Tyler Conklin
The Chargers just signed Tyler Conklin to a one-year deal but he is not safe heading into the 2025 NFL Draft. Los Angeles signed the veteran tight end to be a pass-catching option for Justin Herbert in a position group that is very thin heading out of the free agency period.
Signing Conklin was essentially an insurance move by the Chargers. Los Angeles couldn't go into the draft without any pass-catching options at tight end, hence why the team signed Conklin. If the Chargers miss out on a promising tight end they won't be completely empty-handed.
The most obvious path for Conklin to lose his current job on the Chargers is if the team drafts Colston Loveland in the first round. If this happened, Loveland would be the pass-catching TE1, Will Dissly would be the blocking TE2, and Conklin would be pushed all the way down to being the TE3.
It doesn't have to be Loveland in the first round, though. There are several exciting pass-catching tight ends in the draft class that could theoretically take Conklin's job before he ever gets a chance to actually suit up.
Bud Dupree
Edge rusher is one of the bigger draft needs for the Chargers in 2025 and is the betting favorite among all positions in the first round. The Chargers parted ways with Pro Bowler Joey Bosa this offseason and have not made a single move to replace him in the depth chart.
The Chargers re-signed Khalil Mack, who will serve as the team's No. 1 edge rusher. Tuli Tuipulotu is penciled in to be the secondary edge rusher in his third season with Bud Dupree being the EDGE3 who provides rotational depth.
Los Angeles should be gearing up for as much rotational depth as possible at edge rusher given Mack's age and the need to stagger his snaps across a 17-game season. The more bodies the Chargers have in the edge rusher room the better.
Los Angeles also needs to find someone who could give the team a long-term outlook at the position. As great as Mack is he is on a one-year deal and is staring father time right in the eyes. Tuipulotu is solid but has not proven to be a great edge rusher and will be in the last year of his contract in 2026.
An early edge rusher would do wonders for the Chargers and would push Dupree down to fourth on the depth chart. Whoever the Chargers take would step in as the third edge rusher to help dispel Mack in the rotation.