The Los Angeles Chargers, coming off an 11-win season under first-year head coach Jim Harbaugh, came into the 2025 NFL Draft needing to add depth to the roster. General Manager Joe Hortiz, also in his first season with the Chargers in 2024, has completed some key free agent acquisitions to strengthen the starting offensive and defensive units.
The Chargers needed to add some juice to the offense, some explosiveness to an offense that lacked playmakers. Hortiz used the nine draft picks in his arsenal to add four players each from the Southeastern Conference (SEC) and Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). Below is a review of the Chargers’ draft picks:
Round 1 (No. 22 overall) – Omarion Hampton, Running Back, North Carolina
The Chargers signed running back Najee Harris in free agency, but Harbaugh wanted more playmakers in the running game. Harris is 6-foot-1, 242 pounds and has rushed for over 1,000 yards in each of his four NFL seasons. Hampton is one of the most physically gifted running backs in the draft. Hampton is 6 feet tall and weighs 221 pounds. At the NFL combine, he ran a 4.46 forty and had a vertical jump of 38 inches. Hampton was a two-time All-ACC first-team pick and a two-time first-team All-American pick.
Ourlads Scouting Services describes Hampton as “an every down, every situation contributor who will add multiple dimensions to an offense. Breaks tackles with brute physical force and elite contact balance.” The Chargers want to be a physical, run-oriented football team under Harbaugh and the combination of Harris & Hampton should help achieve that goal.
Round 2 (No. 55 overall) – Tre Harris, Wide Receiver, Ole Miss
Harris was a first-team All-SEC selection in 2024 and a second team AP All-American in 2024. Harris had 60 receptions for 1,030 receiving yards and seven touchdowns, despite only playing in eight games due to injury. The 6-foot-2, 205-pound wide receiver had a highly productive college career, catching 220 passes for 29 touchdown receptions in his career.
Harris is described by Ourlads as having “limited vertical speed” but “plays fast in tight areas and is competitive and strong at the catch point.” Harris averaged 16.1 yards per catch in college football despite limited vertical speed.
Round 3 (No. 86 overall) – Jamaree Caldwell, Defensive Tackle, Oregon
The Chargers got their run-stuffing nose tackle with the selection of Caldwell, who at 6-foot-2, 332 pounds is athletic enough to play either tackle position in an even front. Caldwell will hopefully be the replacement for Poona Ford, who signed as a free agent with the Los Angeles Rams. Caldwell spent two seasons at the University of Houston before transferring to Oregon for his final collegiate season.
Round 4 (No.125 overall) – Kyle Kennard, Edge Rusher, South Carolina
Kennard won the Bronco Nagurski award for the best defensive player in college football. He was the SEC Defensive Player of the Year. Kennard is 6-foot-4, 254 pounds and ran a 4.73 forty at the NFL combine. Kennard spent his first four seasons at Georgia Tech before transferring to South Carolina for his final season.
Kennard was very productive at South Carolina, leading the SEC in sacks with 11.5 and was second in tackles for loss with 16. Plays with a high motor but has struggled at times against the run. He will add depth to the defense at the edge.
Round 5 (No.158 overall) – KeAndre Lambert-Smith, Wide Receiver, Auburn
Lambert-Smith will add much-needed speed to the Chargers’ offense, as his 4.37-second 40-yard dash time was among the best at the position in the draft. Lambert-Smith spent his first four seasons with Penn State, before transferring to Auburn for his final season. In his lone season at Auburn, Lambert-Smith had 50 receptions for 981 yards and eight touchdowns, and an average of 19.6 yards per reception.
Lambert-Smith was a second-team All-SEC selection in 2024. He showed off his speed in the 2023 Rose Bowl game with an 88-yard touchdown reception, a Rose Bowl record. Lambert-Smith, playing for Penn State at that point in time, caught three passes for 124 yards in the victory over Utah. He should provide Charger quarterback Justin Herbert with the deep threat he is looking for.
Round 5 (No.165 overall) – Oronde Gadsen II, Tight End, Syracuse
Gadsden was a first-team All-ACC selection the past two seasons and a consensus All-American in 2024. Gadsen is the son of former NFL wide receiver Oronde Gadsen, who played six seasons with the Miami Dolphins. The 6-foot-5, 243-pound tight end ran a 4.65 in the forty at the Syracuse pro day.
Gadsen looked like a wide receiver at the Holiday Bowl against Washington State, catching four passes for 74 yards and two touchdowns. He also blocks like a wide receiver. The hope is that he will develop into a solid blocking tight end. He should help immediately in the passing attack.
Round 6 (No.199 overall) – Branson Taylor, Offensive Tackle, Pittsburgh
At 6-foot-6 and 330 pounds, Taylor is a massive human being. He suffered a season-ending knee injury in Week 7 against Cal, which cut short a promising season. Taylor is considered a good run blocker and looks to be a good fit at offensive guard for the Chargers and their power running scheme. Taylor offers versatility along the offensive line at tackle or guard.
Round 6 (No. 214 overall) – R.J. Mickens, Safety, Clemson
Mickens is 6-foot-0, 200 pounds and performed well at the NFL combine, running a 4.49 forty and adding a 41.5″ vertical jump. Mickens had seven career interceptions at Clemson and is considered a versatile player that can play in multiple defensive packages. He is the son of former NFL cornerback Ray Mickens.
The Chargers got good value for Mickens, who was considered a 4th round prospect by Pro Football Focus (PFF), a 4th to 5th round prospect by Ourlads, and a 5th round prospect by Lance Zierlein of NFL.com.
Round 7 (No. 256 overall) – Trikweze Bridges, Safety, Florida
Bridges has a lot of playing experience over the past four seasons with three seasons at Oregon and one season with the Florida Gators, spending most of that time at outside cornerback. Bridges has 163 tackles and 6 interceptions in his four seasons in college. He’s a good athlete at 6-foot-3, 200 pounds with 4.45 speed in the forty. He is a size-speed project that could land at safety and/or corner for the Chargers.