The countdown is on to the 2026 NFL Draft.
The Chargers currently hold the No. 22 overall pick and could go a handful of different routes in Round 1.
This is the first piece of a four-part series looking at potential options the Chargers have in the first round as we begin in the defensive trenches.
Why a DT makes sense
The Chargers certainly have pieces in place in the defensive line room already, whether that's Teair Tart or Jamaree Caldwell.
Tart signed a multi-year contract extension this offseason after flourishing in his first two seasons with the Bolts.
Tart posted a Pro Football Focus run defense grade of 70.3 in 2024, good for 13th among all interior defensive linemen with at least 160 plays against the run.
Tart saw an increased workload in 2025 and was even better in this area, posting a 74.7 PFF run defense grade, good for fifth among all linemen with at least 240 snaps.
Caldwell also showed plenty of promise as a rookie in 2025 after he was a third-round pick out of Oregon.
Caldwell played 487 total defensive snaps last season, good for the second-most at the position, while appearing in all 17 games and making five starts.
And while the Bolts have other options in the defensive line room — Dalvin Tomlinson, Justin Eboigbe, Scott Matlock, TeRah Edwards and Josh Fuga are all on the roster — the Chargers could look to add a dynamic player in Round 1 to steady this group for the forseeable future.
NFL Network draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah, who is also the Chargers radio color commentator, recently said defensive tackle is among his top needs for the Bolts ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft.
"It's pretty high up there. I would go interior offensive line at No. 1 but defensive tackle and edge rusher would be right there. So it's in the top three for me," Jeremiah said.
Who could be the pick?
To start, there isn't a consensus top defensive tackle prospect among this group.
But the highest ranking any defensive tackle prospect has is Peter Woods, who is ESPN's Jordan Reid's No. 13 overall player.
Reid wrote:
Woods entered the 2025 season as my top-ranked player, and even though Clemson didn't have the year it envisioned, he still showed flashes. Woods is an explosive penetrator who causes frequent disruption at the first level in defending the run and rushing the passer. The flashes are enticing, but long stretches of inconsistency were a big reason why he finished with only two sacks last season after notching three as a sophomore in 2024. That caused his stock to drop a bit, but I still view Woods as a top-20 prospect in this class.
Woods, meanwhile, is No. 35 overall for The Athletic's Dane Brugler and Pro Football Focus, and is No. 37 overall for Daniel Jeremiah of NFL Network.
Woods is listed at 6-foot-3 and 310 pounds. He had 5.0 sacks and 14.5 tackles for loss in his college career at Clemson.
Caleb Banks of Florida has also been projected to the Chargers in recent mock drafts. He is ranked No. 52 by Brugler and No. 29 overall by Reid, while PFF slotted him at No. 32 and Jeremiah has him 42nd overall in his rankings.
Brugler wrote:
Yes, Banks missed most of the 2025 season because of an injury and is still learning how to maximize his talent. But It is hard to find 6-foot-6, 335-pound athletes with 35-inch arms and Banks' level of ability. Teams liked seeing him get better and better throughout Senior Bowl week.
Banks played in just three games during the 2025 season due to injury but had 4.5 sacks for Florida in 2024.
Another option could be Kayden McDonald of Ohio State, who is PFF's No. 28 player and Brugler's No. 32 overall prospect. Reid (No. 32) and Jeremiah (No. 33) both had McDonald in the same range for their respective rankings.
Jeremiah wrote:
McDonald has excellent size and strength for the DT position. He's at his best against the run. He can press out blocks and disengage with violent torque. He's very firm and stout, collecting tackles from guard to guard. He doesn't offer much impact as a lateral chase player. As a pass rusher, he flashes some pocket push but lacks twitch and polish to consistently win. He's more of a steady force than a dynamic playmaker. Overall, McDonald will provide value on run downs, but he needs to develop a better plan of attack as a pass rusher.
McDonald, who is listed at 6-foot-3 and 330 pounds, produced the best season of his college career in 2025 when he posted 3.0 sacks and 9.0 tackles for loss.
Finally, some recent mock drafts have Lee Hunter of Texas Tech going to the Bolts at No. 22 overall.
While Jeremiah ranked Hunter as his No. 36 overall player, Reid tabbed him at No. 23 in his rankings. Hunter came in at No. 39 on PFF's Big Board while Brugler tabbed him at No. 55 overall.
Reid wrote:
I enjoyed watching Hunter's tape more than any other defensive prospect in the class (look at the first play versus Oregon!). The unsung hero of Texas Tech's defense, which was arguably the nation's best, he was the engine that helped everything operate. He is a malleable run defender who is hard to move off his spot, and his 7.7% run stop percentage was second best of all FBS defensive linemen last season. He also does a great job of pushing the pocket as a pass rusher, utilizing his quick hands. Because of his ability to transform the middle, I give Hunter a Round 1 grade.
Hunter, who is 6-foot-4 and 320 pounds, played his first three seasons at UCF before transferring to Texas Tech. He tallied 10.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks in 2025 for the Red Raiders.
How would this impact 2026 and beyond?
The Chargers could probably roll out their defensive tackle group this weekend if they needed to, with Tart and Caldwell likely the starters up front.
Eboigbe, Tomlinson and Matlock would provide depth to ensure a well-rounded room under defensive line coach Mike Elston.
But if the Chargers want to add a high-upside talent to this group with a Round 1 pick, it could boost the overall potential of the position room.
Plus, a possible first-round pick at defensive tackle wouldn't need to start right away given the current depth in the room. Instead, one of the above prospects could work into the rotation in 2026 with eyes on claiming a starting role and making a bigger impact in 2027.
