If the Los Angeles Chargers have shown fans anything under Jim Harbaugh and Joe Hortiz through two years and three offseasons, it’s that they are not afraid of roster turnover in any capacity. The Chargers will let players walk and move forward without much hesitation. In some ways, that’s a good thing. In others, not so much.
Here are three players who could spend the 2026 season auditioning for their next team.
3 Chargers who could be finding a new home next offseason
WR Derius Davis
Unless major improvement is shown from the former TCU receiver, Derius Davis may spend 2026 trying to prove to the rest of the league that he can still provide value as either a return specialist or depth receiver.
A promising rookie season turned into two underwhelming follow-up years, and Davis has struggled to consistently impact games. Too often in 2025, he looked hesitant in the return game and lacked the explosiveness that originally made him dangerous. Seeing him get chased down by defenders who should not have been catching him became a frustratingly common sight for Chargers fans.
The Chargers have already added competition to the room, and as long as Davis remains on the roster bubble, every snap will likely feel like a chance to put something on tape for other front offices around the league.
RB Kimani Vidal
This one would hurt for Chargers fans. Unlike Davis, this has much less to do with poor performance and more to do with Vidal potentially playing himself into a bigger opportunity elsewhere.
With Keaton Mitchell now on the roster, the Chargers suddenly have flexibility in the backfield. A thunder-and-lightning pairing between Omarion Hampton and Mitchell could eventually become the long-term plan, especially if Vidal’s value continues to rise. While fans would hate to see him leave, Vidal could spend 2026 proving he deserves a larger role, whether that ends up being in Los Angeles or somewhere else.
CB Donte Jackson
The Donte Jackson signing has become nearly everything Chargers fans could have hoped for. The formula was simple— take a veteran cornerback, drop him into Jesse Minter’s defense, and let him thrive. Jackson responded with steady, above-average play throughout the season.
Still, Jackson enters 2026 at 30 years old, and the Chargers know they need younger defensive backs to continue developing. The front office could very easily target another cornerback early in the 2027 NFL Draft as they continue building for the future.
Jackson absolutely could remain in Los Angeles as a veteran presence for the younger players in the room. But if Derwin James already fills that leadership role for the secondary as a whole, Jackson may spend this season proving to the rest of the league that he can still provide value into his 30s.
The Chargers have are not ones to value relationships over the financials. Aside from a couple eyebrow raising decisions, they’ve shown the ability to let players walk with ease. These three players could all very well be auditioning for other teams this upcoming season.
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