The Los Angeles Chargers on on Friday signed tight end Hayden Hurst.
Here are five things to know about Hurst:
1. A season in Carolina
The Chargers added another veteran tight end to the room in Hurst.
Hurst joins the Bolts with six seasons of NFL experience, most recently spending a season with the Panthers in 2023. He played in nine games (eight starts) and caught 18 passes for 184 yards and a touchdown.
2. Former 1st-round pick
Hurst enters the building with some familiarity to people on the Bolts staff, starting with General Manager Joe Hortiz.
Hortiz served as the Director of College Scouting in Baltimore when they took Hurst with the No. 25 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, making him the first tight end selected that year.
Hurst would go on to play his first two pro seasons for the Ravens under now-Chargers Offensive Coordinator Greg Roman's tight ends, adding another connection to his arrival in LA.
Under Roman, Hurst would finish with his two highest yards per reception marks of his career, 12.5 and 11.6, respectively.
The Los Angeles Chargers today signed tight end Hayden Hurst.
Baltimore Ravens tight end Hayden Hurst catches a pass during NFL football training camp Saturday, July 27, 2019, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Gail Burton)
Baltimore Ravens tight end Hayden Hurst celebrates his touchdown in the first half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2019, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Baltimore Ravens tight end Hayden Hurst in action against the Seattle Seahawks during an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2019, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
Baltimore Ravens tight end Hayden Hurst (81) runs after taking a pass from quarterback Lamar Jackson 61-yards for a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills in Orchard Park, N.Y., Sunday, Dec. 8, 2019. (AP Photo/John Munson)
Baltimore Ravens tight end Hayden Hurst (81) runs with the ball during the first half of an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2019, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Atlanta Falcons tight end Hayden Hurst runs a play during the first half of an NFL football game against the New York Giants, Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Atlanta Falcons tight end Hayden Hurst (81) works against Washington Football Team strong safety Landon Collins (26) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021, in Atlanta. The Washington Football Team won 34-30. (AP Photo/Danny Karnik)
Atlanta Falcons tight end Hayden Hurst scores against the Carolina Panthers during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 12, 2021, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman)
Atlanta Falcons tight end Hayden Hurst (81) catches a pass for a touchdown as Detroit Lions outside linebacker Charles Harris (53) defends during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 26, 2021, in Atlanta. The Atlanta Falcons won 20-16. (AP Photo/Danny Karnik)
Atlanta Falcons tight end Hayden Hurst (81) celebrates a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions, Sunday, Dec. 26, 2021, in Atlanta. The Atlanta Falcons won 20-16. (AP Photo/Danny Karnik)
Cincinnati Bengals tight end Hayden Hurst gains yards after ccatching a pass during a NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys in Arlington, Texas, Sunday, Sept. 17, 2022. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Cincinnati Bengals tight end Hayden Hurst (88) catches a pass and runs with Tennessee Titans linebacker David Long, Jr. (51) in an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 27, 2022, in Nashville, Tenn. Bengals won 20-16. (AP Photo/Jeff Lewis)
Cincinnati Bengals tight end Hayden Hurst (88) makes a touchdown catch against the Buffalo Bills during the first quarter of an NFL division round football game, Sunday, Jan. 22, 2023, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)
Cincinnati Bengals tight end Hayden Hurst (88) misses the catch against Kansas City Chiefs safety Justin Reid, rear, during the first half of the NFL AFC Championship playoff football game, Sunday, Jan. 29, 2023, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
Carolina Panthers tight end Hayden Hurst (81) runs the ball during the first half of an NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons, Sunday, Sep. 10, 2023, in Atlanta. The Atlanta Falcons won 24-10. (AP Photo/Danny Karnik)
Carolina Panthers tight end Hayden Hurst (81) plays against the New Orleans Saints during an NFL football game Monday, Sept. 18, 2023, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman)
Carolina Panthers tight end Hayden Hurst plays during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 8, 2023, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
Carolina Panthers tight end Hayden Hurst plays during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 8, 2023, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
Carolina Panthers tight end Hayden Hurst, left, runs as Miami Dolphins cornerback Parry Nickerson defends during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 15, 2023, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Carolina Panthers tight end Hayden Hurst (81) stands on the sidelines during the second half of an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears Thursday, Nov. 9, 2023, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
3. Other stops
Aside from Baltimore and Carolina, the veteran tight end spent some time in Atlanta and Cincinnati.
Hurst was traded to the Falcons during the 2020 offseason and had arguably his best season as a pro to this point.
The tight end caught 56 passes for 571 yards and six touchdowns — all career-highs. He would play another season in Atlanta before moving on to his lone season with the Bengals.
He would become the Bengals' lead tight end, leading the position with 414 yards on 52 catches and provide in the team's run to the AFC Championship Game that season, finishing with the third-most playoff receiving yards (141) on the team.
4. MLB Draft selection
Football wasn't Hurst's first professional sport.
After playing football and baseball at a high level in high school, Hurst was pursued by universities to continue his pitching career at the collegiate level.
But Hurst opted for a different route — Major League Baseball.
Hurst was selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 17th round of the 2012 MLB Draft and signed to the team straight out of high school.
He would play two seasons in the organization before walking on to the South Carolina football team in 2015.
5. First-Team All-SEC
It didn't take long for the tight end to become a force at South Carolina.
Hurst would see limited action as a true freshman in 2015 but would go on put up some numbers in his final two years with the Gamecocks.
His best season would come in 2017 where he caught 44 passes for 559 yards and three total touchdowns on his way to earning a First-Team All-SEC selection. Hurst would also finish as a semifinalist for the Mackey Award, which recognizes the nation's best tight end.
Hurst finished his South Carolina career second among tight ends for career receiving yards with 1,281 in three seasons.
