Chargers miss key offensive lineman prospect Emmanuel Pregnon at the Senior Bowl, creating an unexpected chance to scout other talented guards.
The biggest need for the Los Angeles Chargers this offseason is the offensive line, particularly on the interior. One of the premier options for them is Oregon guard Emmanuel Pregnon in the 2026 NFL Draft. It would take a heavy investment, likely a first round pick, but would help sure up a weak positional group.
The Chargers got positive news when Pregnon accepted an invite to the Senior Bowl in Mobile, AL. This would give them an opportunity to conduct interviews, watch him up close, and witness him interact with other prospects. However, when the latest roster came out, Pregnon was nowhere to be found. This means that he won’t be in Mobile and the Chargers will have to wait until the 2026 NFL Combine to get this close exposure with him.
Pregnon could’ve changed his mind about going to the Senior Bowl for a number of different reasons. It could be as simple as his travel plans changed because of the awful weather hitting the United States. Some other possibilities are that he needed extra time to recover after Oregon’s season, is dealing with a small injury, or isn’t in proper shape for the event. Until further information is revealed, fans are likely to speculate a wide variety of reasons. Regardless, Pregon not being in Mobile is a huge loss for the Chargers and could force them to explore other options.
It’s important to note that the Chargers will have plenty of other times to meet with Pregnon later in the cycle. First off, he will undoubtedly be at the NFL Combine, they also can meet with him at Oregon’s pro-day and host him for a top-30 visit. Him not going to the Senior Bowl won’t take him off their draft board, but it will cause them to look at some other players.
The Chargers not spending time with Pregnon will allow them the opportunity to visit other guard prospects in-depth. For example, Iowa’s Gennings Dunker, Georgia Tech’s Keylan Rutledge, or Boise State’s Kage Casey are all potential targets they may spend a lot of time scouting. Obviously they will get a look at every possible option, but having as much one-on-one time with prospects is a major advantage for teams to have.
Emmanuel Pregnon choosing to skip the Senior Bowl is tough for the Chargers. That would’ve given them a pristine opportunity to get some in-person scouting done for him. However, it will open up a chance to get that personal time with some other prospects who could be high impact players in later rounds.