Los Angeles Chargers: Early first-round options in the 2019 NFL Draft
By Jason Reed
If Dexter Lawrence is still on the board when the Los Angeles Chargers are on the clock with the 28th overall pick then there should be no doubt at all about who the team is selecting.
The draft class this year is weaker than last year and the players that will likely be around by the time the Chargers are on the board are a lot of players that the team does not really need. There are a lot of late first-round cornerbacks that will likely be projected to go in the last five or so picks of the draft.
Wasting a first round pick on a cornerback would be silly for the Chargers, who instead could use a defensive tackle. Defensive tackle is not the team’s biggest need but neither was safety and Derwin James fell to LA and they had to take him. The same can be said with Lawrence.
Daniel Jeremiah of NFL.com ranks Lawrence as the 22nd-best prospect in the 2019 NFL Draft. Of course, there is still a lot of time for that to change and for Lawrence to move higher or lower based on his Combine showing.
However, there is a chance he stays in the mid-20s and falls to the Chargers at 28. Lawrence would be absolutely perfect on the Chargers defensive line alongside Corey Liuget and 2018 draft pick Justin Jones.
Lawrence does not excel in rushing the passer but he is an elite run stuffer in the middle. The Chargers were a lot better against the run last season but that is still the one thing that is lacking from the defensive line.
Getting an elite run stuffer would make the Chargers defensive line arguably the best in the league and certainly the most well-rounded.