The Chargers took eight players in the 2026 NFL Draft.
There are many who believe draft grades are foolish because if the player who received a “D” turns out to be an All-Pro, it doesn’t necessarily correlate with the letter grade given.
So rather than going through all of that, why not hand out some awards in a different fashion?
The Chargers landed a high-upside, long-armed tackle out of Memphis in the fourth round via trade-up. Burke brings elite size and length at 6-foot-9 and 315 pounds. He’s a solid athlete with the skillset to develop into a reliable swing tackle, giving L.A. valuable insurance and competition behind Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater.
At 25 years old, Mesidor was one of the oldest first-round picks in recent memory, but turn on his tape and the explosiveness jumps off the screen. He possesses a pro-ready first step, a diverse pass-rush arsenal, and the quickness to stress offensive linemen. The Chargers needed another refined element on the edge after losing Odafe Oweh in free agency, and Mesidor slides in as a natural third rusher and sub-package specialist alongside Tuli Tuipulotu and Khalil Mack.
Thompson is the ideal weapon for offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel’s scheme, which prioritizes pre-snap motion and yards-after-catch potential. Thompson’s ability to take the top off a defense or turn a quick screen into a touchdown adds a dynamic the team has lacked. In an offense built on timing and spacing, Thompson’s world-class acceleration makes him the ideal piece to stress opposing defenses.
The Chargers are going to utilize a lot of three-safety looks, with Derwin James Jr. playing closer to the line of scrimmage. Elijah Molden will be the other starter. Smith, the rookie out of Arizona, could be the deep-field safety in those sets. While he needs to work on his tackling consistency, Smith’s ball-hawking instincts and range make him a legitimate threat for the starting spot over Tony Jefferson and R.J. Mickens.
In quirky Harbaugh fashion, he was so excited to speak with the new player and their family that he forgot to hang up one phone while starting a FaceTime call on another.
coach had to hop on facetime rq pic.twitter.com/dct6EJn9cU
This article originally appeared on Chargers Wire: 2026 Chargers draft class superlatives: Best scheme fit, value pick