NFL Draft best available players for Los Angeles Chargers: Cooper DeJean, Jackson Powers-Johnson

The Los Angeles Chargers selected Notre Dame offensive tackle Joe Alt with the fifth pick in Thursday’s first round of the NFL Draft, so what’s next for the Chargers? Who are the players they could be targeting the rest of the way?

Drawing from Dane Brugler’s top-300 prospects big board, here are some players who could be fits for the Chargers on Days 2 and 3 of the draft:

Round 2

Jackson Powers-Johnson, C, Oregon

With 13 starts at center in 2023, Powers-Johnson enters the draft with more experience at the position than Barton. Powers-Johnson “offers a fantastic combination of size, athleticism and toughness, with the skill set that translates to both center and guard,” according to Brugler.

Cooper DeJean, CB, Iowa

Wiggins is Brugler’s No. 23 prospect. DeJean is No. 24. So very little separating these two. The Chargers could consider either corner in a late-first situation, assuming they do not address the position with their earlier first-round pick. DeJean is a bigger and more physical player. According to Brugler, he could provide flexibility at outside corner, in the slot or even at safety. The Chargers could use talent at all of those spots.

Johnny Newton, DT, Illinois

Newton is undersized, particularly in his length, but his college production is unavoidable. He led all FBS interior defensive linemen with 103 combined pressures in 2022 and 2023. He’s an explosive defensive piece the Chargers could consider in the late first round if they find themselves there.

Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama

Ladd McConkey, WR, Georgia

Adonai Mitchell, WR, Texas

If the Chargers trade down to the 9 to 13 range, odds are they will not be taking a receiver with that initial first-round pick. But that position would be a more realistic option in the case that they pick up an additional first in the 20s. McConkey and Mitchell would be the targets in that range. Both ran sub 4.40 in the pre-draft process. McConkey is a more refined route-runner than Mitchell. Mitchell is bigger and longer and projects better as a perimeter pass-catcher for Justin Herbert.

Zach Frazier, OC, West Virginia

Frazier might be off the board by No. 37. The Chargers could also address offensive line — and in particular center — before they get to this pick. If not, Frazier would be a really intriguing selection. Frazier started 38 games at center in his college career. He “will win over NFL teams with his core strength, football IQ, competitive toughness and understanding of leverage,” according to Brugler.

Kris Jenkins, DT, Michigan

The Chargers are very familiar with Jenkins, who played under both Jim Harbaugh and Jesse Minter in Ann Arbor. “He is light on his feet and heavy with his hands with the ‘do my job’ mentality that NFL defensive coordinators appreciate,” writes Brugler.

Keon Coleman, WR, Florida State

Cooper Beebe, OG, Kansas State

Jaden Hicks, S, Washington State

Safety is another underrated need for the Chargers. They re-signed Alohi Gilman to start next to Derwin James Jr. But the depth is suspect behind those two. The second round might be a bit high for the Chargers to draft a third safety. At the same time, I would not be shocked if they attacked this position at some point on Day 2. Hicks is Brugler’s top-ranked safety. “Hicks is a rangy, intimidating presence, both downhill and on the back end, and he offers the multi-dimensional traits to develop into an NFL starter,” he writes.

Kingsley Suamataia, OT, BYU

There could be six tackles who go in the first round. Suamataia is one of the few tackles to watch for the Chargers in the second round if they take a receiver or another position in the first. “Suamataia is still very young and lacks refinement in several areas, but his blend of size, mobility and core power are the foundation of a scheme-diverse NFL starter,” writes Brugler.

Roman Wilson, WR, Michigan

Junior Colson, LB, Michigan

Mike Sainristil, CB, Michigan

Sainristil is undersized, but he has considerable experience playing the nickel in Minter’s scheme from his time in Ann Arbor. The Chargers have a need at that spot. Sainristil brings “outstanding toughness, instincts and ball skills,” according to Brugler.

Edgerrin Cooper, LB, Texas A&M

The Chargers have only four rostered linebackers. Two of those are free-agent signings in Denzel Perryman and Troy Dye. Perryman is a projected starter. Dye, Nick Niemann and Daiyan Henley will be battling for the other spot. Cooper took a 30 visit with the Chargers, according to reports. “A fast-flowing linebacker who can run and cover, he has the explosive traits to be a regular on special teams as a rookie and grow into a three-down linebacker role in the NFL,” Brugler writes.

Christian Haynes, OG, Connecticut

Jonathon Brooks, RB, Texas

Round 3

Ja’Tavion Sanders, TE, Texas

Sanders is Brugler’s second-ranked tight end. Free-agent signees Will Dissly and Hayden Hurst bolstered the room, for sure. But the Chargers might be looking to add a long-term plan at the position, as Hurst is only on a one-year deal. Dissly signed a three-year deal. “Sanders needs to become ‘more available’ in his routes and improve his reliability as a blocker, but he is a smooth operator with dynamic talent before, during and after the catch,” Brugler writes.

Troy Franklin, WR, Oregon

Franklin has the long speed on the outside the Chargers are missing in their receiver room. I like the fit — if the Chargers pass on WR in Round 1 and Franklin is available at 69. “He can be a big-play weapon (before and after the catch), because of his linear twitch and gliding acceleration,” Brugler writes of Franklin.

Patrick Paul, OT, Houston

Michael Hall Jr., DT, Ohio State

Andru Phillips, CB, Kentucky

Kamari Lassiter, CB, Georgia

Max Melton, CB, Rutgers

Melton “brings explosive speed and attitude to his coverage,” according to Brugler. He had 30 passes defended in 40 career college starts, eight of which were picks. He can play inside or outside.

Maason Smith, DT, LSU

Brandon Coleman, OT, TCU

Coleman is a quality third-round option. “His ease of movement, spatial awareness and length are the building blocks that offensive line coaches covet,” according to Brugler. He is 6-foot-4, 316 pounds with nearly 35-inch arms. He has college experience at both left tackle and left guard.

Tyler Nubin, S, Minnesota

Roger Rosengarten, OT, Washington

Cole Bishop, S, Utah

Braden Fiske, DT, Florida State

I mocked Fiske to the Chargers in the third round in my mock 3.0. He “plays with a worker-bee attitude and his motor doesn’t have an off switch,” according to Brugler. I love this fit for the mentality Harbaugh and Hortiz are trying to build.

Blake Fisher, OT, Notre Dame

Ja’Lynn Polk, WR, Washington

Brandon Dorlus, DT, Oregon

Blake Corum, RB, Michigan

There might be a run on running backs in the third round. Corum, of course, was a highly productive player under Harbaugh in Ann Arbor. He is Brugler’s second-ranked running back. “He makes quick, urgent decisions with the low center of gravity and burst to bounce runs or maneuver through congestion,” Brugler writes.

Devontez Walker, WR, North Carolina

Day 3

Trey Benson, RB, Florida State

Jaylen Wright, RB, Tennessee

Audric Estimé, RB, Notre Dame

The Chargers signed former Baltimore Ravens running back J.K. Dobbins last week, but I do not think that will affect their approach at running back. Estimé is the type of big, physical, downhill back that would be a logical fit in Greg Roman’s offense. Brugler compared him to former Seattle Seahawks running back Chris Carson.

Trevin Wallace, LB, Kentucky

Payton Wilson, LB, N.C. State

Wilson has a concerning medical history — right knee and both shoulders — but he is a terrific athlete with elite college production to back it up. N.C. State head coach Dave Doeren said Wilson is “one of the most elite competitive spirits I’ve ever coached,” according to Brugler.

Malik Washington, WR, Virginia

MarShawn Lloyd, RB, USC

Tommy Eichenberg, LB, Ohio State

Tanor Bortolini, C, Wisconsin

Bortolini was one of the standout testers at the combine. He played center, guard and tackle in college. “He offers encouraging upside, thanks to his fluidity, intelligence and technical skill,” writes Brugler. “He projects as an eventual NFL starter with position flexibility across the interior.”

Sedrick Van Pran-Granger, C, Georgia

Ray Davis, RB, Kentucky

Nehemiah Pritchett, CB, Auburn

Hunter Nourzad, C, Penn State

Nourzad made my final mock as the Chargers’ pick at No. 105. With experience at guard and center, he could push for a starting spot at multiple positions as a rookie. He earned an engineering degree from Cornell and a master’s in business administration from Penn State. Nourzad “maximizes what he has with smarts, physicality and well-schooled technique,” according to Brugler.

T’Vondre Sweat, DT, Texas

The Chargers have some flexibility with how their defensive line depth chart is constructed. Morgan Fox, Otito Ogbonnia, Poona Ford and Scott Matlock all can play from multiple alignments up front. So the Chargers do not have to pigeonhole themselves as far as looking for a pass-rushing interior lineman versus a run-stuffer. Sweat is gargantuan at 6-foot-4, 366 pounds. Writes Brugler: “A rare athlete for his size, with the power and ingredients to be a dominant force against the run.”

Zak Zinter, G, Michigan

Zinter broke his leg in November, but very few will have a better understanding of that injury and Zinter’s rehab than Harbaugh and Chargers executive director of player performance Ben Herbert. Zinter started 42 games for Harbaugh in Ann Arbor. “He is big, smart and physical, which allows him to control defenders, especially in closed quarters,” writes Brugler.

Gabriel Murphy, edge, UCLA

I do not see edge rusher as a viable position to target on Day 1 or 2 for the Chargers, with Joey Bosa, Khalil Mack and Tuli Tuipulotu all returning. But there could be a spot open on the 53-man roster at the fourth edge rusher spot. Chris Rumph II, of course, was a pick by the previous regime. The fourth round is where the Chargers might start considering this position. Murphy was teammates with Laiatu Latu, a projected first-round pick. Murphy still had 61 pressures in 2023, which Brugler notes would have been “No. 1 on 128 other FBS teams.”

Javon Foster, OT, Missouri

Cam Hart, CB, Notre Dame

Hart is a player who makes a ton of sense in the fourth round. He has outstanding length at 6-foot-3 with 33-inch arms. “Hart’s traits are more intriguing than his tape, but his body length and linear twitch are an attractive combination that helps him match up with both size and speed,” according to Brugler.

Mohamed Kamara, edge, Colorado State

Matt Goncalves, G, Pittsburgh

Josh Proctor, S, Ohio State

Proctor made my mock 4.0 as the Chargers fifth-round pick at No. 140. I love his vision, and I think his instincts will translate. “He sees the field well and offers the range and run-defending skills to work his way up an NFL team’s safety depth chart,” writes Brugler.

Luke McCaffrey, WR, Rice

AJ Barner, TE, Michigan

Evan Williams, S, Oregon

Marist Liufau, LB, Notre Dame

Cornelius Johnson, WR, Michigan

The Chargers could afford to double up on receiver in this draft with where their depth chart stands. Johnson played 61 games for Harbaugh at Michigan, third-most in school history. He has good size and speed.

Fabien Lovett Sr., DT, Florida State

Lovett was a rotational piece for the Seminoles in 2023, but I like him as a traits option. He is almost 6-foot-4 and 316 pounds with 35 1/4-inch arms. “He is stout at contact with the God-given length and power to continue getting better as a pass rusher,” writes Brugler.

Jarrian Jones, CB, Florida State

Qwan’tez Stiggers, CB, Toronto Argonauts (CFL)

Stiggers is one of the most fascinating prospects in the draft. He did not play college football and almost left the sport for good before he found a spot in the 7-on-7 semi-pro Fan Controlled Football League. He parlayed his five interceptions in the FCF in 2022 into a spot in the CFL with the Toronto Argonauts.

“Though most CFL players are free to sign with NFL teams once they complete their contracts,” writes Brugler, “Stiggers’ case is different because he never played college football. Instead, he declared for the 2024 NFL Draft.” Stigger has the athleticism and natural ability for the position. Harbaugh’s Chargers coaching staff also has a bunch of ties to the CFL. Senior offensive assistant Marc Trestman was a CFL head coach for seven seasons. Passing game coordinator Marcus Brady both played and coached for the Argonauts.

Trevor Keegan, G, Michigan

Myles Cole, edge, Texas Tech

Michael Barrett, LB, Michigan

Chigozie Anusiem, CB, Colorado State

Kimani Vidal, RB, Troy

The fourth round is when I expect the Chargers to draft a running back. As far as targets later on Day 3, Vidal is high on my list. I think his play style is a good fit for Roman’s offense. Vidal ranked No. 2 in FBS with 94 forced missed tackles in 2023. “His contact balance, run power and pass-pro skills will appeal to a team searching for an instinctive between-the-tackles back,” writes Brugler.

Elijah Klein, G, UTEP

Marcellas Dial, CB, South Carolina

Aaron Casey, LB, Indiana

Tyler Owens, S, Texas Tech

(Top photo of Cooper DeJean: Jeffrey Becker / USA Today)