The Athletic has live coverage of the 2025 NFL Draft. Read more of The Athletic’s coverage from the 2025 NFL Draft: Best Players Available | Draft Grades | Winners & Losers
Jim Harbaugh’s Los Angeles Chargers enjoyed a successful debut season that saw the team’s culture shift and resulted in an 11-6 record and a wild-card playoff berth. The next step is building a team capable of contending for an AFC West crown with the Kansas City Chiefs, who have won the division title every season since 2015 (the Chargers last won the AFC West in 2009).
After a start to the offseason that was short on splashy moves but filled in several of the gaps on the roster, the Chargers opened the 2025 NFL Draft adding offense with the first-round selection of running back Omarion Hampton and the second-round addition of wide receiver Tre Harris. LA bulked up its defense line with tackle Jamaree Caldwell in the third round. On Saturday, the team has seven picks to continue to add to its roster.
Keep coming back here throughout the draft for grades and analysis of each Chargers pick.
Round 1
No. 22: Omarion Hampton, RB, North Carolina
How he fits
The biggest hole in Los Angeles’ offense last year was a big-time running back to be the featured weapon in Harbaugh’s downhill, physical offense. After signing Najee Harris, the Chargers complete an extremely powerful and explosive backfield with a player (Hampton) who was more productive than Ashton Jeanty as a sophomore. Hampton is a true three-down running back who can execute in either a zone or gap scheme, inside or outside, as a receiver and a pass protector. A complete player and a very good fit for the Chargers — who also nailed several picks during the first year of the Harbaugh-Joe Hortiz regime last year. If Los Angeles can create more explosion in the run game it’s going to open up so much for Justin Herbert. This pick makes a ton of sense. — Nick Baumgardner
Dane Brugler’s analysis
With his NFL-ready frame, Hampton quickly reads the blocking scheme and collects his feet to accelerate through congestion or press and cut toward slivers of daylight. Once he gets north-south, he will mash the gas pedal into second-level defenders, but sometimes does so at the expense of his balance — and those heavy hits will take their toll over time. Overall, Hampton has only average creativity and is a tad tight in his hips and ankles, but he is a bruising runner with an effective blend of patience, power and speed. Given his reliability on passing downs, he is a complete player and should start as an NFL rookie.
Daniel Popper’s analysis
Chargers draft Omarion Hampton: How he fits, pick grade and scouting intel
Fantasy impact
Yes! Hampton is off the board … to share a backfield with Harris. The NFL Draft is drunk with ruining our fantasy fun this year. Hampton is a premiere backup for fantasy with real RB1 upside — if he gets the lead due to a Harris injury, or in 2026 when the job is his. Harris takes a bit of a hit from his potential bell cow work, easily clearing 300 touches, as Hampton is too talented not to get a decent share. Sigh for now, but big yay for 2026. — Jake Ciely
Grade: A
Round 2
No. 55: Tre Harris, WR, Ole Miss
How he fits
This was a move the Chargers needed to make but you’re surprised they actually did with Jim Harbaugh as the head coach. Harris (6-foot-2 205 pounds) gives Justin Herbert a quality threat and further improves the overall offense. In two years at Ole Miss (after two at Louisiana Tech), Harris totaled 114 catches for 2,015 yards and 15 scores with the Rebels. He missed five games last year with a groin issue but still led Ole Miss with 60 catches for 1,030 yards and seven touchdowns. The only question is, was he better than Jaylin Noel at this spot? Time will tell. — Scott Dochterman
Dane Brugler’s analysis
You know what you’re getting on his tape: an outside wide receiver who runs a ton of slants and curls, with a post or crosser mixed in (Ole Miss receivers used post-snap reads). But you still have to stop him, and that was a problem for defenses this season. Though he’s not a burner, Harris has the stride speed to be a factor on linear/one-cut routes and displays smooth gear down for clean transitions. The best parts of his game are his hand-eye coordination and finishing toughness to make catches over defensive backs. Overall, Harris doesn’t have the explosive speed or separation skills that teams covet in a No. 1 receiver, but he is a controlled athlete with the play strength and ball skills to be a dependable possession target. He projects as an NFL starter and a team’s No. 2 target — if he can stay healthy.
Daniel Popper’s analysis
Chargers draft Tre Harris: How he fits, pick grade and scouting intel
Fantasy impact
Harris is a big play waiting to happen with the downfield ability of Alec Pierce but the reliability of a Romeo Doubs. Harris can step in immediately as the No. 2 option ahead of Mike Williams and Quentin Johnston. If so, even in a run-heavy offense, Harris can provide WR4 value, albeit with the up-and-down weeks. The good news is that those “up” weeks can carry Top 20 value, making the ride more palatable. In dynasty, Harris is in the late-first-round conversation. — Jake Ciely
Grade: B-plus
Round 3
No. 86: Jamaree Caldwell, DT, Oregon
How he fits
A massive human at 6-foot-2, 332 pounds, Caldwell was an elite tester as an explosive and low-to-the-ground nose tackle who can really make a dent at the line of scrimmage. He was not a consistent player in college, however, and if the Chargers want to use him as a nose he’s going to have to be better with his hands and gap discipline. Bit of a risk here in the third round, but not a huge one. — Baumgardner
Dane Brugler’s analysis
Caldwell is an interesting study, because he has the look of a squatty nose but the quickness and activity level of a one-gapper with the potential to impact the backfield (Caldwell: “I see myself as a pure three-tech, but I can do both.”). He can explode into blockers to create pop, although I worry about NFL centers reaching/sealing him — he needs to be more consistent with his hands for quicker sheds, if he hopes to turn his potential into more production.
Overall, the tape runs hot and cold for Caldwell, and he plays with a confused identity. However, he has an interesting collection of traits and put a little bit of everything on tape, which will make him appealing to different schemes. I like him best as a rotational one-technique who can stay on the field on passing downs.
Daniel Popper’s analysis
The Chargers lost Poona Ford and Morgan Fox in free agency — two key pieces on the interior of their defensive line. Ford played the most snaps of any Chargers interior defensive lineman last season with 604. Fox was second with 577. Fox led the Chargers interior defensive line with 29 pressures. Ford was second with 23.
The Chargers made some minor moves in free agency to build out the interior. They brought back Teair Tart on a one-year deal. They signed Da’Shawn Hand and Naquan Jones. But this room very clearly needed an additional piece, especially after Ford’s departure. Caldwell has the frame and experience to replace some of Ford’s nose tackle snaps. Before transferring to Oregon for his final college season, Caldwell was very disruptive as a three-technique for Houston, totaling 6.5 sacks. So he has some versatility. Caldwell should compete for starting snaps as a rookie.
Grade: B-minus
Round 4
No. 125
Round 5
No. 158
Round 6
No. 181 (From Patriots)
No. 199
No. 209 (compensatory pick)
No. 214 (compensatory pick)
Round 7
No. 256 (compensatory)
(Photo of Jamaree Caldwell: Troy Wayrynen / Imagn Images)