The LA Chargers' plan in the 2025 NFL Draft is starting to crystalize with the team signing free agents in multiple areas of need. There are several roster holes the Bolts need to fill and the front office has done a good job of setting up what should be a fluid draft process.
General manager Joe Hortiz is setting up to take the best player available throughout the draft process. While roster needs must be addressed, the Chargers are in a position where they don't have to press and overdraft someone to fill a need.
This specifically applies to the first round and the tight end position. Michigan's Colston Loveland is the consensus favorite for Chargers fans in the first round but there is no guarantee he lasts until the No. 22 pick. To prepare for that possibility, the Chargers signed pass-catching tight end Tyler Conklin to allow the team to circle back to tight end in the later rounds.
One tight end the Chargers may circle back on is Texas' Gunnar Helm. Naturally, the Chargers won't be the only team potentially interested in Helm, who may even land with an AFC West rival. According to Mike Klis of 9News in Denver, the Broncos are bringing Helm in for a pre-draft visit.
Broncos to host potential Chargers draft target Gunnar Helm
This isn't the first time the Chargers and Broncos have connective tissue at the tight end position. Evan Engram spurned the Chargers to sign with the Broncos earlier this offseason, forcing the eventual Conklin signing.
Helm checks the boxes Chargers fans are looking for in a long-term tight end selection in the 2025 NFL Draft. The Texas tight end has a diverse pass-catching skillset, and is particularly impressive in picking up yards after the catch.
The mixture of it being a deep tight end class and Helm's struggles as an in-line blocker have pushed him down to the mid-rounds of the NFL Draft. Because of his pass-catching potential, though, Helm should be taken in the third or fourth round of the 2025 NFL Draft.
Losing Helm to the Broncos wouldn't be detrimental to the Chargers as there are other options for the team to pursue. However, with Denver picking ahead of the Chargers in the draft, Denver has a real opportunity to throw a wrench in the Bolts' mid-round draft plans.
And if that does happen, any and every Helm highlight in Denver will be even more painful for Chargers fans.
While there are other exciting options, Chargers fans better hope the Bolts don't miss out on an exciting pass-catching tight end to an AFC West rival.