Welcome to Part 10 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 Dane Brugler of The Athletic to break down the tight ends in this draft class. Brugler can be found on X/Twitter @dpbrugler for his analysis.

Check out the Chargers Draft Hub for news and analysis of every pick.

Chargers status at edge rusher

Khalil Mack, Tuli Tuipulotu, Bud Dupree, Tre'Mon Morris-Brash, Chris Collins

The Chargers and Mack agreed to an extension in free agency to keep the future Hall of Famer in powder blue.

And while Mack's presence will surely help the Chargers in 2025, the Bolts released Joey Bosa, who later signed with Buffalo.

That could mean a larger role for Tuipulotu, a 2023 second-round pick who led the team with 8.5 sacks last season.

Tulipulotu, who is still only 22 years old, might be in position to start on a full-time basis for the first time in his career.

Dupree is also back and will be a veteran leader/rotational player in his 11th NFL season.

Morris-Brash joined the Bolts as an undrafted free agent in 2024 and nearly made the 53-man roster after a standout training camp and preseason. He and Collins spent the 2024 season on the practice squad.

Is it a position of need?

The Chargers edge rusher group will once again be led by Mack, who has 100-plus career sacks and is in line for a gold jacket one day.

Tulipulotu appears to be an ascending player while Dupree is a solid depth piece in the room.

But Brugler said the 2025 NFL Draft could be a chance for the Bolts to add a promising young player to the group.

"When you look at edge, Khalil Mack is back but only on a 1-year deal," Brugler said. "You just really want more young depth, whether that's someone you think can eventually be a starter or someone that's going to come in as a third-down guy.

"You want more depth on the edge so you have options. I think they're kind of lacking in that area right now but this is a good draft," Brugler added. "You don't have to force the pick in the first or second round, you can wait until the third or fourth round and feel good about some of the edge options that could be available."

If the Chargers do add an edge rusher in the draft, that player wouldn't be asked to take on a major role as a rookie.

Instead, they could learn from Mack and the rest of the group and be ready to contribute on a weekly basis in 2026 and beyond.

Key Questions for 2025

1. What did you make of Khalil Mack returning for Year 12?

"It's just the power he plays with and the way he continues to evolve his game. Guys that are playing in this league after 10 years, they're not doing it the same way five or seven years ago. They continue to evolve as players as they age and their skillset changes a little bit. Mack, you still see the power and the ability to break down the rhythm of blockers and affect the pocket. Glad they were able to bring him back. Assuming the Chargers draft an edge rusher, and I think they will, having Mack as a guy in the room for a young player to learn from is something that is invaluable."

2. How do you think Tuli Tuipulotu will look in Year 3?

"Ready or not, here it comes. This is where you see what he's got. He's been solid but it's been maybe flashes and not consistent overall. But he's got the juice so it's a matter of being more consistent down-in and down-out and in the run game. It's his third year but he's still a young player. This is where he has a chance to set himself apart and show why the Chargers should maybe be talking extension with you. This is his chance to go show it and I'm eager to see what he can do."

3. Who's a Day 2 prospect to keep an eye on?

"We're going to see plenty of edges go off the board in that second and third-round range. Picking later in the second round, maybe Nic Scourton of Texas A&M is there. Young player but if you take his highlights from college, you can see a little bit of Khalil Mack in that because he plays powerful and with a high motor. Getting Scurton to learn from Mack, you would love to do that. Jordan Burch from Oregon is also underrated. Just smooth, athletic and really smart."

"If they wait until the third round, maybe it's a guy like Sa'vion Jones from LSU. I'm a big fan of Ashton Gillotte from Louisville. Whenever you watch the Louisville tape, he was just in the backfield over and over and over. He made plays in different ways and is strong through his hands. He had fewer sacks this year but his pressures went up."

Expert rankings

NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah currently has nine edge rushers in his latest Top 50 list, while ESPN's Mel Kiper, Jr., has five in his Top 25.

The Athletic's Dane Brugler has 16 edge rushers in his most recent Top 100 list, with the highest coming in at No. 2 (Abdul Carter).

Pro Football Focus has 19 edge rusher in in the top 100 in their Big Board Rankings, with a high of No. 2 (Carter).

Potential Chargers options

Note: Heights and weights are from each player's profile on NFL.com (linked for each player's name).

Shemar Stewart

School: Texas A&M | Year: Junior | Ht: 6-foot-5 | Wt: 267 pounds

2024 stats: 12 games; 31 tackles (14 solo), 5.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, two passes defensed, one forced fumble

Quick fact: Stewart was a disruptor for the Aggies, leading the team with 39 total pressures according to Pro Football Focus.

Mike Green

School: Marshall | Year: Redshirt Junior | Ht: 6-foot-3 | Wt: 251 pounds

2024 stats: 13 games; 84 tackles (38 solo), 22.5 tackles for loss, 17.0 sacks, two passes defensed, three forced fumbles, one fumble recovery

Quick fact: The nation's leader in sacks, Green also led the FBS in tackles for loss and tackles by a defensive lineman in one of the most decorated seasons in Marshall history.

Brugler's Breakdown: "He's one of the 10 best players in this draft, in my opinion. Coming from the Sun Belt Conference, that's where most of his production came from. But you throw on the Ohio State tape and see him win, throw on the Senior Bowl tape and see him win. He plays with such violence that it allows him to affect the football. He not only lead the FBS in sacks but he also led the FBS defensive linemen in tackles, which speaks to that violence and his motor to go chase down a play. He shows up against the run. Is he a little undersized? Yes. But the violence he plays with helps compensate for maybe not having that elite size."

James Pearce Jr.

School: Tennessee | Year: Junior | Ht: 6-foot-5 | Wt: 245 pounds

2024 stats: 13 games; 36 tackles (23 solo), 13.0 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks, one pass defensed, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery

Quick fact: Pearce became the first Tennessee defensive lineman to earn back-to-back first-team All-SEC honors since 2001 and racked up 29.5 tackles for a loss and 19.5 sacks during his collegiate career.

Brugler's Breakdown: "He's been on a lot of Top 30 visits because teams are trying to figure him out. You see the talent and the speed off the edge is real. But what am I getting consistently on a down-in, down-out basis? If you feel confident about his effort level and that he'll put the work in to maximize his talent, then he might end up looking like a steal. Pearce is a real wild card in the first round. The talent says 'first round' but teams have their concerns and are trying to figure him out."

Nic Scourton

School: Texas A&M | Year: Junior | Ht: 6-foot-3 | Wt: 257 pounds

2024 stats: 12 games; 37 tackles (27 solo), 14.0 tackles for loss, 5.0 sacks, two passes defensed, one forced fumble

Quick fact: The edge rusher ranked third in the SEC in tackles for loss and led the team in sacks as he won the team's Defensive MVP.

Landon Jackson

School: Arkansas | Year: Senior | Ht: 6-foot-6 | Wt: 264 pounds

2024 stats: 12 games; 49 tackles (27 solo), 9.5 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, three passes defensed, one forced fumble

Quick fact: Jackson was productive for the Razorbacks, earning two All-SEC honors during his three years at Arkansas.

Brugler's Breakdown: "He's a certain type of rusher because he's tall and big and has a wingspan. He definitely has some stiffness to him but he knows that and doesn't try to be a bendy edge rusher. He will use that power and length to his advantage. Guys like him usually end up sticking and playing 10 years in the league. If you want a guy that has size and length and a nose for the football, Jackson speaks more to that style of player."

Princely Umanmielen

School: Ole Miss | Year: Senior | Ht: 6-foot-4 | Wt: 244 pounds

2024 stats: 12 games; 37 tackles (19 solo), 13.5 tackles for loss, 10.5 sacks, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery

Quick fact: A First-Team All-SEC selection last season, Umanmielen tied for the second-most sacks in Ole Miss single-season history.

Josaiah Stewart

School: Michigan | Year: Senior | Ht: 6-foot-1 | Wt: 249 pounds

2024 stats: 11 games; 33 tackles (22 solo), 13.0 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks, two forced fumbles

Quick fact: Stewart was a big part of the Wolverines defense on the edge, earning two All-Big Ten selections during his time at the university.