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The Los Angeles Chargers were legitimate Super Bowl contenders this season. All their promise, however, ended with a thud. Of course, they did plenty right in 2025. They won 11 games for the second straight season, fielded a top-10 defense, and leaned into a physical, run-centric identity under Jim Harbaugh that stabilized a franchise long defined by volatility. When the lights were brightest, though, the Chargers looked unprepared for the moment. A lifeless 16-3 Wild Card loss to the New England Patriots exposed the structural weaknesses that still separate Los Angeles from true AFC heavyweights. The 2026 NFL Draft now looms as a critical inflection point. This PFF mock draft simulator offers a revealing glimpse into how the Chargers might respond.
The Chargers’ 2025 campaign followed a familiar arc. They enjoyed consistency over 17 weeks, followed by frustration in January. Finishing 11-6 and second in the AFC West, Los Angeles earned another Wild Card berth behind a defense that ranked among the league’s best in efficiency and points allowed. Harbaugh’s blueprint was clear. They needed to control the line of scrimmage, protect leads, and let the defense dictate terms.
For long stretches, it worked.
However, the offense never fully hit its stride. Injuries along the offensive line forced constant reshuffling. It disrupted continuity and limited the passing game’s explosiveness. Sure, the run game carried the load during the regular season. Still, that formula collapsed in the postseason. Against New England, the Chargers were held to just three points. They struggled to sustain drives and failed to protect consistently in obvious passing situations.
The loss was clarifying. This roster is close but far from complete.
The Chargers enter the 2026 NFL Draft with clear priorities. Interior offensive line help sits at the top of the list. Guards Mekhi Becton and Zion Johnson, along with center Bradley Bozeman, are all facing free agency. That leaves major questions about protection and cohesion up front. For a team built on physicality, instability inside is unacceptable. That is especially true when protecting a franchise quarterback.
Defensively, the Chargers face similar uncertainty. Defensive linemen Teair Tart and Da’Shawn Hand are set to hit the open market. Meanwhile, edge rushers Khalil Mack and Odafe Oweh also face uncertain futures. Replenishing the defensive line, particularly with a run-stopping anchor, is essential to maintaining the identity Harbaugh wants.
Holding the No. 22 overall pick, Los Angeles is positioned to target a foundational trench player rather than a luxury selection.
Here we’ll try to look at and discuss the Chargers’ 3-round mock draft based on the PFF 2026 NFL mock draft simulator.
If Jim Harbaugh were building a defensive tackle in a lab, it might look a lot like Kayden McDonald. The latter is a classic late first-round trench investment. He is cetainly not flashy and not built on sack totals. That said, he is devastatingly effective. His run defense alone justifies the pick....
