The Chargers are obviously an exciting team to watch heading into the 2025 season.
They're also a team on the rise moving forward, too.
ESPN recently released their future power rankings, where they ranked which teams will be among the league's best over the next three seasons, with the Bolts landing at 12th overall.
The ESPN panel factored in each team's quarterback situation, remaining (non-QB) roster makeup, front office and coaching staff before averageing out the results.
There are plenty of reasons to be optimistic about the team in the next coming seasons — starting with having a franchise quarterback in Justin Herbert.
But ESPN's Ben Solak believes the biggest reason for confidence in the Chargers is the work General Manager Joe Hortiz has recently done in the draft — and how that could continue to swing the roster in a big way.
Solak wrote:
The Chargers' future is secure in quarterback Justin Herbert, but it's the early returns on the drafting expertise of general manager Joe Hortiz, who acquired many impactful rookies last season, that have the Chargers buzzing up the future power rankings. With the same success in this year's class, they'll continue to rise. An elite tackle duo (assuming Rashawn Slater recovers fully from his torn left patellar tendon) helps, too.
Get an inside look at the postgame celebration from the Chargers 27-13 win over the New Orleans Saints at SoFI Stadium!
In terms of what to keep an eye on, ESPN analyst Louis Riddick said the Chargers passing attack could be a game-changing unit.
Riddick wrote:
The concern remains the same for me in 2025 as it was in 2024, although I'm significantly more optimistic now. Other than rookie Ladd McConkey, the Chargers didn't have a credible threat on the perimeter last season. They went to work this offseason and drafted two dynamic receivers in Tre Harris and KeAndre Lambert-Smith. Both have exceptional playmaking ability down the field. This should enable Herbert to have the kind of breakout season that puts him in the conversation with the position's elite and puts the Chargers in the hunt for a Super Bowl.
As for ESPN's bold prediction, Seth Walder remains very high on a certain member on the team who is on the verge of becoming a star.
In fact, the expert believes tackle Joe Alt will be winning some hardware in the not-so-distant future.
Walder wrote:
Offensive tackle Joe Alt will win the Protector of the Year award. The signs are certainly there already: Alt ranked fourth in pass block win rate (94 percent) and 15th in run block win rate (78 percent) among tackles as a rookie.
