The 2026 NFL Draft is now less than two weeks away from getting started in Pittsburgh.
The Chargers hold the 22nd overall pick in this year's draft for the second consecutive season, a spot they have selected four other times in franchise history, most recently in 2025 when they selected running back Omarion Hampton.
And with the draft coming up quickly, Sports Illustrated's Matt Verderame took on a tough task at looking at each team's history in the event.
The analyst went through and selected each team's best draft pick ever, weighing not only the greatness of the player, though it was the most important factor, but also the value of the pick.
For the Chargers the list of Pro Football Hall of Famers runs long, but Verderame's choice for greatest pick ever was none other than their third-round pick (No. 64) in the 1973 NFL Draft — Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Fouts.
Verderame wrote:
As a rookie, Fouts was an afterthought. San Diego had acquired the legendary John Unitas from the Colts that offseason. Eventually, Fouts became the full-time starter in 1974 and a star when coach Don Coryell arrived in '78. In each of the following three seasons, Fouts set new single-season passing yardage records. Ultimately, Fouts was named the '82 Offensive Player of the Year, an All-Pro four times and a Pro Bowler on six occasions before being inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Fouts' accolades speak for themselves.
In 15 seasons with the Chargers, Fouts completed 3,297 passes for 43,040 yards and 254 touchdowns, as he was one of only three quarterbacks to pass for more than 40,000 yards at the time of his retirement.
He led the NFL in passing yardage four straight years from 1979 to 1982 and became the first player in history to throw for 4,000 yards in three consecutive seasons.
And in 1982 he was named NFL MVP by the Pro Football Writers of America and the NFL Offensive Player of the Year by the Associated Press, as he finished his career as a six-time Pro Bowler, and was an All-Pro in 1979, 1982, and 1985.
There were plenty of choices for the Bolts, but one of the most iconic Chargers of all time and one of the great passers in the history of the league in Fouts, chosen in the third round, topped the list.
