The Los Angeles Chargers had a strong showing in the 2026 NFL Draft.
It might not have been the highest-upside class, but they certainly found their way, through a series of trades, into seriously replenishing their depth. They added offensive line contributors in Jake Slaughter, Alex Harkey, Travis Burke and Logan Taylor. They added a formidable speed threat in Brenen Thompson, and they filled out their defense with their selections of Akheem Mesidor, Nick Barrett, and Genesis Smith.
But their UDFA class went somewhat under-the-radar in the process. Isaiah World, who received the second-most guaranteed money on a UDFA contract in NFL history from the Chargers, was obviously their most intriguing pickup. But players like Nadame Tucker and Lander Barton also have a chance to make their mark on the defensive side of the ball.
However, one player that has received very little discussion on either a team-scale or a national-scale seems to already be making his mark in OTAs— CB Avery Smith out of Toledo.
The Chargers don't necessarily need to add another cornerback even after the departure of Benjamin St-Juste. But if they want to add additional depth to the room, or one of their special-teams contributors moves into a full-time role on defense, there could be room for Smith to make a surprising bid at a roster spot in 2026.
Avery Smith could put pressure on the Chargers' existing cornerback competition
Per Eric Smith of Chargers.com, the team's defensive UDFAs had an impressive showing at the start of Week 2 of OTAs. Nadame Tucker earned a pair of pass-rushing wins during a team drill, and Smith nearly recorded a pick-six in a 7-on-7 drill.
Tucker's case for a roster spot has already been well-chronicled, especially given his history under new defensive coordinator Chris O'Leary. But Smith could be a sneaky candidate for a roster spot as well.
Smith played all four of his college seasons at Toledo, studying under Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Quinyon Mitchell before taking over a major role himself as an upperclassman. At just 5'10 1/2" and 196 pounds, there are doubts about his long-term viability and his effectiveness in press coverage. But he has the athletic skill-set to be a strong fit in the Chargers' zone-heavy scheme, especially if he can continue to impress in this offseason.
Josh Edwards at CBS Sports also recently listed Smith as a name to watch from the Chargers' UDFA class.
The issue for Smith is that his size and slight frame might limit his effectiveness as an outside corner, and his questionable tackling abilities might limit his chances to displace Nikko Reed as a true backup nickel behind Derwin James. But Los Angeles has been known, since the arrival of Jesse Minter, to consistently elevate their talent in the secondary.
St-Juste's departure leaves a hole that could easily be filled by a veteran signing closer to training camp. In the meantime, though, Smith (or even a special-teams contributor like Deane Leonard) has a chance to make his mark.
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