The Chargers strengths and weaknesses after free agency and the draft
Silver and Black Pride is keeping an eye on the Las Vegas Raiders’ rivals via an AFC West offseason review series. The Los Angeles Chargers are up next, so let’s take a look at the Chargers’ moves in free agency and the 2025 NFL Draft.
Free Agency
Key Additions: G Mekhi Becton (PHI), WR Mike Williams (NYJ/PIT), RB Najee Harris (PIT), TE Tyler Conklin (NYJ), DL Da’Shawn Hand (MIA), CB Donte Jackson (PIT)
Key Losses: EDGE Joey Bosa (BUF), DL Morgan Fox (ATL), CB Kristian Fulton (KC), DT Poona Ford (LAR), WR Josh Palmer (BUF), CB Asante Samuel Jr. (unsigned), RB JK Dobbins (UFA tender, unsigned)
Los Angeles made Bosa a salary cap casualty, which impacts the defense’s pass rush. However, the club retained Khalil Mack and still has Tuli Tuipulotu, who has logged 13 sacks in his first two seasons, to mitigate the issue.
Staying within Chargers’ defensive trenches, losing Ford could have a big impact on the team’s ability to stop the run. Hand has been a solid run defender in the past, but he’s a replacement for Fox and has primarily been a rotational player throughout his career.
In the secondary, Samuel missed most of last season with an injury, which is part of the reason he’s still unsigned and means the Bolts won’t miss him much. That said, Los Angeles is putting a lot of faith in 2024 draft picks Cam Hart and Tarheeb Still at cornerback, and Jackson isn’t a great option on the boundary. He’s a ballhawk with 19 career interceptions, but he has a career completion percentage allowed of 65.9 percent, per Pro Football Focus.
On the other side of the ball, the Chargers technically haven’t lost Dobbins yet after placing the unrestricted free agent tender on him. That means he has until training camp to sign with another team before the Chargers have exclusive rights to him. Meanwhile, the club also brought in Harris and used its first-round pick on Omarion Hampton, potentially creating a crowded backfield if Dobbins returns.
Up front, Los Angeles needed to add at least one guard and got a good one in Becton, who revived his career by moving inside with the Eagles last season. That’s a big upgrade over Trey Pipkins III and Jamaree Salyer, both of whom are still on the roster as backups.
Out wide, Ladd McConkey emerged as the offense’s No. 1 receiver during his first year in the league, but the Chargers needed to add a second target after losing Palmer. That led to them bringing Williams back and using a second-round pick on Tre Harris, giving them three big-bodied targets since Quentin Johnston is still on the roster as well.
Draft
Photo by Nicholas Faulkner/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Additions: RB Omarion Hampton (1st round), WR Tre Harris (2nd round), DT Jamaree Caldwell (3rd round), EDGE Kyle Kennard (4th round), WR KeAndre Lambert-Smith (5th round), TE Oronde Gadsen II (5th round), OL Branson Taylor (6th round), S R.J. Mickens (6th round), CB Trikweze Bridges (7th round)
Hampton could end up being the Bolts’ lead back this season, but he’ll have to beat out Najee Harris for that role. Still, the North Carolina product is the long-term answer in the backfield since Harris signed just a one-year deal.
As referenced above, Tre Harris could easily become the offense’s WR2 given his talent and draft status.
Defensively, Caldwell can replace Ford at nose tackle. However, the Oregon product isn’t nearly as stout or consistent against double teams to be a constant gap-filler against the run. Also on the Chargers’ defensive line, Kennard gives their defense another edge-rusher to help fill the void on third downs.
Remaining Question Marks
- Wide receiver depth
I think adding Harris in the draft was a good pickup, but the Chargers lack some variety in their receiver room since he, Williams and Johnston have very similar skill sets. Also, Williams is coming off the worst year of his career, and the club clearly doesn’t believe in Johnston much as he’s pushed down the depth chart with its offseason additions.
- Tight End
Los Angeles was connected to Colston Loveland and Tyler Warren leading into the draft due to its need at tight end. However, neither fell to the 22nd pick, and the organization kept striking out at the position until the fifth round. So, Will Dissly returns as the starter with Conklin being the most significant offseason addition.
- Pass rush
While Mack definitely has a few good years left and Tuipulotu is deserving of a bigger role, losing Bosa’s production is significant. Kennard isn’t an adequate replacement, in my opinion, and Fox was a solid interior rusher whose absence will be more significant than most realize.
- Cornerback
I was surprised the Chargers let both Samuel and Fulton leave in free agency. Granted, they could still re-sign Samuel. The front office is taking a risk by relying on second-year pros Hart and Still, and Jackson and Benjamin St-Juste aren’t a secure veteran insurance options.