For the most part, the Los Angeles Chargers have everything they need to field an overwhelmingly complete roster in 2026.
They re-shaped their depth through free agency and the Draft, completely overhauling their interior offensive line and adding to their pass-rush room and their secondary quite extensively. If they get solid play out of rookies like Genesis Smith and Nick Barrett and their signing of players like Charlie Kolar and Alec Ingold pay off, they should be in excellent shape on both sides of the ball even with two new coordinators.
If there's one need that lingers this offseason, however, it's at cornerback. Benjamin St-Juste departed for the Green Bay Packers on a two-year, $10 million deal. Given the Chargers' clear willingness to recycle talent in their secondary, it's not a figure they were ever likely to match.
But St-Juste played 37% of the Chargers' defensive snaps last season. He's not an irreplaceable piece, but those are snaps that will need to be accounted for in some fashion. If Los Angeles wants to replace him internally, they likely have the personnel to do that.
If they want to sign a veteran cornerback as we approach training camp, that would also be a viable move. But one of the last remaining targets, L'Jarius Sneed, could soon be swiped up by the Kansas City Chiefs.
The Chiefs met with Sneed on Thursday, per Adam Schefter.
Free-agent CB L’Jarius Sneed is visiting today with the Kansas City Chiefs. Sneed played for the Chiefs before they traded him to the Titans..
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) June 4, 2026
L'Jarius Sneed could get a new lifeline with the Chiefs, and the Chargers would have to look elsewhere for their final roster addition
The Chargers have held their cards pretty close to their chest in terms of their plans for their secondary in 2026. There's been no public indication they're seeking out a veteran cornerback, although multiple analysts have hinted that could be a real option this offseason.
If they want to give Deane Leonard, Nikko Reed, or even UDFA Avery Smith the opportunity to step into the rotation, that would be a viable option. That being said, there would be significantly less risk tabbing a veteran cornerback for the job.
Sneed took 203 coverage snaps with the Tennessee Titans last season, and his performance wasn't all that inspiring. But he's still under the age of 30, and he still has room to provide viable play in a Chargers system that is capable of maximizing its talent across the board.
Sneed also makes sense for Kansas City, however. The Chiefs traded away Trent McDuffie and lost Jaylen Watson in free agency this offseason. Although they added Mansoor Delane in a draft-day swing, the addition of a veteran cornerback is likely more a priority for them than it is for Los Angeles.
It's also important to note that Sneed is not the only option on the market for the Chargers. Rasul Douglas is a popular option, and a piece like Adoree' Jackson could be a prime candidate for a major resurgence under Chris O'Leary's guidance. But the options are getting thin.
If Los Angeles ultimately does want to add a veteran cornerback this offseason (and they're simply waiting for OTAs to play out to see what talent they currently have on the roster), it's clear they better act sooner rather than later.
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