The Lightning Round: A Los Angeles Chargers Podcast

I Got 5 On It with Craig Smith - Top 5 Interior D-Linemen of the '25 Draft Class

·29 min·2 clips

Michigan's 340-pound Kenneth Grant chased down a Penn State running back from 30 yards out.

The episode opens with host Craig Smith introducing the topic of the 2025 interior defensive line draft class, which he describes as deep, and suggests the Chargers might draft multiple players. He provides a quick top 10 list before diving into the top five. At number five, he discusses Darius Alexander from Toledo, addressing concerns about MAC competition by highlighting his Senior Bowl dominance, strength against the run, and developing pass rush, though notes his age as a drawback. Number four is Derek Harmon from Oregon, praised for his body transformation and length but critiqued for anchor issues and poor finishing. Number three is Kenneth Grant from Michigan, emphasized for his freakish size-speed combination, lateral quickness, and ability to track down plays, with some pass rush development needed. Number two is Walter Nolen from Ole Miss, noted for his athletic traits and high ceiling after transferring from Texas A&M, though he lacks refined technique. Number one is Mason Graham from Michigan, lauded for his wrestling background, versatility, and well-rounded disruptive play, despite suboptimal arm length. Smith concludes with a wild card mention of CJ West from Indiana as a sleeper who could replace Puna Ford's production. The episode is structured as a solo analysis with sponsor breaks, focusing on detailed film evaluation and fit for the Chargers.

As heard by us

A Chargers draft board that gets specific fast.

This Chargers-focused episode centers on the 2025 interior defensive line class and treats it as possibly the deepest position in the draft. It also lays out the case that the Chargers could double dip at the spot, moving from a top 10 into a top five.

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Why you'd press play

If you want a Chargers-leaning tour of the deep 2025 interior D-line class, this is your clean stop.

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