The LA Chargers, just like any other team, have made a good amount of signings during free agency. They made some solid free agent signings with RB Najee Harris, OL Mekhi Becton, OL Andre James, and also brought back WR Mike Williams.
With their first year under Jim Harbaugh being a success, the Chargers are looking to go further in 2025. However, there were plenty of moves that they could have made but didn’t. Being in the AFC West, the ultimate goal in the regular season is to take the division away from the Kansas City Chiefs and they have the quarterback that can do it. It’s just a matter of the pieces all coming together to make it work.
According to Spotrac, the Chargers currently have $34.9 million left to use. There are still plenty of free agents who have yet to find a new home and the Chargers should be in discussions in-house about improving the roster still. However, it's also important to look at the free agents that the Chargers could have signed but didn't.
Ranking the four free agents Chargers should have signed in free agency
4.) DE DeMarcus Lawrence
For the past 11 years, DeMarcus Lawrence has been causing havoc against opponents playing the Dallas Cowboys. The four-time Pro Bowler has departed from Dallas to join the Seattle Seahawks on a three-year deal worth up to $42 million. Lawrence is coming off a forgettable 2024 season where he only played in four games, but didn’t miss a game from 2022-2023.
With the Chargers letting Joey Bosa go, adding someone like Lawrence would have a been a great pair with Khalil Mack. Then the Chargers could have drafted a high-end edge rusher in the draft. Giving a rookie edge rusher the chance to learn from both Lawrence and Mack would have been the perfect duo to learn from. I guess we’ll never know now.
3.) TE Evan Engram
Tight end Evan Engram is coming to the AFC West, but he will be catching passes from Bo Nix with the Denver Broncos. Engram agreed to join Denver on a two-year, $23 million deal which gives the Broncos an immediate upgrade at tight end.
Engram found some success with the Jacksonville Jaguars the last three years, but he was part of the roster overhaul that the Jaguars did under their new regime. Now the Chargers will face him when they take on Denver, but LA should have been more active with trying to bring Engram to catch passes from Justin Herbert.
He’s more of a wide receiver playing the tight end position as he can find an open zone to make life easier for his quarterback. Even though the Chargers could easily draft someone like Colston Loveland out of Michigan in the draft, it would have been a smart play to bring him to California and then potentially get someone in the draft.
2.) DL Jonathan Allen
One of the more underrated defensive linemen in the game in Jonathan Allen was released by the Washington Commanders, despite him finally have success in Washington for the first time in a long time. Once Allen hit the free agent market, he became an instant “must-get” player for most teams and the Chargers could have easily thrown some money towards him.
However, Allen is staying in the NFC and is set to join the Minnesota Vikings on a three-year, $51 million deal which is a massive boost for the VIkings’ defense. Allen missed half of the season last year due to an injury that kept him out for the second half of the season.
However, Allen is a huge disrupter on the defensive line and he would have been a fantastic addition to LA’s defense. He can play outside and inside, while managing to stop the run which is his specialty.
1.) WR Davante Adams
Well, Davante Adams is coming to Los Angeles, just not the Chargers. He is joining the Rams on a two-year, $44 million deal. He wanted to come back to the west coast so the Chargers could have been a destination for him.
While Mike Williams coming back to the Chargers makes a lot of sense to pair with Ladd McConkey, Adams is more of a dynamic playmaker that could have taken the top off the defense to open up the field. We all know the greatness of Adams and what he brings to a team. Imagine Herbert dropping back in the pocket and launching it down field to Adams for a Chargers touchdown…
That would have been an amazing sight to see. Instead, Adams will be looking to do that with Matthew Stafford throwing to him.