“… They have to make it attractive for us to move away from those players. The whole, ‘It’s a fair trade, it’s a wash,’ I don’t think that’s a trade that we’re interested in.”

Daniel Jeremiah, an NFL draft analyst who also works with Matt “Money” Smith on Chargers’ radio broadcasts, said in a pre-draft Zoom call Wednesday that he’s expecting them to make a trade.

“I think in an ideal world they’d like to get out of (No. 5), trade back and get extra picks, build out as many players that kind of fit (Harbaugh’s) vision for the team,” he said. “To me, I think this makes sense to be kind of a volume draft for them, come away with some extra picks, continue to add guys that fit their new physical philosophy of how they want to play the game.

“… They’ve got a lot of things they need to get accomplished here,” he added, specifying not only a need to augment the wide receiver and offensive line rooms, but also talent at defensive tackle, cornerback and linebacker. “For (Harbaugh) to put his stamp on it, to me, I think it would be more about just the volume of the players they bring in that kind of fit what he wants to do. That’s going to go long after the first round’s over. I think they’ll do that throughout the draft.”

The wide receiver need is obvious, after salary cap issues prompted the Chargers to release Mike Williams (who signed with the Jets) and trade Keenan Allen to the Bears, where he likely will soon become Caleb Williams’ favorite target. The offensive line need is equally obvious, given Harbaugh’s preference for a physical brand of ball and the need to (a) protect Herbert and (b) create a credible threat of play-action passes. The offensive lineman most associated with the Chargers in those mock drafts (usually post-trade) is Oregon State’s Taliese Fuaga, though Notre Dame’s Joe Alt and Alabama’s JC Latham have also been mentioned.

But consider: There are at least 16 wide receivers and 21 offensive linemen projected as possible picks in the first three rounds, if the mock drafts are to be believed. And as Hortiz noted, given the way the game has been transformed over the years, there will almost always be a glut of wideouts year after year.

Hortiz, who will oversee his first draft as a general manager after 25 years with the Baltimore Ravens in scouting and player personnel roles under GMs Ozzie Newsome and Eric DeCosta, portrayed himself as a “best player available” guy, regardless of position.

“Certainly, there are some positions that we don’t need – you know, quote-unquote need, in quotations,” he said, a sly reference to Herbert. “But you’re one play away from needing a position. If you look at it based on need, you’re never just one player away, ever. … When you get a chance to add a great player, you add them. That’s how we’re going to approach it.”

Maybe that should read great players, plural. When you have leverage, you need to take advantage of it.

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