Leading up to free agency, the Chargers looked to be seesawing on either taking a defensive tackle or right tackle in the first round of this year’s draft. After they spent resources on a pair of new interior defenders this past week, it seems like a foregone conclusion that a right tackle will be the pick at #17.
ESPN’s Mel Kiper reflected this line of thinking as he has the Chargers selecting Northern Iowa offensive tackle Trevor Penning in his latest mock draft.
Here’s what Kiper had to say about the pairing:
“You’ve heard by now how bad the Chargers’ run defense was in 2021, and they’ve already taken steps to improve it, bringing in two defensive tackles via free agency in Sebastian Joseph-Day, whom coach Brandon Staley is familiar with from his time with the Rams, and Austin Johnson.