The Los Angeles Chargers played well on defense in 2024 but they are going to have to step up on that side of the ball in the coming season to work their way through a difficult AFC West division. That will have to be done without former first-round pick Joey Bosa, who now plays for the Buffalo Bills.
The Chargers still have Khalil Mack and Tuli Tuipolotu, but the team will need to get regular contributions from the rest of the players on the front seven. Still, Nick Baumgardner of The Athletic has the team taking one of the top defensive players in next year's class in his latest mock draft, and it happens to be the brother of a current player on the roster.
D.J. Uiagalelei spent the summer with the Chargers as one of the team's quarterbacks and earned a spot on the practice squad following roster cuts. A once hyped college athlete, D.J.'s younger brother, Matayo Uiagalelei, a defensive end at Oregon, has been pegged by Baumgardner as the team's first-round pick next year, with the No. 16 overall selection.
"One of the younger players in the class, Uiagalelei has the explosiveness and athletic versatility to wear a few different hats up front. He can be a terror inside against guards and has big-time potential as a three-down player", wrote Baumgardner.
Uiagalelei is an impressive young athlete. Having turned just 20 years old in July, he stands 6-foot-5 and weighs around 270 pounds. After registering two sacks as a freshman with the Ducks, he splashed onto the scene with 10.5 last year. He will be a first-round target for many teams and would be a solid addition to this Chargers defense.
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There is a chance that if he continues his current level of progression, he won't even be on the board in the middle of the first round. Take a look at what David Syvertsen of Ourlads had to say back in June:
"Versatility. To be a high draft pick with this frame and level of athletic ability, a prospect needs to be effective at multiple roles. Just like his power noted above, Uiagalelei has the potential to be THE guy with the highest grade in the class here. Whether an NFL team runs a 4-3 or 3-4 base front, he fits. Whether they want him standing or playing the inside shoulder of a tackle with his hand in the dirt, he fits. Whether they want to bias his usage against the pass or rush, he fits. All of the ducks are lined up for him to be the most versatile defensive front player in the class and if the ascent continues from being “as raw as it gets in 2023” to where he is now, Uiagalelei can be a top five selection."
The 2025 season has yet to kick off but Uiagalelei is a name for Chargers fans to begin keeping tabs on.
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