The Los Angeles Chargers looked capable of hanging with just about anyone at full strength last season. The problem was that was seldom the case—especially on the offensive side of the ball. Losing stud tackles Joe Alt (6 games played) and Rashawn Slater (0) for the majority of the season helped result in the Chargers earning PFF's second-lowest team pass-blocking grade … and the lowest run-blocking mark.

This flaw was exposed more than ever during the team's Wild Card loss to the Patriots when Justin Herbert was pressured on a whopping 25 dropbacks–the third-highest single playoff game mark in the last decade.

• 2025: 11-6 (+28 point differential, preseason win total: 9.5)
• Points per game: 21.6 (20th)
• EPA per pass: +0.02 (23rd)
• EPA per rush: -0.08 (23rd)
• Points per game against: 20 (9th)
• EPA per pass against: -0.05 (7th)
• EPA per rush against: -0.12 (4th)

The good news: Literally nobody has more effective cap space than the Chargers ahead of free agency, and they're also equipped with ample early-round ammo with the No. 22, No. 55 and No. 86 picks. It's a good thing, too, because there are several position groups that badly need to be addressed in the coming months.

What Do The Los Angeles Chargers Need To Address In The 2026 Offseason?

Need 1: Defensive line

The group lost five-time Pro Bowler Joey Bosa last season and now risks losing nine-time Pro Bowler Khalil Mack this offseason. Throw in starting DT Teair Tart and numerous depth pieces, and the defensive front simply needs more bodies.

While the defense as a whole was a strength for the Chargers, they were good not great at getting after the QB (16th in pressure rate) and allowed some big-time performances on the ground to guys like De'Von Achane (16 rushes-128 yards-2 TD), Saquon Barkley (20-122-1), Jacory Croskey-Merritt (14-111-2) and Jonathan Taylor (16-94-3), among others.

Consider: The Chargers boast the cheapest front seven in the NFL by nearly $10 million entering 2026! It's probably time for the front office to spend a top-50 draft pick on the group for the first time since 2020.

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Need 2: Interior offensive line

The aforementioned injuries to tackles Alt and Slater were unfortunate, but hopefully won't be problematic in the future *knocks on wood*. This makes the interior of the group the priority, and why not? PFF didn't grade a single Charger inside their top-85 guards and centers among 128 qualified interior offensive linemen last season.

All sorts of contributors are hitting the open market, and realistically upgrades are needed regardless of whether or not the familiar boys are back in town. PFF's final end-of-season offensive line ranks during Herbert's career have certainly been more bad than good over the years.

• 2025: PFF's 30th-ranked offensive line
• 2024: 21st
• 2023: 16th
• 2022: 17th
• 2021: 10th
• 2020: 32nd

Need 3: Cornerback

This is one of only six defenses with under $15 million devoted to their cornerback room in 2026. Re-signing Benjamin St-Juste would help, but adding some youthful talent would also be nice considering this front office has drafted only two defensive backs in Rounds 1-3 during the last five drafts combined.

Now, the Chargers defense was rather awesome overall and against the pass anyway in 2025—they allowed the fifth-fewest passing yards and lowest overall passer rating—but that doesn't mean some extra help in the back end couldn't take this group from great to elite.

Honorable mention

Losing Keenan Allen to free agency could compel the offense to add some competition to the No. 3 WR slot, although Tre Harris and KeAndre Lambert-Smith aren't horrible secondary options to have behind Ladd McConkey and Quentin Johnston. Still, the Chargers do have the league's third-cheapest combined wide receiver and tight end rooms. … Backup running backs Najee Harris, Kimani Vidal (ERFA) and Hassan Haskins are all free agents, meaning at a minimum Los Angeles needs to add some depth behind presumed bell cow Omarion Hampton.

If I were GM …

I'd spend each of my three Day 1 and 2 draft picks on the line of scrimmage, ideally coming away with at least one new starter on the interior offensive line, as well as another demon in the front seven to help improve a pass rush that wasn't exactly superhuman despite the defense overall being quite good. Additionally, Jim Harbaugh is the man I'm expected to make happy in this hypothetical scenario—you really think he'll have a problem with heavily investing in the trenches?!

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