What has changed since the first Southern California News Group seven-round mock draft for the Chargers was printed in the paper and posted on the websites? Well, for starters, the chatter about a trade back for the fifth pick has only increased as the days have passed and the draft has drawn closer to reality. As in the first mock draft three weeks ago, we’ll stick with actually making the Chargers’ nine picks over seven rounds and forgo any attempts at predicting various trade scenarios with other teams that might alter the draft order considerably starting with the fifth pick Thursday. This ..read more

Conventional wisdom, along with a fair number of pundits from coast to coast, suggests the Chargers will trade the fifth overall pick in the NFL draft on Thursday, acquire additional draft capital and then seek to fill a number of pressing roster needs with an additional selection or two or three. But will they? Should they? Can they even pull it off? Joe Hortiz, the Chargers’ new general manager, made it clear last week that he would not simply make a trade just to make a trade. He would not trade value for value. He would not accept anything less than a win for himself and the Chargers. A tr ..read more

Tuli Tuipulotu was a revelation last season for the Chargers, a second-round draft pick from USC who became a menacing on-field presence and added depth behind veteran outside linebackers Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack and, later, as a capable fill-in after Bosa suffered a significant injury. Off the field, Tuipulotu was respectful, surprising his older and more accomplished teammates by calling them “sir” or “Mr.” when addressing them in training camp. He was an attentive listener during meetings, and a quick learner, too. He played in all 17 games and had 4½ sacks and 37 solo tackles. Is there an ..read more

In order to understand the Chargers’ needs in the NFL draft, it’s important to consider who they already have on their roster and what they’ve already addressed via free agency during the first months of the tenures of Jim Harbaugh as coach and Joe Hortiz as general manager. When it comes to the Chargers’ offense, it would seem clear that vacancies have been filled at the running back and tight end positions, with the free-agent signings of J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards and Will Dissly and Hayden Hurst. Does that mean they won’t seek additions at those spots? Not necessarily. During an extended ..read more

Joe Hortiz’s phone has been ringing or buzzing or doing whatever his ring tone does for days and weeks. Fellow general managers around the NFL have been calling to gauge the Chargers’ GM’s interest in trading the fifth overall pick, conversations that have lacked substance so far. No question, the Chargers could make a deal Thursday. Hortiz could swap his top pick, move back in the first-round order and perhaps pick up an additional pick or two or three and add them to the nine he already has in the seven-round draft. But what would he get in return? Would it be favorable? Frankly, Hortiz said ..read more

The Chargers jettisoned wide receiver Mike Williams first, on March 13, releasing him and saving themselves roughly $20 million in salary cap space for next season. The franchise’s second all-time leading receiver, Keenan Allen, departed the next day, traded to the Chicago Bears in exchange for a fourth-round selection in the upcoming NFL draft. One minute they were there and the next minute they were gone, two of the most noteworthy cap casualties of the league’s offseason. One day they were vital cogs in an offense that promised so much but delivered so little in the form of victories over t ..read more

COSTA MESA — The Chargers’ quest for replacements for running back Austin Ekeler and to develop a muscular backfield for the 2024 season and beyond didn’t end with the signings of Gus Edwards last month and J.K. Dobbins this week, new General Manager Joe Hortiz said Thursday. The additions of Edwards and Dobbins also did not alter the Chargers’ approach to the NFL draft next Thursday. Hortiz said the thing GMs in all sports tend to say going into an upcoming draft. He said the Chargers would select the best players available, regardless of their positions. “When you look at what the goal is, i ..read more

The reunions continued Wednesday. Running back J.K. Dobbins plans to sign with the Chargers on a one-season deal, according to multiple reports, another former Baltimore Ravens player reuniting with offensive coordinator Greg Roman and Gus Edwards in Los Angeles. Dobbins and Edwards, who left the Ravens and signed a two-year contract with the Chargers last month, will be tasked with establishing a consistent ground game for Roman and head coach Jim Harbaugh. In addition, they will team up to replace Austin Ekeler, who signed with the Washington Commanders. Dobbins, 25, battled injuries during ..read more

The Chargers need wide receivers after trading Keenan Allen and releasing Mike Williams. They need offensive linemen after Corey Linsley’s retirement. They need defensive backs to bolster their pass coverage and because, well, you can never have too many cornerbacks and safeties. Free agency was the Chargers’ first crack at restocking a roster that failed to live up to expectations and prompted the firing of Brandon Staley as coach and Tom Telesco as general manager. New coach Jim Harbaugh and new GM Joe Hortiz navigated salary cap issues as best as possible. Next: The NFL draft, taking place ..read more

COSTA MESA — On the first day of the rest of their lives, the Chargers underwent baseline testing in their weight room on Tuesday with Ben Herbert, whose title of executive director of player performance sounds significantly more impressive than merely their new strength and conditioning coach. The Chargers also met with Jim Harbaugh, their new head coach, who generally goes by more plainspoken title of coach. Or just Jim. Harbaugh sat in on separate meetings with the offensive and defensive players. Special teams meetings are scheduled to take place Wednesday morning. It was the same as any o ..read more