2018 NFL mock draft: Isaiah Wynn will help the Chargers’ final push with Philip Rivers

We’re now past the halfway point of the 12th Annual SB Nation NFL writers’ mock draft. Even though four quarterbacks have been picked thus far, nine of the 16 picks came on defense.

We’re now up to the Los Angeles Chargers, with the pick coming from Richard Wade of Bolts from the Blue. The Chargers are a team where it’s truly a toss-up of whether they go offense or defense in the first round.

The case for offense is that the career of star quarterback Philip Rivers is winding down. The Chargers have only made the playoffs once since 2010, and have struggled to put talent around Rivers. On defense, the Chargers have some holes to fills. Brandon Mebane may not be around past next season and Corey Liuget’s play could be improved upon. Los Angeles could also look for a middle linebacker or safety early in the draft, and there are some options at this point in the mock draft.

Which side does Wade fall on?

Wade: Isaiah Wynn out of Georgia is an incredibly versatile lineman. He is more than capable of playing center, guard, or offensive tackle. The Chargers under general manager Tom Telesco absolutely love a versatile offensive lineman. Look no further than last year’s Day 2 picks, Forrest Lamp and Dan Feeney, who are able to play guard and tackle, and guard and center respectively. After the signing of Mike Pouncey to play center, the Chargers have an offensive line that is truly ready for primetime with one exception. They have a hole at right tackle. That hole’s name is Joe Barksdale and he needs to be replaced. Wynn could be brought in to compete with Forrest Lamp for the role of starting right tackle with the “loser” taking over at one of the two guard spots (most likely also on the right side). This pick will finish the job the club started last year of building their weakness into a strength.

Analysis: To this point in the mock draft, guard Quenton Nelson is the only offensive lineman to be selected. That’s pretty telling about this draft class. Wynn is an interesting player because the aforementioned versatility. To me, he’s a guard in the NFL, and I said the same thing about Lamp last year. So there is some risk with this choice. A more natural offensive tackle like Mike McGlinchey of Notre Dame is still available.

That does it for our picks for the week in the SB Nation NFL writers’ mock draft. Coming up at 9 a.m. ET on Monday is a stunner of a pick by the Seattle Seahawks, courtesy of Kenneth Arthur of Field Gulls.