Jim Harbaugh and Joe Hortiz must decided how to build the Chargers roster for year two via a strong cap situation and eight current draft picks.
The Chargers have a bunch of needs this offseason despite filling several of them with their 2024 draft and free agent class. With a full offseason ahead of Jim Harbaugh and Joe Hortiz, they’ll now have every possible minute given to teams to make their squads better before the 2025 season.
Below, I touch on what I believe to be the Chargers’ biggest needs this offseason and how I’d personally attack each one. Let’s dive in!
Interior Offensive Line – Free Agency
The collapse of the interior offensive line against the Texans in the wild card round has most likely boosted this need to the top of the team’s draft board. If Jim Harbaugh truly believes that offensive linemen are “weapons” for the offense, there’s no way he’s not going to turn over every stone possible to fix this issue as soon as possible.
I’m not a big fan of the free agent crop this year, but chances are higher of a great immediate impact from a guy who has been in the league a bit as opposed to hoping you hit on a generational guard or center like the Chiefs’ Creed Humphrey.
For center specifically, I like Drew Dalman, the center from the Falcons. Played at Stanford (some Harbaugh ties there obviously) and he had a 78.8 PFF season grade in 2024. He did miss half the year with an injury, but that level of play is worth taking a shot on.
Tight End – NFL Draft
The talent pool of the tight end position in the NFL is very shallow compared to a lot of others. It sure feels like there’s a small minority of teams who find these game-changing athletes who can break open contests on command, and then there’s just a ton of players who could feasibly start, but they’re just sort’ve “a guy” and don’t often leave their mark on the game.
The Chargers have had the latter on their team for the majority of the past four seasons and it’s time they take a shot at finding an elite tight end of their own. A year after the Raiders drafted Brock Bowers, the Chargers could have their shot at Michigan’s Colston Loveland or Penn State’s Tyler Warren.
Bowling Green’s Harold Fannin Jr. is likely their in the second round but he’s much less of a complete tight end compared to Loveland and Warren, although he’s most certainly the top receiving threat at the position in this draft class. Still a game-changing talent, but limited in his impact on a game-to-game basis.
Edge Rusher – Free Agency & NFL Draft
It’s a weak free agency class at edge rusher so I have to think the Chargers try to tackle this group from both sides. A young guy like Malcolm Koonce (eight sacks, nine TFLs in 2023) will be 27 years old in 2025 but he missed all of 2024 with an injury. Like other Hortiz signings, this could be a low-risk, high-reward signing if he thrives under Jesse Minter. Tershawn Wharton of the Chiefs is another in-division name to keep an eye on, as well.
Otherwise, I like the Chargers to go with an edge rusher on day two or early day three. Michigan’s Josaiah Stewart and Ohio State’s Jack Sawyer come to mind as likely day-two picks.
Wide Receiver – Tee Higgins, Chris Godwin, or NFL Draft
This wideout free agent class is really lacking any notable names. It’s Tee Higgins, a little Chris Godwin (coming off a season-ending injury) and then just a bunch of guys that don’t move the needle for me.
The Chargers should throw everything at Higgins to get him in LA. If that doesn’t happen, they should tap in to Chris Godwin to once again try and get an impact player coming off injury on a cheap deal.
If neither of those two end up in LA, the Chargers should do some extensive homework on this wide receiver class in hopes of possibly double-dipping on day three, similar to how the team picked both Tarheeb Still and Cam Hart.
Defensive Tackle – Free Agency
Poona Ford needs to be re-signed 100 percent. He played phenomenally under Jesse Minter and the Bolts won’t find someone as impactful for what he’s expected to cost.
I don’t like the depth at all behind Ford, however. Otito Ogbonnia was a starter in base packages this year but was often one of the worst graded by Pro Football Focus each week. Scott Matlock is more fullback than defender now and 2024 fourth-rounder Justin Eboigbe was inactive for most of the season despite a decent draft slot. Pass-rush specialist Morgan Fox is also expected to be a free agent this offseason but he’ll be 31 for the 2025 season.
Teair Tart could be re-signed as well, to provide depth after a season where he flashed quite a bit in his rotational role.
Chauncey Golston and Osa Odighizuwa of the Cowboys are both names I’d keep an eye on. Both are coming off seasons with a career high in sacks (5.5 and 4.5, respectively) and will be 27 in 2025. With the Cowboys looking for their next head coach, some players from the previous regime could be on the move this offseason.