The Howell-to-Downs connection was a fun one last season thanks to the quarterback's beautiful deep ball and the receiver's go-get-it skills. What Downs lacks in size he more than makes up for with his playmaking ability.
The Chargers have one shutdown artist on the outside now in J.C. Jackson, and the perfect fit with Asante Samuel Jr. in the slot. Here, they grab another NFL legacy pick in Porter, who would give them another talented cover man to line up across from Jackson on the outside.
This former LSU star is now in a loaded Bulldogs' tight end room, with future first-rounder Brock Bowers and potential draft pick Darnell Washington. The 6-foot-5 Gilbert is too talented to keep off the field.
Jones was a five-star recruit in 2020 who split time at left tackle in 2021. The 6-foot-4, 315-pounder earned a 78.8 overall grade on 438 snaps filling in last season.
Downs was one of the few bright spots on the '21 Tar Heels squad and while the lack of firepower played a role in Sam Howell falling to the fifth round, it put Downs on the draft radar because he consistently made plays. At 5-foot-10, 180 pounds, he's undersized but he's electric with the ball in his hands.
Corner remains a need for the Chargers and given the passing attacks in the AFC West, General Manager Tom Telesco has to change that. Grimes has every trait needed to develop into a first-rounder.
A smaller, but explosive athlete, Downs was Sam Howell's top target in 2022 and probably overtargeted in an offense that stuttered and stopped at times. All he does is get wide, wide open and then catch the ball. He fits a niche in the Chargers' offense that features some much bigger bodied athletes.
With the proven success of Rashawn Slater, the Los Angeles Chargers grab the next tackle prospect up from the Wildcats in Peter Skoronski. Similar to Slater, Skoronski is a bit on the slight side for a tackle in today's NFL. Yet, his athleticism is the name of his game.
He's never out of position and rebounds nicely from any position. Skoronski also possesses ample balance for his frame and could make the transition to right tackle opposite Slater look easy.
Derwin James will be a free agent after the season and this could be a cost savings move as while he's an incredible talent, it'd be tough to pay top dollar for a guy who averages 4 missed games/year.
