“The Beast” is here. The Athletic’s college scouting expert Dane Brugler released his annual draft guide Wednesday, and we can now use this immensely comprehensive resource to further expand our Los Angeles Chargers draft coverage over the next two weeks.
We will start that process with our Chargers Mock Draft 3.0. This will be our third of four Chargers mock drafts that publish before the draft kicks off April 23. Check out Mock 1.0 and Mock 2.0 if you missed those. Mock 4.0 will publish the week of the draft and serve as my best guess at what the Chargers will do.
In Mock 3.0, I want to dig a little more deeply into a trade-down scenario. Earlier this week, I wrote about why the Chargers trading down from No. 22 in the first round makes sense. Most importantly, a trade down would provide the Chargers with more draft capital. They currently only have five picks in the 2026 draft.
So we will begin Mock 3.0 with a trade. A logical partner, as we touched on earlier this week, is the Arizona Cardinals at No. 34 in the second round. The Cardinals are in need of a quarterback. In this scenario, they would be trading up with the Chargers to take Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson at No. 22. The full details of my hypothetical trade:
Cardinals receive: No. 22
Chargers receive: No. 34, No. 65, 2027 fourth-round pick
The Chargers pick up an extra pick in this year’s draft early in the third round. They also add an additional pick in next year’s draft. I based this return off what the New York Giants gave up to move from No. 34 to No. 25 in last year’s draft. The Giants, of course, made that move to select quarterback Jaxson Dart. They gave up No. 99 overall and a 2026 third-round pick.
Let’s dive into the mock and show how impactful this added third-round pick could be in the Chargers’ 2026 draft haul.
Round 2, Pick 34 (via ARI): Chase Bisontis, OG, Texas A&M
I mocked Bisontis to the Chargers at No. 55 overall in my Mock 1.0. That was wishful thinking. At this point, I do not expect Bisontis to make it to that spot on draft weekend. Bistontis is Brugler’s No. 34 overall player and No. 2 guard, behind Penn State’s Vega Ioane.
The Chargers have a need at left guard. Trevor Penning is the projected starter there at the moment. Bisontis started 22 games at left guard over the past two seasons with the Aggies. If the Chargers want Bisontis, they likely have to take him at No. 22 or target him in a trade-down scenario. I think he would fit well into new OC Mike McDaniel’s scheme.
From Brugler: “In the run game, (Bisontis) is strong as an ox to torque defenders on down blocks and shows the efficient movements to seal the backside or pick off defenders as a puller.”
Round 2, Pick 55: R Mason Thomas, Edge, Oklahoma
Edge rusher and left guard are the Chargers’ two biggest needs. If they are able to bring in a starting-caliber left guard at No. 34 in Bisontis, they can turn their sites to edge rusher at No. 55 while still having two more top-100 picks.
It is a deep edge class. Brugler has 16 edge rushers in his top 100 players. The Chargers could have options at No. 22 if they do not trade down. They would have options at No. 34. They would have options at No. 55.
In my Mock 2.0, I went with more of a power edge rusher in Illinois’ Gabe Jacas. However, I do wonder if the Chargers might look for a different body type and play style to complement Khalil Mack and Tuli Tuipulotu. Thomas is a smaller player but he was feisty and highly disruptive in college. He would bring a different flavor to the edge room and help replace some of the bend the Chargers lost when Odafe Oweh left in free agency. Thomas would play mostly on known passing downs, at least early in his career.
From Brugler: “Thomas is an undersized edge defender who combines first-step quickness with violent play strength and closing burst and never quits working to the football. His ability to vary his rush tempo leads to disruption and will help him find a meaningful role in the NFL.”
Round 3, Pick 65 (via ARI): Keith Abney, CB, Arizona State
This additional third-round pick would really open up the draft for the Chargers. Edge rusher and left guard are needs 1A and 1B for GM Joe Hortiz. With those spots filled, the Chargers could begin addressing some of the less-pressing needs on both sides of the ball. I would start at corner.
The Chargers have a solid trio in Donte Jackson, Tarheeb Still and Cam Hart. But another competitive piece in this room would create a stronger roster overall.
Abney flashed to me because of his instincts in zone. He can drive and finish on underneath routes, which Brugler also noted in his scouting report. New DC Chris O’Leary will be running the same scheme as Jesse Minter. Zone instincts are an important skill for corners in this system.
“Abney is an undersized, feisty cover corner with athletic balance, core strength and endurance cultivated over 10-plus years of high-level competitive inline skating as a kid,” Brugler writes. “Highly alert in zone, he has an outstanding read-react twitch in his plant and drive from depth.”
Arizona State Sun Devils defensive back Keith Abney II (1) celebrates after intercepting a pass against Iowa State in 2024. (Jerome Miron / Imagn Images)
Round 3, Pick 86: Zachariah Branch, WR, Georgia
The Chargers are excited to see their receivers in McDaniel’s system — Ladd McConkey, Tre’ Harris, KeAndre Lambert-Smith and Quentin Johnston. I could see them adding one more piece to this room, and I think the missing ingredient is a shifty, speedy, YAC weapon. McDaniel had plenty of success with that type of pass-catcher during his time in Miami.
Branch is pretty close to a perfect fit in this role. Brugler notes that 78 percent of Branch’s career receiving yards at Georgia came after the catch. He would have some time to develop behind the Chargers’ other young receivers.
“Branch has dynamic speed and the linear twitch to threaten the defense before and after the catch,” Brugler writes. “But there is a lot of good-faith projection required to envision him as more than a gadget player.”
Round 4, Pick 123: Gracen Halton, IDL, Oklahoma
With the added third-round pick, the Chargers could attack interior defensive line earlier in the draft. That could be in the third round. I went with this position in the fourth round.
The Chargers lost two interior defensive linemen in free agency. Da’Shawn Hand signed with the Atlanta Falcons, and Otito Ogbonnia signed with the Dallas Cowboys. The Chargers signed one replacement in Dalvin Tomlinson, a big-bodied run-stuffing nose tackle. To round out this group, I think they could look for a prospect with some pass-rush upside.
Halton finished second in pressures for Oklahoma in 2025 with 30, according to Brugler. He has an explosive get-off and a persistent motor. Halton does not have the size coach Jim Harbaugh typically values on the interior defensive line, but I think the Chargers would be intrigued by his play style.
From Brugler: “Halton is sawed off and can be overwhelmed at times, but he moves with big-man twitch and his initial quickness and closing speed can be weaponized. A part-time role that keeps his battery charged will be his best NFL fit.”
Round 6, Pick 204: Jager Burton, C, Kentucky
If the Chargers draft Bisontis, the pieces of the offensive line start to fit into place. Bisontis would start at left guard. Penning would turn into a swing guard and act as a sixth offensive lineman. Trey Pipkins III is the swing tackle. Kayode Awosika, who the Chargers signed in free agency, would be primarily guard depth. He also kicked out to right tackle last season for the Detroit Lions. The missing piece is a backup center. As the roster currently stands, Josh Kaltenberger, a 2025 undrafted free agent, is filling that role.
I think the Chargers could draft a backup center. They signed Tyler Biadasz as their starter in free agency. He is still only 28 years old and projects as a multi-year starter in the middle of the offensive line. A developmental center would be a logical option.
Burton started 12 games at center for Kentucky last season. He also started 23 games at left guard and nine games at right guard over his college career. I like Burton’s movement skills.
As Brugler writes, “Burton is a good-looking athlete for his size, with foot quickness as a pass blocker and range in the run game.” He can play in McDaniel’s scheme. And he would provide interior depth as a backup center and guard.
