The Chargers did address several of their needs in the recent 2023 NFL draft, although some of their picks surprised me. Here’s a look at where the team stands, with an emphasis on their recent draft picks.

QB: As you undoubtedly know, QB Justin Herbert is one of the NFL’s best, and I don’t expect anything to change in 2023. In the 7^th round of the draft, the Chargers selected QB Max Duggan out of TCU, who will compete with QB Easton Stick for the backup role. I didn’t love the pick, but I guess it was okay. I haven’t felt particularly good about the Chargers’ backup quarterbacks for some time, and this doesn’t change a thing.

RB: I was quite surprised that the Chargers didn’t draft a running back this year. In my view, it’s one of the team’s most pressing areas of need. Sure, they’ve got RB Austin Ekeler under contract for another year, but none of the team’s back-ups have impressed. Rather than taking WR Derius Davis in the 4^th round, I would have rather seen them grab a running back.

WR: Speaking of WR Derius Davis, as mentioned, he was the 4^th round pick again out of TCU and WR Quentin Johnson was the 1^st round pick out of, you guessed it, TCU. I like the pick of Johnson, as he’s quite good in terms of yards after catch, but he will have to develop better hands. While WR Keenan Allen is excellent, he’s also 31 and somewhat injury prone. WR Mike Williams is 28 andalsoseems to show up on the injury report a lot. So having Williams, Allen and WR Josh Palmer, along with a number of other decent backup receivers, I didn’t feel they needed the slight-bodied 5-8, 165 pound Davis, but we’ll see what role he plays.

TE: The Chargers have several tight ends who are solid, if unspectacular. TE Gerald Everett returns as a TE2 in most fantasy leagues. I had been high on TE Donald Parham, Jr., but he was often injured and didn’t show us what I thought that he might. TE Tre’ McKitty also hasn’t shown us a lot, but out of fairness, he hasn’t had a lot of opportunities either.

PK: As of this writing, PK Dustin Hopkins and PK Cameron Dicker are on the roster. I’m guessing Dicker will stick around due to his younger age (23 vs. 32) and lower salary. Plus, he filled in quite admirably for Hopkins, when he went down with injury.

DEF: I think the Chargers defensive draft picks were solid. In the 2^nd round, the Chargers selected EDGE rusher DL Tuli Tuipulotu out USC. I like the pick, as Tuli is talented and should serve as an excellent compliment to LB Joey Bosa and LB Khalil Mack. Both Bosa and Mack were banged up in 2022, so Tuipulotu could be valuable to the team. Another strong pick for the Chargers was LB Daiyan Henley out of Washington State who was a converted wide receiver. DT Scott Matlock out of Boise State was selected in the 6^th round and seems like more of a potential backup. I don’t love the selection, but Matlock adds depth to a defensive line that could use some depth.

End.