Laremy Tunsil is already familiar with San Diego, electing to train at the same EXOS training facility in Carlsbad that Melvin Gordon worked out at last year.
Just like the running back, Tunsil wouldn't mind calling America's Finest City his home on a more permanent basis.
"Actually, I would love to go to the Chargers," he said at the NFL Scouting Combine. "I would love to play for any team. I haven't talked to (the Chargers) but hopefully I will."
Measuring in at 6-5,310-pounds with 34 ¼-inch arms and 10-inch hands, Tunsil is a physical presence who is also light on his feet. The massive lineman isn't shy, declaring himself the best offensive tackle in the draft.
"You always want to be labeled the best. You want to have that confidence in yourself of being the best tackle in the draft…I think I have the great feet, the great frame. I just think I'm the best. You've got to have that swagger about yourself. You've got to be confident. Everywhere you go you've got to have that confidence."
As a result, many believe the Ole Miss product is destined to be the first overall selection in April's draft, which he affirmed would be meaningful even if he relishes the thought of joining the Chargers.
"Everybody wants to be the number one pick," he said. "Being the number one pick would be great. I'd love to play for any team. That's been my goal since I was a little kid, (so) just to accomplish one of those goals would be great."
Should he still be on the board when the Bolts are on the clock, the Chargers would have to make a tough decision between Tunsil and other highly touted prospects.
"(The Chargers are) really in an advantageous situation because you can take the best available player," said NFL Network's Bucky Brooks. "Obviously with Philip Rivers as the quarterback, you want to make sure that he's protected. I can look at offensive tackle, depending on who is on the board. If Laremy Tunsil is there, I absolutely love it."
Daniel Jeremiah, who is Brooks' fellow draft guru at NFL Network, agrees.
"I think you've got a lot of good options. You can make a strong case when you look at offensive tackle. If Laremy Tunsil would be there, he's my top player in the draft. So if I had to pick one, that's the way I would go. You get a chance to protect Philip Rivers with a premier tackle. He checked in at 6-5, 310 pounds. So maybe the only question was how tall he was going to be, and how long he was going to be, and he checks all those boxes."
"There are playmakers to be had up top (of this draft)," added Fox Sports insider Mike Garafolo. "It's amazing to me that with all these guys, we're talking about an offensive tackle going first in the draft. A lot of times you see that in a weak draft, but everything I hear about Tunsil is he's a terrific player."
