Chargers select LB Nick Niemann with the 185th pick

With the 185th-overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft, the Chargers selected linebacker Nick Niemann out of Iowa.

Nick’s brother, Ben Niemann, is currently a linebacker for divisional rival Kansas City Chiefs. At 6’3 and 234 pounds, the Bolts got themselves an uber-athletic defender that comes from one of the most-underrated producers of NFL talent in the Big Ten Conference. His dad, Jay, is currently an assistant for the Hawkeyes who also spent time on the defensive staff at Northern Illinois and Rutgers.

As a redshirt freshman, Niemann played in all 13 games for the Hawks in a reserve role before earning the first five starts of his career in 2017 where he finished with 43 tackles and 2.5 for loss. As a junior, he made 32 total stops and returned a pick for a touchdown. He capped off his Hawkeye career with Third-Team All-Conference honors after posting a career-high 77 tackles in eight starts during the abbreviated 2020 season.

Niemann offers high-upside with his elite athletic profile and figures to work in on special teams where he’s likely to make his most-immediate impact.