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Chargers’ Day 3 NFL draft sleepers include defensive tackle, edge, receiver
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- Chargers’ Day 3 NFL draft sleepers include defensive tackle, edge, receiver
The Chargers have just five picks in the NFL draft , four of which land within the first 123 picks, including the 22nd pick overall in the first round.
As of Sunday, they do not have picks in the fifth or seventh rounds, with their last pick landing in the sixth round at No. 204.
UConn wide receiver Skyler Bell would be a great Day 3 sleeper pick for the Chargers. Getty Images
So when it comes to Day 3 sleepers, they'll get two bites at that apple Saturday.
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Given the club's most immediate needs — interior offensive line, wide receiver, defensive tackle and edge rusher — here are some under-the-radar prospects to watch:
Skyler Bell , Wide receiver, UConn
It's interesting about Bell, whom the NFL is taking a second and third look at during the tail end of the evaluation process.
The more teams get a closer peek, the bigger the push he's getting up the draft board. Where once he was a lock to be available in the fourth round, he is now a candidate for selection on Day 2.
The Chargers would be wise to consider that possibility after Bell broke out last year with 101 catches, 1,278 yards and 13 touchdowns, then made a favorable impression during draft season.
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He isn't the biggest or fastest, checking in at a shade over 5-foot-11 and running a 4.4 40, but he's a tough, skilled receiver who can line up all over the field and showed growth last season in hanging onto the ball. Bell would be a great fit in Mike McDaniel's offense.
At 6-4, 310 pounds, Schrauth played top-notch football for the Irish on plenty of big stages Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Billy Schrauth
, Offensive line, Notre Dame
At 6-4, 310 pounds, Schrauth played top-notch football for the Irish on plenty of big stages. Before suffering a season-ending knee injury, he was on his way to an All-America-caliber season. In fact, he still earned second-team All-America honors despite the truncated season.
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Schrauth needs to add strength to improve his run blocking, but he was excellent in pass protection and has the necessary skill set to develop into a solid all-around guard.
He represents great value as a developmental player on Day 3.
At 6-5, 257 pounds, Fano has the necessary size and strength to be an NFL edge player. AP
Logan Fano , Edge, Utah
At 6-5, 257 pounds, Fano has the necessary size and strength to be an NFL edge player. If not a full-time starter certainly as a rotational piece.
He's a nonstop defender who projects as a solid run stopper. The pass rush needs some work, but he has the necessary traits to develop that part of his game.
Fano overcame two knee injuries earlier in his career, but he played relatively injury-free the last two seasons while logging 1,168 snaps, so he looks to be free and clear of those setbacks.
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Despite the development still needed as a pass rusher, Fano totaled 34 quarterback pressures, including five sacks, 21 hurries and eight quarterback hits, according to Pro Football Focus. As a run defender, he had 34 tackles.
Cameron Ball , Defensive tackle, Arkansas
You can never have too many interior defensive linemen on your roster, especially with teams deploying rotational groups to keep players fresh throughout games and seasons.
Ball might never be a down-in-down-out starter, although there is no reason to put a ceiling on him yet, either. Even if he ends up being a solid rotational player, that would be a significant get on Day 3.
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At 6-4 and 310 pounds, his win-trait is built more on quickness and angles rather than brute strength. But he gets the job done, and that is the bottom line.
According to PFF, Ball registered 21 total pressures, including 18 hurries and three quarterback hits. He also came up with 23 tackles in run defense.
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