2025 NFL Draft Grades: Los Angeles Chargers

Best Pick: They landed my Better-Than captain Jamaree Caldwell in the third round, which is a steal. They finally have a player who can dominate inside against the run and push the pocket. Watch how good he becomes.

Worst Pick: Second-round receiver Tre Harris is a solid player, but I think there were better options on the board when they took him. He isn't a speed guy.

The Skinny: They landed good football players up and down the draft board, guys I really liked. Taking running back Omarion Hampton in the first will give the offense some juice in the running game. Caldwell will be a steal. I like tight end Orande Gadsden Jr. in the fifth. It was nice haul.

Top needs entering the draft: Wide receiver, tight end, guard and defensive tackle

It's Jim Harbaugh's second draft with the Chargers, and he further built this roster in his vision. Los Angeles had to make some tough salary cap decisions last season in cutting Mike Williams (before bringing him back after a year) and trading Keenan Allen in his first offseason with the team, and it continued this spring with Joey Bosa's release. But there is a new nucleus appearing, and I think some of these 2025 draft picks could be big parts of that.

The key picks here are their first few. Omarion Hampton is a three-down back with the ability to hit a home run any time he takes a handoff. He was the only player in the FBS to run for 1,500-plus yards and 15-plus touchdowns in 2023 and 2024. The Chargers also signed Najee Harris, so expect an effective rushing attack to support Justin Herbert. (They used play-action 33.6% of the time last season, second most in the league.)

Tre Harris was the other early pick. The Chargers desperately needed a wide receiver. Ladd McConkey had a great rookie season, but he was also a second-round pick responsible for 29.5% of the team's receiving yards (1,149). Harris has dealt with some injuries, but he has the talent to take weight off McConkey. Harris went over 1,000 yards despite playing only eight games in 2024.

The Chargers went defense in Round 3. They allowed 4.7 yards per carry last season (27th) and lost Poona Ford in free agency. Defensive tackle Jamaree Caldwell is a solid run blocker, and the 332-pounder should improve that area of Los Angeles' defense (though I might have gone with Yahya Black or CJ West there; both of whom were ranked higher).

I'm surprised the Chargers didn't address the interior offensive line. I projected Grey Zabel to them in Round 1 in my final mock draft, but the only offensive line addition was sixth-round tackle Branson Taylor. I docked the Chargers a bit there, but there were some good Day 3 finds in their class. Kyle Kennard had 11.5 sacks last season and can help alleviate the loss of Joey Bosa. Oronde Gadsden II catches everything thrown his direction, which is why I listed him as my favorite sleeper tight end in the class. And safety Trikweze Bridges was one of my "Orange Crushers" on "First Draft" this year. I'm a big fan of his game.

If the Chargers' draft tells us one thing, it's that they want to run the rock with authority, then throw the ball deep when teams load up to stop it. North Carolina running back Omarion Hampton gives L.A. some much-needed juice in the backfield, bringing elite acceleration as well as his physical finishing style as a runner. He'll give the team an excellent one-two punch alongside Najee Harris, and should help Greg Roman establish the run like he loves to do. I like that the team added some field-stretching receivers, too. Ole Miss receiver Tre Harris is a big play threat with a penchant for the circus catch, while Auburn's KeAndre Lambert-Smith adds legit track speed (he ran a 4.37-second 40 at the combine). Overall, though, while Hampton has a chance to be very productive in this offense, it feels like L.A. got more role players than true difference makers on the second and third days of this draft.

Similar to their aforementioned AFC West rivals, there is something refreshing about the way that Jim Harbaugh has transformed the Chargers from a once-finesse style of offense into one seeking to punish opponents. Omarion Hampton's name might appear as a picture next to the term "workhorse" in online dictionaries next fall. Additionally, speedy big-play pass-catchers Tre Harris, KeAndre Lambert-Smith and Oronde Gadsden II give the Chargers the necessary vertical threats to take advantage of defenses creeping up toward the line of scrimmage.

While the Chargers' splashy skill-position additions will generate much of the buzz, I also like the addition of tough guys Jamaree Caldwell and Kyle Kennard in the middle rounds.

Here's why: Omarion Hampton greatly upgrades the running back room for the Chargers. He has a real three-down skill set, explosive athleticism and receiving ability that adds firepower to a Chargers run game that desperately needed it. I thought the Chargers were going to continue to look to upgrade their run game with early interior linemen selections. Instead, they went with wideout Tre Harris to add more firepower to their offense. Jamaree Caldwell is a huge interior defender who is stout against the run, allowing the Chargers to play their preferred light boxes. He should make for a fun bash brothers pairing with Teair Tart in the middle. Oronde Gadsden II is an athletic player and a fun Day 3 dart throw as a receiving tight end, too.

Most interesting pick: Tre Harris, WR, Ole Miss

Harris is a receiver with good size who can open up the offense with his downfield ability. He's a real outside receiver on a team that needed more outside options. Harris lacks a lot of refinement and is missing a few branches on his route tree, but he is a fluid enough athlete that it makes me optimistic he can add more polish with time. Another positive is that he joins a Chargers offense that loves to run play action with plenty of over-post route combinations, which will allow Harris' game to translate nicely early as he develops.

Nothing wrong with amassing quality depth. But what if it's overly redundant? First-round RB Omarion Hampton might not need long to displace fellow banger Najee Harris, but would a back like Henderson have provided a better change-of-pace option? Second-round WR Tre Harris is a nice player but not the deep threat this passing game seemingly needs. Outside corner and tight end remain open questions.

Los Angeles upgraded its offense in the first two rounds, but in a somewhat dubious fashion. Hampton is a terrific talent and a deserving first-round choice, but the Chargers had a litany of needs and just signed Najee Harris for their backfield. Tre Harris is an excellent value in the late second round and should start instantly alongside Ladd McConkey. Still, there are obvious holes at edge, tight end and corner, none of which were significantly addressed.

The Chargers had Matthew Golden fall in their lap for Justin Herbert and took running back Omarion Hampton after signing Najee Harris in free agency. They drafted Ole Miss wide receiver Tre Harris in the second round, but Elic Ayomanor would have been a better choice and scheme fit. Ordonde Gadsden was one of my favorite picks on Day Three, though.