graham.
According to Pro Football Focus, Ojomo was one of only four Power Five interior defensive linemen with top-15 grades as both a pass rusher and a run defender.
TE Sam Laporta, Iowa
The Chargers can’t bank on Donald Parham staying healthy after having an injury-riddled season in 2022. Tre’ McKitty has left a lot to be desired in his first two seasons. Gerald Everett will be a free agent after the 2023 season, that’s if he’s still around and not a potential cap casualty.
For an Iowa offense that struggled for nearly the entire season, LaPorta still managed to make good out of it.
LaPorta has good hands, route running to work all areas of the field, and yards-after-the-catch ability, as evidenced by him breaking 14 tackles on 53 catches for 592 yards with a low 7.3-yard average depth of target. Additionally, he has the strength and competitiveness as a blocker.
WR Marvin Mims, Oklahoma
If the Chargers don’t address the wide receiver position in the first round, I firmly believe that Mims should be high on their draft board on Day 2.
Mims is a speedy receiver with solid separation skills and run-after-catch ability with good quickness and vision. And while undersized at 5-foot-11 and 177 pounds, Mims shows great effort as a blocker.
Mims finished his three-year college career with 2,398 receiving yards and 20 touchdowns on 123 receptions. He ranks in the top 15 in program history for receiving yards (eighth), receiving touchdowns (10th) and receptions (15th).
EDGE Felix Anudike-Uzomah, Kansas State
The Chargers need more players capable of disrupting opposing quarterbacks and Anudike-Uzomah has shown plenty to fit that billing.
At 6-foot-4 and 255 pounds, Anudiki-Uzomah is a high-motored player with an excellent first step with the hips to bend the edge and flexibility to drop his shoulder to get under blockers, an array of pass rush moves and the functional strength to set the edge.
Arguably one of the most productive pass rushers in the nation the past two seasons, Adudike-Uzomah finished among Pro Football Focus’ top-ten in overall grade, pass-rush grade, and defensive stops, with a 16.2% pressure rate (16th) in 2022.
LB Daiyan Henley, Washington State
If the Chargers don’t re-sign Drue Tranquill, they will need more pieces at linebacker. And Henley could be a solid option if they choose to go that route in the middle rounds.
At 6 feet and 230 pounds, Henley has the speed and range to make plays sideline-to-sideline and downhill. His length gives him a great tackling radius and he misses very few tackles. As a former safety, Henley is proven in coverage. And as a former edge defender, he can get home as a blitzer.
Henley finished his first and only season at Washington State with 106 tackles – second in the Pac-12 – adding 12 tackles for loss, four sacks, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and one interception. The Nevada transfer was the only Cougar named to the All-Pac-12 first team.
OL Atonio Mafi, UCLA
The Chargers need offensive line depth this offseason and Mafi’s presence could really boost the group.
Just three years ago, Mafi was playing nose tackle for the Bruins. After making the position change to guard, Mafi still imposed his will, as he consistently moved people and held rushers at bay. The former rugby player is a bully with great feet and a strong anchor.
Mafi finished with an 88.3 run-blocking grade in his only full season as a starter in 2022.
It’s worth noting that in my interview with Mafi at the East-West Shrine Bowl, he told me that the Chargers have been watching him closely since his first collegiate season in 2018 and really loved his tape.
S Jammie Robinson, Florida State
With position versatility being something that Brandon Staley values on defense, Robinson has that lining up at free safety, strong safety, nickel cornerback and linebacker. For his career, Robinson logged 633 box snaps, 759 deep snaps and 1,348 slot snaps, per PFF.
Robinson has shown the movement skills, scrappiness and instincts to lock down his matchup in coverage, the aggression and tremendous tackling ability to make an impact against the run and as a blitzer off the edge.
Robinson had 86 tackles, and five quarterback hurries, adding 4.0 tackles for loss, four pass breakups and an interception. Robinson was the first defensive back to win back-to-back first-team All-ACC honors since Jalen Ramsey.
