Heading into roster cut-down day, the Los Angeles Chargers had a difficult decision to make regarding their secondary.
With the departure of Benjamin St-Juste this offseason, one cornerback who either wasn't on the roster or who didn't have a path to major snaps last year was going to see an enhanced role. While Eric Rogers was the favorite for that job coming into training camp, he was outplayed by a pair of UDFAs—Avery Smith out of Toledo and Rodney Shelley out of Georgia Tech.
At the end of the day, though, had either player done enough to be trusted with an immediate role in Chris O'Leary's secondary? And if so, which one would be the most immediately viable?
The Chargers ultimately showed their hand before the roster cut-down deadline, dealing Smith to the Seattle Seahawks in exchange for sixth-round selection in the 2026 NFL Draft. It was, at heart, a practical move. Smith likely would've been picked up on waivers had he been left off the roster, and moving him before the deadline allowed Los Angeles to recoup draft capital for a rising asset.
But it also represents a fresh opportunity for Smith. With Nick Emmanwori's status in doubt to start the season and Seattle's secondary as a whole needing reinforcements, Smith could quickly get a chance to cement himself as a true NFL-caliber cornerback.
Avery Smith has a chance to play a major role for the Seahawks early in the season
Although there were concerns about both Smith and Shelley's viability as outside corners coming into the draft, both players outplayed those concerns in training camp. Smith, for his part, posted four pressures, 10 tackles, and one PBU across his three preseason appearances with Los Angeles, consistently showing up as an aggressive and athletically capable outside corner in the Chargers' zone-heavy scheme.
The Seahawks' interest in Smith makes sense. Not only were they in need of an additional corner, but much of Minter's (and O'Leary's) coverage scheme shares principles with that of Seattle's head coach Mike Macdonald, which they shared during their time as assistants with the Baltimore Ravens.
By trading for Smith, the Seahawks essentially guaranteed the rookie a spot on their initial 53-man roster. But now that the depth chart has fully unfolded, Smith may have a path to an even bigger promotion than that.
Emmanwori has been rehabbing from his offseason ankle surgery through training camp, and his status for the Seahawks' Week 1 matchup against the New England Patriots on Wednesday is still uncertain. Smith projects primarily as a nickel corner at the NFL level because of his lack of height, but he certainly has the athleticism and the intensity to make his mark if he gets snaps in Emmanwori's stead.
Even if Emmanwori plays, there's a real chance his snap share will be limited over the first few weeks of the season. The Seahawks ran a sub package (with five or more DBs on the field) a league-leading 92% of the time last season, leaving ample room for Smith to carve out a role behind or alongside Emmanwori as he rehabs his injury.
Seattle is also relatively thin at outside cornerback after the departure of Tariq Woolen this offseason to the Philadelphia Eagles. It's unclear if the Seahawks see any upside for Smith there, but don't be surprised if he's used in a more versatile role than expected during his rookie campaign.
Ultimately, the Chargers still have Shelley on the roster, and hopefully that gamble pays off. But the clear winner in this trade, even with the draft capital Los Angeles took back, is Smith.
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