The 2022 NFL Draft is getting closer and closer and with many of the big moves out of the way, we are getting a clearer picture of what the LA Chargers may do in the 2022 NFL Draft. Los Angeles still has some salary-cap space to spend in free agency for the draft but for the most part, the team's needs in the draft are locked in.
Perhaps the most popular outcome for the Chargers with the 17th pick — at least among the fans — is to trade down from the 17th overall pick to pick up extra draft capital after trading a second-round pick for Khalil Mack. This draft has a lot of great depth and the Chargers could land an impactful player later than 17.
We have run a Chargers mock draft here on Bolt Beat where the Chargers traded down to the 20th overall pick with the Pittsburgh Steelers. However, there is a chance that the Bolts could go even lower than that, trading out of the first round altogether.
If the Chargers want an extra pick in the top 40 at the price of trading away pick 17 then they should call the New York Jets. The Jets own the 35th and 38th overall picks in the draft and they are open to shopping them as they offered them for Tyreek Hill.
If there is an elite receiver still on the board at 17 that the Jets like perhaps they make the leap, packaging the two picks to move to 17. In this mock, the Jets selected Ikem Ekwonu and Derek Stingley, so the need at receiver is still present.
The Chargers also included the 160th overall pick (fifth round) with the 17th overall pick for picks 35 and 38. The combined value of the two Jets' picks is 1,070 points on the NFL Trade Value Chart. Meanwhile, the combined value of the Chargers' picks is 975.8 points.
It is a slight difference in favor of the Chargers but the Jets would theoretically get someone they really like and also get a fifth-year option for that player, which is huge. Let's dive into this LA Chargers mock draft (using The Draft Network's Mock Draft Machine) with the Bolts officially on the board at 35.
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