Chargers Host Surprising TE Prospect on Pre-Draft Visit

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Paul White | Last updated Apr 4, 2025 4:39 PM ET

It’s no secret that the Los Angeles Chargers are in the market for an impactful pass catcher any way they can get their hands on one.

Outside of rookie Ladd McConkey, they got little to no production from their receivers and tight ends last season.

The Chargers signed former New York Jets tight end Tyler Conklin earlier this offseason, but that feels more like a band-aid than a long-term solution to their problems.

In recent months, analysts have been linking Los Angeles to Michigan tight end Colton Loveland because of head coach Jim Harbaugh’s affinity for Wolverines.

However, a recent move from the Chargers indicates that might not be set in stone.

Every year before the NFL Draft, each team is granted up to 30 in-person visits with prospects.

Each team has a different strategy for who they choose for these meetings, but the Chargers have navigated it by casting a wide net all over the country.

Caught up in that net currently, is LSU tight end Mason Taylor who Los Angeles has scheduled for a pre-draft meeting.

This seems like a case of a team just doing their due diligence, because while Taylor is a pretty good player, he’s not better than Loveland.

Over three years at LSU, Taylor posted just over 1, 100 receiving yards total and had just five touchdowns.

Loveland wasn’t much more productive in terms of yards, but that was more of an indictment on Michigan’s painfully bad passing attack than it was on him.

The former National Champion recorded over 1, 300 yards in his three college seasons but he matched Taylor’s career touchdown total in 2024 alone.

Loveland has an incredibly high ceiling and if he was in any other draft class, he’d probably be the first tight end off the board.

Taylor wouldn’t be a bad selection, but the Chargers are aiming for greatness and this pick wouldn’t do much to move the needle.

They would be much better off retooling their secondary or replacing their former face of the franchise, Joey Bosa, in the first round.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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