Analysts and fans are justifying the team’s picks based on value throughout the draft. Did they get a steal? Was it about right? Did they reach?
So we will look at the Chargers’ selections and how they stacked up with Arif Hasan’s 2025 NFL draft Consensus Big Board.
RB Omarion Hampton
- Draft pick: 22
- Big board ranking: 27
Hampton had been mocked as early as the middle of the first round, so I felt like the Chargers got just about the right value. The chances of him falling out of Round 1 were very slim.
WR Tre Harris
- Draft pick: 55
- Big board ranking: 60
Harris was among a few wide receivers who were tabbed as second-rounders. He would’ve been long gone if they waited until the third round. The draft pick and big board ranking are nearly identical, so this was good value.
DT Jamaree Caldwell
- Draft pick: 86
- Big board ranking: 114
From when the Chargers drafted Caldwell to where he was on the big board, this would’ve been seen as a reach. But there weren’t many nose tackles left when they’re were picking, and I see Caldwell as very underrated.
EDGE Kyle Kennard
- Draft pick: 125
- Big board ranking: 93
Kennard, the 2024 Defensive Player of the Year, was viewed as a top-100 player, so this was excellent value for the Chargers.
WR KeAndre Lambert-Smith
- Draft pick: 158
- Big board ranking: 206
Lambert-Smith was out of the top 200, so this pick was seen as a slight reach. But hey, the Chargers got a wide receiver with speed.
TE Oronde Gadsden II
- Draft pick: 165
- Big board ranking: 167
The Chargers traded up to get Gadsden with pick No. 165. This nearly lines up perfectly with the big board ranking..
OT Branson Taylor
- Draft pick: 199
- Big board ranking: N/A
Taylor was not among the consensus top 300 players.
S R.J. Mickens
- Draft pick: 214
- Big board ranking: 183
The Chargers got good value with this sixth-round pick. Mickens was the top safety still on the board when they selected him.
S Trikweze Bridges
- Draft pick: 256
- Big board ranking: N/A
Bridges was not among the consensus top 300 players.
This article originally appeared on Chargers Wire: Chargers draft picks: Where they ranked on 2025 consensus big board
Analysts and fans are justifying the team’s picks based on value throughout the draft. Did they get a steal? Was it about right? Did they reach?
So we will look at the Chargers’ selections and how they stacked up with Arif Hasan’s 2025 NFL draft Consensus Big Board.
RB Omarion Hampton
- Draft pick: 22
- Big board ranking: 27
Hampton had been mocked as early as the middle of the first round, so I felt like the Chargers got just about the right value. The chances of him falling out of Round 1 were very slim.
WR Tre Harris
- Draft pick: 55
- Big board ranking: 60
Harris was among a few wide receivers who were tabbed as second-rounders. He would’ve been long gone if they waited until the third round. The draft pick and big board ranking are nearly identical, so this was good value.
DT Jamaree Caldwell
- Draft pick: 86
- Big board ranking: 114
From when the Chargers drafted Caldwell to where he was on the big board, this would’ve been seen as a reach. But there weren’t many nose tackles left when they’re were picking, and I see Caldwell as very underrated.
EDGE Kyle Kennard
- Draft pick: 125
- Big board ranking: 93
Kennard, the 2024 Defensive Player of the Year, was viewed as a top-100 player, so this was excellent value for the Chargers.
WR KeAndre Lambert-Smith
- Draft pick: 158
- Big board ranking: 206
Lambert-Smith was out of the top 200, so this pick was seen as a slight reach. But hey, the Chargers got a wide receiver with speed.
TE Oronde Gadsden II
- Draft pick: 165
- Big board ranking: 167
The Chargers traded up to get Gadsden with pick No. 165. This nearly lines up perfectly with the big board ranking..
OT Branson Taylor
- Draft pick: 199
- Big board ranking: N/A
Taylor was not among the consensus top 300 players.
S R.J. Mickens
- Draft pick: 214
- Big board ranking: 183
The Chargers got good value with this sixth-round pick. Mickens was the top safety still on the board when they selected him.
S Trikweze Bridges
- Draft pick: 256
- Big board ranking: N/A
Bridges was not among the consensus top 300 players.
This article originally appeared on Chargers Wire: Chargers draft picks: Where they ranked on 2025 consensus big board
