Despite undergoing a 2025 campaign in which one could call a season from hell due to one of the NFL’s longest injury reports, the Los Angeles Chargers still managed to win 11 games for the second straight year. The results in the Jim Harbaugh era have spoken for themselves in the regular season, even though first-round playoff exits have ended things prematurely twice now.
Still, it’s clear Los Angeles is still building a perennial winner. While the Chargers have just five draft picks, three of those are in the top 90 and four fall in the top 130. There are avenues to adding impact players, but what do they need heading into the biggest weekend of the offseason?
Here are the details you need to know about the Chargers’ draft capital before they’re on the clock this Thursday, plus a prediction and pick for the first round.
Los Angeles Chargers 2026 NFL Draft picks
- Round 1 — 22nd overall
- Round 2 — 55th overall
- Round 3 — 86th overall
- Round 4 — 123rd overall
- Round 6 — 204th overall
Los Angeles Chargers team needs
It’s a miracle that Justin Herbert didn’t suffer a more serious injury than a fractured bone in his hand last season. The Chargers’ offensive line suffered numerous injuries to starters as Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt both missed extended time at each tackle position. The front office addressed the interior with the additions of Tyler Biadasz and Cole Strange at center and right guard, and the assumption is that Trevor Penning may slot in as the left guard again as well. Still, they need more depth in the trenches. However, skill positions are no problem with Ladd McConkey, Quentin Johnston, Oronde Gadsden and Omarion Hampton all manning various places in what should be a productive attack, given better health.
The defense, which was already strong last year, remains largely intact. Standouts like Khalil Mack, Teair Tart, Denzel Perryman and Derwin James Jr. all return, and we know coaching is no issue. Could Los Angeles add talent to this unit? Certainly, especially at edge. There’s not a glaring hole in the defense though. While former defensive coordinator Jesse Minter took the head coach gig with the Baltimore Ravens, Harbaugh remains a culture setter and the franchise reunited with former safeties coach Chris O’Leary to serve as the new defensive coordinator. In an ideal world, the Chargers’ defense only gets more imposing given the continuity of the roster.
ESPN’s Peter Schrager, one of the kings of draft season who bases his two mock drafts on intel rather than what he would do in a team’s position, has Auburn EDGE Keldric Faulk going to L.A. at No. 22 overall. That pick makes a ton of sense, as would just about any edge rusher in this spot. The Chargers lost Odafe Oweh this offseason, who they traded for last year, and Jamaree Caldwell may not be a capable replacement. Clemson EDGE T.J. Parker may also go in this range and UCF EDGE Malachi Lawrence could sneak into the mid-to-late first as well. The position is one that the Chargers should seek to shore up, so penciling in one of those names is a valid strategy.
Could they surprise folks and go with a different position? Yeah, sure they could. More depth isn’t a bad thing across the roster, especially on the offensive line. That’s more of a choice for later rounds though. Perhaps another wideout could appeal to the front office with Keenan Allen still a free agent and presumably not coming back, so a guy like Denzel Boston would prove interesting if still on the board here. Still, the Chargers took Tre Harris early last year, so sinking more early-round capital into the position may not be in the cards.
