The Riverside Press-Enterprise
Is Penning the right fit for Chargers at tackle?
Last year’s NFL draft broke the Chargers’ way when Rashawn Slater was available with the 13th overall pick. Slater’s presence at left tackle led to immediate and positive results for their offensive line in 2021.
But the Chargers now find themselves needing a tackle on the opposite side and also have an opening at right guard. Filling the right side of the offensive line is arguably the team’s biggest need heading into Thursday’s first round, but the Chargers are in better shape than last year after finding stability with Slater, left guard Matt Feiler and center Corey Linsley.
Chargers coach Brandon Staley said the team can afford to wait on offensive linemen because they’re more willing this year to move Feiler to right tackle if needed. Last year, the Chargers didn’t want to disrupt the chemistry between Slater and Feiler on the left side after season-ending injuries to right tackle Bryan Bulaga and right guard Oday Aboushi. Bulaga was released by the team last month, but the Chargers have expressed interest in re-signing Aboushi.
It’s hard to disagree with Staley’s patient approach because quarterback Justin Herbert threw for more than 5,000 passing yards with Storm Norton and Michael Schofield starting most of the season on the right side. The Chargers also have secondyear player Brenden Jaimes as a potential candidate at guard and Trey Pipkins showed enough promise last season to compete with Norton at tackle.
It’s a good sign that the Chargers have options on the offensive line after years of subpar play, but none of them are as good as landing a top tackle in the first round. The Chargers, however, might be forced to wait on an offensive lineman until the later rounds because they currently own the 17th overall pick. But the draft is always filled with surprises. The Chargers are still shocked that Slater fell to them last year.
Here are options and scenarios the Chargers could be faced with during the three-day draft for their offensive line needs:
Meet the top four tackles in the draft
• Evan Neal, Alabama
• Ikem Ekwonu, N.C State
• Charles Cross, Mississippi State
• Trevor Penning, Northern Iowa
ANALYSIS » Neal and Ekwonu will likely be long gone by pick No. 17, so unless the Chargers trade their way into the top five (unlikely), those players are not options.
The Chargers probably wouldn’t hesitate to draft Cross if he’s still there at No. 17, and it wouldn’t be a surprise if they traded up a few spots to get him, but Cross’ stock has soared in the past month and most draft experts now project him going in the top 10.
That leaves Penning, a popular name connected to the Chargers in several mock drafts. This would be an interesting scenario because there’s a drastic drop-off among the tackles after Penning, but he’s a raw prospect who would need time to develop. Would this be a reach pick for the team to fill a void at right tackle, or do the
Chargers trust their coaching and bank on Penning’s upside?
NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah has Penning ranked ahead of Cross in his top-50 board. Perhaps none of the top four tackles will remain at 17, especially with the New Orleans Saints recently trading up to No. 16 and having a clear need at left tackle after the free-agency departure of Terron Armstead.
What if Chargers trade down for a guard?
• Zion Johnson, Boston College
• Kenyon Green, Texas A&M
ANALYSIS » The Chargers also have needs at guard, and they need offensive line depth, something Staley has emphasized since he arrived last year.
If the top tackles are gone by the time the Chargers are on the clock in the first round, a good option would be to trade down and select the versatile Johnson, who is regarded as the best interior offensive lineman in the draft. This move could help the Chargers regain a second-round draft pick after they sent theirs to Chicago in the Khalil Mack trade.
Johnson had a rocky season as Boston College’s left tackle in 2020, but that experience might be valuable for the Chargers. Johnson played at his best when he was a left guard. He would give the Chargers the option of moving right tackle.
Green isn’t as versatile, but many draft experts view him as a quality starter in the NFL.
Feiler
OL options after the first round on draft
to
• Daniel Faalele, OT, Minnesota
• Abraham Lucas, OT, Washington State
• Nicholas Petit-frere, OT, Ohio State
• Rasheed Walker, OT, Penn State
• Luke Goedeke, OG, Central Michigan
• Sean Rhyan, OL, UCLA
• Marquis Hayes, OG, Oklahoma
ANALYSIS » If the Chargers prioritize defense or go with a speedy wideout with their first pick, they would currently have to wait until the third round to address their offensive line needs, but there are decent options in the middle rounds.
Rhyan started 31 games at left tackle for UCLA, but Dane Brugler of The Athletic wrote that he sees Rhyan excelling as an offensive guard in a zone scheme, which the Chargers utilize. Brugler also sees potential in Lucas as an athletic right tackle.
What the draft experts are saying
ESPN’S Mel Kiper on Charles Cross versus Trevor Penning
“Some think (Cross) could move over to right tackle. We’ll see about that. But I think Penning is still raw. Cross is more of a finished product as a pass blocker. Penning’s a work in progress. He’s gotta get more bend. He obviously overextends at times. He’s a little too aggressive at times. Whether he is a left tackle, he would easily be considered a developmental left tackle, whereas Cross is already where you would need him to be. That’s the difference in Penning. He may initially be a right tackle if you coach him up quickly, but he can certainly be a left tackle.”