Chargers LB Tuli Tuipulotu (#45) and LB Khalil Mack (#52)
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ESPN's Seth Walder graded each team's offseason on Thursday, giving the Chargers a B, due to their lack of investment at edge rusher.
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he 2025 season will be a big one for the Los Angeles Chargers. Coming off of an 11-6 season that saw the franchise return to the postseason after a one year absence, the team is hungrier than ever in 2025, hoping that this season ends in a Lombardi Trophy. But in order for that to happen, the Chargers will need everyone to step up and make an impact.
Investing heavily on bringing in new pieces this offseason, the Chargers were aggressive in both free agency and the draft, hoping that they could bring in new guys who they considered the missing pieces. One of the players that the Chargers brought in, first round draft pick, Omarion Hampton, is a player that the franchise has high hopes can become an immediate star. And from the looks of it, he not only looks the part, but he is receiving praise from some very big name players– most notable Chargers future Hall of Fame linebacker, Khalil Mack.
Mack Has High Praise for Hampton
The Chargers have looked like a much different team from a year ago, putting on excellent displays in their first two preseason games. And during that time, the franchise got their first glimpse of their new players, with Hampton getting all of the first team reps throughout camp with Najee Harris sidelined with an injury. And without even playing in a regular season game, Hampton is already drawing a lot of praise from Mack, with Mack impressed by what he has seen from the rookie ball carrier so far.
“I don’t want to say how he’s impressed me, but I can tell,” Mack said. “If you play football, then you know. It’s going to be fun to watch him play.”
Hampton could be a big piece for the Chargers offense right out of the gate. Harris, who the Chargers signed to a one-year deal in the offseason, is currently out due to an eye injury– leaving all the first team reps for Hampton in both practices and games. And even though the idea was always to have both Harris and Hampton run the ball this season, Hampton is looking like he could run away with the starting job after all.
Chargers’ Offensive Outlook
Last season, the Chargers’ defense is what really stole the show, allowing the fewest amount of points in the league. But in 2025, the offense has the potential to take the Chargers to new heights. Franchise quarterback Justin Herbert is coming off of what was arguably his best season statistically, ending the year with eighth all-time best touchdown to interception ratio in league history. Now, with players such as Hampton, Harris and Keenan Allen joining the mix and players such as Ladd McConkey and Quentin Johnston poised to take another leap forward, the Chargers could be a problem for the rest of the league.
The Chargers have two more preseason games before they begin to prepare for their week one matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs on September 5 in São Paulo, Brazil.