“For the draft picks, the undrafted free agents and tryout guys, for them I look at it (as) this is a day and a weekend of evaluations. Really just mining for gold, diamonds and gems,” Harbaugh said. “Like those rare gems, they don’t just hop out of the ground and into your pocket. You got to dig. You got to go in there and find them.”
The most famous rare gem the Chargers found is tight end Antonio Gates, who was an undrafted free agent. Gates became the NFL’s all-time leader in touchdown receptions for a tight end and is now a member of the 2025 Pro Football Hall of Fame class.
“I think of Antonio Gates, who’s going into the Hall of Fame. He’s a very highly sought after undrafted free agent. Made a Hall of Fame career here with the Chargers,” Harbaugh told reporters.
The Chargers signed seven members of their nine-player draft class and have 18 undrafted free agents as they begin rookie minicamp. Omarion Hampton and Tre Harris are the rookies who remain unsigned.
Harbaugh is “fired up” about the team’s rookies. The Chargers made a concerted effort to upgrade their offensive attack through the draft, selecting five players on that side of the ball, including their first two draft picks in Hampton, a running back, and Harris, a wide receiver.
Los Angeles ranked 20th in total offense, while quarterback Justin Herbert averaged a career-low 227 passing yards per game and was sacked a career-high 41 times in 2024.
Harbaugh and the Chargers might need to find some gold within their draft class if they hope to overtake a Kansas City Chiefs team that’s won nine straight AFC West titles, the second-longest streak for division titles in NFL history.
“Top of the list,” Harbaugh continued. “Mining for gold.”
Follow USA TODAY Sports’ Tyler Dragon on X: @TheTylerDragon.
