Breaking down Chargers' picks in The Athletic's 7-round mock draft

The Athletic's Dane Brugler released his new seven-round mock draft on Wednesday.

Brugler pays close attention to fit (scheme and culture) and draft trends, visits, and workouts more than his own personal opinions.

With that, let's break down what one of the highly touted draft analysts is thinking for Los Angeles in the 2026 NFL Draft.

Round 1 | EDGE Akheem Mesidor, Miami

Khalil Mack was re-signed to a one-year deal. But with Mack at the tail end of his career, the Chargers need to find a long-term answer opposite Tuli Tuipulotu. There are concerns regarding Mesidor's age (25), but it just means he will enter the league with a high-level technical refinement and is pro-ready. In his final season at Miami, Mesidor posted dominant numbers, including 12.5 sacks (tied for 2nd in the FBS) and 17.5 tackles for loss.

Round 2 | OL Emmanuel Pregnon, Oregon

The Chargers have Trevor Penning currently as their starting left guard after he was re-signed. However, they need to add a player capable of seeing the field in their rookie season. Pregnon could be that guy. He is an experienced lineman with nearly 3,000 snaps, with only one sack allowed over his final three seasons. Pregnon shows the awareness, strength and power to deliver a blow to defenders. He also has impressive mobility for his size, which would allow him to excel as a puller in Mike McDaniel's offense.

Round 3 | WR Antonio Williams, Clemson

The Chargers have a good core of wide receivers that they're excited to see in McDaniel's system. But they could benefit from adding one with speed and that is good after the catch. Williams wins with elite route-running precision, tempo shifts, and a pro-level feel for zone coverage. While not necessarily a burner, he is good with the ball in his hands. Williams also offers great special teams experience.

Round 4 | CB Julian Neal, Arkansas

The trio of Donte Jackson, Cam Hart and Tarheeb Still is solid, but this room could use one more corner, especially after the departure of Benjamin St-Juste. Standing at 6-foot-2, Neal is a dominant press-man defender who uses his length and a high motor to disrupt receivers. He also excels in run support. Neal became the first Razorback since 2019 to record 2+ pass breakups in consecutive games.

Round 6 | DL Zane Durant, Penn State

The Chargers re-signed Teair Tart and signed Dalvin Tomlinson. They also have 2025 third-round pick Jamaree Caldwell on the roster. But this positional room needs more pass-rush juice. Durant wins with elite first-step quickness and natural leverage. While his lack of mass and length can lead to him being washed out by double-teams, his rare interior athleticism allows him to beat blockers before they can get to him.

This article originally appeared on Chargers Wire: Breaking down Chargers' picks in The Athletic's 7-round mock draft