The Chargers stacked deck in the 2025 NFL draft, upgrading the roster at various positions with their nine selections. For the most part, general manager Joe Hortiz was lauded for his picks but there was still some criticism.
CBS Sports’ Josh Edwards listed each team’s most questionable pick, and for Los Angeles, it was third-rounder Jamaree Caldwell.
Here is what Edwards said about the selection of Caldwell:
Caldwell is a wide body who should immediately contribute to the run defense but middle of the third round felt too early for a player who does not bring a lot of pass rush to the table. If given one guess as to which coach took Caldwell in the third round, it probably would have been Jim Harbaugh though.
The Chargers had a need for a nose tackle after the departure of Poona Ford, who signed with the Rams in free agency. They decided to bolster the offense with their first two picks and fulfilled that need with Caldwell, who was a bit lower on the consensus big board (No. 114) than where he was taken (No. 85).
While a few other players played the position when Los Angeles was picking, Caldwell was one of defensive line coach Mike Elston’s “favorite guys” in the draft. Elston was imperative in Ford’s bounce-back season in 2024. It’s clear that he believes he can unlock Caldwell’s potential.
Furthermore, I disagree with Edwards’ statement that Caldwell does not bring much as a pass rusher. He is only two seasons removed from a 6.5-sack season with Houston. After transferring to Oregon, he put on weight (332 pounds) to act as a true gap-clogging nose tackle, but he is still nimble for his size to get in the backfield to defend the run and get after the quarterback.