2026 NFL Draft: 1 defensive tackle in every round for the Chargers

Round 4: Gracen Halton, Oklahoma

Halton's stock rose as high as. In media circles after the Senior Bowl, where the former Sooner kept his energy, the second round limited reps. When that's the case, Halton looks like a true difference-maker thanks to his outstanding get-off and his effortful mindset when his first move doesn't get the job done. Oklahoma employed a heavy rotation on the defensive line - Halton only played about 32 percent of the defensive snaps over the last two years - which would likely be his best environment as a pro. His leadership and personality will also quickly win teammates over.

Round 5: Zane Durant, Penn State

A three-year starter at Penn State despite his smaller stature, Durant was described by a league source to Brugler as a high "give-a-shit" player, which will undoubtedly be appealing to a team looking to instill the kind of culture the Chargers are under Harbaugh. Another option at 3-technique, like Woods and Halton, Durant is a flashy player whose impact wasn't felt as often as a senior. That will drive him into the Day 3 conversation, where the Chargers could find a rotational piece worthy of some maneuvering around the board (LA currently does not own a fifth-round pick).

Round 6: Landon Robinson, Navy

If Durant is undersized, the 5'11" Robinson is a true outlier. But the senior was the 2025 American Conference Defensive Player of the Year for a reason - he's a high-energy and insanely quick player off the ball who had 6.5 sacks in 2025. An East-West Shrine Bowl attendee - where the Chargers have found gems like Tarheeb Still under Hortiz and Harbaugh's watch - Robinson has natural leverage and plays with the quickness of a former linebacker. His profile is that of a late-round pick who makes it very difficult for his team to get rid of him.

Round 7: Jordan van den Berg, Georgia Tech

A super-athlete from South Africa, van den Berg rewrote the athletic testing record book at defensive tackle during Georgia Tech's pro day. After three seasons as a reserve at Penn State, he transferred to Georgia Tech and blossomed into an all-conference selection, with his 2025 tape showing an NFL-caliber player. He'll be a 24-year-old rookie who took until his fifth season in college to make a discernible impact, however, which is not usually the profile of a player who goes much earlier than the seventh round.

This article originally appeared on Chargers Wire: 2026 NFL Draft: 1 defensive tackle in every round for the Chargers