Pressure or protection? Chargers face high-stakes decision with No. 22 draft pick

"The edge room, you're always looking to add in. I think the draft is really deep with edges, and there's some guys out there on the street that might be available after the draft," Hortiz said last week.

With standout pass rusher Tuli Tuipulotu entering the final year of his rookie contract and veteran Khalil Mack taking it year-by-year on his future, Hortiz probably can't afford to pass up on an edge rusher in the first round — unless there's an offensive lineman higher on his draft board.

Chargers general manager Joe Hortiz talks on the sideline before a game against the Jacksonville Jaguars in November. (Gary McCullough / Associated Press)

The Chargers' offensive line woes in 2025 were the weekly nightmare that culminated in Justin Herbert being sacked six times by the New England Patriots in another one-and-done postseason appearance. Injuries to offensive tackles Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt sent the line into a tailspin.

The signing of free-agent center Tyler Biadasz should help, as will the expected returns of Slater and Alt. But in the wake of left guard Zion Johnson signing with the Cleveland Browns, the Chargers still need to find better protection for Herbert and insulate the unit better from injury.

Guard Olaivavega Ioane (Penn State) and offensive tackles Spencer Fano (Utah) and Francis Mauigoa (Miami) are no doubt on the Chargers' radar, but Horitz likely will have to trade up if he wants one of them. The more realistic options are offensive tackles Blake Miller (Clemson), Monroe Freeling (Georgia), Kadyn Proctor (Alabama) and Caleb Lomu (Utah).

Which players could be next on the Chargers' list? They could try to draft a wide receiver or defensive tackle, but their options might be limited.

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Receivers Makai Lemon (USC), Omar Cooper Jr. (Indiana), Jordyn Tyson (Arizona State), Denzel Boston (Washington) or KC Concepcion (Texas A&M) might persuade Horitz to temporarily forget about other needs if one is available. At defensive tackle, Kayden McDonald (Ohio State) or Peter Woods (Clemson) are pegged by most prognosticators as late first-round/early second-round picks that might be options.

Hortiz has eliminated some position groups from the first-round talent search.

"Probably punter or kicker. Long snapper," he said.

The Chargers have five picks in the draft. In addition to their first-rounder, they pick at No. 55 (second round), No. 86 (third), No. 123 (fourth) and No. 204 (sixth). They traded their fifth-round pick to acquire Oweh in October and gave the Tennessee Titans their seventh rounder in a 2024 trade for safety Elijah Molden.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.