The Los Angeles Chargers certainly had their work cut out for them heading into roster cut-down day.
Of the numerous risers they had during the preseason, most had slim paths toward making the initial 53-man roster. Although the Chargers aren't laden with stars, they're deep enough at most of their positions that it was going to take a truly groundbreaking performance for certain UDFAs and returning draft picks to cement their spot.
Los Angeles didn't rest there, though. Joe Hortiz swung a pair of deals before the buzzer to retrieve draft capital for Avery Smith and TeRah Edwards. Smith, the rangy cornerback out of Toledo, signed with the Chargers this offseason as a UDFA. Edwards spent last season on the Chargers' practice squad after coming to the team as a UDFA. Both were dealt for sixth-round selections, and both will get a chance to solidify their spot on their new teams' 53-man rosters.
While joining an organization where you have a clear path to the roster is likely the preferable option for most UDFAs, that simply isn't a possibility across the NFL. But by granting these players that opportunity, Hortiz has not only netted Los Angeles draft capital but put their internal developmental program on display for the entire league.
The message is clear— if you want a chance to maximize your value as a UDFA, come to the Chargers.
Chargers' Avery Smith and TeRah Edwards trades should make them a desirable UDFA destination next offseason
In a vacuum, both Smith and Edwards performed well enough in the preseason to make the 53-man roster.
Smith was one of the Chargers' biggest risers of the month of August, showcasing an intensity and a consistency in a versatile cornerback role that would have made him a worthy depth inclusion on the initial list. Across three preseason games, he posted four pressures, 10 tackles, and one PBU. But there was room for only one additional cornerback on Los Angeles' roster, and the team ultimately went with fellow UDFA Rodney Shelley, who had a similarly impressive preseason, in that role.
Edwards, meanwhile, was a highly effective run-stuffer during his preseason appearances. He posted eight pressures, nine tackles, and seven stops across his three preseason games, showcasing his size and athleticism on the interior. But with the Chargers just having selected Nick Barrett in the fifth round of the 2026 NFL Draft, there simply wasn't room on the interior of the defensive line for Edwards to find a role.
Both of these trades were, obviously, for business purposes. Hortiz loves his late-round draft capital, and it's quite possible that both of these pieces would've been claimed off waivers had they reached them. By moving off of these pieces, Hortiz got to retrieve a pair of sixth-round picks for the cost of two partially-guaranteed contracts.
But he also did right by both Smith and Edwards. Their moves—to the Seattle Seahawks and Carolina Panthers, respectively—essentially granted them an automatic berth onto a 53-man roster. If you're a UDFA, wouldn't you want to sign with an organization that could give you the best shot of getting an NFL job, either with that team or elsewhere?
Although the UDFA market obviously doesn't get as much attention as the NFL Draft, it's still highly competitive, and the Chargers have devoted more resources to it in recent years. They have success stories in Marlowe Wax, Shelley, and Nikko Reed, and now they've put themselves in a strong position to find those pieces again next offseason.
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