The Los Angeles Chargers' defense has one significant area for improvement under new defensive coordinator Chris O'Leary— stop the run more consistently.
Granted, the run defense's production over the course of the whole season in 2025 was promising. They finished eighth in the NFL in total opponent rushing yards allowed, which falls in line with their status as a top-10 defense. But they had multiple games, especially in the middle of the season, where that aspect of their staunch defensive play fell completely flat. Take the trouncing they got at the hands of the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 11, for example.
It made perfect sense, therefore, when they added a massive nose tackle in Dalvin Tomlinson on a one-year, $6.8 million contract this offseason. With the productive Teair Tart locked up for the next three seasons, Tomlinson will be tasked in 2026 with being a highly physical presence on the middle of the defensive line.
The Chargers' selection of defensive tackle Nick Barrett out of South Carolina in the fifth round of the 2026 NFL Draft by no means presents an immediate threat to Tomlinson's job. Barrett still has some strides to take in the athleticism department to become a full-blown NFL starter.
But with the Barrett selection, Los Angeles let Tomlinson know, in no uncertain terms, that his time with the team is likely limited.
Nick Barrett could quickly vie for more snaps once he gets acclimated to the NFL
Even with Tomlinson in the fold, the Chargers likely needed one more run-stuffer to feel solid about their defensive tackle group. Barrett, despite his lack of flashy athleticism, represents that wholeheartedly.
He amassed 42 combined tackles, six tackles for loss, and two sacks across 12 games in his final season at South Carolina. At 6'3" and 312 lbs, he has the slow-building power to fill gaps along the offensive line when he's called upon.
For now, Tomlinson likely has the starting job in the bag. Although he posted a run-stopping grade of just 37.3 in 2025, according to Pro Football Focus, he has the sheer size to constitute a worthy experiment up the middle for the Chargers. But if Los Angeles can work out some of Barrett's kinks in training camp and throughout his rookie season, improving his lateral athleticism and short-area quickness, the fifth-round selection could quickly close that gap.
For most players on a one-year deal, it's an acknowledged reality that their contract is a 'prove-it' maneuver, whether in regards to their current team or other organizations across the NFL. The hope now, though, is likely that Barrett shows enough flashes that Tomlinson can become expendable next offseason and the Chargers can fill out that positional group with a cheaper option.
Although not all scouts agree on Barrett's starting upside, he has the chance to virtually guarantee Tomlinson's departure by the end of his rookie season.
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