The Los Angeles Chargers have their work cut out for them in training camp, at least on the margins of the roster.
While the starters in most rooms are already set (outside of their ongoing competition for the left guard job), Los Angeles' strong draft and UDFA class could certainly create some tension when it comes to their existing players who might be lower on the totem pole. Nadame Tucker, for example, will be fighting to displace either Kyle Kennard or Bud Dupree from the edge rusher room. Lander Barton also has a chance to create a real battle in the inside linebacker room.
But throughout this offseason, one position has consistently gone under-the-radar in terms of competition— cornerback.
The departure of Benjamin St-Juste to the Green Bay Packers on a two-year, $10 million deal this offseason has left a gap behind the Chargers' starting trio of Donte Jackson, Cam Hart, and Tarheeb Still. Right now, it seems as though Eric Rogers, a UDFA from last year's class who spent most of 2025 on the injured reserve, has the inside track for a share of the snaps that St-Juste left behind.
But as we get closer to training camp, it appears as though Avery Smith, a UDFA from this year's class out of Toledo, could have a real chance to challenge him for that spot.
Eric Rogers should get his chance, but Avery Smith could make things difficult on the second-year cornerback
Rogers may not have been in the top crop of defensive backs in his draft class when he came out of Rutgers, but he wasn't without interest from NFL teams. The Chargers ultimately landed him after the Draft, guaranteeing just $20,000 on his deal. For a team that's been known to maximize its talent in the secondary, Rogers quickly impressed through the offseason program and training camp, culminating in a two-interception game against the New Orleans Saints in the 2025 preseason.
At the time, Rogers was quickly emerging as a fan-favorite from that year's incoming class of rookies.
But he was spotted soon after in a walking boot, and he was ultimately placed on the injured reserve in late August. He did not appear for a single snap in his rookie season. At this point, it's fair to assume that much of the Chargers' fanbase has forgotten about Rogers, at least temporarily.
But St-Juste played 37% of the team's defensive snaps last season. Although a portion of that will certainly be distributed between Cam Hart and Tarheeb Still, there's still a gap to be filled. It's also fair to assume that Rogers will get first crack at that role, given his extensive experience playing on the outside at Rutgers.
But Smith, who played ample snaps on both the outside and in the slot last season at Toledo, also has a strong case.
There are doubts about Smith's long-term viability against press coverage, but he likely has the tackling abilities and the pure athleticism to be a major factor in the Chargers' zone-heavy scheme. Outside of Nikko Reed, Los Angeles does not have a true backup for Derwin James at the nickel spot— a position that Smith could likely take some snaps at even as a rookie.
Smith turned some heads in OTAs, and he was listed by Josh Edwards at CBS Sports as one of the league's UDFAs worth watching this offseason.
If the Chargers value Smith's versatility, there's a chance that he cuts off Rogers' path to the roster when the team reaches training camp in late July.
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