Watch Chargers Execs Explain How NFL Draft Day Trades Work in Video Ahead of 2026 Draft

The Los Angeles Chargers took time out of their preparation for Thursday's NFL draft to inform fans about the process that goes into making a trade during the draft.

The AFC West team released a video Wednesday featuring director of player personnel strategy Corey Krawiec and assistant general manager Chad Alexander, which provided a behind-the-scenes look at the process as a whole.

Krawiec explained both teams involved in a trade have to call the league separately with matching details, otherwise the deal won't go through. Thanks to that possibility, the team is still evaluating potential draftees even if it thinks there is going to be a trade.

"If we're in trade conversations, you don't really dial it back until your logo is off the screen," Krawiec said. "Until you are officially not on the clock we're still, even as we're talking through trades, it's like 'who would we pick?' You're getting everything ready in case it doesn't go through so you're always ready to pick."

He also highlighted the Chargers' trade calculator tool that allows them to evaluate different offers and directly compare what multiple teams are presenting.

Alexander said Los Angeles will typically field calls when it is on the clock and added, "If you have a player that you're targeting, you have to wonder if you trade back, do you think that player is still going to be there?"

The Chargers are scheduled to pick 22nd overall in Thursday's first round.

B/R's NFL Scouting Department projected them to take Oregon offensive lineman Emmanuel Pregnon in its most recent mock draft, which would help address an area of concern. Injuries along the offensive line proved too much to overcome for even Justin Herbert last season, and the team could use more impact depth up front.

Selecting Pregnon or another offensive lineman would provide an answer to some of those questions.

Of course, the Chargers could also look to trade the pick through the process they explained in the video.