The Chargers have done a decent bit of remodeling on the interior of their offensive line, bringing in Mekhi Becton to start at right guard and Andre James to compete at center. But Los Angeles still has holes to address in the unit after the middle three manifested as LA's Achilles' heel last season.
Here's one player in each round that Joe Hortiz and Jim Harbaugh could add to bolster the trenches.
Round 1: Grey Zabel, North Dakota State
Zabel exclusively played left tackle for the Bison this season, but he's played all five positions at North Dakota State. Some scouts see him as the best center prospect in the draft, but Zabel could also slot in at left guard. It would give the Chargers a four-man competition between James, Zabel, and the returning Bradley Bozeman and Zion Johnson for two spots, giving LA their best five on the field with two quality depth pieces who could play any of the three interior spots.
Round 2: Marcus Mbow, Purdue
Mbow has only played right tackle the last two seasons at Purdue, but he's another player some NFL scouts see making the transition to center. A great mover who's a bit small on the outside, Mbow isn't afraid to try new techniques and keep defenders on their toes by showing them different looks on every play. He could compete at left guard or center similarly to Zabel, but his smaller stature makes him a lesser prospect than the North Dakota State product.
Round 3: Tate Ratledge, Georgia
While Ratledge has primarily played on the right side at Georgia, he's a pure guard who wouldn't need to adjust to a new position and a new side if the Chargers drafted him to flip to the left side. A powerful downhill blocker who's quick with his hands on the inside, Ratledge's technique makes up for average athleticism and would fit well with the Chargers' offensive scheme.
Round 4: Miles Frazier, LSU
After bouncing between left and right guard and right tackle during his college career, Frazier would at least be quality depth along the interior at potentially at tackle for the Chargers. He's not particularly long, which may limit him to guard, but many said the same thing about Jamaree Salyer before he overperformed at tackle in place of Rashawn Slater. A solid blocker who remains calm when defensive linemen present him with stunts and games, Frazier could also push for a starting job as a rookie.
Round 5: Jake Majors, Texas
A pure center who started every game for Texas' CFP squads in each of the last two seasons, Majors has plenty of high-level experience. However, his lack of arm length (30 3/8") and guard flexibility will limit his ceiling as a prospect, which could leave him available later into the draft for the Chargers to invest low. A smart leader of the Longhorns' offensive line, Majors would also give LA a center of the future to develop behind Bozeman and James, who are both veterans on short-term deals.
Round 6: Drew Kendall, Boston College
The son of a longtime NFL veteran, Kendall played in a college system that ran gap scheme runs over 60% of the time, making him an excellent fit for a Chargers offense near the top of the league leaderboard in gap run rate last season. Chargers offensive line coach Mike Devlin also traveled to Boston College for Kendall's pro day last week, where Devlin administered the ...
