The Los Angeles Chargers entered the 2025 NFL draft with several glaring needs. This was compounded by several key departures in free agency. But with their nine picks, they were able to address several of the team’s most concerning needs.
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Los Angeles Chargers 2025 Day One Starting Rookies
Omarion Hampton, RB
The Chargers’ rushing attack fell flat once oft-injured running back JK Dobbins went down with another injury. In response, the team doubled down, signing Najee Harris to a one-year contract and drafting Omarion Hampton.
Hampton possesses an NFL-ready frame and demonstrates a blend of valuable attributes that should allow him to start as an NFL rookie. He exhibits a strong understanding of blocking schemes, quickly reads the developing play, and effectively gathers his feet to accelerate through congested areas or make decisive cuts toward available running lanes. Once he establishes a north-south trajectory, Hampton displays impressive acceleration, driving into second-level defenders. However, this aggressive style occasionally compromises his balance, and the cumulative effect of these forceful collisions could impact his long-term durability.
Tre Harris, WR
The Chargers needed a big-bodied true X receiver to take the pressure off of Ladd McConkey, who was featured on nearly every injury report from Week 6 on. They grabbed just that in the second round, in the 6-foot-2, 205-pound Ole Miss wideout Tre Harris.
Harris projects as a dependable possession receiver and potential No. 2 target in the NFL. His role is clearly defined on film: an outside receiver who primarily runs slants and curls, with occasional posts or crossers, reflecting Ole Miss’s use of post-snap reads. Despite this predictability, defenses struggled to contain him, highlighting his effectiveness.
While not possessing elite speed, Harris demonstrates sufficient stride length to be a factor on linear, one-cut routes and exhibits smooth deceleration for clean transitions. His most notable attributes are his exceptional hand-eye coordination and toughness at the catch point, enabling him to make contested catches over defensive backs.
Overall, Harris may lack the explosive speed or separation skills typically sought in a No. 1 receiver. However, he is a controlled athlete with the play strength and ball skills to be a valuable and consistent target, provided he can maintain his health.
Jamaree Caldwell, DT
The Chargers lost a lot of interior defensive line snaps with Morgan Fox and Poona Ford now gone via free agency. They brought in reinforcements with Da’Shawn Hand and Naquan Jones to bolster Otito Ogbonnia, Justin Eboigbe, and Teair Tart. But none have high-level experience, which means early in the season, the Chargers will rely heavily on a consistent rotation until the cream of the crop rises to the top. Caldwell will be featured in that rotation, whether or not he is completely ready to hand NFL competition.
Caldwell presents an intriguing profile as a defensive tackle, characterized by a unique combination of physical attributes and playing style. He exhibits the appearance of a traditional, squatty nose tackle, yet possesses the quickness and activity level of a one-gap defender, suggesting the potential to disrupt plays in the backfield. As Caldwell himself states, “I see myself as a pure three-tech, but I can do both.”Caldwell demonstrates the ability to explode into blockers, generating initial impact. However, to maximize his potential and translate it into consistent production at the NFL level, he needs to refine his hand technique for quicker disengagements, particularly against NFL centers who may be able to reach and seal him.
Overall, Caldwell’s film reveals some inconsistencies, and he occasionally displays a somewhat undefined identity on the field. Nevertheless, he showcases an interesting collection of traits and a diverse range of skills, which should make him appealing to various defensive schemes. His optimal role appears to be as a rotational one-technique who can also contribute on passing downs..
Oronde Gadsden, TE
Surprisingly, tight end is the last position the new Chargers regime has yet to invest heavily in, and that is why Gadsden will get starting reps. He is a work in progress in both his blocking and relies too often on his athleticism to win in the passing game. But given how important tight ends are to this offense, he will get plenty of playing time behind Tyler Conklin and Will Dissly.
Gadsen is an athletic pass-catching tight end with the adjustment skills and catch radius to excel as a possession target in an NFL offense. He presents a valuable target for quarterbacks, capable of securing catches even on less-than-perfect throws due to his effective use of frame, focus, and long arms.
While Gadsden demonstrates functional athleticism as a route runner, his route setup and pacing are still developing. Additionally, his “yards after catch” production was relatively low in 2024 (27.5 percent of his total yards), which is among the lowest rates in the FBS. As a blocker, Gadsden provides consistent effort and can impede defenders, but his average frame and limited ability to sustain blocks raise questions about his role.
Gadsden projects best as an F tight end, with the versatility to be flexed across the formation, and he is expected to continue to improve as he develops.