Chargers’ 2025 Free Brokers, Targets and Draft Wants After NFL Playoff Loss

It could appear that the Los Angeles Chargers gained the 2024 teaching lottery. Whereas most anticipated Jim Harbaugh to finally flip L.A. right into a contender, the method unfolded faster than most might have imagined.

A yr after ending 5-12 and “incomes” the fifth choose within the NFL draft, the Chargers gained 11 video games and entered the playoffs because the No. 5 seed.

Whereas Harbaugh will get many of the credit score for quickly altering the tradition in L.A., normal supervisor Joe Hortiz actually did his half. Additions like free-agent operating again J.Okay. Dobbins and rookies Joe Alt and Ladd McConkey complemented Harbaugh’s imaginative and prescient completely.

Now that the Chargers’ 2024-25 playoff run has ended, nonetheless, Harbaugh and Hortiz should discover methods to make this roster even higher. A 32-12 defeat to the Houston Texans, one through which Justin Herbert threw 4 interceptions, may increase some new questions, too.

Let’s have a look forward at Los Angeles’ most urgent contract conditions, largest wants and potential offseason targets.

Unrestricted Free Brokers

C Bradley Bozeman

WR DJ Chark

RB J.Okay. Dobbins

LB Troy Dye

RB Ezekiel Elliott

WR Simi Fehoko

DL Poona Ford

DE Morgan Fox

CB Kristian Fulton

QB Taylor Heinicke

TE Hayden Hurst

OL Brenden Jaimes

Edge Khalil Mack

S Marcus Maye

CB Elijah Molden

LB Nick Niemann

WR Joshua Palmer

LB Denzel Perryman

DE Chris Rumph II

CB Asante Samuel Jr.

P JK Scott

QB Easton Stick

DT Teair Tart

Restricted/Unique-Rights Free Brokers

OT Foster Sarell

TE Stone Smartt

Whereas the Chargers have a protracted listing of impending free brokers, lots of them are depth items. Nonetheless, starters like Poona Ford, Denzel Perryman, Bradley Bozeman and Joshua Palmer are set to hit the market and will grow to be offseason priorities.

Los Angeles might have some robust selections to make with gamers like Dobbins, Asante Samuel Jr. and Kristian Fulton.

Dobbins has bee an ideal addition to Greg Roman’s offense, however he has a prolonged harm historical past and missed time this previous season. Samuel and Fulton are stable younger cornerbacks however neither performed at an elite stage this season.

Samuel additionally missed many of the season with a shoulder harm.

Horitz might want to both re-sign or restock the group’s quarterback depth, as each Easton Stick and Taylor Heinicke are anticipated to hit the market. The hope, in fact, is that Herbert will keep on the sphere in 2025, however a group with playoff aspirations ought to all the time have a backup plan.

The Chargers’ most tough choice might concerned pass-rusher Khalil Mack. He stays a top quality contributor—one who recorded six sacks and 21 quarterback pressures in 2024—however he’ll additionally flip 34 in February.

Even at 34, Mack ought to command a considerable contract in free company, and L.A. might look to go youthful and cheaper on the sting. The Chargers are projected to have $76 million in out there cap area, however they’re additionally trying to construct a long-term contender.

The Chargers have put themselves in a great place, financially, heading into the offseason. They need to have the flexibleness to chase an enormous identify or two in free company, and some names stand out as apparent candidates.

Whereas McConkey and Quentin Johnson are a promising receiver duo—and retaining Palmer could also be in Hortiz’s plans—L.A. might use extra on the receiver place. It could make sense to focus on a large receiver like Tee Higgins or Chris Godwin when the market opens in March.

Bringing again broad receiver Keenan Allen, who was traded to the Chicago Bears final offseason, might additionally make sense. So might buying and selling for a receiver, if a participant like Christian Kirk or Deebo Samuel turns into out there on the onset of free company.

With Fulton and Samuel each slated to hit free company, the Chargers might goal a nook like Charvarius Ward or D.J. Reed as effectively.

Given Harbaugh’s need to construct from the inside, nonetheless, the Chargers might look to strengthen their offensive line first. Kansas Metropolis Chiefs guard Trey Smith may very well be the perfect goal.

“Trey Pipkins III and Jamaree Salyer are respectable choices, however Joe Hortiz is not more likely to simply be OK with common or below-average choices,” Bleacher Report’s Alex Ballentine wrote. “If Kansas Metropolis struggles to offer Trey Smith a top-of-the-market contract, then the Chargers must be keen to steal him from their division rival.”

The Chargers will probably look so as to add depth to the defensive entrance as effectively, both by concentrating on free brokers like Sebastian Joseph-Day and B.J. Hill or by contemplating potential commerce targets like Shelby Harris. A younger edge-rusher like Azeez Ojulari may be on L.A.’s radar.

If the Chargers do not goal a high-end receiver within the early offseason, they could look to take one early within the draft. Whereas Johnston, a 2023 first-round choose, has flashed potential, he has but to grow to be a completely reliable goal.

“Johnston
continues to drop the soccer, limiting his developmental arc,” Dame Parson
of the Bleacher Report Scouting Division mentioned. “Past McConkey, there’s not a lot there.”

The B/R Scouting Division paired L.A. with Mississippi receiver Tre Harris in its post-regular season mock draft. Different receiver prospects the Chargers might take into account early embrace Ohio State’s Emeka Egbuka and Luther Burden III.

A good finish like Penn State’s Tyler Warren or Michigan’s Colston Loveland might additionally make sense in Spherical 1—and it’ll shock nobody if Harbaugh favors former Wolverines. Will Dissly and Stone Smartt have supplied stable tight finish manufacturing, however having an elite pass-catcher on the place would assist stability Roman’s offense.

If the Chargers do not goal a pass-catcher on Day 1, prospects like Tennessee pass-rusher James Pearce Jr., Notre Dame cornerback Benjamin Morrison, Georgia edge-defender Mykel Williams, Alabama offensive lineman Tyler Booker and Oregon defensive lineman Derrick Harmon ought to all be on the group’s radar.

The Chargers at present have seven picks within the first six rounds and will look to package deal a couple of later choices to assist goal particular gamers on Day 2. Ohio State defensive lineman Tyleik Williams, Georgia offensive lineman Tate Ratledge, LSU cornerback Zy Alexander, Ohio State operating again Quinshon Judkins, Miami receiver Xavier Restrepo and Boston Faculty edge-rusher Donovan Ezeiruaku are among the many gamers who ought to garner consideration in Rounds 2 and three.

Anticipate Horitz to make the most of a pseudo-best-player-available method within the draft, valuing upside and group match greater than position-specific wants. Los Angeles’ rebuild has come collectively shortly, however the Chargers aren’t but ready to succeed in for one or two lacking items.

*Cap, contract and free-agent standing data through Spotrac. Draft data through Tankathon