If there's one thing the Los Angeles Chargers did well this offseason, it was to replenish their depth on both sides of the ball.
The offensive additions have largely been discussed at length. Tyler Biadasz, Cole Strange, Charlie Kolar, Keaton Mitchell, Alec Ingold, Brenen Thompson, and David Njoku will each have major roles to play in Mike McDaniel's scheme. But their work on the defensive side of the ball, while less extensive, has a chance to be equally impressive.
Their free-agent additions were somewhat minimal, with their external signings being limited to just nose tackle Dalvin Tomlinson. But their selections of Akheem Mesidor, Genesis Smith, and Nick Barrett in the 2026 NFL Draft each hold major promise. While Mesidor, who was the Chargers' first-round pick, was the most high-profile selection, the one who's made the greatest impact throughout the offseason program has been ball-hawking safety Genesis Smith.
While the position of second safety was always seen as relatively open when Derwin James slides to the nickel, Smith's strong offseason showing now likely gives him a real chance to eat into the snaps of beloved veteran Tony Jefferson. If Smith proves to be a capable tackler, the balance of power in the secondary could quickly shift.
Genesis Smith is emerging as a real threat to steal snaps from Tony Jefferson
The Athletic's Daniel Popper noted, in his observations from Day 1 of the Chargers' mandatory minicamp, that Smith had picked off a pass from backup quarterback Trey Lance in seven-on-seven drills.
While one play doesn't make or break a player's offseason, it's a sign of what Smith can do to prove himself through the rest of the team's offseason program and training camp. Smith posted six PBUs and allowed a passer rating of just 91.4 during his final college season, per Pro Football Focus. His primary asset is his coverage ability in the deeper parts of the field. If he impresses consistently in coverage drills, he can begin to rapidly work his way up the depth chart.
As Popper outlines in his piece, the competition for the Chargers in the secondary primarily rests in the second safety spot. Elijah Molden is relatively cemented as a starter, but Smith will be competing with Jefferson and second-year defender RJ Mickens for snaps.
Although Jefferson returned on a one-year, $1.5 million deal, the 34-year-old is the most vulnerable out of this group. He's still a strong tackler and competitor, but his abilities in coverage have waned as he's gotten older. Both Smith and Mickens will likely soon pass him by in this regard— if they haven't already.
Jefferson played 63% of the Chargers' defensive snaps across 13 games in 2025. There's certainly room for that to be pared back this season.
The only doubts about Smith coming into the NFL has centered around his tackling. He amassed 18 missed tackles over the course of his final college season (per Pro Football Focus), 11 of which came in his final six games. If he wants to displace Jefferson on the depth chart, this will be a clear area for improvement in his game.
But regardless of how things go this offseason, both Mickens and Smith are ascendant playmakers for the Chargers defense, while Jefferson represents a veteran presence to help hold the room together. It's a group Los Angeles should feel very confident about.
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