Best available players for the Chargers on Day 3 of the NFL Draft

The Chargers landed a new X receiver in the second round with Ole Miss’ Tre Harris. They then followed it with a space-eater in the third via Oregon defensive tackle Jamaree Caldwell.

Heading into day three, the Chargers have seven total draft picks with four of them coming in the sixth round. The positions they are likely to focus on are tight end, edge rusher, interior offensive linemen, and cornerbacks.

Entering day three, here are eight players still on the board that I believe would be excellent fits for the Chargers.

Gunnar Helm, TE, Texas

Helm reportedly sprained his ankle on his first 40 attempt at this year’s NFL Combine yet still chose to go finish the rest of the workout. Now that’s a different level of toughness. His combine workout does not look good on paper (4.84 40 time, 30-inch vertical) but taking the injury into consideration on top of what he put on film, the numbers should not be held against him. Helm is a smooth-mover who did nothing but produce for one of the best offenses in the country in 2024. His skillset will complement the current tight end room with veterans Will Dissly and Tyler Conklin.

Mitchell Evans, TE, Notre Dame

Evans looks to be one of the best value picks at tight end this year. He was a three-year starter for the Fighting Irish but also struggled with his fair share of injuries (14 starts combined from 2022-2023, torn ACL in ‘23). Still, Evans led Notre Dame in receptions in both ‘23 and ‘24.

At 6’5 and nearly 260 pounds, Evans’ pro comparison from NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein is actually current Charger Will Dissly. He has the size and want-to to be effective as a run blocker with the receiving chops to be productive in the short to intermediate areas of the field.

Marcus Mbow, OG, Purdue

The Chargers could still stand to add competition at guard in this draft and the best one remaining on the board is Mbow. He played right tackle for the Boilermakers in 2024 but previously started at right guard in 2022 and 2023. With massive 10 1/2” hands on his 6’4, 303-pound frame, Mbow has the makings of an interior blocker in the pros. He did not test this offseason, but he showed on film he’s got the feet to handle frenetic seed rushers, including some good film against No. 3 pick Adbul Carter when they battled in the Big Ten.

Seth McLaughlin, C, Ohio State

McLaughlin would likely have gone off the board in round three if it wasn’t for an Achilles injury that took the final months of his 2024 season. A former starter for Nick Saban at Alabama, McLaughlin was stellar in his lone season with the Buckeyes as he won the Rimington Award (nation’s top center) despite missing time.

The Chargers brought in former Raiders starting center Andre James to compete with Bradley Bozeman and Zion Johnson at the pivot so McLaughlin would not be expected to start right away, but I would be excited to add him late should he continue to slide deeper and deeper into day three.

McLaughlin is an athletic center but lacks ideal length (31” arms). He wins with a high football IQ, fast diagnosing skills, and proper positioning to keep rushers from getting into his quarterback’s face.

Miles Frazier, OG, LSU

Frazier was a four-year starter for the Tigers who recorded 50 career starts across every position up front except for center. If the Chargers want to continue building an intimidating offensive line, they could do much worse than the 6’6, 317-pound Frazier. He did not test well at the combine but the tape shows a quick-footed blocker who is adept at reading and reacting to stunts and twists up front which is something the Bolts struggled to do in their wild card loss to the Texans. Frazier plays with an aggressive demeanor and wants to bury defenders whenever he gets the chance.

Jack Sawyer, EDGE, Ohio State

Sawyer is fresh off a run to the national championship with the Buckeyes where he put together one of the strongest postseason performances in all of college football with 4.5 sacks and six pass breakups. He’s a throwback edge rusher that wins with power over finesse with his 6’5, 260-pound frame. He wants to collapse pockets by going through the chest of the offensive tackle and will rack up a lot of clean-up tackles thanks to his ever-running motor.

Brady Swinson, EDGE, LSU

Swinson started one season in his collegiate career and that was the 2024 campaign. He played three seasons (2020-2022) for the University of Oregon before transferring to LSU in 2023.

At 6’4 and 255 pounds, Swinson led the Tigers this past season in both tackles for loss (13) and sacks (8.5). He uses his length and powerful initial strike to give blockers something to think about before switching to more of a finesse rush plan that utilizes stutter steps to keep lineman guessing about his next move. He spent a lot of time in the backfield for the Tigers, even without a refined pass rush tool box. His upside seems untouched just yet, as well. I like him as a solid developmental player who won’t need to start until year two.

Zah Frazier, CB, UTSA

Frazier spent the first five years of his collegiate career as either a reserve or at a JUCO. In his first season as a starter for the Roadrunners, he broke out with six interceptions and nine pass breakups en route to earning First-Team All-American Athletic Conference honors.

With 4.36 speed on a 6’3, 186-pound frame, Frazier has more than enough physical tools to intrigue a team looking for a developmental corner prospect and/or special teams contributor. The biggest downside is that he will be 25 years old as a rookie.

Frazier will thrive more in zone schemes (like the Chargers) with his ability to read-and-react to the quarterback with his athleticism. He’s does not look nearly as fluid when matched up in man coverage.

Robert Longerbeam, CB, Rutgers

Longerbeam is on the smaller end for an NFL cornerback but he’s one of those players you watch and simply think “he’s got it.” His lack of size will likely push him into a slot role in the NFL but that’s just fine. He’s highly competitive and Rutgers coaches described him as a “culture” player for their locker room. Longerbeam has a knack for being around the football with five career interceptions and five forced fumbles. This is a playmaker who unfortunately got stuck with some size issues but that shouldn’t stop a team banking on the intangibles he so obviously has in spades.