3 Chargers Draft Targets With the No. 23 Pick
The Los Angeles Chargers offseason has officially begun. In the first season under Jim Harbaugh, the Chargers went 11-6 and made a Wild Card appearance. They were torched by the Houston Texans 32-12 in the first round and will have to make some changes on the roster to make a deeper push in the playoffs.
They will have opportunities to improve the roster in multiple different avenues. It may be through free agency, trades, and the 2025 NFL Draft.
The Chargers own the 22nd overall pick in the first round. That will give Los Angeles a shot at adding a playmaker that could help the team in 2025. In this article, we'll discuss three potential choices for the Chargers in the first round.
1. James Pearce Jr., EDGE, Tennessee
The Chargers may be looking to boost their pass rush this offseason. There's a good chance that Khalil Mack or Joey Bosa won't be on the team next season. Going into this season, Mack had to take a pay cut from $23.25 million to $19 million. He's going to hit free agency this offseason and could be signing elsewhere.
As for Bosa, he took a pay cut from $22 million to $15 million in 2024. He's on the books for the 2025 season at $36 million but will have to take another pay cut to stick around.
The need for EDGE is there. Someone to watch in the first round is EDGE James Pearce Jr.
James Pearce Jr. is still my EDGE1.
— NFL Draft Files (@NFL_DF) November 7, 2024
He’s dominated SEC play and improved MASSIVELY as a run defender since 2023. pic.twitter.com/L6jFGjPJdV
He's an athletic force with the foot quickness to explode off the line of scrimmage. Pearce Jr. turns his speed into power to generate pressure. In 39 collegiate games, he had 71 total tackles, 30 TFLs, 19.5 sacks, and three forced fumbles. The North Carolina native is a player who would step in and find a role in his rookie season.