Chargers Day – With edge rusher and left-guard needs addressed, the Chargers can use Day 3 to add depth across positions and chase value.
The Los Angeles Chargers come into Day 3 with two of their biggest draft priorities already checked off—and that changes how aggressively they can shop on Saturday.
After finishing Day 2, general manager Joe Hortiz and his staff left themselves more room to maneuver.. The team needed a third edge rusher to complement Khalil Mack and Tuli Tuipulotu. and they did it by selecting Akheem Mesidor in the first round.. They also targeted immediate offensive-line competition, landing Jake Slaughter in the second round to take on the left guard spot.
That foundation mattered because Hortiz didn’t just draft.. He also managed the board.. On Day 3. the Chargers are scheduled to be active. but first they restocked their opportunities by trading down twice earlier in the draft.. They moved from No.. 55 to No.. 63 with New England, picking up an extra fourth-rounder and sixth-rounder in the process.. Then they traded out of the third round with Cleveland, collecting additional mid-round and late-round picks.. In total, the Chargers entered with five selections and now have nine, with two already used.
Day 3 is often where rosters get quietly reshaped.. Rounds four through six can be unpredictable, but Hortiz has leaned into that volatility rather than fearing it.. In 2024. he used late resources to add a mix of impact and upside: Justin Eboigbe in the fourth. cornerbacks Tarheeb Still and Cam Hart in the fifth. and running back Kimani Vidal in the sixth.. The pattern continued in 2025 with tight end Oronde Gadsden and receiver KeAndre Lambert-Smith in the fifth. plus safety RJ Mickens in the sixth.. Misryoum sees the through-line: build depth in a way that creates competition, then let the best players rise.
Now the Chargers can do something they couldn’t fully do earlier: spread the value without sacrificing positional urgency.. They still hold seven picks on Day 3, including three in the fourth round (No.. 105, No.. 123, No.. 131), one in the fifth (No.. 145), and three in the sixth (No.. 202, No.. 204, No.. 206).. Those slots don’t just offer “filler.” They can be used to address multiple areas at once—receiver. cornerback. interior defensive line. safety. and tight end—while also adding more line depth such as tackle.
Misryoum also expects the fanbase to watch the left guard story closely. because Slaughter’s role carries real stakes for the Chargers’ offense right away.. In college. he was exclusively a center. and even though he practiced at guard and took reps during the Senior Bowl. he never played the position in an actual game.. That means there’s projection involved, and projection always carries risk.. Still, the Chargers believe the fit is there—especially in the system of offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel.
The athletic profile is the argument behind the move.. Slaughter’s range is described as strong for both lateral movement and climbing to the second level in the run game—skills that can matter in a scheme built around space and timing.. Hortiz also framed Slaughter as a “blue star” prospect. a practice he brings with him from the Baltimore Ravens where each scout gets one indicator to designate a standout player.. Whether the team calls it a blue star or just a high-confidence pick. the message is consistent: the organization saw a specific player it wanted. not just a position it needed.
That belief is being paired with structure.. The plan is for Slaughter to compete for the left guard job against Trevor Penning. with coach Jim Harbaugh stressing that Slaughter has a real opportunity to win.. Harbaugh also emphasized that Slaughter gives the team coverage behind Tyler Biadasz at center. so the pick isn’t only about an eventual starter—it’s also about keeping the roster functional if injuries hit or if development takes longer than expected.
Misryoum’s broader read is that this draft strategy reflects how the Chargers view their offseason identity.. When the team invests in the offensive line. it’s not just about today’s starters—it’s about supporting Justin Herbert with reliable structure in multiple phases.. The Chargers didn’t “kick the can down the road. ” and that suggests they’d rather create competition now than hope things fall into place later.
With edge locked in via Mesidor and the left guard competition underway with Slaughter. Day 3 becomes a chance to build a roster that can survive a long season.. It’s also a chance to add pieces in a variety of ways: draft and develop. stock up on positional depth. or use flexibility to chase value if a player drops.. Hortiz has indicated the team can get creative—moving up for the right option or trading to build additional future assets.
In other words, the Chargers aren’t entering Saturday with a single problem to solve. They’re entering it with options. That’s usually when teams have the best drafts: not when the board forces them into one lane, but when they can pick the lane that fits their evaluations.
For Misryoum readers, the takeaway is simple.. The Chargers’ Day 3 isn’t just about “more picks.” It’s about converting Day 2 momentum into a deeper. more adaptable roster—one where the fringe starters can become the contributors that keep the offense and defense working long after the headlines move on.. And if Hortiz is right, Saturday could be the most fun day of all.