That's a wrap on the 2025 NFL Draft.

The Chargers ended up with nine total draft picks, a mix of five offensive players and four on defense.

Here are five takeaways from Chargers General Manager Joe Hortiz and Chargers assistant general manager Chad Alexander's media availability on Saturday evening:

1. Offense is the focus

In a perfect world, each NFL team would come away with a balanced draft class with an even blend of both offensive and defensive players.

The Chargers ended up with that by Saturday evening, but they also used four of their first six picks on offensive skill players.

Was that by design? Not necessarily.

"We're always trying to bolster everything, improve everything ... we felt like we helped our team in free agency and really improved depth and really could go out to play a game, so let's just pick the best players available," Hortiz said. "When you're in there making the selections, you want to keep it balanced, you do. But you got to follow the board.

"You can't [say], 'Oh we have to get a defensive player because we haven't done that,' while you got better offensive players sticking out that could help us," Hortiz added. "You take the best players. It's not always going to be balanced, you'd love it to be, but that's not realistic."

Alexander said: "You just don't panic, you let the board come to you. We prioritize speed, competitiveness, guys that are versatile and that's how the board fell."

With that said, it was evident that Hortiz and Alexander were excited about the collection of play-making ability the Bolts added the past few days.

In addition to first-round running back Omarion Hampton, the Chargers also took wide receiver Tre Harris in Round 2.

Then came Saturday, when the Bolts added wide receiver KeAndre Lambert-Smith and tight end Oronde Gadsden II, both of whom were taken in the fifth round.

Those four players scored 102 total touchdowns in college, with Hampton leading the way with 40.

"Anytime you're able to add offensive weapons like we've done in the past three days, it's just really exciting," Alexander said. "The guys we brought in, they're competitors, they're ultra-competitors.

"We added speed, we added toughness, even at the receiver position, at the tight end position, certainly at the running back position," Alexander added. "We prioritize those core values, the toughness, great teammates, high football IQ, speed, versatility. Those guys are going to come in and help us as offensive playmakers. Just really excited about being able to add those guys."

Harris (29 college scores) and Lambert-Smith (19 TDs) should hopefully help inject some big-play ability into the offense alongside wide receivers Ladd McConkey, Mike Williams and Quentin Johnston.

"They're both playmakers. They both can run, have the ability to make people miss, do things after the catch," Hortiz said. "To me, it's getting talented players who can run, separate, catch the ball, score the ball. That's what they can do."

Alexander added: "Versatile playmakers. They have played for awhile and played against high-level competition and done well in college. Certainly deserving to be drafted and to be on this roster."

Gadsden, meanwhile, was a 2024 Third-Team All-American after finishing the season with 73 catches for 934 yards and seven touchdowns.

"I think he'll give us a great vertical presence in the middle of the field," Hortiz said of Gadsden, who is listed at 6-foot-5 and 243 pounds. "He's got speed, the ability to separate versus man coverage."

The Chargers actually traded up to get the Syracuse tight end, sending sending Nos. 181 and 209 (both sixth-rounders) to Philadelphia for No. 165.

"Just felt like it was a guy we wanted, a guy who was on our radar all along," Hortiz said. "Let's just not mess around and let's go get him."

2. The state of the O-line

While many draft pundits projected the Bolts to heavily address their offensive line in the draft, the Bolts used just one pick on a player up front in Branson Taylor, whom the Chargers are planning to move inside to guard.

"We'll throw him in there at guard," Hortiz said. "You just watch him move and take up space, he stays on his feet, he can get up field and climb to the second level.

"You watch him punch guys down, he can cave down the line," Hortiz added. "We think he projects well in there. He bends well in the stance, smart, smart football player."

But the Pittsburgh offensive lineman wasn't drafted until No. 199, a sign that the Bolts like the group they had in place pre-draft.

"Loved the guys that were already here, love that we added Branson. I know they're all going to go out there and compete. We're going to play the best five and roll," Hortiz said.

Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt will obviously man the tackle spots while fresh face Mekhi Becton will slot it at right guard.

Center and left guard remain a bit in flux, even with Zion Johnson transitioning to center. Trey Pipkins III, Bradley Bozeman and Andre James are all candidates to play left guard, with the latter two being options at center depending on how Johnson fares there.

Jamaree Salyer and Taylor are also depth pieces along the offensive line.

"Everyone is going to get out here and compete. Like I always said, we're going to play the best players with the guys who are on the roster," Hortiz said.

Hortiz also noted that the Chargers will always look to keep improving the roster, a mantra the Bolts front office has stuck to since Hortiz arrived last year.

"In terms of guys who aren't here, we're always open and always looking. You can say O-line, you can say D-line, you can say any position. We're always trying to upgrade this team," Hortiz said.

A final note: Hortiz was asked about where things stand with a possible contract extension with Slater.

"We've had conversations. We keep talking, that's progress. When the deal is done, we'll report it, I promise you," said Hortiz, who added he was "hopeful" something gets done.

3. Kennard a steal in Round 4

It's not often that the SEC Defensive Player of the Year falls into your lap in the fourth round.

But that's exactly what happened when South Carolina edge rusher Kyle Kennard was on the board for the Bolts in the fourth round at pick No. 125.

Kennard, who won the Nagurski Trophy as the nation's top defender, 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.

"Very good pass rusher, motor, effort," Hortiz said. "He's got power, he's got speed, just love the motor and the way he plays, fits right in there with the mentality.

"We know some coaches on the staff that Jesse [Minter] and I worked with," Hortiz said. "As soon as we made the pick, they were like, 'You are going to absolutely love him.' We were fired up to get him."

Kennard, listed at 6-foot-4 and 254 pounds, will have the chance to learn from Khalil Mack, Tuli Tuipulotu and Bud Dupree in 2025.

4. Help on special teams

The Chargers were once again among the better special teams units in 2024 under Ryan Ficken and Chris 'Beep' Gould.

But Hortiz and the front office made sure to give that phase more reinforcements with the selections of Kennard, Lambert-Smith, safety RJ Mickens and defensive back Trikweze Bridges.

Each of those players were asked about special teams on their post-pick video conference, with each saying they were eager to make an impact wherever they could.

Hortiz on Saturday said Ficken and Gould are valuable parts of the draft process for the Chargers.

"Every player we talk about, we have Coach Fick and 'Beep' chime in and say what they think of them as a special teamer," Hortiz said. "Some guys are projections and they're grading them based off their offensive or defensive film.

"Other guys play core four. When you're stacking the board and you look to Fick and he says, 'I love this guy, let's get him,' that's great. It gives you more confidence in the player," Hortiz added.

When the fall rolls around, look for this group of Chargers rookies to be active on special teams.

5. NFL bloodlines

A year ago, the Chargers took Alt at No. 5 overall out of Notre Dame. Among the fun storylines was that his father, played 13 seasons in the NFL as a tackle for the Chiefs.

"It worked well last year," Hortiz said with a smile.

The Chargers went back to that well twice with the selections of Gadsden and Mickens in 2025.

Mickens' father, Ray, played 10 seasons in the NFL as a defensive back, eight of them with the Jets. He was the No. 62 overall pick (third round) by New York in the 1996 NFL Draft.

Gadsden's father played six NFL seasons for the Dolphins. He caught 227 career passes for 3,252 yards and 22 touchdowns, including the final touchdown of Dan Marino's career.

Hortiz said the fact those players have NFL pedigree is an added bonus as they now transition to the league.

"That helps define who they've become but it's not necessarily who they are," Hortiz said. "Their fathers are certainly pros and they got to see the lifestyle and the work ethic that they've shown them.

"They put that into practice and certainly have great example setters, but so do the other players we took. It's just their parents might not have been pros," Hortiz added.

Alexander said: "It's always cool to get a kid with NFL bloodlines."

Alexander has them, too, as his father, Hubbard, was a longtime NFL wide receivers coach with the Cowboys, Vikings and Saints.

Hubbard Alexander actually coached Oronde Gadsden when be broke into the NFL with the Cowboys in 1995.

"I knew him about 30 years ago. My dad coached him when my dad was at the Cowboys and he was a rookie receiver with them," Alexander said. "The apple doesn't fall too far from the tree when it comes to his son — a red-zone threat, he's really long and able to extend and make catches outside the frame.

"You see him as it reminds you of his dad, some of the things he does. It's cool when you get a full-circle moment like that," Alexander said.