For every team in the NFL, the first few days of OTAs represent the start of their chance to answer whatever roster questions have been lingering all offseason. For the Los Angeles Chargers, these questions primarily center around their offensive line.
With 14 offensive linemen currently on the roster and likely only nine or 10 designated roster spots, the Chargers will need to make some tough decisions between now and the start of the season. Jim Harbaugh, Mike McDaniel, and Butch Barry will be monitoring every O-line rep closely to determine how they want to build out their depth.
The edge-rusher, inside linebacker, and safety rooms will also feature players grappling for opportunities.
But as the first round of OTAs wraps up and Chargers fans wait for action to pick back up on June 2, there's still one lingering roster question Los Angeles must answer. The departure of Benjamin St-Juste has left a hole in the secondary, and the Chargers must determine if they want to fill it internally or externally.
The Chargers' roster won't be set until we have a true answer to that question.
The Chargers could still stand to add a veteran cornerback this offseason
The loss of St-Juste was not devastating, especially considering the fact that Los Angeles would never have matched the two-year, $9.8 million offer he got from the Green Bay Packers in free agency. But St-Juste's role was a sneakily important one.
He provided a reliable presence that could be cycled into the rotation of Tarheeb Still, Cam Hart, and Donte Jackson. He was the 12th-graded cornerback in the NFL in 2025, according to Pro Football Focus's system, and he played 37% of the defensive snaps for the Chargers over the course of the season.
Under Minter, the Chargers were confident in their ability to take struggling secondary talent and position them for a resurgence under their zone-heavy scheme. That's not likely to change under Chris O'Leary.
Deane Leonard and Nikko Reed both represent internal options, although Leonard is a highly integral piece of the special-teams unit and Reed projects as more of a nickel. If Los Angeles wants to add a veteran cornerback between now and the end of training camp, the move would be justified.
Adoree' Jackson and Rasul Douglas both remain available, and both will be available at remarkably cheap numbers if their free agency stretches into training camp.
It's not an absolute necessity, but it's not a storyline that should be forgotten as the Chargers tread forth into the remainder of their offseason program.
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