Chargers' recent problem teaches Jim Harbaugh the perfect lesson for the 2025 NFL Draft
Over the past month of play, the Los Angeles Chargers have lost some of their identity. To start the season, they were looked at as a squad, led by Jim Harbaugh, that would dominate upfront. Recently, their biggest struggles have come in the trenches, on both sides of the football. Particularly, in the interior, the […]
Over the past month of play, the Los Angeles Chargers have lost some of their identity. To start the season, they were looked at as a squad, led by Jim Harbaugh, that would dominate upfront.
Recently, their biggest struggles have come in the trenches, on both sides of the football. Particularly, in the interior, the play has been inconsistent.
In A to Z Sports' latest 3-round mock draft, the Chargers attack that weakness on defense aggressively.
19. Los Angeles Chargers: Kenneth Grant, DT, Michigan
Grant obviously has a connection to Jim Harbaugh, and it's also one of the biggest needs on the roster. Grant brings impact size and stellar upside from the middle of a defense. – Ryan Roberts
Grant has been a consistent riser in mock drafts. Here, he reconnects with Jim Harbaugh, his former coach with the Wolverines.
Out of all of the rest of the interior defensive lineman in the 2025 NFL Draft, Grant is the one who appears like the clearest nose tackle of the group. The combination of size and raw power should allow him to serve in either an even or odd man front, possessing substantial upside in either system.
Poona Ford has given the Chargers some solid playing time this year, but he's probably not a long-term solution there. With this selection, they get better next year and seasons down the road inside on the DL.
53. Los Angeles Chargers: Kaleb Johnson, RB, Iowa
JK Dobbins has been a great story, but his injury history makes it hard to justify resigning him this offseason. Johnson is a tough runner with tremendous spatial awareness. Combine that with his body type, and he has a high-volume upside. – Ryan Roberts
I agree with Roberts here. Dobbins has played good football when healthy this season, but he's simply missing too much time. Gus Edwards has not been impressive, and Kimani Vidal should just be a depth option.
Johnson would step in as the starter immediately and runs with enough power and agility to work for LA's offense going forward. He fits the style of runner that Harbaugh will prefer, and he is a cerebral college RB right now.
Johnson is exactly what you want if you run a wide zone or outside zone-centric running game. He possesses excellent vision and maneuvers down the field with his vision and patient eyes. — Tyler Forness
84. Los Angeles Chargers: Omarr Norman-Lott, DT, Tennessee
Pairing Omarr Norman-Lott's unbelievably ferocious pass-rush skills with Kenneth Grant's athleticism and run-stopping force in the same draft for a team that needs to completely revamp their defensive interior this off-season and add major depth is not fair. – Travis May
Doubling down! The Chargers grab another interior player on defense, and I understand it.
An offensive weapon or interior lineman would also be tempting here, but the value is great for the Vols defender. He's got NFL versatility and explosiveness.
The tape shows a versatile interior defender with the mass to two-gap and the quickness to penetrate. His anchor strength and stack-and-shed ability translate across multiple fronts, while his initial burst allows him to shoot gaps when aligned in passing situations. The lateral agility and motor are NFL-caliber traits that will serve him well in a rotational role early in his career.
Jim Harbaugh falls on the sword for Chargers’ latest loss ahead of pivotal division matchup
He wants to be better.
