The Chargers are predicted to draft an offensive lineman and edge rusher, according to ESPN’s Jordan Reid, who released his latest two-round projections.
In the first round, Reid has the Chargers drafting Kadyn Proctor from Alabama.
Proctor played left tackle for the Crimson Tide, but he can kick inside to guard. With Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt returning from injury, Proctor would also be able to play his natural position in a pinch. He is a people-mover who can immediately supply interior protection for Justin Herbert.
The poor performance of the offensive line in 2025 is no secret, and with general manager Joe Hortiz’s remarks about protecting Herbert, prioritizing the unit this high in the draft aligns.
Here’s what Reid had to say about Proctor and why he’s a good fit for the Bolts:
The Chargers’ interior offensive line struggled last season and could look a lot different, with guard Zion Johnson a free agent and Mekhi Becton a potential cap casualty after an injury-riddled season. There was a true 50-50 split among scouts at the combine on the 6-foot-7, 352-pound Proctor, with some thinking he was a first-rounder and others seeing him as a Day 2 prospect. There is also debate on his position, with Proctor playing tackle in college but able to kick inside to guard. But even if he’s at guard in the pros, he would provide the Chargers with insurance at tackle after they lost Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater to season-ending injuries in 2025.
In the second round of the draft, Reid has the Chargers taking edge Derrick Moore out of Michigan with the No. 55 overall pick.
The future of Odafe Oweh and Khalil Mack is up in the air. The Chargers could bring at least one of them back, but it’s imperative they add a high-upside player to complement Tuli Tuipulotu. Moore brings juice as a pass rusher, as evidenced by 78 pressures and 14 sacks in his final two seasons for the Wolverines.
The Chargers’ drafting of Proctor and Moore directly addressed two of the team’s biggest needs on both sides of the ball. While the Bolts have over $87 million in cap space this offseason, the team will look to bolster the roster through the draft.
Once the NFL free agency window opens on March 11, the Chargers will make it known where exactly they plan to spend big money this spring.
This article originally appeared on Chargers Wire: ESPN predicts Chargers to draft OL, EDGE in first two rounds
Reporting by Valentina Martinez, Chargers Wire / Chargers Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
