Los Angeles Chargers Mock Draft: The perfect draft if everything went right
By Jason Reed
Da’Ron Payne, DT, Alabama
The Los Angeles Chargers enter the 2018 NFL Draft with two huge needs: middle linebacker and defensive tackle. Last season, the defense actually became on the best in football down the stretch. The pass-rush combination of Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram was the best outside rushing tandem in football and the secondary was great at picking up the scraps.
Time and time again, though, the Chargers biggest weakness on defense was exposed; stopping the run. Los Angeles allowed the second-most rushing yards per game last season and likely lost a few games because of it.
Thus, with the team’s first pick in the draft, they should go with none other than the run-plugging tackle of Da’Ron Payne. Payne is one of the best defensive tackles in this year’s draft class with his only true weakness is getting to the quarterback.
Still, he should be decent at getting to the quarterback, he is just not an elite pass-rusher that would call for a top-15 pick. Regardless, the Chargers have the pass-rush they need. What the team needs is someone to fill the running lanes, which is what Payne excels at.
Payne is arguably the best defensive tackle in the draft at stopping the run. With Corey Liuget out the first four weeks, Payne has to be the guy at the 17th overall pick.