As the Los Angeles Chargers enter 2026, their QB room is a minor consideration considering the decisions they'll need to make across the rest of the roster.
Justin Herbert is obviously solidified as the QB1. Beyond that, Trey Lance likely has the backup job locked down for this season. Even if DJ Uiagalelei continues to impress in camp and in the preseason, that will only contribute to his push to replace Lance down the line— not in an immediate sense.
As training camp approaches, therefore, there's intrigue in the Chargers' QB room. There's just not an immediate roster or position battle brewing.
But with a prospect as polarizing as Diego Pavia now on the open market after being released by the Baltimore Ravens, there's certainly going to be buzz connecting him to a number of teams. The Chargers were listed as one of three possible landing spots by Mike Kadlick at Sports Illustrated.
On the surface, the logic is there. But Los Angeles can simply brush off any mention of Pavia joining the roster ahead of training camp.
Diego Pavia isn't a developmental fit for what the Chargers need at QB
For the foreseeable future, Herbert is obviously the quarterback in Los Angeles. The primary concern right now is, if he misses time, who can be trusted to take extensive snaps?
It's not necessarily fair to hold Lance's Week 18 performance against the Denver Broncos last season against him, especially considering the talent he had around him in that game. But his 136-yard, zero touchdown, and one interception outing was not particularly inspiring.
Uiagalelei, meanwhile, has apparently impressed the coaching staff over the course of the offseason program. But if he were to supplant Lance right now on the depth chart, is it reasonable to think he would have higher upside?
In short, the Chargers have two developmental QBs in their pipeline— not a game manager who can be trusted to start multiple games if it becomes necessary.
Pavia, of course, is not that type of quarterback. He has his propensity for flashy plays and a high-intensity game, but he's a long way off from being even close to an NFL-caliber quarterback. Even his impressive production in his final season at Vanderbilt— he posted 3,539 passing yards and 29 touchdowns to just eight interceptions— wasn't able to help him overcome his lack of physical tools in the Draft.
He doesn't have the composure or the consistency to be a real developmental piece in Mike McDaniel's scheme.
Perhaps the Chargers should add another quarterback during training camp to deepen their pipeline at the position. But just because Pavia is the most polarizing name on the market doesn't mean he should be that piece.
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