Los Angeles

Chargers

Johnston will make a fully-guaranteed $18 million in 2027. It’s probably a bit rich given his production so far, but not a drastic overpay. GM Joe Hortiz shot down trade rumors about Johnston ahead of the draft and this transaction clearly signals some confidence in him developing further under new OC Mike McDaniel. With very little new in the wideout room, Johnston could be on the WR3/WR4 radar in fantasy in 2026.

Barton (6'5"/233) was named the Pac-12 Defensive Freshman of the Year and made the Freshman All-American squad with Utah in 2022. He received no accolades over the past three seasons. He had a career year in 2024, totaling 72 tackles, five TFLs, two sacks, one forced fumble, four passes defended and two interceptions. He primarily played linebacker in 2025, but chipped in as a tight end as well, logging 120 offensive snaps in his final college season. He caught 6-of-7 passes for 44 yards and one touchdown. Titans LB Cody Barton and former Browns OT Jackson Barton are his older brothers.

World (6’7/318) is a long, physically imposing tackle prospect (34½" arms, 81" wingspan) with 50+ career starts. He transferred from Nevada to Oregon and turned in a solid, but uneven, 2025 campaign. He posted a 65.4 overall PFF grade with a 62.8 pass-blocking mark, allowing just 1 sack and 18 total pressures across 437 pass-blocking snaps, flashing the foot quickness and range to mirror speed rushers on the edge. World’s athletic profile shows up in his ability to spring out of his stance, climb to the second level and win with extension, using his length to keep defenders off his frame when his timing is right. That said, his game remains technically underdeveloped, with narrow pass sets, late hands, and inconsistent anchor strength. That has led to compromised positioning and stalled reps against power. World projects as a high-upside, developmental tackle with starter traits, whose combination of size, experience, and movement skills will require NFL refinement to unlock his ceiling.

After two years of JUCO ball and three years at Houston where he played in a total of 13 games, Tucker made the decision to transfer to Central Michigan, and it worked out well. No player had more tackles for loss (21) or sacks (14.5), and he forced four fumbles for good measure. The 6-foot-1, 247-pound defender clearly was productive, but he didn’t answer concerns about how it’ll play at a higher level at the combine. He ran a 4.73s 40-yard dash, and his 33.5-inch vertical isn’t a number that screams explosive, either. Still, Tucker gets solid reviews for his pass-rush moves and his quickness off the ball, and he’ll get a chance to show the production means more than the testing.

Harkey is a former tight end whose athletic profile and positional versatility give him intriguing upside as a developmental swing lineman. At 6’6”, 308 with 31 3/4” arms and a 31” vertical (87th%), Harkey brings above-average movement skills that show up when he’s asked to climb, pull or operate in space, a carryover from his TE background. He logged time at both right tackle and right guard in 2025, earning a 74.0 PFF pass-block grade while flashing active hands and a willingness to stay engaged and hunt for work in protection. Harkey plays with heavy hands and a physical finishing mentality, using his upper-body strength to latch and control reps once he’s in position. However, his shorter arms and occasional over-aggression can lead to losses at the point of attack, and his penalty issues (9 in 2025) highlight inconsistencies in timing and technique. He took time adjusting to the speed and complexity of Power Five competition after transferring from Texas State, and an ankle injury in 2025 interrupted some of that development curve. With his athletic background, positional flexibility and flashes of power, Harkey projects as a swing lineman whose ceiling hinges on cleaning up penalties and refining his pass-protection mechanics.

Taylor (6’7"/314) is a rugged, multi-position veteran with over 3,100 career snaps and experience logging 100-plus reps at four different offensive line spots, projecting as a high-IQ interior chess piece. Taylor posted a steady 2025 campaign with a 71.4 pass block grade and somewhat elevated 97.4 percent block efficiency rate, allowing five sacks and 22 pressures across 537 pass-blocking snaps, while continuing a multi-year trend of reliable, assignment-sound play. His game is built on coordination and hand carriage, consistently marrying feet, hands and eyes to absorb and redirect force, giving him a strong transition profile into a “phone booth” NFL role. Taylor brings above-average testing (9.20 RAS) with good explosion and functional movement skills, though his play strength doesn’t always translate into consistent displacement at the point of attack. His upright pad level and lack of consistent leverage limit his ability to generate push in the run game despite a respectable 72.3 run block grade in 2025, and he wins more with positioning than raw power. Taylor’s intelligence, toughness, and versatility stand out, but his ceiling is capped by middling anchor consistency and a lack of dominant traits. He projects as a pliable interior swing lineman with emergency tackle flexibility, offering valuable depth in schemes where his processing, technique, and positional versatility can keep him active on game days.

Barrett took a redshirt season in 2024, and the 6-foot-2, 313-pound defender was able to make an impact — albeit for a not-so-good Gamecocks’ defense — with 42 tackles, two sacks and a pass breakup in his final year in Columbia. Barrett also tested relatively well in the NFL Combine, finishing with the 12th best athletic score thanks in large part to a 31.5-inch vertical and solid — if unspectacular — results in the shuttle drills. There’s some concern his hand quickness won’t play at the highest level, but he drives through blocks and is athletic enough to get off blocks. Barrett someday could develop into a starter, but he likely begins career as a rotational piece in LA.

Smith (6'2/202) entered a true starting role for the Wildcats in 2024, notching six PBUs and three interceptions before earning Third-Team All-Big 12 honors in 2025. Arguably one of the top ballhawking safeties in his class, Smith could find a reserve role on an NFL roster from the jump in addition to the potential to contribute to special teams. His vision and anticipation helped overcome glaring discrepancies at the collegiate level, something that was reinforced by his decision to skip the 40-yard dash at the Combine this year. Average top-end speed and poor open-field abilities keep Smith from being a true late-round gem, particularly in today’s league in which safeties are relied on so heavily in gap coverage against the run. Even so, Smith should stick on an NFL roster come September.

Burke (6’9/325) spent four years at Gardner-Webb and FIU before landing at Memphis for a career year. He had primarily been a left tackle before 2025, but the Tigers flipped him to the right side, a move that may have earned Burke a shot at playing in the pros. He allowed just 13 pressures on 429 pass-pro snaps. It was the fewest pressures he had allowed in a single season despite logging the second-most pass-blocking snaps of his career. Burke plays with power in the run game and isn’t easily moved off his spot as a pass-protector. However, defenders can find success by getting under his lengthy frame. A lack of lateral speed could also be an issue at the next level. Burke is facing a big step up in competition, going from the AAC to the NFL. It will take him some time to acclimate, but Burke’s combination of size and power should earn him a shot at a starting job at some point. The Chargers acquired the No. 117 overall pick from the Texans in exchange for the Nos. 123 and 204 overall picks.

What you see is what you get with Thompson. If you guessed that the 5’9/164 receiver with 4.26 wheels was a one-trick deep threat, you’d be right. Thompson spent three years at Texas and Oklahoma as a backup before finding a starting role at Mississippi State for his senior season. He went for 1,054 yards and six scores on 57 grabs. Thompson also picked up a rushing touchdown on one of his four carries. He finished fifth among Power Four wideouts in receiving yards on targets 20 or more yards downfield (478). That is about the extent of Thompson’s game. He saw just three screens in 2025 and has one career punt return. Both size and versatility limitations have the deck stacked against Thompson in the pros. The lack of designed touches is also a notable concern. Thompson will likely top out as a Travis Benjamin or J.J. Nelson type in the pros.