LOS ANGELES -- The Los Angeles Chargers began the 2025 NFL draft by selecting North Carolina running back Omarion Hampton with the No. 22 pick in the first round on Thursday night, following up with their first pick on Friday to select Ole Miss wideout Tre Harris in the second round.
Here's a look at each of Los Angeles' selections:
Analysis of every pick | Updated depth chart
Round 1, No. 22 -- Omarion Hampton, RB, North Carolina
My take: When Coach Jim Harbaugh and General Manager Joe Hortiz were hired last year, both boasted about the dominant rushing offense they wished to build in Los Angeles. The ground game had been a staple of Harbaugh's teams, from the San Francisco 49ers in his first NFL stint to his national championship-winning Michigan team. Still, the Chargers rushing offense was just below average in 2024, finishing 17th in the NFL in rushing yards per game.
Hampton gives the Chargers a back to go along with veteran free agent acquisition and running back Najee Harris. The likely hope for the Chargers is that the Hampton-Harris pairing blossoms into one of the league's best rushing offenses, propelling L.A. to the team that Harbaugh and Hortiz pictured.
Key stat: Hampton's 3,164 rush yards over the past two seasons trailed only former Boise State RB Ashton Jeanty. The Chargers got the second-best running back in the draft in Hampton, a dominant player likely to be the future of the Chargers rushing offense. While the Chargers had needs almost everywhere else on the roster, picking Hampton shows that Hortiz is committed to selecting the best player available, a strategy that the organization believes will result in sustained success.
Will he start as a rookie? Whether Hampton starts as a rookie will likely depend on training camp and how he performs compared to Harris. But even if he doesn't start, it shouldn't matter. Offensive coordinator Greg Roman likes to rotate his running backs, evident last season with J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards. Also, Roman has always praised sticking with the hot hand, meaning that if Hampton is dominating, the Chargers will keep going to him.
Check out some of the top highlights from North Carolina's Omarion Hampton.
Round 2, No. 55: Tre Harris, WR, Ole Miss
My take: L.A. addresses its biggest need with Harris -- a 6-foot-2, 205-pound receiver -- that gives them another big target on the outside. It's the second year in a row the Chargers have taken a receiver in the second round after drafting Ladd McConkey last season. Harris will likely compete with Mike Williams and Quentin Johnston for opportunities in year one. Last season, the Chargers drafted three receivers (McConkey, Brenden Rice, and Cornelius Johnson), so they may not be done looking for help for quarterback Justin Herbert.
Key stat: Harris led the FBS with 128.8 receiving yards per game last season. Despite being limited to only eight games in 2024, due to hip/groin injuries, Harris posted his only career 1,000+ yard season. He caught 60 passes for 1,030 yards and 7 receiving touchdowns, earning him AP second team All-American honors.
Round 3, No. 86: Jamaree Caldwell, DT, Oregon
My take: Perhaps the Chargers' biggest need after receiver is their interior defensive line. Poona Ford and Morgan Fox, the Chargers starting defensive tackles from last season, both left in free agency. Ford's loss was particularly massive, as he was one of the most crucial components of a Chargers defense, which allowed the fewest points per game in the NFL last season. Caldwell adds depth and competition to a largely unproven interior defensive line group. He could compete for a significant role in year one against tackles Teair Tart, Naquan Jones, and Da'Shawn Hand.
Key stat: Caldwell's 17 QB pressures last season were tied for the sixth-most in the Big Ten among defensive tackles. Caldwell's pass-rushing prowess from the interior could make for a dominant defensive line with outside linebackers Khalil Mack and Tuli Tuipulotu on opposite sides of him. The most impressive aspect of Caldwell's pressures was that nine of those pressures came as 0-technique (head-on with center), tied for fifth-most in FBS last year.
What's next: Another glaring need for the Chargers is the interior offensive line. The Chargers guards graded 22nd in the NFL in run block win rate (69.8%) last season. Their interior struggles hurt the Chargers rushing offense, which averaged 110.7 yards per game, the lowest of any Jim Harbaugh NFL or FBS team.
Remaining picks
Round 4: No. 125
Round 5: No. 158
Round 6: No. 181 (from New England)
Round 6: No. 199
Round 6: No. 209
Round 6: No. 214
Round 7: No. 256