LA Chargers general manager Joe Hortiz put together a masterclass in his first draft with the team in 2024. And while the 2025 rookies are yet to play a game that matters, Chargers fans are just as optimistic for the incoming rookie class as they were last year's class.
However, not every pick is going to pan out and one pick from 2024 didn't even make it to the regular season. This year's version of Cornelius Johnson, who was the team's last pick in last year's draft and wasn't even brought back on the practice squad, is already starting to emerge. He was also the Chargers' last pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Defensive back Trikweze Bridges wasn't just the Chargers' last pick in the draft, he was one pick away from being Mr. Irrelevant. Unfortunately, Bridges didn't get the notoriety that comes with being Mr. Irrelevant, although he soon may become irrelevant to Chargers fans.
Trikweze Bridges may have lost his job with the Chargers against the Saints
Bridges hasn't really impressed to this point in the preseason and has often been on the defensive end of highlight clips from Chargers receivers. On Sunday, Bridges went from not impressing to being downright worrisome.
The 24-year-old corner had one of the worst reps of the entire game when he bit hard on a Mason Tipton double move, resulting in a 54-yard touchdown pass. It was the only touchdown the Saints scored all game and was solely due to an awful rep from Bridges.
One bad play won't get a third-round pick cut from the roster. One bad play from a seventh-round pick who has already struggled in practice may be the icing on the cake.
Plus, there are other rookie defensive backs who have turned heads during the preseason and training camp. Nikko Reed was the talk of camp and almost took an interception to the house in the Hall of Fame Game against the Detroit Lions.
Eric Rogers was not the talk of camp but he turned in a very impressive performance with two interceptions (one being a pick-six) against the Saints. Rogers, unfortunately, suffered a scary injury at the end of the game, but if healthy, he is ahead of Bridges on the pecking order.
If you are going to miss on a draft pick, you better miss on a seventh-round pick and that is what the Chargers did. The Bolts won't regret this pick as they took a flier on someone who would have been a UDFA anyway based on his traits and film.
It would take a miracle for Bridges to make the Chargers' 53-man roster. At this point in time, he isn't even a lock to secure a practice squad spot once he is inevitably cut.