https://theathletic.com/4216686/2023/02/20/chargers-nfl-mock-draft-2023/

Chargers 2023 mock draft 1.0: Speed threat in first round to unlock
Justin Herbert

By Daniel Popper
6h ago

Welcome to my Chargers Mock Draft 1.0.

This is the first of four seven-round mock drafts I will publish between
now and the 2023 NFL Draft, which runs from April 27 to 29. Mock Draft
2.0 will publish after the initial wave of free agency in March. Then
3.0 and 4.0 will publish in the weeks leading up to the draft in April.

The draft is of particular importance to the Chargers this year. They
are more than $20 million over the salary cap, according to Over the
Cap. Moves are inevitably coming in the next few weeks to get under the
cap. Even if they make aggressive moves to clear space, the Chargers
will still have a tough time using free agency to add difference-making
talent at positions of need. Instead, the vast majority of that talent
influx will have to come from the draft.

The Chargers hold all seven of their original draft picks in this year’s
draft — one in each round. The first three picks — No. 21 in the first,
No. 54 in the second and No. 85 in the third — are all set. The final
four picks will not become official until the NFL announces compensatory
picks sometime in mid-March. The Chargers are not expected to be awarded
any compensatory picks because of how much they spent in free agency
last offseason.

Round 1, Pick 21: Jalin Hyatt, WR, Tennessee

Round 2, Pick 54: Tucker Kraft, TE, South Dakota State

Round 3, Pick 85: Mike Morris, edge, Michigan

Round 4, Pick 124: Emil Ekiyor Jr., IOL, Alabama

Round 5, Pick 158: Carrington Valentine, CB, Kentucky

Round 6, Pick 200: Nesta Jade Silvera, DL, Arizona State

Round 7, Pick 241: Chamarri Conner, DB, Virginia Tech