Chargers grab QB, IOL, TE in latest 3-round mock

Matt Miller of Bleacher Report just released his “post-combine” mock draft and the Chargers came away with a few players who have yet to be mocked to the Bolts up to this point.

The first round is unsurprising, to say the least. However, it’s the second and third-round picks that will grab your interest and subsequently get the gears turning on new possibilities for the first two days of the draft.

Round 1 - QB Justin Herbert, Oregon

The most-commonly mocked player to the Chargers at #6, Herbert is the pick once again in Matt Miller’s most recent 3-round mock draft. For context, Joe Burrow, Chase Young, Jeffrey Okudah, Isaiah Simmons, and Tua Tagovailoa were all taken in the first five picks.

The Chargers jump on Herbert in this scenario with the majority of the top defensive players off the board along with the only other QB option worthy of the sixth pick gone in Tua. The former Oregon Duck has over 10,000 passing yards in his career with 95 passing touchdowns to just 23 interceptions. In four years, the last two of which he played every game, Herbert has never thrown more than eight interceptions in a given season. That type of care with the football will be one of the biggest reasons why the Bolts would covet Herbert so highly.

Round 2 - IOL Cesar Ruiz, Michigan

Ruiz came out of high school as a highly-touted center prospect. He saw time as a true freshman in Ann Arbor when he played in 10 games with five starts. After starting 13 games in both 2018 and ‘19, Ruiz was named a Third-Team and Second-Team All-Big Ten performer, respectively.

The former Michigan man has been a center but can still possesses the versatility to play any of the three interior positions. His build is compact at 6’3 and 307 pounds but he’s got great quickness off the line and lateral agility to make him hard to pass with helpers on either side. He’s a fit in any type of blocking scheme but I like him best in a zone-based offense where his phenomenal double-teaming mechanics can really shine.

Round 3 - TE Albert Okwuegbunam, Missouri

Okwuegbunam was the first prospect at the NFL Combine to set the internet ablaze after he posted 4.49 seconds in the forty-yard dash. The unfortunate part of this is that he declined to test in any other facet throughout the rest of the day so we are not sure if his athleticism is simply isolated to his straight-line speed.

The former Missouri Tiger posted career-lows in catches and yards this past season (26 for 306 yards) with Clemson-transfer Kelly Bryant throwing him passes but he’s just a year removed from two seasons catching balls current Broncos quarterback Drew Lock where he accumulated 69 catches (nice) for 772 yards and 17 touchdowns, including 11 as a true freshman back in 2017.

Until we see “Albert O.” at his pro day later this month, the idea of him in an NFL offense just won’t be complete. But man, that 4.49 at almost 260 pounds is still insane.