The Los Angeles Chargers are in need of an additional pass rusher this offseason.
Odafe Oweh earned a four-year, $100 million deal with the Washington Commanders this offseason. Although they brought back Khalil Mack and have Tuli Tuipulotu under team control through 2026, their depth behind those two players does not inspire confidence.
They need a capable and available disruptive presence to truly complement their two main edge defenders. In an ideal scenario, this comes through the draft. The defensive line should be the focus if the Chargers don't spend their first-round pick on a starting-caliber guard.
But they have just five selections in the 2026 NFL Draft. If things don't break in their favor, perhaps adding a one-year stop-gap at the position could be their best option.
Former Charger Kyle Van Noy is a free agent this offseason, and he made clear in a recent post on X that he's been hard at work attempting to prolong his career for at least one more season. It was an interaction that took place in the replies to his post, however, that provides a reason for intrigue.
I mean they could.
— Kyle Van Noy (@KVN_03) April 2, 2026
This is a distinctly non-committal statement from Van Noy. But it begs a serious question. Could a surprise reunion between Van Noy and the Chargers be viable this offseason?
Kyle Van Noy isn't the ideal addition for the Chargers, but he could prove to be their best option
In Van Noy's single season in Los Angeles, he quickly turned himself into a fan-favorite. Through 17 games, he amassed five sacks, eight tackles for loss, and nine QB hits. Although his production stalled in 2025, he's not that far removed from a 12.5-sack 2024 campaign with the Baltimore Ravens.
At this point in his career, he doesn't create pressures at a high rate, nor is he always capable of converting those pressures into sacks. But he's got veteran acumen both as a run defender and a pass rusher with the knowledge to make every snap difficult on whoever he's matched up against.
Bringing in a young edge defender to develop behind Mack should be the goal this offseason. But what the Chargers need from a schematic standpoint is someone they can use to complement the power of Mack and Tuipulotu. That was Oweh's role last season, and he performed it excellently.
If Los Angeles doesn't come away from the draft with an additional pass rusher, their options on the open market would likely be Van Noy, Jadeveon Clowney, Joey Bosa, and Cameron Jordan.
Van Noy has his deficits at this point in his career. But he hasn't missed more than three games due to injury in a season since his rookie campaign with the Detroit Lions. If it comes down to it, a one-year reunion with Van Noy could ultimately be a viable option this offseason.