Top-10 players remaining on the board for the Chargers in Round 2

The Chargers have plenty of talent left on the board to begin day two of the NFL draft. Will they manage to land an instant-impact player?

The Chargers landed Notre Dame offensive tackle Joe Alt in the first round which means they’ll have to find more wide receivers for Justin Herbert to throw to somewhere across the final two days of the draft.

At the same time, there are some great defensive players left on the board who could have a chance of sliding to the Bolts at No. 37. Should they decide to pounce on one of those players, you’d be looking at the Chargers hoping to land a starter at wideout with the 69th pick. By that point, the chances are fairly slim. However, needs abound for the Chargers at positions like cornerback, defensive tackle, and linebacker. There WILL be good players at those spots when the Chargers are on the clock. Will they pull the trigger on one of them? We can only wait to find out.

Below are my top-10 players remaining on the board for the Chargers as we enter day two of the 2024 NFL Draft.

1.) DT Jer’Zahn Newton, Illinois – Has dominated the Big Ten for back-to-back seasons and is one of the best all-around interior defenders in the draft. Could do wonders in reinforcing the interior run defense of the Chargers.

2.) WR Adonai Mitchell, Texas – Elite speed on a sizable 6’2 body. He did not have the most consistent quarterback play which also seemed to affect his demeanor during games. He may need a kick in the pants to play full-speed on every snap but there’s no denying the talent he could bring as a potential WR1 for the Chargers.

3.) DB Cooper DeJean, Iowa – As versatile of a defensive back as you’ll find in this draft. DeJean’s ability to find the ball should do him well in the NFL as he becomes a return man the second he takes it away. He could play in a number of spots for defensive coordinator Jesse Minter.

4.) WR Ladd McConkey, Georgia – Not an ideal WR1 by modern NFL standards could his combination of explosiveness off the line, agility, and top-end speed could make him a favorite for both Justin Herbert and the fan base.

5.) CB Kool-Aid McKinstry, Alabama – Good size at 6’0 and 200 pounds. Plays mainly press man and loves to smother underneath routes. Good speed and nuance to stick in hip pockets. Did not have as god of a 2023 season as his 2022 but he’s still a typical alpha Alabama corner. Can also return punts if needed.

6.) CB Ennis Rakestraw, Missouri – Only 183 pounds but plays bigger than his listed size. Scouts say he’s capable of coming down hard to support the run. Doesn’t shy from contact. That type of mentality could bode well in the Chargers’ cornerback room. Great instincts.

7.) WR Keon Coleman, Florida State – Another sizable wideout at nearly 6’4. His 4.61 40 time will make some think twice about drafting him early on day two. He wins with immense physicality and you can tell he loves to overpower defenders on money downs and around the end zone. Raw prospect, but the right coach could unlock something special here.

8.) DT Braden Fiske, Florida State – Very athletic interior defender who wins with elite agility and explosion off the ball. His best asset will be the ability to create havoc in the backfield but that type of play could backfire if opposing coaching staffs know how to scheme him out of plays easier because of it.

9.) LB Edgerrin Cooper, Texas A&M – Arguably the top off-ball linebacker in a fairly underwhelming draft class. Modern-day size at 6’2 and 230 pounds. Explosive with sideline-to-sideline speed and the burst to shoot gaps and create negative plays. Had 17 tackles for loss in the SEC. Needs to work on coverage skills but the athleticism to excel in that area is already there.

10.) LB Junior Colson, Michigan – A former Harbaugh guy in Ann Arbor. Prototypical build at 6’2 and just under 240 pounds. Started 36 games during his career. Powerful upper-body to keep blockers off of him. Understands his coverage assignments and does a good job of coming up to limit gains over the middle. Reliable tackler and probably for sure in that area than Cooper above. Trading some safe play for athletic ability between the two.