Following their 63-21 defeat to the Las Vegas Raiders, the LA Chargers now hold the fifth overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
With a 5-9 record, the Chargers have endured a turbulent season. Fans are frustrated and unhappy with the team's direction, and head coach Brandon Staley is under severe pressure.
With star quarterback Justin Herbert signed until 2030, the Chargers can use this high pick to build around Herbert. Here are three potential players the Chargers could draft with the fifth pick.
Dallas Turner - DE, Alabama
The Chargers' defense is one of the worst units in the NFL. They are 27th in points conceded. And with veteran edge rusher Khalil Mack nearing the end of his career and Joey Bosa out with a severe foot injury, the Chargers need help.
Alabama's Dallas Turner is the best pass-rusher in the upcoming draft. Turner is an athletic, relentless pass-rusher with plenty of big-game experience. In three seasons at Alabama, Turner has tallied 22.5 sacks and 117 total tackles. Some draft analysts have labelled Turner as the most explosive athlete and fastest pass-rusher.
Turner's stellar 2023 performance saw him earn All-American honours and win the 2023 SEC Defensive Player of the Year Award. The SEC is arguably the toughest conference in the NFL. Turner has excelled at that level and displayed tons of potential. At 20, Turner would add youth and explosive athleticism to a desperate Chargers defense.
Marvin Harrison Jr - WR, Ohio State University
The current NFL team-building idea is to surround top quarterbacks with elite offensive players. Joe Burrow has Ja'Marr Chase. Jalen Hurts has AJ Brown and DeVonta Smith. Wide receiver is another position the Chargers have experienced issues. Veteran star Mike Williams is 29 and on injured reserve. Rookie Quentin Johnston's troubles have seen people question his mentality and talent.
Marvin Harrison Jr is the best wide receiver available in the draft. Harrison is a generational talent at the wideout position, just like his Hall of Fame father. Harrison is an excellent catcher with supreme agility and body control. In 38 games at Ohio State, Harrison scored 31 touchdowns. He is a two-time All-American and a two-time First-Team Big Ten selection.
Harrison ticks all the boxes teams look for; he has excelled in a high-pressure environment, demonstrated outstanding football ability and boasts all the physical attributes. The Chargers have an MVP-caliber quarterback; pairing Herbert with Harrison could elevate the offense to a higher level.
Brock Bowers - TE, Georgia
Continuing the offensive theme, Georgia Bulldog Brock Bowers could be another enticing option. The Chargers do not have a tight end of the Travis Kelce, Mark Andrews or Sam LaPorta ilk. Donal Parham is the incumbent and a decent player with a limited athletic ceiling.
However, Bowers is an athletic unicorn. At 240 pounds and 6 feet and 4 inches, Bowers is a physical monster. Bowers has won two national championships in Georgia and scored 26 touchdowns in 40 games. Bowers is a ferocious catcher who excels at contested catches and is a violent blocker in the run game.
He is the only tight end to have won the John Mackey Award consecutively. All quarterbacks want reliable safety blankets; Bowers would be an excellent choice for the Chargers and Herbert.