The Los Angeles Chargers still have multiple positions of need as the initial wave of free agency continues to wind down.
They've signed both Tyler Biadasz and Cole Strange to slot into the interior of the offensive line, but the departure of Zion Johnson has left them with a hole to fill at left guard. They need another corner after letting Benjamin St-Juste walk to the Green Bay Packers, and they likely still need to add another rotational safety and an edge rusher.
But perhaps their most underrated need lies in their receiving corps. There's a decision to be made this offseason on Quentin Johnston's fifth-year option, which could result in a trade away from the organization if they decide not to pick it up. That would leave the Chargers with only Ladd McConkey, Tre' Harris, and Keandre Lambert-Smith as bona-fide receiving threats.
Perhaps this need could be filled externally. But the increasingly likely scenario is that veteran receiver Keenan Allen will be brought back as long as he decides to return to the NFL for his 14th season.
Keenan Allen still makes perfect sense on the Chargers
As Mike McDaniel renovates the Chargers offense this offseason, he has stated that his primary intention is to create easy completions for Justin Herbert. This is something that Greg Roman, plain and simple, failed to do in his time as offensive coordinator.
Allen would be an integral piece in accomplishing this goal. Although he wasn't ultra-impactful last season, he still finished with 81 receptions, 777 yards, and four touchdowns while playing all 17 games for Los Angeles in 2025.
He's a reliable target in the middle of the field. Although he doesn't possess the same explosive-play potential he once did, his route-running acumen and catch ability through traffic could provide Herbert with a skill-set that really isn't present anywhere else in their receiving corps.
The receiver market isn't completely replete of talent at this point in the offseason. Tyreek Hill, Stefon Diggs, Christian Kirk, Jauan Jennings, and Curtis Samuel are all still available. Jennings would be an ideal target, but his market is likely to be inflated by the sheer number of teams that could use his skill-set.
Joe Hortiz, moreover, has repeatedly shown his hesitancy to commit money to an unknown quantity at any position.
Allen has stated he has no plans to retire this offseason. If that holds true, it's seeming more and more likely that he's back with the Chargers in 2026.