Los Angeles Chargers fill massive need in way-too-early 2026 NFL mock draft many thought was a priority in the 2025 class
If you frequented many mock drafts prior to the 2025 NFL Draft, the Los Angeles Chargers were connected heavily to former Michigan tight end Colston Loveland. That attraction made a lot of sense considering the team was returning Will Dissly, Tyler Conklin, and Tucker Fisk on the depth chart. That isn't exactly the strongest tight […]
If you frequented many mock drafts prior to the 2025 NFL Draft, the Los Angeles Chargers were connected heavily to former Michigan tight end Colston Loveland. That attraction made a lot of sense considering the team was returning Will Dissly, Tyler Conklin, and Tucker Fisk on the depth chart. That isn't exactly the strongest tight end room of all time, especially when it comes to passing game upside.
Head coach Jim Harbaugh also had a personal relationship with Loveland due to his time with the Wolverines, having recruited and coached the former All-American. It felt like one of the most seamless fits in the entire 2025 class. Unfortunately for Coach Harbaugh and the Chargers organization, the Chicago Bears quickly ruined those plans when they selected Loveland with the No. 10 overall selection. That also started the tight end run pretty early, seeing Penn State's Tyler Warren go off the board to the Indianapolis Colts at No. 14.
Instead of forcing the issue, the Chargers decided to upgrade their running back room with Omarion Hampton (UNC) in the first round. The board never fell great for the team, and they ended up waiting until the fifth round to select former Syracuse standout Oronde Gadsden Jr. as a developmental tight end. While Gadsden has some tools to work with, there is no telling how much of an impact he will make long term.
In a recent 2026 NFL mock draft, the Chargers made up for missing out on Loveland the year prior. With the No. 23 overall selection in the first round, Los Angeles selected Georgia standout Lawson Luckie. Over his first two seasons, Luckie has had to share snaps with some pretty good tight ends. That included Brock Bowers in 2023, and a combination of Oscar Delp and Benjamin Yurosek last season. It has been a very crowded room, to say the very least.
At 6-4 and 240 pounds, Luckie is a very good athlete who possesses dynamic long speed. He flashed a ton as a sophomore in 2024, hauling in 24 receptions for 348 yards and three touchdowns. Luckie had a sizeable jump this past season, and if does again this offseason, then you have a potentially special tight end prospect. It is a projection, but Luckie has special traits as a movement weapon.
You aren't drafting Luckie to dominate as an inline blocker, but his impact in the passing game is the consistent selling point. With explosiveness, as well as smoothness as a route runner, there is a good chance that Luckie ascends to keep the tight end tradition alive that Bowers started. Quarterback Justin Herbert would be very happy to have Luckie on his team.
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