LA Chargers fans are solely focused on the upcoming NFL Playoffs at this point in the year but it is never too early to look ahead to the 2025 NFL Draft. What's a better way to spend the holiday week than by theorizing who could be the next great Charger taken in four months?
Using the NFL Mock Draft Database Simulator, we went through the first three rounds of the 2025 NFL Draft to map out exactly who the Chargers may select. Granted, a lot can change both in the draft board and in the Chargers' needs, so this is by no means set in stone.
But with most of the 2024 season behind us, here is what a potential first two days of the 2025 NFL Draft could look like for the Bolts.
Chargers draft Tyler Warren with 20th pick in 2025 NFL Mock Draft
Michigan's Colston Loveland makes a lot of sense for the Chargers considering Jim Harbaugh has outright compared him to Travis Kelce in the past. However, Penn State's Tyler Warren is starting to take the draft scene by storm and if he there at 20, the Chargers may not be able to pass him up.
Warren is an athlete's athlete who has thrived as both a blocker and as a pass-catcher for Penn State. There is absolutely no doubt Warren would fit perfectly in the offense the Chargers are trying to build both as a fundamental blocker and as a pass-catching weapon.
The San Francisco 49ers had Vernon Davis, the Baltimore Ravens (under Greg Roman) have Mark Andrews. Having a top-tier two-way tight end is a premium in this league and the Chargers could obtain that premium by taking Warren in the first round.
Chargers draft Donovan Jackson with 55th pick in 2025 NFL Mock Draft
One of the biggest needs for the Chargers heading into the 2025 offseason is interior offensive line. At the very least, the Chargers need to upgrade the center and right guard position and you could make a case that Zion Johnson could be replaced as well (although that still appears unlikely).
The Chargers can add help in free agency but should not pass on the opportunity to add interior offensive line help early in the 2025 NFL Draft. Here, the team selects Ohio State's Donovan Jackson, who appears to be a safe bet as a mid-to-late second-round pick.
Jackson's experience in a zone-blocking scheme and his success as a run-blocker at the collegiate level would play perfectly in the Chargers' offensive system. The one hiccup is that he has only played left guard in college and if the Chargers aren't replacing Johnson it could be a bit redundant.
However, Joe Alt has proven that switching sides isn't hard for top-tier draft prospects and switching sides on the interior is typically less difficult.
Chargers draft Josaiah Stewart with 86th pick in 2025 NFL Mock Draft
Josaiah Stewart is an interesting mid-round prospect and the Chargers are the perfect team to bring him in and utilize his entire skill set. If there is any coaching staff in the league that knows what Stewart is capable of and where he thrives, it is the Chargers' coaching staff.
The promising edge-rushing prospect would instantly give the Chargers depth at a position that may see some departures in 2025. Khalil Mack and Joey Bosa's futures are uncertain, and even if either of the players stay, the Chargers should look to add depth to the position.
What makes Stewart intriguing is his versatility and how he would fit as a puzzle piece in Jesse Minter's defense. While a tad undersized, Steward has the fundamentals and the motor to succeed against both the run and the pass on the edge.
However, because of his size and athleticism, Stewart also has the ability to drop into coverage and may even play some linebacker in certain situations in the pros. Early on, he would be a rotational payer who could line up in various areas depending on the situation.
It would be the perfect way to ease him into his NFL role before eventually turning into an every-down starter. And with older players at the edge and young linebacker depth, the Chargers are well-equipped to use him in this manor without losing any value.