Kiper 2024 NFL Mock Draft: Malik Nabers to Chargers after Keenan Allen Trade to Bears

In his latest mock draft released Tuesday, ESPN NFL draft expert Mel Kiper Jr. projected that the Los Angeles Chargers will use the No. 5 overall pick on LSU wide receiver Malik Nabers.

Kiper's prediction came on the heels of the Chargers recently parting ways with their top two wideouts, as they released Mike Williams and traded Keenan Allen to the Chicago Bears for a 2024 fourth-round pick in cost-cutting moves.

In Kiper's mock, Nabers was the second wide receiver off the board behind Ohio State's Marvin Harrison Jr., who he has going to the Arizona Cardinals at fourth overall. Harrison and Nabers were part of a run on receivers, as Kiper also mocked Washington wideout Rome Odunze to the New York Giants at No. 6.

Overall, Kiper envisions seven wide receivers going in the first round with LSU's Brian Thomas Jr. to the Pittsburgh Steelers at No. 20, Texas' Xavier Worthy to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at No. 26, South Carolina's Xavier Legette to the Detroit Lions at No. 29 and Texas' Adonai Mitchell to the Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs at No. 32.

It can be argued that Nabers is the most explosive wide receiver in the draft, as he is coming off a 2023 season that saw him record 89 receptions for 1,569 yards and 14 touchdowns.

The 6-foot, 200-pound Nabers was a unanimous All-American last season, and he played a significant role in LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels winning the Heisman Trophy.

The BR NFL Scouting Department ranks Nabers as the No. 7 overall player and No. 2 wide receiver in the draft, and in its most recent mock draft, it had Nabers going seventh overall to the Tennessee Titans.

After parting ways with Williams and Allen, the Chargers' wide receiver depth chart is current comprised of only 2023 first-round pick Quentin Johnston, Joshua Palmer, 2023 fourth-round pick Derius Davis and Simi Fehoko.

Although the Chargers likely still have high hopes for Johnston, his rookie season left plenty to be desired, as he finished with 38 receptions for 431 yards and two touchdowns.

Palmer also had 38 grabs, and he was second on the team with 581 receiving yards, while also catching two scores. Palmer is the most-accomplished receiver on the roster, as he had a career-high 72 catches for 769 yards in 2022.

As a rookie, Davis had just 15 receptions for 66 yards last season, and Fehoko had one catch for nine yards and a touchdown.

In Allen, the Chargers lost a six-time Pro Bowler who led the team last season with 108 receptions for 1,243 yards and seven touchdowns despite missing four games. Williams only played in three games, but he topped 1,000 yards in both the 2019 and 2021 seasons.

The Chargers have one of the most talented quarterbacks in the league in Justin Herbert, so it would make sense for the front office to give him every opportunity to succeed.

Nabers would give the Bolts a high-potential receiving corps and new head coach Jim Harbaugh plenty of offensive pieces to work with.