Will the Chargers Go Offense or Defense in Round 1 of 2026 NFL Draft?

Mar 25, 2026 at 02:00 PM

Eric Smith

Editorial Director

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Off we go...

If [Penn State guard] Olaivavega Ioane is there, he is the pick. However, do you see a world where they select [Oregon tight end] Kenyon Sadiq or a defender and then a guard in the second round? Do you think there's still a chance to attack guard in free agency? (via Twitter)

Draft season is in full swing!

Will the Chargers take Ioane with the No. 22 pick if he's there? Perhaps. But I think we've all learned over the years to never speak in certainties when it comes to the draft.

Sadiq is a fascinating prospect, too. Draft analyst Trevor Sikkema recently called the former Oregon standout "an athletic specimen" after he blazed to a 40 time of 4.39 seconds at the Combine, a mark that set an all-time record for tight end.

"He's a ball of clay for any offensive coordinator to work with. I think he's a good blocker and not a great blocker, but pound-for-pound he is very strong," Sikkema told Chargers.com. "His athleticism, you see that from him all the time with his tape. He wasn't utilized as much as I thought he was going to be as Oregon but there is still plenty of reason to believe he's going to be a much more leaned on receiver at the NFL level.

"The thing I like the most about him is that normally when you talk about these highly athletic receiving tight ends, you're talking about guys who are really liabilities on the line of scrimmage as a blocker," Sikkema added. "And I do not think Kenyon Sadiq is a liability. He is George Kittle? No, but he can hold his own.

But what about defense in Round 1?

Edge rusher and defensive tackle could also be priorities for the Bolts.

At edge, Miami's Akheem Mesidor, Auburn's Keldric Faulk or Clemson's T.J. Parker could all be names to watch, while Ohio State's Kayden McDonald, Florida's Caleb Banks and Clemson's Peter Woods are potential options on the interior.

In my eyes, there are multiple avenues Chargers General Manager Joe Hortiz and his staff could go at No. 22, whether that's offensive line or tight end on offense or focusing on the front seven defensively. I also wouldn't rule out cornerback or safety if the right player was available for the Chargers.

But in this very hypothetical situation, let's say the Chargers draft any position other than a guard in Round 1.

Once we get into the second round, the two main guards who could be in that range are Oregon's Emmanuel Pregnon and Chase Bisontis of Texas A&M. They are the No. 36 and No. 48 overall players, respectively, on Pro Football Focus' 2026 Big Board.

Maybe those two would be there at No. 55 overall. Or maybe they'd be gone.

The Chargers front office will likely have a strong sense of the board and other team needs once the 2026 NFL Draft gets closer.

By the way, the Bolts did add another guard Wednesday with the signing of Kayode Awosika, who spent the past years in Detroit and has played in 50 career games with 11 starts.

Awosika joins a group of guards on the Bolts roster that currently includes Cole Strange, Trevor Penning, Ben Cleveland and Branson Taylor.