The trade deadline is a little over 24 hours away for general manager Joe Hortiz and the LA Chargers. While it was nice for the Bolts to come out of the Tennessee game with a win, they came out of it battered and bruised along the offensive line. Bobby Hart exited the game with groin/ankle injuries while LT Joe Alt may now require surgery for a high ankle sprain. He was seen leaving the game on crutches.
Offensive line is perhaps the primary concern for the Chargers heading into the deadline. The Athletic's Dianna Russini reported that the Chargers and Seahawks are the teams probing the market for offensive line help. Without Omarion Hampton and Najee Harris, running back also has to be in the positional conversation. Kimani Vidal struggled against Tennessee yesterday while Hassan Haskins was just placed on IR.
Here are 12 names that could make some sense for the Chargers at the deadline:
12 realistic trade deadline targets for the LA Chargers:
RB Jerome Ford
Some Chargers fans dream a bit bigger than Jerome Ford with the potential availability of Breece Hall on the trade market. But Ford to me is the much more cost-effective back considering trade compensation to add to the rotation. ESPN's Bill Barnwell did a mock trade with the Browns RB going to the Chargers for a 2027 day 3 pick swap last month.
Ford has been phased out of the Cleveland running back room as they've moved on to the Quinshon Judkins era. He's in the last year of his rookie contract and the Browns are unlikely to receive any compensatory pick considerations with his free agency.
Ford presents some nice speed contrast for a RB2/3 that can complement Hampton and Vidal pretty well. For the remaining period of time that Hampton is out, he can also help take the load off of the shoulders of Vidal and Patterson.
OG Kevin Zeitler
Hortiz's Baltimore tenure overlaps with Zeitler for about three years from 2021 to 2023. The veteran right guard is still playing at a decent level for the Titans, who have already started selling off pieces. In seven PFF graded games this season, Zeitler has only given up nine pressures and three sacks. He's still a solid run blocker as well.
There's uncertainty around the Mekhi Becton knee injury situation with the Chargers and Foster Sarell has been borderline unplayable through two weeks. It's worth a shot.
RB Tony Pollard
Continuing on the Titans are sellers theme, here's another running back. Pollard showed some explosiveness in the first half against the Chargers yesterday. He can be a solid RB2 to Hampton once he returns and takes some of the current burden off of Vidal.
Pollard can probably be had for a late day 3 pick more so than a pick swap. This is the in-between option between a rotational back like Ford or the star rental like Hall.
Pollard also gives the Chargers financial flexibility long-term. He's an expiring contract next season and Los Angeles could either decide to keep him or save a net of $5.25 million against the cap by cutting him.
OT/G Evan Neal
Evan Neal was also a potential 2028 day 3 pick swap to the Chargers, listed by Bill Barnwell in his article last month. He played well enough in the preseason to maintain a roster spot, but has been largely phased out of any starter or true backup time for the Giants. Neal said on Sunday that he'll welcome whatever happens by Tuesday's trade deadline.
Hortiz and Harbaugh have liked their first-round pick reclamation projects as seen by their attempt to sign Alex Leatherwood last year or even their trade for Odafe Oweh this year. Neal has some guard/tackle flexibility and maybe there's a chance he can audition for the Chargers in some starter/backup role with the nature of the Joe Alt injury. Neal is still just 25 years old with a lot of physical talent on paper.
OG Ben Cleveland
Baltimore pipeline again here. Ben Cleveland is still just 27 years old but isn't getting much playing time with the Ravens outside of special teams. The fifth-year guard lost a preseason competition to Daniel Faalele. Hortiz played an instrumental role in Baltimore's drafts when they decided to take Cleveland in 2021.
As mentioned before, there's uncertainty with the Becton situation and Cleveland probably represents at least a decent upgrade over Sarell at the minimum.
OT Max Mitchell
Like Neal, Mitchell has some guard/tackle flexibility but has largely been relegated to special teams this year. He is in the final year of his rookie contract. This could also be his last chance to audition before he hits the free agent market. Chargers assistant GM Chad Alexander was with the Jets as Director of Player Personnel when they selected Mitchell in the 2022 NFL Draft.
OT Dillon Radunz
Another name with the aforementioned skillset here of guard/tackle flexibility. Dillon Radunz started two games for the Saints earlier this year at guard in addition to playing all of 2024 for the Titans at RG. The Chargers have used the early 2020s Titans as a feeding ground for talent before with names like Teair Tart, Bud Dupree, and Elijah Molden already on their defense.
RB Breece Hall
Ok, time to throw the readers a bone and go with the name everyone knows. The Jets reportedly want a third-round pick for star running back Breece Hall. He's on an expiring rookie deal and the Jets can either wait to get some sort of comp pick back or trade him if they like an offer now.
With Hampton eventually coming back sometime around the BYE week, I'm just not seeing how the Chargers justify that kind of cost. Maybe in the eyes of some it would be worth it to keep Hall away from a squad like the Chiefs. It might've been a different story for me if Hampton was out until January or had some extended timeline like that.
It's still worth mentioning, though. Maybe the Chargers would like to put a killer power-speed duo together with Hampton and Hall. With next year's already limited draft capital, it's hard for me to see the juice being worth the squeeze, though. And if they give up a third or fourth-round pick, the 2025 free agency RB market drying up showed that there's no guarantee they get a quality comp pick back for letting Hall walk.
OG Joel Bitonio
Joel Bitonio is on an expiring contract in Cleveland. His contract for this year would probably require some financial movement like the Chargers restructuring the contracts of Derwin James and/or Justin Herbert with their limited cap space.
Bitonio has primarily played left guard in his NFL career, but was moved around the line, including the tackle spot in college. This one is probably one of the longer shot options with the Browns' lifer not being a 100% right guard fit considering the Becton/Sarell situation, but it's at least worth a call. If Cleveland's in sell mode, he's one of the guys to call about.
DT T'Vondre Sweat
T'Vondre Sweat is already fond of Justin Herbert. Maybe he's a fit here for just that reason. But in all seriousness, Sweat might not be in the Titans' future plans. They've reportedly fielded calls for him. It's worth noting that he wasn't a prospect drafted by new GM Mike Borgonzi.
The Chargers have loved their buy-low options at DT, starting with Poona Ford last year directly into the emergence of Teair Tart. Maybe they take a DL dart throw here.
OT Jack Conklin
Jack Conklin is in the final year of his deal in Cleveland and would present some potentially immediate help at the tackle spot. He has dealt with an elbow injury and a concussion this year and might not be part of the Browns' future plans. On the field, it's been an up-and-down year for Conklin considering the injuries. But he had a decent 2024 starting season as Cleveland's right tackle starter to lean on.
If healthy, he certainly presents a more positive starting option in the absence of Alt than either Jamaree Salyer or Austin Deculus.
DT Shelby Harris
Cleveland's Shelby Harris would be a solid add for a run defense that has struggled with explosive plays at times. He's on a one-year deal with a relatively low cap number. Considering the injuries to Otito Ogbonnia and Da'Shawn Hand, Harris could fill a decent role for the Chargers right now. When cold weather December and January football comes, you want some decent run stuffers.
Harris has played over 100 run defense snaps for the Browns this year. Cleveland is the top team in ESPN's run stop win rate in the NFL right now.