By The Athletic NFL Staff
Apr 28, 2022
The Los Angeles Chargers have the 17th pick in the NFL Draft when Round 1 begins on April 28 in Las Vegas. The Chargers own 11 total picks in the seven-round draft, including six over the final two rounds thanks to their four compensatory picks. Their second-round pick was traded away in the Khalil Mack deal with the Bears.
Chargers' draft picks
| Round | Pick | Overall | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | 17 | 17 | |
3 | 15 | 79 | |
4 | 18 | 123 | |
5 | 17 | 160 | |
6 | 16 | 195 | |
6 | 36 | 214 | Compensatory |
7 | 15 | 236 | |
7 | 33 | 254 | Compensatory |
7 | 34 | 255 | Compensatory |
7 | 39 | 260 | Compensatory |
Full draft order
See how every pick in the seven-round NFL Draft is scheduled.
Predicting the Chargers’ picks
• Final Chargers 7-round mock draft from Daniel Popper
• Chargers NFL Draft Big Board
• The Athletic’s NFL beat writer mock draft 2.0
• Dane Brugler’s Top 300 Big Board
• Brugler’s 7-round mock draft
• Brugler’s final first round mock draft
• Chargers 2022 Offseason Handbook
• How the Khalil Mack trade came together
• Six questions the Chargers still must answer
• What the Mack trade says about Brandon Staley’s influence on the roster
• Trade-down options for the Chargers on draft night
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NFL Draft details
• Round 1: April 28, 8 p.m. ET (ESPN/ABC, NFL Network)
• Rounds 2-3: April 29, 7 p.m. ET (ESPN/ABC, NFL Network)
• Rounds 4-7: April 30, Noon ET (ESPN/ABC, NFL Network)
About the Chargers
• Head coach: Brandon Staley (second season)
• General manager: Tom Telesco
• Last year’s record: 9-8
Chargers’ key position needs
Offensive guard/offensive tackle: Because Matt Feiler has the flexibility to play either guard or tackle, the Chargers could go in one of two directions to bolster their offensive line in the draft. If a tackle falls in the first round, they could snag him to upgrade at right tackle over Storm Norton. If they miss out on a tackle in the first, they could instead look for a guard in the third round — or even later — and kick Feiler out to right tackle. Feiler started at left guard for the Chargers last season, but he began his career as a right tackle for the Steelers and played well there.
Running back: The Chargers still must find a viable and dependable second running back behind Austin Ekeler. Larry Rountree and Joshua Kelley will be in the mix for that spot, but neither player distanced himself last season when the job was open. It would be surprising if the Chargers invest in a running back on Day 1 or 2. They will be taking a running back at some point, though.
Linebacker: Kyzir White, the team’s leading tackler in 2021, walked in free agency, and the Chargers will be looking for a replacement in the draft. Drue Tranquill is a solid piece, though he has dealt with injuries the past two seasons. Former first-round pick Kenneth Murray has not played like a capable starting linebacker so far in his career. The Chargers also have two second-year linebackers on their roster in Nick Niemann and Amen Ogbongbemiga. But they need some added depth and talent here with White’s departure — and, preferably, a player who can also contribute on special teams.
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Interior defensive line: The Chargers overhauled the interior of their defensive line by signing Sebastian Joseph-Day and Austin Johnson. They needed bigger and better run stuffers on the inside to fix a miserable run defense, and they found two of them in the free-agent acquisitions. But they still seem like they are one player away from really filling out their depth in this group and completing the makeover.
Wide receiver: Need is probably a strong word to describe this position for the Chargers. They have Mike Williams and Keenan Allen and also used a third-round pick on Joshua Palmer last year. But they are lacking some speed in their receiver group, and the Chargers could absolutely make their strength — the passing offense — stronger by adding a fast pass-catcher with any of their 10 picks, including the first round.
Chargers’ last five top picks
• 2021: OT Rashawn Slater, pick 13 — Slater fell to the Chargers in the first round last year and he played at an All-Pro level as a rookie. They have a franchise left tackle for the first time in a long time. Slater is a stud in pass protection and as a run blocker.
• 2020: QB Justin Herbert, pick 6 — Decent pick …
• 2019: DT Jerry Tillery, pick 28 — The Chargers drafted Tillery primarily because of his traits — long and athletic. He has not panned out. Tillery provides some value as a pass rusher, but he is a liability in run defense. It would be shocking if the Chargers decide to pick up his fifth-year option before the May deadline.
• 2018: S Derwin James, pick 17 — James missed almost two full seasons because of injuries after his All-Pro rookie season. But he rebounded last season and looked like the same player. He is an integral part of Staley’s defense as the defensive signal-caller. And he has earned a lucrative extension either this offseason or next.
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• 2017: WR Mike Williams, pick 7 — Williams did not live up to his draft slot through his first four years in the league, but he had a breakout year in 2021. Staley and offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi had a vision for how to use Williams, expanding his route tree and incorporating him more in the short and intermediate areas of the field. The Chargers re-signed Williams to a three-year, $60 million extension in March.
(Photo of Trevor Penning: Charlie Neibergall / Associated Press)
