Welcome to Part 7 of our 2025 draft preview series, which will be a position-by-position look at key prospects and where the Chargers roster stands ahead of the NFL Draft. This series will include a look at which prospects could be options for the Chargers later this month.
We chatted with NFL Network draft analyst and Chargers radio color commentator Daniel Jeremiah to break down the defensive tackles in this draft class. Jeremiah can be found on X/Twitter @MoveTheSticks for his analysis.
Chargers status at defensive tackle
Teair Tart, Otito Ogbonnia, Da'Shawn Hand, Naquan Jones, Scott Matlock, Justin Eboigbe, Christopher Hinton
The Bolts saw some turnover at the position this offseason as Poona Ford and Morgan Fox departed in free agency.
But the Chargers were still able to fortify the room with a handful of strong signings, bringing in the likes of Hand and Jones this spring while also bringing Tart back into the mix.
"They've done a good job of filling some quality reliable pieces in free agency," Jeremiah said. "It's obviously tough when you lose Poona [Ford], who played so well, but I think they did a nice job of getting some functional and reliable guys."
Ogbonnia, Matlock, Eboigbe and Hinton all return from a season ago, and there's a chance that group could see elevated playing time depending on how things shake out.
Jeremiah also noted that Chargers Defensive Coordinator Jesse Minter is one of the best defensive coaches in the league, adding that Minter showed in Year 1 that he can get the front to play well, which then helps things run smooth in the secondary.
"I still think you need sturdy, strong, stout guys because he doesn't want to play with heavy box numbers," Jeremiah said. "Ideally, I think having a bunch of strong sturdy guys you can roll through there, keep guys fresh and that allows him to do everything else he wants to do from a number standpoint on the back half of the defense."
The Los Angeles Chargers agreed to terms with defensive lineman Da’Shawn Hand.
Detroit Lions defensive end Da'Shawn Hand plays against the New York Giants during an NFL football game in Detroit, Sunday, Oct. 27, 2019. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Detroit Lions defensive end Da'Shawn Hand (93) walks off the field after the first half of an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Sunday, Oct. 18, 2020, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Detroit Lions defensive end Da'Shawn Hand (93) reacts after a play during the first half of an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts, Sunday, Nov. 1, 2020, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Tony Ding)
Indianapolis Colts tackle Matt Pryor (69) blocks Tennessee Titans defensive end Da'Shawn Hand (94) during an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 2, 2022, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Zach Bolinger)
Miami Dolphins defensive tackle Da'Shawn Hand (93) walks off of the field before the start of an NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers, Sunday, Oct. 15, 2023, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Doug Murray)
Los Angeles Rams running back Kyren Williams (23) is stopped by Miami Dolphins defensive tackle Da'Shawn Hand during an NFL football game, Monday, Nov. 11, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Jayne Kamin-Oncea)
Miami Dolphins defensive tackle Da'Shawn Hand (90) walks on the sidelines during an NFL football game against the Las Vegas Raiders, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Doug Murray)
Miami Dolphins defensive tackle Da'Shawn Hand (90) runs onto the field during player introductions before an NFL football game against the Las Vegas Raiders, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Doug Murray)
Miami Dolphins defensive tackle Da'Shawn Hand (90) stands on the sidelines during an NFL football game against the New England Patriots, Sunday, Nov. 24 2024, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Doug Murray)
Is it a position of need?
Overall, Jeremiah likes where this group is at right now. But he said that adding another piece or two here, perhaps as early as Round 1, could help fortify the unit overall.
"I think now it would be nice if you could just maybe try and find some more depth in there and potentially a difference maker, someone who you can maybe draw a little bit more attention," Jeremiah said.
The Bolts defensive line group was among the surprise standout units in 2024, but reinforcements could be needed with some roster turnover in free agency.
Adding a defensive tackle in the first few rounds could give Minter and the defensive staff a key piece to build around for both 2025 and in future seasons.
Key Questions for 2025
1. What's the overall depth at DT in this class?
"I have twice as many guys with potential starting grades in this class as the last class. It's deep. Overall, it's loaded with defensive tackles."
2. Who is a Day 2 defensive tackle the Chargers could target?
"There's a ton of ton of interesting guys on the Day 2. Let's say the Michigan kids are gone and [Derrick] Harmon's gone from Oregon. But a guy like JJ Pegues from Ole Miss probably goes on Day 2 somewhere. The kid at Oregon, Jamaree Caldwell, he's a 320-pound stout strong kid and he's probably in that range. I had Rylie Mills from Notre Dame in that area before he had a knee injury so you get him probably much later now, but I like him as a fit and as a good player down the line. We'll see what happens with [Darius] Alexander from Toledo and where he ends up coming off the board, he's an interesting one."
3. Michigan's Kenneth Grant is a popular pick because of his connection to Jim Harbaugh. What do you see in him?
"I think his best football is way ahead of him. You can run some of the comparisons with him, I was in Baltimore and we picked Haloti Ngata. He's not that far off with that type of similar size and athleticism. Their testing numbers are relatively close. He's not quite the level of what Dexter Lawrence was coming out, but he's in that same ilk where they are just a jumbo athlete who plays hard. It's just hard to find guys that are that big that can move like that."
Expert rankings
NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah currently has five defensive tackles in his latest Top 50 list, while ESPN's Mel Kiper, Jr., has one in his Top 25.
The Athletic's Dane Brugler has 11 defensive tackles in his most recent Top 100 list, with the highest coming in at No. 4 (Mason Graham).
Pro Football Focus has 13 defensive tackles in the top 100 in their Big Board Rankings, with a high of No. 4 (Graham).
Potential Chargers options
Note: Heights and weights are from each player's profile on NFL.com (linked for each player's name).
School: Michigan | Year: Junior | Ht: 6-foot-4 | Wt: 331 pounds
2024 stats: 12 games; 32 tackles (18 solo), 3.0 sacks, 6.5 tackles for loss, five passes defensed, two fumble recoveries
Quick fact: A 2024 Third-Team All-American, Grant was a key contributor along the interior throughout his time at Michigan and was a two-time All-Big Ten selection in three seasons.
School: Oregon | Year: Redshirt Junior | Ht: 6-foot-4 ½ | Wt: 313 pounds
2024 stats: 14 games; 45 tackles (27 solo), 5.0 sacks, 10.5 tackles for loss, three passes defensed, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries
Quick fact: Harmon was stellar in his lone season with the Ducks, leading all FBS interior defensive linemen with 55 total pressures generated, according to Pro Football Focus.
Jeremiah's Report: "He's someone who can create negative plays, plays on the other side of the line of scrimmage really quickly. He has really good instincts and just sees the game really fast. He plays fast and he's a real disruptive force."
School: Ole Miss | Year: Junior | Ht: 6-foot-4 | Wt: 296 pounds
2024 stats: 13 games; 48 tackles (25 solo), 6.5 sacks, 14 tackles for loss, three passes defensed, two fumble recoveries
Quick fact: Nolen became one of the 14 Consensus All-Americans in Ole Miss football history last season after being tied for team lead in tackles for loss and fourth on the team in sacks.
Jeremiah's Report: "He's real twitched up, real dynamic, he has just a lot in his body. There's a lot of talent there. He hasn't hadn't totally put it all together yet and it's a little bit more flashes. But you can get excited and dream on what that can look like."
School: Toledo | Year: Senior | Ht: 6-foot-4 | Wt: 305 pounds
2024 stats: 12 games; 40 tackles (17 solo), 3.5 sacks, 7.5 tackles for loss, one interception, five passes defensed
Quick fact: Alexander earned a Second-Team All-MAC selection and notched his first and only career interception in 2024, a 58-yard pick-six.
School: Ohio State | Year: Senior | Ht: 6-foot-3 | Wt: 334 pounds
2024 stats: 13 games; 46 tackles (16 solo), 2.5 sacks, 8.0 tackles for loss, one pass defensed
Quick fact: A four-year player for the Buckeyes, Williams played 51 career games and was an All-American in 2023.
School: Texas | Year: Senior | Ht: 6-foot-6 | Wt: 332 pounds
2024 stats: 16 games; 55 tackles (27 solo), 1.0 sacks, 5.5 tackles for loss, seven passes defensed, one forced fumble, one blocked kick
Quick fact: Collins finished his career playing in 40 consecutive games for Texas and tallied 139 career tackles, 17.5 tackles for loss and seven sacks in five years.
