It was a successful year for Jim Harbaugh and the Los Angeles Chargers. With an 11-6 season, this AFC West squad secured a Wild Card spot in 2024 and is looking for greater success in 2025.
The combination of Harbaugh and Justin Hebert proved to be a winning formula for a Chargers team that also benefited from a strong 2024 Draft Class led by left tackle Joe Alt, wide receiver Ladd McConkey and defensive backs Tarheeb Still and Cam Hart. Big question heading into training camp is did the Chargers have another strong draft and can they ride that draft momentum into the 2025 NFL season?
Los Angeles Chargers address top needs:
In what looks like another strong draft for the Chargers, Harbaugh and company continued to focus on building the offense around Hebert in adding a running back and another receiver high in the draft. They also added a tight end near the middle of the draft. With the rest of the draft, the Chargers took a swing at some defensive talent who they will depend on to fill some holes along the defensive line and off the edge. Which of these rookies will make an immediate impact like McConkey, Alt and Still did in the 2024 NFL season?
Here are 3 rookies to watch for the Chargers:
Round 1, Pick No. 22 – Omarion Hampton, RB, North Carolina: The Chargers entered the offseason needing to add an impact rushing attack to their offense and they did that with the selection of former North Carolina star Omarion Hampton.
If not for Ashton Jeanty, who was the top ranked running back entering the 2025 NFL Draft, Hampton would’ve been the most productive running back entering the draft. With his draft stock rising, Hampton to the Chargers made too much sense at No. 22. Along with the addition of free agent running back Najee Harris, the Chargers have an intriguing running back duo who will help Justin Hebert be more effective in the passing game.
In rushing for 3,164 yards over the past two seasons with the Tar Heels, Hampton’s impact with the Chargers will be an immediate one, especially with Harris in the mix to add a level of competition in the running back room that will only benefit the Chargers’ offense.
Round 2, Pick No. 55 – Tre Harris, WR, Ole Miss: The Chargers continued to add to their wide receiver group with the selection of Tre Harris with the No. 55 overall pick in the draft. That marks three consecutive drafts where the Chargers took a wide receiver in the first two rounds of the draft. If 2023 first round pick Quentin Johnston can break out and 2024 second-round pick Ladd McConkey continues his rise to NFL stardom, the addition of Harris will be even more impactful for Hebert and the Chargers.
A tough, big-bodied receiver, Harris is coming off his only 1,000+ yard season in college. What’s impressive is he only did that in 8 games due to injury. In an offense in which he should compete with veteran receiver Mike Williams for snaps, expect Harris to emerge as the boundary receiver who Hebert will target on the sidelines. Already making an impression in rookie camp and OTAs, Harris is a player to watch during training camp and the type of player who could help make the Chargers’ offense perhaps the most explosive offense in the AFC West if not the entire NFL.
Round 5, Pick No. 165– Oronde Gadsen II, TE, Syracuse: Another player who could add to the offense is rookie tight end Oronde Gadsen II who was selected with the No. 164 overall pick in the draft. In sticking to offense, if the Chargers can find production from the tight end position, they will be a tough offense to stop, especially if Hampton and Tre Harris produce Year 1.
In Gadsen, the Chargers get a highly productive pass-catching tight end in college who can stretch the field vertically. If he finds his niche in the passing game and builds chemistry with Hebert, Gadsen could be one of the steals in the draft and complete what Jim Harbaugh is building on the offensive side of the ball. Watch for Gadsen to have a 500+ yard season from the tight end position.