The Los Angeles Chargers won't be able to fix this offense through the draft.
Of course, adding Jeremiah Smith with the first overall pick would be a no-brainer move for a team that's in desperate need of an alpha receiver. And perhaps there's another guard that can be added somewhere to give this team a cheap solution on the interior of the offensive line. But outside of that, this front office is going to need to spend, and do so wisely, in order to recover from the schematic disaster that Mike McDaniel has brought on for the unit in 2026.
But that's not the only side of the ball that will need attention this offseason. Chris O'Leary has done an excellent job, to this point, filling the large shoes of Jesse Minter as the Chargers' defensive coordinator. Even as he's dealt with injuries to cornerstones like Donte Jackson and Derwin James Jr., he's managed to keep the secondary viable on a week-to-week basis.
As it stands, Los Angeles is fourth in the NFL in total passing defense, 18th in total rushing defense, and 13th in opponent EPA per play. They're on the verge of another top-10 defensive season, and that's a massive victory for a first-time play caller—especially considering the disadvantageous situations he's been put in by the offense.
Los Angeles, though, can't simply coast into another year with that sort of defensive production. Jackson will be a free agent this offseason, as will Denzel Perryman, Khalil Mack, Daiyan Henley, Dalvin Tomlinson, Tuli Tuipulotu, Bud Dupree, Troy Dye, Tony Jefferson, and Deane Leonard.
If there's one compelling argument for the Chargers to add mid- or late-round draft capital at the deadline, then, it's that the strength and depth of the defense will still be vital to this team's lifeblood as they go for a major turnaround in 2027.
Chris O'Leary will be sticking around—and the Chargers will need to give him the necessary tools to construct a top defense
Again, the offensive side of the ball will be the priority this offseason. If the Chargers can't make major changes there, this whole regime needs to be gone as soon as possible.
But barring a complete organizational reset, O'Leary is here to stay as the defensive play caller in Los Angeles, and that means that there needs to be some real investment on that side of the ball—even if it comes in the draft rather than through major spending in free agency.
The Chargers, first and foremost, need to find a way to shore up this cornerback room. Cam Hart has largely rebounded from a rough early-season showing, and Tarheeb Still is still taking strides on a game-to-game basis. But both will be entering the final years of their rookie deals in 2027, and assuming Jackson is gone this offseason, Los Angeles doesn't have many internal options to fill out the depth at that position. If it doesn't come in the first round, adding a top cornerback in the second should be a priority.
The edge rusher room is also a concern. Even if Mack isn't traded at the deadline, there's a very real chance this is his final NFL season. Tuipulotu also isn't under contract beyond 2026. Assuming Tuipulotu is ultimately extended, though, what does a room built around Akheem Mesidor and Tuipulotu look like? If there's one place O'Leary's struggled, it's in the pass rush, and hamstringing his attack there entering his second season likely isn't the brightest idea.
The safety and defensive tackle rooms are likely fine, even if Jefferson and Tomlinson aren't back next season. The linebacker room, though, could be a concern if all three of Henley, Perryman, and Dye are gone. The Chargers would be left with only Marlowe Wax and Del'Shawn Phillips as bona fide roster players, although Junior Colson still lingers on the Los Angeles practice squad.
No matter where the needs ultimately lie, though, the point is this. While this roster doesn't need to be entirely torn down, Joe Hortiz needs to find a way to amass at least an additional one or two mid or late-round selections—at the very least so that he has the flexibility to replenish the defense if it's needed.
If there's one thing he's done well at the helm of this organization, it's maximize those types of selections, especially on the defensive side of the ball. And if a top-10 defense is consistently in reach with O'Leary at the helm, Los Angeles needs to do everything it can, within reason, to ensure that that's the result they get on a yearly basis.
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