2025 NFL Mock Draft: Los Angeles Chargers choose defensive tackle

Kenneth Grant, DL, Michigan

And with the 22nd pick, the Los Angeles Chargers select … well, before we dive in, let’s step back and review the organization’s significant changes over the last year.

1. Hiring Head Coach Jim Harbaugh in January 2024
2. Hiring General Manager Joe Hortiz in January 2024
3. Finished 11-6 despite inheriting a largely similar squad to the group that finished 5-12 the prior season

Amazingly, this turnaround was achieved while fielding a roster with many holes and weaker position groups.

The Chargers had an excellent first two rounds of their 2024 draft:

• First round RT Joe Alt earned Pro Football Focus’ 19th highest grade of 141 Offensive Tackles
• Second round WR Ladd McConkey earned their 19th highest grade of 98 WRs

That plugged two of the roster’s holes, but many glaring needs remained prior to the start of 2025 free agency:

• Tight End – Will Dissly was a slightly below average TE with 50 catches for 481 yards & 2 TDs
• Wide Receiver – As recently as 2022, this was a feared position room with Keenan Allen, Mike Williams and Joshua Palmer each recording 750 – 900 receiving yards. And they had the pass catching machine RB, Austin Ekeler. All of which gave QB Justin Herbert a ton of great targets. All four are now gone and 2023 1st round pick (i.e. before the hiring of the current GM & Head Coach) Quentin Johnston has been a disappointment. As noted above, Ladd McConkey was fantastic in his rookie campaign, totaling 1,149 yards.
• Defensive Line – Michael Peterson, Editor-In-Chief of Bolts From the Blue, reviewed the group after they lost Poona Ford to free agency this year as “None of the guys they have in this group are likely starters on any other team.”
• Edge Rusher – Viewed last year, when Joey Bosa was still with the team, as the squad’s strength with players including Khalil Mack, Bud Dupree and Tuli Tuiipulotu. Still a quite strong group, but knowing Mack and Dupree are likely gone by 2026 puts this group on the list.
• Interior Offensive Line – LG Zion Johnson (47 / 135 Guards), C Bradley Bozeman (36 / 64 Centers) and RG Trey Pipkins III (86 / 135 Guards)
• Corner Back – Could use additional depth.
• Running Back – Last year, the Chargers signed Gus Edwards and JK Dobbins, reunited a previous Baltimore Ravens (GM Joe Hortiz’ old team), in the hopes of creating the power running game Coach Harbaugh craves. Both were injured last season and are no longer with the club.

Well, what happened in free agency to change the above?

• RB Najee Harris, previously of the Pittsburgh Steelers, signed a one-year deal worth up to $9.25M. Hard to imagine the Chargers investing a first round pick in a RB given the position’s devaluation and the Harris signing.
• G Mekhi Becton signed a two-year deal. Like many of you reading this, I hoped we somehow held onto Becton but understand and loved what he gave to the Eagles last year! This allows the Bolts to move their worst graded interior lineman, Trey Pipkins III into a backup role and also given that interior offensive line isn’t a premier position, likely takes this position group out of the running for being the recipient of a first round selection.
• WR Mike Williams returned on a one-year deal worth up to $6M. Since he turns 31 next season and made nearly no impact (9 receptions for 132 yards & 1 TD) for a Steelers’ squad with largely nothing in the WR room after George Pickens, it is hard to fathom that this signing improves the Chargers’ WR room significantly.
• Signed two depth CBs, Benjamin St-Juste and Donte Jackson.

These signings take RB, Interior Offensive Line and CB likely off the round one priority list for the Chargers.

Here’s an assessment of the remaining priority position groups in my ranked order of need

• DL – Need to improve; hard to imagine entering the season with this group
• WR – Would like to improve, but basically the group they had last year
• Edge – Likely still good this year, draft to develop 2026
• TE – Workable, but would like to improve

OK, who are the highest ranked prospects now available for the Chargers’ pick #22?

• DL – Three intriguing options on the board:
• Kenneth Grant, Michigan
• Walter Nolen, Mississippi
• Derrick Harmon, Oregon
• WR – Texas’ Matthew Golden an option for the Chargers here.
• Edge – Marshall’s Mike Green & Boston College’s Donovan Ezeiruaku are the two highest rated prospects.
• TE – With the top two options, Tyler Warren (We Are!) & Colston Loveland (Michigan star often linked to the Chargers with this pick) off the board and having a workable solution on the roster in Will Dissly, Chargers look for a TE later in the draft.

Given the greatest immediate need at DL combined with three elite available prospects, Jim Harbaugh’s love of power football and focus on line strength, the Chargers in this mock draft select a defensive lineman.

Pro Football Focus ranks these prospects as follows:

• Kenneth Grant: 16
• Walter Nolen: 22
• Derrick Harmon: 31

Let’s focus on the top two DL prospects, especially given these issues / concerns that I believe make Harmon unlikely for the Chargers:

• Played HS football in Detroit, Michigan, where he was, according to 247 Sports, the 98th ranked DL prospect and the 24th ranked Michigan prospect. It does not appear that Harbaugh, while at Michigan, significantly recruited Harmon who signed with Michigan State.
• Concerns that he only had a single year of high production
• Very disconcerting 26.7 missed tackle rate in his final year at Oregon and a 19.1% missed tackle rate for his career.

Here’s how Perplexity summarizes the available draft reviews for the two studs, Kenneth Grant and Walter Nolen:

Size:

Grant: 6’3”, 339 lbs

Nolen: 6’4”, 290 lbs.

Run Defense:

Grant: Elite; anchors against double teams

Nolen: Strong but inconsistent; struggles with leverage at times

Pass-Rush Development:

Grant: Developing but promising

Nolen: Raw, relies heavily on power moves

Versatility:

Grant: Proven across multiple techniques

Nolen: Versatile but lacks polish in execution

NFL Readiness:

Grant: High floor as a run defender

Nolen: Developmental prospect; needs refinement

Summarizing the above and incorporating the Chargers’ situation and needs favors Kenneth Grant:

• Jim Harbaugh having recruited & coached Grant & repeated been effusive in praise of the player.
• Grant’s larger size and elite run defense that provides him with minimally a high floor run defender especially as they remain having strong rush ability with their DEs.
• Higher ranking from draft experts.
• The Chargers, having been surprisingly successful last year, favor a more polished, immediately helpful skill set versus the potential and upside of Walter Nolen.

So, with the 22nd pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, the Los Angeles Chargers select Kenneth Grant, a player Coach Jim Harbaugh has called “a gift from the football gods.”

Hope you all enjoyed this mock draft pick & analysis. Here’s hoping Howie & team pull off a 2025 draft that matches their epic 2024 picks. Go Birds!

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2025 BGN Mock Draft Order

1) Titans (JoeDirtsBarber): Travis Hunter, WR/CB, Colorado

2) Browns (kjb304): Abdul Carter, EDGE, Penn State

3) Giants (The Player Formerly Known as Mousecop): Cam Ward, QB, Miami

4) Patriots (ReginaldHtower): Will Campbell, OT, LSU

5) Jaguars (eaglenomics): Mason Graham, DT, Michigan

6) Raiders (dkays): Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State

7) Jets (Stick19154): Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State

8) Panthers (89Tremaine): Will Johnson, CB, Michigan

9) Saints (FierceDisc65): Jalon Walker, EDGE, Georgia

10) Bears (DrprofBubbles): Mykel Williams, EDGE, Georgia

11) 49ers (granthill7): Armand Membou, OT, Missouri

12) Cowboys (Be subpar for Ja’Marr): Kelvin Banks Jr., OT, Texas

13) Dolphins (thehead92): Jahdae Barron, CB, Texas

14) Colts (green1us): Grey Zabel, OL, North Dakota State

15) Falcons (All_Hail_Howie): James Peace Jr., EDGE, Tennessee

16) Cardinals (Good Bad Ideas): Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona

17) Bengals (ablesser88): Shemar Stewart, EDGE, Texas A&M

18) Seahawks (herbalonius): Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan

19) Buccaneers (Hoosinole): Jihaad Campbell, LB, Alabama

20) Broncos (Silverlark60): Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State

21) Steelers (Dr.MidnightGreen): Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado

22) Chargers (LancGuy): Kenneth Grant, DT, Michigan

23) Packers (Leo Bedio)

24) Vikings (krikkebelgium)

25) Texans (Aint1stULast)

26) Rams (Booth12)

27) Ravens (pheebthegoose)

28) Lions (Neil Dutton)

29) Commanders (Mailata_in_a_Miata)

30) Bills (PhilaWolverine)

31) Chiefs (niels.rosenquist)

32) Eagles (Philly21)

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Now it’s time for you to vote for who YOU think should be selected in the 2025 BGN Community Consensus Mock Draft.

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Who should the Chargers pick at No. 22 overall?

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  EDGE Donovan Ezeiruaku

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  OL Josh Conerly

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1) Titans: QB Cam Ward

2) Browns: EDGE Abdul Carter

3) Giants: WR/CB Travis Hunter

4) Patriots: OT Will Campbell

5) Jaguars: DT Mason Graham

6) Raiders: RB Ashton Jeanty

7) Jets: OT Armand Membou

8) Panthers: CB Will Johnson

9) Saints: EDGE Jalon Walker

10) Bears: TE Tyler Warren

11) 49ers: OT Kelvin Banks Jr.

12) Cowboys: WR Tetairoa McMillan

13) Dolphins: OT Josh Simmons

14) Colts: TE Colston Loveland

15) Falcons: EDGE Mykel Williams

16) Cardinals: EDGE James Pearce Jr.

17) Bengals: EDGE Shemar Stewart

18) Seahawks: QB Shedeur Sanders

19) Buccaneers: LB Jihaad Campbell

20) Broncos: RB Omarion Hampton

21) Steelers: QB Jaxson Dart

22) Chargers: