Jim Harbaugh, Joe Hortiz wrap up successful first draft with Chargers

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The Los Angeles Chargers closed out their 2024 draft with six picks on Day 3, and the theme was building out depth. They addressed the interior defensive line. They double-dipped on cornerbacks and receivers. They added a running back.

In a draft mailbag this month, I listed six positions I thought the Chargers should prioritize: receiver, offensive line, cornerback, interior defensive line, linebacker and running back. The Chargers took at least one player in each of those groups.

General manager Joe Hortiz and coach Jim Harbaugh did a fine job of marrying need and value throughout their nine selections. From a process standpoint, it was a successful first draft together.

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The picks

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Best value pick

This superlative goes to Junior Colson. He was Brugler's top-ranked linebacker and No. 42 overall player. Colson ranked No. 46 on Austin Mock's consensus big board. By pretty much every measure, the Chargers got considerable value by landing Colson at No. 69.

Colson is also fluent in defensive coordinator Jesse Minter's scheme. He was one of the leaders of Michigan's top-ranked defense last year. He has a clear pathway to playing 800-1,000 snaps for the Chargers as a rookie if he can win the starting middle linebacker spot. He has three-down skills. He might end up wearing the green dot because of his familiarity with the new system.

The value of the pick is enhanced by these elements of the fit with his former coaches Harbaugh and Minter. And the Chargers came away with one of the few plug-and-play prospects in a weaker linebacker class. At a minimum, they needed to add depth. Instead, they came away with a probable starting player with their third-round pick.

I will give an honorable mention to Cam Hart. He was 100th on Mock's consensus board and 147th in Brugler's rankings. Not enough to edge Colson. But cornerbacks with traits like Hart typically do not last until the fifth round. Hart is 6 feet 3 with 33-inch arms. According to our Bruce Feldman, Hart clocked an on-field GPS speed of 23.01 mph and squatted 505 pounds. He jumped 39.5 inches at the NFL Scouting Combine. Hart landed on Feldman's 2023 edition of his "freaks" list. Size, length, speed, explosiveness. He has considerable special teams experience, including as a gunner on punt. I am surprised he was still on the board. Perhaps teams were put off by his lack of ball production. That package of traits is a great bet at No. 140.

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Most surprising pick

None of the Chargers' picks was surprising in the traditional sense. They methodically addressed needs throughout all three days. They prioritized premium positions with their two premium picks. They did not stray too far from the consensus big board until Day 3 when "reaches" are far less costly. Contrast that to previous drafts, like in 2022, when former general manager Tom Telesco and former coach Brandon Staley took JT Woods in the third round. Woods ranked 133rd on the consensus big board. The Chargers took him at No. 79. Woods has played just 89 defensive snaps in his career.

In a nontraditional sense, I found the Ladd McConkey pick surprising for a couple of reasons. First and foremost, I did not expect him to make it out of the first round. He has the long speed teams are looking for. He is an incredibly polished route runner. He has positional flexibility inside and outside. There were three elite receivers in this draft, Ohio State's Marvin Harrison Jr., LSU's Malik Nabers and Washington's Rome Odunze, who all went in the top 10. For teams picking in the teens and 20s, there was LSU's Brian Thomas and then a group of receivers, McConkey, Texas' Adonai Mitchell, Florida State's Keon Coleman and Texas' Xavier Worthy. Of that group, McConkey has the most complete skills. I thought a team in the back half of the first would take him, even with the injury and durability concerns. That did not happen, and the Chargers pounced.

The other surprising aspect was the Chargers' trading up for McConkey. Hortiz came from the Baltimore Ravens, who very rarely trade up. Their draft philosophy is rooted in trading down and accruing more picks. More "at-bats," as Hortiz described it. Hortiz's trading up was a bit of a split from the Ravens Way. But the Chargers loved the player in McConkey.

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Biggest question mark

The Chargers added interior defensive line depth by drafting Justin Eboigbe in the fourth round, but his injury history is concerning. Eboigbe suffered a neck injury in practice in 2022. According to the Associated Press, Eboigbe finished the practice after suffering the injury. The next day, an MRI revealed a herniated disc pushing on his spinal cord. Eboigbe said doctors told him he "could have been paralyzed" by continuing to practice. Eboigbe had season-ending neck fusion surgery performed by Pittsburgh-based neurosurgeon David Okonkwo, who performed a similar operation on former Clemson and now Kansas City Chiefs receiver Justyn Ross. Ross went undrafted in 2022 because of injury concerns partly stemming from that surgery.

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Eboigbe wore a neck brace after the surgery. He then had to wear a bone stem device. He was cleared after seven months and returned to the field in 2023. Eboigbe started 14 games and finished with seven sacks. He was first-team All-SEC. Eboigbe said Saturday that his neck requires "no maintenance."

Still, neck fusion surgery always presents risks, especially for players with high contact rates, like those in the trenches. Former Dallas Cowboys linebacker Leighton Vander Esch medically retired in March after just six seasons because of repeated neck injuries. He had neck fusion surgery in 2019.

If he can stay on the field, Eboigbe can certainly carve out a rotational role as a rookie. He is at his best when he uses his length to create extension against blockers. He has a relentless motor. He can play from multiple alignments. He has a great feel on stunts.

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Remaining needs

There were only a few positions the Chargers did not address. They still need a long-term plan at center. They signed Bradley Bozeman in free agency. Not coming away with another center option indicates the Chargers are comfortable with Bozeman as their defined starter in the middle of the line. They believe Jordan McFadden has center flex, although that is a projection. Brendan Jaimes also has game experience at center. But I don't love the depth at this spot.

I also think the depth is lacking at safety behind Derwin James Jr. and Alohi Gilman. The aforementioned Woods is the third safety on the depth chart. The Chargers also have A.J. Finley, who flashed on special teams as a rookie in 2023.

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Post-draft outlook

The Chargers' roster is in much better shape after Hortiz and Harbaugh's first draft together. I particularly like what the Chargers did at cornerback. Tarheeb Still can play inside and outside and gives the Chargers another piece in the slot. They needed that depth. Hart's tools are really attractive on the outside. The Chargers could use some more top-end talent, but they have done a nice job building out that position between free-agent signing Kristian Fulton and the two draft picks. It should be a highly competitive position group in camp.

The Chargers created similar competition at running back with the addition of Kimani Vidal, whose between-the-tackles skills fit well with the identity offensive coordinator Greg Roman and Harbaugh are trying to cultivate. Gus Edwards, J.K. Dobbins, Vidal, Isaiah Spiller and Elijah Dotson — there is talent and upside in this group. And there could be even more competition after the undrafted free-agent spree.

Hortiz has said often he does not see a beginning or end to the roster-building process. So more moves could be coming in the post-draft window of free agency. Do the Chargers add another receiver? Tyler Boyd is still available. Do they add fourth edge rusher competition for Chris Rumph II? Former Raven Tyus Bowser is on the market. I expect more moves through the spring and summer.

(Photo of Joe Alt: Darren Yamashita / USA Today)

Daniel Popper is a staff writer for The Athletic covering the Los Angeles Chargers. He previously covered the Jacksonville Jaguars for The Athletic after following the New York Jets for the New York Daily News, where he spent three years writing, reporting and podcasting about local pro sports. Follow Daniel on Twitter @danielrpopper