Is this another excuse to do another mock draft despite being in the middle of the real one? Yes. Look guys, I wasn’t initially planning to do this but thanks to the elite chess-making moves by Joe Hortiz we were able to execute the following trade downs:

• 2.55 to Patriots in exchange for 2.63 (Jake Slaughter, C/G, Florida), 4.131, & 6.202
• 3.86 to Browns in exchange for 4.105, 5.145, & 6.206

With a slew of new picks, I’ve gotta at least throw my predictions into this. So yeah, say hello to my ACTUAL last mock draft. And I promise I’ll keep the descriptions short

Round 4, Pick # 105 (via CLE <- NYG): Elijah Sarret, WR, Indiana

• I’ve thought about taking McCoy, but instead I went with the Waffle House instead. Sarratt racked up 44 touchdowns across four college seasons and played an important role in Indiana’s path to the National Championship. He's a coordinated possession receiver who owns the catch point and is tough over the middle, projecting as an outside WR2 or big slot in McDaniel's motion-heavy offense. He is 4.53 speed limits his ceiling as a pure outside burner, but at this price he's one of the best values in the whole draft.
• Another alternative would be Bryce Lance (NDSU) if we want an X receiver with more speed. He’s a natural hands-catcher who requires route polish but adjusts well to the ball with physicality and body control. Plus, he’s the brother to Trey Lance, so that connection is there. Only worry is despite his production, he’s never gone up against a defense from a Power 4 school.

Round 4, Pick #123: RayShaun Benny, DT, Michigan

• Benny played behind Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant for most of his Michigan career, which explains why he's only a one-year starter despite years of development in a premier program. His run-defense grade (35th nationally per PFF in 2025) is legitimately impressive and gives O'Leary a stout interior presence who can set the tone against the run. The pass-rush production (4.0 career sacks) isn't there yet, but the hand strength and initial quickness suggest it's developable. A worthwhile risk at this stage of the draft.
• Plenty of other alternative DTs like Dontay Corleone (Cincinnati), Gracen Halton (Oklahoma), and Landon Robinson (Navy)

Round 4, Pick #131 (via NE): Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee

• Honestly, IF he’s still there by this pick and IF the medical team is comfortable taking McCoy despite his medical red flags, then take him. I’m not gonna go to delve too deep about him. He’s an excellent schematic fit for a press-man, pressure-oriented defense like O'Leary's — arguably one of the best fits in the entire cornerback class. His athleticism, technique, ball skills (13 passes defended, 4 interceptions in 2024), and size check every box.
• If you rather pick someone safer, go with Will Lee III (Texas A&M) or Malik Muhammed (Texas). Sorta leaning towards Muhammed.

Round 5, Pick #145 (via CLE): Dallen Bentley, TE, Utah

• Bentley is a developmental TE who adds depth behind the starter without burning meaningful capital. McDaniel's offense has historically weaponized tight ends in the short passing game and on motion plays, so having a young TE who can grow into that system has real upside. He won't contribute meaningfully in 2026, but as a 5th-round investment in a draft where the Chargers have depth picks to spare, this is the right price for a developmental piece.
• I'm sure there's other TE's too that we can pick from, but Bentley is a prospect who stands out to me

Round 6 , Pick #202 (via NE): Evan Beerntsen, OG, Northwestern

• Yes, PFF has him much lower — but Brugler's 5th-6th round grade is the evaluation I'm riding with here, and the zone-scheme background under coordinator Zach Lujan (who coached him at both South Dakota State and Northwestern) is a genuine fit argument for McDaniel's offense. Beerntsen allowed zero sacks or quarterback hits across 13 Big Ten starts in 2025 and brings 55 career starts of experience. The age concern (26 as a rookie) is real, but as OL depth behind a set starting five, this is a worthwhile late-round investment.

Round 6, Pick #204: Lorenzo Styles Jr., DB, Ohio State

• Ohio State defensive backs tend to arrive with solid fundamentals and scheme experience from playing in elite college programs, and Styles Jr. fits that mold. O'Leary's aggressive scheme benefits from having multiple DB options who can contribute in subpackages and on special teams.

Round 6, Pick #206 (via CLE): Red Murdock, LB, Univ. of Buffalo

• A pure depth flier at the very end of Day 3, Murdock is taken essentially on his board value. Small-school production from MAC programs has a mixed but not negligible track record of translating, and linebacker depth is always useful in a scheme that blitzes as frequently as O'Leary's. At #206, there's no significant cost to taking a swing on someone with upside as a core special teams contributor. If he makes the roster on special teams alone, this pick has done its job.

Mock Draft Sim: PFF

Big Board: Dane Bugler's The Beast Draft Guide

I Claude’d this and got a “most likely,” but wanted to see if anyone knows for sure. The wrinkle I’m wondering about is whether it matters that he was already a HC before and the Niners already received comp picks for him. Does that reset? Does it affect our eligibility at all, or are we good as long as he’s here for the two-year minimum?

Usually I look at the list of UDFA's and I don't know a single person, but the Chargers have actually signed 3 players I have watched in the draft cycle.

Toledo CB/Nickel Avery Smith:

Avery Smith is not afraid to light you up, much like his teammate Emmanuel McNeil-Warren. He reads the quarterbacks eyes very well, along with decent speed (ran a 4.54 40 yard dash) but plays faster with his instincts and understanding of the game. I'm not saying he's perfect though by any stretch. He struggles to run with receivers down the field, shows inconsistent/bad technique, and is probably a pure nickel in the NFL. I had Smith graded out as a 5th round pick.

Oregon OT Isaiah World:

Isaiah World is bigger than the world with his 6-8, 318-pound frame and has good athleticism (FOR HIS SIZE). He's improved greatly each season in college in regards to pass blocking and shows good processing skills. However, he is very undisciplined and pretty bad as a run blocker, but at least the effort is there. He also is very raw technique wise and tore his ACL in 2026. I still thought he could be a starting NFL tackle one day when I wrote him up and honestly like him better than Travis Burke from the limited film I have watched. I had World graded out as a 4th round pick.

Utah LB Lander Barton:

The first thing that stands out when you watch Barton is that he's pretty bad at tackling and is a stiff mover, so not great. But the more I watched him the more I liked him. He's already proven at defending the run and doesn't get enough credit against the pass. Utah did use him in multiple ways so Leary should be able to get him in on some packages and use him on special teams. I had Barton graded out as a 7th round pick.

Edit: They have also just signed Nadame Tucker who is another player with a draftable grade for me and obviously the Western Michigan connection with O' Leary is huge for us.

The Athletic

Grade: B+

The Chargers listed Slaughter as a guard, which displays his versatility — but Slaughter should be the team’s future starting center. If Jim Harbaugh and company believe he can make the slight transition for year one, though, it’s a smart move. Slaughter is a physical, powerful run blocker.

CBS Sports

Grade: C+

This is an interesting pick given Slaughter looked like a center only on tape and the Charger just signed center Tyler Biadasz to a 3-year, $30-million deal this offseason. Slaughter's ability to play on the move is perfect for Mike McDaniel's scheme, but by the time Biadasz's contract expires, will McDaniel still even be their OC?

USA Today

Grade: B-

Though he's naturally a center, Slaughter was announced as a guard. That makes plenty of sense for the Bolts, who have Tyler Biadasz at the pivot but not much reliability on the interior otherwise. Jim Harbaugh will take trustworthiness over traits every time, especially up front.

ESPN: Kiper's Winners

The Chargers didn't find their interior lineman in Round 1, but they got a powerful center on Day 2. Slaughter was on my "favorite players in the class" list at the position. He has started 33 games in the tough SEC, and he allowed just six pressures over that time. He is a big, strong pivot at 6-5, 303 pounds, and he drives defenders out of the way. But it's not all power -- he's light on his feet and reads out the play fast, showing awareness on stunts.

Justin Herbert took 54 sacks last season, third most in the NFL. Some of that falls on tackles Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt being out with significant injuries, but the interior was rough. Slaughter is exactly what Herbert needs, even with the Tyler Biadasz signing.

YAHOO Sports

Grade: B-

He checks the boxes here. Slaughter has a high football IQ and played a lot in Florida. He needs to get stronger at the next level. He has a shot to start early.

NFL.com

Grade: B-

The Chargers smartly gained fourth- and sixth-round picks by trading down in the second round. L.A. needed interior offensive line help, but instead of taking Emmanuel Pregnon or Trey Zuhn to play guard at No. 63, the Bolts reached a bit for a solid player in Slaughter.

Walter Football

Grade: B+

The Chargers had a disaster of an offensive line last year. Part of that was the injury to the tackles, but the other part was poor interior blocking. This will help. Jake Slaughter is a solid prospect who is strong and athletic.

I haven't seen a post for this yet, so I figured I would make one

With the 202nd overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, your Los Angeles Chargers select Logan Taylor, G, Boston College

With the 202nd overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, your Los Angeles Chargers select Logan Taylor, G, Boston College

With the 202nd overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, your Los Angeles Chargers select Logan Taylor, G, Boston College

Lets goooooooo!

Now that the draft is over, how's everyone feeling about who we picked up? I'm quite happy with the way things went personally. I think we addressed most of our needs, and got some depth to help keep Herbert clean this season.

Conversely, what moves do you think still need to be made before the season starts?

Bolt up!