With all the massive changes the Los Angeles Chargers have made to their roster this offseason, it's easy to get swept up in the major storylines.
Most notably, the Chargers still haven't publicly identified a starting left guard. Kayode Awosika, Trevor Penning, and Jake Slaughter will likely be competing for that job well into camp and even over the course of the regular season. There's also questions to be answered in terms of the safety and cornerback rotation, and the tight end and wide receiver rooms will create plenty of intrigue as well.
But an offseason storyline that's been under-discussed could also have a major impact on the Chargers' success in 2026— their re-shaped defensive line.
Los Angeles lost both Da'Shawn Hand and Otito Ogbonnia this offseason, bringing in Dalvin Tomlinson (through free agency) and Nick Barrett (through the draft) to help replace some of their production. They also extended defensive tackle Teair Tart. With these moves, the Chargers will hope to cobble together a more consistent run defense and interior pass rush than they did last season.
Under new defensive coordinator Chris O'Leary and existing D-line coach Mike Elson, moreover, the Chargers plan to utilize their interior D-line in different ways, allowing pieces to play wider and get more opportunities to be disruptive in the backfield. While Tomlinson and Tart are likely set to be the stars of this new scheme, second-year DT Jamaree Caldwell could be a major beneficiary as well.
Jamaree Caldwell was strong as a rookie, but look for him to take a major leap in his second year
Although the Chargers lost Hand and Ogbonnia, the additions of Tomlinson (who's likely set to take over at nose tackle) and Barrett (who will be able to shift between NT and defensive end) should serve to replace a large portion of their snaps. Hand played 56% of the team's defensive snaps last season, while Ogbonnia played 25%.
But if he continues to show impressive run-stopping abilities, there's room for Caldwell to carve out, at the very least, the 48% snap share he earned as a rookie.
What's most intriguing about Caldwell heading into his second season, however, is how his role will change with O'Leary's arrival. Caldwell was both a highly effective run-stopper and a disruptive pass-rusher during his time in college. During his 2023 season with Houston, Caldwell amassed 6.5 sacks, although his production dropped precipitously after he transferred to Oregon for his final college season.
Although there wasn't a large difference in his snap share at DT between the two seasons, Oregon did increase vastly increase his usage as a nose tackle. But Caldwell was most productive, both during his time in college and during his rookie campaign with the Chargers, when he was lined up on the outside.
If Los Angeles doesn't feel like Barrett is ready to take over rotational nose tackle duties, Caldwell should be slated to slide back into that role. He took 104 of his 486 defensive snaps there last season, per Pro Football Focus. But he also has the athleticism and the pure strength to be highly disruptive when lined up on the outside, especially across from a defensive lineman like Teair Tart.
O'Leary and Elston clearly want to grant players like Caldwell that opportunity, and the second-year defender has a chance to make the most of it in 2026.
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