While the Los Angeles Chargers have a number of high-profile position battles to watch this offseason (especially at left guard), their inside linebacker room could also yield some surprises.
Denzel Perryman is back on a one-year, $2.3 million deal. So are Daiyan Henley, Troy Dye, Marlowe Wax, and Del'Shawn Phillips.
This could leave third-year linebacker Junior Colson with a steep path to making the roster. Although Colson was a highly-touted prospect coming into the 2024 NFL Draft, injuries and a lack of on-field aggression have limited his role throughout his time in Los Angeles. If either Wax or Phillips (or even UDFA Lander Barton) breaks out in OTAs, Colson could quickly be on the chopping block.
Sports Illustrated's Thomas Martinez suggested Colson could be a possible trade candidate if the conditions are right. He's still young enough, and has a promising enough pedigree, that Los Angeles could certainly generate some interest in him.
It would take the right destination, though, for any team to truly bite. That could be Jesse Minter and the Baltimore Ravens.
Junior Colson could get a fresh start with his old DC in Baltimore
The Chargers selected Colson in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft, making him the first defensive player that was drafted during Minter's tenure in Los Angeles (Joe Alt and Ladd McConkey were both taken before him). It's not hard to see why a player like Colson would have appealed to Minter and company.
He had just wrapped up a productive, 95-combined tackle season at Michigan, having played under Minter for his final two college seasons. He certainly has the athletic profile to be a formidable run-fitting linebacker, but he simply hasn't been able to put it together at the NFL level.
The potential fit in Baltimore goes even beyond Minter, however. According to Ravens expert Connor Burke, the team's depth at the position is far from inspiring.
"So Colson has played under Jesse Minter for four straight seasons. Why not make it five straight? Adding a player with long-established comfort in a new head coach’s scheme could pay off early on. Baltimore could use another linebacker, as well. Again, Roquan Smith had a down year in 2025, and age could soon play a factor. He's nearing 30 years old. As for Teddye Buchanan, no one knows what he will look like coming off a gruesome knee injury. And Trenton Simpson? Well, he’s had a rough go of it throughout his NFL career, and time is running out on him." Connor Burke, Ebony Bird
Of course, there's still a chance Colson is able to remain healthy through OTAs and training camp and work his way onto the roster. Although both Wax and Phillips have been impressive special-teams contributors during their time in Los Angeles, neither truly has the athletic upside that Colson does.
But the Ravens and the Chargers are certainly familiar with swapping players. As disappointing as netting a likely Day 3 pick for Colson would be, it could be Los Angeles' best path to getting any return whatsoever on a draft pick that's looking more and more like a failed gamble.
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