Of all the Los Angeles Chargers vying for the 53-man roster, there may have been no bigger recent risers than UDFA cornerbacks Avery Smith and Rodney Shelley.
Both Smith and Shelley continuously impressed throughout training camp and the preseason, showcasing their intensity and athleticism while also displaying some level of versatility as outside/inside corners in a secondary that had a need for a depth piece. With the departure of Benjamin St-Juste—who took 37% of defensive snaps in the games he appeared in last season for Los Angeles—the Chargers have space to add one additional cornerback to the roster.
Eric Rogers was thought to be the favorite for that role, but it became clear by the end of the preseason that the competition was likely down to Smith or Shelley.
The Chargers all but announced their decision just hours before the roster cutdown deadline, dealing Smith to the Seattle Seahawks in exchange for a sixth-round pick in 2027.
The Chargers traded CB Avery Smith to the Seahawks, a source confirmed.
— Kris Rhim (@krisrhim1) August 30, 2026
Smith, a UDFA out of Toledo, had a been a star of training camp, with sticky coverage and PBU’s throughout.
There's a chance that spot doesn't go to Shelley—perhaps it's ultimately used to carry an extra defensive piece like Junior Colson onto the 53-man roster. But it's clear that Smith didn't necessarily have a path to the final roster, and the Chargers wasted no time capitalizing on one of their biggest risers of the preseason.
Avery Smith would certainly have been a worthy 53-man roster inclusion— but this was the smart move
Ever since the Chargers picked up Smith as a UDFA out of Toledo this offseason, he's been a name to watch in their secondary. He was a cornerstone of Toledo's defense after the departure of Quinyon Mitchell to the Philadelphia Eagles, and although he doesn't possess archetypal size for an outside role, he more than makes up for that with his on-ball tenacity and athleticism.
Across three preseason games, Smith posted four pressures and one PBU, but he was outperformed in the final two matchups by Shelley, who posted eight tackles and three PBUs over his three appearances.
Smith certainly would've been the type of player Los Angeles would've liked to keep on the practice squad if possible. If Smith wasn't going to make the Chargers' 53-man roster, though, there's a solid chance he would've been picked up in the waiver process. Teams across the league are in need of secondary depth at this point in the offseason.
Moving Smith to the Seahawks, who have been steadily amassing depth in that part of the field this offseason, allows them to capitalize on an asset that likely would've been snatched up very quickly. It also allows them to net a late-round draft pick for the cost of a UDFA after just three preseason appearances, which is a solid return on investment no matter how you want to spin it.
Smith was a real roster candidate, and his departure leaves a spot open either for Shelley or for an extra depth piece along the offensive line, the inside linebacker room, or perhaps even the edge rushers.
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