LOUISVILLE, KY – NOVEMBER 17: Mekhi Becton #73 of the Louisville Cardinals blocks against the North Carolina State Wolfpack during the game at Cardinal Stadium on November 17, 2018 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
Losing Philip Rivers leaves the Chargers with a massive hole at the quarterback position. Los Angeles needs to fill that need via the draft.
For the first time in ages, the Chargers won’t line up with Philip Rivers under center when the 2020 regular season begins. Finding a new starting quarterback must be the franchise’s top priority this offseason.
It’s possible that the Chargers might look to free agency to fill the void. Signing an accomplished veteran might be enough to vault Anthony Lynn’s team back into the playoff hunt in 2020, but it’s probably not going to make them legitimate Super Bowl contenders.
Drafting a blue chip prospect with the No. 6 pick might not maximize the Chargers’ win total next season, but it could give them a star to build around or the next decade. Expect the team’s front office to spend a lot of time evaluating the top quarterbacks in this year’s draft class.
The challenge for the Chargers is that their current draft slot might not line up well with the quarterback position in terms of value. Both Joe Burrow and Tua Tagovailoa could easily be off the board in the first five picks. If that happens, Los Angeles could look at another position with their premium first-round selection.
5. Mekhi Becton
Trading Russell Okung to the Panthers in exchange for Trai Turner might have given the Chargers good value, but it also left them with a glaring need at left tackle. Becton might not be the most polished blind side tackle in the draft, but he’s arguably the prospect with the most significant upside.
He’s also a massive human being. His 6-foot-7 frame and exceptional speed makes him a great prospect to be a mauler in the run game. That’s a quality that will appeal strongly to Lynn and his coaching staff. Taking Becton at No. 6 might be deemed as a reach by some scouts, but it could pay off handsomely if he fills a team’s need at left tackle for years to come.