Chargers land Oklahoma edge rusher in way-too-early 2022 mock draft

Some will say it’s too early for 2022 mock drafts, but you won’t find that type of talk around these parts. We love the draft and if you ever see a prospect linked to the Chargers at any point during the year, you’re likely to see it pop up on BFTB.

Recently, Luke Easterling of Draft Wire put together another way-too-early mock and, with the 22nd-overall pick, he has the Chargers selecting edge rusher Nik Bonitto out of the University of Oklahoma.

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

“Joey Bosa is one of the NFL’s best pass rushers, but the Chargers are missing that matching presence of Melvin Ingram on the other side. This scenario gives them plenty of intriguing options at the position, but Bonitto’s combination of versatility and athleticism give him the nod.”

Bonitto is in his fourth year playing for the Sooners and has established himself as one of the best quarterback hunters in the country. After playing sparingly as a freshman in 2018, Bonitto began to make a name for himself as a sophomore when he recorded 3.5 sacks, 6.5 tackles for loss, and picked off a pass as a first-year starter.

As junior, finally had that “wow” season when he recorded a team-high nine sacks to go with 11.5 tackles for loss. Through two games played in 2021, Bonitto has seven tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, and 2.5 sacks.

At this moment of the season, how much do you agree with this pick? Is edge rusher the most-important position to address this offseason or will it be another spot by the time the draft rolls around? Let us know in the comments below!