What Are Chargers Early 2026 NFL Mock Draft Projections?

Nov 18, 2025 at 12:00 PM

Omar Navarro

Jr. Writer

The 2025 NFL season has reached the halfway point, but it's never too early to look ahead at the rapidly approaching NFL Draft.

The Chargers head into the 2026 NFL Draft, which will be held in Pittsburgh, with five selections.

Take a look at who draft analysts have the Bolts selecting in the draft as of November.

The opinions, analysis and/or speculation expressed below represent those of individual authors and do not represent the opinions or policies of the Chargers' organization, front office staff, coaches and executives.

Matt Miller, ESPN – DT A'Mauri Washington, Oregon

Last updated: November 19, 2025

The Chargers need to address the interior of both lines this offseason -- be that at guard, center or defensive tackle. With the top interior O-lineman off the board, the Chargers could look for a difference-maker on Jesse Minter's defensive line. Washington, who moves very well at 330 pounds, would form a wall alongside 2025 third-rounder Jamaree Caldwell. Both players could bottle up the run game and still crash the pocket in Minter's system. Washington was identified by scouts as a potential riser in the preseason, and he has lived up to those expectations. Beefing up the defensive line with a top-20 player is also a classic Jim Harbaugh move.

Mike Renner, CBS Sports – DT Kayden McDonald, Ohio State

Last updated: November 17, 2025

That changes with the addition of McDonald. He's the single best run-defending defensive lineman in the country.

Nick Baumgardner, The Athletic – DT A'Mauri Washington, Oregon

Last updated: November 6, 2025

Stop me if you've heard this one before: Another young Oregon defender is climbing the draft board. A load at 6-3, 330 with good length, quickness and upper-body strength, Washington has the athletic ability to fill multiple gaps along a defensive front. He hasn't come close to his ceiling yet.

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#0 | LB | Daiyan Henley

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#0 | LB | Daiyan Henley

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#1 | WR | Quentin Johnston

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#1 | WR | Quentin Johnston

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#2 | DB | Elijah Molden

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#2 | DB | Elijah Molden

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#3 | S | Derwin James, Jr.

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#3 | S | Derwin James, Jr.

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#5 | QB | Trey Lance

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#5 | QB | Trey Lance

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#6 | LB | Denzel Perryman

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#6 | LB | Denzel Perryman

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#9 | WR | Tre' Harris

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#9 | WR | Tre' Harris

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#10 | QB | Justin Herbert

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#10 | QB | Justin Herbert

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#11 | K | Cameron Dicker

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#11 | K | Cameron Dicker

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#12 | WR | Derius Daivs

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#12 | WR | Derius Daivs

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#13 | WR | Keenan Allen

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#13 | WR | Keenan Allen

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#15 | WR | Ladd McConkey

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#15 | WR | Ladd McConkey

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#16 | P | JK Scott

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#16 | P | JK Scott

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#20 | CB | Cam Hart

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#20 | CB | Cam Hart

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#23 | S | Tony Jefferson

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#23 | S | Tony Jefferson

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#24 | CB | Benjamin St-Juste

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#24 | CB | Benjamin St-Juste

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#26 | CB | Donte Jackson

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#26 | CB | Donte Jackson

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#27 | S | RJ Mickens

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#27 | S | RJ Mickens

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#29 | CB | Tarheeb Still

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#29 | CB | Tarheeb Still

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#30 | RB | Kimani Vidal

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#30 | RB | Kimani Vidal

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#33 | DB | Deane Leonard

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#33 | DB | Deane Leonard

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#40 | S | Kendall Williamson

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#40 | S | Kendall Williamson

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#42 | TE | Tucker Fisk

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#42 | TE | Tucker Fisk

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#43 | LB | Troy Dye

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#43 | LB | Troy Dye

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#44 | FB/DL | Scott Matlock

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#44 | FB/DL | Scott Matlock

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#45 | OLB | Tuli Tuipulotu

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#45 | OLB | Tuli Tuipulotu

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#46 | CB | Nikko Reed

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#46 | CB | Nikko Reed

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#47 | LS | Josh Harris

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#47 | LS | Josh Harris

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#48 | OLB | Bud Dupree

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#48 | OLB | Bud Dupree

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#52 | OLB | Khalil Mack

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#52 | OLB | Khalil Mack

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#53 | LB | Del'Shawn Phillips

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#53 | OLB | Del'Shawn Phillips

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#54 | OLB | Kyle Kennard

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#54 | OLB | Kyle Kennard

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#58 | LB | Marlowe Wax

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#58 | LB | Marlowe Wax

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#64 | OL | Trevor Penning

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#64 | OL | Trevor Penning

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#66 | T | Bobby Hart

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#66 | T | Bobby Hart

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#67 | OL | Foster Sarell

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#67 | OL | Foster Sarell

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#68 | OL | Jamaree Salyer

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#68 | OL | Jamaree Salyer

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#73 | G | Mekhi Becton

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#73 | OL | Mekhi Becton

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#74 | T | Austin Deculus

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#74 | OL | Austin Deculus

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#75 | C | Bradley Bozeman

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#75 | C | Bradley Bozeman

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#77 | G | Zion Johnson

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#77 | G | Zion Johnson

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#78 | C | Andre James

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#78 | C | Andre James

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#79 | G/T | Trey Pipkins III

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#79 | G/T | Trey Pipkins III

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#83 | TE | Tyler Conklin

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#83 | TE | Tyler Conklin

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#84 | WR | KeAndre Lambert-Smith

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#84 | WR | KeAndre Lambert-Smith

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#86 | TE | Oronde Gadsden

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#86 | TE | Oronde Gadsden

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#89 | TE | Will Dissly

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#89 | TE | Will Dissly

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#90 | DL | Tear Tart

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#90 | DL | Tear Tart

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#91 | DL | Da'Shawn Hand

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#91 | DL | Da'Shawn Hand

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#92 | DL | Justin Eboigbe

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#92 | DL | Justin Eboigbe

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#96 | DL | Naquan Jones

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#96 | DL | Naquan Jones

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#98 | OLB | Odafe Oweh

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#98 | OLB | Odafe Oweh

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#99 | DT | Jamaree Caldwell

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#99 | DT | Jamaree Caldwell

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#7 | RB | DJ Uiagalelei

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#7 | RB | DJ Uiagalelei

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#31 | S | Marcus Williams

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#31 | S | Marcus Williams

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32 | RB | Jaret Patterson

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#32 | RB | Jaret Patterson

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#34 | RB | Amar Johnson

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#34 | RB | Amar Johnson

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#37 | CB | Isas Waxter

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#37 | CB | Isas Waxter

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#38 | RB | Trayveon Williams

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#38 | RB | Trayveon Williams

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#49 | TE | Thomas Yassmin

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#49 | TE | Thomas Yassmin

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#50 | LB | Emany Johnson

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#50 | LB | Emany Johnson

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#62 | C/G | Sam Mustipher

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#62 | C/G | Sam Mustipher

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#71 | G | Branson Taylor

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#71 | G | Branson Taylor

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#72 | OT | David Sharpe

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#72 | OT | David Sharpe

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81 | WR | Dalevon Campbell

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81 | WR | Dalevon Campbell

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#82 | WR | JaQuae Jackson

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#82 | WR | JaQuae Jackson

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#87 | WR | Luke Grimm

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#87 | WR | Luke Grimm

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#94 | DL | TeRah Edwards

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#94 | DL | TeRah Edwards

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#95 | DL | Kyle Peko

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#95 | DL | Kyle Peko

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#97 | OLB | Garmon Randolph

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#97 | OLB | Garmon Randolph

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#8 | QB | Omarion Hampton

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#8 | QB | Omarion Hampton

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#93 | DL | Otito Ogbonnia

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#93 | DL | Otito Ogbonnia

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#22 | RB | Najee Harris

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#22 | RB | Najee Harris

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#25 | LB | Junior Colson

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#25 | LB | Junior Colson

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#28 | RB | Hassan Haskins

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#28 | RB | Hassan Haskins

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#37 | CB | Jordan Oladokun

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#37 | CB | Jordan Oladokun

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#39 | CB | Eric Rogers

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#39 | CB | Eric Rogers

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#69 | DL | Josh Fuga

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#69 | DL | Josh Fuga

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#70 | T | Rashawn Slater

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#70 | T | Rashawn Slater

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#76 | T | Joe Alt

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#76 | T | Joe Alt

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#67 | T | Savion Washington

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#67 | T | Savion Washington

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Trevor Sikkema, Pro Football Focus - DL Kayden McDonald, Ohio State

Last updated: November 5, 2025

The 6-foot-3, 325-pound nose tackle might be a bit one-dimensional, but that one dimension is elite. He is sporting an elite 91.1 PFF run-defense grade this season. His 6.4% pass-rush win rate points to him being a run stuffer in the NFL, but that is the kind of player the Chargers need in the middle of their defensive line.

Vinnie Iyer, Sporting News – CB Avieon Terrell, Clemson

Last updated: November 6, 2025

Jesse Minter and Jim Harbaugh need to improve cornerback with some answers in the rest of the defense. The brother of the Falcons' A.J. Terrell plays bigger than his size with some shutdown potential.

BR NFL Draft Scouting Dept., Bleacher Report – OL Olaivavega Ioane, Penn State

Last updated: November 5, 2025

Los Angeles should seriously entertain the idea of drafting a tone-setting interior blocker, and Penn State's Vega Ioane fits the bill.

"Aside from Joe Alt, Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh hasn't gotten to draft a high-level blocker since taking over the team," Thorn said. "Ioane fits the coach's traditional style of player to a tee.

"At 6'4" and 330 pounds, with heavy hands and jarring power, Ioane has been a force all season for the Nittany Lions despite the inconsistencies found around him. Ioane can slot into either guard spot for Los Angeles and provide the requisite size, anchor and power in the run game that this offense desperately needs to play its brand of football."