The Los Angeles Chargers have been busy in free agency and appear to have filled a number of holes before the 2025 NFL Draft which will take place in Green Bay, Wisconsin, from April 24 through April 26. The Chargers will have ten draft picks in the 2025 seven round draft, one in each round and four in the sixth round.
The 2025 NFL draft for the Chargers should add depth and speed to the roster. If the Chargers learned anything from their blowout loss to the Texans in the playoffs, they need to find receivers that can get separation and catch passes. With the signing of Mike Williams, the Chargers have two wide receivers on the roster, Williams and Ladd McConkey, that have had over 1,000 yards in receiving in a season from Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert.
The Chargers could go in a number of different directions in the first round of the draft, with tight end, wide receiver, edge rusher, and running back being possibilities with the first selection. Here is a first attempt at an NFL mock draft for the Chargers in 2025:
Round 1 – Colston Loveland, Tight End, Michigan – This is the pick if he is there at No. 22. The Chargers need a long-term answer at tight end and Loveland would be the guy to play with Herbert for the next ten years. At 6-foot-6, 248 pounds, Loveland is too fast for linebackers and too big for a safety to cover him.
Loveland had 56 receptions for 582 yards and five touchdowns, despite playing in a passing offense that was the worst in the Big Ten Conference and one of the worst in the nation. Loveland was recruited by and played for Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh when he was at Michigan. He played his high school football at Gooding high school in Gooding, Idaho.
Round 2 – J.T. Tuimoloau, Edge Rusher, Ohio State – Tuimoloau is 6-foot-4, 269 pounds and has the ability to play on the edge as either a 3-4 outside linebacker or a traditional 4-3 defensive end. He is a three-time first team All-Big Ten selection at defensive end. Tuimoloau was a five-star prospect who played his high school football at Eastside Catholic high school in Sammamish, Washington.
Round 3 -Kyle Williams, Wide Receiver, Washington State – Williams is excellent at establishing separation, something Charger wide receivers have struggled with. At the Holiday Bowl in San Diego in December 2024 Williams caught 10 passes from former Culver City star Zevi Eckhaus for a Holiday Bowl record of 172 yards and one touchdown.
Williams is 5-foot-11, 190 pounds. He ran a 4.40 forty at the NFL combine. In 2024, Williams had 70 receptions for 1,198 yards and 14 touchdowns. Williams played his high school football at St. Monica Catholic high school in Santa Monica. Williams spent his first three seasons at UNLV before transferring to Washington State for his last two seasons.
Round 4 – Nohl Williams, Cornerback, California – Williams was a consensus All-American at Cal and a first-team All-ACC pick at cornerback in 2024. Willaims is a playmaker at cornerback, leading the nation in interceptions with seven, and returning one for a touchdown. He has good speed at 4.50 in the forty. Williams played football at Pacifica high school in Oxnard. William spent his first three seasons at UNLV before transferring to Cal. He was a teammate of Kyle Williams for three seasons at UNLV.
Round 5 – Jackson Slater, Guard, Sacramento State – Slater was a three-time first team All- Big Sky selection at guard and a first-team FCS All-American in 2024. Slater looked like he belonged at the Senior Bowl and performed well at the NFL combine, where he had the second-best bench press among offensive lineman, benching 225 pounds 31 times. Slater weighed in at 6-foot-3, 316 pounds at the combine. There is a possibility that Slater could be moved to center in the NFL. Slater attended Newport high school in Bellevue, Washington.
Round 6A – Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Running Back, Arizona – Croskey-Merritt missed the entire 2024 season due to an eligibility issue. In 2023, he played for New Mexico in the Mountain West Conference and rushed for 1,190 yards and 17 touchdowns. He was selected as a second-team All-MWC pick in 2023. He ran a 4.41 forty at the Big 12 pro day and had a 41.5″ vertical jump. Croskey-Merritt was the Offensive MVP at the East-West Shrine Bowl game. Croskey-Merritt attended Lanier high school in Montgomery, Alabama.
Round 6B – Jack Nelson, Offensive Tackle, Wisconsin – Nelson is a 6-foot-7, 314-pound left tackle at Wisconsin who will likely switch to right tackle in the NFL. Nelson had 50 career starts in college, 37 at left tackle and 13 at right guard. He is considered a good, physical run blocker. Nelson was a five-star offensive tackle in high school who attended Stoughton high school in Stoughton, Wisconsin.
Round 6C – Kain Medrano, Linebacker, UCLA – Medrano had a terrific day at the NFL Combine in February. Medrano ran a 4.46 forty, had a vertical jump of 38 inches, and ran a 1.57 ten-yard split. Medrano was a third-team All-Big Ten selection in 2024. In 12 games, Medrano had 3 forced fumbles, 72 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, and two interceptions, returning one for a touchdown. He could help immediately on special teams and in pass coverage. Medrano attended East high school in Pueblo, Colorado.
Round 6D – Moliki Matavao, Tight End, UCLA – Matavao looked good at the Senior Bowl. He is 6-foot-6, 263 pounds. Matavao had 41 receptions for 506 yards and two touchdowns for the Bruins in 2024. He is a good pass blocker, which is important to the Chargers with their use of multiple tight ends and play action passes. Matavao played his high school football at Liberty high school in Henderson, Nevada. He was the No. 1 ranked player in Nevada and spent his first two seasons at Oregon.
Round 7 – R.J. Mickens, Safety, Clemson – Mickens is 6-foot-0, 200 pounds and performed well at the NFL combine, running a 4.49 forty and adding a 41.5″ vertical jump. Mickens had seven career interceptions at Clemson and is considered a versatile player that can play in multiple defensive packages. Mickens attended Carroll high school in Southlake, Texas. He is the son of former NFL cornerback Ray Mickens.