Chargers' Draft Surprise: Double Down on D-Line

0:00It's April 16th. I'm Corey with The Story, and this is California News Today, local news powered by AI. The Los Angeles Chargers are just one week from the NFL Draft, holding only five picks and needing to nail their choices after a quiet free agency. They plug the hole at center with Tyler Beatas, but still lack a true starting guard, with recent ads like Resigned, Trevor Penning and Cole. Strange more as depth. Draft analyst Mel Kuiper's latest mock has them missing out on Topgar Prospect, Oliva Vega, Iowane, snatched by the Steelers at Pick 21. Instead, Kuiper sends the Chargers a strong pivot at 22, Clemson defensive tackle Peter Woods. He's built like a tank at three technique. Great against the run with Passrush Upside as he adjusts to the pros. The bolts already signed Runstopper Daoven Tomlinson, so this beef's up their interior even more. Those might scratch their heads, wondering why double down on the D line when the O line screams for help. Woods comes from a thin defensive tackle class though, and his stats back it up, 30 tackles,

1:033.5 for loss and 2 sacks last year, plus 8.5 for loss and 3 sacks the season before in just 11 games. Picture this inside trio, tier tart, Tomlinson and Woods tearing through blocks, a total nightmare for offenses. Still, expect the Chargers to hunt an offensive lineman too. Maybe even a vet like Kevin Zitler, post draft. That mod draft shakes things up, but with evaluations locked in, the bolt's front-off is better be ready to adapt and build that trench warfare.