Quarterback

The Chargers had high expectations going into the 2025 season after a surprise playoff appearance in new head coach Jim Harbaugh’s first season with the team in 2024. However, disaster struck before the season even began, as talented left tackle Rashawn Slater tore his patellar tendon in training camp and missed the whole season. Things went from bad to worse when the equally talented Joe Alt, who moved from right tackle to left tackle in Slater’s absence, suffered an ankle injury and subsequent re-aggravation that limited him to just 312 snaps in 6 games.

The loss of their two tackles, arguably the best tackle duo in the league when healthy, exposed the weak interior of their offensive line and, without good backup options at tackle, the Chargers had arguably the worst offensive line in the league last season, ranking 32nd in team pass block win rate and 31st in team run block win rate. Alt and Slater weren’t the only significant injuries the Chargers dealt with last season, as they had the 6th most adjusted games lost to injury overall. Despite that, the Chargers actually still managed to win 11 games and make the playoffs, but they finished just 17th in schedule adjusted efficiency and their offensive line issues could not be overcome in the post-season, when they managed just 3 points in a first round loss to the eventual AFC Champion New England Patriots.

This year, the Chargers will get Slater and Alt back and they made moves to try to improve the interior of their offensive line as well. They also changed offensive coordinators, going from Greg Roman, whose outdated schemes held back this offense, to Mike McDaniel, former head coach of the Dolphins who was arguably the best available offensive coordinator option this off-season. Those additions and re-additions should help an offense that ranked just 24th in schedule adjusted efficiency last season. 

Quarterback Justin Herbert was basically the sole reason why this offense was not one of the worst in the league last season, playing at a borderline MVP level. His passing statistics don’t quite show his value, as he completed 66.4% of his passes for an average of 7.28 YPA, 26 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions, but considering the circumstances, that was very impressive. He also added 6.00 YPC and 2 touchdowns on 83 carries, despite playing through a broken non-throwing hand for much of the second half of the season. 

Herbert has been one of the better quarterbacks in the league since being drafted 6th overall in 2020 and you could argue last season was his best performance all things considered. He hasn’t had the success in terms of wins and losses that you would expect him an elite quarterback yet, with a 52-43 regular season record and a 0-3 playoff record, but a lot of that could be blamed on his supporting cast, whether his lack of offensive line help last season, his lack of receiving help the year before that, or his lack of defensive support early in his career. Herbert isn’t a true top level quarterback, but I think he is just a tier below and, with more help around him, the Chargers have the potential to be one of the best teams in the league in 2026 if enough things go right.

One issue with Herbert is that he does tend to suffer injuries more than the average quarterback, as his playing style leads to him taking more hits than normal. He’s only missed six games in six seasons in the league, but he has been limited by injuries that he has played through on several occasions. The Chargers are hoping that improved pass protection will help keep him healthy, but Herbert also has averaged 63 carries per season in his career, so he takes a significant amount of hits even if he has good pass protection. 

Making this even more of a concern is the fact that his backup is Trey Lance, who has a mediocre 71.9 passer rating in six career starts. Most teams with high level quarterbacks would be in big trouble if they lost their quarterback for an extended period of time, but some teams can survive the loss of their quarterback for a shorter period of time because they have a good backup quarterback. The Chargers are not one of those teams, so Herbert’s health is a bigger factor for them than most teams. 

Grade: A-

Offensive Line

As I mentioned, the return of Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt will be a massive upgrade for this offense, as they are one of the best offensive tackle duos in the league when healthy. Slater, a first round pick in 2021, was one of the better left tackles in the league in 2023 and 2024 before his injury and is still only in his age 27 season, while Alt, a first round pick in 2024 who is only going into his age 23, was one of the better right tackles in the league as a rookie and was on his way to an even better season in 2025 at left tackle before getting hurt. 

There is some concern that Slater might not return to form or suffer another injury, given that he has now missed most or all of two of his five seasons in the league and given that the patellar tendon he suffered last year is one of the most difficult injuries to return to form after, but Alt doesn’t have an injury history and, at the very least, he should be able to return to form or possibly be even better, now in his third season in the league. It is possible the Chargers leave Alt at left tackle and let Slater play on the right side, which is generally easier, but it remains to be seen if they will make that move. Either way, even with some injury concerns, this is still one of the best tackle duos in the league, a big difference from last year, when Bobby Hart, Trey Pipkins, Jamaree Salyer, and Austin Deculus all made multiple starts at tackle and all struggled.

The Chargers also should be better on the interior of the offense line this season. They signed center Tyler Biadasz to a 3-year, 30 million dollar deal in free agency. He is not as good of a player as Alt or Slater, but he is a solid starter with 80 starts in the past five seasons and he should be a massive upgrade over Bradley Bozeman, who started 16 of 17 games for the Chargers at center last season, despite being one of the worst starting centers in the league.

The additions the Chargers made at guard are not as impressive and guard figures to still be a position of weakness in 2026, but it would still be hard for the Chargers to have worse guard play than last season. Right now, Trevor Penning and Cole Strange are penciled in as the starters. Both were first round picks in 2022, by the Saints and Patriots respectively, but have largely struggled throughout their careers. Penning has made 33 career starts, 26 at tackle and 7 at guard, including 3 at tackle and 1 at guard for the Chargers last season, after being acquired in a mid-season trade from New Orleans, while Strange has made 43 career starts, 41 at guard and 2 at center, with the Patriots and most recently the Dolphins. Going into their age 27 season and age 28 season respectively, they both have theoretical upside, but it is likely they will continue struggling. 

The Chargers also used a second round pick in this year’s draft on Jake Slaughter, a collegiate center who could theoretically make the switch to guard, but it is unlikely he would be a significant upgrade as a rookie. Fellow rookie, 4th round pick Travis Burke, will compete with Trey Pipkins, who has mostly struggled across 66 starts in 7 seasons in the league, for the swing tackle job. Their expected poor guard play holds back their overall grade, but compared to last year’s league worst group, this is a much improved offensive line, thanks to the returns of Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater from injury and the addition of Tyler Biadasz at center. 

Grade: B

Running Backs

In addition to their offensive line injuries, the Chargers also had their expected top-2 running backs Omarion Hampton and Najee Harris miss significant time with injury, with Hampton limited to 384 snaps in 9 games by an ankle injury and Harris having his season ended after 43 snaps in 3 games by a torn Achilles tendon. As a result, expected third string running back Kimani Vidal led the team in carries (155) and rushing yards (643). 

Vidal wasn’t bad, considering the state of the Chargers’ blocking, averaging 4.15 YPC, with 3.00 YPC after contact, a 18.7% missed tackle rate, and a 47.1% carry success rate, but Hampton was clearly better runner, averaging 4.40 YPC on 124 carries, with 3.35 YPC after contact, a 25.8% missed tackle rate, and a 46.8% carry success rate. Hampton also averaged 1.04 yards per route run as a receiver, to just 0.63 for Vidal. Hampton was the Chargers’ first round pick in 2025 and has a massive upside long-term, so, if he stays healthy, he could have a big second season in the league in 2026. 

Harris was not retained this off-season, leaving Vidal to compete with free agent addition Keaton Mitchell for the primary backup job. Mitchell was signed for 9.25 million over 2 years this off-season, which suggests they view him as having a role, and he has an impressive 6.34 YPC average in his career, but that has been on just 121 carries in three seasons in the league and the former undrafted free agent is very undersized at 5-8 191, so it is unlikely he will be more than a change of pace back, even if Hampton misses time with injury. Vidal, who showed himself to be a decent backup option last season, after only playing 169 snaps as a rookie, may be the nominal #3 back, but I would expect him to get the bulk of the carries if Hampton gets hurt. As long as Hampton is healthy though, I would expect him to be the clear feature back, both in the passing game and as a runner.

Grade: B

Receiving Corps

The Chargers receiving corps last season was not bad, but it wasn’t particularly good either and it is unlikely to be significantly better this season. Ladd McConkey led the team in receiving for the second straight season, but his 66/789/6 slash line was a significant drop off from the year before, when he had a 82/1149/7 slash line, despite receiving a similar target total in 2025 (112) as he did in 2024 (106). A 2nd round pick in 2024, McConkey could see his production bounce back at least somewhat in 2026 if the offense is better overall, but, despite his yardage total as a rookie, McConkey’s skill set is more in line with a #2 receiver than a true #1 receiver.

Quentin Johnston has the skill set of a #1 receiver, but the 2023 1st round pick hasn’t put it together consistently. His slash lines of 55/711/8 and 51/735/8 over the past two seasons aren’t bad, but they are not #1 receiver numbers and he has benefitted significantly from playing with a high level quarterback. Still only in his age 25 season, Johnston still has time to make good on his potential, but it is not a guarantee that he takes a step forward in 2026.

Veteran Keenan Allen actually led the team in targets last season, but he was the most inefficient of the three options, turning just 122 targets into a 81/777/4 slash line. Ahead of what would have been his age 34 season, Allen was not retained this off-season and the majority of his routes will likely go to 2025 2nd round pick Tre Harris. Harris didn’t show much in a part-time role as a rookie, playing 554 snaps and averaging just 1.10 yards per route run, with a slash line of 30/324/1 on 43 targets, but he has the upside to take a step forward in a bigger role in his second season in the league. With Harris moving into the #3 wide receiver role, the #4 wide receiver role will go to either 4th round rookie Brenen Thompson or 2025 5th round pick KeAndre Lambert-Smith, who was underwhelming in 123 snaps as a rookie.

While Harris played sparingly and struggled when on the field, another 2025 draft pick, tight end Oronde Gadsden, made a much more immediate impact, finishing the season with a 49/664/3 slash line on 69 targets and a team leading 1.66 yards per route run average as the Chargers’ primary receiving tight end, despite only being a 5th round draft pick. A converted wide receiver, Gadsden struggled mightily as a blocker, but is a matchup problem in the passing game and will continue being a significant part of this passing game.

The Chargers signed tight end Charlie Kolar to a 3-year, 24.3 million dollar deal in free agency, but he isn’t really a threat for Gadsden’s receiving role, being signed because he is one of the best run blocking tight ends in the league. He only has 30 catches in four seasons in the league, but he might have some untapped receiving upside if given the chance, as he has averaged 1.76 yards per route run in the very limited route running opportunities he has gotten in his career. He won’t have a big enough receiving role to significantly cut into Gadsden’s target share, but the Chargers’ backup tight ends last season had 30 targets total and none of them were retained, so Kolar could have a bigger receiving role with the Chargers than he ever did with the Ravens, when he maxed out at 15 targets in a season. This is an overall underwhelming receiving corps.

Grade: C+

Edge Defenders

While the Chargers offense almost definitely will be significantly better this season, there is some concern that the Chargers’ defense might not be quite as good, after ranking 8th in schedule adjusted efficiency last season. The biggest reason for that concern is that their defensive coordinator Jesse Minter left for the Ravens’ head coaching job and. The good news is that the personnel is largely the same. In fact, the Chargers’ top-11 in terms of defensive snaps played last season and 14 of their top-15 all remain on the roster.

The Chargers did not retain edge defender Odafe Oweh, who did not rank in the top-15 in terms of snaps played because he was acquired mid-season via trade, but still managed to finish second on the team with 7.5 sacks and third with 35 total pressures. Oweh will be missed, despite his relatively limited playing time last season, but the good news is the Chargers used their first round pick on edge defender Akheem Mesidor, who has a good chance to at least adequately replace Oweh’s production. 

Mesidor’s addition is especially needed because Khalil Mack, who still played at a high level last season, is now going into his age 35 season. Mack is not what he was in his prime, but the future Hall of Famer still had 5.5 sacks, 5 hits, and a 14.8% pressure rate in 12 games last season, while playing at a high level against the run. He may decline in 2026, perhaps significantly so, which would hurt this defense significantly, but he could also remain an above average player for another season.

Tuli Tuipulotu was the Chargers’ top edge defender last season and should remain their top edge defender in 2026, still only in his age 24 season. Tuipulotu ranked 6th in the league with 13 sacks last season and added 13 hits and a 16.7% pressure rate. He is a one-year wonder in terms of producing at that level, averaging 6.5 sacks, 9.5 hits, and a 10.8% pressure rate in his first two seasons in the league in 2023 and 2024, but the former 2nd round pick likely has permanently turned a corner and he seems as likely to continue improving even further as he does to regress to his pre-2025 form. 

Tuipulotu, Mesidor, and Mack figure to play the lion’s share of the edge defender snaps for the Chargers in 2026, but, if one of them misses time with injury, an expanded role would likely go to Bud Dupree, who played 392 snaps last season. Dupree is largely a liability though, as his last season above 10% pressure was in 2020 and he is now going into his age 33 season. Dupree will remain their #4 edge defender due to lack of a better option, but the Chargers at least have a strong top-3 at the position.

Grade: A-

Interior Defenders

The one player who finished in the top-15 in snaps played on the Chargers’ defense last season who is no longer with the team is interior defender Da’Shawn Hand, but he still only played 451 snaps and was marginal at best, so he won’t be hard to replace. Veteran Dalvin Tomlinson was signed in free agency to take Hand’s spot in the defensive tackle rotation, which includes holdovers Teair Tart, Jamaree Caldwell, and Justin Eboigbe.

Tart was the best of the bunch, excelling against the run and adding a 5.7% pressure rate as a pass rusher, while playing 499 snaps total. That is largely in line with how he has played in recent years and, with Tart still being relatively young, in his age 29 season in 2026, I would expect more of the same from him in 2025. Caldwell was a similar player, playing at his best against the run and adding a 5.2% pressure rate, while playing 487 total snaps, most among Chargers interior defenders. Tart was a little better, both as a run defender and pass rusher, but Caldwell was only a 3rd round rookie and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him take a step forward in year two in 2026.

Eboigbe was the best pass rusher of the bunch, totaling 6 sacks, 4 hits, and a 9.1% pressure rate, but he struggled against the run. Last season was the first significant action of Eboigbe’s career, as the 2024 4th round pick played just 26 snaps as a rookie. It is possible he gets better in 2026, but, at the very least, he should remain a useful pass rusher as part of their defensive tackle rotation. Tomlinson, meanwhile, is likely to be the worst of the bunch. 

Tomlinson was a consistently above average interior defender in his prime, but he has declined significantly in each of the past two seasons, to the point where he was a liability against the run and a pass rusher last season (4.5% pressure rate) and, now going into his age 32 season, it is unlikely he bounces back. It is possible he is pushed for playing time down the stretch by 5th round rookie Nick Barrett. This is not a bad position group, but it is not a particularly good one either.

Grade: B-

Linebackers

At linebacker, the Chargers bring back all their key players from a year ago. Daiyan Henley played an every down role (930 snaps in 16 games) and was a solid, if unspectacular player. It was a slight step back from his above average performance in 2024, his first year in an every down role after playing sparingly as a rookie in 2023, but he could easily bounce back in 2026 and, even if he doesn’t, the former 3rd round pick should remain a solid every starter at the very least.

Troy Dye (473 snaps) and Denzel Perryman (298 snaps) split snaps next to Perryman. Neither one was particularly good and both are getting up there in age, with Dye going into his age 30 season and Perryman going into his age 34 season, so I wouldn’t expect more than decent play at best from either one in 2026. A younger option the Chargers have is Junior Colston, a 3rd round pick in 2024, but he struggled mightily across 218 snaps as a rookie, before missing all of last season due to a shoulder injury, so it seems unlikely he would be an upgrade over Dye or Perryman if he were to play a significant role. Henley elevates the overall grade for this position group, but this is an average at best position group, given their other linebacker options.

Grade: B

Secondary

The Chargers do mask their lack of linebacker depth by frequently using three or four safeties on the field at the same time. Derwin James is by far the best of the bunch and one of the best safeties in the entire NFL. He unsurprisingly plays an every down role, frequently moving around the formation to both linebacker and nickel cornerback. His age is a minor concern, going into his age 30 season, but he hasn’t shown any signs of decline yet and, even if he does decline somewhat in 2026, he should still remain a well above average safety.

Elijah Molden finished second on the team in snaps played by a safety with 538 in 12 games. He is a capable starter, but injuries are consistently a concern for him, as he has missed time with injury in all five seasons in the league, while never playing more than 761 snaps in a season. Veteran Tony Jefferson was third on the team with 492 snaps played last season. He was also a capable, if unspectacular player, but he is now going into his age 34 season and hasn’t been an every down player since 2018, so he should be the third safety at best.

Molden and Jefferson will likely face competition for playing time from 2025 5th round pick RJ Mickens, who flashed potential across 328 snaps as a rookie, and Genesis Smith, a 4th round pick in this year’s draft who was a good value and could contribute in a part-time role immediately. The Chargers figure to mix and match and frequently play 3-4 safeties at the same time in a position group that you could argue legitimately goes five deep if everything goes right.

The Chargers’ safety depth helps mask the Chargers’ lack of cornerback depth too, but the Chargers do at least have three cornerback options that are mostly capable. Tarheeb Still is the best of the bunch and the Chargers’ nominal #1 cornerback. Despite only being a 5th round pick in 2025, Still has started 25 of the 29 games he has played in over the past two seasons and has generally been a solid cornerback, even if he is not a true #1. 

Donte Jackson and Cam Hart are the Chargers’ other cornerback options. Jackson has made 106 starts in 112 games in eight seasons in the league and has generally been a capable cornerback starter, though his age is becoming a concern, going into his age 31 season. Cam Hart, meanwhile, was also a 5th round pick in 2024 and has provided mostly mediocre play across 1,100 snaps in two seasons in the league. The Chargers’ safeties elevate the overall position grade of their secondary, most notably led by Derwin James, who is one of the best safeties in the league.

Grade: B+

Kicker

Chargers kicker Cameron Dicker entered the league as an undrafted free agent in 2022 and leads the league in points above expected at the kicker position since entering the league, with a total of 31.7 points added in those four seasons. He is also very consistent, surpassing 0.3 points per game added in all four seasons. Between his reliability and his ability to hit from deep, Dicker is likely to lead to the Chargers winning at least one game that they would not have otherwise won with an average kicker in 2026.

Grade: A

Conclusion

The Chargers’ offense should be much improved this season, due to the returns of tackles Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater, likely better health and a potential breakout year from running back Omarion Hampton, the addition of center Tyler Biadasz, and the addition of offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel. Their defense could be worse, due to the loss of defensive coordinator Jesse Minter, the loss of Odafe Oweh, and a pair of stars, Khalil Mack and Derwin James, being on the wrong side of 30, but, overall, I would expect this team to be better this year than last year. They might not be true Super Bowl contenders, but they should at least be a playoff team and they should be more competitive once they get to the playoffs than they were a year ago.

Prediction: 11-6, 2nd in AFC West