Bolts From The Blue
The Chargers added some offensive firepower early in this year’s draft and that seems to have rubbed off well on analysts seeing as the team saw a rise in post-draft power rankings.
The Chargers, along with the rest of the NFL, got better over the three days of the 2025 NFL Draft. They used nine picks by the end of it, finding a way to reinforcement and further build the team in the image of Jim Harbaugh and Joe Hortiz.
However, the level at which teams got better will vary from franchise to franchise. Some got a little better. Some a good deal. And then some made so many great picks that it feels like they’re bound for much higher expectations in 2025.
The Chargers made the postseason in 2024 and the expectation will once again start at “make the postseason” and likely settle around “win a playoff game at the bare minimum.” I think that’s fair. The Bolts are a well-coached team but had some flaws that truly exposed them in that wild card loss to the Texans. This year, they’ll look to be better.
In a new set of power rankings following the draft by CBS Sports, the Charges actually took one step forward from the publication’s last set of rankings, inching into the top-10 after being 11th.
Here’s what author and analyst Pete Prisco had to say about their ranking this time around:
“They were a playoff team last season in Jim Harbaugh’s first as coach, and they’ve had an outstanding offseason. The draft brought a lot of good players, including running back Omarion Hampton, who should put up big numbers in their offense.”
The addition of Hampton is surely going to move the needle for evaluators. He’s a true three-down back and should be the future of this franchise’s backfield. He’ll pair nicely with Najee Harris for what should be one of the most consistent and durable backfields in the entire league.
One of the biggest deciding factors about the Chargers’ success this season will undoubtedly come down to the success of the wide receiver group. Will anyone be able to take some of the pressure off of Ladd McConkey? Will that be veteran Mike Williams or rookie Tre Harris? What about Quentin Johnston entering year three? There remain questions about how that group will shake out, but there’s no doubt it’s a better room than it was last year.
Defensively, they retain much of the core that helped them become the number one scoring unit. The talented safety room is still intact and the same goes for the off-ball linebacker room. The edge rushers are basically the same seeing as Joey Bosa was not a consistent starting presence in his final year with LA, as well.
The cornerbacks room will once again be a rag-tag group of young players and recently-signed veterans that fans hope will play beyond themselves with good coaching similar to last year’s group.
Of course we won’t know how well...
