The Los Angeles Chargers have taken strides toward an offensive resurgence in 2026.
They added an innovative offensive coordinator in Mike McDaniel, one who should be able to truly weaponize the tools the team has available. They also solidified their center position with the addition of Tyler Biadasz and added important contributors in Keaton Mitchell, Charlie Kolar, and Alec Ingold.
Many of these moves were on the margins. But with Justin Herbert at the helm, Los Angeles has a chance to be one of the top offenses in the NFL in 2026.
But the AFC West is rapidly getting more competitive around them. The Denver Broncos added Jaylen Waddle in a blockbuster trade this offseason, and the Las Vegas Raiders have reconstructed much of their team through free agency.
Even after a down year, however, the Kansas City Chiefs might be the greatest threat to any chance Los Angels has at divisional dominance. They've already added Kenneth Walker III in free agency: a piece that should help them regain some of the offensive explosiveness that defined their series of Super Bowl runs.
But they still have the ninth overall selection in the upcoming draft. If they choose to take Jerimiyah Love at that spot, it could quickly be over for the Chargers and the rest of the AFC West.
The Chiefs could still take Jerimiyah Love, and that's a terrifying thought
Kansas City has historically been hesitant to devote resources at running back. Signing Walker and drafting Love in the same offseason seems unlikely for them, especially given the needs they have on the defensive side of the ball.
But they also possess the 29th overall selection following the Trent McDuffie trade. Almost anything is on the table for them on draft night. Alex Ballentine at Bleacher Report, in fact, recently listed drafting Love as Kansas City's ideal draft-night scenario.
From a perspective of positional value, it's hard to get behind that. But the Chiefs finished 2025 as the eighth-worst rushing offense in the NFL by total yards. Any shot they have at returning to Super Bowl contention soon rests on them finding their offensive groove again. Adding both Walker and Love to the backfield in a single offseason would immediately make them one of the best rushing teams in the league.
For a team like the Chargers, who finished 25th in run defense last season and are in the process of reconstructing their defensive line, that's an absolutely terrifying thought.