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Ohio State defensive lineman Kayden McDonald
The 2026 NFL Draft is just a day away, with teams making their final preparations ahead of the three-day event. The Los Angeles Chargers have 5 picks in this year’s draft and will make their first selection with the 22nd overall.
Both the offensive and defensive lines are questionable heading into the 2026 season, making those two positions the most likely areas LA will address in the draft first.
One draft analyst believes the Chargers will go with a defensive pick in the first round and bring in one of the best interior defensive lines in the league.
Chargers Predicted to Add National Champion
GettyThe Chargers defensive line is predicted to get some help
The Los Angeles Chargers retained D-line players and brought in some new faces in free agency, but NFL draft analyst Todd McShay believes the Bolts can get some more help.
McShay dropped his final mock before the 2026 NFL draft and predicts the Bolts will select Ohio State defensive tackle Kayden McDonald with the 22nd overall selection.
“The preference is OL Vega Ioane, and certainly an edge like Keldric Faulk or TJ Parker would be in consideration here, but the Chargers signed 32-year-old Dalvin Tomlinson to a one-year deal and he did not play all that well last season,” McShay wrote. “McDonald is the best run-stopping IDL in the class, and he would make an instant impact in the middle of LAC’s defense.”
McDonald, who played his entire collegiate career at Ohio State, was graded the eighth-best interior defensive lineman by Pro Football Focus, with an 87.7 overall grade. The soon-to-be former Buckeye received a 92 run defense grade from the publication, the highest in the country at his respective position.
The D-tackle logged 65 total tackles, 9 for loss, with 3 sacks and a pass deflection, earning him an All-American nod. McDonald recorded 85 total tackles and 11 for a loss throughout his college career.
NFL Lance Zierlein calls McDonald a talented run defender with starting potential, comparing him to DJ Reader.
“A talented run defender, McDonald plays with natural leverage and rattles pads with his initial contact. He’s quick to locate ball-carriers, play off of blocks and rally to the action,” Zierlein wrote. “He offers limited rush value, so his money will be made by giving grief to centers and guards as an even-front nose tackle with starting potential.”
Chargers Bring Back Defensive Interior
GettyThe Los Angeles Chargers will keep key member of the defense
It appears a possible key focus for the Los Angeles Chargers will be the run defense, as the team re-signed defensive tackle Teair Tart to a three-year, $37.5 million deal.
The defender has a 73.3 run defense in the 2025 season, the seventh-highest in the league among 134 qualifiers at his position.
Retaining Tart for another three years and possibly adding Kayden McDonald could be a dominant duo in the 2026 season for first-year defensive coordinator Chris O’Leary.
But with other areas needing priorities, such as the offensive line, adding McDonald doesn’t appear as likely. But if the Bolts feel they have addressed the O-line in free agency, LA could swipe a solid defensive interior in the first round.
Jason Garcia Jason Garcia is a sports contributor for Heavy Sports who joined the team in 2025, covering the New England Patriots, Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Chargers. More about Jason Garcia
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