Chargers’ third-day picks
CHRIS RUMPH II, edge rusher
6 feet 3, 244 pounds, Duke, Round 4, Pick 118
Notable: Rumph’s father, Chris, was hired to be the defensive line coach for the Chicago Bears in January.
Last season: Rumph had eight sacks and 52 tackles in his third season at Duke, where he finished with 171⁄2 career sacks.
Why the Chargers drafted him: Transitioning to a defense with more of a 3-4 front, the Chargers were looking to bolster their presence on the edge. They signed veteran Kyler Fackrell in free agency to do that and now add more depth with Rumph.
BRENDEN JAIMES, offensive lineman
6 feet 6, 300 pounds, Nebraska, Round 5, Pick 159
Notable: Jaimes finished his career with a streak of 31 consecutive starts at left tackle and 40 starts in a row overall, a school record for an offensive lineman.
Last season: He started Nebraska’s first seven games before opting out of the season finale to start preparations for the 2021 NFL draft.
Why the Chargers drafted him: Having rebuilt their offensive line with four new starters, the Chargers are adding depth in Jaimes, a native of Austin, Texas, and someone who played a lot of football in college. He’s expected to compete for one of the game-day backup roles in 2021.
NICK NIEMANN, linebacker
6 feet 3, 234 pounds, Iowa, Round 6, Pick 185
Notable: Niemann is another coach’s son. His father, Jay, is a longtime coach who is now an assistant at Iowa. His brother, Ben, also played linebacker for the Hawkeyes and now is with the Kansas City Chiefs.
Last season: He started all eight games, seven starts at weak-side linebacker and one at middle linebacker, and led the team with 77 tackles.
Why the Chargers drafted him: Niemann is likely to be a special teams contributor right away. He played special teams especially early in college. The Chargers struggled mightily covering kicks in 2020 and have been attempting to build a roster to ensure those issues don’t extend into 2021.
LARRY ROUNTREE III, running back
5 feet 11, 211 pounds, Missouri, Round 6, Pick 198
Notable: Rountree finished as one of the greatest running backs in school history and a fan favorite because of his bruising running style. His draft push was aided by a solid week at the Senior Bowl.
Last season: He finished 2020 with 972 yards and 14 touchdowns in 209 carries for a Tigers team that went 5-5.
Why the Chargers drafted him: Known as a tough, physical runner, Rountree offers potential depth at a position where players do tend to get beat up. He will compete for a backup role behind Austin Ekeler, Justin Jackson and Josh Kelley.
MARK WEBB, safety
6 feet 1, 207 pounds, Georgia, Round 7, Pick 241
Notable: Webb began his career at Georgia as a wide receiver before moving to the defensive backfield after one game.
Last season: Appearing in seven games for the Bulldogs, he had 21 tackles and an interception.
Why the Chargers drafted him: With only three safeties on their roster entering the draft, the Chargers were in need of adding depth. Webb is a story of perseverance having remained at Georgia after deciding to switch from defense to offense.