The Los Angeles Chargers have the honor of having the "Tom Brady pick" (Pick No. 199) in this year's NFL draft and they used it to select Pittsburgh offensive tackle Branson Taylor.
You had to know that Jim Harbaugh was going to add to the offensive line in this process and he waited until the sixth round to do it, but he took a player with a chance to develop into a future swing tackle for the team.
The Chargers have Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt on the team, meaning that barring injury, they will be the starters for the foreseeable future. Trey Pipkins III is still on the roster but Taylor will have a chance to come in and compete for a significant role on this team as early as this season.
In college, he made starts at both tackle spots. An injury shut him down early in 2024, but he has all the makings of a rotational offensive tackle who can make a spot start for a team here and there. He could also be considered for a move to the inside as a guard at the next level.
Here is what Chad Reuter of NFL.com had to saw when assessing Taylor's game:
"Physical two-year starter with the girth and power for consideration as both a tackle and guard.
Taylor generates an impressive jolt as a run blocker, frequently winning the battle for space and pushing people against their will. He has average foot quickness and struggles to redirect defenders who get on his edges. He has shorter arms, with pass sets that are vulnerable to speed outside and counters inside. A move to guard could clear up those issues and give him a chance to fight for playing time in a power-based running scheme."
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Late-round picks are always a bit of a crap shoot, but the Chargers may have found a player that can make an impact as a rookie in Taylor.
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