Although the Los Angeles Chargers weren't as active in the early days of free agency as many fans would've expected, Joe Hortiz ultimately made strong use of their cap space.
On top of extending Derwin James Jr. and (hopefully) Tuli Tuipulotu, his depth signings across the offense will be a major boon in Mike McDaniel's efforts to reshape the scheme on that side of the ball. His draft-day trades, moreover, netted the Chargers a host of extra selections— which they used to fill out their depth along the offensive line and on the defensive side of the ball.
Now, as we enter training camp, it's time for these pieces to prove their fit in Los Angeles. Although we won't know the ultimate result of these signings until well into the regular season, these four players can help continue to shift the complexion of Hortiz's offseason over the month of August.
Chargers training camp will be a time to show off their offseason improvements
1. Tyler Biadasz, C
This one is a relative shoe-in, and that's why Biadasz is first on the list.
Last season, the Chargers had some of the worst interior protection in the NFL, and the center (both literally and figuratively) of that collapse was Bradley Bozeman. He was the worst center in the league by most metrics, struggling consistently to handle any stunts or exotic pressures where his man wasn't lined up directly in front of him. Opponents exploited that weakness all season, and without reliable guards to help compensate, Bozeman was hung out to dry.
Bozeman retired this offseason, although the Chargers would likely have released him if he was still on the roster. Biadasz, simply by showing up and providing viable play in training camp, will already represent a major upgrade for Los Angeles.
2. Jake Slaughter, G
If we're going to start with the safest move of the Chargers' offseason, it makes sense to turn to the riskiest next. Rather than going after a guard at the top of the Draft to replace Zion Johnson, who departed to the Cleveland Browns in free agency, Hortiz traded back into the late second round to select Slaughter.
Slaughter has the athleticism and the power to be an immediate force in McDaniel's blocking scheme at left guard. But he didn't play a single snap at guard during his time in college, and making that transition immediately at the NFL level isn't a given.
If Slaughter can beat out Trevor Penning and Kayode Awosika for the starting job, any lingering doubts about the selection will start to be assuaged.
3. Genesis Smith, S
Smith was another relatively controversial draft pick for Los Angeles. While he was selected in the fourth round, and the opportunity cost of his selection was therefore lower, there were still doubts about whether the clear inconsistencies in his tackling at the college level would limit his transition to the NFL.
Smith posted a missed tackle rate of 19.8% last season with the Arizona Wildcats, per Pro Football Focus.
He'll enter camp in a battle for the third safety spot with RJ Mickens and Tony Jefferson. He doesn't need to win, necessarily. But if he can continue to build on the momentum he gained during the offseason program, he could be slated for a sizable role as a ball-hawking safety in the Chargers secondary during his rookie campaign.
4. Keaton Mitchell, RB
Mitchell is in a comparable position to Smith— insofar as he doesn't need to win a position battle to justify his addition to the roster. But expectations are high for Mitchell under McDaniel's scheme heading into 2026. Although he's dealt with injuries and limited opportunities to this point in his NFL career— he received just 59 touches across 13 games last season with the Baltimore Ravens— he has the burst and the athleticism to be a major force in the Chargers' outside-zone ground attack.
Omarion Hampton is cemented as the RB1 in Los Angeles, and Kimani Vidal showed enough last season to enter camp as the defined RB2.
But if Mitchell can threaten Vidal for his place on the totem pole, or at the very least enter the season with the momentum to do so, his two-year, $9.25 million deal will already start to look like one of the steals of the offseason.
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