El SEGUNDO, Calif. -- The Chargers made multiple moves on Friday night to go from two picks to seven on Day 3 of the draft.
The Chargers ended the three days with four offensive linemen: a center in Jake Slaughter, a tackle in Travis Burke, a guard in Alex Harkey, and a versatile piece in Logan Taylor, who can play anywhere.
No matter how you look at it, this draft showed the Chargers learned their lesson from last season and are prioritizing the offensive line, you can never have enough depth up front.
“Fires me up,” Harbaugh said.
Here is a breakdown of each draft pick and what they told the media:
Brenen Thompson, WR, Mississippi State, 4th round, 104th pick
Thompson felt like a Mike McDaniel pick right off the bat, especially after running a 4.26 40-yard dash at the combine.
He stands at 5-foot-9 and 170 pounds, but the speed he brings is a staple of a McDaniel offense—and Thompson agreed.
“I think it's a perfect fit,” Thompson said. “I think the fan base and this team got exactly what they needed. I'm ready just to get to get in and work with Daniel and just get to work, man.”
With his speed and playmaking ability, the Chargers could look to use him as a kick and punt returner, but Thompson said that had not been discussed.
“Wherever they need, I'll show up,” Thompson said. “I’m ready to play. I'm ready to go. Just looking forward to taking it on.”
The Chargers’ receiver group is shaping up to have a little bit of everything, especially after adding an explosive, home-run threat like Thompson.
"Fast," Hortiz said. "Just a dynamic, explosive playmaker that Mike (McDaniel) loved. The scouts loved. That the speed jumps out on film. His ability to track the ball downfield is really elite, and ability to take the ball on the run and gone."
Travis Burke, OT, Memphis, 4th round, 117th pick
The Chargers traded up later in the fourth round, sending pick No. 123 (fourth round) and pick No. 204 (sixth round) to move up to No. 117.
General manager Joe Hortiz selected Travis Burke, a 6-foot-9, 325-pound right tackle out of Memphis.
Burke projects as a swing tackle for the Chargers. He is known for his aggressive play style and was described as “a violent finisher” during his college career.
He was coached at Memphis by former NFL Super Bowl champion David Diehl, who served as an assistant offensive line coach.
"Really tough competitor," assistant general manager Chad Alexander said. "What stands out to me is just the effort, the finishing ability, nastiness. What I mean in terms of finishing plays. So I mean he's still got a ton of upside."
Wesley Hale-Imagn Images
Oct 25, 2025; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Memphis Tigers offensive lineman Travis Burke (78) gestures toward the South Florida Bulls defense on the line of scrimmage during the second half at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium.
Genesis Smith, S, Arizona, 4th round, 131st pick
While this was the NFL Draft, when the Chargers selected Smith, it looked like they drafted a center fielder. He was all over the field making plays at Arizona.
"Any position in the secondary, I feel pretty comfortable with ... but I do feel like I have a knack for the ball and centerfield. I feel pretty comfortable back there."
According to PFF, he allowed just 193 yards on 382 coverage snaps in 2025. He consistently made plays and broke up passes during his time at Arizona.
"I feel like I'm a playmaker. Just my mindset, it separates me from a lot of people," Smith said.
Smith also expressed excitement about joining a secondary that includes safety Derwin James, one of the best at the position.
Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
Nov 1, 2025; Boulder, Colorado, USA; Arizona Wildcats defensive back Genesis Smith (12) returns an interception in the second half against the Colorado Buffaloes at Folsom Field.
“That's a great opportunity.,” Smith said..”Not everybody has the opportunity to go in and soak up everything from a seasoned vet. So, I feel like that's a blessing.”
He added that he wants to be a sponge, and he joins a secondary room that includes James, Elijah Molden, Tony Jefferson, and RJ Mickens.
Smith will need to improve his tackling after missing 34 tackles last season, an area that will be important in a defense that relies on sure tackling.
"Definitely rangey safety, instincts, sees it quick, reads the quarterback well, and then aggressive downhill," Hortiz said.
Hortiz later added about the missed tackles, "There were safeties ahead of him that missed tackles, but they are still good football players. You just clean up the technique, clean up the angles, the leverage. If they don't have the willingness, then you got a problem. He's got the willingness."
Nick Barrett, DT, South Carolina, 5th round, 145th pick
The Chargers looked to bolster their defensive line by selecting Nick Barrett out of South Carolina.
ESPN’s Mel Kiper called him “a sleeper pick” during the broadcast and highlighted his ability as a run-stopping defensive tackle.
“A run stopper,” Barrett said. “Push the pocket, stuff like that. I do good with anchoring and taking on double teams. I'm very strong at the point of attack.”
Jeff Blake-Imagn Images
Oct 25, 2025; Columbia, South Carolina, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks defensive lineman Nick Barrett (93) reacts to a stop against the Alabama Crimson Tide in the second half at Williams-Brice Stadium.
The South Carolina product recorded 25 run stops in 2025 and was a key piece of their defensive front.
He joins a room that includes Teair Tart, Dalvin Tomlinson, Justin Eboigbe, and Jamaree Caldwell, where he will compete and continue to develop.
Barrett also has some familiarity in Los Angeles, as Chargers pass rusher Kyle Kennard and receiver Dalevon Campbell are former teammates of his at South Carolina.
"He played behind some guys last year in the rotation, and then this year had a chance to really get a greater role," Hortiz said. "He is just a physical, smart, instinctive, tough guy. Big man knows how to use his hands and makes plays at the point. In pursuit and great kid, and he's one of our blue star players."
Logan Taylor, OL, Boston College, 6th round, 202nd pick
Taylor could be the ultimate Swiss Army knife for the Chargers, as he started 25 games at left tackle, 11 at left guard, eight at right guard, and two at right tackle.
He will come in and compete for a spot on the starting unit. If his reputation coming out of Boston College translates to the NFL, he could push for a starting role.
“Logan just think about the finishing,” Hortiz said. “Just really like the way, the mentality they both play the game with. They're both physical players come off the ball and look to finish blocks and sturdy big men.”
Alex Harkey, OL, Oregon, 6th round, 206th overall
Harkey played right tackle at Oregon but is projected by many to fit better at guard in the NFL.
It will be interesting to see where Harkey fits on what was once a thin group that has now become more crowded—but there can never be too many offensive linemen.
“Alex, just some kind of wow, athletic plays when you're watching them out in space,” Hortiz said.