The Los Angeles Chargers have a clear need to bolster their offensive arsenal this offseason, and fortunately, they possess the necessary salary cap flexibility to do so. Equally important, however, will be their ability to capitalize on their draft picks, particularly given the deep pool of intriguing playmakers expected to be available. While Los Angeles currently holds the 22nd overall selection in the NFL Draft, Pro Football Focus’s Dalton Wasserman predicts that the Chargers will likely trade up to acquire their targeted player.
In a recent mock draft, Wasserman projects that the Los Angeles Chargers will trade up with the Arizona Cardinals to secure the 16th overall pick, offering their own 22nd selection, a third-round pick, and a sixth-round pick in exchange. Wasserman then predicts that the Chargers will use the 16th pick to select running back Ashton Jeanty from Boise State.
16. *TRADE* Los Angeles Chargers Draft: RB Ashton Jeanty, Boise State
Trade terms: Chargers receive 2025 first-round pick (No. 16); Cardinals receive 2025 first-round pick (No. 22), 2025 third-round pick (No. 86) and 2025 sixth-round pick (No. 183)
“Trading up within the first round for a running back is rare these days, but so is a player as talented as Jeanty. After rewriting the PFF record books in 2024, Jeanty joins the NFL as the dynamic player the Chargers were missing in the run game last season, taking some pressure off Justin Herbert and Ladd McConkey.“
In 2024, Ashton Jeanty came remarkably close to surpassing Barry Sanders’ single-season collegiate rushing record, accumulating 2,601 yards and 29 touchdowns while averaging an impressive seven yards per carry. The Los Angeles Chargers clearly need to address their running back situation, as J.K. Dobbins is headed for free agency and Gus Edwards is not ideally suited for a primary back role. Acquiring a player of Jeanty’s caliber could significantly transform the Chargers’ offense for the better.
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