2026 Chargers draft class superlatives: Best scheme fit, value pick

{"@context":"http://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","mainEntityOfPage":"https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/2026-chargers-draft-class-superlatives-083442083.html","headline":"2026 Chargers draft class superlatives: Best scheme fit, value pick","datePublished":"2026-04-28T08:34:42.000Z","dateModified":"2026-04-28T08:34:42.000Z","keywords":["The Chargers","Chargers","Los Angeles Chargers","Travis Burke","Akheem Mesidor","draft grades","Joe Alt","Odafe Oweh","Tuli Tuipulotu","Tony Jefferson","Elijah Molden","Rashawn Slater","Khalil Mack","Arizona"],"description":"Rather than grading each pick, here are some standouts from the Chargers' rookie draft class in a couple of different categories.","publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Yahoo Sports","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://s.yimg.com/cv/apiv2/default/icons/favicon_y112_112.png","width":112,"height":112},"url":"https://sports.yahoo.com/"},"author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Gavino Borquez, Chargers Wire","url":"","jobTitle":""},"creator":{"@type":"Person","name":"Gavino Borquez, Chargers Wire","url":"","jobTitle":""},"provider":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Chargers Wire","url":"https://chargerswire.usatoday.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","width":474,"height":100,"url":"https://s.yimg.com/os/creatr-uploaded-images/2020-12/893ecd60-34ed-11eb-befe-58ef97b7d3d5"}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/eghDKs6INRgfK9sUOMQyLQ--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTI0MDA7aD0xMzUwO2NmPXdlYnA-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/los_angeles_chargers_wire_usa_today_sports_articles_602/4b063cb521f0aa089998edf14ac33e6b","height":675,"width":1200},"thumbnailUrl":"https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/eghDKs6INRgfK9sUOMQyLQ--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTI0MDA7aD0xMzUwO2NmPXdlYnA-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/los_angeles_chargers_wire_usa_today_sports_articles_602/4b063cb521f0aa089998edf14ac33e6b"}Story by2026 Chargers draft class superlatives: Best scheme fit, value pickGavino Borquez, Chargers WireTue, April 28, 2026 at 8:34 AM UTC·2 min readThe Chargers took eight players in the 2026 NFL Draft.There are many who believe draft grades are foolish because if the player who received a “D” turns out to be an All-Pro, it doesn’t necessarily correlate with the letter grade given.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement#_R_63iudcaanpfiv65bH1_ { display: none; } @media screen and (max-width: 767.95px) { #_R_63iudcaanpfiv65bH1_ { display: flex; } iframe { max-width: 100vw; } }So rather than going through all of that, why not hand out some awards in a different fashion?Best value pick: OT Travis BurkeThe Chargers landed a high-upside, long-armed tackle out of Memphis in the fourth round via trade-up. Burke brings elite size and length at 6-foot-9 and 315 pounds. He’s a solid athlete with the skillset to develop into a reliable swing tackle, giving L.A. valuable insurance and competition behind Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater.The eyebrow-raiser: EDGE Akheem MesidorAt 25 years old, Mesidor was one of the oldest first-round picks in recent memory, but turn on his tape and the explosiveness jumps off the screen. He possesses a pro-ready first step, a diverse pass-rush arsenal, and the quickness to stress offensive linemen. The Chargers needed another refined element on the edge after losing Odafe Oweh in free agency, and Mesidor slides in as a natural third rusher and sub-package specialist alongside Tuli Tuipulotu and Khalil…

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