2024 NFL Draft Grades: Los Angeles Chargers

Day 1 grade: B+
Day 2 grade: A-
Day 3 grade: A

Analysis: Alt will doubtlessly be a good offensive tackle for the next decade or more, but Chargers fans will keep one eye on receiver Malik Nabers, who went sixth overall to the Giants, to see if he would have been a better pick. McConkey could quiet any such concerns with his quickness and excellent routes if able to stay health. Head coach Jim Harbaugh found a leader on defense in Colson, who played that role for Harbaugh at Michigan.

Eboigbe fits as a rotational defensive lineman who gives full effort on each play. Hart and Still fulfill the team's need at corner for good value, and Rice (son of Hall of Famer Jerry Rice) and Johnson were needed for a thin receiver room. Vidal is a low-center-of-gravity back who could take over for departed veteran Austin Ekeler if veteran JK Dobbins is not ready to go following last year's torn Achilles.

Top needs entering the draft: Offensive tackle, wide receiver, defensive tackle

The Chargers are another team resetting this offseason, and they hired coach Jim Harbaugh and GM Joe Hortiz to lead a mini-rebuild. I say "mini" because they already know they have a franchise quarterback with Justin Herbert, so they've completed the hardest part of a roster teardown. Still, they entered the draft with massive questions at wide receiver, where Joshua Palmer and Quentin Johnston are Nos. 1 and 2 on their depth chart. We know Harbaugh wants to build his offense around the running game -- and dominating teams at the line of scrimmage -- but he can't just avoid upgrading his pass-catchers ... right?

Wrong. Well, at least in Round 1. Harbaugh and Hortiz selected the best offensive tackle in the class in Joe Alt (5), who likely will move over to the right side. I can't say I'm that shocked based on what we know about Harbaugh's preferred style of football, but Malik Nabers and Rome Odunze would have been perfect targets for Justin Herbert.

The Chargers did add a wideout by trading up three spots in Round 2 for Ladd McConkey (34), who is fun to watch once the ball gets in his hands. Will he be a true No. 1 outside target? No, but he can be used in a variety of ways and will be a threat to score on every route. I love this fit. Harbaugh knows linebacker Junior Colson (69) well from their time together at Michigan, and the team didn't reach for Colson, either. I'm a fan. Justin Eboigbe (105) has some pass-rush potential from his defensive tackle spot. Wide receiver Brenden Rice (225) was the best available player on my board for a large chunk of Saturday. His size and speed should allow him to compete for a role in this receiver room.

The Chargers now have two of the most talented tackles in the NFL, though they could still stand to add a pass-catcher for Herbert. I wonder if Hortiz and Harbaugh have another move up their sleeve after the draft.

WE EXPECT THE JIM HARBAUGH-LED CHARGERS TO HAVE A CLEAR SMASHMOUTH IDENTITY, AND THEY DOUBLED DOWN ON THAT PHILOSOPHY with the fifth overall pick by taking Notre Dame tackle Joe Alt over big-time pass catchers like Malik Nabers and Rome Odunze. I'm actually fine with that choice—Alt brings rare size and athleticism to the tackle position, and paired with former first-round pick Rashawn Slater, gives the team the potential to field one of the best tackle tandems in football. It helped too that the team didn't completely abandon the thought of having Justin Herbert throw the football, by trading up in the second round to nab an electric pass-catcher in Ladd McConkey. The former Georgia star is a nuanced route runner with great hands and elite acceleration, and could be Herbert's new go-to-guy in high leverage situations. I loved that Los Angeles was able to land linebacker Junior Colston in the third round, as well. Colston reunites with his college coach in Harbaugh (as well as defensive coordinator Jesse Minter, who followed Harbaugh from Michigan), and has the potential to be a day one starter on the team's new-look defense. Sixth-round running back Kimani Vidal and seventh-round receiver Brenden Rice both have a chance to emerge as role players for this team early on, too.

Maybe it was a microcosm of the new identity they want to forge, but HC Jim Harbaugh and GM Joe Hortiz didn't get cute in their first draft — steadily plucking quality players who addressed their needs (and/or philosophy) in a windfall that should have this relative rebuild or retool well ahead of schedule. First-round OT Joe Alt (Notre Dame), second-round WR Ladd McConkey (Georgia), third-round LB Junior Colson (Michigan) and fourth-round DL Justin Eboigbe (Alabama) could all be opening day starters, Alt's prodigious talent clearly trumping the fact he exclusively played left tackle for the Irish and will now have to adjust to the right side opposite established Pro Bowler Rashawn Slater. Seventh-round WRs Brenden Rice (USC) — Jerry's son — and Cornelius Johnson (Michigan) could push to play quickly given the state of the depth chart at that position. Who had it better than the Bolts? (Almost) nobody.

New Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh focused on bringing in prospects from Power 5 conferences who played at big-time, winning programs. The centerpiece of the group is Notre Dame offensive tackle Joe Alt, who will play right tackle with Pro Bowler Rashawn Slater staying at left tackle. Second-rounder Ladd McConkey has a chance to take over the lion's share of the targets lost by the departure of Keenan Allen. Third-round selection Junior Colson has experience calling Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter's defense at Michigan. Harbaugh also added picks with famous family ties. Day 3 selection Troy running back Kimani Vidal's great uncle is Hank Aaron. And Hall of Famer Jerry Rice's son Brenden Rice was taken in the seventh round. —Williams

Best Pick: Third-round linebacker Junior Colson reunites with college coach Jim Harbaugh and he will be a starter early in his career. He is a tough, physical player who can run and cover as well as play the run.

Worst Pick: I didn't love the pick of Alabama defensive tackle Justin Eboigbe in the fourth round. They've had trouble stopping the run, and he's good against the run, but that's high for him in my book.

The Skinny: They took tackle Joe Alt in the first round with the fifth overall pick, passing on taking a receiver to do so. Alt will play right tackle, which will be an adjustment for him. It's a solid pick, rather than sexy. That's the Harbaugh way. I think second-round receiver Ladd McConkey can start right away.

Analysis: Who has it better than coach Jim Harbaugh? Only a few teams. He helped new GM Joe Hortiz nail this critical draft, getting an elite pass protector and top new versatile target for Justin Herbert. Colson was the right Michigan man to add, flipping a weakness into a strength. Still and Hart bring key depth, and Vidal is a good all-around contingency for former Ravens Gus Edwards and JK Dobbins. Rice and Johnson provide some big-play options to help replace Mike Williams and provide contingency for Quentin Johnston.

Analysis: The Chargers have been going about their business wisely. Alt was the best player available in the first round and gives them a nasty tackle combo with Rashawn Slater on the other side. Then, trading up in the second round netted McConkey, who is already Los Angeles' most talented receiver. This is a foundational class for new coach Jim Harbaugh, who is trying to build both culture and a winner.

Leading up to his first draft as the Chargers' head coach, Jim Harbaugh said over and over how important it was to make sure Justin Herbert was protected. That's never been a problem when Rashawn Slater has been healthy, but the right tackle stuff has been brutal. I understand the selection of Joe Alt fifth overall though he wasn't my favorite tackle in this class, but who plays where?

Obviously, the Chargers needed more receivers, and while Ladd McConkey isn't anybody's X Iso receiver, the guy just knows how to get open over and over. Last time we checked, that's an important skill. And Brenden Rice isn't dad Jerry, but he's a bigger contested catch target who can make things happen downfield. As to the Junior Colson pick, this is about where I thought he should have gone, and he'll be a good roleplayer.

I'm interested in the two fifth-round cornerbacks as well. Tarheeb Still is an aggressive match cornerback, as is Cam Hart. These guys both want to get in your face in press coverage and go from there. Also, while Justin Eboigbe isn't your traditional run-stuffing defensive tackle — he played more on the edge than he did outside — he can help those Chargers run defense issues as a strong-side end who can kick inside.

The sleeper here, and he won't be a sleeper for long, is Troy's Kimani Vidal. At 5-foot-8 and 218 pounds, Vidal is a fire hydrant with speed who fits right in with all those former Ravens running backs the Chargers picked up to make OC Greg Roman happy.