What Are Chargers Early 2026 NFL Mock Draft Projections?

Jan 06, 2026 at 12:15 PM

Omar Navarro

Jr. Writer

The 2025 NFL season has reached the playoffs, and college football is in full swing as they near the end of the postseason.

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 January.

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.

Jordan Reid, ESPN – OT Kadyn Proctor, Alabama

Last updated: January 6, 2026

I've talked with multiple scouts about Proctor in recent weeks, and opinions on the 6-foot-7, 366-pound lineman remain all over the place. Many believe he'll be picked in the top 25 because of his size and flashes of improved play, and several referred to Proctor's upside as a guard. That's where he would play with the Chargers, who should have bookend tackles Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt healthy and ready to go next season. Proctor fits the Chargers' mentality as a tough, physical blocker who could help the interior protection of quarterback Justin Herbert.

Nate Tice & Charles McDonald, Yahoo Sports – DT Kayden McDonald, Ohio State

Last updated: January 6, 2026

Another quality defensive tackle in this year's class, and it's exactly what the Chargers need. Defensive coordinator Jesse Minter is able to get the most out of his coverages, but the Chargers have lacked the beef on the inside to hold up against the better run teams in the NFL, especially when Teair Tart isn't on the field. McDonald would do just that: eat double-teams for his faster teammates to make plays and create more third-and-longs for Minter's scheme to put the screws on passing games.

Danny Kelly, The Ringer – DT A'Mauri Washington, Oregon

Last updated: January 6, 2026

The Chargers bolster their interior defensive line with a high-upside prospect in Washington, who has just one year of starting experience but possesses a rare combination of size and athleticism. The Ducks standout is a mountain of a man (listed at 6-foot-3, 330 pounds) with very quick feet and an explosive first step. He overwhelms blockers against the run and flashes the ability to shoot into the pocket as a pass rusher.

Nick Baumgardner, The Athletic – DT Kayden McDonald, Ohio State

Last updated: January 5, 2026

McDonald was a big-time riser this season as a stout performer versus both the run and pass. His athleticism would be very exciting in the middle of Jesse Minter's defense.

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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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#8 | QB | Omarion Hampton

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#8 | QB | Omarion Hampton

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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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#28 | RB | Hassan Haskins

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#28 | RB | Hassan Haskins

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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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32 | RB | Jaret Patterson

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#32 | RB | Jaret Patterson

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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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#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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#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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#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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#93 | DL | Otito Ogbonnia

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#93 | DL | Otito Ogbonnia

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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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#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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#41 | RB | Royce Freeman

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#41 | RB | Royce Freeman

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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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#63 | C | Josh Kaltenberger

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#63 | C | Josh Kaltenberger

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#67 | OL | Foster Sarell

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#67 | OL | Foster Sarell

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#71 | G | Branson Taylor

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#71 | G | Branson Taylor

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#72 | G | Ben Cleveland

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#72 | G | Ben Cleveland

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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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#88 | TE | Tanner McLachlan

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#88 | TE | Tanner McLachlan

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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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#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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#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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#42 | TE | Tucker Fisk

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#42 | TE | Tucker Fisk

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#46 | CB | Nikko Reed

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#46 | CB | Nikko Reed

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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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Mike Renner, CBS Sports – DL Caleb Banks, Florida

Last updated: January 7, 2026

Caleb Banks might be the biggest wild card in the draft class. He's a fifth-year defensive tackle who's averaged fewer than 200 snaps per season for his career and played only 96 this fall with a foot injury. The high-end reps he has for a 6-foot-6, 330-pounder, though, are jaw-dropping.

Ayrton Ostly, USA Today – OT Francis Mauigoa, Miami (FL)

Last updated: January 7, 2026

This may be a dream scenario for Jim Harbaugh. Mauigoa falls out of the top 20 and gives the Chargers ideal value for a needy offensive line. He's spent his college career in Miami at right tackle but could have a higher ceiling at guard in the NFL. His mauling, powerful presence at 6-foot-6 and 325 pounds would be an immediate upgrade for the interior in Los Angeles. And, if need be, he could kick out to tackle in a pinch.

BR NFL Draft Scouting Dept., Bleacher Report – IOL Kadyn Proctor, Alabama

Last updated: January 5, 2026

Slater and Alt's eventual returns should only be the tip of the iceberg. The Chargers can keep adding to their front five and become the bully they really want to be under Jim Harbaugh's direction.

A team isn't going to find many offensive line prospects bigger and more physical than the 6'7" 360-ish-pound Kadyn Proctor.

Rob Rang, Fox Sports – G Olaivavega Ioane, Penn State

Last updated: January 5, 2026

Even if you believe (as I do) that season-ending injuries to offensive linemen Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater are more bad luck than body breakdowns, we all know what Jim Harbaugh believes: The offensive line is always the priority. Ioane might be the perfect combination of following Harbaugh's vision and protecting Justin Herbert. The 6-foot-4, 328-pound Ioane is a human block of granite, wedging himself into the turf in pass protection and rolling downhill through opponents in the running game.