Hi Bolt Fam!

I know this season sucks. I’ve never seen coaching this bad in my entire lifetime from Stinking Staley, it’s honestly annoying he hasn’t been fired. And hopefully, Telesco will be gone after this season too after being so incompetent. Regardless of how bad this season is, it’s not gonna sway me from making my early mock draft predictions.

For the record, I’m not gonna assume Staley and Telesco will stay after this season. It’s over for them, throw it in the trash and move on. And I’m not going to make draft picks based on who’s highly likely gonna be our next GM or coach. I’m also not gonna assume we’ll trade players for picks, to make it easy. This is purely a mock draft from a fan’s perspective. The Chargers draft pick may fluctuate over time, but I’m assuming we’ll be the #8 based on where we are at this week. Without further ado, with the 8th pick, the Los Angeles Chargers select….

(Draft Sim: PFF Mock Draft Simulator)

1st round, 8th pick - Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama

At the 8th pick, we got plenty of good options available from D-Lineman to WRs. However, I firmly the weakest point on our team right now is our secondary. J.C. Jackson has been proven to be a failed experiment. Michael Davis(a good CB, no doubt) is not the shutdown CB we needed and I don’t believe a new GM will keep him. All that remains is Asante Samuel Jr., Ja’sir Taylor, and Deane Leonard. Kool-Aid McKinstry shines on top as the best CB in this class. He’s an agile press-man corner who excels with his foot quickness at the line of scrimmage, relying on his ability to mirror receivers without needing physical contact. McKinstry’s fluid hip movement and body control keep him well-positioned to contest passes and break them up, and he’s a competitive presence at the catch point, always eager to fight for pass breakups or interceptions. Furthermore, he possesses physicality, proving effective in run support and as a fearless, disruptive blitzer. We are in a passing league now, and our current CB room isn’t looking too hot to keep up with the league’s best. We need a player who complements ASJ and Dewin James really well in the backfield. Plus, having a player named “Kool-Aid” on the Chargers sound cool! :)

2nd round, 40th pick - Dontay Corleone, DI, Cincinnati

Either Sebastion-Joseph Day/Austin Johnson(or both) will be gone this year. The depth currently is Otito Ogbonnia(coming fresh off of injury), Scott Matlock, and Christopher Hinton. It’s clear we need more D-linemen, and run defense is still a weak point after SO MANY YEARS. Dontay Corleone, aka “The GodFather”, is a great D-Lineman and one of the best run defenders in college football over the last two seasons. He has violent hands and a good feel for working inside counter moves in order to rush the passer. He penetrates through gaps, often forcing running backs to elude him or the back end of the offensive lineman he’s pushing before they even reach the line. He’s definitely got improvement to make in terms of technique, and he does lack length, but overall he’s a good D-Lineman to add to our roster.

3rd round, 72nd pick - Sedrick Van Pran, C, Georgia

Considering that Corey Lindsey is on the IR with heart-related issue, its likely we’ve seen his season as a Charger. Although it’s unfortunate, we need a replacement. Will Clapp is servicable, but he’s primarily a backup. Sedrick Van Pran is the best center heading into this draft, and he’s got a lot of good qualities. Van Pran has the scheme versatility, football IQ, and instincts to serve as a reliable starter in any team. He prides himself in the run game, displaying tremendous physicality and playing through the whistle. His short arms may not serve him well against bigger IDLs, and his pass-protection skills could use improvement. However, he’s a truly-capable center who’s played for championship teams, and that’s something the Chargers O-Line can definitely use.

What are your guys’ thoughts on this mock draft. Let me know down below!