The Los Angeles Chargers brought run-stuffing inside linebacker Denzel Perryman back on a one-year, $2.3 million contract for 2026.
Perryman has had a productive second stint with the Chargers. Across 10 games in 2025, he posted 47 combined tackles and four tackles for loss. When he was healthy and active, he was an important contributor up the middle for the Los Angeles defense.
But Perryman will turn 34 next season. The fact the Chargers brought him back in the first place was likely an indictment upon their depth at the position. They need to find another younger option to eventually fill his place.
It's not necessarily a crisis this offseason. But most NFL teams, including the Chargers, prefer to operate from a place of flexibility when constructing their roster. Selecting an inside linebacker in the 2026 NFL Draft would allow them to do exactly that.
Josiah Trotter out of Missouri could be the most appealing option.
The Chargers' Denzel Perryman replacement needs to be a strong run-stopper
While Perryman was integral in stopping the run last season, the Chargers run defense as a whole struggled to remain consistently viable. Although they finished eighth in total rushing yards allowed and 14th in rushing yards allowed per attempt, they had multiple matchups where they got absolutely dusted on the ground (such as the embarrassing 35-6 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars).
Perryman has clearly lost a step with age, and Los Angeles doesn't really have the run-fitters across their defense to account for that.
Trotter, who's projected to be a third-round pick in this year's draft, could be the solution. Through 12 games as a redshirt sophomore at Missouri, he amassed an impressive 84 combined tackles, 13 tackles for loss, and two sacks. Per Pro Football Focus, he posted a run-defense grade of 89.2— good for the 36th-best mark among all qualified linebackers. He's quite possibly the best run-fitting option in the 2026 draft class.
According to Lance Zierlein's scouting report for NFL.com, Trotter has some serious work to do to improve his coverage abilities. Opposing offenses were often able to exploit mismatches with tight ends and running backs at his expense. The Chargers, however, have the defensive infrastructure not only to mitigate that in the short-term but to develop his skills over the course of his rookie contract.
Off-ball linebacker is certainly not a premium position in the draft. But if Trotter falls past the second round (and the Chargers have already addressed their needs at offensive guard and edge rusher by that point), he could be the perfect mid-round target.