The Chargers entered the 2025 NFL Draft with 10 total draft picks. By the end of the three-day event, they had used nine of them and two were invested in the same position group.
With the way the Chargers approached free agency, they set themselves up to let the board come to them during the draft. In all seven rounds, the Bolts took who they felt was the best available and it helped them land a number of talented pieces for their team.
Lets go ahead and grade these guys, huh?
Omarion Hampton, RB, North Carolina – A
About a week before the draft, I did a radio show in Pennsylvania where I picked the first-rounder for the Chargers. Based on how the board fell, I ended up selecting Hampton at No. 22. When the radio station later posted a poll on X asking if listeners liked the pick, 67 percent said “no.”
Well whose laughing now? The Chargers ended up believing Hampton was the best player available and they didn’t hesitate, even going as far as turning down multiple trade offers while on the clock.
The Chargers got their running back of the future by adding a complete package-type player. Consistency, durability, production, and pass pro. Hampton does it all.
Tre Harris, WR, Ole Miss – A-
Los Angeles needed a consistent outside presence for Justin Herbert to pair with Ladd McConkey and they got just that in Harris. He’s been one of the highest-graded players of the past two seasons amongst wideouts per Pro Football Focus and his ability to win against man coverage was key in him getting drafted to LA.
Harris will play his fair share as a rookie while learning from veteran Mike Williams who has done nothing but catch big passes for the Chargers.
Jamaree Caldwell, DT, Oregon – B+
I did not personally expect Caldwell to go in the third, but what’s one round of a difference here or there? Caldwell earned a lot of money at this year’s Senior Bowl and likely won over a lot of scouts with his effort in Oregon’s blowout loss to the eventual national champs.
Despite his size, Caldwell has some quick twitch to him and a non-stop motor to chase rushers around the line of scrimmage. His size and stoutness in the middle will be immense for the Chargers who will be looking to mitigate the loss of Poona Ford who is now with the Rams.
Kyle Kennard, EDGE, South Carolina – B
It’s weird to think the Chargers drafted the reigning Nagurski Award winner (nation’s top defender) in the fourth round, but that’s how these things go sometimes. Kennard was productive in the SEC, but scouts do not love his lack of bend which is a very important trait that translates to success in the pros.
Kennard won with sheer effort or anything else and the Chargers are hoping he can polish up the nuances of the position while playing in a rotational role behind Khalil Mack as a rookie.
KeAndre Lambert-Smith, WR, Auburn – B-
This was the one pick that surprised me the most. I did not expect the Chargers to take a second wide receiver so soon after selecting Harris but that just goes to show how much they’re committed to giving Herbert the tools he needs to succeed.
After digging into Lambert-Smith, I found out he was a baller during the East-West Shrine Game. In fact, Eric Galko — who runs the all star game — basically said he was unguardable during practices.
I’ll take that level of compliment.
If Lambert-Smith can take his 4.37 40 time and use it to take the top off defenses, then by all means let’s get him into some powder blue and let him do it. He led the Auburn Tigers in receiving this past season and honestly, if you can lead an SEC team in anything, you’re probably a pretty good player.
I have questions, but I’m willing to trust in the process here.
Oronde Gadsden II, TE, Syracuse – A
This may be my favorite pick by the Chargers outside of Hampton.
Gadsden was the last tight end in that Tier 1.5-2 range before things really dropped off a cliff. The Chargers knew that and showed it by trading back into the fifth round to grab him once the run in mid-round tight ends began.
In his last two healthy seasons, Gadsden put up over 900 receiving yards (2022 and 2024), including a program record 969 in 2022. He’s an athletic tight end with a big catch radius and the ball skills to help keep Herbert’s stat line clean. Gadsden has the type of skillset that perfectly complements starter Will Dissly.
Branson Taylor, OG, Pittsburgh – C+
I thought if the Chargers needed a guard they should have just drafted one who played it in college. However, they landed Taylor who many scouts — and the team — have listed as a guard at the next level despite not playing the position in a game during his Pitt career.
Taylor has great size and reportedly would have gone higher in the draft if not for an injury that took a chunk of his season and pre-draft process.
R.J. Mickens, S, Clemson – B+
This was the Chargers being able to combine “talent” and “special teams ability” into one late-round pick. Mickens was expected to come off the board as a physical and athletic safety with NFL bloodlines.
He’ll challenge Tony Jefferson for the fourth safety spot on the roster and provide an immediate boost to kick coverages as a rookie.
Trikweze Bridges, CB, Florida – B-
Bridges is a 6’2 corner (with a 6’9 wingspan!) with special teams ability. That’s about all you need to know about him and why the Chargers used their final pick of the draft on him. He’ll battle for a spot in the corner room but will otherwise be a developmental stash on the practice squad in his first professional season.
He was likely a priority free agent to a number of teams and I respect the Chargers for using their final pick to essentially lock in one of their favorite guys at the end.