It's been well-documented that the LA Chargers don't want to sell at the trade deadline in spite of the team's winless record. Los Angeles reportedly doesn't like the optics that selling at the deadline would create... which is ironic considering the Bolts are 0-8 and have visibly quit on the field.
Sunday's loss to the Houston Texans should've been the eye-opener the Chargers needed. The Bolts were, yet again, completely outplayed in a 44-22 defeat. The final score was only close because of garbage-time points against backups. The Texans routed the Chargers.
Fans can only hope general manager Joe Hortiz puts his ego aside and gets what he can for the valuable veterans he has on the roster. Chargers fans shouldn't hold their breath, but if Hortiz comes to his senses, the following players should be shipped elsewhere.
Khalil Mack
The most obvious trade candidate possible. Khalil Mack is in the sunset of his career and has made it clear in the past that he is motivated by competing for a Super Bowl. News flash for Mack: the Chargers aren't going to compete for the Super Bowl this season.
This makes trading Mack a no-brainer. The veteran edge rusher undoubtedly has value on the trade market and will yield a higher pick than the Bolts could ever hope to get via a compensatory selection. Contending teams can never have too many pass rushers, making Mack a valuable commodity even at his age.
Mack seemed to support the notion of staying in Los Angeles when asked by reporters before Week 8, but that very well could have been lip service to save the Chargers the embarrassment. The Chargers should be working with Mack to send him to the best destination possible, and if he's not interested, well, he doesn't have a no-trade clause. At that point, the Bolts have to do what's best for the team long-term.
Donte Jackson
Donte Jackson proved to be a savvy signing by the Chargers after inking a two-year deal with the team in 2025. Jackson, who had his ups and downs in Pittsburgh, has been a consistent presence on a defense that has been pretty successful when he is on the field.
Now Jackson is an expiring contract and can give the Chargers value in a new way. Cornerback depth is important and with several contenders needing secondary pieces, Jackson makes all the sense in the world as a deadline chip.
Why wouldn't the Chargers trade Jackson? Really, the only reason would have to be compensatory picks. The Chargers almost certainly won't re-sign Jackson this offseason because of his age and the volatility of the cornerback position. Hortiz and Co. must expect Jackson to sign a lucrative-enough deal elsewhere to give the Chargers a comp pick in the 2028 NFL Draft.
There's just two problems with this thinking. It pushes the draft capital back a year and it hampers the Chargers in free agency. Just as they did this past offseason, the Chargers would have to dance around the comp formula and not sign certain players to make sure that pick goes to them in 2028.
Do you know what's better than that game of cat and mouse? Trading Jackson for a day three pick now and signing whoever you want in the offseason.
Dalvin Tomlinson
The Chargers signed Dalvin Tomlinson to a one-year, $7.5 million contract prior to the 2026 season. Tomlinson missed two games to injury and has been pretty unimpactful to this point, making himself an expendable asset in the process.
Tomlinson's production seems to take him off the trade market, but that's not the case at all. He is a proven, veteran defensive tackle who undoubtedly brings value to a contending team that is looking ot beef up its front seven.
The Chargers wouldn't get much at all for Tomlinson. Most likely a seventh-round pick. While that may not seem worth it, that's more than the Chargers will get via a compensatory pick if the Bolts let him walk in free agency.
This is a case where the Chargers should look to get whatever they can for Tomlinson while opening up playing time for the youth on the roster. Los Angeles' focus is on the future, not the 2026 season.
Quentin Johnston
If the Chargers were smart, they would be calling teams left and right to see what weapon-hungry contender is willing to trade day-three draft capital for former first-round pick Quentin Johnston. Getting a pick for Johnston wouldn't even be the biggest win, getting out of the fifth-year option the Bolts picked up would be.
We've all seen enough of Johnston to know it isn't going to work in Los Angeles. Justin Herbert seemingly doesn't trust him and he simply hasn't developed as planned. Johnston isn't going to magically turn a corner in LA in his fourth or fifth season.
A change of scenery could get more out of Johnston, though. All it takes is the right coach with the right quarterback and a clean slate for Johnston to produce. He won't ever live up to his first-round price tag, but he can still be a valuable piece on the right team.
So why would a team trade for Johnston if he is a bad asset for the Chargers? Draft priors and the difficulty in adding wide receiver talent. If the Philadelphia Eagles managed to get draft picks for Jalen Reagor, then the Chargers can get picks for Johnston, who has done far more than Reagor ever did.
Will it happen? No. The Chargers would have to ignite these trade talks and the Bolts have seemingly run away from trade talks to this point. But a fan can dream.
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