After focusing on offensive upgrades with their first two draft picks, the Chargers added to the league’s stingiest defense in the third round by taking defensive tackle Jamaree Caldwell with the 86th pick.
The 6-foot-2, 332-pound lineman from Oregon had 29 tackles last season, his first with the Ducks after two seasons at Houston. He had 6½ sacks for the Cougars in 2023.
Caldwell will add to a retooled defensive line that brought in free agents Da’Shawn Hand and Naquan Jones. Hand and Jones were key additions to counter the losses of nose tackle Poona Ford and defensive end Morgan Fox, who went to the Rams and Atlanta Falcons, respectively.
The Chargers allowed the fewest points per game in the NFL last year in the first season under defensive coordinator Jesse Minter. The 41-year-old coach was in the Chargers draft room when NFL Network cameras caught coach Jim Harbaugh speaking on the phone to Caldwell.