Ideal team-prospect fits for the 2021 NFL Draft

NFL Team: Los Angeles Chargers – Creed Humphrey, IOL, Oklahoma

Creed Humphrey

Don’t just look at the 7-9 record the Chargers had at the end of the season. This was clearly an underachieving team, considering they capped the year off with a four-game win streak and their opponents had nothing to really play for anymore.

The biggest reason for their lack of success is now gone, with the complete overhaul of the coaching staff. So now, it’s time to focus on this roster, which is one of the most complete ones in the NFL.

They might lose Melvin Ingram to free agency, and he hasn’t been able to stay healthy for them these last couple of years. But with Derwin James coming back from injury, the defense is absolutely loaded, and they have plenty of weapons around second-year quarterback Justin Herbert.

But the area they now need to bring up to speed is the offensive line. Center Mike Pouncey retired together with his brother. Dan Feeney stepped in at the pivot last year, but he is no more than an average starter anyway and is about to enter free agency. Guard Trai Turner was brought in via trade last year, and he is really the only consistent piece for that interior three. Moreover, they only have one more IOL on the roster.

Left tackle, for me, is still a major need, with T Pipkins arguably the worst starter at that spot last year, so I could easily see the Bolts go, back-to-back linemen, if they are lucky enough to grab someone like VT’s C Darrisaw 13th overall.

I just suggested a trade for Baltimore’s Orlando Brown on social media. But the need for help on the inside is even more glaring. That 47th overall pick may not be able to get them one of the top two centers. But I could absolutely see Oklahoma’s Creed Humphrey be a target for them, potentially to trade up a few spots for.

I think the former Sooner has the ability to play guard or center, and he would bring a lot of physicality to the table while being able to anchor down against powerful defensive tackles. He has three years of starting experience in a spread/Air Raid offense and could be a major asset in protecting their young star signal-caller.