The top three selections in next month’s draft are likely to remain in place (Bears, Commanders, Patriots). Significant movement after that could occur, though. 
Shortly after Cardinals general manager Monti Ossenfort confirmed he is prepared to trade out of the No. 4 slot, Chargers GM Joe Hortiz made similar remarks. The latter currently owns the fifth overall pick in his first offseason at the helm of the franchise, one which could go a long way in rebuilding the team’s receiver room. However, Hortiz is open to a move down the board.
“We’ll see how it goes. It’s still early and the phone is not ringing yet because we’re still a month or so out,” Hortiz said during a Thursday media availability (via the team’s website). “But I’ve had teams ask me and are gauging my interest. Certainly, as I said before, I’m open to all options when it comes to the draft. I’m not locked into any one spot — forwards, backwards, staying right there.”
The Bolts currently own nine selections in the draft, including four of the first 105 picks. With Hortiz overseeing a new front office and a revamped coaching staff led by Jim Harbaugh, though, this offseason has taken on the form of a major re-tooling endeavor. Acquiring extra picks would further that effort, and a small move down the order would likely still allow Los Angeles to select one of the top receiver or offensive tackle prospects in the 2024 class.
The top three quarterbacks available are expected to be taken before the Cardinals are on the clock; they, like the Chargers, could certainly stand to add to their pass-catching corps. Other teams could be motivated to secure the next-best signal-caller, however, which means those such as the Giants, Vikings and Broncos represent potential suitors for the fourth and fifth picks. The price Ossenfort sets for No. 4 will of course be a major factor in determining the market for that selection and the one Hortiz is in control of.
The Chargers released Mike Williams and traded away Keenan Allen (despite efforts made to retain the latter), leaving the team with two glaring roster holes at the WR position. Marvin Harrison Jr., Malik Nabers and Rome Odunze figure to hear their names called in the top 10, and staying put would likely ensure the Bolts could select from at least two members of that trio. If the opportunity presents itself to trade down, however, Hortiz could become a figure to watch closely in the lead-in to the draft.
0% chance they trade before the draft.
If the top 3 go QBs, they wait and hope the cardinals trade back for someone to take a 4th QB. Then they nab Harrison and Herbert has his guy for all of his prime.
I say do it.
# 11 and # 23 from Minnesota
I’d trade # 11 to the Cardinals for # 27 and # 35 to give them # 4 and # 11 picks in the draft.
Chargers are cap strapped and could use 2 1sts and 2 2nds to get some pieces around Herbert and defense
# 23 I would take Thomas Jr WR LSU
# 27 I would take Mims OT Goergia
# 34 I would take Zach Frazier OC West Virginia
# 37 I would take Ladd McConkey WR Georgia
That math wouldn’t add up.
Chargers have the 5th pick I don’t think #11 and #23 from Minn are enough to move them up. They would have to attach future picks.
#27 and #35 are not enough to get #11 they would likely have to attach other picks as well.
Pick 5 value is 1700
Pick 11 value is 1250
Pick 23 value is 760
So on paper it would be a slight overpay for MN if anything.
Obviously this isn’t law for how things always work out in the NFL draft pick trades, but it’s a guideline.
# 5 is 1700
#11 is 1250
# 23 -s 760
Total 2010
Minnesota most likely trades up for a QB so QB tax is added to draft value totals.
# 11 is 1250
# 27 is 680
# 35 is 550
Total 1230
Minny wouldn’t do that. The QBs they’d want that high are already gone and the others aren’t worth drafting at 5. They stay where they are, use the 11th on a QB and still have their 27th for another much needed player.
@ I believe
the chargers aren’t cap strapped, but hortiz will trade down to build the roster out. They have plenty of space next year, but he’s not going to get a big free agent because it’s messes up his comp pick formula. He will spend money on released players. Probably going to happen next year as well because we pretty much have Herbert locked up as the future. Its going to be about acquiring picks and getting bandaids for a couple years until he feels comfortable to make moves currently they have 20 holes to fill going to take a lot of work and more hits than misses in the draft.
Thomas will not fall to 23. He’s gone mid teens at the lat3st.
The Chargers will probably be in a position to trade back from the top 5 next season too. They won’t be at the same level as the Chiefs for at least a couple of seasons with so many positions to upgrade. It may be better for them to take their time and get it right rather than reach for the quick fix (which rarely works).
If Harrison is available at 5, they take him.
Outside of the Bears at #1 and maybe the next 2, every pick in the top ten is up for grabs-
For a team as cheap as the Chargers trading ‘back’ to gain multiple picks means paydays down the road and they’d be better off taking a premium player at 5, especially if QB is hit with 1st 4 picks.
Rookie GM being bossed by an egomaniac equals – no real idea what these two will do and will the Spanos just sit back like scolded children and give their blessings?
Paydays down the road are fine if you have a solid core group in place by then. Everything indicates that the Chargers organization is going to tear down most of the present roster and reboot. Not sure a single premium rookie would have much value in that scenario as there wouldn’t be a lot of talent to support him.
The article indicates they’ve 9 picks total with 4 being in the first 105.
Trading with the giants at 6 would be fine but #11 or #12 puts you into a more questionable choice and doubt team would garner a ‘kicker pick’ greater than a 4-5th round slot. 9 picks is plenty for a cap strapped unit and most later round guys just adds fodder that’ll likely be ST or cut before season. Remember that teams also pick up undrafted options….just because they’re draft choices doesn’t make them ‘players’ you’d keep.
Cheap? They were way over the cap. That ain’t cheap, it’s called overspending. They are in this position because they overspwnt.
They overpaid a handful of players and are carrying dead cap for Jackson. If you spend heavy on 5-6 players and budget buy on the other 46-48 then your cheap and using the 5-6 as ‘flash’ to buy fan support
The trade-down possibilities mostly revolve around the QBs. As good as Harrison is, no one will give more than FMV. My guess is that maybe NE trades back since they have so many holes and/or someone gets desperate and reaches for McCarthy. Not much else.
Why would Chargers trade down. Harrison or Nabors would be a great addition for Herbert
The Chargers can advertise all they want. If another team’s GM gets nervous and offers a kings ransom then great, if not they still have the pick.
Kind of like you putting a used car up for sale with a price $5000 over Kelly Blue Book. If someone wants your car bad enough, they will pay. If not, oh well you still have it.
Because there us a decent chance of landing both Bowers and a very good WR if they trade back,
Would bet they take Marvin if he’s available at #5. Otherwise I definitely see them trading back and stacking picks. Right now I think Minnesota moves to #2 for Drake and Commanders jump back up to #5 for JJ.
That would be a very Washington thing to do.
How u start rebuilding Chargers roster, trade dwn n keep stacking draft picks so u can fill as many holes as u can. Ravens are notorious for trading down n adding multiple picks during draft n new GM is coming frm Baltimore. Another Raven philosphy is to alawys take best player available n not play into team “needs”
@niekro have a feeling we will be bringing in a lot of Michigan udfas and raven roster cuts to fill out the roster. Atleast they know the system definitely have tons of holes to fill. But yeah the next two years we will see every free agent walk, won’t be signing any big name just guys that don’t disrupt the comp pick formula. Ravens have traded up just don’t see the chargers doing it anytime soon because we need the picks.
Having one of those massive QB contracts on the books completely changes how you build a team nowadays.
We are already seeing other positional players wanting to close the salary gap with those massive deals QBs are getting. There will be an across the board escalation because everyone wants to board the gravy train. I don’t think the current passer centric model is sustainable under those conditions. The owners certainly have the finances to endure any cost increases but lets remember that in any business those added costs eventually get passed down to the customers (which in this case is your Joe average fan).
Which might be the basic reason for the cap jump this year, QB money.
D-line has gotten surprisingly expensive. Expected WR to have a rise though not as has happened, I’d expect the WR salaries to hit a cap in the next few years, with the league favoring offense, similar to RB
Maybe it happens, but those WRs are such a perfect fit for the Chargers. I don’t know what the heck the Chargers are doing keeping Mack and Bosa and getting rid of Allen and Williams. It’s a half rebuild. Sure it’s a WR rich draft, but you need to give Herbert a #1. I’m guessing they’re asking for the moon. If they get it then cool. If not, they’ll happily take a WR.