DETROIT, MI – APRIL 25: The Los Angeles Chargers are on the clock during day 1 of the NFL Draft on April 25, 2024 at Campus Martius Park and Hart Plaza in Detroit, MI. (Photo by John Smolek/Icon Sportswire)
The Chargers started the 2025 draft with the selection of most scout’s #2 running back on the board and the Chargers 18th ranked overall player, Omarion Hampton
Ryan Watkins provided solid analysis of the pick here, so we won’t spend too much time here discussing that.
This is simply a space for our BoltFam to chat about the draft this weekend. Let er rip, StormCloud!
Really happy with the additions to DL, Caldwell and Kennard. Kyle has got a motor, man! Will be great in the Nascar package.
WR additions are also praiseworthy. Speed kills and they both show it on tape. Harris’s combine time was lower than his actual speed because it was soon after his groin surgery. He will be a good successor to Mike Williams. Lambert-Smith really has the speed and good moves also. We’ll have a very competitive WR room, needed because there are always injuries. I still hope we can add Keenan to the mix.
Popper just listed all the UDFAs
Best name: Stevo Klotz
Per Tom Pelissero, we also signed
CB Nikko Reed Oregon
WR Luke Grimm Kansas
LB Marlowe Wax Syracuse
So the UDFAs are coming in. Per Jordan Schultz, I have:
RB Raheem Sanders South Carolina
QB DJ Uiagalelei FSU (St. John Bosco legend).
Please add any others you know.
I’m dense, Al. And maybe this has been discussed already, but how does a player win the Nagurski trophy and be available in the 4th round?
@feeblepubliccableaccessshow
In 2023, Payton Wilson:
Won the Chuck Bednarik award (best defensive player according to Maxwell Club)
Won the Butkus award (best linebacker)
Was 1 of 5 finalists for the Bronco Nagurski award (best defensive player according to FWAA)
Was ACC DPOY
Was a unanimous 1st team All American
He was drafted at #98 as the 7th LB drafted (behind Colson for one). College football and NFL football are not exactly the same game, and NFL talent evaluators at least believe they understand the differences and grade accordingly.
I would absolutely have loved it if the Chargers had drafted Wilson instead of Colson, but I understand that decision.
Ok. Let’s see who our last man on board will be.
Who called Trikweze Bridges? Minter can make CBs look pretty good. He’s big and rangy, tackles ok. Solid depth signing. In all, my biggest disappointment is the gap at IOL. Can’t pick all the players in one draft, though. I’m pretty content. Interior D got better. Secondary got some depth. Offense got a ton better, especially when you consider FA.
Time to Bolt Up!
I’ve been getting happier about this Draft class with each pick.
Some things I’ve been posting on X while watching since yday:
On Tre Harris #1 : https://twitter.com/TDU_Chargers/status/1915937851470188619
On Tre Harris #2 : https://twitter.com/TDU_Chargers/status/1915938804772536531
On Caldwell: https://twitter.com/TDU_Chargers/status/1915957318996688967
On Draft Strategy #1 : https://twitter.com/TDU_Chargers/status/1915979978149400854
On Draft Strategy #2 : https://twitter.com/TDU_Chargers/status/1915981404548305230
On Kennard: https://twitter.com/TDU_Chargers/status/1916240584957956245
On Gadsden II #1 : https://twitter.com/TDU_Chargers/status/1916245480973152708
On Gadsden II #2 : https://twitter.com/TDU_Chargers/status/1916255506639032535
And then on Lambert-Smith (Auburn WR), one of my most trusted draft sources thinks he’s the most underrated WR in the class and had him as his WR20 (and with future NFL WR2 upside).
Hortiz has really gone to work this weekend. After taking an RB in Round 1 – which I didn’t love – the class has come out looking better than I expected with further opportunites to make moves between now and August. I think he might have nailed it again.
Some initial overall thoughts on the class:
https://twitter.com/TDU_Chargers/status/1916277672965247283
Fairly certain I’m pulling an oh-fer in the Storm Cloud pick ‘em game. I guess I won’t be earning the Kyle D trophy this year, which is ok, because after Kyle’s last name gets engraved on it, there wouldn’t be any room for mine.
I like Mickens. I would have preferred this draft (same first 4 picks):
1 (22) – RB Hampton
2 (55) – WR Harris
3 (86) – IDL Caldwell
4 (125) – Edge Kennard
5 (158) – TE Gadsden
5 (165) – G Frazier (or flip 158 and 165, doesn’t matter which order)
6 (199) – C Majors
6 (214) – S Mickens
It would make up for it if they could get Majors at their 7th round pick.
Nice safety pick.
Good call, Tau.
I like the first 4 rounds. The picks since then have been questionable IMO.
I hope they draft a center. Hoping for Majors at 214.
I also think they should take a DB. Candidates: S RJ Mickens, CB BJ Adams, CB Zy Alexander.
There’s a guard. Not one I’m familiar with at all.
Yeah, I’m not feeling any sorta expectations beyond maybe depth.
Maybe.
6 picks so far and 4 on O. Let’s help Minter out a bit in the 6th. Agree with Tau, would have preferred Frazier instead of that TE. Didn’t like that last WR either.
What does the WR room look like now? Ladd, MWill, Harris, QJ, Reagor, Rice, Lambert-Smith, Johnson?
@unclejammsarmy
You are missing Davis.
McConkey, Williams, Harris, Johnston look like locks to me.
If I assume 1 WR roster spot for a kick/punt returner (Davis if they don’t add someone to take that role), I think the rest (Reagor, Rice, Lambert-Smith, and Johnson) are battling for likely just 1 roster spot.
My take so far:
1 (22) – RB Hampton – Good pick based on the board, which was just about the worst case scenario for the Chargers.
2 (55) – WR Harris – I would rather have hit DL here, but Harris should be a good successor to Mike Williams as the Chargers’ primary X WR in 2026. His route tree is a bit limited, so I expect he will mostly play behind Williams in 2025 unless Williams gets hurt. He does excel against man coverage, and that was a real problem for the Chargers last season.
3 (86) – IDL Caldwell – Strong pick here. Most talented IDL player on the Chargers roster on day one.
4 (125) – Edge Kennard – Great pick at this point of the draft. Relieved waiting this long to draft Edge worked out this well.
5 (158) – WR Lambert-Smith – Surprised with this pick and don’t like it. He did not play special teams much in college, so he will probably have to adjust to doing that quickly to make the final roster.
5 (165) – When I saw that the Chargers traded up, I thought for sure the pick was Miles Frazier. I think Gadsden is fine for a late round TE pick, but I would have preferred Frazier. I doubt Gadsden will play too much on offense in 2025, barring injuries to Dissly and Conklin. I’m not sure this pick does much to solve the future TE room, either. Hope he can contribute on special teams.
I hope they can get C Jake Majors in the 6th.
I was POSITIVE it was for Frazier……
I’m all out of guesses for the rest of the day. IOL probably, CB and or safety, maybe. Or they double dip with RB or DT. Niemann replacement at LB? Heck, they could go qb at 256 and I wouldn’t be shocked. Surprised, not shocked.
Andre-Smith’s uncle is Kam Chancellor, Virginia Tech DB and SB champ w/Seattle.
lol….I’m ok if he toughened him up a little. 😉
Huh….trade up for TE Gadsden. Wonder what they gave up?
Looks like 2 6ths
I’m ok with that.
Trade. Here we go…
Cool. I don’t know the details of the trade, but I like the pick.
6.181 and 6.209 for 5.165. Not bad. Still have 6.199, 6.214, and 7.256.
He’s no blocker but that’s already in the room.
WTF is this? This IOL still sucks
6th round….maybe. They may like the room more than we do.
Trade up…..
OK, on the clock….
Pick is in and it’s……
One that was not on my radar.
But not a bad one.
Finally got the announcement….good speed.
I must be a little delayed….
So Elston apparently really likes Caldwell.
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6311880/2025/04/26/chargers-nfl-draft-tre-harris-jamaree-caldwell/?source=athletic_weeklyemail&campaign=602288&userId=12566676
God. Enough with NFL Network sucking Sanders balls already. He went in the 5th. So are like 40 other players. Wax poetic about them. Obviously the league knows more than these three. Just move the fuck on already.
And there goes Sanders.
Chiefs with Royals. He’s a baller.
Yeah, but their OL is still suspect.
Round 1: RB1b, future starter with stud potential
Round 2: WR, number how you like. Will be in the mix early and could leapfrog both Mike and QJ as the season goes on—especially after Mike catches an inevitable dinger
Round 3: rotational, run-stuffing DT who can play anywhere from nose to 3–a big, fat butt in the middle with dang good athleticism for a 330 pounder
Round 4: somewhat undersized but speedy and intelligent EDGE who can win on passing downs, probably in on NASCAR packages
Like it all so far. Rotational pieces from here on out, but I really like how Hortiz is building the team’s floor.
I’m not worried about position now. I think it’s about following the scouting. If there’s a round 5 LB (who they probably don’t need right away) ranked way ahead of the next TE, or IOL (positions they could really use), I’d grab the LB.
But that’s just me.
If they need a corner I’m going with Dorian Strong.
Maybe the second edge will come later in Powell-Ryland.
Cuz homer. 😁
Kennard was a good pick. Needed to get an Edge. IOL has to be coming soon.
OK, I like it! Probably the best edge left on the board.
Aaaannnndddd… here comes the pick!
Fucking Steelers.
I like this draft so far, and have hopes they’ll find a year one contributor or two in round six. I also have my hopes—foolish maybe—that Colson and Eboigbe have success in their super-rookie seasons. Would be a treat to see Rice show some progression in camp.
Yeah, I like Kenard too. He may offer a bit more than Sawyer in pass rush ability.
This is the time of the draft when every third pick or so stings. All those pre-draft crushes going to other teams. It reminds me of college when that girl you’ve been chatting up in your PoliSci class comes to class one day wearing her boyfriend’s fraternity sweatshirt. Bullshit.
Fucking frat boys….lol
Of course! lol
I think we’ll grab a couple of edge guys today.
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6299433/2025/04/26/chargers-nfl-draft-picks-2025-grades-scouting-reports/
They seem to really like him.
Maybe they move up for Frazier tomorrow? Could see a DB also.
Welp, it’s not exactly a Telesco stretch in the third, but it’s not my favorite pick. He’s a big dude in the middle, which is great, but not much of a tackler. I hope Minter can teach him a thing or two. Quickly.
Big and quick, but seems like a reach…
Farmer and Stewart were still there…
Damn. I liked Nohl Williams. I’ll hate seeing him in red. Ok, on the clock. Let’s go!
6/21 picks in the 3rd have been CBs.
Still waiting to see if they actually take four picks in the sixth.
Whoah, sh*t. Tre Harris went to Comeaux High in Lafayette, LA. I used to run on their track every day. Even ran the bleachers. I lived a mile away from there, but he was probably a 2nd grader then, wondering who this fat old man was sweating his way slowly around the track.
Can’t be mad about that pick.
Big boundary guy with great hands. Good separation. Doesn’t have top speed. Could leapfrog both Mike and QJ this season if all goes right. He could also take a year to develop, and that would be ok, too.
Offense could still use a mid-tier TE and a developmental IOL. Defense still needs a lot.
Let’s go!
Ok. Just back from work. Lots of names I liked off the board. I really thought they had a shot at Higgins. Oh well. Let’s get a dude who can make a difference in 2025!
This Sanders slide is epic. I liked Shough as a prospect, but, dang, 2.40 for him? For a team we all expect to play for Arch Manning next year? Wild.
Wonder how far Sanders falls? If Cleveland passed on him 3 times already who else would take him in Rd2. Pitt doesn’t have a pick in this round.
Emmanwori is going to be a beast in MacDonalds defense. They got a top 10 talent at 35
Yeah Seattle is going to fight us for Defensive prospects along with Baltimore in this draft; having both taken Safeties at least not in positions we need just yet.
Higgins already off the board
Higgins, Mason Taylor and Alfred Collins are my big “Damn’s” here in the 2nd.
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