The Chargers still have plenty of roster spots to reinforce ahead of the 2025 season.
The Chargers have made their fair share of moves over the first week of free agency. They’ve fleshed out their defensive line room with low-cost signings, signed one of the top guards available, and found a new starting running back.
Still, there’s much more to do if they want their roster to be objectively better than it was a season ago. Thankfully, there’s still plenty of time to continue making deals on top of next month’s NFL draft.
Below, I touch on every position group for the Chargers and give my thoughts on where they should go from here with each room.
Let’s go ahead and take a look.
Quarterback (3 under contract)
Need: None
The Chargers solidified their quarterback room by signing Taylor Heinicke to an extension through the 2026 season. Easton Stick remains QB3 and the emergency QB on game days.
What they should do: Nothing
Running back (4)
Need: RB1b, Depth
The Chargers upgraded the durable and longevity of their starting running back spot by signing former Steelers rusher Najee Harris. With four consecutive 1,000-yard seasons and zero games missed since entering the NFL, the Bolts have a much higher floor for their rushing game than in years past.
However, behind Harris sits 2024 sixth-rounder Kimani Vidal, Hassan Haskins, and Jaret Patterson. Both Vidal and Haskins had their moments last year, but nothing truly happened that would make the Chargers NOT consider adding another impactful runner.
The Lions have David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs. The Ravens have Derrick Henry and Justice Hill. The Bucs have Bucky Irving and Rachaad White. It only makes sense for the Chargers — if they truly want to be the team the claim to want to be — that they go and find a complementary back in this year’s draft to pair with Harris.
What they should do: Find a running mate for Najee Harris
Wide receiver (8)
Need: Rookie/future starter, depth
Bringing back Mike Williams helps the Chargers in the immediate as he helps give Justin Herbert a reliable X receiver. This will allow Ladd McConkey to do most of his work out of the slot and let Quentin Johnston move around the formation in hopes of gaining a positional mismatch.
But with Williams only signed for one year, and the depth looking bleak behind those three, the Chargers should definitely find a young receiver they can develop in this year’s draft, if not sign an available veteran to help in spot duty if an injury should arise.
What they should do: Draft a receiver with the expectation he starts in year two or sign a cheap veteran to solidify the room
Tight end (3)
Need: TE1, Depth
Tight is one of the top positions the Chargers could target in the first round of this year’s draft. Thanks to some of the free agency moves made by other teams, someone like Michigan’s Colston Loveland could easily slide to the Bolts at No. 22. If that’s not the case, the Chargers still MUST come away with a young tight end as their current depth chart of Will Dissly, Tucker Fisk, and McCallan Castles is looking super bleak.
In fact, I wouldn’t blame the Chargers for double-dipping at tight end, similar to how the Ravens have done it twice in the past decade. With 10 picks, there’s no reason for them not to in hopes of landing an impact player at an essential position.
What they should do: Draft a tight end in the first two rounds, then another on day three
Offensive tackle (3)
Need: Depth
The Chargers have not re-signed Foster Sarell which means the only tackles left on the roster are Rashawn Slater, Joe Alt, and 2024 UDFA Tyler McLellan. Trey Pipkins remains on the team and could end up being retained and relegated to the swing tackle role following the signing of Mekhi Becton, but there’s a chance he’s released at some point for additional cap space.
If Pipkins is released, the Chargers absolutely must build up their depth at tackle because one injury either Alt or Slater would spell disaster.
What they should do: Find a new swing tackle on day three
Interior offensive line (7)
Need: New starting center
The Chargers gave Bradley Bozeman a very minimal contract to stick around. By no means should that stop them from looking for an upgrade at the pivot. If Bozeman does get replaced, his cap hit of $2.315 million is just fine for a solid backup.
If Bozeman is the starter to begin 2025, I would hope the Chargers found a new starting left guard as I would hope the goal wasn’t to run back one of the worst interior three in the league with just one new face.
What they should do: Aim to find a future center on day two
Interior defensive line (7)
Need: A headliner/DL1
The Chargers let Poona Ford walk in free agency which is certainly their biggest mistake made thus far. To help replace that loss, the team has signed two career backups in Naquan Jones and Da’Shawn Hand. Both will be part of the rotation with Teair Tart and Otito Ogbonnia.
The one thing this interior is missing is a real name. A bonafide starter. None of the guys they have in this group are likely starters on any other team. This leads me to believe the Chargers plan to draft a new starter on the first two days.
Michigan’s Kenneth Grant is a common name in this scenario. Luckily it’s a pretty deep defensive tackle where some solid names should still be there on day two.
What they should do: Find a new starter in the the first three rounds or at least another guy to make the room competitive
Edge rusher (6)
Need: Future starter, depth
The Chargers got Khalil Mack to come back for one more year. He’ll join Tuli Tuipulotu and Bud Dupree as the team’s top three. Behind them are a handful of former undrafted players that shouldn’t be asked to see the field just yet. Without needing to hit a home run, the Bolts should look to find a developmental prospect to sit behind Mack and Co. for most of year one with the mindset to hit the ground running in 2026 next to Tuli.
What they should do: Draft someone in round three or four, potentially double-dip on day three
Linebacker (7)
Need: Depth
The Chargers lost special-team and depth linebacker Nick Niemann to the Texans in free agency. They did manage to re-sign both Denzel Perryman and Troy Dye. They’ve got the bodies here, but I’d like to see them upgrade their depth as much as possible. Jeremiah Jean-Baptiste, Shaq Quarterman, and Del’Shawn Phillips are the team’s current LB5, LB6, and LB7.
If they run it back as it is, they should be fine, especially if Junior Colson comes into his own in year two.
What they should do: Find a cheap free agent or use one of their late day three picks on a special-teamer type
Cornerback (5)
Need: New starting slot CB
The Chargers hit on both Tarheeb Still and Cam Hart as fifth-round rookies a year ago. They added former Panthers and Steelers starter Donte Jackson to be a starter while they added former Commanders corner Benjamin St-Juste as depth.
They have the bodies and depth overall, but I’d like to see the team upgrade their slot corner (when Derwin James isn’t in that role). Current slot Ja’Sir Taylor was a massive liability last season and the Chargers would be mistaken to let him see the field as much as he did for another season.
What they should do: Use one of their many day three picks on at least one and hope their free agent signings pan out
Safety (5)
Need: Depth
With arguably the top safety trip in the NFL, the Chargers don’t need a starter nor a next man in, but the depth behind these three is uninspiring. Kendall Williamson and Emany Johnson are fine for the end of the roster depth, but adding at least one more trustworthy player to an important position in Jesse Minter’s defense would be ideal.
What they should do: Use a day three pick to try and upgrade depth
Special teams (3)
Need: None
The whole kicking operation will return for another season. Nothing to add here. Keep it simple.
What they should do: Absolutely nothing