Chargers Draft RB of the Future in New Mock Draft

The Los Angeles Chargers exceeded all expectations this season and look like a good bet to make the postseason after a one-year hiatus. The team improved significantly on both ends of the field under new head coach Jim Harbaugh and the Chargers have a chance to have a statement win over the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday Night Football.

While Chargers fans are laser-focused on the final stretch and the playoffs, many around the league already started thinking about the offseason. Even though the Chargers are a much-improved team, they still need upgrades in various positions to become true Super Bowl contenders.

Those upgrades will have to come on the offensive side of the ball. The Chargers have been the best defensive team in the NFL for most of the season but need more talent on the offensive end to reach the next level.

Dane Brugler of The Athletic solves that problem for the Chargers in his latest mock draft. With their first-round selection, Brugler has the Bolts selecting Iowa running back Kaleb Johnson.

"Johnson is a well-put-together athlete who runs with equal amounts power, patience and quickness. Add in that he doesn’t fumble and is reliable on passing downs, and you don’t have to squint to see why Jim Harbaugh might go this direction."

- Dane Brugler, The Athletic

In modern NFL, selecting a running back in the first round is generally frowned upon. That will almost certainly change in the 2025 NFL Draft where Heisman contender Ashton Jeanty is expected to go in the first round. Johnson is the second-best RB prospect in the country and wouldn't be shocking to see him go in the first round.

Through 12 games this season, Johnson has 1,537 yards and a whopping 21 touchdowns, while adding 188 yards and two scores in the passing game.

Considering how much Harbaugh and offensive coordinator Greg Roman like to emphasize the running game, it wouldn't be shocking for the Chargers to use a high draft pick on a rusher. Whether that is Johnson or another prospect, however, remains to be seen.

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