The Los Angeles Chargers today announced that the team has signed seven players selected in the 2025 draft class to rookie contracts — Oregon defensive lineman Jamaree Caldwell (No. 86 overall), South Carolina outside linebacker Kyle Kennard (No. 125), Auburn wide receiver KeAndre Lambert-Smith (No. 158), Syracuse tight end Oronde Gadsden (No. 165), Pittsburgh guard Branson Taylor (No. 199), Clemson safety RJ Mickens (No. 214) and Florida defensive back Trikweze Bridges (No. 256).
In addition, the Bolts waived outside linebacker Chris Collins and signed 18 undrafted free agents — Illinois defensive lineman TeRah Edwards, Virginia Tech defensive lineman Josh Fuga, Kansas wide receiver Luke Grimm, Western Kentucky outside linebacker Kylan Guidry, Virginia Tech safety Jaylen Jones, Texas State guard Nash Jones, Maryland center Josh Kaltenberger, Iowa State tight end Stevo Klotz, Bowling Green State cornerback Jordan Oladokun, Iowa State cornerback Myles Purchase, Baylor outside linebacker Garmon Randolph, Oregon cornerback Nikko Reed, Rutgers cornerback Eric Rogers, South Carolina running back Raheim Sanders, Purdue tackle Corey Stewart, Florida State quarterback DJ Uiagalelei, Syracuse tackle Savion Washington and Syracuse linebacker Marlowe Wax.
Caldwell earned honorable mention All-Big Ten recognition for Oregon in 2024, starting all 14 games for the Ducks. He was a key contributor to an Oregon defense that ranked No. 15 in the nation by allowing 315.9 yards per game. The 6-1, 340-pound defensive lineman set a career high last season with 29 tackles (16 solo), adding 4.5 tackles for loss, three pass breakups and a forced fumble. Caldwell is ninth Oregon Duck drafted by the Bolts.
Prior to his 2024 season at Oregon, Caldwell played two years at Houston (2022-23). In 20 games for the Cougars, he totaled 38 tackles (28 solo), 12 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks, a forced fumble and blocked two kicks. Caldwell set a career high in 2023 at Houston with 6.5 sacks, ranking No. 5 in the Big 12 that season. The Newberry, S.C., native also spent time at Independence (Kan.) Community College in 2021, appearing in four games and totaling seven tackles (four solo), three tackles for loss and a half-sack.
Kennard ended his career at South Carolina in 2024, producing one of the most decorated seasons in program history. He was the first Bronko Nagurski Trophy winner in school annals, which recognizes college football's top defensive player, and was named Southeastern Conference Defensive Player of the Year. Kennard recorded 11.5 sacks last season to rank No. 8 in the nation en route to All-SEC recognition and consensus All-America honors, including a second-team selection by The Associated Press. The Atlanta, Ga., native transferred to South Carolina after a four-year career at Georgia Tech (2020-23), appearing in a total of 54 career games for the Gamecocks and Yellow Jackets. He totaled 24 sacks, 143 tackles and 37 tackles for loss over his collegiate career.
In 2024 at Auburn, Lambert-Smith earned second-team All-SEC honors after posting 50 catches for 981 yards (19.6 avg.) and eight touchdowns. One of college football's fastest players, his 19.6-yard receiving average last season was the best in the country among players with at least 45 catches. Lambert-Smith transferred to Auburn from Penn State, where he played four seasons (2020-23) and was the only player in Nittany Lions history with multiple 80-yard receptions. He started 49-of-60 career games at Penn State and Auburn, totaling 176 catches for 2,702 yards (15.4 avg.) and 19 touchdowns. Lambert-Smith's uncle, Kam Chancellor, was a four-time Pro Bowl selection and won Super Bowl XLVIII with the Seattle Seahawks.
Gadsden (first name pronounced oh-RON-day) ended his Syracuse career as the program's all-time record-holder for receptions (141) and receiving yards (1,970) by a tight end. He earned AP third-team All-America honors and first-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference recognition in 2024 after setting the school's single-season receptions record by a tight end with 73 catches for 934 yards and seven touchdowns. Gadsden was also a first-team All-ACC selection in 2022, with his 969 receiving yards marking the most ever in single season by an Orange tight end. His father, Oronde Gadsden, won Super Bowl XXX as a wide receiver for the Dallas Cowboys and also played six seasons for the Miami Dolphins (1998-2023).
A team captain as a senior at Pittsburgh in 2024, Taylor played in 45 games and made 21 starts over his five seasons for the Panthers (2020-24). Taylor took over as a starter in 2023, blocking along a line that allowed just 23 sacks, the fifth-fewest in the Atlantic Coast Conference that season. He started the first six games of 2024 at left tackle for Pittsburgh, helping the offense average over 480 total net yards per game over that stretch, including averaging 175.5 rushing yards per game. Taylor is the eighth player in history drafted out of Pittsburgh by the Bolts and the first since 1990.
Mickens started 30-of-60 games over a five-year career at Clemson (2020-24), becoming the 10th player in program history to participate in 60 career contests for the Tigers. He was voted by his teammates as a team captain in his final year at Clemson, ranking third on the team with a career-high 85 tackles (44 solo). Mickens added a pair of picks and seven pass breakups along with six tackles for loss in 2024, all career bests. He was named third-team All-ACC in 2022 by Pro Football Focus after leading the Tigers with three interceptions. Mickens' father, Ray Mickens Sr., was a third-round pick by the New York Jets in 1996, playing 146 career games over 11 NFL seasons with the Jets, Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots.
Bridges (first name pronounced try-KWEZ) played the 2024 season at Florida after a four-year career at Oregon (2020-23), redshirting for the Ducks in 2019. With the Gators, Bridges led the team with a career-high 70 tackles (38 solo), two interceptions, six pass breakups, a tackle for loss and a pair of forced fumbles. In addition to being a versatile defensive back, he was a regular contributor on special teams for both the Gators and Ducks. Bridges picked off three passes in 2022 at Oregon, ranking second on the team and tied for No. 4 in the Pacific-12.
