The Los Angeles possess 10 picks in the upcoming NFL draft, but all of the focus is what the team will do with their first one, the No. 22 overall choice in the first round. But Joe Hortiz and Jim Harbaugh will be looking to put together a complete class that helps a team that could be in its Super Bowl window.
The Chargers don't have a late-round draft history that is as remarkable as the New England Patriots finding Tom Brady at pick No. 199 or the Denver Broncos finding Terrell Davis in the sixth round, but Shaun Phillips, Marion Butts and Tim Spencer were some examples of great players the team has found in the fourth round or later.
But what about the last 10 years? Looking back at the last decade of draft picks made by the team, these three players stand out as some of the best value picks the team has made. Only picks made in the fourth round or later were considered.
Los Angeles Chargers' top value draft picks since 2015
Jatavis Brown, LB, Akron: 5th round, 2016
Jatavis Brown didn't do anything Earth shattering in his short, four-year career, but he was a solid hand for the Chargers at the linebacker position.
Brown played in 56 career games for the Chargers, making 23 starts. He had 265 tackles with 4.5 sacks and three fumble recoveries. His career ended abruptly. After ending the 2019 season on injured reserve, he signed with the Philadelphia Eagles ahead of the 2020 season. But he announced his retirement before the preseason ended that summer.
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Alohi Gilman, S, Notre Dame: 6th round, 2020
The Chargers were just looking for depth in the secondary when they drafted Alohi Gilman in 2020, but he has worked his way into a starting role with the team.
He was limited to just 11 games last season but he is a player that should figure big into the future of the defense. He will turn 28 years old in September but should have plenty of tread still on the tires as he has only been a starter for the past two seasons.
Gilman has 230 tackles, five interceptions and four fumble recoveries for his career thus far.
Drue Tranquill, LB, Notre Dame: 4th round, 2019
This is one the Chargers would like to have back. The kids these days often refer to players like Drue Tranquill as "dawgs" and that's exactly what he is.
After spending four seasons with the Chargers, Tranquill registered nearly 300 tackles and he was all over the place on defense. Unfortunately for Chargers fans, he has spent the past two seasons playing for the Kansas City Chiefs, helping them win one Super Bowl and play in another one in that time.
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