The NFL Draft provides an injection of young talent that can put a roster over the top. With real Super Bowl aspirations and several roster spots not yet filled, the LA Chargers are hoping they can find the right recipe for success in the draft.
There's just one catch: room has to be made for incoming talent. This doesn't mean players will always outright be cut, but there are several on the Chargers roster who could lose their current role in favor of an exciting rookie.
Several Chargers players should be heading into the draft worried about their future role with the team. In reading the tea leaves, its clear which players may end up with a lesser role once the draft concludes.
3 Chargers who could be kicked to the curb after the 2026 NFL Draft:
Trevor Penning
To be clear, this is a case of Penning losing a job he probably should never have had in the first place. The Chargers re-signed Penning this offseason after trading draft capital for him at the deadline last season. Los Angeles isn't going to outright cut him based on the draft.
They are, however, going to firmly put him in the backup offensive line group once they land a starting guard in the draft. This doesn't seem like a matter of if the Chargers are going to draft a guard, just a matter of who it is going to be.
Penning is currently the leader in the clubhouse for the starting left guard position but that will undoubtedly change in the coming days. And if it doesn't, it's indicative of a massive problem for the Chargers. There's no reason why the team should trot Penning out as a starter after the year Justin Herbert endured in 2025.
Derius Davis
The wheels are already in motion for Derius Davis to potentially lose his job as the team's primary returner next season. One of the few exciting signings the Chargers made was running back Keaton Mitchell, who is a speed demon with return upside.
It might not just be Mitchell, though. After a bad year, which featured poor play and injury concerns, the Chargers may look for someone more reliable at the returner spot. With Davis having no real offensive upside, it may behoove the Chargers to find someone who can help the team in multiple areas.
This isn't a priority for the Bolts, but if the right player falls, it could absolutely kill Davis' roster chances. Speedster Brenen Thompson is someone whom Davis should worry about. If he falls to the Chargers in the fourth round, well, he very well could outright take Davis' spot on the depth chart.
Scott Matlock
Scott Matlock is already staddling the curb and the wrong selection in the 2026 NFL Draft could fully kick him aside. Drafted as a nose tackle, Matlock transitioned into a full back out of necessity once Jim Harbaugh came in.
The Chargers finally landed a proper fullback in Alec Ingold, essentially making Matlock pointless on the offensive side. GM Joe Hortiz said Matlock still has fullback and tight end upside, but in reality, the Chargers are better off letting actual offensive players play offense.
This could give Matlock the chance to play more defensive tackle, but there's a catch: the Chargers may bolster an already deep interior defensive line with an exciting prospect if the right name is available. If that happens, there's really no room for Matlock on either side of the ball.
Matlock has become a fan favorite. Perhaps he can buck expectations and earn a spot on the 53-man roster. But at this point, it seems far more likely that he ends up on the practice squad in Week 1.
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