The Chargers had one pick each in the second and third rounds of this year’s draft. By the end of day two, Joe Hortiz and Co. had selected Florida center Jake Slaughter with their second-round pick (No.63) while trading completely out of the third round. With a pair of trade backs, the Chargers gained four more picks and now will enter the final four rounds with seven total picks remaining. They are:
With this many picks remaining, the Chargers can utilize all of them to help build depth all across the roster. With two years of success finding immediate contributors on day three, Hortiz has earned the benefit of the doubt in being able to turn these picks into multiple building blocks for the future.
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With all that being said, here are some of the top remaining players the Chargers could target on day three.
CB Keiontae Scott, Miami
Scott is a high-effort slot cornerback who found numerous ways to affect plays by simply not giving up until the whistle blows. He’s effective in both zone and man coverage, on top of being a feisty blitzer who can be disruptive around the line of scrimmage.
The Chargers currently have Tarheeb Still working in the slot when needed, but Scott would allow the former to stay outside more which is where he has played his best in his first two professional seasons.
DT Zxavian Harris, Ole Miss
What’s not to love about a 6’8 interior defensive lineman?
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Harris has immense size and length with adequate play strength to win one-on-one blocks consistently. He lined up all over the defensive front and managed to block six different kicks in his career. He possesses enough lower-body explosion to shock offensive lineman on contact and he’s even shown the ability to bull rush from the edge.
He has two prior arrests stemming from incidents in 2023 and 2024 so that’ll be the biggest red flags for the Bolts to vet before using one of their picks on him.
At 6’3 and 200+ pounds, Wheatley has great size for a back-end safety. He also has a knack for being close to the ball each and every play. Scouts love his “wide” tackle range, but there’s too much inconsistency right now in regards to finishing those stops. Despite some raw areas and inconsistencies, NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein graded Wheatley as a third-round pick with his upside. After earning the starting job in 2024, he recorded four picks and five pass breakups, 4.5 tackles for loss, and 170 total tackles over this final two seaons.
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As a run defender, Wheatley zooms down from the third level and quickly creates a new obstacle for ball carriers. He may not always make that open-field tackle, but he’ll be there at minimum to create some hesitation and allow his teammates to group up and limit further yardage.
Abney is only 5’10 and 187 pounds but he plays with a feisty demeanor that leads you to believe he’s larger than his measurements. He’s smart and knows how to get the most out of his frame. He may need to be play in the slot at the next level, but don’t come him out to be able to move outside in a pinch.
He was named a First-Team All-Big 12 selection in 2025 after posting a team-high 12 pass breakups and two interceptions. In ‘24, he hauled in three more interceptions and once again led his team with nine pass breakups. Amassing 21 pass breakups and five picks over the past two seasons is reason enough to believe in his ability to get a hand on the ball and make a play.
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OT/G Brian Parker II, Duke
If the Chargers want to continue adding offensive linemen who can play multiple positions while being a fit in Mike McDaniel’s offense, Parker is pretty close to being in perfect alignment within that Venn diagram.
Parker played offensive tackle for the Blue Devils but most scouts believe a transition inside would be best for his pro prospects. Specifically, Parker has ideal movement skills to wall off defenders and execute combo blocks to the second level. He struggles with power and pass rushers can muscle their way through his shoulders and create shorter corners. If McDaniel wants to continue leaning into athletic and fluid movers up front over mass and power, Parker fits just that.
Halton is an athletic interior defender who wins with speed and quickness at 6’2 and 293 pounds. He ran a 4.82 in the 40 at this year’s combine and while that doesn’t necessarily mean the most for a defensive tackle, it backs up the film that shows he has the juice to chase down runs outside of the pocket. Unlike most interior lineman, he actually offers upside as a pass rusher with a nice array of moves, including an effective swim and rip.
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He does not have notable agility and lateral movement for the position, but his ability to explode off the line and get skinny through double-teams helps him disrupt backfield action with a swiftness.
