NFL Draft: Could Texas Tech Edge Romello Height Emerge as a Fit for the Chargers?

The Los Angeles Chargers lost a key piece of their defense when star pass rusher Odafe Oweh signed with the Washington Commanders on a four-year, $100 million deal with $68 million guaranteed in free agency. As a result, adding a young edge rusher through the 2026 NFL Draft could be in play for the Bolts.

Although Los Angeles re-signed future Pro Football Hall of Famer Khalil Mack to a one-year, $18 million extension, adding another pass rusher alongside him and Tuli Tuipulotu would help address the remaining void. In that scenario, Texas Tech standout Romello Height could be a logical fit, depending on how the rest of the board falls.

The 25-year-old Dublin, GA native played for four different schools throughout his college career, starting at Auburn in 2021 where he posted 18 total tackles (six solo) before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury that required surgery and sidelined him for the 2022 season.

Height transferred to USC in 2023, where he returned to action and recorded 21 total tackles (12 solo) and four sacks for the Trojans. In 2024, he moved to Georgia Tech, where he tallied 34 total tackles (18 solo), 2.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, and one interception.

For his final season in 2025, Height transferred to Texas Tech, where he earned First-Team All-Big 12 honors after racking up 38 tackles (21 solo), one pass breakup, and two forced fumbles, while earning an overall defensive grade of 92.9 from Pro Football Focus, which ranked first among 852 qualified edge rushers. His pass-rush grade of 92.7 ranked fourth, while his run-defense grade of 64.9 ranked 559th at the position. He generated 56 total pressures as a pass rusher and recorded 17 solo tackles against the run.

Height participated in the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine, where he measured in at six-foot-two, 239 pounds with 32 1/4-inch arms and 9 1/2-inch hands. He ran a 4.64-second 40-yard dash, a 1.63-second 10-yard split, posted a 39-inch vertical, and a 10-foot-5 broad jump.

According to Next Gen Stats, Height earned a total score of 74, which ranked 11th among edge rushers. His production score of 75 ranked ninth, and his estimated athleticism score of 76 ranked eighth at the position.

Despite his age, Height brings clear upside as a disruptive presence off the edge, especially with his ability to generate consistent pressure through effort and pace. He covers ground quickly with his long strides, allowing him to stress tackles vertically and force early reactions. His lower-body flexibility helps him redirect around blocks and slip through tight lanes, while his hands show flashes of effectiveness when converting speed into separation. He also provides an inside counter that can keep blockers from sitting on his outside rush. Height shows good chase ability from the backside and can finish plays in space when opportunities arise.

For the Chargers, that type of speed-based, high-energy pass-rush profile is exactly what the team needs on passing downs, where they can maximize his explosiveness while he continues to adjust to the next level.