The Los Angeles Chargers figure to be one of the better teams in the AFC in 2025 after a successful first campaign under Jim Harbaugh that saw the team qualify for the playoffs.
Following a solid draft, the team intends to push the Kansas City Chiefs for the AFC West crown. So much can happen between now and the 2026 NFL Draft, but one way-too-early mock draft compiled by Kyle Crabbs of The 33rd Team has the Chargers finding a replacement for star edge rusher Khalil Mack.
It was a top priority for the Chargers to bring Mack back for the 2025 season and they wasted no time re-signing him once the new league year opened, even releasing Joey Bosa to help free up the space to sign him. But it's only a one-year deal.
Crabbs keeps that in mind as he has the Chargers, drafting from the No. 22 slot, the same spot as this year, select Texas Tech edge rusher David Bailey.
"Khalil Mack is here for a good time but not a long time. Mack will play his age-34 season on a one-year deal with the Chargers, leaving room for a new face long-term.
Bailey will likely find monster production after transferring from Stanford to Texas Tech. He posted more than a 20 percent pressure rate for the Cardinal in 2023 and 2024", wrote Crabbs.
After registering 14 sacks in three seasons at Stanford, Bailey has transferred to Texas Tech for his final college season with the thought of becoming one of the nation's best pass-rushers in mind.
The Chargers drafted SEC Defensive Player of the Year Kyle Kennard in the fourth round of this year's draft but assuming this will be Mack's final season, at least in L.A., the team is going to need more in the way of impact pass-rushers and the hope would be that Bailey would bring that.
Though the 2026 draft is a full calendar year away, predicting an edge rusher as the Chargers' first pick makes sense. They may lean in that direction regardless of how the 2025 season goes.
MORE CHARGERS CONTENT
Los Angeles Chargers consensus 2025 NFL Draft Grades: What do the experts think?
Chargers building Super Bowl contender with strong NFL bloodlines as a focus
Chargers will open 2025 preseason slate in annual Hall of Fame Game
4 Chargers players who will be looking over their shoulder following 2025 NFL Draft results
Chargers well-known undrafted free agent has only one chance of making an NFL roster