The LA Chargers are in a great position heading into the 2025 NFL Draft as the team has not pigeonholed itself in any which way. Los Angeles has established a baseline floor at every position of need, allowing the team to take the best player available when they are on the clock.
This is a smart strategy as there are some talented players who could fall to the Chargers at pick No. 22. One of which is Michigan cornerback Will Johnson, who was once considered an obvious top-10 prospect in the draft but is starting to slide down big boards and mock drafts.
It's still more likely than not that Johnson will be off the board when the Chargers are on the clock, but what if that is not the case? The Chargers won't be able to pass on an exceptional talent with ties to Jim Harbaugh and it would change the rest of the draft as a result.
Four-round Chargers mock draft if Will Johnson falls to 22:
Chargers draft Michigan CB Will Johnson with 22nd pick
Cornerback may be far down the list of Chargers' needs but that should not stop the Bolts from taking Johnson if he is still on the board. Johnson is one of the best cornerbacks in this draft class and has all the makings of being a special player in the NFL.
Defensive coordinator Jesse Minter knows exactly how talented Johnson is and the Chargers would be able to put him in a position to succeed right away. Johnson would serve as the team's long-term CB1 and would give the Bolts one of the best young secondaries in the sport alongside Tarheeb Still and Cam Hart.
Signing Donte Jackson and Benjamin St-Juste won't stop the Chargers from taking Johnson if he is available (especially since St-Juste may not even make the 53-man roster). The Chargers wouldn't be able to pass on Johnson nor should they. Here's how the rest of the first four rounds may pan out.
Chargers draft Ohio State RB TreVeyon Henderson with 55th pick
The Chargers still need an RB2 after signing Najee Harris to a one-year deal and they also need someone who can develop into a true RB1 if Harris' stint in LA lasts just one year. LA may opt to wait in what is a stacked running back class, but the synergy that TreVeyon Henderson would bring is too much to pass on.
Henderson is the perfect type of running back to split duties with Harris. In his rookie year, he would serve as the change-of-pace back who plays on passing downs while Harris handles a load of the work between the tackles. Henderson isn't just a weapon in the passing game, but he is one of the better running backs in pass pro in this draft.
Those who read Bolt Beat know the comparison we are about to make; Harris and Henderson could serve as the Chargers' version of David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs.
Chargers draft Michigan EDGE Josiah Stewart with 86th pick
The Chargers double-dip from the University of Michigan here and take promising edge rusher Josiah Stewart. Stewart's connection to this Chargers coaching staff is obvious but it is not the only thing that will get him drafted.
If Stewart was a few inches taller and had a slightly bigger frame then he would be in the conversation for the first round in this year's draft. However, because he is slightly undersized compared to "typical" edge rushers, he will likely be taken on the second day of the draft.
This is good news for the Chargers, who know firsthand how productive Stewart can be despite his perceived size "limitations". Stewart was nothing but productive for Michigan and can blossom into a truly special edge rusher who uses speed to win at the point of attack. He will be a rotational edge rusher who plays passing downs in his rookie year and has real every-down starter potential in 2026 and beyond.
Chargers draft Notre Dame TE Mitchell Evans with 125th pick
There are a lot of exciting pass-catching tight ends in this year's draft but if the Chargers don't take Colston Loveland in round one then the team will probably take someone of Mitchell Evans' stature instead.
Evans is arguably the best blocking tight end in this class not named Tyler Warren and that is what Harbaugh covets in young tight ends. He would essentially serve as the Chargers' long-term version of Will Dissly (but with a much higher ceiling) and would instantly make an impact in year one.
Evans may not have the high-tier pass-catching upside as other tight ends but he is no slouch in that area, either. It may be a learning process early on but that is masked by the addition of Tyler Conklin. There is a real chance Evans could develop into a true pass-catching option who is an every-down tight end in this league.
And if there are any concerns about Evans' pass-catching abilities after 2025 the Chargers can simply bring in a pass-catching tight end to split snaps with him. Taking a tight end with a high floor is much better in the mid-rounds than taking a flier on someone who might have a high ceiling as a pass-catcher.