Mel Kiper Jr. speculates how Chargers could draft with No. 5 pick in Jim Harbaugh's debut

Jim Harbaugh’s tenure with the Los Angeles Chargers will truly begin over the next few weeks with preparation for the 2024 NFL Draft. That decision could set the tone for what his early with the franchise could look like, which is why Mel Kiper Jr. has his eyes on LA at No. 5.

Kiper Jr. assessed what direction that the Chargers could go in during an episode of ‘First Draft’ with Field Yates on Thursday. With a new set of decision makers in the building, their spot with the fifth overall pick is one that is fascinating him ahead of the draft in April.

“What is Jim Harbaugh, Joe Hortiz now coming in. What are they going to do?” Kiper Jr. asked. “Greg Roman – new coordinator. What are they going to do at five to help Justin Herbert?”

Every option that Kiper Jr. considered for the Chargers was an offensive one. That included his first suggestion in Joe Alt, the offensive lineman out of Notre Dame. With him to build the line in front of Herbert, they could solidify that unit with a building block while also doing their best at keeping Herbert healthy.

“You mentioned Joe Alt – heck of a player. Fighting Irish. Love the kid, loved his dad, love everything about him,” said Kiper Jr. “Move him to right tackle like Lane Johnson? You’ve got the offensive line solidified for a long time. You keep Justin Herbert upright, you keep him healthy and let him do the things that he needs to go.”

The next three options were all pass catchers that should hear their names early in the draft. On one hand, they could go with a focus for Harbaugh with a productive tight end like Georgia’s Brock Bowers. On the other hand, they could look to add future depth to their receiving corps with names like Washington’s Rome Odunze or LSU’s Malik Nabers.

“Do you say, ‘Okay, we’re okay (on the offensive line)’. We can find somebody but we’ve got to take a Brock Bowers,” Kiper Jr. considered. “We’re tight-end centric. We’re Jim Harbaugh’s team, right? Jim Harbaugh loves tight ends. John Harbaugh loved tight ends.”

“Do you take the receiver, like a Malik Nabers or Rome Odunze?” asked Kiper Jr..

However, after going down the list, Kiper Jr. even suggested a potential trade of the selection. With a couple of those prospects, if not all of them, set to be there around No. 5, he wondered if moving down, acquiring some capital, and still selecting one of them wouldn’t be the way for LA to go.

“It also brings to the light the possibility of trading down,” Kiper Jr. said. “If you’re sitting at five and all those players are there? All four of them are there, which we expect them to be? Then could you move down a couple of spots. You say we’ll take any one of the four but we’ll pick up some extra draft choices?”

“They could go that route as well if they feel like these four guys are all even,” explained Kiper Jr.. “We love ’em all, we’ll take whichever one. We’ll move down several spots so you know that you’re going to get one of those four guys and be happy with it.”

The draft is all about decisions that could make or break the next few years of your team, especially if you have a top selection. That’s why Harbaugh and the Chargers will need to be ready for each and every option even though, according to Kiper Jr., that’s not the worst spot to find themselves at.

“It’s a great position to be in,” Kiper Jr. said.