The Los Angeles Chargers' defense, by all accounts, should be poised to maintain their dominance under new coordinator Chris O'Leary.
They've done virtually everything right this offseason. They brought back important veterans in Denzel Perryman and Tony Jefferson, both of whom returned on one-year deals. They also added some important depth contributors through the Draft, including Akheem Mesidor at edge rusher, Nick Barrett at defensive tackle, and Genesis Smith at safety. The addition of Dalvin Tomlinson should also be a major boon to their run-stopping efforts.
O'Leary worked at three stops under the tutelage of former defensive coordinator Jesse Minter. Although there will certainly be some tweaks in the on-field expression of the Chargers' defensive scheme, the infrastructure should be similar enough to facilitate a relatively simple transition.
But as the Chargers exit their second week of OTAs, there's certainly still some room for uncertainty, most notably in the inside linebacker room.
Daiyan Henley is still a rising young defender, but beyond him there are a number of questions. What sort of production will the Chargers get out of Junior Colson? Will players such as Marlowe Wax and Del'Shawn Phillips be able to step into amplified roles?
As Perryman's career reaches its twilight, he needs to be the one to set the precedent, and he can quickly justify his re-signing by doing so.
Denzel Perryman's return could quickly prove its importance as the Chargers' ILB room solidifes
Although Los Angeles' run defense had its rough moments in 2025, it was relatively solid in its full sample size. They finished in the top-10 in total rushing yards allowed. Perryman had a major part to play in that.
Per Pro Football Focus's grading system, Perryman finished 36th among 88 qualified linebackers as a run defender. Although he's certainly lost a step with age, he's still a fundamentally sound run-fitter and tackler alongside Daiyan Henley.
His return was never truly guaranteed, however, when the Chargers entered the offseason. Perryman has now reached age 33, and it's not likely Los Angeles can count on him as a starter for much longer. Their decision to bring him back on a one-year, $2.3 million deal was, in part, an indictment on the rest of their inside linebacker room.
Junior Colson missed all of 2025 with a season-ending shoulder injury. Troy Dye was productive, but he wasn't particularly effective in pass coverage. Marlowe Wax and Del'Shawn Phillips played just 4% and 8% of the team's defensive snaps, respectively.
Perryman certainly is no longer at the height of his athletic abilities. But in a year where the Chargers' inside linebacker room carries an undercurrent of uncertainty, his presence will be important. He must set the tone in OTAs, encouraging the competition among his understudies, and he must cement himself as an alpha in the position group.
Apart from his actual production in 2026, Perryman can quickly justify his return by helping to solidify a room that desperately needs it ahead of the new campaign.
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