The 2025 NFL Draft is quickly approaching.
All relevant Chargers information can be found in the Chargers 2025 Draft Hub.
In the meantime, here are five things to know ahead of one of the NFL offseason's biggest events.
1. How to Watch
The 2025 NFL Draft will take place over a three-day period from April 24-26 in Green Bay.
Round 1 takes place on Thursday (April 24) and begins at 5 p.m. (PT). Rounds 2 and 3 are on Friday evening (April 25), with Round 2 starting at 4 p.m. (PT).
Day 3 of the draft, which includes Rounds 4 through 7, begins Saturday (April 26) at 9 a.m. (PT).
The draft will be broadcast on NFL Network, NFL+, ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPN Deportes.
2. The Chargers 1st-round pick
The Chargers currently hold the 22nd overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
The Bolts have picked at No. 22 overall three other times in franchise history, all of whom were defensive backs.
The first one came in 1975 when the team took Mike Williams, who started 101 of 107 games and intercepted 24 passes with the Bolts.
The Chargers also selected at that slot in the 1983 NFL Draft when they selected another cornerback in Gill Byrd. A Chargers Hall of Famer, Byrd played all of his 10 seasons with the Bolts and was a two-time Pro Bowler and one-time Second-Team All-Pro.
The Bolts in 1993 selected cornerback Darrien Gordon, who started every game and led the team in interceptions as well as punt returns during their run to a Super Bowl appearance in 1994.
There have been a number of impact players taken at No. 22 overall over the last 10 years.
That list includes Pro Bowlers like Justin Jefferson and Zay Flowers, as well as All-Rookie selections like Quinyon Mitchell and Quay Walker.
3. Who could the Bolts take at No. 22?
The Bolts sit in a very interesting spot with their first round pick.
Of course, the most popular selection among pundits in recent Mock Drafts is Michigan tight end Colston Loveland, who was recruited and coached by Jim Harbaugh.
But other pundits believe another offensive weapon like a wide receiver could be available to them at No. 22.
"They could get another receiver," ESPN's Mike Tannenbaum said. "Mike Williams to me is an X-factor. Can he come back to what he was?"
Even though some believe the Bolts will go with an offensive weapon early, the possibility remains that a defensive piece of the future could be on the board as well.
A common pick on the defensive side of the ball is edge rusher, with players like Marshall's Mike Green, Boston College's Donovan Ezeiruaku among the popular picks.
"If they do decide to go the front seven pressure player, I do think that need really matches up where they're picking with the depth of this draft," Tannenbaum said.
No matter how the board shakes out, the Chargers know they sit in a slot that will have an impact player available to them.
"Yeah, there's so many good players there. We feel like at 22 where we're picking, there's going to be a really good player there for us," Harbaugh said at the Annual League Meeting. "You just really have to just wait and see when it comes to your time to pick, you pick the best player available."
4. The Chargers have 10 total picks
The Bolts are slated to have more picks than they did a year ago.
The Chargers currently have 10 total picks, including the three compensatory picks they were awarded, two comp picks in the sixth round and one in the seventh round.
Here's a look at the nine other selections the Chargers have outside of Round 1.
1st round (No. 22 overall)
2nd round (No. 55)
3rd round (No. 86)
4th round (No. 125 overall)
5th round (No. 158 overall)
6th round (No. 181 overall from New England)*
6th round (No. 199 overall)
6th round (No. 209 overall - compensatory pick)
6th round (No. 214 overall - compensatory pick)
7th round (No. 256 overall - compensatory pick)
* = acquired in J.C. Jackson trade. The Bolts sent Jackson and their 2025 seventh-round pick to the Patriots in exchange for New England's 2025 sixth-round selection.
5. A look back at last year's picks
While Chargers General Manager Joe Hortiz is prepping for his second draft with the Bolts, his first installment was quite one to remember.
Tackle Joe Alt, the No. 5 overall pick, was as good as advertised in his rookie season.
Alt led all rookie tackles in offense (77.6), pass blocking (79.4) and run blocking grade (71.6) according to Pro Football Focus. He also allowed just 20 pressures in 16 regular season games, which were the fewest among rookie tackles with at least 400 snaps.
Then there was second-round pick Ladd McConkey, who emerged as Justin Herbert's No. 1 target as a rookie.
McConkey set franchise rookie records in catches (82) and yards (1,149) and finished with the 10th across the NFL in receiving yards. The rookie out of Georgia also had a record-setting performance in the playoff game with nine receptions for 197 yards, the most by a first-year player in NFL history and the third-most in a playoff debut ever.
Even fifth-round picks such as cornerbacks Tarheeb Still and Cam Hart stepped up in big ways when injuries struck and they were inserted in the lineup.
Still finished the year with four interceptions, which tied for the second-most among rookies and the third-highest PFF defense grade (73.7) among rookie corners with at least 500 snaps. Hart, meanwhile, became a physical presence, having the second-highest tackling grade (77.0) while starting six games.
The Chargers were able to get big production from the jump from those four and still have others who have a chance to make their mark in Year 2 like Junior Colson, Justin Eboigbe, Kimani Vidal and Brenden Rice, all of whom saw limited action as rookies.
