While the Los Angeles Loaders have completed their NFL 2025 draft with six day 3 choices, a theme has become at the center: this project, more than anything else, aimed to put more play around Justin Herbert.
In the first round, the loads drafted the ball carrier Omarion Hampton, who has the potential to modify the fabric of their offensive identity. They wrote Tre Harris, an external receiver winning the ball in the second round. They are in double the fifth round receiver by adding a quick Lambert-Smith Keandre. Seven choices later, they exchanged against Oronde Gadsden II, catchy of sports passes. Weapon, weapon, weapon and another weapon. Everything before the end of the fifth round. Managing Director Joe Hortiz and coach Jim Harbaugh built around their quarter.
Herbert had a reliable option in the pass match last season: Ladd McConkey. Now Herbert has options in several position groups. Hampton will have a multifaceted effect on the offense. It will undoubtedly improve the racing game. It is an excellent sensor of passes off the back field. And it is very capable in the protection of passes. These are all elements that will help Herbert in different ways.
“Whenever you can add offensive weapons as we have done in the last three days, it’s really exciting,” said deputy managing director Chad Alexander.
And the charges were always able to tackle the defense on days 2 and 3. I identified seven positions of need before the project: receiver, tight end, interior defensive line, interior offensive line, ball carrier, rusher on board and cornerback. The charges wrote at least one player at all these positions, including the defensive line player Jamaree Caldwell in the third round and the Rusher Edge Kennard in the fourth round.
Here are my other take -out dishes.
Best value-price pick
It was a deep close final class, and the charges took advantage of this depth by finding Gadsden in the back half of the fifth round. AthleticsDane Brugler gave Gaddden a fourth round note and ranked it like his 131st player in the general classification. The charges chose it at n ° 165. Hortiz was aggressive to go up to get Gadsden, whose skills are a natural adjustment for what the charges needed at the post. The loads had four sixth round choices this year, including one of the selections of the New England Patriots and two compensatory choices. Hortiz used the choice of Patriots and one of these COM choices to return to the fifth round at No. 165.
Gadsden was recruited in Syracuse as a receiver, but went to a tight end in the second year. This season, he captured 61 assists for 964 yards and six affected. After an injury at the end of the season in 2023, he returned in 2024 and reproduced this production with 73 catches for 934 yards and seven affected. It measures almost 6 feet 5 with an exceptional length and an capture radius. He has speed. Gadsden ranked second in the FBS last season with 17 disputed catches, according to Brugler.
The loaders have an excellent tight blockage in Disly. They added a experienced and reliable possession receiver at tight end Tyler Conklin. What was missing was a vertical element, a tight end that could threaten the defenses in sewing. Gadsden has the potential to be this type of player. There were better options earlier in the draft with players like Colston Loveland, Elijah Arroyo and Terrance Ferguson. Instead, the charges took advantage of a deep group and found a set of skills capable of day 3.
Most surprising choice
I fully expected that the charges come back with a receiver in the first two days, and they found a logical adjustment with Harris, which can be a disputed capture for Herbert outside the figures. To which I did not expect is that the loaders took another receiver so shortly after having drafted Harris. They took Harris at n ° 55. They took Lambert-Smith at No. 158. The LSU Miles Frazier guard was still on the board of this choice, and I thought that the charges would go in this direction to provide a potential starter to the left guard.
At the same time, it is easy to see how Lambert-Smith integrates into the passing offensive. The charges added Mike Williams to the free agency. He and Harris are vertical threats, but they are not burners. McConkey has this type of speed, but it is at its best when it works out of the slit. Quentin Johnston is explosive as an option of yards after capture but not necessarily as a vertical receiver. Lambert-Smith ran a 4.37. He finished third at FBS last season with five catches of 50 or more yards. He has the skills to underline the defenses on the ground with his speed, and I do not think that the charges had it on their list before writing it. It was therefore surprising that the charges took two receivers in four choices, but the adjustment finally makes sense.
Biggest question point
The charges waited for the sixth round to write an offensive line player: the Pitt Branson Taylor’s offensive platform at n ° 199. Hortiz said that the charges were going to play Taylor in Guard. Taylor did not play on guard in the university game action. He said he had played a guard in practice in the first year. I wonder if the charges have done enough to improve the interior of their offensive line this offseason.
The charges had trouble protecting Herbert inside last season, including in a loss to playoffs against Houston’s Texans. They signed Mekhi Becton in a free agency to be their departure goalkeeper. He has a prior history of injuries with his right knee. After the project, the charges have some options in the center and to the left guard, but none of them is tangible improvements of 2024. Zion Johnson, Bradley Bozeman and Andre James will compete in the center. Bozeman, Johnson, James, Trey Pipkins III, Jamaree Salyer and now Taylor will be in the left guard.
The loads had the possibility of finding a more competitive room to add to this interior offensive line battle. The guard of Georgia Tate Ratledge was there at n ° 55. They rather took Harris. Frazier was there at n ° 86, n ° 125 and n ° 158. The charges have passed. The Lions of Detroit, which have produced one of the best offensive lines of football in the past two seasons, have taken Ratledge in the second round and Frazier in the fifth round. The charges have written a tackle without childcare experience. Maybe it works. I think the interior of the offensive line will be the limiting factor in the loaders in 2025. They deserve the merit of adding weapons for Herbert. But weapons are much less effective without a coherent blockage in racing and passing games.
Remaining needs
Last year, Hortiz remained active after the project and continued to build the list. He signed the Bud Dupree Bud rusher and the DJ Chark receiver in May. He signed the defensive line player Teir Tart during the training camp. He exchanged for security Elijah Molden and the Taylor Heinicke rescue quarter in late August. It is therefore possible – and even likely – that the chargers are not finished.
If the loads move in the free agency after the trip, it should come inside the offensive line. Brandon Scherff and Hernandez will remain free agents. These are two names to watch.
“We are still open,” said Hortiz. “We are still looking at.”
Outlook Post-Radin
This is perhaps the deepest post-reflective list that the charges built in my time covering the team. Inner line stains are the only weaknesses in the list, and even for the guard and the center left, the charges have several options in competition for the two starting points.
They have a well -balanced two -headed monster in the rear field at Najee Harris and Hampton. They have a diversified and complementary group of tight receptors and ends. Caldwell brings racing lots and passers to a group of interior defensive line players who lacked front line talents. They added a long rusher on board folded in Kennard, who has room to grow behind Khalil Mack, Tuli Tuipulotu and Dupree. They brought in -depth security – RJ Mickens of Clemson – which will push Tony Jefferson for a list place behind Derwin James Jr., Molden and Alohi Gilman. And the cornerback could end up being the most competitive camp battle in the spring, with seven players, including the choice of seventh Trikweze Bridges Tour outside Florida, fighting for six places.
The addition of a veteran interior offensive line player to compete for the starting left guard point would put the final touch on a very complete offseason.
(Gadsden II Oronde photo: Rich Barnes / Imagn Images)
