With the 2026 NFL Draft now under a month away, much of the buzz surrounding Los Angeles Chargers has crystallized on who they will take with their first-round selection at 22nd overall.
They have a number of needs to fill on both sides of the ball. If they can nab the class's premier offensive guard in Olaivavega Ioane, no one would blame them for going that route. There are also a set of premier defensive tackles and edge rushers who could entice the Chargers to follow a different path. There still remains an outside chance, moreover, that the right wide receiver, cornerback, or tight end could appeal to Joe Hortiz.
But Los Angeles must assess the reality of the situation, no matter how painful it is. They currently have just five selections in the draft, having traded away their fifth and seventh-round selections. If they want to trade back out of the first-round in order to amass more draft capital on Day 2 or 3, that option is viable as well.
Here are three teams who could be ideal trade partners for such a move.
Chargers could have plenty of suitors if they decide to trade back
Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs could be on the hunt for defensive line talent in this year's draft. Or they could simply be in play for any number of defensive positions later in the first round, depending on how things break for them at ninth overall.
They have the 29th selection in this draft as a result of the Trent McDuffie trade, and they have nine total selections in the draft as a whole. If they nab an offensive skill player in the top-10, they could be looking to jump up from their second selection in order to improve their chances of grabbing a premier defensive piece. If they were to provide their 29th overall selection and one of their Day 2 picks to Los Angeles, that would likely be enough to get the deal done.
New England Patriots
The Patriots are one of the NFL's most sneakily interesting teams this offseason. After spending a hefty amount in free agency last offseason and making a Super Bowl run, they must now figure out how to build their team sustainably around Drake Maye.
This likely starts with securing the future of their offensive line. New England currently has the 30th overall selection. Even with the plethora of offensive tackle talent that will be available in this draft, moving up to 22nd could give them a much better shot at landing a player like Monroe Freeling or Kadyn Proctor.
The Patriots have 11 total selections in this draft, including two in the fourth round and four in the sixth round. If they're willing to put their second-round pick in play, they could easily amass a package that would allow them to jump up eight spots on draft day.
Tennesee Titans
Although the Titans saw some positive strides from rookie quarterback Cam Ward in 2025, their 3-14 record means there's a ton of work to be done this offseason. They've already had a productive free agency, adding Wan'dale Robinson, John Franklin-Myers, and Alontae Taylor from the open market.
With Robert Saleh as the head coach, the assumption is that this draft will be defense-focused. But they need weapons for Ward as well. The point is, they need everything.
For a team in their position, staying put and using all nine of their selections makes sense. Say they grab an offensive skill player, such as Jerimiyah Love, at fourth overall however. If there's a defensive player that Saleh particularly has his eye on at the end of the first round, jumping up from 35th overall could make sense.
At the top of the second round, the Chargers could easily grab a Day 2 guard if they so wished.