With two players returning from season-ending injuries on the defensive line, the Chargers have elected to add more depth.
Scott Matlock out of Boise State was the Chargers’ selection at the 200th overall pick. An elite athlete with a 9.65 RAS, Matlock is a quick and agile body on the line with a decent power profile.
An Idaho native, Matlock spent five seasons at Boise State, starting 32 games from 2020 onward. He tied for the Broncos’ lead in quarterback hurries with 7 in 2022 and was named to the All-Mountain West second team in 2021 and 2022.
Given his lighter weight (296 lbs) and elite speed and agility grades, Matlock is another contender at five-technique behind Morgan Fox if second-round pick Tuli Tuipulotu is going to primarily be a traditional edge rusher.
LA struggled to generate interior pass rush beyond Fox a season ago, which is where Matlock will help out in spades. The Chargers now have Austin Johnson and Otito Ogbonnia to primarily stop the run, with Fox and Matlock to rush the passer while Sebastian Joseph-Day plays an all-around role. Given his draft status, he’ll likely only play a small share of the snaps to begin with, but LA needs all the value they can get from a pass rush perspective.
While Matlock benched 225 lbs 29 times, showcasing decent power, his play strength varies from play to play. Boise State primarily played four-man fronts, which left Matlock to play more from a three-technique spot. In LA’s three down fronts, Matlock can move a bit further to the outside, where his quickness will serve him well.
Bottom line: LA adds more pass rush presence from the interior, giving them more flexibility on the defensive line as a whole.
