The Bolts are back to work as the team is on Phase One of their 2025 voluntary offseason program.
Off the field, the Chargers 2025 draft class is set with a nine-man class that earned high draft grades from pundits.
And while the Chargers have a full roster right now with the addition of Chargers undrafted free agents, a reminder that this group is always in flux due to Chargers GM Joe Hortiz constantly looking to churn the roster and look for the best players available.
OFFENSE
Quarterback (4)
Justin Herbert, Taylor Heinicke, Trey Lance, DJ Uiagalelei
Herbert is the face of the franchise, the unquestioned leader and one of the top quarterbacks in the league. He thrived in Year 1 under Chargers Head Coach Jim Harbaugh while also showing immense toughness. Expectations will once again be high for him in 2025.
Heinicke returned to the Chargers in free agency after being acquired in an August trade with Atlanta. He will presumably battle for the backup quarterback job with Lance, a former No. 3 overall pick who has limited NFL experience but is still only 24 years old.
A former five-star recruit, Uiagalelei is an undrafted free agent who played at Clemson, Oregon State and Florida State in college.
Running Back (6)
Najee Harris, Omarion Hampton, Hassan Haskins, Kimani Vidal, Jaret Patterson, Raheim Sanders
Harris will be the featured back in the Chargers offense after joining the Bolts in free agency. He spent the past four seasons in Pittsburgh where he displayed consistency in terms of production (four straight 1,000-yard seasons) and durability (71 straight starts).
Hampton was the Chargers 2025 first-round pick after rushing for 1,500-plus yards and 15 touchdowns in back-to-back seasons at North Carolina. He is listed at 6-foot-0 and 221 pounds and was a Second-Team All-American in each of his final two seasons. He was also a two-time Doak Walker Award Finalist as the running back finished third on the Tar Heels all-time list in yards from scrimmage (4,200) and touchdowns (36).
Haskins scored three total touchdowns in 2024 after being added just before the regular season. Vidal, a 2024 sixth-round pick, showed flashes in limited action, including on a touchdown catch in Denver. Patterson spent the 2024 season on the practice squad.
Sanders, an undrafted free agent, played for Arkansas and South Carolina in college. He ran for 1,443 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2022.
Wide Receiver (11)
Ladd McConkey, Mike Williams, Quentin Johnston, Tre Harris, Derius Davis, Jalen Reagor, Brendan Rice, KeAndre Lambert-Smith, Jaylen Johnson, Dez Fitzpatrick, Luke Grimm
McConkey headlines this group only a year after being drafted. That's what happens when you set franchise single-season rookie records in catches (82) and receiving yards (1,149). A key 2025 storyline will be how Herbert and McConkey strengthen their rapport.
Williams, a Chargers 2017 first-round pick, reunited with the Bolts in free agency. He should bring good vibes to the locker room and production on deep passes on the field. Johnston, a 2023 first rounder, took a noticeable step forward in all facets of his game in Year 2.
Harris, the Chargers 2025 second-round pick, was a Second-Team All-American in 2024 after leading the team in receptions (60), receiving yards (1,030) and ranking second in receiving touchdowns (7). Lambert-Smith, a fifth-round pick, has 4.37 speed, racking up 50 catches for 981 yards and eight touchdowns on his way to Second-Team All-SEC honors at Auburn in 2024.
Davis is still an ace special teams returner who flashed with two touchdown catches in 2024. Reagor came back to the Bolts in free agency while Rice will look for more consistency after an up-and-down rookie season. Johnson and Fitzpatrick spent all or part of the 2024 season on the practice squad.
Grimm, an undrafted free agent, caught 51 passes for 690 yards and six touchdowns at Kansas in 2024.
Tight End (7)
Will Dissly, Tyler Conklin, Tucker Fisk, Oronde Gadsden II, McCallan Castles, Jordan Petaia, Stevo Klotz
Dissly and Conklin are the veteran leaders of this group as each bring a well-rounded skillset. Dissly had his best season as a pass catcher in 2024 and is still a sturdy run blocker. Conklin, a recent free agent addition, brings 64 career starts and 11 touchdown catches to the room.
Fisk was an unheralded part of the offense as a blocker in 2024. Castles spent part of last season on the practice squad.
Gadsden, listed at 6-foot-5 and 243 pounds, was a 2024 Third-Team All-American at Syracuse after finishing the season with 73 catches for 934 yards and seven touchdowns.
Petaia, meanwhile, will be a player to watch this spring and summer. A former Australian rugby player, Petaia, is on the roster as part of the NFL's International Player Pathway (IPP) training program.
Klotz, an undrafted free agent, was a two-time Second-Team All-Big 12 selection at fullback and caught a touchdown each of the past two years.
Offensive Line (16)
Rashawn Slater, Joe Alt, Mekhi Becton, Zion Johnson, Bradley Bozeman, Andre James, Trey Pipkins III, Jamaree Salyer, Branson Taylor, Karsen Barnhart, Tyler McLellan, Bucky Williams, Nash Jones, Josh Kaltenberger, Corey Stewart, Savion Washington
The offensive line is anchored by Slater and Alt, a tandem that forms one of the best tackle duos in the league. Slater was a Pro Bowler again in 2024, a season where he posted an overall Pro Football Focus grade of 91.1, a mark that ranks second among all offensive tackles. Alt, the No. 5 overall pick in 2024, switched to right tackle and was among the league's top tackles.
Becton will slot in at right guard and brings size (6-foot-7 and 363 pounds) and physicality up front.
Johnson, who spent the past three seasons at guard, will get a chance to earn the starting center spot this offseason. Chargers General Manager Joe Hortiz said last week that Pipkins and Bozeman, both of whom were full-time starters in 2024, will compete for the left guard spot, as will James, a recent free-agent addition.
Salyer provides strong depth as a reserve lineman while Barnhart, McLellan and Williams all did not see the field in 2024.
Taylor was the Chargers 2025 sixth-round pick and will move to guard after playing tackle at Pittsburgh. Jones, Kaltenberger, Stewart and Washington are all undrafted free agents.
DEFENSE
Defensive Line (10)
Teair Tart, Otito Ogbonnia, Da'Shawn Hand, Naquan Jones, Jamaree Caldwell, Scott Matlock, Justin Eboigbe, Christopher Hinton, TeRah Edwards, Josh Fuga
Tart is among the leaders of this group entering the 2025 season. He was signed as a free agent in training camp but provided strong depth in 2024 while notching a sack, 16 pressures and a forced fumble on the interior.
Hand and Jones were added as free agents this offseason. Hand, a 2018 fourth-round pick by Detroit, has appeared in 64 career regular-season games (13 starts) with 102 tackles (65 solo), five sacks, five pass breakups, 12 tackles for loss, four forced fumbles and a pair of recoveries over his career. Jones played in 48 regular-season games has totaled 89 tackles (38 solo), 6.5 sacks, 11 tackles for loss and four pass breakups.
Caldwell was a 2025 third-round pick who provides plenty of size at 6-foot-2 and 332 pounds. He had a career-high 29 total tackles (16 solo) including 4.5 tackles for loss, a forced fumble and three pass breakups at Oregon in 2024.
Ogbonnia, Matlock, Eboigbe and Hinton all return from a season ago. Ogbonnia is a fine run defender while Matlock is a solid depth piece who is also the team's starting fullback. Eboigbe, a 2024 fourth-round pick, played just 26 defensive snaps as a rookie while Hinton spent last season on the practice squad.
Edwards (Illinois) and Fuga (Virginia Tech) are undrafted free agents.
Edge Rusher (9)
Khalil Mack, Tuli Tuipulotu, Bud Dupree, Kyle Kennard, Tre'Mon Morris-Brash, Chris Collins, Caleb Murphy, Kylan Guidry, Garmon Randolph
Mack, a future Hall of Famer, contemplated retirement but is back for Year 12. He is perhaps the most respected player on the entire roster. And he can still play at an elite level, too, as he posted the fourth-best Pro Football Focus defense grade (90.4) among edge rushers in 2024.
Tuipulotu led the Chargers with 8.5 sacks in 2024 but could be in line for an even bigger role this season as a full-time starter. Dupree is a solid veteran piece as a rotational rusher and a locker room leader.
Kennard, a 2025 fourth-round pick, was a monster this past season as he won the Nagurski Trophy as the nation's top defender and was also the SEC Defensive Player of the Year. He was also a Second-Team All-American and First-Team All-SEC selection after tallying 11.5 sacks, 15.5 tackles for loss, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.
Morris-Brash was among the offseason standouts a year ago and nearly made the team out of camp. He spent the entire 2024 season on the practice squad alongside Collins and Murphy.
Guidry (Western Kentucky) and Randolph (Baylor) are undrafted free agents.
Linebacker (7)
Daiyan Henley, Junior Colson, Denzel Perryman, Troy Dye, Del'Shawn Phillips, Jeremiah Jean-Baptiste, Marlowe Wax
Henley has morphed into the Chargers No. 1 linebacker after a breakout 2024 season. He played at a Pro-Bowl level, leading the Bolts with 147 total tackles in his first year as a starter.
The Chargers hope Colson can take a similar jump after his rookie season was hampered by injuries in 2024. Perryman came back to the Chargers in free agency. He can start if needed but is also a team captain and valued leader on defense.
Dye was quietly a key defensive piece in 2024 while also leading the Chargers in special teams snaps. Phillips came out from Houston in free agency and should play a key role on special teams under Ryan Ficken. Jean-Baptiste spent the 2024 season on the practice squad.
Wax, an undrafted free agent, played in 57 games for Syracuse and made 47 starts. He was an Honorable Mention All-ACC selection in 2024.
Cornerback (11)
Tarheeb Still, Donte Jackson, Cam Hart, Benjamin St-Juste, Ja'Sir Taylor, Deane Leonard, Trikwze Bridges, Jordan Oladokun, Myles Purchase, Nikko Reed, Eric Rogers
The Chargers appear to be in good hands with Still and Hart, a pair of 2024 fifth-round picks who each shined as rookies. Still led the team with four interceptions while Hart provided a physical presence on the outside.
Jackson and St-Juste were recent additions in free agency. Jackson tallied a career-high five interceptions in 2024, which tied for second-most in the AFC and tied for the sixth-most in the NFL. St-Juste was with Washington last year when he played in all 17 regular-season games (14 starts) with a career-high 71 total tackles.
Bridges was the Chargers 2025 seventh-round pick. He appeared in all 13 games at Florida in 2024, making seven starts at both cornerback and safety. Bridges tallied 70 tackles (38 solo) with two interceptions, six pass breakups, a tackle for loss and two forced fumbles.
Oladokun, Purchase, Reed and Rogers are all undrafted free agents.
Safety (8)
Derwin James Jr., Elijah Molden, Alohi Gilman, Tony Jefferson, Kendall Williamson, Emany Johnson, RJ Mickens, Jaylen Jones
James returned to his All-Pro form in 2024 while primarily playing in a slot role under Jesse Minter. James, who set a career high with 5.5 sacks, was consistently around the line of scrimmage and routinely disrupted quarterbacks and running backs.
James was able to operate in the nickel while Molden and Gilman primarily held down traditional safety roles on the back end. Molden, who recently signed a multi-year contract extension, was a boon on defense after being acquired in an August trade. And Gilman was his usual steady self in the secondary.
Jefferson, a respected veteran leader, came back to the Chargers in free agency and will provide depth and wisdom. Williamson was a reserve player in 2024 while Johnson spent part of the year on the practice squad.
Mickens was the Chargers 2025 sixth-round pick after tallying 75 tackles, 6.0 tackles for loss, two interceptions and seven pass breakups this past season at Clemson.
Jones, an undrafted free agent, a ballhawk in his final season at Virginia Tech with three interceptions and a team-high eight passes defended.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Specialists (3)
Cameron Dicker, JK Scott, Josh Harris
The Chargers specialist trio remains intact after Scott re-signed with the Chargers in free agency.
Dicker is among the NFL's best kicker regardless of age and had another stellar season in 2024. He scored 150 points (39 field goals and 33 extra points) to set a single-season record by a kicker in team history.
He did it all with a 92.9 percent make rate, good for the highest in franchise history for a kicker with at least 35 field goal attempts.
Scott averaged 41.9 net yards per punt and had the 10th-most punts downed inside the 20-yard line (28). He earned the fourth-highest Pro Football Focus punt grade (84.0) and held the second-best mark in hangtime with 4.65 seconds.
Harris, who turns 36 next week, remains an elite long snapper and a steady presence in the locker room. He played in his 200th career NFL game last season.
