Chargers draft prospects – Syndication Server

Chargers bolster backfield in Dane Brugler’s latest 2025 NFL mock draft

The Chargers select a running back in Dane Brugler’s latest projections.

With the regular season nearing an end, talk about the offseason, free agency, and the upcoming draft will only continue to surface.

In The Athletic’s Dane Brugler’s latest 2025 NFL mock draft, he has the Chargers selecting Iowa running back Kaleb Johnson with the No. 25 overall pick.

Here is what Brugler said about sending Johnson to Los Angeles:

Jeanty deserves every bit of praise he gets, but he isn’t the only running back in this class who will be considered in the first round. Johnson is a well-put-together athlete who runs with equal amounts power, patience and quickness. Add in that he doesn’t fumble and is reliable on passing downs, and you don’t have to squint to see why Jim Harbaugh might go this direction.

For some Chargers fans, neglecting other positions of need and taking a running back in the first round might be rich.

But look at who the head coach of the team is. Jim Harbaugh has made it clear that he wants to be a line-of-scrimmage team and gash opposing defenses on the ground.

The status of the running back room will be up in the air. J.K. Dobbins is currently injured and set to be a free agent. Gus Edwards will still be under contract but hasn’t proven himself as a three-down back.

Johnson ended the 2024 regular season with 1,537 rushing yards and 23 total touchdowns. At 6 feet and 225 pounds, he is a well-rounded back who displays decisiveness as a runner, technically sound footwork, and upside in the passing game, both as a blocker and receiver.

Report: Chargers hosted DL Savion Jackson on pre-draft visit

Savion Jackson was stout against the run at North Carolina State.

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Chargers hosted North Carolina State defensive lineman Savion Jackson on a pre-draft visit last week.

Jackson had both his 2021 and 2022 seasons cut short due to injury, but he managed to stay healthy for most of this past season, logging personal bests in tackles (40), tackles for loss (5.5) and sacks (2.5).

A former big-time recruit, Jackson is a strong run defender, finishing with an 80.6 overall grade in that department.

The Chargers signed Poona Ford in free agency, but they still need to find players to fill out the depth chart.

Jackson projects as a Day 3 selection/priority free agent.

2024 NFL draft: Chargers showing interest in Troy RB Kimani Vidal

The Chargers are looking to bolster the running game ahead of next season.

The Chargers are looking to bolster the running game ahead of next season, and a piece to the puzzle could be Troy running back Kimani Vidal.

According to The Draft Network’s Justin Melo, Vidal garnered interest from Los Angeles at the Senior Bowl last month.

Vidal was Sun Belt Conference Offensive Player of the Year and a third-team All-American in 2023 after he ran for a school record of 1,661 yards. He left as Troy’s all-time leading rusher with 4,010 yards.

At 5-foot-8 and 215 pounds, Vidal has the size, vision, contact balance, lateral agility and passing game impact to be a part of a backfield committee at the next level.

With Austin Ekeler and Joshua Kelley slated for free agency, that leaves Isaiah Spiller as the only player who makes up the positional room, so the Chargers will be seeking a few to fill it out.

Vidal projects as a Day 3 selection.

2024 NFL draft: 3 potential backup quarterbacks to Justin Herbert for Chargers to watch at Combine

Here are a few quarterbacks expected to test well at the Combine who the Los Angeles Chargers could target to back up Justin Herbert.

The 2024 NFL Combine begins this week, with 321 prospects due to attend the event in Indianapolis.

The Chargers, along with the league’s other 31 teams, will use the results to solidify their draft board, bringing their plans for April into greater focus.

Here are four quarterbacks for Los Angeles to watch at Lucas Oil Stadium.

Chargers bolster trenches in Daniel Jeremiah’s second mock draft

The Chargers address the offensive line in Daniel Jeremiah’s second mock draft.

In NFL Media’s Daniel Jeremiah’s first mock draft, the Chargers took Washington wide receiver Rome Odunze.

In his second one, Los Angeles addresses the same side of the ball by getting Justin Herbert protection in Notre Dame offensive tackle Joe Alt.

This feels like a statement pick, seeing how it’ll be Jim Harbaugh’s first selection since becoming the Chargers’ head coach. Alt would take over at right tackle in short order. Keep in mind that new GM Joe Hortiz came from Baltimore, where eventual Pro Football Hall of Famer Jonathan Ogden started at guard his rookie year before taking over at tackle.

Alt was a staple up front for the Fighting Irish over the past three seasons. He was a starter during his freshman year in 2021 and held that role throughout his college career.

A consensus All-American in 2023, Alt only allowed four sacks throughout his career and was the highest-graded offensive lineman in the country this past season, according to Pro Football Focus.

The Chargers will look to improve the running game and ensure that Justin Herbert is kept upright, so Alt has been and will continue to be mocked to Los Angeles.

However, with Rashawn Slater at left tackle and Alt only playing that position his entire college career, that would require a change to right tackle over Trey Pipkins.

While it could be done, banking on it working with someone with the No. 5 overall selection might be a risk.

That’s why I believe they’re better off trading down and selecting a true right tackle, like Alabama’s JC Latham or Oregon State’s Taliese Fuaga.

Week 11 Scouting Notebook: A look at potential Chargers prospects in 2024 NFL draft

Here are a few prospects the Chargers could’ve been watching in Week 11.

Another week of college football is here, which means we are back with another edition of the Scouting Notebook.

The Scouting Notebook will feature prospects to keep an eye on throughout the day. While some may think it’s too early to start talking about the 2024 NFL draft, there’s never a bad time to talk about the future of the Chargers.

With that being said, here are a handful of prospects to watch for in Week 11.

Week 2 Scouting Notebook: A look at potential Chargers prospects in 2024 NFL draft

Here are a handful of prospects for Chargers fans to watch in Week 2.

The second week of college football is here, which means we are back with another edition of the Scouting Notebook.

With that being said, here are a handful of prospects to watch for in Week 2.

2023 NFL draft: Chargers had meeting with Western Kentucky DT Brodric Martin

The Chargers are looking to shore up the depth chart at the nose tackle position.

The Chargers met with former Western Kentucky defensive tackle Brodric Martin this past Sunday, according to The Draft Network’s Ryan Fowler.

Martin totaled 81 tackles, 37 solo tackles, nine tackles for loss, four passes defended, and two sacks during his collegiate career for the Hilltoppers.

Miller also earned an East-West Shrine Bowl invite, where he had two tackles and a fumble recovery.

Towering at 6-foot-4 and 337 pounds with 34 3/8-inch arms, Martin is a stout interior defender who is strong at occupying double teams and eating up space to clear the way for linebackers.

With Austin Johnson and Otito Ogbonnia still working their way back from their significant knee injuries and Breiden Fehoko now on the Steelers, Los Angeles could be in the market for more nose tackle depth.

Martin projects as a sixth or seventh-round selection.

Report: Chargers had formal interview with Minnesota OL John Michael Schmitz

The Chargers appear to have one of the top interior offensive linemen in this year’s draft class on their radar.

According to Chat Sport’s Tom Downey, Minnesota center John Michael Schmitz said he had a formal interview with Los Angeles.

Schmitz was one of three finalists for the Rimington Award and earned first-team AP All-American honors in 2022. Additionally, he’s a two-time, All-Big Ten performer.

Schmitz graded out as Pro Football Focus’ top run blocker of all the interior linemen this past season (92.6). He also had not allowed a sack in his career before 2022.

Schmitz is an exceptional run blocker, always looking to demolish defenders. He also has the lateral quickness to keep them locked up on drawn-out rush plays across the field.

Schmitz’s football IQ makes him highly effective as a pass protector, and his top-end strength provides a reliable anchor against holding rushers at bay.

The Chargers are set at the center position with Corey Linsley. But they could be remodeling the left guard spot this offseason, with Matt Feiler a potential cap casualty. Schmitz did say he could play all three interior spots.

Schmitz projects as a late Round 1-early Round 2 selection.

2023 NFL draft: 4 running backs for Chargers to watch at Combine

Here are a few running backs expected to test well at the NFL Scouting Combine that the Los Angeles Chargers could target in the draft.

The on-field portion of the NFL Combine begins on Thursday, marking the start of the testing circuit that propels some prospects into the stratosphere while ruining the stock of others. To prepare, we at Chargers Wire are previewing players from every position.

Los Angeles’ running backs are in a bit of a limbo right now. Austin Ekeler is the unquestioned feature back, but younger players like Joshua Kelley and Isaiah Spiller have yet to break out. With the pressure to contend looming, the Chargers could opt to add yet another body to the room to get more production out of the position.