Chargers reinforce the trenches in TDN’s latest mock draft

If you haven’t yet, and you need something to suffice your NFL Draft fix, head on over to The Draft Network and check out their huge selection of scouting reports, mock drafts, and you might as well take their mock draft machine for a spin to see how you would fix this Chargers team if you had control over the war room.

But in their most recent mock draft by Trevor Sikkema, the Chargers came away from the first round with a tremendous talent in Iowa’s Tristan Wirfs.

The 6-foot-4. 320-pound Wirfs has spent time at both left and right tackle during his time in Iowa City but the majority of his snaps have come on the right side. I would argue that the biggest issue along the offensive line has been the right tackle spot for as long as I can remember. I don’t think I’ve felt good about the position since Joe Barksdale’s first year with the Chargers back in 2015.

Here’s what Sikkema had to say about the pick:

“The Chargers are one of those teams that could get aggressive when it comes to moving up for one of the top three quarterbacks in this draft. They miss out on all three in this mock, but if their “fall back” plan is a guy like Tristan Wirfs, that’s still a very good place to be in.

Some players have a hard time translating weight room strength into play strength.

Some players — not Wirfs.

He’s a rare athlete for the position who needs some polishing, but should be every offensive line coach’s dream with the potential he carries.”

Like Sikkema mentioned, this pick is based off Burrow, Tua, and Herbert all being selected within the first five picks. That forces the Chargers to address the other most-glaring need on the team in OT.

Wirfs’ combination of size, strength, and athleticism does NOT come around very often. The thing I love most about Wirfs is his body composition. When you size-up a tackle, you usually come away with a pair of observations.

1.) He’s got a huge upper-body and a lean lower-body.

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2.) He’s got a strong, thick lower-body and a rather lean/lanky upper-body.

When it comes to Wirfs, you don’t have to pick between the two. I have honestly never seen an offensive tackle be as evenly #thicc from head-to-toe like he is. His arms are the size of tree trunks and his lower body is thicker than a Snicker.

I am, of course, a tad bias since I am an alumni of The University of Iowa but there’s no denying the type of talent that is Wirfs. He’s not just a spandex All-American (looks good in clothes/standing around), he is an insane athlete for 320 pounds.

Some analysts believe he could actually maximize his potential if he were to move inside at guard. He is just fine on the outside but most think he could reach his ceiling much sooner were he to have help on either side while focusing on being a mauler/mover along the interior. He also wouldn’t have to face so many elite pass-rushers from there, as well.

Oh yeah, did I mention he is a strong dude?