Since the start of the Jim Harbaugh era, the core of the Los Angeles Chargers' offensive identity has been their secondary.
They've routinely been able to maximize the talent they've had available in their safety and cornerback rooms under their zone-heavy scheme. Even with Jesse Minter having departed to the Batlimore Ravens this offseason, it's safe to say we can expect much of the same under new defensive coordinator Chris O'Leary.
That's what makes the Chargers' final roster decisions in those rooms so important. Each piece that makes the final 53-man roster will have a chance to play a real role in the defense, and Los Angeles must dole out those roster spots based on who they believe has the most upside to grow within the context of the scheme.
If the decisions were being made today, it's hard to argue that UDFA cornerback Avery Smith wouldn't be deserving of a spot. He's consistently been one of the most impressive performers of training camp, and in the Chargers' preseason debut against the Houston Texans, he only cemented that impression.
There's still a long way to go between now and Aug. 30, but it now feels like Smith has a real chance to shake up the depth chart.
Avery Smith continues to be one of the most fascinating risers of Chargers training camp
Smith has been a name to keep an eye on since he was first picked up as a UDFA by the Chargers this offseason— and not just because he shares it with a pair of other intriguing performers in Genesis and KeAndre.
Although he's likely undersized to play outside corner routinely at the NFL level, he displayed ample ball skills and athleticism in his performance at the NFL Scouting Combine. His college pedigree backs that up. He was a load-bearing piece of the Toledo secondary after the departure of Quinyon Mitchell. In his final college season, he posted nine PBUs and 13 stops while allowing a passer rating of just 59.9 when he was targeted, per Pro Football Focus.
His coaching staff and teammates, including Derwin James Jr., have raved about his intensity and confidence through the first two and a half weeks of training camp.
Chargers S Derwin James Jr. on UDFA CB Avery Smith: "Confidence, swagger, he's throwing on the seat belt after he makes a play."
— Alex Insdorf (@alexinsdorf99) August 4, 2026
"He don't shy away from any competition. Very smart, confident player."
Smith did that same 'seat belt' celebration when he got the PBU on a floating, third-down pass to sixth-round selection Lewis Bond, absolutely blanketing the speedy receiver on what very well could have been a major completion for the Texans offense. It was one of the most impressive plays of the night, and it served as a stark reminder of the momentum Smith has started to garner to this point in training camp.
He still has an uphill battle to make the roster. In the cornerback room, Donte Jackson, Tarheeb Still, and Cam Hart are roster locks. The departure of Benjamin St-Juste has opened a hole for former UDFA Eric Rogers to claim a real role in the secondary, and Deane Leonard will likely remain as an integral special teams piece.
But if Smith is able to continue this strong performance over the remainder of the preseason, he could soon throw a wrench in things— especially for last year's backup nickel Nikko Reed.
Smith was already a player to keep an eye on heading into Thursday night. He's now cemented himself as a real challenger for the 53-man roster.
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